Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda Meeting his Guru

His story begins in the eastern Indian city of Calcutta with his birth on January 12 1863. The name his parents gave him was Narendranath but he was known as Naren. His father was a wealthy lawyer well versed in English and Persian. His grandfather gave up worldly life at a young age and became a monk. It was later said that Naren was in the mould of his grandfather.

Naren was a brilliant but restless child. He had the intellect of a genius and a photographic memory. All he had to do was glance at a page and he could grasp the key points that the author was trying to make. Growing up Naren was so restless and mischievous that his mom one day remarked, “I prayed to Shiva for a son and he sent me one of his demons!” Naren was always up to some mischief in the classroom yet he was always able to follow along the class. Though he was mischievous, Naren had a strong spiritual bent and his pranks were always harmless with no evil intent. One day he began play-acting that he was a monk and sat in mock meditation. Somehow this put him in such a deep spiritual state that his relatives had to force open the door and shake him to bring him back to normal consciousness.

In college Naren’s intellect and academic excellence attracted the attention of his professors. The principal of the college W. W. Hastie remarked, “I have traveled far and wide, but I have never yet come across a lad of his talents and possibilities. He is bound to make his mark in life.” Naren found the curriculum too narrow and would often study topics that took his fancy on his own. Consequently he studied Western logic and philosophy in great depth and also studied ancient and modern history of western nations.

His restlessness found him exploring subjects outside his curriculum and also exploring ideas outside his religion. Soon he was attracted to a religion called “Brahmo Samaj”. This religion advocated the idea of a formless God, gender equality, and did not believe in the Indian caste system. After a few years with Brahmo Samaj he once again grew restless realizing that he was no closer to achieving God realization than before.

One day in a class on Wordsworth, conducted by Principal Hastie, the discussion turned to the topic of ecstasy. Hastie found it difficult to explain the ecstasy of a poet. He then remarked that to best understand this, students should see the spiritual ecstasy of Sri Ramakrishna, the priest of a temple in Dakshineswar. Naren was in such a restless state that he took upon himself to do just that. He collected a few friends and together they visited Dakshineswar and met Sri Ramakrishna.

When they met, Sri Ramakrishna asked Naren to sing a few songs. On hearing Naren sing Sri Ramakrishna went into Samadhi and he immediately realized the spiritual potential of this lad. He then took him aside and began shedding tears of joy. Amidst sobs and with great tenderness Sri Ramakrishna began telling Naren how he was waiting for him for a long time and that he had a great spiritual mission to fulfill.

Naren was bewildered to hear this and felt that Sri Ramakrishna was a madman. Naren and Sri Ramakrishna were polar opposites and Naren found it hard to grasp the full importance of what he was hearing. Naren was educated while Sri Ramakrishna illiterate. Naren came from a wealthy family while Sri Ramakrishna was a destitute. Naren believed in the intellect and rationality while Sri Ramakrishna was a God intoxicated mystic who spoke from his heart rather than intellect. Anybody who would have looked at the pair would have found it hard to predict that these two would have a guru-disciple relationship one day.

Swami's Enlightenment  Experience

On his second visit to Dakshineswar Sri Ramakrishna went into his usual trances. During this he happened to touch Naren and accidentally sent him into a trance of his own. 

Naren described the incident afterwards, 'The touch at once gave rise to a unique experience within me. With my eyes open I saw the walls and everything in the room whirl rapidly and vanish into naught, and the whole universe together with my individuality was about to merge in an all-encompassing void! I was terribly frightened and thought I was facing death! Unable to control myself I cried out for help and Sri Ramakrishna laughed and touched me again and restored me back to my senses.'

This incident wounded Naren’s pride and marked a turning point. At this point he was not sure if the experience was a result as some sort of mesmerism or hypnotism and not sure if he could trust his own experience as something authentic. But the seed was sown. Naren had tasted briefly a new level of conscious experience for the first time.

In spite of their differences Naren felt a pull towards Sri Ramakrishna and he kept coming back. He was not yet willing to give up logic and reasoning and he did not give any credence to this talk of his future greatness. Once he told Sri Ramakrishna, “Since you love me and wish to see me great, these fancies naturally come to your mind.”

Nevertheless Naren slowly began to realize that Sri Ramakrishna was indeed experiencing something extraordinary and authentic. What had initially appeared to him as eccentric behavior now seemed as a child-like behavior of a God-intoxicated man. But Naren was yet in no mood to accept Sri Ramakrishna as his guru or accept his teachings. One day he told Sri Ramakrishna, “Even though I love you it does not mean that I shall accept your words without exercising my critical judgment.” Sri Ramakrishna rejoiced at the intellectual sincerity of Naren. Of all his disciples Naren was the only one who dared challenge him.

