Swami Vivekananda 10

[Guest guest]

Part 10

 

The invaluable mantra " Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva " (serving every being as

the full manifestation of God) that Narendranath received from his

Master

 

Narendra had developed peculiar sharpness of perception and assimilation

that empowered him with peculiar power to pick up 'the gems' from the

talks of the Master. He could, as compared to others, 'see' the deep

meaning in the words of Sri Ramakrishna, even though the Master told

them in simple language, and never as preaching. Thus, gradually Swami

Vivekananda was assimilating the tips and hints about practical Vedanta

that could be put into individual and collective life in the society.

 

For instance, sometime in 1884, once the Master was sitting in the room

surrounded by his devotees including Narendranath. In the course of

conversation arose the topic of Vaishnava religion, and explaining the

essence of that doctrine the Master said, " That doctrine teaches that

one should always be careful to observe three things, namely, a taste

for God's name, kindness to 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 all

beings. " No sooner had Sri Ramakrishna uttered the words " compassion

for all beings " than he suddenly went into ecstasy. Regaining partial

normal consciousness, he continued, " Talk of compassion for beings!

Insignificant creature that you are, how can you show compassion for all

beings? Who are you to show compassion? You wretch, who are you to

bestow it! No, no; it is not 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 could detect and understand their hidden import

at that time. It was Narendranath alone who, coming out of the room at

the end of Master's ecstasy, said, " Ah, what a wonderful light have I

got today from the Master's words! What a new and attractive Gospel have

we received today through those 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 with

the suffering of others. Whenever shall I get the opportunity I will

preach this wonderful doctrine of '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, the following incidence is worth mentioning:

 

After his return from USA around 1898, Swami Vivekananda had acquired

land at Belur for construction of the Temple of Sri Ramakrishna and the

Math for sannyasins. He was not keeping well and had gone to Darjeeling

hill station for rest. Meanwhile an epidemic of plague broke 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 all the inmates

of Belur Math to get busy in the service and care of the affected. Many

a sannyasin protested, 'this is not our work; Sri Ramakrishna had never

told us social service. Our main aim is to seek the God and do sadhana.'

This was the argument put forward by some of the sannyasins. Swami

Vivekananda thundered at them saying, " O my brothers, have you forgotten

the mantra of our Master! 'Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva'! By serving human

beings we are serving the highest expression of the God on this earth.

Love the Lord in these suffering patients. I appeal to you to come

forward in this calamity and serve the living God.

 

All the monks were stunned to listen to these powerful words of their

leader and many of them saw the truth therein. But someone still

protested, " O swami, from where the money would come? " To this the Swami

retaliated, " If need be, sell off the Belur Math! The money thus

gathered 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 a loin cloth would be

enough for us to cover our bodies. "

 

Thus were engaged all the monks, householder devotees of Thakur, and

inmates of Belur Math in the service of the afflicted. The British

authorities in their report on the epidemic had recorded that due to

this timely help from the Math mortality was less and moreover, the

epidemic was brought under control much quicker!

 

Continued next part 11

 

C S Shah

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