Matrudin-Pithori Amavasya

On 28th it was raining heavily the whole day. In fact it was raining since 26th and rained till yesterday ie.29th. So on Sunday the 28th my Aai (my mother) said, 'it is Pithori Amavasya today' or also called Divyachi Amavasya. I paid little attention while watching Anna Hajareji on TV. Then she said, 'it is also Matrudin'....!!!

I instantly did pranams to her which i do everyday but this was special. She is the main Inspiration in my life, a pillar of strength. There are so many  reminiscences where it was only due to her that i could survive.

When i decided to join Vivekananda Kendra, all my friends, office colleagues would call her to say we are coming to meet. She would tell them if you want to discourage her then don't come, come only if you want to support. She stood strong even when my father was angry and would not let me come.

She made me go alone to VT station to do train reservation. I had never done this before, but she said you have to do your own booking and you have to go alone to Kanyakumari. If you can take such a big decision of joining VK then you must be strong enough to travel alone.

She is a very intelligent woman. Her name is still put up in the school at Mahad as the most brilliant student. Once our CA called me to ask her bank account no. and some of her transactions. He thought a woman in her seventies wouldn't know ... i told him to call her immediately as, she knows all her bank account nos. by heart and she can do all her hisaab orally without using a calculator.

She is very composed and patient. We all some or other time say - i am bored, i am tired, etc. But in all these years i have never heard this word from her mouth. When she was in 11th ie. inter, she participated in a Extempore elocution competition in a national youth convention. She got a topic "Sui ki nok mein se oont bhi jaa sakta hai" means - You can undergo a difficult task if you decide. You know she came first in Mumbai University - a simple village girl stood first..!!! She later went to New Delhi and got prize from Pandit Nehru. We still have the photograph. Incidentally, her Hindi is excellent and she is born on Hindi Diwas i.e. 14th September.

My niece works with a Art NGO in Bangaluru. They had a workshop where many prominent personalities from Film and theatre were present. Every body had to tell about an inspiring personality in their life- no phone calls to ask anything personal from their life... She told about my mother Aruna Madhavrao Tipnis then and now Smt. Aruna Prakash Patil.

Friends, this is my tribute to her. Am sure you all must be having such great mother...my Pranams to each one of them.

The "Cyclonic Monk"

As Swamiji is still with the Wright Family let us know more about them...

Austin Tappan Wright grew to become a great lawyer and a Professor of Law. He wrote a novel 'Islandia'  which was published after his death. It had unmistakable similarities with Swamiji and his country. The description of the Hero goes like this - he parted his hair in the middle, had magnificently arched eyebrows, a strong chin slightly cleft, a mature mouth, even white teeth and a clear strong  and deep voice which without being loud filled the room, he sang to himself his odd melodies in an undertone or roar like the sea. We cannot find more accurate description of Swamiji seen through a young eyes which later came forth in words.

This novel also had a young, heroic queen who led her troops herself against the army. Young Austin had heard Swamiji telling the story of Rani of Jhansi and it too reflected in his book. The church was called as 'the House of Quiet' and the God was called Om.

Well this weekend caused a great stir in Annisquam and the local newspaper. 'The Glousester Daily Times' ran the news on 28th Aug.1893 as - 'Mr. Sivanei Vicecksnanda, a Hindoo monk, gave a fine lecture in the church last evening on the customs and life in India.'

As we know this is the research done by Marie Louise Burke and from the diary of Mrs Wright she came to know that the weather had been warm and clear for all the weekend, but as Swamiji left on 28th it began to rain and on 29th night a cyclonic storm  swept the Masachusetts. Though much damage was not done it blew down the trees and wires, ships off the coast were tossed about and people found it difficult to stand upright.

Folks, it is here that Swamiji had delivered His first lecture in America and was on His way to sweep the entire nation like the cyclone and later came to be called -  "The Cyclonic Monk"

By the time i publish this post it's already past midnight and it is the day He left Annisquam. Incidentally it is raining even here the whole day and a great cyclone is going to be ended tomorrow... A person who is inspired by Swami Vivekananda has swept the nation with his power...Shri Anna Hazare who will end his 12 day long fast.

Swamiji's words can change lives...believe me - Annaji's, mine and yours too....Tathastu.

Another Playmate who Loves Us More Than Anybody Else

Am very very eager to tell you something - my most favourite part of Wright Family. I shall come to it at the end....

On Saturday the 26th August  also Swamiji continued to hold the Wrights and whoever came to their cottage, spellbound. Mrs. Wright wrote to her mother, "It was a kind of revival." and in her diary she noted: "Swami talked all morning all afternoon." and entry on Sunday, August 27 -  "Same thing. Swami talked religion." She also had some typed papers which reveal more about Swamiji.

The Wrights had three children: Elizabeth - thirteen, Austin - ten; and John - the baby, who was two. He was delighted playing with the Wright children as much He enjoyed the conversations. "He was wonderfully unspoiled and simple," Mrs. Wright commented in her typed story, "claiming nothing for himself, playing with the children, twirling a stick between his fingers with laughing skill and glee at their inability to equal him."