After meeting Ramakrishna, Naren continued to question Ramakrishna and his beliefs.  He felt drawn to him though he fought every inch of the way questioning and challenging him all the time. The years rolled by and gradually Naren’s trust and faith in Sri Ramakrishna took hold. Just as he we becoming convinced on the truth of Sri Ramakrishna’s message something happened that threw everything off kilter.

Story of incarnation of a Swami Vivekenanda as claimed by Ramakrishna Paramahansa

On his third visit Naren fared no better, though he tried his utmost to be on guard. Sri Ramakrishna took him to a neighbouring garden and, in a state of trance, touched him. Completely overwhelmed, Naren lost consciousness.  

Sri Ramakrishna, referring later to this incident, said that after putting Naren into a state of unconsciousness, he had asked him many questions about his past, his mission in the world, and the duration of his present life. The answer had only confirmed what he himself had thought about these matters. Ramakrishna told his other disciples that Naren had attained perfection even before this birth; that he was an adept in meditation; and that the day Naren recognized his true self, he would give up the body by an act of will, through yoga. Often, he was heard to say that Naren was one of the Saptarishis, or Seven Sages, who live in the realm of the Absolute. He narrated to them a vision he had had regarding the disciple's spiritual heritage.  

Absorbed, one day, in samadhi, Ramakrishna had found that his mind was soaring high, going beyond the physical universe of the sun, moon, and stars, and passing into the subtle region of ideas. As it continued to ascend, the forms of gods and goddesses were left behind, and it crossed the luminous barrier separating the phenomenal universe from the Absolute, entering finally the transcendental realm. There Ramakrishna saw seven venerable sages absorbed in meditation. These, he thought, must have surpassed even the gods and goddesses in wisdom and holiness, and as he was admiring their unique spirituality, he saw a portion of the undifferentiated Absolute become congealed, as it were, and take the form of a Divine Child. Gently clasping the neck of one of the sages with His soft arms, the Child whispered something in his ear, and at this magic touch the sage awoke from meditation. He fixed his half-open eyes upon the wondrous Child, who said in great joy: 'I am going down to earth. Won't you come with me?' With a benign look the sage expressed assent and returned into deep spiritual ecstasy. Ramakrishna was amazed to observe that a tiny portion of the sage, however, descended to earth, taking the form of light, which struck the house in Calcutta where Narendra's family lived, and when he saw Narendra for the first time, he at once recognized him as the incarnation of the sage. He also admitted that the Divine Child who brought about the descent of the rishi was none other than himself. 

Incident that threw him out of kilter

Naren’s father passed away and left the family in huge debt. Naren found his situation suddenly transform from that of carefree wealth to abject poverty. Even shoes became a luxury. His garments were now of the coarsest cloth, and he found that he had to occasionally skip meals and remain hungry as there was no food at home. By now he had graduated from college and was enrolled in a law college. He was on track to become a lawyer like his father. Naren now found himself being pulled in two directions. On one side was his career and responsibilities towards family. On the other side was a spiritual pull of Sri Ramakrishna that beckoned to give up all for the sake of God realization. How could he forsake his family for his own selfish needs? What should he do?

Naren tried to get a job but the only offers that came his way required him to compromise on his values. He would not go there and declined such job offers. Slowly the situation turned increasingly dire and his family continued to suffer. Even his normally God-devoted mother told him bitterly, “You have been crying yourself hoarse for God since your childhood. Tell me what has God done for you?” Naren had no answer and doubts about God’s existence began to creep in his mind too.

Turning Point in His Life

One day Naren was out in soaking rain looking for a job. He had had nothing to eat and was wandering about in the rain the entire day. In the evening he sat exhausted on the porch of a house. His mind was in such turmoil that he lost control of his thoughts. Suddenly he had a strange vision and felt complete peace and calm. He now gained deep understanding of God’s mercy. He understood that the real Self was above the day-to-day problems faced by the ego-self. The vision stayed with him for the entire night and he stayed put on the porch for the entire night. Only in the morning he returned home refreshed both in body and mind.

This was a turning point for Naren. He now became indifferent to daily problems and pleasures. He was now able to renounce the world internally while continuing with his day-to-day activities. He soon went to Sri Ramakrishna and asked that his renunciation be made formal and he be initiated as a monk.

He was finally prepared to accept Sri Ramakrishna as a Guru. However Sri Ramakrishna told him, “I know you will be a monk. But stay in the world as long as I live, for my sake at least.”

Increase in his responsibilities

Many years later Naren would remark that the difficulties and suffering in this phase of his life were excellent preparation for the rigors of monkhood. The hardship showed him how to remain indifferent and unsullied by problems and tribulations of daily life. It also provided him with a first hand understanding of the problems faced by most people. He now thoroughly understood Sri Ramakrishna’s message of empowering and strengthening the weak and the poor. If he did not have the strength to face his own problems how could he help others?

