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Swami Vivekananda
The Universal Man - 8
First Visit to England and Europe
On August 7, 1895 Swami Vivekananda left The Thousand Island Park for New York,
and from there he was to make that historic first visit to England and Europe.
He had received two invitations, one from Miss F. Henrietta Muller and the other
from Mr. E. T. Sturdy, to visit and enlighten the British people. The Swami was
to be their guest of honor during his stay in London. Mr. Sturdy had lived in
India, and also had known Swami Shivananda, and from him about his
brother-disciple Swami Vivekananda. For about ten days the Swami was busy in New
York making arrangements for his first stop at Paris. From there he was to go to
England. Mr. Francis Legget was to accompany him in the voyage. Accordingly the
Swami sailed from New York on 17th August 1895 to reach Paris on 24th.
For most part his Paris visit was for rest and as a pleasure trip. But Swamiji
did not lose the opportunity to get acquainted with the culture and history of
France. Mrs. Sturges and Miss MacLeod gave him the company, as they knew Paris
well. They conducted him on various tours visiting the world-renowned art
galleries, museums, churches, cathedrals, and other places of import. The high
culture and historical background filled the Swami's heart with admiration. He
also met a few renowned intellectuals and personage of fame, discussing with
them the various cultural and spiritual aspects of the two nations.
In these days the Swami received letters from Indian friends that the
Missionaries were bent on criticizing his life, eating habits, conduct and
teachings. The orthodox Hindus were thus skeptical about his mission in the
West. To such criticism Swami Vivekananda wrote to his disciple friend Alasinga
Perumal in Madras:
"I am surprised you take the
missionaries' nonsense seriously... if the missionaries tell you that I have
ever broken the two great vows of the sannyasin - chastity and poverty - tell
then that they are big liars.
...I do not stand at anybody's
dictation. I know my mission in life, and no chauvinism about me; I belong as
much to the world as to India, no humbug about that... What country has any
special claim on me? Am I any nation's salve?
I see a greater Power than man, or
God, or devil, at my back..."
This letter shows Swami Vivekananda in his true spirit: a fearless sannyasin.
The Christian Missionaries mattered to the narrow-minded people; but for Swami
Vivekananda, the matter required to be viewed from the broadest possible
perspective.
Consequent upon these thoughts, and also the fact that he was coming from a
subject nation to preach Hinduism to the nation of rulers, the Swami had some
apprehension as to how he would be received by the people of England. Would they
not look at him with contempt, and criticize his missionary zeal? But to his
surprise he was received with great warmth and courtesy, bordering on respect.
'Later on, this uncertainty would give place to wonder and gratification at his
singular and immediate success.'
In London
Swami Vivekananda reached London in the second week of September 1895. Many
friends, Mr. Sturdy and Miss Muller being the main, received him in London.
Initially he stayed as Miss Muller's guest at Juan Duff House, Regent Street
Cambridge. Later he moved to Mr. Sturdy's house at High View, Caversham, Reading
- some thirty-six miles southwest of London. Here he stayed for six weeks and
paid visits to many places of historic importance and artistic interest. He also
had high-level philosophical discussions with his friends and new introductions,
and he translated Naradiya Bhakti Sutra into English as well. For most time in
September and October 1895, the Swami lived quietly at Reading; for 'the London
season was not open yet, and Mr. Sturdy wanted him to go slowly and build on a
sure foundation rather than make a good deal of noise for nothing.'
The English people received him warmly and gladly. They were civil and polite
towards him; he felt 'at home' in England. In the late October, two of his
friends decided to arrange his first lecture. Accordingly, the Swami delivered
his first speech at Prince's Hall, Piccadilly on 22nd October; the subject being
"Self-Knowledge". It was a tremendous success, as many people attended and
appreciated his talk. Favorable reports appeared the next day in morning
newspapers - The Standard wrote: "Since the days of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and
Keshab Chandra Sen, there has not appeared on an English platform a more
interesting Indian figure than the Hindu who lectured in Prince's Hall..."
The London Daily Chronicle wrote:
"Vivekananda, the popular Hindu
monk, whose physiognomy bore the most striking resemblance to the classic face
of Buddha, denounced our commercial prosperity, our bloody wars, and our
religious intolerance, declaring that at such a price the mild Hindu would have
none of our vaunted civilization."
Swami Vivekananda also gave one interview to the "Westminster Gazette". It was
published under the title "An Indian Yogi in London". In this interview the
swami had a long discussion pertaining to the concept and need of renunciation
and sannyasa, with particular reference to his life. He elaborated the influence
of the teachings and life of his Master, to wit - Sri Ramakrishna; that he did
not believe in starting a new sect, but such fellowship and foundation as would
encompass and form the basis for all the religious faiths. He was interested in
giving 'general outline of Vedanta and to let each apply them to his own
concrete forms'. Truth is that which stands the day of light anywhere and
everywhere, and that which stands on its own authority.
In his own words: "I propound a philosophy, which can serve as a basis to every
possible religious system in the world, and my attitude is one of extreme
sympathy - my teaching is antagonistic to none. I direct my attention to the
individual, to make him strong, to teach him that he himself is divine, and I
call upon men to make themselves conscious of this divinity within."
