It is amazing how Shivananda, through his realization, solved both scriptural questions and the monks’ spiritual problems. Swami Nikhilananda wrote:
I do not remember having asked him any spiritual or philosophical question. I do not believe he ever claimed to be a scholar or philosopher. Whatever instructions he gave to the devotees came from his direct experience, couched in simple language, and his profound faith that he acted as an instrument of Sri Ramakrishna, who guided him in his words, thoughts, and action. The ego was completely absent in him. Once I asked him a much-debated question about the present birth being the last one in the case of those who have taken shelter at Sri Ramakrishna’s feet. In reply he said that it was his belief also. I argued that according to the scriptures, only those who are completely free from desires are not reincarnated and such desirelessness is not possible unless one directly experiences Brahman in the nirvikalpa samadhi. Mahapurush Maharaj said: “I am not a scholar. I do not know the scriptures. Can you tell me what is the cause of rebirth? Is it not unfulfilled desires?” I agreed. “Tell me,” he said, “suppose you are at the point of death and Sri Ramakrishna appears before you. Suppose he asks you if you have any unfulfilled desire for which you want to assume another human body. What will you say?” I said: “I do not believe I have any desire to fulfill for which I would like to come back to this world again.” “Then this is your last birth. This desirelessness one feels through the Master’s grace,” said Mahapurush Maharaj. (Source: God Lived with Them)