Beautiful Biography Of Swamiji

VIVEKANAND _______________________________ May all be happy May all be healthy May all see auspiciousness May all be free from sorrow _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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.' _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________ 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? _______________________________ 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? _______________________________

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... _______________________________ Without sight of You, the eyes pain Since You departed, Lord (I have) not tasted peace _______________________________ 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. looked around to avoid his glance. After a while he smiled at me.

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"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." _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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!

_______________________________ Abstract ultimate unqualified form The only object Personified positively qualified form The ultimate unity _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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." _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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 _______________________________

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 _______________________________

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!" _______________________________ None is superior to another Everyone is His child Make everyone your own And receive the God in all _______________________________ 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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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 _______________________________

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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

A revolution took place in my life. America.

I traveled and delivered lectures in various cities in

"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." _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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." _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________ 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: _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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 _______________________________ 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: _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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.

_______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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. become a newborn child.

I felt as if I had

_______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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. _______________________________ 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 _______________________________

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 _______________________________

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." me to leave the world."

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

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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