Swamiji was more interested in Austin - He talked with him at length and  bought a a red heart - shaped box of candy for him when He visited the Wrights at Cambridge. Later He also gave him a copy of The Light of Asia by Edwin Arnold, inscribed "Presented to Austin Wright with love and blessings of Vivekananda."

Austin also was filled with wonder by Swamiji. It was mostly at Swamiji's visit to Cambridge in 1894 -  Swamiji had arrived late at night and had been put up on a couch, with the screen for privacy. In the morning  Austin came down for breakfast  and found a screen set up in the living room, over which were draped long pieces of coloured cloth. To little Austin this sight was quite unexpected ... the bright lengths of turban-silk in a familiar living room seemed to him as strange and romantic as of Swamiji himself. This incident remained long impressed on his mind and he wrote a story which his dughter told M.L.Burke.

Now comes the best part of all ---Swamiji wrote his 1st letter from Chicago to Prof. Wright. We all must have read it some time or the other, if not go ahead and read! In that letter He has written a small portion for Austin which is as-

"We may or may not meet brother. He knows. You are great learned and Holy. I dare not preach to you or your wife - but to your children - I quote these passages from the Vedas -

             "The four Vedas, Sciences, languages, philosophy and

all other learnings are only ornamental the real learning - the true Knowledge is that which enables us to reach him who is unchangeable in His love"

             "How real, how tangible, how visible is He through whom the skin touches the eyes see and the world gets its reality"

             "Hearing Him nothing remains to be heard

             Seeing Him nothing remains to be seen

             Attaining Him nothing remains to be attained"

             "He is the eye of our eyes the ear of our ears the

             Soul of our Souls."

             He is nearer to you my dears than even your father and mother - you are innocent and pure as flowers - remain so and He will reveal Himself unto you. Dear Austin when you are playing there is another playmate playing with you who loves you more than anybody else and oh He is so full of fun. He is always playing - sometimes with great big balls which we call the sun and earth and sometimes with little children like you and laughing and playing with you.

             How funny it would be to see him and play with Him my dear think of it."

I keep reading this part again and again and make it a point to read it to the gathering when i speak on 1st Volume. It gives me so much hope that we all have a Playmate who loves us more than anybody else.

Dear Adhyapakji...

Wish i could write everyday without fail but...it so happens that just can't make it. Forgive for the delay my atmiyas.

Today's day is so important because he came to stay with Professor John Henry Wright's family. On 24th He was at Boston with Mr.Franklin Sanborn, Kate Sanborn's cousin and Prof. Wright left to meet him there but missed. He satyed with them from Friday, 25th Aug. to 27th Aug.1893. Mrs. Wright's letter to her mother speaks about His arrival at Annisquam, a summer resort place near Boston.

"Annisquam,Mass.

August 29, 1893

My dear mother:

We have been having a queer time. Kate Sanborn had a Hindoo monk in tow as I believe I mentioned in my last letter. John went down to meet him in Boston and missing him, invited him up here. He came Friday! In a long saffron robe that caused universal amazement. He was a most gorgeous vision. He had a superb carriage of the head, was very handsome in an oriental way, about thirty years old in time, ages in civilization.

He stayed until Monday and was one of the most interesting people I have yet come across. We talked all day all night and began again with interest the next morning. The town was in a fume to see him; the boarders at Miss Lane's in wild excitement. They were in and out of the Lodge [the Wright's cottage] constantly and little Mrs. Merrill's eyes were blazing and her cheeks red with excitement. Chiefly we talked religion. It was a kind of revival, I have not felt so wrought up for a long time myself! Then on Sunday John had him invited to speak in the church and they took up a collection for a Heathen college to be carried on strictly heathen principles - whereupon I retired to my corner and laughed until I cried.

He is an educated gentleman, knows as much as anybody. Has been a monk since he was eighteen. Their vows are very much our vows, or rather the vows of a Christian monk. Only Poverty with them means poverty. They have no monastery, no property, they cannot even beg; but they sit and wait until alms are given them. Then they sit and teach people. For days they talk and dispute. He is wonderfully clever and clear in putting his arguments and laying his trains (of thought) to a conclusion. You can't trip him up, nor get ahead of him.

I have a lot of notes I made as stuff for a possible story - at any rate as something very interesting for future reference. We may see hundreds of Hindoo monks in our lives - and we may not."

 Though this meeting was important  for Swamiji to open the doors for Parliament of Religions, it also enriched the Wright family - those who were fortunate enough to have Swamiji as a guest never forgot him. The memory of this and later meetings became a part of the Wright family tradition. Professor Wright's younger son John who was only two years old when Swamiji visited them, always spoke in the family idiom of "our Swami".

It is Junior Wright's kindness that a few of his mother's letters and other papers were made available to Marie L Burke and in a small diary of Mrs. Wright was a faded note under the date Friday, August 25, 1893 - "Rain - swami Vivekananda came. Very warm."

Divine Plan Unfolding

Kate Sanborn met Swamiji  in the Observation car of the 'Canadian Pacific' en route to Chicago. There was a cosmopolitan crowd on the board whom she gave her card inviting them to her residence at Breezy Meadows, Metcalf, Masachusettes. She was most impressed with the monk whose soft, dark eyes fleashed fire if roused and danced with merriment if the conversation amused Him.

