Swami Vivekananda
(1863)
Vivekananda was born to the name Narendra on January 12, 1863 in Calcutta. His father was Vishwanatha Datta and his mother Bhuvanishwari Devi.
As a child, Narendra was very mischievous and precocious. He was a natural leader, and the boys who lived close to him followed him and did what he said. Once, when a neighbor who was annoyed by the antics of the children, told them that a demon lived in a tree near his house and would come out and get them. All the children except Narendra ran away. Narendra sat on a branch of the tree, unafraid, and after several hours proclaimed that he had disproved the neighbor's claim, there was no demon, and the children could return.
Early on, Narendra was proficient at meditation, and became oblivious to the outer world as he sat in great concentration. His trance could not be disturbed by animals, his friends, or his mother, to her dismay.
Even as a child he had great respect for the Sannyasis, or ascetics. He would give them anything they asked for, his clothing, his food, whatever he possessed. This disturbed his mother, and she took to locking him in his room when one of these wandering holy men came near. The Sannyasis and beggars knew the nature of Narendra, and would stand outside his window, and Narendra would throw down whatever possessions he had. His mother was concerned that he would himself become a wandering ascetic, as his grandfather had been. Once she found him sitting before the idol of Lord Shiva, his body smeared with ash. When she asked him what he was up to, he replied, “Mother, I’m the Lord Shiva.”
Narendra was known for his compassion, and would often help others in need. There were many incidences in his early life when he helped strangers who were sick, injured, or in need. He was developing a growing disdain for the worship of idols, and began to question the Hindu religion in which he had been raised. He was excellent in sports, as well as his studies. He was a quick and alert student with a remarkable memory. He memorized lessons after one reading and excelled through great concentration. He was quite fearless, giving no thought to questioning authority and speaking his mind.
His father loved him and took time when he could to teach him the essentials of a virtuous life. He told him, “You need fear no one so long as you keep to the path of truth and Dharma. One should not be browbeaten. One should guard one's self-respect. Love of one’s religion should not mean hatred of the other religions.” Narendra listened to his father, and gauged his words by his own inner understanding. He had great respect for him, yet would not hesitate to question him if he had doubts.
Narendra’s great love was his mother, and to him she was a goddess. He was in awe of her ability to make sacrifices for others, and felt that a mother must have the highest place in the home as well as in society. Narendra had a beautiful voice, and his parents loved to listen to him sing. When he sang devotional songs, he became radiant. He was adored by both his parents.
In college, Narendra became ravenous for knowledge. He quickly and efficiently learned all that his teachers taught him, and studied on his own as well, reading many books not related to the courses he was taking. His main fascination was with understanding God. He read many books on history, science, religion, and took a particular interest in Western philosophy. He began to develop intellectual discernment, and along with this came doubts and uncertainties. He left behind blind belief and sought truth through understanding. He went to the great scholars and thinkers at the University and questioned them, and though they excelled in expounding logic, they did not satisfy his seeking. He viewed their knowledge as learned, not experiential, and felt it lacked life. He began to seek someone who had direct experience of God.
Narendra learned of one named Ramakrishna, who was a priest in the temple of the goddess Kali. Though he was not a scholar, it was said that he had realized God. Narendra and some of his friends went to see him. When they entered the temple, Ramakrishna sat surrounded by his disciples, speaking about God. Narendra sat in the corner with his friends. All at once Ramakrishna's eyes turned toward Narendra. Immediately Ramakrishna lost his train of thought, and began to go into a trance, remembering an earlier meeting with this one. He asked Narendra, “Can you sing?” And Narendra sang some Bengali songs in a sweet and beautiful voice. Once again Ramakrishna went into a trance listening to Narendra. After a time, he took him into a room and spoke to him, saying, “My child, why are you so late? I have grown weary, waiting for you all these days. I wanted to share my experiences with the right person. You are not an ordinary man. You are Lord Vishnu in human form. Do you know how much I have been craving for you?”
Narendra thought the old man to be insane. He wanted to leave, and promised to return just so he could get away. He returned to his friends, saying nothing, and they listened to the rest of Ramakrishna's talk. Then Narendra asked him, “Have you seen God?” And Ramakrishna answered, “Of course I have, I have seen him just as I'm looking at you.” Narendra was thoughtful, for this was the first person he met who told him that he had seen God. He did return, and soon became a disciple of Ramakrishna. The two became inseparable, and a great love grew between them.
His father died, and poverty overcame the family. Narendra, who had graduated with a B.A., began to search for a job. His search was long, difficult, and his family went hungry. He went long periods of time without food, so that his family could eat. Finally, he approached his guru, and asked for him to pray to the blessed mother Kali on his behalf, asking for relief from poverty for him and his family. Then Ramakrishna told him to pray to the goddess himself.
Narendra approached the idol of Kali and sat before her, going into a deep meditation. He prayed to the goddess, “O Mother, bestow on me the spirit of renunciation. Let me see you, that is all I beg of you.” When he came out, Ramakrishna asked, “Did you submit your prayer to Her? What did She say?” Narendra replied “O! I forgot about it completely,” meaning he forgot to pray for relief from poverty. Twice more he attempted to beseech the Goddess to remove poverty from his family. Twice more he asked only to see Her. He could not seem, when in deep communion with the Divine One, to ask anything more than to become One with Her. Ramakrishna responded with great joy, telling Narendra, “My child, you should not pray for only food and clothes. They are not the ultimate goals of man. Have faith in God. He will look after the welfare of your family.”
