VIVEKANAND

VIVEKANAND

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May all be happy

May all be healthy

May all see auspiciousness

May all be free from sorrow

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Shelve all the gods and goddesses for the next 50 years. Let our nation be our God, let

us worship our motherland and serve our countrymen. Awaken, arise, stop not until you

have achieved your goal.

Were it not for the blessings, inspiration and enlightenment I received from my mentor, I

would be nothing. He shattered my pride and showed me that "where science ends,

spirituality begins."

I am Narendranath Dutt, born on January 12, 1863. My father was Shri Vishwanath Dutt

and my mother was Bhuwaneshwaridevi. I was merely a stone. Gurudev Ramakrishna

Paramhansa, like a touchstone, touched me, and when he did, a miracle happened.

My father was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court. He was a scholar of English,

Sanskrit and Persian. A generous and an ardent music lover. Our home was ever

musical. My mother was the perfect model of affection. All that I am today, I owe to her.

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Our holy saint (Lord Shiva) is playing His drum

No one is as mad as our Shambhu

He squanders everything on those who desire or not

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One day I called out to my servant, "Hey, wretched rascal, can't you hear me?" My

father overheard me. Enraged, he declared I should stop going to school, for there was no

need for a Dutt to patronize a house of learning that taught children such coarse language.

He arranged for me to be tutored at home. Thus I learnt the Ramayan, Mahabharat and

Sanskrit grammar.

Whenever I had the time, I looked out of the window at the lane where the ascetics and

holy men passed by. 'What a delightful life they have ! And that wonderful baul (a kind

of folk singer of Bengal).....how lovely his singing was, like a boat tied on the river bank,

gently bobbing with the lapping of the waves.'






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Oh, boatman! From which village have you come

And to which are you going?

Please tie your boat to our shore

Under the shade of the flowery tree.

There is a beaded necklace, red glass bangles

And a basket full of sweet berries in my house.

Please come to me and take them all

For my Beloved, who is in your boat.

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I was just 14 when my father was transferred to Raipur in central India. I became a

bookworm in Raipur and in no time I finished all the books in my father's collection. I

used to spend my evenings near Budha Taalaab, a lake where people gathered everyday

under the peepal tree (holy fig -tree) to sing bhajans (devotional songs) together.

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The mind roams with pride

In the world of relations

But of what nature are those relatio ns?

Bones burnt like wood and the hair as grass

Golden body turned to ashes

Nobody came close

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Back to Kolkata. After passing out of high school I studied at the Presidency College.

Kolkata was a beautiful city at the tim e. But the most beautiful part of the city was

undoubtedly our College Street. If you wanted to meet all the scholars of Kolkata,

College Street was the place. After one year I was enrolled in the Scottish Church

College.

Whenever I recollect my student life, I remember Professor Hasty the most. A good

teacher leaves a lasting impression in the minds of his students. That was the year the

drought occurred. The terrible state of my countrymen made me sad. Children whining

with hunger roamed the streets, helpless women and migrants from villages came to the

city with the hope of getting some help from kind-hearted rich people.

I became an atheist, lost all faith in the supreme power of mercy of the Hindus, Raheem

of the Muslims and God Almighty of the Christians. What kind of justice was this, when

so many people were suffering for just a handful of grains on the one hand, while others

were getting sick from overeating on the other?

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If You do exist, why is it lik e this?

The hungry do not get bread

The thirsty get no water

Where is Your justice, O God?

Of what meaning is this life?

I ask You only this

If You do exist, why is it like this?

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My mother wished that I should learn music. An Ustadji (master of music) used to come

and teach me music, and I learned Hindi and Urdu devotional songs from him.

The most revolutionary name of that era was Raja Ram Mohan Roy. After the death of

his older brother, his family members forced his sister-in-law to jump into the funeral

pyre in keeping with the custom of suttee. After this incident, he raised his voice against

these bizarre rituals of Hindus. With the help of some educated friends he established the

Brahmo Samaj. The movement quickly gained renown and strength.

