HONORARY MASTERS OF MEDICINE DEGREE FOR A ILLITERATE MAN

HONORARY MASTERS OF MEDICINE DEGREE FOR A  ILLITERATE MAN. 

Cape Town's uneducated surgeon Mr. Hamilton, who was awarded the honorary degree of Master of Medicine could neither read  or  write. 

Cape Town Medical University has a leading position in the medical world.

The world’s first heart transplant  happened here as well. 

 

Master of Medicine honorary degree was awarded to this man  who has never seen the face of school in his life. He could not read a  word  of English, leave alone write  anything in English. 

 

But one morning in 2003, world-renowned surgeon Professor David Dent announced in the university auditorium: "Today we are awarding an honorary degree in medicine to the man who produced the most surgeons in the world. Who is an extraordinary teacher and a amazing surgeon. But

a man  who  has never studied medical sciences”.

Professor David Dent then announced it was none other than Hamilton. 

The entire auditorium stood up 

and applauded. It was the biggest reception in the history of this university.

 

Hamilton was born in Sanitani, a remote village in Cape Town. His parents were shepherds. He wore goat skin and  walked  the mountains barefoot all day as a child. His father  fell  ill when he was a teenager and he had to attend to the family. , He left his village and  went to Cape Town looking for a job. Construction was then underway at the University of Cape Town.  He was employed as a labourer at the university. He would send home all the money  he earned. After  a hard day's work, he  would sleep in the open ground.  He worked as a laborer for many years. The construction soon ended

 

He  then got the job of mowing the tennis courts at the University. 

He  would arrive at the tennis court early in the morning and start his mowing. He did this for three years. 

Then came a strange turn in his life. 

It was a warm morning. Professor Robert Joyce was researching  on the anatomy of the giraffe’s neck.  They  had laid a  unconscious giraffe on the operating table. But as soon as the operation started, the giraffe  started to move its head. So they needed a strong man to keep the giraffe's neck tight during the operation.

 

The professor came out of the theatre   and Hamilton was  there mowing the lawn in front. The professor saw that he was a healthy young man of strong stature.  He beckoned him and ordered him to grab the giraffe's neck.

 

The operation lasted eight hours. During this time, the doctor continued to take tea and coffee breaks. However Hamilton  just stood  there holding the giraffe's neck. When the operation was over, he quietly went out and started mowing the lawn.

 

The next day the professor called him again.  He came and held the the giraffe's  through the entire dissection. He worked double for many months. 

 He  never asked for  additional  payment  for this duty.  And nor did he complain.

 

Professor Robert Joyce was impressed by his perseverance and sincerity and  promoted Hamilton from mowing the tennis court to  a lab assistant. He  was now  given the responsibility  to help the surgeons in the operating theatre’s.  He excelled in this and continued working there for many years. 

 

In 1958 came another turning point in his life. That year, Dr.  Christian Bernard came to the university and started heart transplant operations.

 

Hamilton became his  personal assistant, during these operations. Soon he  was promoted from  a Assistant Surgeon to  a  Additional Surgeon.

 

As a Additional Surgeon, he was now  given the task of stitching. He excelled in his stitching. While working in the operating theatre, he began to understand the human body more than surgeons . So the senior doctors gave him the responsibility of teaching the junior doctors.

 

He  then started teaching surgical techniques to junior doctors. He gradually became the most important figure in the operating theatre. He was unfamiliar with the terms of medical sciences. But he was the best if  surgeons the world has seen.  Much of Professor Christian Bernard’s achievement would not have been possible without the steadying hands of Hamilton. 

 

The third turning point in his life came in 1970 when research on liver  transplant started in Cape Town University.  He did extensive dissections on the liver and he identified a  very important artery ..... which made liver transplantation easier and successful. 

 

His  achievements astonished the great minds of medical science.

 

Today, when a person undergoes a successful  liver transplant operation, much of the credit should go  to Hamilton. 

 

Hamilton achieved this position with sincerity and perseverance. He was associated with the University of Cape Town for 50 years. In  those 50 years, he never took a vacation. He would leave home at 3 o’clock in the morning and walk 14 miles to the university.  He would enter the theatre at exactly six o'clock. People used to  adjust their watches with his time.