After some time Ramakrishna developed a tumor in his throat. Near the end, he called Narendra to his bedside and touched him. Then he told him, “Narendra, now you are all-powerful. All these are my children. It is your duty to take care of them.”
After the death of Ramakrishna, Narendra founded an institute to continue the teachings of his master, and house the disciples. He taught Sanskrit and philosophy, as well as the teachings of Ramakrishna.
After establishing the retreat, he began to wander and travel as a sannyasin, with the yellow robes, water bowl, and staff. It was during this period that he received the name Swami Vivekananda. He traveled widely, but unless someone paid for his train ticket, he walked, and unless someone offered him food, he did not eat, and unless someone offered him shelter, he slept in the street. He met many scholars and wise men, and began to gather disciples. During his travels, he also met with the leaders and rulers of the land. He gained great respect, and when he visited Ramanad, he spoke with the ruler there, who told him of the problems the country was facing. He was treated with great respect, and the Prince told him, “You should attend the conference of World Religions in America. I will bear all your travel expenses.”
Vivekananda traveled to the coast, and visited the ocean, swimming to a rock and sitting on it. He reflected on the suffering endured by the people of his country. He thought of the poverty of the masses, and he felt great sadness and compassion. He decided that the caste system had to be rooted out if India was going to evolve spiritually. He decided to go to the Western countries to unveil the great and ancient spiritual traditions of India, and then return to awaken his homeland. During this time he was becoming very well known in India, and many gathered to hear him speak. Many gave him contributions of money for the journey ahead, though he kept only enough to travel modestly. He left for America on May 31, 1893.
After many stops, the ship arrived in Chicago in July. Vivekananda inquired about when the Conference Of World Religions would begin, and found out that it was three months away. He wondered what he would do for three months in the strange land. The money he had was fast disappearing. He found an international fair at which he spotted a maharajah from India, but at his approach the man turned away. He spent some time in Boston as room and board were less expensive there. He met many people who were impressed with his knowledge and presence. He began speaking in coffee houses and tea rooms. People were drawn to him. Eventually he made his way back to Chicago where he attended the Conference of World Religions, which began on September 11, 1893. Thousands of delegates from many countries of the world gathered at the conference, and Vivekananda was the youngest of them all. When it was his turn to speak he was very nervous. His heart was pounding and his throat was dry. He asked the president to allow him to be the last speaker. When his turn finally came he prayed to Sri Ramakrishna, and stood up to speak. When he began his address with the words, “Brothers and Sisters of America,” a thunderous applause filled the hall. It lasted for a full three minutes.
When he was able to continue he spoke about people being born into different religions, and how they finally reached the same God, as rivers born into different places finally reached the sea. He passionately declared that no religion is superior and that none is inferior. His speech was praised by all the delegates. He became an overnight sensation, and everyone wanted to hear his words. His great beauty, melodious verse and intense, yet humble presence attracted all. He quickly became world-famous. Wherever he went he spoke at great length about the beauty and depth of Eastern Indian culture. He spoke with ease and confidence on any topic.
An example of one of the many newspaper articles said, “He speaks without a scrap of paper in his hand. We see in him some of the qualities of Jesus himself. A strange attire, a radiant personality, a rare elegance, the skills to epitomize Hinduism superbly with ease, with these gifts he has won the hearts of our people. He is mesmeric. He is unsurpassed in conversation. His mastery of English is exceptional. A man like him appears only once in an age. We're fortunate that we can see him and hear him.”
Vivekananda raised America’s view of India to an honored position, not only in America but in all the progressive nations. Wherever he went to speak, people listened. He had many invitations from important and wealthy people to stay at their houses, and he was treated as an honored guest. During this time he was constantly and painfully reminded of the poverty in India and spent many sleepless and tortured nights. He spent four years traveling in Europe and the United States before he returned to India.
Vivekananda received a welcome befitting a king in India. Huge crowds came to greet him. He established The Sri Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, formulating its ideology and goal. He said, “I do not want salvation, as long as there is a single sorrow-stricken man in India.” He became a tireless missionary, traveling extensively throughout India and the Himalayas.
He returned to America for a while and then participated in the next Conference Of World Religions in Paris. He worked so hard that his health began to deteriorate, and despite his disciples encouraging him to take time off, he would not rest. His body grew weak, yet he was still active and alert. On July 4, 1902 the day proceeded as usual. He taught his disciples, rested for a while after eating, and then spent time talking to his followers and even joking. That night at 9:00 P.M. he was looking very tired and his hands were trembling. He cried out and sat up, breathed a deep sigh and went to sleep. He never woke up again but attained eternal bliss.
Here is his famous speech at the World Conference On Religions, in which so many found a beloved teacher: “Brothers and Sisters of America, it fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the Mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes. My thanks also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to the religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to the nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I’m proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion that has sheltered and is still fostering the amendment of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you brethren in a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle with their water in the sea, so, oh Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to thee. The present convention which is one of the most of dust assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, the declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.’
“Sectarianism known as bigotry, and its horrible descendent fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, shed human blood, destroyed civilizations, and sent some nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more evolved than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and does all uncharitable feelings between persons winding their way to the same goal.”
The complete works of Swami Vivekananda are not stated here, nor is this a complete biography. There is not much in this quote about his philosophy of education, but he was teaching of moral philosophy and modern meditation techniques. He founded an institute as later did Swami Rama who also founded teaching and service organizations for education of philosophy and science. Swami Vivekananda traveled as an ascetic does, talking a spreading his moral philosophy.