I also started following them. But I was very stubborn. I couldn't accept anything

blindly. While the prayers and congregational singing at the Brahmo Samaj pleased me,

I wondered if we could reform society by singing devotional songs, discussing social

matters and opposing social evils... I wondered how we could really get closer to God.

With this uncertain state of mind, I went to Maharshi Devendranath Thakur (an eminent

leader of the Brahmo Samaj) to ask if he had seen God, but he dodged my question. I

came away quietly. Somehow a feeling of anxiety overcame me, perhaps the same sort

of feeling Meerabai had. That's why she sang those pained lines...

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Without sight of You, the eyes pain

Since You departed, Lord

(I have) not tasted peace

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One day my mother called out to me, "Naren, please go and see Uma Didi, and on your

way back go to Uncle Ramchandra. Tell him your father wants to meet him."

When I reached Mr Ramchandra Dutt's house, we got talking, and all our discussions led

to spirituality. Ramchandra Daadu (Grandpa) perhaps saw my anxiety.

"So, our Naren Babu (Sir) wants to see God," he teased. "Since you are so keen, let me

test you to ascertain if you are actually capable of seeing God."

"Why? What skill or capability is required to see God?" I retorted.

"It is required, my son. Only a jeweler can valuate the price of a diamond... But now I

believe you are fit to see God."

"Oh, Grandpa! Have you ever come across anyone who has seen God?"

"I have, my son."

I nearly lost all patience. "Who is he? Tell me, Grandpa, tell me!"

"His name is Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the priest at Dakshineshwar Kali Temple. Only

he can make you see and experience God."

I was surprised. Ramakrishna Paramahansa! Prof. Hasty had also mentioned this name

before.

"Naren, you have to do something for me. You have to sing bhajans at Suren Babu's

house today. The cure for your insanity, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, will be there.

Come at eight o'clock in the evening. Be there on time."

I was dancing with joy. That evening when I saw Ramakrishna Paramahansa, I looked at

him closely - his lean body, disheveled beard, shabby clothes, listening to the devotional

chanting with eyes closed - and wondered, could this fellow ever have seen God? This

fellow? No, he must be a fraud.

Suddenly he opened his eyes and stared right at me. It was an awkward situation. I

looked around to avoid his glance. After a while he smiled at me.

"So, you have come," he said.

Suren Babu immediately followed with, "Baba, Naren sings very well."

The Baba (elderly man) said smilingly, "Of course, he is Narendra, king of men. He

shall sing well. Naren, today you must sing. This day marks the meeting of two stars.

Today you will sing and I shall only listen."

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Come home, O harried mind

In this alien world, donned in foreign garb

Why roam without reason?

Turn to the path of Truth

With the light of Love

And treasure of Virtue as your provision

Kept hidden most carefully

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After the session he came to me, held my hand and asked, "Will you come to

Dakshineshwar? Do come". I remained there, transfixed and still. He flowed like an

unconstrained river; I was stuck there like a whirlpool in midstream.

When finally we went to Dakshineshwar and Ramakrishna Paramahansa heard of our

arrival, he rushed out like a storm and puffed with excitement upon seeing us. "Naren,

you have come after such a long time!" he said. "You kept me waiting for so many days.

I am fed up of those materialistic people. Come, come with me, we have so many things

to talk about."

He took me inside the house where many people were sitting in the room. I asked him,

quite arrogantly, "Maharaj, have you ever seen God?" "Yes," he answered, "as clearly I

see you now, perhaps even more clearly. God can be seen. But who wants to see him?

People want wealth, family. For them they shed tears. But who cries for God?"

He was the first person I met who claimed to have seen God. My Brahmo Samaj culture

had taught me to understand the ultimate reality as formless, but this crazy old man

claimed the stone idol of Goddess Kali regularly appeared to him in the flesh!

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Abstract ultimate unqualified form

The only object

Personified positively qualified form

The ultimate unity

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Two days later I returned to see him. Suddenly he touched my chest with his right foot.

The entire universe seemed to spin before me. I could see the walls of the room and the

garden of the temple dissolving in front of my very eyes. It felt as if my death had come.

When I went to him for the third time, all of a sudden he put his hand on my head and I

became unconscious. This experience was beyond belief. I felt ecstatic.