 

He received an honour that no one else outside the medical sciences  has ever received.

 

He was the first illiterate teacher of Surgery.  He was the first illiterate surgeon to train 30,000 surgeons in his lifetime.

He died in 2005 and was buried at the University.  It  has become  a ritual  for every graduating doctor to pose for a photograph at his tomb before walking out of the University to face the challenges  of the outside world. 

 

And  you know how he got this exalted position. 

 

Only one yes.

 

The day he was called to the operating theatre to grab the giraffe's neck  and if he had refused that day.  If he had said that day, I am a Grounds Maintenance Worker and it is not my job  to hold the giraffe's neck

 

It was a yes and an extra eight hours of hard work that opened the door to success for him. 

 

Every job in the world has one criteria and  the job is available only to those who meet the criteria. If you want to work, you can start any work anywhere in the world  straight away and no power in the world will be able to stop you.

 

Hamilton had found the secret, he gave importance to work rather than the job. This changed  his life and his history.

Excerpts from "Autobiography of Swami Sivananda"

Autobiography of Swami Sivananda (An abridged version)

I was born to Srimati Parvati Ammal and P.S. Vengu Iyer, as their third son, on Thursday the 8th September, 1887, at the time of sunrise, when the Star Bharani was in ascendance. My father Sri P.S. Vengu Iyer of Pattamadai, was descended from Sri Appaya Dikshitar.  I passed the Madurai Tamil Sangam examination creditably. I chose the medical career and ran a Medical Journal, Ambrosia, at Trichinopoly, for three years. I was very ambitious and enthusiastic. 

I was planning to go to Malaya (Malaysia). I left Madras by S.S. “Tara.”. I served in the Estate Hospital near Seremban as a doctor for nearly seven years, after which I joined the Johore Medical Office, Ltd. I served in Johore for three years. There was not a single available English medical book at that time that I had not read and digested. In addition to all this I would help my assistants too and train them for sometime daily, and then send them to other hospitals with a recommendation letter, providing from my pocket their railway fare as well as some emergency money. Soon I became well-known in Seremban and Johore Bahru.

Is there not a higher mission in life than the daily round of official duties, eating and drinking? Is there not any higher form of eternal happiness than these transitory and illusory pleasures? How uncertain is life here? How insecure is existence on this earth-plane, with various kinds of diseases, anxieties, worries, fear and disappointments! In 1923, I renounced the life of ease and money-making and took to the life of a mendicant, a true seeker after Truth.

From Singapore, I reached Banaras and had Darshan of Lord Siva. Then I proceeded to Nasik, Poona and other important religious centres. From Poona I walked to Pandarpore, a distance of seventy miles. On my way I stayed for a couple of days in the Ashram of Yogi Narayan Maharaj at Khedgaon. Then I spent some four months in Dhalaj on the banks of Chandrabhaga. During my incessant travels, I learnt how to adjust and adapt myself to various types of people.

I came to Rishikesh in June 1924 and found it my destination. My Guru Swami Viswananda Saraswati Maharaj gave me initiation and enough spiritual strength and blessings. I found Rishikesh an ideal place for intense and undisturbed spiritual practices true for all seekers after Truth. A deep study of the ways of Mahatmas living in Rishikesh opened my eyes and gave me strength to stick to rigorous Sadhana in the right direction. I felt the Grace of the Lord. I derived strength and guidance from within. I found ways for an all-round development. I had the goal of my life as Self-realisation and determined to spend every bit of my energy and time in study, service and Sadhana.

For maintaining a high standard of health, I practised Asanas, Pranayamas, Mudras and Bandhas. I used to go out for long brisk walks in the evenings. I combined physical exercises such as Dand and Bhaitak also. I paid special attention to simple living, high thinking, light food, deep study, silent meditation and regular prayers. I loved seclusion and observed Mauna. I did not like company and futile talk. From the Ram Ashram Library in Muni-ki-reti I used to get some books for my study and devoted some time to study every day. With a view to devoting more time to prayer and meditation, I moved to the Swargashram. I lived in a small Kutir, 8 feet by 10 feet, with a small verandah in front, and depended on the Kali Kambliwala Kshetra for my food.

