Swami Vivkeanand

8/3/2019 Swami Vivkeanand

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Hinduism | People

Swami VivekanandaThe Universal Man - 4Learning Through HardshipsDeath of Narendra's father and his subsequent prayer to MaKaliNo one knows the ways of divine play! Inscrutable are the ways of theLord that only a few can understand; others call it fate. Such a lifeshattering event occurred in the life of Swami Vivekananda when he hadpassed his degree course in the college, and when was about 21 years ofage. Everything was going on smoothly for him at home and atDakshineswar, when his father suddenly died due to massive heart attack. The liberal attorney,Vishwanath Dutta, although outwardly appeared well off, in fact was in severe debt. His unusualgenerosity and carelessness in handling money-matters had put him in a situation wherenothing was left as savings. The debtors took away their share leaving the bereaved family inutter poverty and want. Narendra's uncles also shied away in this hour of crisis, and instead ofhelping him they took away their share and kept aloof. It was difficult for Narendra to make twoends meet.To add to the difficulty, Narendra could not get a job even after trying hard. In this situation ofutter emergency and despair, Swami Vivekananda took the decision to leave the home andwalk out in the unknown world as a Sannyasin. Here at Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna in hisspiritual mood came to know about the secret resolve of his beloved disciple to leave the world,which caused much anguish and concern in his heart. In such a situation the Master metNarendra at one of the devotee's house. In his deep emotional voice, the Master sang a song,which ran like this

"I am afraid to speak, and equally afraid not to speak,The doubt rises in my mind,Lest I should lose you, ah my Rai,Lest I should lose you"Immediately the meaning was clear to Narendra; he knew that Sri Ramakrishna had come toknow his secret resolve to become Sannyasin, and that the song was meant for him toreconsider his decision. Tears flowed down the cheeks of both the Guru and the disciple wettingtheir chests as well. All other devotees present there were surprised to see such an unusualbehavior of the Master and Narendranath; no one knowing the real cause behind this emotionaloutburst.


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After some time the emotions calmed down and Sri Ramakrishna forced Swami Vivekananda toaccompany him to Dakshineswar. There Sri Ramakrishna inquired about the problem andrequested Naren not to desert him till his death. Narendra had to promise, for he could notdisobey the sincerity in Master's appeal.

Then Swami Vivekananda said to Sri Ramakrishna, "O Sir, please pray to the Mother so that my

family is supplied with coarse grain and clothes. I know the Mother listens to you and definitelygrants your prayers."But the Master had different plans, if we can say so.

Sri Ramakrishna said, "Look my boy, I have given everything to the Mother; how can I ask backanything from her now? But one thing I can tell you, why don't you go and pray to the Mother tofulfill your wish? My Mother is very kind and gracious, and I am sure she will not disappointyou."Thus, Swami Vivekananda was forced to pray to the Mother to fulfill his wants. That nightNarendra and the Master were alone in the Kali Temple, when Swami Vivekananda went to theMother's shrine to pray and ask for material things of urgent necessity. However, as he enteredthe shrine all that he could say was, "O Mother, please give me Jnana and Bhakti."Thus praying, Narendra returned back to where Sri Ramakrishna was waiting for him. TheMaster inquired, "Naren, have you asked for food and money required for your family?" SwamiVivekananda, surprised as he was as well, replied, "Why, no sir! I asked forJnana and Bhakti.""You fool," said the Master, "Go and ask for wealth and the things you actually need now."Thrice Swami Vivekananda went to Ma Kali, but could not utter a word about money, clothes,food, and grains, but instead all the three times he prayed to the Mother forJnana and Bhakti!

As soon as Swami Vivekananda used to enter the temple, he was elevated to such a wonderfulstate of mind and consciousness that the whole world including money, material comfort, andfood lost their value, and in its place there shone forth the face of divine and blissful Mother,gracious enough to grant highest Jnana and Bhakti. Who fool would ask for transient anduseless things when in fact Mother was granting Jnana! Who would ask for pebbles whensomeone was distributing the gems! Who would ask for vegetables to the king, when he waswilling to grant his whole kingdom!Now Swami Vivekananda understood the deep meaning and significance of his Master's wordthat formless god and God with form as the Mother were but one. Swami Vivekananda acceptedMother on that day as the highest embodiment of spiritual virtues, power, and knowledge.Exhausted, but satiated with inner knowledge of divinity in all its aspects, he bowed down at the

holy feet of the Master and prayed, "O Lord, today I came to know who you are. You are all,everything in this universe. I do not want anything anymore from the Mother. It is all your wish."Embracing his disciple, the master assured, "Go my son, be at peace. From today onwards youand your family would ever be provided with simple clothes and food, and shelter. This much Iguarantee for you and your family."The Teachings of Vedanta