Within a year Sri Ramakrishna was diagnosed with throat cancer. Naren found himself with increasing responsibility to manage Sri Ramakrishna’s congregation. Naren now spent more time doing serious meditation. And as he progressed, Sri Ramakrishna gave him further instructions. As Sri Ramakrishna’s health continued to deteriorate Naren felt pressure to make spiritual progress faster. During the day he would do a low paying job of a teacher and meditate at night with only a few hours of sleep. Night after night he spent in deep meditation. As the New Year dawned in 1886 Sri Ramakrishna initiated Naren and 11 other disciples as monks. By now Naren had given up his law study for good so that he could devote all his energy to meditate under the guidance of Sri Ramakrishna.

His experience of Nirvikalpa Samadhi

One night as he meditated, he felt as if somebody had placed a bright lamp behind his head. The intensity of light slowly increased and suddenly burst open and he merged into the Absolute. When he came back to his senses he could only feel his head and had no sensation in the rest of his body. He cried for help and a brother disciple, Gopal, responded. Gopal tried to bring back sensation in Naren’s legs by massaging them to no avail. Thinking that Naren was dying he ran in panic to Sri Ramakrishna who merely smiled and said, “Let him stay in that state for a while; he has teased me long enough for it.”

Naren had already gone back into Samadhi and he stayed there for a few more hours. When he regained normal consciousness he realized that he had experienced Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest form of conscious experience. He immediately went to meet Sri Ramakrishna, who told him:

"Now the Mother has shown you everything. But this realization, like the jewel locked in a box, will be hidden away from you and kept in my custody. I will keep the key with me. Only after you have fulfilled your mission on this earth will the box be unlocked, and you will know everything as you have known now".

Naren was destined never to experience the highest state of consciousness again till the very end of his life. Sri Ramakrishna warned him that there was very little separating him from the deepest experience and there was always danger that he would topple into it at any time.

He warned Naren to stay away from it and instead devote his time to the deeper mission of his life. From now on Naren would feel twin pulls. One pulled him in the direction of his work and the other towards deeper meditation. In line of the wishes of his Guru, Naren would henceforth focus only on his work. His ideal was that of Avalokitesvara, the Buddha who postponed his own enlightenment for the good of humanity.

The Loss of his Guru

Sri Ramakrishna was diagnosed with throat cancer, many of his disciple believed that he had the powers to cure himself and did not need any treatment. It was only on Naren’s insistence that proper medical care was provided to Sri Ramakrishna. Naren insisted that though Sri Ramakrishna personified divinity he nevertheless was in human form and had to undergo all the afflictions of a mortal. He therefore had to be treated medically as any other mortal.

The illness of Sri Ramakrishna put great emotional stress on the monks and devotes.

Sri Ramakrishna’s health continued to deteriorate and he continued to suffer. Naren was amazed to see that even in this state Sri Ramakrishna was able to go into deeper state of consciousness and when he was there he was free of pain. One day Sri Ramakrishna called Naren to his bedside. He gazed lovingly in Naren’s eyes and went into deep meditation. Naren felt a subtle force, resembling an electric current, entering his body. He gradually lost all outward consciousness. When he came to he found his master weeping and heard him speak,

Naren, today I have given you everything I possess — now I am no more than a fakir, a penniless beggar. By the powers I have transmitted to you, you will accomplish great things in the world, and not until then will you return to the source whence you have come.

A few days later, in August 15 1886, Sri Ramakrishna passed away by entering into final Samadhi, leaving Naren in charge. From this moment forward Naren became the leader and messenger of Sri Ramakrishna’s congregation. He always strove to stick to the message of Sri Ramakrishna.

Ramakrishna's teachings and mission

Sri Ramakrishna did not want his monks to be like other Indian monks who strove for personal God realization. Instead he wanted his monks to be also devoted to the service of others. For Indian spirituality this was an uniquely new concept. Indian spirituality gives the right to each person to select whatever path they want to attain God. But in the end it is a personal effort devoted to an individual’s goals. Now the spiritual path was being re-defined. It included twin goals of God realization and social upliftment with the latter getting precedent. Many years later Naren would clearly state this when he said, “After so much austerity, I have known that the highest truth is this: He is present in all beings. These are all the manifested forms of Him. There is no other God to seek for! He alone is worshipping God, who serves all beings!”

Naren faced a daunting task. It was challenging enough to create a formal religious organization from scratch based on the ideals of Sri Ramakrishna. But the goals that Sri Ramakrishna had outlined were much broader. He wanted social transformation both locally and globally. However, to think that a penniless group of powerless monks could do any such thing would be considered laughable at best.