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Neither me nor mine

Body given by someone else

Whatever wealth I have

Is given by someone else

The donor gave all these without? arrogance

"It's all mine," said the recipient with pride

The mind that utters "me, mine"

Is given by someone else

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At one point I went to the idol of Goddess Kali and said, "Ma, You alone know what

Your play is about," and I started singing.

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All is Your will; You are the fulfiller of all wishes

Dost Thou every deed, that which all say is done by me

I am the tool, You are the hand

I am the house, You are its lady

I am the chariot, You are the master

I run as You drive

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I can't explain how delightful those five years were, but the sudden demise of my father

heralded a period of misfortune. I went to Gurudev with anger in my heart and said,

"Baba, I have lost the battle. Please ask Goddess Kali to free me from this poverty."

And he said, "Ask Her yourself."

So I went into the temple, stood in front of the idol and said, "Ma, bless me with

knowledge and devotion." Baba said, "I bless you. Your family will never face any

problems of sustenance. You crazy child, went to Ma for such ordinary things? She is

the Mother of the Universe! Mother knows the needs of her children." I decided to

dedicate the rest of my life at the pious feet of the Goddess.







_______________________________

As light in the eyes and a pearl in a shell

If even such little space I could have at the feet of the Mother

If the mouth be the lamp and the tongue its wick

I could write Her a letter with tears for ink

I could take care of You, O Ma

For some moments so that You could sleep

If even such little space I could have at Your feet

_______________________________

After some days Baba was diagnosed with throat cancer. One day he calle d to me and

said, "Somebody told me you have learnt classical music as well. Let me hear what your

classical music sounds like."

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Ma Kalika, You are the Goddess

Destroyer of demons

Mother of the universe

You are Shiv ani

Form of death you are

The embodiment of joy

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Gurudev's state had deteriorated. He said, "Naren, I am leaving all these responsibilities

to you, entrusting you with all my power, all my devotion, all my reasoning. You shall

be a legendary soul."

_______________________________

Please don't go away, O sage

I surrender at your feet

Lord of Meera, Girdharnaagar

Light the light with your light

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In the next two or three months I traveled across North India. In Rajasthan I was invited

to the court of the king of Alwar who was against idol worship. I told him, "An idol is a

mere representation of the supreme power in which you have faith. Not only in an idol,

but in each and every partic le in the world I can feel the presence of God."

_______________________________

If you have the vision

Try to see Him in every particle

In forests, gardens, water and air

In both life and death He is there

Who are you, where have you come from

And where do you have to go

If one can think thus

Make one's own the knowledge of the ultimate

It brings the end of pride

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In Mount Abu I rebuked my devotees when they expressed prejudices against other faiths:

"Do you want to become superior by degrading others? My religion doesn't teach this!"

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None is superior to another

Everyone is His child

Make everyone your own

And receive the God in all

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At Kanyakumari, where the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet, I

became impatient, jumped into the ocean and swam to a rock. Standing on the rock was

enchanting. This was a perfect place for meditation. I was in a state of emotion. O

Mother India, bless me so I can achieve my goal by serving you.

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I salute my motherland

Well-watered, well-nurtured

With the cold breeze of the southern wind

Dark with crops, my motherland

The dark night is full of delight

Shimmering with the brightness of the full moon light

Heavenly trees grow flowery

With gentle smile and melodious words

Showering joy and boons is my motherland

I salute my motherland

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I was planning to go to America to participate in the Parliament of World Religions in

Chicago. The Maharaja of Khetri made all the arrangements for my USA tour. He gave

me this saffron dress and Rajasthani turban. And it was he who re -christened me

Vivekanand.

At Chicago, two pieces of news awaited me. First, that the conference had been

postponed and second, that I needed a letter of recommendation to participate in it. On

my way to Boston by train, I made the acquaintance of a co-passenger named Mrs

Catherine Sanbourne. She was impressed by me and offered me her hospitality.