And this was what the correspondent felt when he felt after the interview: "I
then took my leave from one of the most original of men that I have had the
honour of meeting."
Following such spread about the swami's personality, influence, and grasp of
spirituality, people started coming to him for discussions, seek instructions,
and just to pay courtesy visits and satisfy their curiosity. Swami Vivekananda
was satisfied that the British people did not reject him or his teachings. And
thus in the following month, the short stay that was possible in England, the
swami laid the firm foundation for future work and made a deep and lasting
impression upon those whom he met. Thus his lecture at Prince's Hall on October
22, 1895 marks the beginning of his work in Europe.
He held number of talks in the last week of this October - the Chelsea residence
of the Rev. H. R. Haweis, residence of Mr. Chemier, at Maidenhead, and stayed at
80 (61) Oakley Street, Chelsea from October 29th. He held about eight classes
per week apart from public lectures. The people sat on floor for want of space
without feeling any inconvenience. He spoke on 'Indian Philosophy and Western
Society' on November 5, in front of a select audience of scientists; on 10th
November he talked on 'The Basis of Vedanta Morality' before Ethical Society of
Moncure Conway at South Place Chapel.
His Meeting with Margaret Noble
It was in the month of November 1895 that Swami Vivekananda met Margaret Noble;
later to become his most devoted disciple - Sister Nivedita. The Swami was
seated on the floor of West End drawing room in meditative pose, his face
radiant with dignity and poise, childlike simplicity and calm radiating
spiritual aura. Margaret Noble was one of them listening to the celestial words
of the Swami who was elaborating ancient wisdom of Upanishads and Vedanta to the
small group:
'Friends, your Church is true, our temples are true, and true is Brahman,
formless and eternal, beyond the two. Time has come when nations would exchange
their spiritual ideals as treasures, as they are already exchanging the
commodities of the market. These ideals are but various impressions in different
modes of manifestation of the One. 'All these are threaded upon Me, like pearls
upon a string', so says the Lord in The Gita. Love is the highest virtue, love
knows of giving alone, never expecting anything in return. Love God, but don't
barter worldly pleasures and comforts in exchange for that.'
Those words were full with deep meaning about true religion; words sweet yet
foreign to this educated, literate, bold, and intelligent lady. The words full
with wisdom of ancient Hindu thought entered her mind as the Swami continued:
Man proceeds from lower truth to higher truth, and not from error to truth. This
growth in search of higher and still higher truth is what religion is all about.
The mind rebels and refuses to accept the truth. The words continued to make
impact on Margaret; as if she continued to listen to the words of her master in
the state of ecstasy: "You must have heard the mischievous word Maya..."
It took the Swami full four lectures to elaborate and bring home the concept of
Maya, but still, Sister Nivedita wondered as to how many really understood the
intricacies of it. The struggle that Sister Nivedita perceived in the life of
her Master was an effort of translating superconscious into practical life. She
remembered Sri Ramakrishna mildly rebuking his beloved disciple 'I thought you
had been born for something greater my boy' when Swami Vivekananda was put the
question 'Naren, what is your highest ambition' and he had answered 'to remain
always in samadhi'.
Thus continued the teaching of a disciple in the lecture series through 1895 and
the second visit to London in 1896. In those few days Sister Nivedita realized
the whole ancient realm of Indian spirituality dating back to 5000 BCE. The
words like Atman, Brahman, Self, Maya, Ishwara, God, Realization etc. opened up
new vistas in front of her inner eyes, like flowers arranged in a wonderful
bouquet by a deft artist. Listening led to contemplation that merged into
mediation, and soon Nivedita left everything comfortable in her land of birth
and accompanied her Master to reach the shores of India. Yes, the land of
spirituality, but afflicted with poverty, want, disease, ignorance, and burden.
The only force of attraction for her was Vedanta as preached to her by none
other than her venerable Master, Swami Vivekananda.
More about Swami Vivekananda's Work in Britain
During the month of November, Swami Vivekananda gave many more lectures and
talks in which the swami brought forth the ideas of benefits and flaws of
religious organizations. He said: "It is well to be born in a Church, but it is
terrible to die there,' symbolizing the narrowness and fossilization that creeps
in organized religions and precepts. It is true that initially such 'family' of
like-minded brothers and sisters encourages and benefits the aspirant to
progress in his/her austerities, study, practice, and faith, but it also imposes
restrictions for the full realization of divine potential. Later, the swami did
organize the 'Ramakrishna Order', maintaining that he had done so to spread the
message of his Master even at the cost of losing some depth of his teachings. He
felt that the need of the hour was to make Sri Ramakrishna's teachings and
sayings 'broadcast' in every direction, in every layer of the society, so that
the masses can stand the drift away from spirituality in the face of powerful
currents of science and materialism. Swami Vivekananda was more than pleased
with his work in England, as can be seen from his letters written to his friends
in India. "In England my work is really splendid," he wrote.
… Continued
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