A rag-tag bunch of penniless monks led by Naren were out to change the world. But they had first to worry about their next meal and a roof over their head. Fortunately a devotee came forward and agreed to foot the expenses. A decrepit house thought to be haunted by spirits was rented. Naren knew that he had to build on a solid foundation. For the next two years the monks lived in dire poverty and frugality.

Next began a period of wandering. The monks had to know and understand the people they sought to transform. They had to learn about local social customs and norms and see first hand the problems people faced. They started with short trips in groups. As they gathered courage they learned to travel for longer distances. On a typical trip a monk would have no money with him. Besides the clothes the monk was wearing he carried a staff and a begging bow and nothing else. Naren carried his two favorite books with him in addition: The Bhagvad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. During their wandering they subsisted entirely on the mercy of the local people for food and shelter. Sometimes somebody would buy them a bus or train fare or else they would walk.

His Wandering years

By 1891, 5 years after Sri Ramakrishna’s passing Naren felt that the monks were sufficiently trained and the affairs of the religious order he was leading were in proper shape. A lawsuit that his family was embroiled in was finally settled. Naren now felt un-tethered and free. He still had no answer on what he wanted to do or how he could fulfill Sri Ramakrishna’s vision. But he felt that the answer would come in due course and he had to wander out alone and find the way. Naren set out on his final journey with clear instructions that he not be followed. He decided to travel anonymously under assumed name so that he would not be tracked. One thing was sure: he resolved that either he would find the answers he was looking for or he would not show his face again to his brother monks.

 For the next 2 years Naren wanders completely alone and anonymous. He kept changing his name so that he could not be tracked by his brother monks and be joined by them in his wandering. He went from East to North and West and then traveled to the southernmost tip of the country. His wandering carried him over a distance of thousands of miles. He was hosted by Maharajas and ministers at times, but most of the time he spent with ordinary people.

Once he went deep in the jungle to be alone for a while. He saw a tiger approaching and thought “Ah! This is right, both of us are hungry. This life has been no good for the world. It is well and desirable that it should at least be of service to this hungry beast.” For some reason the tiger paused. It then turned and sauntered off. Naren sat under the tree meditating alone for a long time. A sense of power and strength came to him that remained with him for the rest of his life.

Turning point for India

Along the way a theme emerged. The idea was that he should visit “The Parliament of Religions” in Chicago and represent India. He decided to put off any decision till he reached the southernmost tip of the country. When he reached this point he found that he had no money for the ferry ride to the shrine of Kanya Kumari, so he swam across. He spent three days here meditating and seeking an answer. When he arose from his meditation he resolved that his day of wandering be over. He had listened and he had learnt. Now the time had come to teach and spread the ideas of Sri Ramakrishna. What better venue to start this than the “Parliament of Religions”? This was a turning point for Naren, it was also a turning point for India, and it was a turning point for yoga. A new dawn was rising for the world. From now on decline and division would slowly give way to unity and love. From now on Naren would rise up and chart a new course, a new destiny for his country, the world, and yoga.

Then one day he had a vision where he saw Sri Ramakrishna walk on water and beckon him to follow. Naren now felt confident that he had the blessing of his Guru. He then agreed to make this trip to Chicago and began finalizing his arrangements. Just then a messenger came to fetch him. The Maharaja of Khetri was asking him to come and bless his newborn son.

Naren complied and when the Maharaja learnt of Naren’s plans he gave him a new name. From now on Naren would be known as Swami Vivekananda. He also outfitted Swami Vivekananda with a robe and turban of orange silk. He bought him a first class ticket and provided him with a handsome sum of money for his expenses in the US. May 31st 1893 Swami Vivekananda found himself aboard a ship headed for Chicago to begin a new chapter of his life.

East meets West

May 31st 1893 Swami Vivekananda found himself aboard a ship headed for Chicago. It was about 7 years since the passing of Sri Ramakrishna. His period of wandering was over and a new chapter in his life was about to begin. Little did he know of the challenges ahead. The Parliament of Religions that was his destination had no place for an unwelcome delegate without any formal organization sponsoring him. US was not India and had no tradition of helping penniless monks begging in the streets.

Ticket to Chicago

When he arrived in Chicago Swami Vivekananda learnt that he needed a letter of introduction to register, and that the date for registration had already passed. There was no chance that he would be allowed to speak in the “Parliament of Religions”. After a few days in Chicago he realized that he was running out of money. The opening date of the “Parliament of Religions” was put off by a few months.

