A moral... on the occation of Swamiji's Birthday

Today is a very significant day. 145years ago great persona has born in the holy land of India. Yes this is the very day when Swami Vivekananda has born in Shimulia, a place in kolkata. He is renowned for his literature in Advayta Vedanta, especially for spreading the divinity of Hindu religion and Indian culture across the world.

This Hindu monk, whos wordings are still applicable to all aspects of life, be it education or something else his sayings are acceptable. Those are the words which lead us towards the spiritual path with perfection.

Today I’ll tell about an incident with a great moral which may not be known to many of us.

It was the time of second war between the European countries, Germany, Italy and the Empire of Japan. A person called Peter was there in the European army as a soldier. Swami Vivekananda was there in Europe at that period of time.

Once Peter has gone to friends’ residence and by his surprise he saw Swamiji has arrived there for a special lecture. From the outside of the room he was seeing Swamiji. While leaving the place Swamiji called that boy (Peter) and asked him to meet him some particular day. On the certain day he came to meet Swamiji and asked to sit. For some moments Swamiji was looking into his eyes. Then slowly he started speaking. He told to Peter “Today I’m going to teach a very special thing”. By hearing this Peter has become very happy and eager to know the lesson which this great Hindu monk is going to teach him.
[P.S. By that time itself he was quite famous in the western countries after his lecture on Vedanta and the aspect of the universal acceptance of Hindu religion in the World’s Parliament of Religions which has held at Chicago.]

Then very enthusiastically he asked “Sir, what is that special thing you’re going to tell me?” Swamiji replied “I’ll teach you to love the Death.”

Hearing thing Peter became shocked. He couldn’t believe this will be the words for which he became so eager. His face has become red in anger. He told to Swamiji in a harsh voice, “Do you know what you are really talking about? Do you know who am I? I’m from a prestigious family. Still I’m young, have such an amount of wealth which are more than enough for my rest of the life. Why should I think of death at this stage itself?”

Swamiji didn’t tell anything. There was only a smile on his face. He just told “May God bless you son! Today you’ll not understand, but one day you’ll remember my words”.

After that incident so many months has passed away. The war has also started in Soviet Union. Millions of military, civilian died because of this war. Everywhere there was the shadow of Death. Even being a military by seeing all these Peter became s scared of his life. All the time he used to think that its only the Death who is knocking his door. He became so depressed that even he lost all interest in his life.

At that time, one night all of a sudden, Swamiji’s words flashed into his mind. Swamiji wanted to teach him how to love the Death. It’s not to accept death by that time itself, but only to face it boldly at any moment of time. To love Death, that whenever it’ll come we would be able to welcome it with bravery, need not to run away from that or not to be even afraid of that (death).

But Peter misunderstood and talked about his wealth & fame, but forgot that at the last none of these will remain.

After so many years, he met with Swami Niranjananada, a swamiji of Ramakrishna Mission, Belur math and shared his experience.

There were tears while describing about the incident by thinking that, perhaps… perhaps he would have listened to swamiji’s words! But it was too late to realizes his own mistake as Swamiji has left his worldly physique long before.

Though its late, but its good that at least he has understood the meaning of Swamiji’s saying and showed his respect and devotion to Swamiji’s words.