While leaving Chicago she promised Him to introduce him to men & women of learning if by chance he came to Boston. She returned and fell ill. Just risen from the sick bed she received a telegram of 45 words saying her friend from observation car was at Boston waiting for her orders.

It was mid  August when every American was on vacation to avoid the summer. Whom she would introduce Him to? But she bravely invited him by sending a telegram.

She took him to the Ramabai circle and also introduced him to many more influential people including Prof. Wright. On leaving her house He called her 'mother' which was the highest tribute to a woman in India. She appreciated the compliment and was very proud to have such a Son. 

Mysterious are the ways of Lord....

Swamiji reached Vancouver on 25th July and reached Chicago on 30th. Some 2 weeks he was in Chicago & then went to stay with Mrs. Kate Sanborn at Breezy Meadows in Massachusettes. That means today the 17th of August He was at Breezy Meadows with his intelligent hostess.

Every date makes me think of Him... Oh, today He was in Salem....or now He was wandering on the roads of Chicago....or now He will come to Detroit. Every date has changed its importance. Well day & night thinking of Him i have gone insane and would also make you too.

"Mysterious are the ways of the Lord!" comes true to every word when we read Swamiji's journey from the moment He stepped at Vancouver till he reached Chicago. I had read that it was on the train to Boston that he met an "old lady" who invited him to live at her farm, Breezy Meadows, in Massachusetts. I always thought that he actually travelled with her in the train to Boston. But recently was reading a book about the women in west who helped Swamiji. 

When i started  with my 1st vol. i did not bother much about Kate Sanborn who showed off this 'Rajah' from India to the people of New England. She plays a very significant role as it was through her that Swamiji was to meet Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University. About Professor Wright we shall see later whom Swamiji calls Adhyapakji in his letters.

Ms. Kate Sanborn was a lecturer and an author writing about people, places, incidences etc. with lot of humour. When He met her she was fifty - four and very energetic. Originally she belonged to New Hampshire, and had bought one of the old abandoned farms of Massachusetts to make it into Breezy Meadows. She was the one who introduced Swamiji to many influential people in various fields.

It was all pre ordained plan...Kate Sanborn meeting HIM and she building a farm house was also only for HIS stay to be made comfortable. We will see this happening all the time....

Ek Gajakhor Duja Gajakhorke Bhalo Beshi

We were having tea at Sarada Math and Rev. Atandraprana didi asked me, Shraddha do you know the meaning of "Ek gajakhor duja gajakhorke bhalo beshi" ? I said no and then she explained the meaning of this sentence and then we went on laughing and laughing.

Gajakhor means an addict of ganja i.e. some drug. So one addict loves the other addict and hence it applied to us because we are the lovers of Swamiji and can keep on talking abount Him at length.

My dear Atmaj, are we all not falling into the same category of the Gajakhors?

"Mother can make the mouse a lion"

In 5th volume of New Discoveries i met Ida Ansell. She had taken down some of Swamiji's lectures in shorthand and hence many of the lectures are available to us,eg. 'Is Vedanta the Future Religion?' and many more. She had not transcribed these lectures even after half a century was over. In 1948 when Swami Ashokananda was at San Fransisco, urged her to do the transcriptions of her lectures without adding or omitting any words which she couldn't understand. While listening to Swamiji many times she couldn't catch the word or missed few words as she got lost in the flow of His speech and hence there were gaps in her notes.

The editing of the lectures done by Swami Ashokananda reminded her of Swamiji and she wrote many letters to Sw. Ashokananda. In one of the letters she wrote - "Swami Turiananda used to say, 'Mother can make the mouse a lion'. She didn't make the mouse a lion in this case, but she put the work of a mouse in the hands of a lion who could use it at the time it was most needed".

After finishing the VI vol. on 17 July at Sri Sarada Math, Pune i remembered Ida Ansell's above given words.... in my case Mother had put a Lion's work into a mouse's hands a mouse like me dared to undertake this task. I just cannot believe it that this lecture series is over and i could do it....it makes me more humble as i trust and truly believe that it is Swamiji's blessings which made it possible.

Sorry for this inexplicable delay in taking a break in our journey together. But i have so much to share with you of these missed weeks. After i finished the sereis on New Discoveries and returned to office i had Mumbai Marathon registration to be done for my 2 NGO's and for my corporate office too. Again on thursday, 21st July rushed to Pune for a 3 days Youth retreat for girls at Sarada Math. Asst. Secretary of Sarada Math, Rev.Atandraprana Mataji had come for this camp - being with her and staying at the serene holy place of Sarada Math was more than being in heaven itself.

We the inmates were constanly with Thakur, Maa and Swamiji. She told us so many unknown incidents from their lives which she had heard from senior sadhus of the RK order. Her scientific interpretation and explanations of Bhagwad Gita were amazing as well her other lectures also.

I was blessed as she said She wanted to here about Swamiji from me...i couldn't beleive but she told me something earlier which made me beleive....what she said will be my tomorrow's heading.

Jai Maa..!!!