Somebody told him that Boston was cheaper and he could make his money last longer. So he boarded a train for Boston. On the train he met Miss Kate Sanborn, who invited him to be a guest at her home. She introduced him to Prof J. H. Wright of Harvard University. Swami Vivekananda had many in-depth discussions with Prof. Wright and the professor was duly impressed. When he learnt of the swami’s difficulty in attending the “Parliament of Religions” he told him that, “To ask you for your credentials is like asking sun about its right to shine!” The chairman of the committee that selected the delegates was his friend and he wrote him a letter that said, “Here is a man who is more learned than all our learned professors put together.” Based on this the swami was accepted as a delegate. Knowing that the Swami was running short of cash Prof. Wright even bought him the tickets to Chicago.

His First Speech

The day came when the “Parliament Of Religions” opened. There were thousands of people in the audience. Swami Vivekananda found himself on the stage with 23 other delegates. One by one each delegate was introduced and spoke briefly. At last it was his turn. He had no prepared speech and he had no idea what he was going to say. He had never addressed an audience of this size before. When the time came to speak the first words that came out from his mouth were, “Sisters and Brothers of America.” On hearing this the audience spontaneously broke out in an applause. Here was a delegate who instead of addressing them formally was addressing them from the heart. This touched a chord and the audience responded immediately with a warm ovation. The warmth of the audience helped settle down the swami who went on to give a great speech. After the speech was over the applause was deafening! The audience fell in love with the swami who suddenly found himself the new star of the show. Swami Vivekananda refused to be pigeon holed as a representative of Hinduism but considered himself as a representative of all Religions. He spoke for religious tolerance and religious unity. The audience was waiting for somebody to speak at that level and responded enthusiastically. Swami had addressed his words on behalf of not only his religion, but all religions of the world.

He turned into an Overnight Sensation

This and other speeches that the swami gave in Chicago turned him into an overnight sensation. His posters were put up all over Chicago and his speeches and story received wide coverage all over the US. This was a significant moment in history for this was the moment when the east finally met the west. The ancient wisdom of Rishis and Seers that was compiled in the Vedas, and culminated in the Upanishads and Bhagvad Gita, was now finally flowing back to the larger body of humanity. The knowledge of the Vedantas represents the underlying river of mystical truths that are at the heart of all true religions. For the first time the west was hearing these truths from the mouth of a fully realized master.

When the swami went back to his hotel room and was alone, he wept. He knew that his days of wandering in anonymity were over. So also were gone the days of quiet solitude and meditation. From now on the Swami was submerged in a whirlpool of work. His output was tremendous and white-hot. He was giving speeches and in meetings, carrying out correspondence, and writing books. He met hundreds of thousands, giving 14 or more speeches a week. It was almost as if he knew his time was limited and he worked tirelessly without pause.

Besides spending time spreading the ideas of Sri Ramakrishna that spoke to the true message of all religions, the swami spent a lot of time dispelling wrong notions about India and Hinduism. He also spent considerable time demystifying religion.

His Return to India

After about 4 years abroad the swami returned to India January 26 1897 to a tumultuous welcome. Everywhere he went huge crowds turned out to receive him. Finally the swami had a pulpit and he preached tirelessly. His message to his countrymen was simple: “Rise up, awake, stand up on your feet, give up your despondency!

The swami was impatient for reform. He was anxious to abolish the rigidity of the caste system and kickstart women education. At one point the swami grew so impatient that he was toying with the idea of forming a political party.

Message from Kali

About a year later, swami embarked on a trip to Amarnath, to visit the holy cave of Lord Siva. He was with an entourage of foreigners from the US and UK. On the way back he visited a famous temple of Kali, the Divine Mother, which was in ruins. Here he had a scorching vision of the Divine Mother. She came to him in an angry demonic form. The Divine Mother reserves this form to fight egocentric behavior. Sri Ramakrishna was a devotee of the divine in the form of the Divine Mother. To him she always appeared as a gentle and motherly form. But Swami Vivekananda perceived her in her more famous demonic form. Later he wrote a poem of his vision and relieved the experience. So intense was the experience that he fell unconscious.

The swami got the message loud and clear. He was in danger of overstepping his bounds and he immediately retracted. Gone was all talk of political activism. He slowly realized that his mission was coming to an end and he had to spend his remaining time winding up his affairs. He had always neglected his health and the white-hot nature of his output had taken its toll. His health was failing and he was frequently ill. He suffered from asthma and diabetes He visited the west one more time spending more time in California this time. He set up two Vedantic centers in the US and then moved back to the home base setting in order the affairs of the religious organization he had created in the name of Sri Ramakrishna. On Friday July 4th 1902 he went to his room and quietly without any fuss went into final Samadhi and gave up his body. He was 39. It had been about 9 years since his first speech in Chicago.

