Return to What's New?

Swami Prabhananda
Ramakrishna Mission Institute, Calcutta India

" 'Om Sa Vidya Ya Vimuktaye. Om Shantih, Shantih Shantihi.'

'That alone is true learning which liberates Man completely. Om Peace! Peace! Peace!' Seers found that there are two kinds of knowledge: para and apara vidya. Para Vidya (knowledge) liberates man completely from all bondages. The main purpose is to liberate Man, liberate Man from all kind of fetters. Liberate Man so that he can manifest what is good in him. Not only that, he helps others to liberate.

You are all fortunate that you are in America, the land which was praised by Swami Vivekananda as the land of freedom. I believe that most of you (students) have been born here in this country, in this land of freedom, in this land of opportunity, in this land where you have great possibilities of achieving something. Swami Vivekananda saw that people coming from all different countries, when they get settled here, they get inspiration and rise. So you are fortunate, in the sense that you have been touched by Swami Vivekananda. When I saw your performance yesterday, I felt that ‘Vivekananda’s fire’ has caught you. There is no escape. You are going to be consumed by this fire of Vivekananda. You are so lucky at this age that you have got the opportunity to have the best of both, the East and the West, which was suggested by Swami Vivekananda. You are fortunate that you are receiving this special ‘value education’ at the Vidyapith. Swami Vivekananda thought of such education and also recommended it.

What is Vivekananda’s fire? Let me tell you an incident. Ms. MacLeod was the disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She received a message from Swami Vivekananda, ‘Love India’. She spent a major part of her life in India. Whenever someone asked what is she doing in India?, she replied, ‘I am trying to love India.’ She was a great lady. Her contribution is great. Pravrajika Prabuddha Prana has recently published a book on her. She used to live in Belur Math. She was quiet old at that time. On Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, two Swamis had gone to Ms. MacLeod. Everybody used to call her ‘Shanti.’ She was resting. Seeing these two Swamis, she got up from her bed. After greetings, the Swamis told her ‘Shanti, today is Swamiji’s birthday. We came to hear something about Swamiji.’ Shanti (Ms. MacLeod) said, ‘Let me tell you, Swami Vivekananda was great. There was never a man like Vivekananda. And, I can tell you, there will never be another Vivekananda.’ If you do comparative study of great persons, you will find that there is something remarkable in Vivekananda which you do not find anywhere else. Vivekananda is wonderful. His appearance, his physical strength, his character, his spiritual power, in any direction if you want to make an assessment of Vivekananda you will find that he excelled in every field. His Master, Sri Ramkrishna used to tell that Vivekananda has as many as eighteen kinds of qualities, one of which the greatest man of that day Keshav Chandra Sen had. Kesab Chandra Sen, the Brahmo leader, was the most prominent man of those days. In an English newspaper editorial it was mentioned that ‘When Keshab Chandra speaks, the whole world listens.’ That Kesab Chandra Sen used to visit Sri Ramkrishna frequently. Sri Ramkrishna made this remark comparing Keshav Chandra and Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda was remarkable. The more you study Vivekananda the more you will be benefited. I can assure you that if you study sincerely, if you study in depth, you will find something which will be a treasure, which will help you at every step of your life.

Swami Vivekananda is not only for young people, but he is for everyone. Binoy Sarkar, a professor of Calcutta University was a great lover and admirer of Vivekananda. He used to tell a wonderful thing, ‘take one dose of Vivekananda Tonic daily and you will feel alright;’ whoever you may be. If you are young, you will find strength. If you are older, you will find new creative ideas and youthfulness in you. So, I conclude my speech by repeating that professors’ saying, ‘take one dose of Swami Vivekananda’s teaching daily.’ Thank you.”