There I met Dr Wright, the Harvard University professor who asked me to represent the

Hinduism at the Parliament of World Religions. With the recommendation letter of Dr

Wright, I was on my way to Chicago. But I misplaced the address of Mr Baroze, without

which finding his office was impossible. A lady saw me and took me to her home. Her

name was Mrs George W Hale. She was a good friend of Dr Baroze. The next day the

world religions conference was to commence. I was grateful to God for everything.

_______________________________

Thanks to You, O Lord, thanks to You

When You are with me

I feel no sorrow

When I was depressed

You came as hope

For me, You are the only thing worth believing

In suffocation I lived

Until you became my breath

You alone fulfill my wishes

When You are with me

I feel no sorrow

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September 11, 1893. I took the stage along with all the other Indian representatives,

there to attend the 17-day conference. Everybody came well-prepared with written

speeches. I was preparing myself, mentally, to face such a large audience. With eyes

closed, I remembered Gurudev in my mind. On my turn I went to the podium. The huge

auditorium was full with about seven thousand listeners. I bowed to Ma Saraswati,

Goddess of Wisdom, in my mind and started my speech

SISTERS & BROTHERS OF AMERICA... It fills my heart with joy in response to

the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of

the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of

Hindu people of all classes and sects. I am proud to belong to a religion which has

taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in

univers al toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a

nation which has sheltered the persecuted, and refugees of all religions and all

nations of the earth. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered the

purest remnant of the Israelities, and is still fostering the remnant of the grand

Zoroastrian nation.

Sectarianism, bigotry and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have filled the earth

with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization.

Had it not been, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. You

want to spread religion all through India, but the crying evil in the east is not

religion, they have religion enough, but it is bread that the suffering millions of

burning India cry out for with parched throats.

The philosophy of my religion is so deep and distinguished that I feel proud of it, but

still I don't want to convert you. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a

Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others

and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.

The Parliament of Religions today underlines that holiness, purity and charity are

not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has

produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this

evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the

destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to

him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of

resistance: 'Help and not Fight,' 'Assimilation and not Destruction', 'Harmony and

Peace' and not 'Dissension'.

For the next 17 days, I had the opportunity to deliver my speech 12 times. All the

American newspapers were praising me. Said The New York Herald , "He is undoubtedly

the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish

it is to send our missionaries to this learned nation."

An unknown foreigner had become "a famous Hindu monk".

But I was restless. Ma, I do not want praise. My countrymen suffer extreme poverty

and here I see a great wastage of food. These people spend thousands of dollars on their

luxuries and my countrymen are compelled to beg for a handful of grains. Where is the

justice? I was in tears.

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I wanted devotion

You granted fame

Your mysteries You know better, O Ram

I wanted to serve

You granted rest

Your mysteries You know better, O Ram

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A revolution took place in my life. I traveled and delivered lectures in various cities in

America.

"You can't serve God and luxury at the same time. You who train your missionaries to

abuse and defame us, our God and our incarnations, can't tolerate my criticism?"

"Don't touch us, we are Columbians. We can criticize, abuse and philosophize about the

entire world but don't you dare do the same to us. We are very sensitive," you say?

Many Christian brothers agreed with me but some priests became hostile. I replied,

"According to our holy scriptures only three persons are permitted to speak the bitter truth

- the doctor, the teacher and the minister. The day these people begin to lie, no one will

be able to save society from destruction."






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However bitter it be, it is the truth

Alas! Who can awake one who lies down, refusing to open his

eyes

He who sows thorns has no right to flowers

That religion which slanders others, I cannot accept

Truly God is disgraced by such blasphemers

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I remember the days I spent at Thousand Island Park with my disciples. I often gave

lectures on the Bible, Vedanta Sutra, Narad Sutra, Upanishads and the Geeta. I had now

been in America for almost two years. My English friends repeatedly invited me to visit

England. I intended to go there. Mrs George W. Hale asked me, "Swamiji, why do you

wish to go to England, when your work here is going so well?" I replied, "These are my

mentor's orders. Although he is no more, he continues to order me. I am his slave. I

intend to obey him."

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O Lord Krishna, accept me as your slave

Let me make a beautiful garden

And glimpse You in the morn

In the flowery lanes of Vrindavan

Singing the acts of Govinda

O Shyam, accept me as your slave

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Now I was in England. It was a question of great amazement, how a handful of

Englishmen could actually rule over 400 million Indians. Later I realised that their

biggest strengths were patriotism, discipline, respect for law and order, and respect for

time.