Swami Vivekananda's Selfless Devotion

Swami Vivekananda asked for only spiritual knowledge, devotion and detachment from worldy pleasures from the Goddess Jagadamba. While explaining how this could happen, Swami Vivekananda says, “There were thousands of worldly thoughts in my mind. I left my home in search of some job in order to earn some money. I earned some money by working at an attorney’s office and by translating some books and pulled on somehow, but I could not succeed in getting a permanent job. Thus, I failed to make permanent arrangement of provisions for my mother and brothers.

One day, a thought came across my mind. I thought, God listens to Thakur (Ramkrishna Paramhansa), so I would ask Him to pray for relieving my mother and brothers of their hardships. He will never refuse my request.’ Thinking so I reached Dakshineshwar and told Thakur repeatedly, ‘You should pray to Jaganmata for relieving my mother and brothers of their financial problems.’ However, Thakur said, ‘I cannot ask my Mother (Jaganmata) for such things. Why do you not yourself tell the Mother about it? You suffer because you have no faith in Mother.’ However, I refused to budge and said ‘I do not know Mother; you tell her. You must tell her. I shall not leave unless you do so.’ Thakur smiled and said lovingly, ‘I tell her so many times to relieve you of your hardships; but since you do not believe in Her power, she does not listen to those prayers. You do one thing. Today is Tuesday. Go to Kalimata’s temple tonight and pay obeisance to Her and She will give you whatever you ask for. My Mother is Divine Energy. She has given birth to the Universe. What is impossible for Her if she desires?”

Swami Vivekananda further narrates, “After listening to those words of Thakur, I became sure that all my problems would definitely get solved once I pray to the Goddess. I was eagerly waiting for the night to come. After waiting for three hours [(one prahar) – There are in all 8 prahars in a day, Thakur told me to go to the temple of Kalimata. As I was entering the temple, I experienced a kind of trance; my feet started to tremble. The strong belief in my mind that I would be able to see the Mother and hear her voice made me forget the materialistic world. All worldly thoughts vanished from my mind and the only thoughts in my mind were of the Mother. After entering the temple, I saw that the Mother was really Divine, alive and the source of love and beauty. My heart was full with devotion and love. I repeatedly paid obeisance to her and said, ‘O Mother, grant me the boon of discriminating between right and wrong (Vivek), detachment, spiritual knowledge, devotion and see to it that I always get Your vision without any hindrance.’ My heart was at peace. The whole world disappeared and only the Mother occupied my heart.

When I returned to Thakur, He asked, ‘Narendra, did you pray to the Mother to fulfil all your wishes?’ I was surprised and I said, ‘No Maharaj, I forgot to ask. What shall I do now?’ He said, ‘Go, again and pray to Her.’ So, I went into the temple and again I was in similar trance and forgetting everything I paid my obeisance to her repeatedly and asked for knowledge and devotion and returned back. Thakur asked me, ‘Did you tell Her now at least?’ Again I was surprised and I said, ‘No Master, I get spellbound due to Her Divine Energy when I stand before Her. I forget everything and only ask for knowledge and devotion. What will happen now?’ Thakur smiled and said, ‘Ok boy, you could not even tell Her such a simple thing. If possible go quickly and tell Her everything you wish.’ Again I entered the temple and I was greatly ashamed. I started thinking, ‘What an ordinary thing I have come to ask for! ‘This is just like what Thakur says, ‘When the king is pleased with you, it is senseless to ask for a gourd.’ Is my intellect so deteriorated, that I have come to ask for such an ordinary thing? 

Repeatedly praying to the Mother, I said, ‘Just give me knowledge and devotion and nothing else.’ A thought came into my mind when I came out from the temple that all that had happened is Thakur’s Divine Play. Otherwise, having gone to the Mother thrice how could I not ask for anything from Her. Thereafter I told Thakur, ‘I know that it was you who made me forget everything. So now, you only promise me that my mother and brothers will have enough food and clothing forever.’ He said, ‘I could never pray like this for anyone before. I cannot utter such prayers. I told you whatever you asked for the Mother, you would get it. You could not ask. What can I do if you are not destined to have worldly satisfaction?’ I said, ‘Maharaj I am absolutely sure that if you say then my mother and brothers will not suffer in their life.’ When I told Him persistently, He said, ‘Ok go, they will not have any problem in getting simple food and clothing henceforth.”

Swami Vivekananda’s intense Bhav for his Guru

Following is one of the incidents from Swami Vivekananda’s tour to America. Swami Vivekananda represented India in the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago (America), where he introduced the great Hindu Dharma (Religion) to the world. He entranced the audience with his brilliant and powerful speech. He beautifully explained the significance of Sanatan Hindu Dharma to the western world. Following this highly inspiring speech, Swamiji was invited by many organisations to give discourses. He emphatically described Jnanyog, Bhaktiyog, Karmayog and Rajyog to the people there. His speech had a mesmerising impact on the audience. The audience was left spellbound and desired to hear more from him.

