Passing of Swami Vivekananda - a *thread*
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In his youth, while as a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Narendranath had got a taste of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. When it was over, his Master had said, "This is your mango, Look! I lock it in my box.
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In his youth, while as a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Narendranath had got a taste of Nirvikalpa Samadhi. When it was over, his Master had said, "This is your mango, Look! I lock it in my box.
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You shall taste it once more, when your work in finished." Sri Ramakrishna had made one more prophecy about Naren - that when he should know who and what he was, he would refuse to remain a moment longer in the body.
You shall taste it once more, when your work in finished." Sri Ramakrishna had made one more prophecy about Naren - that when he should know who and what he was, he would refuse to remain a moment longer in the body.
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Years had passed. It was the summer of 1898. Vivekananda was well renowned in the world by then. He happened to visit the Amarnath Cave with his disciples. On returning from the cave of Amarnath, he had told that he had received the grace of Amar Nath -
Years had passed. It was the summer of 1898. Vivekananda was well renowned in the world by then. He happened to visit the Amarnath Cave with his disciples. On returning from the cave of Amarnath, he had told that he had received the grace of Amar Nath -
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“Ichha Mrityu” or not to die till he himself should will to do so. This comforted his disciples that death would never take him by surprise.
It was again in Kashmir that once after an attack of illness, he had lifted a couple of pebbles, saying,
“Ichha Mrityu” or not to die till he himself should will to do so. This comforted his disciples that death would never take him by surprise.
It was again in Kashmir that once after an attack of illness, he had lifted a couple of pebbles, saying,
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"Whenever death approaches me, all weakness vanishes. I have neither fear, nor doubt, nor thought of the external. I simply busy myself making ready to die. I am as hard as that" - and the stones struck one another in his hand - "for I have touched the feet of God!"
"Whenever death approaches me, all weakness vanishes. I have neither fear, nor doubt, nor thought of the external. I simply busy myself making ready to die. I am as hard as that" - and the stones struck one another in his hand - "for I have touched the feet of God!"
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Late in 1900, Swamiji had broken off from party of friends with whom he was travelling in Egypt, and went home suddenly, to India. "He seemed so tired!" said one of those who were with him at this time.
In the winter that followed, he paid a visit to Dacca, in East Bengal,
Late in 1900, Swamiji had broken off from party of friends with whom he was travelling in Egypt, and went home suddenly, to India. "He seemed so tired!" said one of those who were with him at this time.
In the winter that followed, he paid a visit to Dacca, in East Bengal,
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and took a large party up the Brahmaputra, to make pilgrimages in Assam. When the winter again set in, he was ill and confined to bed.
He made one more journey, through Jan & Feb 1902, when he went, first to Bodh-Gaya and next to Benares.
and took a large party up the Brahmaputra, to make pilgrimages in Assam. When the winter again set in, he was ill and confined to bed.
He made one more journey, through Jan & Feb 1902, when he went, first to Bodh-Gaya and next to Benares.
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He arrived at Bodh-Gaya on morning of his last birthday, and afterwards at Benares. There, he had said farewell to one only years before his triumphant voyage to America "Till that day when I fall on society like a thunderbolt I shall visit this place no more!"
He arrived at Bodh-Gaya on morning of his last birthday, and afterwards at Benares. There, he had said farewell to one only years before his triumphant voyage to America "Till that day when I fall on society like a thunderbolt I shall visit this place no more!"
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Theme of his first conversation after coming home was the necessity of withdrawing himself to leave those that were about him a free hand.
"How often," he said, "does a man ruin his disciples, by remaining always with them !
Theme of his first conversation after coming home was the necessity of withdrawing himself to leave those that were about him a free hand.
"How often," he said, "does a man ruin his disciples, by remaining always with them !
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When men are once trained, it is essential that their leader leave them, for without his absence they cannot develop themselves!"
Swamiji made a great effort,in spring of 1902, to recover his health, & even undertook a course of treatment under which, throughout April,May,
When men are once trained, it is essential that their leader leave them, for without his absence they cannot develop themselves!"
