"When Swami Vivekananda went to USA, a lady asked him to marry her. When Swami asked the lady about what made her ask him such question. The lady replied that she was fascinated by his intellect. She wanted a child of such an intellect. So she asked Swami, whether he could marry her and give a child like him. He said to that lady, that since she was attracted only by his intellect, there is no problem. My dear lady, i understand Your desire. Marrying and bringing a child in to this world and understanding whether it is intelligent or not takes very long time. More over it is not guaranteed. Instead, to fulfill Your desire immediately, i can suggest a guaranteed way. Take me as Your child. You are my mother. Now on Your desire of having a child of my intellect is fulfilled.The lady was speechless."
Disciple: How is it, Swamiji, that you do not lecture in this country? You have stirred Europe and America with your lectures, but coming back here you have kept silence.
Swami
Vivekananda: In
this country, the ground should be prepared first; then if the seed is sown,
the plant will come out best. The ground in the West, in Europe and America is
very fertile and fit for sowing seeds. There they have reached the climax of
Bhoga (enjoyment). Being satiated with Bhoga to the full, their minds are not
getting peace now even in those enjoyments, and they feel as if they wanted
something else. In this country you have neither Bhoga nor Yoga (renunciation).
When one is satiated with Bhoga, then it is that one will listen to and
understand the teachings on Yoga. What good will lectures do in a country like
India which has become the birthplace of disease, sorrow, and affliction, and
where men are emaciated through starvation, and weak in mind?
Disciple: How is that?
Do you not say that ours is the land of religion and that here the people
understand religion as they do nowhere else? Why then will not this country be
animated by your inspiring eloquence and reap to the full the fruits thereof?
Swami
Vivekananda: Now
understand what religion means. The first thing required is the worship of the
Karma (tortoise) Incarnation, and the belly-god is this Karma, as it were.
Until you pacify this, no one will welcome your words about religion. India is
restless with the thought of how to face this spectre of hunger. The draining
of the best resources of the country by the foreigners, the unrestricted
exports of merchandise, and, above all, the abominable jealousy natural to
slaves are eating into the vitals of India. First of all, you must remove this
evil of hunger and starvation, this constant anxiety for bare existence, from
those to whom you want to preach religion; otherwise, lectures and such things
will be of no benefit.
Disciple: What should
we do then to remove that evil?
Swami
Vivekananda: First,
some young men full of the spirit of renunciation are needed — those who will
be ready to sacrifice their lives for others, instead of devoting themselves to
their own happiness. With this object in view I shall establish a Math to train
young Sannyasins, who will go from door to door and make the people realise
their pitiable condition by means of facts and reasoning, and instruct them in
the ways and means for their welfare, and at the same time will explain to them
as clearly as possible, in very simple and easy language, the higher truths of
religion. The masses in our country are like the sleeping Leviathan. The
education imparted by the present university system reaches one or two per cent
of the masses only. And even those who get that do not succeed in their
endeavours of doing any good to their country. But it is not their fault, poor
fellows! As soon as they come out of their college, they find themselves
fathers of several children! Somehow or other they manage to secure the
position of a clerk, or at the most, a deputy magistrate. This is the finale of
education! With the burden of a family on their backs, they find no time to do
anything great or think anything high. They do not find means enough to fulfil
their personal wants and interests; so what can be expected of them in the way
of doing anything for others?
Disciple: Is there then
no way out for us?
Swami
Vivekananda: Certainly
there is. This is the land of Religion Eternal. The country has fallen, no
doubt, but will as surely rise again, and that upheaval will astound the world.
The lower the hollows the billows make, the higher and with greater force will
they rise again.
Disciple: How will
India rise again?
