Indians Should Learn From What Westerners Said About Swami Vivekananda
National Youth Day is celebrated every year on 12th January to commemorate the birthday of Swami Vivekananda. This day is a national holiday in India and is observed by schools and colleges. The day is also an occasion for the commemoration of the ideals and teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk born in Kolkata, Bengal Presidency, British India on 12 January 1863 and chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna.
He is credited with having introduced India’s ancient philosophy to the Western world, as he represented India in the Parliament of World Religions held in Chicago in 1893. He attended the Metropolitan Institution in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for his formal education before joining college.
Not only India, but he influenced people all over the world. Here are four major statements about Swami Vivekananda given by the westerners and Indians must learn something from them.
More Knowledgeable Than Harvard Professors
John Henry Wright was an American classical scholar. He was a professor at Harvard University when he first met Swami Vivekananda in 1893 a few days before the Parliament of World’s Religions was held.
He wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Parliament of World’s Religions and mentioned Swami Vivekananda as, “A scholar who is more capable than all Harvard University professors.”
He Gave His Life
J.J. Goodwin was a British stenographer who was given the job to type the lectures that Swami Vivekananda gave during his tour to America. Goodwin was influenced by the Swami Vivekananda and decided to not charge any money. He said, “If Vivekananda gives his life, the least I can do is to give my service.”
The New Buddha
Josephine MacLeod was a follower of Swami Vivekananda and she met him first time when she was 35 years old. She gave new names to Swami Vivevakanand after knowing his teachings. She called Swami Vivekananda “New Buddha” and “Our Prophet.”
A Headless Dream Without Him
Margaret Elizabeth Noble was given the name “Sister Nivedita” by Swami Vivekananda. She met him in England in November 1895. She wrote to one of her friends and mentioned Swami Ji in a way as, “Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been a headless dream, for I always knew that I was waiting for something.”
These four definitions and statements about Swami Vivekananda’s personality are not enough to describe him, because there is a lot more that we need to learn from his life. What do you like the most and what inspires you the most? Mention it in the comments!
Pankaj Rai