Swamiji made a great effort,in spring of 1902, to recover his health, & even undertook a course of treatment under which, throughout April,May,
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& June, he was not allowed to swallow a drop of cold water. He was overjoyed to find the un-flawed strength of his own will, in going through the ordeal.
When June ended, he knew well enough that the end was near.
& June, he was not allowed to swallow a drop of cold water. He was overjoyed to find the un-flawed strength of his own will, in going through the ordeal.
When June ended, he knew well enough that the end was near.
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"I am making ready for death," he said to one who was with him, on the Wednesday before he died. "A great tapasya and meditation has come upon me, and I am making ready for death."
News of the world didn’t draw any response from him at that time.
"I am making ready for death," he said to one who was with him, on the Wednesday before he died. "A great tapasya and meditation has come upon me, and I am making ready for death."
News of the world didn’t draw any response from him at that time.
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If asked for an opinion on the questions of the day, he would quietly say “You may be right, but I cannot enter any more into these matters.I am going down into death."
On the last Sunday before the end he said to one of his disciples, "You know WORK is always my weak point!
If asked for an opinion on the questions of the day, he would quietly say “You may be right, but I cannot enter any more into these matters.I am going down into death."
On the last Sunday before the end he said to one of his disciples, "You know WORK is always my weak point!
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When I think that might come to an end, I am all undone!"
On Wednesday of same week,day being Ekadasi,& himself keeping fast in all strictness,he insisted on serving morning meal to some disciple & to end the meal,himself poured water over hands, & dried them with a towel.
When I think that might come to an end, I am all undone!"
On Wednesday of same week,day being Ekadasi,& himself keeping fast in all strictness,he insisted on serving morning meal to some disciple & to end the meal,himself poured water over hands, & dried them with a towel.
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"It is I who should do these things for you Swamiji! Not you, for me!" was the protest naturally offered. But his answer was startling in its solemnity - "Jesus washed the feet of His disciples!"
During those days, the Swami only tended to the animals that surrounded him,
"It is I who should do these things for you Swamiji! Not you, for me!" was the protest naturally offered. But his answer was startling in its solemnity - "Jesus washed the feet of His disciples!"
During those days, the Swami only tended to the animals that surrounded him,
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his garden, experiments, books, and absent friends.
On the last happy Friday, July the 4th, he appeared much stronger and better than he had been for years. He spent hours of that day in formal meditation. Then he gave a long Sanskrit lesson.
his garden, experiments, books, and absent friends.
On the last happy Friday, July the 4th, he appeared much stronger and better than he had been for years. He spent hours of that day in formal meditation. Then he gave a long Sanskrit lesson.
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Finally he took a walk from the monastery gates to the distant highroad.
On his return from this walk, the bell was ringing for aratrika ( evening song), and he went to his own room, and sat down, facing towards the Ganges, to meditate. It was the last time.
Finally he took a walk from the monastery gates to the distant highroad.
On his return from this walk, the bell was ringing for aratrika ( evening song), and he went to his own room, and sat down, facing towards the Ganges, to meditate. It was the last time.
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The moment had come that had been foretold by his Master from the beginning. Half an hour went by, and then, on the wings of that meditation, his spirit soared only to leave behind his body like a torn away cloth, thus fulfilling his own prophecy “I shall never see forty”
The moment had come that had been foretold by his Master from the beginning. Half an hour went by, and then, on the wings of that meditation, his spirit soared only to leave behind his body like a torn away cloth, thus fulfilling his own prophecy “I shall never see forty”
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#SwamiVivekananda #TirodhanDivas
#4thOfJuly
#4THJULY
Reference : Sister Nivedita, The Master as I Saw Him, Chapter 26, The Passing of the Swami
#SwamiVivekananda #TirodhanDivas
#4thOfJuly
#4THJULY
Reference : Sister Nivedita, The Master as I Saw Him, Chapter 26, The Passing of the Swami
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