Once, after concluding a discourse, owing to curiosity, people asked Swamiji from which school or University had he acquired this knowledge? Swamiji replied that he had received this invaluable knowledge only from his Gurudev (spiritual master- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa). People impatiently asked Swamiji about his Gurudev. Swamiji said that if they had an intense desire to listen, he would surely share about Him. On the same day, a special lecture named ‘My Gurudev’ was organised. People came in large numbers to listen Swamiji speak about his Gurudev. There was a pin drop silence when Swamiji stood up from his chair/seat to address the audience. Seeing a huge crowd waiting for him to speak about his Gurudev, Swamiji experienced immense gratitude towards his Gurudev. When he began to speak, the first words he uttered were ‘My Gurudev’, with such an intense spiritual emotion (bhav) that his Guru’s form stood in front of his eyes. Seeing his Guru in front of him, Swamiji’s throat choked up due to spiritual emotion of gratitude, and tears started incessantly flowing down from his eyes. His spiritual emotion manifested in the form of tears, goose bumps and his body started shivering. He was speechless for 10 minutes. The audience was surprised to see Swamiji like this. The reason was simple. They had not seen anybody in tears except due to some physical injury or the demise/death of dear ones. Everybody was aghast to see Swamiji in such a state!

From this incident, we come know the intense spiritual emotion (bhav) Swami Vivekananda had for his Guru Shri Ramkrishna Paramhamsa. 

Importance of Guru

In the early years when Swami Vivekananda first visited Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda  asked “I have read the Bhagavad Gita and other scriptures several times, I lecture and give discourses on the Gita and Ramayana. Do I still need the harbor of a saint; do I still need a guru?”

Ramakrishna didn’t reply to Vivekananda’s question.

After a few days Ramakrishna called upon Vivekananda and handed him a parcel to be delivered at a nearby village a few hours away by the sea route. Early morning the boat and sailor would be ready and all he needed to do was to go to the village and deliver the parcel to the designated person.

Vivekananda agreed and decided to start early.

He found the boat and the sailor ready to put out to sea. While seated in the boat, Vivekananda suddenly realized that he didn’t know the road to the village. He checked with the sailor to find out if the sailor knew the way to the place, but the sailor had no clue either.

Vivekananda decided to go back to his guru to ask him the shortest way to the village.

Upon this Ramakrishna said, “Narendra, this is my reply to the question you asked me when we met the first time: Today, you have the medium (the boat), you have the resource (the sailor), you have the road (the sea), you know what to do (deliver the parcel) and you also know where to go but you don’t know the way……”

“……..likewise you have read all the scriptures, and you can conduct wonderful discourses on them. However, to realize the wisdom of scriptures one needs a guru, someone who has already traversed that path so that he can guide you through the journey and encourage you to not give up.”

Learning: A teacher or a guru especially, who has traversed or experienced life, is the one capable of teaching and guiding us. If we find such a guru we must hold on to Him so that we can face our life in a better and easier manner.

Story of the River and Grass

This story was narrated by Swami Vivekananda to his disciples.

Once a river became very proud of the tremendous flow of its water. The river felt that I am so powerful that I can wash away everything with me the mountains, houses, trees, animals, humans, etcetera.

One day the river proudly asked the ocean, “Tell me, what should I bring for you? Houses, animals, humans, trees, whatever you want, I can uproot and bring with me.”

The ocean understood that the river has become egoistic. He told the river, “If you want to bring something for me, uproot some grass and bring it.”

The river said, “Is that all? I’ll bring it right away.”

While passing through the field, the river exerted its full force on the grass, but the grass did not get uprooted. The river tried several times but failed.

Eventually, the river gave up and reached the ocean and said, “I can uproot trees, houses, mountains etcetera. But, whenever I apply force to uproot the grass, it bends down and I have to pass from above, empty-handed.”

The ocean listened carefully and said with a smile, “Those who are hard and rigid like mountains and trees are easily uprooted. But, the one who has learned the humility of grass cannot be disturbed even by the fiercest of winds or violent storms.”

Happiness in life does not mean fighting battles but avoiding them.

To retreat skillfully is also a victory in itself because arrogance turns even angels into devils. And humility turns even an ordinary person into an angel.

The journey of the seed is up to the tree, the journey of the river up to the ocean, and the journey of man is to the divine. Whatever is happening in the world is the law of nature; you and I are just Instruments.

Swami Viveknanda explains How Maya Shakti traps us?

Swami Vivekananda explains through the below story, How Maya Shakti plays and tricks us and that we should never forget the Ideal.