I visited Kedarnath and Badrinath, Tunganath and Triyuginath. Swami Balananda, Swami Vidyasagar accompanied me. I had a dip in the hot-water springs at Badri Narayan. Throughout my travel I sang Kirtan and Bhajan and did mental Japa. By a steam-boat at Calcutta, I reached Ganga Sagar—the confluence of Ganga with Bay of Bengal. Srimati Maharani Surat Kumari Devi also was with me. There is a small temple of Kapila Muni at the sacred Ganga Sagar. I had a bath in the sea. There was a Mela (fair). I helped the pilgrims in getting up the ladder. In the early years of my Sadhana at Rishikesh, I decided to see Kailas. Mount Kailas is in Western Tibet. On the 12th June, 1931, I started on a pilgrimage to that sacred place. There is no place on all this fair earth which can be compared with Kailas for the marvellous beauty of the everlasting snows. Of all Yatras, the Kailas trip is the most difficult. It is called Mount Meru—the axis of Mountains

Systematically to carry on the Divine Mission on a large scale, I established the DIVINE LIFE TRUST SOCIETY in 1936 and registered the Trust Deed at Ambala. In 1936 when I was returning from Lahore after presiding over a Kirtan Conference, I just thought of a Trust Society and alighted at Ambala and consulted an Advocate and prepared the Trust deed. Then the Divine Life Society was established for the dissemination of spiritual knowledge throughout the world and subsequently about 300 Branches were opened in all important cities. Thousands of students received initiation from me into the order of Sannyasa. So long as they undergo training they stay with me and work. Advanced students start their own Mission in big cities or have their own Sadhana in the Himalayan caves.

On the 9th September, 1950, I started on a dynamic Mission of Dissemination of Knowledge, undertaking an extensive tour all over India and Ceylon for a period of two months. I returned to Rishikesh on the 7th November, 1950. I visited all the important cities, towns and villages all over India. I addressed public meetings and conducted Kirtans. I delivered speeches in many Schools, Colleges and Universities on ethical culture and Real Education and addressed numerous public meetings on general spiritual topics. Several thousands of rupees worth of valuable books were distributed free of cost to the public during this historic event—the All-India-Ceylon Tour.

Many foreigners come to the Ashram and spend some weeks or months and admire the wonderful work turned out at the Ashram. The inhabitants of Shivanandanagar, young and old, men and women, enjoy the peace and bliss of this Holy Centre and help the world in a variety of ways. They all receive my careful, personal attention. I provide them with all comforts and conveniences and help them in their evolution. The Sivananda Hospital is a blessing to the Mahatmas, Yogins, pilgrims and the poor people of the neighbouring villages. Experienced doctors in different systems of medicine attend to the Hospital work. The General Hospital is equipped with modern apparatus like X-Ray, Diathermy and a High Frequency Apparatus for E.N.T. and eye cases.

Young aspirants, because of old habit, used to sleep in the winter cold till sunrise or till 6 or 7 in the morning. They must not waste their precious life in sleeping in the Brahmamuhurta, between 4 and 6 in the early morning. That period is highly favourable for deep meditation. The atmosphere also is charged with Sattvic vibrations. Without much effort one can have wonderful concentration at this period.

From my Kutir, I used to chant aloud several times the Mantras: “OM OM OM, SHYAM SHYAM SHYAM, RADHESHYAM RADHESHYAM RADHESHYAM” and thus made my students get up early for prayers and meditation. This had no effect on the Tamasic type of aspirants. I arranged their night meals before sunset. That enabled some to get up early morning. It is only those who load the stomach heavily at night that find it difficult to get up early in the morning.

In the beginning stages of Sadhana, even if people meditate alone in a room, they get up in the morning only to see that they were overpowered by sleep, and sleep the whole period in a sitting posture. This gave me an idea of a common prayer and meditation during Brahmamuhurta. One student would ring the bell in front of every Kutir and collect the aspirants in a common place for the collective Sadhana. I joined the group daily for some months and years.

