I shall not leave my body in your country....

Can't keep you waiting anymore from reading this which i wanted to share since May 2013 - 

In New York, Swamiji always had to restrain Himself from entering into Samadhi, to allow a free rein to His mind which would at once rush to its “Own Abode”. But at Camp Percy, with the people very dear to Him, who loved and respected Him, Swamiji was able to move effortlessly from the playful mood of summer vacation to the highest bliss.

During one of her stays at Belur Math, Josephine Macleod narrated the following incidence to Swami  Vijayananda. Let us now delve into the realm of Swamiji’s Nirvikalpa Samadhi along with Swami Vijayananda as told by Joe -

One morning before breakfast Swamiji came out from his room with a Sanskrit Gita in his hand. I (Josephine MacLeod) was behind him. Seeing me, he said, "Joe, I am going to sit under that pine (pointing to a nearby pine) and read the Bhagavad Gita. See that the breakfast is sumptuous today. 

"Half an hour later I went over to the pine tree and saw Swamiji sitting there motionless. The Gita had fallen from his hand and the front of his robe was wet with tears.

I went nearer and saw that his breathing had stopped altogether. I trembled in fear - Swamiji must be dead. I did not shout, but ran to Francis Leggett and told him, "Come quick, Swami Vivekananda has left us." 

My sister ran to the spot with loud cries and my future brother - in - law also came with tears in his eyes.

 By now seven or eight minutes had passed. Swamiji was still in the same position. But my brother - in - law said, "He is in a trance; I will shake him out of it" I stopped him, shouting, "Never do that!"

I remembered that Swamiji had said once that when he would be in deep meditation one should not touch him. Another five minutes or so passed, then we saw the signs of breathing. 

His eyes had been half closed; now slowly they opened. And then Swamiji, as if soliloquizing, said, "Who am I, where am I?" 

Thrice he spoke like that, and then, wide awake, he saw us, was very much embarrassed, stood up, and said, "I am sorry to have frightened you all. But I have this state of consciousness now and then. I shall not leave my body in your country. Betty, I am hungry, let's hurry."

Back to Camp Percy, White Mountains with Swamiji

Friends, it is going to be almost a year that i am sharing again in Vivekanvesha. After the last blog i was busy with the publication work of my poem book 'Kaapoor' - a compilation of all my English, Hindi & Marathi poems. Then the lectures and travelling also continued...well, excuses cannot make up for the lost period but folks, am back again with Swamiji's wonderful experiences in the west.

At White Mountains, Swamiji was very happy as he was away from the hectic schedule of lectures  and the soot filled  noisy city of New York to the green and blossoming  beautiful countryside.

We all know about the wonderful experience at Dakshineshwar when Sri Ramakrishna had touched over His heart and Naren saw the rooms, the verandah, the Sun , the moon all flying off, shattering into pieces and then merging into Akasha.

When Swamiji came back to India Swamiji once said to His disciple Shri Sharat Chandra Chakravarty, “A time comes when what you call differentiation vanishes, and we cannot perceive it at all. I have experienced that state in my own life.”

The disciple asked, “When have you done so, Swamiji?”

Swamiji replied it was at Dakshineshwar as mentioned above and on another occasion, he had exactly same realization by the side of a lake in America. Swamiji further said, “Know - this knowledge of Oneness is what the Shastras speak of as realisation of the Brahman, by knowing which, one gets rid of Fear, and the shackles of birth and death break forever.”

Once as we know that at the shore of Lake Michigan also He had entered into samadhi, but on that occasion Sri Ramakrishna had appeared to him and drew Him back "to the Work for which he had come to the world.

But most probably Swamiji was telling Sharat Chandra about His experience at Camp Percy which we must enjoy directly from Josephine Macleod’s narration - You will have to wait for it to read in the next blog.

Swamiji at "Camp Percy, White Mountains - New Hampshire"

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 6^th 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...

"A World Teacher, A World Student and World's Best Son"

At the beginning of 1895 Swamiji decided to settle down in New York. He had a hectic travelling and strenuous lecture touring through the Midwest and East of America for almost more than a year. Now, He had chosen New York as His headquarter instead of Chicago or Boston. It was in New York that Swamiji started His mission full fledged by applying His Master’s message to all aspects of Eastern & Western life.