There is a story that the King of the Gods, Indra, once became a pig, wallowing in mire; he had a she-pig and a lot of baby pigs, and was very happy. Then some gods saw his plight, and came to him, and told him, “You are the King of the gods, you have all the gods under your command. Why are you here?” But Indra said, “Never mind; I am all right here; I do not care for heaven, while I have this sow and these little pigs.” The poor gods were at their wits’ end. After a time they decided to slay all the pigs one after another.

When all were dead, Indra began to weep and mourn. Then the gods ripped his pig-body open and he came out of it, and began to laugh, when he realized what a hideous dream he had, the King of the gods, to have become a pig, and to think that that pig-life was the only life! Not only so, but to have wanted the whole universe to come into the pig-life!

The Purusha, when it identifies itself with nature, forgets that it is pure and infinite. The Purusha does not love, it is love itself. It does not exist, it is existence itself. The Soul does not know, it is knowledge itself. It is a mistake to say the Soul loves, exists, or knows. Love, existence, and knowledge are not the qualities of the Purusha, but its essence. When they get reflected upon something, you may call them the qualities of that something. They are not the qualities but the essence of the Purusha, the great Atman, the Infinite Being, without birth or death, established in its own glory. It appears to have become so degenerate that if you approach to tell it, “You are not a pig,” it begins to squeal and bite.

Thus is it with us all in this Mâyâ, this dream world, where it is all misery, weeping and crying, where a few golden balls are rolled, and the world scrambles after them. You were never bound by laws; nature never had a bond for you. That is what the Yogi tells you. Have patience to learn it. And the Yogi shows how, by junction with nature, and identifying itself with the mind and the world, the Purusha thinks itself miserable. Then the Yogi goes on to show you that the way out is through experience. You have to get all this experience, but finish it quickly. We have placed ourselves in this net, and will have to get out. We have got ourselves caught in the trap, and we will have to work out our freedom.

So get this experience of husbands, and wives, and friends, and little loves; you will get through them safely if you never forget what you really are. Never forget this is only a momentary state, and that we have to pass through it. Experience is the one great teacher – experience of pleasure and pain – but know it is only experience. It leads, step by step, to that state where all things become small, and the Purusha so great that the whole universe seems as a drop in the ocean and falls off by its own nothingness. We have to go through different experiences, but let us never forget the ideal.

Swami Vivekananda explains the Importance of idol worship

Swami Vivekananda while touring once reached state of Alwar in the North. The Prime Minister (Diwan) of that state was impressed by his lecture and took him to the palace to meet the Raja Mangalsingh. The king was living in luxury. Also he had ego of being the king. When he saw Vivekananda, he felt after all he is just a young ascetic! How much experience will he have although he gives discourse in English? Let me pull his leg. With this thought the king said ‘Swamiji, I believe that idol worship is really a sign of being backward. I really pity anyone who offers turmeric, vermilion and flowers to an idol and also for paying obeisance to God. What is your opinion about this?’

Instead of giving a direct answer to the king, Swamiji turned toward the Diwan and said, ‘Diwanji will you go and spit on the photograph which is hung on the wall?’ Diwanji trembled when he heard this.

Diwanji just glanced sneakily from the corner of his eyes at the king whose face had become red with anger and said, ‘Swamiji what are you saying? This is the picture of the late father of the King !’ Vivekananda said, ‘Diwanji, this is just a thick paper coloured with black ink’. 

Then he said to the king, ‘In this picture there are no bones, flesh or soul of your father and it is incorrect to think that it is just a thick paper with a picture of black ink. Similarly it is incorrect to think that worship of the idol of God is incorrect.’” Further the swami said, ‘The devotees who worship the idol are aware that idol is not God, but it is difficult to meditate upon the Nirgun (Unmanifest), formless God for a common man. It is the first step to begin devotion to God. Later he can achieve the aim of merging in God’. The king became introverted and thoughtful after listening to this.

Secret Power story by Swami Viveknanda

Once, in Heaven there was a discussion among the Gods to decide where the miraculous secret power, the power by which man can achieve anything in this world was to be kept hidden.

One of the Gods suggested that it could be kept hidden in the depths of the Sea.

Another said it could be buried on top of high mountains.

The third one thought of a cave in the woods as the right place.

At last, the most intelligent among them said, 'Keep it in the depths of man's mind.

He will never suspect that the power is hidden there because right from his childhood, his mind is prone to wandering and he will not look within. Only the intelligent among them will look within, and use the power and become great.' All gods agreed.

So, do you see that the difference between two people lies in their minds? One knows how to tap its power and the other does not. So, the truth expressed here is that in the depths of man's mind lies hidden the miraculous power, using which one can become great.

Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.