I love seclusion. I have to hide myself at times. I do not crave for name and fame. I did not spend much time in a deep study of all the scriptures and religions of the world, for preparing thrilling lectures. I never liked to spend time in writing fine essays for publication through books or newspapers. I was not pleased when people called me: “Mahatma, Guru Maharaj.” I never planned for any Institution to perpetuate my name. But the Divine Will was different. The whole world came to me with all divine glory and splendour. That may be due to the intense prayers of thousands of sincere seekers after Truth coupled with my own inborn tendencies to share with others what I have and to serve the world on a large scale on the right lines, for the attainment of Light, Peace, Knowledge and Power.

I was induced to start the Divine Life Society when I found some facility and useful hands to carry on the work. I carried the Message of the Sages and Saints and taught the world the way for Peace and Bliss. Because of the popularity of the Divine Life Society, many learned and pious souls from far off lands have come to see me and, sharing with me the love for selfless service, are doing valuable work in spreading right knowledge, which alone can confer lasting peace and happiness. Many foreign Branches of the Divine Life Society are reprinting parts of my writings and distributing them free in their respective regions.

The Yoga Vedanta Forest University came into existence when regular classes began to be conducted on all Branches of Yoga. To help the students all over the world, the University Press was established for printing necessary works on the practical side and half a dozen periodicals, with a number of machines to do the work automatically. Now the Ashram, a very big Spiritual Colony, looks like a huge factory with the wonderful, indescribable Peace of the Himalayas. 

No doubt it is difficult for young women to get on in the Sannyasa line. They do not have the same liberty and freedom as men. Men can live and move about in any way and sleep anywhere. They can go from door to door for alms and maintain themselves. But women are greatly at a disadvantage and suffer thereby. It is a pity that there are not many ideal institutions in India exclusively for women where they can live peacefully, serve the world and evolve. Ideal institutions with all comforts and conveniences for women, who are spiritually-inclined, are a great need of the hour. For ages, this important work has been neglected.

I never thought of starting an Ashram. When the great rush of students and devotees came to me for spiritual guidance, with a view to render help to them and to make them useful to the world, I created some fields of activities for their evolution and for public good, encouraged them much in their studies and their Sadhana, and arranged necessary comforts and conveniences for their boarding and lodging, using the donations I received from some admirers for my personal use. Thus, in course of time, I found around me a huge Ashram and an Ideal Institution with congenial environment—a big Spiritual Colony—SHIVANANDA NAGAR. I did not work with big plans or schemes. I did not approach any great person or Maharajah for getting money. The world appreciated the service done here on right lines. A little help came from the divine source and I carefully utilised every cent of it for bringing maximum spiritual good to the world. 

I am not restrictive about my publications. Any good matter must be shared with the readers at once for their prompt spiritual benefit. I do not want my readers to wait until a new publication is ready. Hence, if any new ideas crop up, I at once add them in the latest work under print even though they may not have a direct connection with the subject-matter of the book. Nor do I wish that valuable time should be wasted in carefully scrutinising every word.

No attachment to copyright. I do not expect any royalty from publishers. For dynamic work, I ask all the publishers to bring out several editions of my books in different languages. I do not demand anything from publishers as remuneration to the author. Let them give the royalty or not, I permit any number of publishers to come forward to print my books for wide circulation throughout the world.

Way to Success:

Whenever I take up any work, 

I finish it at any cost. 

Whenever I start writing a book, 

I complete it somehow or other. 

Whenever I take up a book for study, 

I complete it before taking up another work. 

I never leave anything half done. 

I concentrate on the subject and 

Think intensely without distraction. 

I am firm, steadfast and steady. 

I have intense application to work. 

I have tenacity and intensity of purpose.

My view of Goondas:

Good people are already virtuous 

I will have to correct and mould Goondas only. 

This is my special work. 

Goonda is a negatively virtuous man. 

He exists to glorify the virtuous. 

