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White
Mountains – I feel extremely happy to utter these words ‘White
Mountains’! At last a vacation for Swamiji..! Vacation and that too with the
people who loved, respected and revered Him beyond one could imagine. Mr.
Leggett, Swamiji and the party of 4 people left from New York to Portland,
Maine. They took a steamer from New York to Protland, then by a train to a small
village of Percy in New Hampshire which was situated in the remote region of
White Mountains. From Percy they had to go by a rowboat to Mr. Leggett’s rustic
cabin called ‘White Birch Lodge’ standing at the very edge of the lake. Behind
the lodge were hills covered with rich green forests and one could see the
woods of birch, pine stretched till far.
This team
of six arrived at 1 pm on the 6th June 1895; the Lodge’s Log Book
has the entry with the names & signatures of – “Besse MacLeod Sturges,
Francis H.Leggett, Josephine MacLeod, Georgia Waitham Spence (cousin of MacLeod
sisters), Swami Vivekananda, India, Heathen Hindu.”
This 12
day stay at Camp Percy with its quietness, lake, woods and away from the
civilization gave Swamiji a long needed rest of body and mind. Also, He was
with the most loving friends and this atmosphere provided Him the freedom of
time & space into which His spirits could soar to higher realms. This Lodge
was so far from the nearest village that one had to row for almost an hour to
the extreme end of the lake.
As I said
Swamiji is the best Son in the World. He instantly wrote to Mrs. Bull, “This is
one of the most beautiful spots I have ever seen.... So lovely, so quiet, so
restful! And you may imagine how glad I am to be here after the bustle of
cities. It gives me a new lease of life to be here. I go into the forest alone
and read my Gita and am quite happy... I will meditate by the hours and
days here and be all alone to myself. The very idea is ennobling.”
He loved
to walk alone in the woods and sit by till late as much as He wished. His
friends were merry indeed and Swamiji enjoyed their company and was as merry as
they were. Mr. Leggett & Besse were to be married in September and this
vacation was like a betrothal party in the wilds.
Swamiji
could effortlessly move from one mood to another. Sometimes very playful and
next moment He would raise to higher blissful state of Samadhi.
More thrilling part of this sojourn we shall see tomorrow...
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