Memorable Events from the life of Swami Vivekananda - 9

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Memorable Events from the life of Swami Vivekananda - 9

 

It was August, 1888. Swamiji was on his way to Vrindavan from Agra.

As he reached the outskirts of the town he saw a man contentedly

smoking tobacco by the wayside. Swamiji was tired as he had walked

a long way. He felt an urge to smoke and take some rest. So he

approached the man and asked him if he could smoke his hookah. The

very proposal made the man shudder. He said to Swamiji, " I am sorry

sir! I cannot allow you to smoke this pipe which I have used. You

are a monk while I am a Bhangi, an ignoble sweeper! "

 

Swamiji said nothing and resumed his walk. But having gone some

distance, it struck him in a flash: What! am I not a sannyasin who

has renounced everything including the idea of caste, family prestige

and so forth? What a shame that I would not smoke his pipe only

because he is a Bhangi! The thought made him so restless that he at

once came back to the man and made him prepare a chillum of tobacco,

much against his wish. Then Swamiji joyfully smoked the pipe.

 

 

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Taken from the book

" My India The India Eternal " published by

The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta.

 

 

 

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