Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 16)

October 9, 2000

We are presenting the following work by Sister Gayatriprana.

Parts 1 to 15 were posted earlier. This is part 16. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 16

continued......

j) Expressing Vedanta in Everyday Life

1. Through Work

[On his way to the West, Swami Vivekananda stopped in China]. His earnest desire was to see a Chinese monastery. Unfortunately, these monasteries were on grounds forbidden to foreigners. What could be done? He asked his interpreter, only to be told that it was impossible. But this served to intensify his desire. He must see a Chinese monastery! He said to the interpreter, " Suppose a foreigner goes there, what then?" and he received as reply, "Why, sir, they are sure to maltreat him." The swami thought that the monks would surely not hurt him if they knew he was a Hindu sadhu. He persisted and finally induced the interpreter and some German acquaintances to tread on "forbidden ground".... But they had not gone far when... some two or three men were seen approaching with rapid steps and clubs in hand. Seeing their menacing appearance, the Germans ran off, and the interpreter was about to take to his heels when the swami, seizing him by the arm, said to him with a smile, "You must not run away before you tell what the Chinese call an Indian yogi in their language." Having been told this, the swami called out to the men in a loud voice that he was an Indian yogi. And, lo, the word yogi acted like magic! The expression of the angry men changed to that of deep reverence, and they fell at his feet. They arose and stretched out their joined palms in most respectful salutation; and then said something in a loud voice, of which one word the swami understood to be kabatch. He thought it was undoubtedly the Indian word meaning amulet. But, to be sure of what they meant, he shouted out for an explanation to the interpreter who stood at a safe distance, greatly confounded at the strange development of events - and well he might be, for never in all his experience had he witnessed such a spectacle as this. The man told him, "Sir, they want amulets where by to ward off evil spirits and unholy influences. Sir, they desire your protection." The swami thought for a moment, for he was not a charm-giving sadhu. Suddenly he decided upon something; and taking a sheet of paper from his pocket he divided it into several pieces and then wrote on each separate bit the word Om in Sanskrit, the most holy word of the Vedas and the symbol of the highest transcendental truth. He gave them the bits of paper and the men, touching it to their heads, bowed down before him and led him into the monastery. (57)

During his sojourn in Northern India at the end of 1897, [swami Vivekananda] visited the Arya Samaj Orphanage in Bareilly on August 10th; and on the next day, as a result of an impressive conversation with a gathering of students on the need of establishing a students' society which might conjointly carry out his ideas of practical Vedanta and work for others, it was formed then and there. (58)

At the beginning of 1899, Nag Mahashaya [a devotee of Sri Ramakrishna] came all the way from his distant village home in Deobhog to meet with Swami Vivekananda at the new monastery [at Belur]. It was like the coming together of two great forces, one representing the highest ideal of the ancient garhastya dharma [householder mode of life] and the other the ideal of a new type of monasticism - one mad with God-intoxication, the other intoxicated with the idea of bringing out the divine in man - but both one in the vision of sannyas and realization.

After mutual salutation and greeting Nag Mahashay exclaimed, "Jaya Shankara! Blessed am I to see before me the living Shiva!" and remained standing before Swami Vivekananda with folded hands, notwithstanding his solicitations to make him sit. On being asked about his health he said, "What is the use of inquiring about a worthless lump of flesh and bones! I feel blissful at seeing Shiva himself!" So saying, he fell prostrate before Swami Vivekananda, who at once raised him up, entreating, "O, please do not do such things!" At this time the Upanishad class was being held. Swami Vivekananda, addressing his disciples, said, "Let the class be stopped. You all come and see Nag Mahashay." When all had sat round the great devotee, Swami Vivekananda, addressing them, observed, "Look, he is a householder, but he has no consciousness whether he has a body, or not; whether the universe exists, or not. He is always absorbed in the thought of God. He is a living example of what man becomes when possessed of supreme bhakti." (59)

April 9, 1899: When Swami Sadananda and Sister Nivedita went over on Saturday to report [on the plague relief work in Calcutta], Swami Vivekananda was so touched by the news that [the monks] had two hours of everything, from the Upanishads onwards: there could be no religion without that activity, that manhood, and cooperation. (60)

October 18, 1899: Ridgely Manor, New York: On Sunday during lunch Swami Vivekananda came and spent three hours with Olea [bull, who was mentally ill] and left her a different woman. On Monday about 10.30 he came again and spent the morning. He brought the Vedas and Upanishads with him and gave her what was really a class on jnana - all to herself - though many of us were present. (61)

December 26, 1900: Dear Mr. Sevier [swami Vivekananda's devoted English disciple who dedicated his life to founding the Advaita Ashrama at Mayavati] passed away before I [swami Vivekananda] could arrive. He was cremated on the banks of the river that flows by his ashrama, `a la Hindu, covered with garlands, the brahmins carrying his body and boys chanting the Vedas. (62)

to be continued......