Once during a lecture in England, an Irish lady sitting in the first row drew my attention.

It was as if Saraswati, the Goddess of Wisdom herself, was seated there in English

clothing. She was Miss Margaret Noble, a divine soul. Later on she became my disciple

and I named her Sister Nivedita. She wanted to devote her life to my mission. I asked

her to pledge her life to one of chastity and come to India to enlighten the women by

educating them.

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Bring them light, they who are stranded in darkness

Make them bloom with devotion

For centuries they have borne atrocities

Far from right knowledge and still pining for it

They are our mothers and sisters

Whom you shall release

Make them free birds

To fly in the bright wide sky

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December 16, 1896. I embarked on my journey back to India. Mr & Mrs Savior and my

assistant Mr Goodwin accompanied me. Two priests traveling with us, on seeing me and

my saffron robes, became very angry and began to abuse my religion and gods, for no

apparent reason. I rushed forward, caught one of them by the collar and warned him, "If

you utter one more word against religion, I'll throw you into the ocean." Intimidated by

my anger, they begged for forgiveness. When one cannot understand true devotion, he

must be shown the way of strength and power.

After sailing for a month I could see the Indian peninsula. I was mesmerized by its

beauty. The waves of the ocean along with the south wind hummed with me:

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India, my motherland, we worship you

How I have b een longing to see you, Mother India

Without your touch and fragrance, nothing is good

With your image burned into my mind

I followed the spiritual path

In lands foreign, too, I stood with your flag

I now reach out to you, my shelter

To you I am returning today

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Now I arrived in Madras, where I addressed the youth.

February 1897. I reached Calcutta, the land of my Master, Shri Ramakrishna

Paramahansa. A crowd of thousands came to welcome me, thus I was overwhelmed with

emotion.

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Lord, I am at Your Feet

Endeavouring to please you

No sweetness have my words

Yet many favours I humbly ask

Receiving from You alone whatever I have to offer

Truly I am the pauper and You my patron, that is our relation

So I came to tell You

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Thereafter I dedicated myself to the creation of the Ramakrishna Mission & Ashram.

Suddenly Calcutta was struck with an epidemic. I served the victims by providing them

with medicine, food and drinking water. During this period a scholar from South India

came to visit and deliver a talk on religion. I granted him ten minutes.

He was livid: "Swamiji, are you making fun of me? How is it possible to sum up within

ten minutes?" I replied:

_______________________________

O learned scholar

Keep aside your thoughts on religion

Do thou thy deed

Do works to remove the sorrows of the people

Do thou they deed

My religion at this moment is to help everyone

None should be left to starve

Come, let us collect food from somewhere

See, the drought has ravaged the land everywhere

O pundit, religion is not of mere and untimely Scriptural learning

A man becomes a god in time, by his good deeds

The people are distressed due to starvation

Feed them first, to full satisfaction

Keep aside your thoughts on religion

Do thou first thy deed

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One day one my juniors came to me, "Swamiji, we came here to become ascetics and

now-" I said, "Brother, first try to be oopyogi (useful), then become to be a yogi

(ascetic). Another colleague said, "What are we doing here? We're only looking after

the patients. What a wonderful life we had before this, practising meditation, worshipping

and enjoying the singing of melodious devotional songs. So many days have passed

since you sang a devotional song.

I answered:

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To share the grief of those who suffer

Is true worship

To be intimate with all and to serve others

Is true religion

Indeed, that is the only religion

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1898. With Sister Nivedita and three other Western disciples I went to Kashmir. At

Amarnath, the moment I saw the snow-white Shiv-ling, I lost my senses. Reaching the

Amarnath cave, I could clearly hear a divine voice say, "Your death shall come only when

you allow it." I could feel the divine power of Shiva.