Swami
Vivekananda: Do
you not see? The dawn has already appeared in the eastern sky, and there is
little delay in the sun's rising. You all set your shoulders to the wheel! What
is there in making the world all in all, and thinking of "My Samsara
(family and property), my Samsara"? Your duty at present is to go from one
part of the country to another, from village to village, and make the people
understand that mere sitting idly won't do any more. Make them understand their
real condition and say, "O ye brothers, arise! Awake! How much longer
would you remain asleep!" Go and advise them how to improve their own
condition, and make them comprehend the sublime truths of the Shastras
(scriptures), by presenting them in a lucid and popular way. So long the
Brahmins have monopolised religion; but since they cannot hold their ground
against the strong tide of time, go and take steps so that one and all in the
land may get that religion. Impress upon their minds that they have the same
right to religion as the Brahmins. Initiate all, even down to the Chandalas
(people of the lowest castes), in these fiery Mantras. Also instruct them, in
simple words, about the necessities of life, and in trade, commerce,
agriculture, etc. If you cannot do this then fie upon your education and
culture, and fie upon your studying the Vedas and Vedanta!
Disciple: But where is
that strength in us? I should have felt myself blessed if I had a hundredth
part of your powers, Swamiji.
Swami
Vivekananda: How foolish!
Power and things like that will come by themselves. Put yourself to work, and
you will final such tremendous power coming to you that you will feel it hard
to bear. Even the least work done for others awakens the power within; even
thinking the least good of others gradually instils into the heart the strength
of a lion. I love you all ever so much, but I wish you all to die working for
others — I should rather be glad to see you do that!
Disciple: What will
become of those, then, who depend on me?
Swami
Vivekananda: If
you are ready to sacrifice your life for others, God will certainly provide
some means for them. Have you not read in the Gita (VI. 40) the words of Shri
Krishna, " — Never does a doer of good, O my beloved, come to
grief"?
Disciple: I see, sir.
Swami
Vivekananda: The
essential thing is renunciation. With out renunciation none can pour out his
whole heart in working for others. The man of renunciation sees all with an
equal eye and devotes himself to the service of all. Does not our Vedanta also teach
us to see all with an equal eye? Why then do you cherish the idea that the wife
and children are your own, more than others? At your very threshold, Nârâyana
Himself in the form of a poor beggar is dying of starvation! Instead of giving
him anything, would you only satisfy the appetites of your wife and children
with delicacies? Why, that is beastly!
Disciple: To work for
others requires a good deal of money at times, and where shall I get that?
Swami
Vivekananda: Why
not do as much as lies within your power? Even if you cannot give to others for
want of money, surely you can at least breathe into their ears some good words
or impart some good instruction, can't you? Or does that also require money?
Disciple: Yes, sir,
that I can do.
Swami
Vivekananda: But
saying, "I can", won't do. Show me through action what you can do,
and then only I shall know that your coming to me is turned to some good
account. Get up, and put your shoulders to the wheel — how long is this life
for? As you have come into this world, leave some mark behind. Otherwise, where
is the difference between you and the trees and stones? They, too, come into
existence, decay and die. If you like to be born and to die like them, you are
at liberty to do so. Show me by your actions that your reading the Vedanta has
been fruitful of the highest good. Go and tell all, "In every one of you
lies that Eternal Power", and try to wake It up. What will you do with
individual salvation? That is sheer selfishness. Throw aside your meditation,
throw away your salvation and such things! Put your whole heart and soul in the
work to which I have consecrated myself.
With bated breath the disciple heard these
inspiring words, and Swamiji went on with his usual fire and eloquence.
Swami
Vivekananda: First
of all, make the soil ready, and thousands of Vivekanandas will in time be born
into this world to deliver lectures on religion. You needn't worry yourself
about that! Don't you see why I am starting orphanages, famine-relief works,
etc.? Don't you see how Sister Nivedita, a British lady, has learnt to serve
Indians so well, by doing even menial work for them? And can't you, being
Indians, similarly serve your own fellow-countrymen? Go, all of you, wherever
there is an outbreak of plague or famine, or wherever the people are in
distress, and mitigate their sufferings. At the most you may die in the attempt
— what of that? How many like you are being born and dying like worms every
day? What difference does that make to the world at large? Die you must, but
have a great ideal to die for, and it is better to die with a great ideal in
life. Preach this ideal from door to door, and you will yourselves be benefited
by it at the same time that you are doing good to your country. On you lie the
future hopes of our country. I feel extreme pain to see you leading a life of
inaction. Set yourselves to work — to work! Do not tarry — the time of
death is approaching day by day! Do not sit idle, thinking that everything will
be done in time, later on! Mind — nothing will be done that way!
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