Light of Culture & Religion
Ramakrishna
The success which attended the labour of the disciples of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa in diffusing the principal of Hindu religion and obtaining some respect for our much absued faith in the West, gave rise to the hope of training a number of young sannyasins to carry on the propaganda both in and out of India.And anattemt is being made of educate a number of young men according to the vedic principal of students living in touch with the Guru.
A Math has already been started on the Ganga near
The work, To produce any visible results in a short time requires funds and hence this appeal to those who are in sympathy with our efforts.It is intended to extend the operations of the Math , by educating in the Math as many young men as the funds can afford, in both Western science and Indian spirituality,so that in addition to the advantages of a University education, they will acquire a manly discipline by living in contact with their teachers. The central Math will gradually start branches in other parts of the country as men become ready and the means are forthcoming. We believe the men are ready ,and our appeal therefore is it to those who really love their religion and their country and have the means to show their sympathy practically by helping the cause.
Swami Vivekananda
In the summer of1893 there landed in Vancouver a young Hindu sannyasin.He was on his way to attend the Parliament of religions at Chicago, but not as on accredited deligate form any recognized religious organization. Unknown and inexperienced, he had been chosen for his mission by a few earnest young men of Madras , who firm in their belief that he , better than any one ,could worthily represent the ancient religion of India , had gone form door to door , soliciting money for his journey.The amount thus collected together with contributions form one or two princes, enabled the youthful monk, the then obscure Swami Vivekananda, to set out on his long journey.
It required tremendous courage to venture forth on such a mission. To venture forth on such a mission. To leave the sacred soil of India for a foreign country means far more to a Hindu than we of the West can realize.Especially is this the case with a sannyasin, whose whole training is away form the practical, metrical side of life.Unused to handling money, or to any mode of travel save on his own feet, the Swami was robbed and imposed upon at every stage of his journey, until when he finally reached Chicago he was nearly penniless. He had brought with him no letters of introduction and knew no one in the great city.Thus alone among strangers thousands of mile form his own country,it was a situation to daunt even a strong man, but Swami left the matter in the hands of the lord . Firm in his faith that divine protection would never fail him.
For nearly a fortnight he was able to meet the exorbitant demands of his hotel –keeper and others.Then the small sum still in his possession was reduced to such meager proportions that he realized that, if he did not wish to die of starvation in the street, he must at once seek a place where the cost of living would be less.It was very hard for him to abandon the task whish he had so bravely undertaken.For a moment a wave of discouragement and doubt swept over him and he began to wonder why he had been so foolish as to listen to those few hot –headed school boys of Madras. Yet since no other course was left to him , with a sad heart he set out for
But the lord ,in whom he so firmly trusted ,willed otherwise.On the train he met an old lady and so far awakened her friendly interest
that she invited him to become a guest in her house .Here he made the acquaintance of a professor form Harvard University, who after being closeted with the Swami for four hours one day, was so deeply impressed with his rare ability that he asked him why he did not represent Hinduism at the Chicago Parliament of religions.The Swami explained his difficulties- that he had neither money nor letter of introduction to any one connected with the Parliament. “Mr Bonny is my friend, I will give you a letter to him”,the Professor quickly replied, and at once he wrote it, declaring in the course of it that he had found this unknown Hindu monk more learned than all our learned men put together. With this letter and a ticket presented by the Professor, the Swami returned to
At last the day of the opening of the parliament arrived and SwamiVivekananda took his place in the line of oriental delegates who filed out on the platform at the opening session. His purpose was accomplished, but as he caught sight of that vast audience, a sudden nervousness seized him. All the others had prepared speeches.He had none.What should he say to that great gathering of sis seven thousand men and women? Throughout the morning he kept putting off his turn to be introduced, whispering each time to the President,Let some one else speaks first.So again in the afternoon,until about five when Dr Barrows rising,named him at the next speaker.The shock steadied the nerves and stimulated the courage of Vivekananda, and he at once rose to the occasion. It was the first time in his life that he had ever stood upon his feet to speak, or had addressed a large audience, but he effect was electric. When he looked over the sea of expectant faces, he was filled with power and eloquence, and beginning in his musical voice, he addressed his hearers as “Sisters and Brothers of America.” This was the beginning of his work in the