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Narendra had developed peculiar sharpness of perception and assimilation that empowered himwith unusual power to pick up 'the gems' from the talks of his Master. He could, as compared toothers, easily 'see' the deep meaning in the words of Sri Ramakrishna, even though the Mastertold them in simple language, and never as preaching. Thus, gradually Swami Vivekanandastarted assimilating tips and hints on practical Vedanta that could benefit individual andcollective life in the society.Shiva Jnane Jiva SevaThe invaluable mantra "Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva" (serving every being as the full manifestation ofGod) that Narendranath received from his Master.For instance, sometime in 1884, once the Master was sitting in the room surrounded by hisdevotees including Narendranath. In the course of conversation arose the topic ofVaishnavareligion, and explaining the essence of that doctrine the Master said, "That doctrine teaches thatone should always be careful to observe three things, namely, a taste for God's name, kindnessto all beings, and the service of co-devotees. One should have the conviction in one's heart

that the whole universe belongs to Krishna, and therefore, one should have compassion for allbeings." No sooner had Sri Ramakrishna uttered the words compassion for all beings than hesuddenly went into ecstasy. Regaining partial normal consciousness, he continued, "Talk ofcompassion for beings! Insignificant creature that you are, how can you show compassion for allbeings?Who are you to show compassion? You wretch, who are you to bestow it! No, no; it isnot compassion to jives, but service to them as Shiva."

All went on listening to those words of the Master spoken in that ecstatic mood, but none coulddetect and understand their hidden import at that time. It was Narendranath alone who, comingout of the room at the end of Master's ecstasy, said, "Ah, what a wonderful light have I got todayfrom the Master's words! What a new and attractive Gospel have we received today throughthose words of his, wherein a synthesis has been effected of sweet devotion to the Lord with

Vedantic knowledge, which is generally regarded as dry austere and lacking in sympathy withthe suffering of others. Whenever shall I get the opportunity I will preach this wonderful doctrineof 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva', serving God in each living being!To give an example how in later life Swami Vivekananda actually put this mantra in practice, thefollowing incidence is worth mentioning:

After his return from USA around 1898, Swami Vivekananda had acquired land at Belur forconstruction of the Temple of Sri Ramakrishna and the Math forSannyasins. He was notkeeping well and had gone to Darjeeling hill station for rest. Meanwhile an epidemic of plaguebroke out in Calcutta; the panic set in all over. People were running in fear, leaving Calcutta.Many died and there was no one to take care of the sick or dispose of the dead bodies. The

news reached the broad-hearted Swami who immediately returned to Calcutta and ordered allthe inmates ofBelur Math to get busy in the service and care of the affected. Many a Sannyasinprotested, 'this is not our work; Sri Ramakrishna had never told us social service.Our main aimis to seek the God and do sadhana.' This was the argument put forward by some of theSannyasins. Swami Vivekananda thundered at them saying, "O my brothers, have you forgottenthe mantra of our Master! 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva'! By serving human beings we are serving thehighest expression of the God on this earth. Love the Lord in these suffering patients. I appealto you to come forward in this calamity and serve the living God.


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All the monks were stunned to listen to these powerful words of their leader and many of themsaw the truth therein. But someone still protested, "O swami, from where the money wouldcome?" To this the Swami retaliated, "If need be, sell off the Belur Math! The money thusgathered would be put to the service of these men. I care not for home or shelter for ourselves;we are Sannyasins, and we have taken the vow of poverty. Tree shade would be our roof and aloin cloth would be enough for us to cover our bodies."Thus were engaged all the monks, householder devotees of Thakur, and inmates ofBelur Mathin the service of the afflicted. The British authorities in their report on the epidemic had recordedthat due to this timely help from the Math mortality was less and moreover, the epidemic wasbrought under control much quic

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