His lectures and classes were always filled with the true spirit of Sri Ramakrishna, the tremendous power of His Master of which He had a firsthand knowledge and also which was transmitted in Him with full force. He was fully aware of the infinite spiritual power flowing through Him during this period. Just two weeks before He closed the New York sessions He wrote to Mrs. Hale, His first American mother – “Financially, this winter’s work was not success at all. I could barely keep myself up, but spiritually it was very great”. 

Swamiji never ceased to learn; He knew Eastern life but He kept studying about the culture & history of Western life. He was not only a World Teacher but a World Student too. Everything concerned with humanity interested Him. He read, retained and related every facet of man’s life.

In the intense activity of lecturing He still found time to write inspiring letters to His brother disciples in India and planning & finding practical solutions to India’s problems.

He never cared for praise or blame. He knew one cannot keep the society in good humour & at the same time do great works! He wrote to Mrs. Bull, “One must work as the dictate comes from within and then if it is right and good the society is bound to veer round, perhaps centuries after one is dead and gone. We must plunge heart and soul and body into the work. Until we be ready to sacrifice everything else to one idea and to one alone, we never, never will see the light.” With so much work going on all the time His first season of New York classes came to a close on 1st June 1895. 

Swamiji always writes about His travel plans, His whereabouts, His work to either Mrs. Hale or to Mrs. Bull. 

I love this aspect of Swamiji..! He seems to be a genuine son to these mothers! Even we in our lives are not so thoughtful to simply call and convey to our parents about what we are up to!! Read the below two letters to Mrs. Sara Bull -  

The 28th May'95                                                                                                          

 Dear Mother                                                                                                           

Your last kind letter to hand. This week will be the last of my classes. I am going next Tuesday with Mr. Leggett to Maine. He has a fine lake and a forest there. I will be two or three weeks there. From thence I go to the Thousand Islands. Also I have an invitation to speak at a parliament of religions at Toronto Canada on July 18th. I will go there from Thousand Islands and return back.

             So far everything is going on well with me

             Ever your grateful son

             Vivekananda

             P.S. My regards & love to your daughter and pray for her speedy recovery'"

                                                                         V

4th June '95

Dear Mother

Today I leave New York at 5 p. m. by steamer with Mr. Leggett.

The classes were closed on Saturday last [June 1] and so far the work has been very successful, no small part of which is due to you.

             Ever praying for you & yours

             I am ever your Son

             Vivekananda

             P.S. I will acquaint you with my whereabouts as soon as I know it myself.

Not a Chance nor a Coincidence! - "15th May 1895 was also a Wednesday" -

LBT strike has delayed the printing of my Poem Book which had kept me really tied up for last few days. Suddenly everything has come to standstill and had time to reflect again over Swamiji’s life. I have been reading the ‘Life of Swamiji by His Eastern & Western Disciples.’  I have two topics in my mind right now but I forgot to bring the 2nd volume of Life from which I had to scan a picture and then write the blog. So I started thinking of the ongoing summer and then the two important summers in Swamiji’s life. Where He must have been today, on 15th May 1895?

So come let’s check. I know for sure that he was in New York but on 15 May 1895 where were you Swamiji and what were you doing?

ATTENTION!- the Swami Vivekananda of India will deliver two lectures at Mott Memorial Hall, 64 Madison av., on Monday evenings, May 13 and 20, at 8:15, subjects, "The Science of Religion" and "The Rationale of Yoga." Course ticket $I; single tickets, 75 cents; for sale at the hall.

Ohhh…! If 13th was on Monday that means 15th May 1895 too fell on Wednesday like today. I feel like clapping hands at this coincidence which I suddenly came across. Nay, I feel like taking a huge loudspeaker and announcing my research, my finding!

On 14th May, Tuesday Swamiji had written to Alasinga, "Now I have got a hold on New York, and I hope to get a permanent body of workers who will carry on the work when I leave the country...Of course financially it is a failure, but men are more valuable than all the wealth of the world." And then we find that Mrs. Ole Bull reaches New York on 15th for the 2nd lecture to be held on 20th as per above notice. That means today He must have met her & been with her.