Goonda also is Lord Krishna. 

Lord Krishna says in the Gita: 

‘Dyutam chhalayatamasmi— 

I am the gambling of the cheat.’ 

Rudri says: ‘Taskaranam pataye namah— 

Prostrations the Lord of thieves,’ 

I keep in the Ashram all sorts of students. 

The world calls me a Guru for thieves and rogues. 

Glory to the Divine Mission. 

The spiritual vibrations of this Holy Centre 

Convert them as Divine Beings, Yogis and Saints!

Ideal Teacher:

I am ever a thirsting student 

I am not a teacher 

But God has made me a teacher 

The students have made me a teacher. 

I make my students soon as teachers 

I am such a teacher. 

I treat them in respectable terms as 

‘Maharaj’, ‘Swamiji’, ‘Bhagawan’, ‘Narayan’, 

I treat them as my equals 

I give them equal seats 

I am such a teacher. 

I allow them to learn from my own life 

I make them Mahants and servants of humanity 

Presidents, lecturers, writers, Swamis and Yogis 

Founders of spiritual institutions, poets, journalists, 

Propagandists, divine scavengers, health and Yoga Culturists, 

Typists, Yoga-kings, Atma-Samrats, 

Karma Yogi Veeras, Bhakti Bhushans, Sadhana Ratnas 

I am such a teacher to all Seekers after Truth.

Come, Come, My Friends:

My Call is irresistible, 

It has transformed countless lives. 

Do not waste this precious life 

In playing cards and idle gossiping 

Give up hot debates and arguing 

Destroy all pleasure centres 

Abandon the desire for comfort 

Set fire to the fuel of lust. 

Destroy the fortress of egoism 

Be quick, Be quick, friends! 

Sing the Lord’s Name day and night 

Now take a plunge in the Ocean of Bliss 

And enter the illimitable domain of the Atma within. 

Come, come, my friends, take the plunge, be quick 

Tarry not, delay not—enjoy the Wisdom Bliss. 

Fear dominates in this era of nuclear weapons of mass destruction. Hatred rules the policies of vast sections of the so-called enlightened and civilised mankind. This age of advancement has been exposed to be in reality an age of degeneracy in the views and values, the ideals and morals of the greater masses of mankind. At this juncture, cultured men and women all over the world look to the sacred land, India, for light and knowledge. It is your noble task to spread this light of spiritual knowledge and spiritual Idealism to all corners of the globe.

Let the clarion call of the Upanishads ring through every village, town and city. Let the glorious chant of divine Name fill all quarters. Let virtue be implanted in every heart and Dharma and the good life be seen in every walk of life. Divine Life must be practical. Ideals of Divine Life must shoot up into practical realisation. Divine Life must be made vigorously manifest in the lives of the people. This is important. Be sincere. Work with concord. Be adaptable. Adjust, adapt and accommodate. Remember always that work is the important thing, not personal views and individual opinions. Therefore dissolve all differences and work together for the cause of a pure life and spiritual perfection.

I AM THAT I AM :

Timeless and spaceless is this goal 

Painless and sorrowless is this seat 

Blissful and peaceful is this Abode 

Changeless and boundless is this Dhama 

I know that “I am He” 

I have neither body, mind nor senses 

I have neither change, nor growth nor death 

I am the Immortal, All-pervading Brahman. 

Neither virtue nor sin can touch me 

Neither pleasure nor pain can affect me 

Neither likes and dislikes can taint me 

I am Existence-Absolute, Knowledge-Absolute and Bliss-Absolute. 

I have neither friends nor enemies 

I have neither parents nor relatives 

I have neither home nor country 

I am that I am. I am that I am. 

I am never born, I never die 

I always exist, I am everywhere, 

I have neither fear of death nor fear of public criticism 

I am Siva, full of Bliss and Knowledge 

Chidananda-rupah Sivoham, Sivoham.