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Shiva, the Lord of all souls

Protector of all creatures

Lord of yoga, Lord of lords, Shiva

With bow in hand, matted ha ir blazing upward

Caper (?) hair on the forehead

Seven universes play the beat

And the earth trembles beneath Thy Holy Feet

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Then I visited the famous Kashmiri temple, Ksheer Bhavaani. When I found the idol in it

to be br oken, I was distressed. I thought to myself, "If only I were there at that time, it

never would have happened." Suddenly I heard a divine voice: "Do you look after me or

do I look after you? Whatever happens is my wish, under My control."

The surroundings suddenly became suffused with the scent of piety. I felt as if I had

become a newborn child.

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Thou art the embodiment of kindness, O Mother

Thou art the embodiment of grace, O Mother

Thou art the only power, O Mo ther

Thou art the only devotion, O Mother

Thou art the only solution, O Mother

Thou art the only salvation, O Mother

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1899. Once again I embarked on a tour of America and Europe, for a year and six

months. My friend Turiyanand accompanied me on this journey.

January 12, 1900. Some of my American disciples gathered and secretly arranged a

celebration for my 38th birthday. I said to them, "Us sages, we don't celebrate birthdays.

Don't pray for my longevity, pray instead that my years on earth may be useful." I told

them, "I shall not celebrate my 39th birthday and I will not see my 40th." Turiyanand was

in tears. "Why are you talking like this, Swamiji?" he asked. "Listen, brother. Smaller

plants can't grow in the shadow of a big tree. If I live, new monks will not able to do their

work properly. Moreover, the thought of death does not frighten me; rather, I feel thrilled

by the idea," I told Turiyanand.

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Grant this much, my Lord

When the soul leaves my body

I should sing the Name of God

When the soul leaves my body

Let it be released with ease

Let Thy Name issue forth from the mouth

Only then could I be rid of all grief

When the soul leaves my body

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As I returned from Europe, the cloud of war hung darkly over it. Alas, pleasure comes

with the crown of grief and treasure by exploiting innocent people, their sweat, tears and

blood. War is never good and peace is never bad.

Now I was living in Belur Math, with fellow monks. One day a novice came to me and

asked, "Swamiji, what form of God should we worship? There are so many forms in our

religion, we often get confused." I replied, "It is a great pleasure that you have so many

options. There is a saying, 'As the vision, so the creation'. If any form pleases you,

worship that form. If you need the help of a mentor then seek tutelage in some sage.

Always keep the windows of your mind open. With closed eyes it will be the formless

ultimate being, with opened eyes it will be God personified. The day you get the feeling

you can make Krishna, He who makes the world dance, dance for a bowl of buttermilk,

that day you shall be closer to God.

_______________________________

Whom all the gods and goddesses adore

Who is the eternal, infinite, indivisible, impenetrable

Whose Name is chanted by all the sages such as Narada and

Vyaasa

BUT CAN'T REACH TO THE END, ???

He is made to dance by the daughters of milkmen

For a bowl of buttermilk

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July 4, 1902. I woke up early in the morning with a distinct feeling, as if my Gurudev

had just called me. I meditated in the temple area. I entrusted Premananda with two

responsibilities. First, I asked him to open a Vedic college to abolish the superstitions

and misconduct of society. Second, I asked him to set up an Ashram exclusively for

women and with an independent administration.

I told my friends, "There is no hurry for salvation. First serve the weak, dedicate yourself

to others in this life. In your next life you can learn Vedanta (Holy Scriptures) and attain

salvation.

"Only by following the path of religion, can this country gain freedom. If India gets

involved in any social and political friction, it will meet utter destruction, but if it pursues

the search for God then my India shall remain immortal.... Now all of you go back to

your chores. It is time for my meditation."

I quietly returned to my room and after meditating, I lay down in bed. My entire life

became picturesque and flashed before my eyes. I could see a glance of the pious idol of

Gurudev, as if He was saying, "Never leave Naren alone. Otherwise he will enter the

realm of profound meditation." I said, "Baba, my work in this life is ove r. Now allow

me to leave the world."

An unusual joy began to swell within me and everything in my surroundings started

dissolving into eternity.

_______________________________

That is whole

This is whole

What has come out of the whole is also whole

When the whole is removed from the whole

The whole remains, still, whole

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THE END