By this time the heat was pressing upon the people in New York and they were leaving for vacation to mountains and beaches. Even Swamiji felt the need to rest and to be away from the boiling city after the hectic schedule of lecturing continuously.

There came two invitations which He accepted. One was from His student, Miss Mary Dutcher, who owned a cottage at “Thousand Islands” in the St. Lawrence River 300 miles away from New York. The other was from Mr. Francis Leggett to visit his fishing camp called Camp Percy in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

I want to tell you so much! Already my mind has gone to Camp Percy and the Pine tree…but you have to wait till tomorrow for this. The other summer which is called as ‘The Great Summer’ is when Swamiji spent the longest time at Ridgley Manor in August 1899. About this later but can’t wait to share His stay at Camp Percy..!!! 

"Divyatvachi Jeth Prachiti, Tethe Kar Maze Julati" - "Where Ever I See Greatness, I Bow With Reverence"

It has been a week of elevating experiences. Saturday 13^th April was spent with the Mentally Challenged Adults at Nav Kshitij, Pune. My school classmate Chandrashekhar Khapre introduced me to this NGO as his daughter Pooja is also an inmate here. 

Last year a group of 22 of us had visited Nav Kshitij and had decided that we shall spend one day with them. We, means our Nachiket Group which comprises of  all whoever were working with me during my stay at Vivekananda Kendra, Pune. 

So, we took a day’s workshop at NK and came back with immense satisfaction. Asavari Gupchup took ‘Drum Circle’ and ‘Balloon activity’, Rucha Zope took ‘Drawing Session’, Jayashri Mandake took ‘Creative session with Paper and Paper folds’ teaching them caps etc. Young 10 year old Laxmi Gupchup and Geeta Wadekar volunteered in the workshop. I took song with actions ‘Hind ke Bahaduron’ and told Swamiji’s stories. To our surprise they knew Swamiji by name and also told me that he had been to Chicago. Later they were asked to prepare a skit on Swamiji’s stories with the help of the staff. They responded wonderfully and we realized that we need to learn to be innocent and pure like them. The efforts of the Founder Dr. Neelima Desai and the dedication of staff made us bow with reverence.

On Tuesday & Wednesday I had lecture on Swamiji at Pune Blind Girl’s School in Kothrud. Telling stories to blind children was a totally new experience for me. Last whole year was spent talking to the audience, holding them with eyes, easily seeing their expressions and becoming one with them. Here I was looking at the faces where initially I was searching for their reactions, which came with difficulty. And then the scene changed as small smiles, laughs, little claps and sorrowful ‘uff’ n ‘ohhh’ started coming out as they heard Narendra suffer after his father’s demise.

I wasn’t aware after sometime that I was addressing the blind girls. Next day when I went the wonderful lot was already waiting. The girls are so talented and all sorts of efforts are made for them to become one with the mainstream. The Principal Mrs. Pujari and the teachers are doing the amazing work by looking after the girls from age of 4 till they leave after graduation and taking vocational training at the school. In Principal's cabin two small girls came to complaint about something. Mrs. Pujari said that one girls' mother also studied in the same school. I was surprised to know that even blindness can be hereditory! May it be due to lack of vitamins or other factors. So much to do and so much can be done at different levels to serve the society. One needs to just start doing and there is no end to it.

I went down the memory lane and kept thinking of my 1 year spent at NAB (National Association for Blinds) before joining Vivekananda Kendra and Kailas Shivade kept coming back to mind. About this I shall write separately.

Then the 3^rd visit happened immediately on next Saturday that is on 20^th April. Mr. Pavan Savant, GM, (CSO Automation Projects) collected donation for 400 solar lamps for EVE Foundation. A group of Tata Communications from Mumbai & Pune gathered at Vivekananda Kendra, Pimplad. With the help of VK workers we distributed the lamps at Nandgaon Koholi village, Taluka Trimbakeshwar, Nashik.

The village visit made us all humble and happy as the villagers welcomed us with love and eagerness. The  young girls had prepared a welcome song and dance for us. They were happy to receive the lamps and in return gave a small book of Swamiji’s life and message to the donors. May their lives get lighted with this small effort from the society.