~ H H Sri Swami Sivananda

 Excerpts from "Autobiography of Swami Sivananda"

How to choose right life partner

👫 How to choose right life partner  👫

A disciple, Dilip Kumar Roy, wrote a letter in 1924 to Sri Aurobindo asking certain questions regarding marriage.  The answer depends on many factors, as Sri Aurobindo indicates in the following text.  He outlines the three kinds of bonds which usually form in a marital union: (a) vital or physical, (b) psychic and (c) spiritual.  His insights must be read with the understanding that no cut and dried answers can be given to such intricate questions.

Bonds of union between man and woman are generally of three kinds. The first is the vital and the physical bond. This is very common and ninety nine out of every hundred marriages result in this type of union.  This is the only possible bond among men and women of ordinary type and there is absolutely nothing wrong in it. In fact it is neither right nor wrong, but is rather necessary for them for gaining experience in their progress of life. It is also there for fulfilling a great purpose of Nature, that is, reproduction or the continuity of the race. You ask why sexual impulse is so strong in man making him almost a helpless tool in its hand. Because, as Sri Aurobindo has said, it is there placed by Nature for fulfilling her most primary and primitive purpose, that of reproduction, and it is strong in order to compel man to do it in spite of himself. For ordinary men it is the only principle and in fact the sole impulse, however man may try to cover it with his emotional and aesthetic ideas and ideals.

(Note on terminology: by vital and physical bond, Sri Aurobindo implies a marriage which thrives on the general enjoyment of life – La Dolce Vita – having sex, traveling to exotic places, eating good food, socializing, making money and so on.)

The second type of union between man and woman is the psychic bond. Those who are extraordinary in type, of rare refinement and culture and have a call for a greater ideal in life than the average man and woman, as for instance, for art, music, poetry, patriotism, they should seek their life companion not from sexual desires but from a higher outlook so that their union may result in this type of pure and psychic bond. In such a case of an extra-ordinary man a psychic woman alone can be his real partner of life. She alone can help him to fulfil himself and add to his power and Ananda. A wrong choice for him spells a set-back, and even ruin. A vital and physical union with a lower type of woman may blunt his aspirations and even wreck his life according as the woman is.  This psychic union is very rare in the world and is so difficult to find — especially as your seeking for a partner is always coloured by your clamouring of desires and lower impulses. On the other hand, when found, your life is extremely happy and both of you grow in power and purity and may even develop the highest type of bond — the spiritual out of this psychic one. Because psychic union is so rare and a real companion of life is so hard to find for a man of higher ideal, they generally remain single. Some of them find their mate late in life like Mustafa Kamal. Some are fortunate like Browning and are very happy all their life.

(Mustafa Kamal: These observations by Sri Aurobindo were recorded in 1924 at a time when Mustafa Kamal Ataturk was married to Latife Uşaklıgil.  They were divorced a year later in 1925, after being married for 2-1/2 years.)

(Browning: Sri Aurobindo is probably referring to Robert Browning, the poet who was married to poetess Elizabeth Barrett from 1846-1861.)

K.D: What about Napoleon and Josephine? Isn’t that relation psychic ? .

SRI AUROBINDO: Not entirely; it is half and half. Something in Josephine’s luck helped Napolean. Josephine had a better chance of being an Empress than Napolean had of being an Emperor. It was by marrying her he made his chance secure.

The spiritual bond is the third and the highest and is for him who feels the true call for spiritual life and has to find his Shakti or complementary soul who will be at once his partner and guide in his sadhana(askesis). If you have spiritual life as an ideal in view, you must not seek either an ordinary woman or a mere psychic one but a woman of that spiritual type who is also psychic and something more. This spiritual bond between man and woman is still more difficult to find and only one per cent of the marriages in the world, if at all, result in such a union. When found, a spiritual companion doubles your life and power and increases your speed of progress tenfold. It is really the Purusha and Prakriti fulfilling themselves in their world and raising themselves to the Divine plane by their united power. A wrong choice in the type of one who seeks spiritual greatness is worse than in the psychic bond, the fall is swifter and the result may be fatal. Where there is spiritual union, the psychic is sure to be, but where there is psychic, the higher may not be; only in some cases the higher can be evolved out of it. But out of the lowest the highest cannot certainly come and even the psychic is hardly possible.