All three visits to totally different places and meeting different people within a week kept me elevating internally and also making me more humble to serve the motherland in which ever possible ways. Swamiji’s twin ideals of work ‘Tyaga’ and ‘Seva’ were reflecting at each place. In Marathi we have such beautiful lines that come to my mind – ‘Tethe Kar Maze Julati’!

I am Ahilya reborn by HIS magical touch...

Belur from Ganges

We reached Kolkata on 22 February  2013, me along with my Aai (mother) and aunt. In the evening took darshan of Kali Ma at Kalibadi & held back my tears. I broke one more inhibition by buying 'Shankhchudi' for myself & wore it happily as a  blessing of Mother Kali. This time had planned to show all other historical places to Aai before we went to Belur. So we saw Netaji Subhashbabu's House which made us feel extremely proud, Victoria Memorial  and Nehru Children's Museum which again is an awesome place to visit. Then lastly we travelled by Metro and were ready to go to Belur on 25th morning. After dropping the luggage i almost ran to the main temple and then it was in torrents that the tears rolled though very silently. As i reached Swamiji's room i could not control, there was no one to see & did it matter? Cried to my heart's content as they were tears of joy, of happiness, of meeting my 'GuruSakhaa' as i call Him. I kept looking at each of His object, His musical instruments, His bed which Josephine had gifted and kept feeling HIS presence. Finally i was at Belur.!! At Swamiji's abode, with Him, in His presence..!!!  I felt very lucky to be here in the year of  Swamiji's 150th birthday celebration  It is so peaceful at Belur even with so many tourists around. I just kept visualizing Josephine and all others moving at every place...Bhuvaneshvaridevi standing down and calling, "Biley" and the obedient son coming down to  meet His mother! Sitting at any Sri Ramakrishna temple in front of Thakur always tears roll, silent soundless tears, i know not for what but it surely works like a therapy, cleansing my inner wounds..!! Next day was Jayrambati and Kamarpukur which was like infinite blessings showered. On 3rd day 27th attended Mangalarti at 4.30am which felt like an utterly magical experience. It was a full moon night and could still see the bright moon, intense silence, rippling sound of Gangaji and third Shraddha walking along witnessing me n my thoughts. As the aarti began i got lost almost till the end...no tears, no pain, no grief, no wants, no body and no mind absolutely. Will this magic happen again? Where was 'I'? Where did He take me? Was the small 'i' merged with the Cosmic Self? The hall was full, all quiet, withdrawn and the atmosphere was charged with intense energy and unwavering bhakti...Yes, because only Bhaktas would come at such early hour to attend the Mangalarti.

From 27th Feb. to 2nd March i was at Shovabazar, Rajbadi, where we had 3 day conference at the very place where exactly 116 years ago Swamiji was given a royal welcome by King Navkrishna & the people of Kolkata to their beloved Naren after He returned from America. About this separately tomorrow. On 3rd March i went back to Belur again, this time alone and saw the room of Swamiji under maintenance and felt lucky to have seen it earlier in original form.

Below His room is a mango tree under which Swamiji used to sit, it is more than 150 years old, standing with the support of pillars. Yet, it was in full blossom showing that it too was equally blessed. I put my head on its branch and said to it, "Do you know, YOU have become a Kalpavriksha....blessed by Swamiji's touch You too have become blessed and can also bless others. You have attained the power of a wish fulfilling tree." I wished for a child, a girl who was constantly in my prayers this time. Till date i never have asked anything from God except sorrows but this time prayers were at Mothers & Masters feet to look after her and make her free of an eclipse which suddenly darkens her life. I prayed at Mayer Baadi, Udbodhan- Mother's Home to Holy Mother from where no one returns empty handed. I am sure the trinity will bless the child..!!

Like Sati Ahilya, i too was like a stone lying on the streets on whom thousands treaded without a single glance and life was meaningless. Then HE came and the magical touch of Swamiji transformed this stone into a flowing stream of life full of vigour and energy....making it meaningful, to serve, to pray, to help and to spread His message of strength and of love.!

May by His grace each life be a meaningful journey turning from a stone to Pure Energy transmitting Love...unselfish, undemanding!