What Ramakrishna Paramahansa (the 19th century Bengali mystic) had in his mind Sri Aurobindo cannot say, but he thinks Ramakrishna dreaded marriage from the point of view of the ascetic life. If one’s ideal is to renounce the world he has to avoid woman, she being like wealth and ambition, one of the great forces in Nature which drag down man’s consciousness to the lower planes of vital and physical desires. Ramakrishna’s insistence on renouncing woman was from a moral and ascetic standpoint. You can very well see that Sri Aurobindo does not tell you anything from this ascetic or moral point of view, but because of the above facts.

These are general truths relating to union of man and woman. In your own case everything depends on your ideal. If it is to be the ordinary life of vital and physical enjoyments you can choose your mate just wherever you like.

If it is a nobler ideal of art or music or patriotism, the seeking for a companion of life must not primarily be from the sexual desire but from something higher and the woman must have something in her in tune with the psychic part of your being. If on the other hand, your ideal is spiritual life you must think fifty times before you marry: Sri Aurobindo has already told you how rare a fit mate is for such a spiritual union. You are here given the general principles only. From its complexity you can easily imagine how difficult it will be for Sri Aurobindo to give you any clear-cut answer. With these data before you you must decide for yourself.

K.D: How can one know when he meets his psychic mate?

SRI AUROBINDO: How do you know a spiritual experience? How do you know when you have the right leader? It is all a matter of feeling and inner perception. It is an art and not a science. When she walks into your life you will know her right enough. As I have told you again and again, no rigid and hard and fast rule is possible in things like this. Union with woman is right in one case and perhaps wrong in other 99 cases. In that one case again without his Shakti (i.e. feminine counterpart) the man’s progress will be very slow and he may even go wrong. In the other 99 cases contact with woman itself may prove an obstacle. There are so many hostile powers working against the right union of complementary souls that very often, you can seldom meet your right mate. Of course I am talking of the path and not of the goal. When you reach the highest you will have to see whether you can get your Shakti. Without a Shakti you can yourself be perfect, in the sense that you can attain full knowledge, power and Ananda and change your entire organised being into its divine nature, but when you want to throw your powers on the world for creation, it is different. Take my instance. It may so happen that I reach the highest all alone, my Shakti falling in the way. Then I cannot create without her. I can by my highest siddhi only prepare the way for others to follow and accomplish the rest in the future. It is not only the dark forces who obstruct and make it impossible for the twin souls to meet, but even when they actually meet their life may get wrecked owing to mental and vital impediments. It is only when the psychic or the spiritual part is predominant in both, the two can really fulfil one another and progress higher and higher.  The hostile powers working against the siddhi of yogis are difficult to conquer. Ordinarily we are in complete darkness or ignorance with only flashes of knowledge now and then, even when the sadhaka has risen into a continual glow of knowledge and can discern the play of all the dark forces, he is not exempt from attack. Only when he reaches full illumination and is in serene and revealed knowledge he is beyond them and safe.

(Champaklal. Champaklal Treasures, pp 224-226)

(Painting: Priti Ghosh@Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Click image for the artist’s page)

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA on his Maha Samadhi Day Toda

ONE MINUTE SILENCE, PRAYER AND MEDITATION :

4th of July :

World pays homage to the cyclonic patriot saint SWAMI VIVEKANANDA on his Maha Samadhi Day Today. 

 

“On the day of the Mahasamadhi itself, whether consciously or intuitively, his actions were most deliberate and full of meaning. His solitary meditation for three hours in the morning from eight to eleven was the most striking. He rose rather early that day and, after partaking of his tea, entered the chapel of the monastery. After some time it was noticed that he had closed all the windows and bolted all the doors. What transpired there, no one will ever know. In his meditation his own Master and the Divine Mother -- to his own realization One and the Same Personality -- must have been present, for, when he had finished, he broke forth in a touching song in which the highest Jnana mingled with the highest Bhakti.

Descending the stairs of the shrine, he walked back and forth in the courtyard of the monastery, his mind withdrawn. Suddenly the tenseness of his thought expressed itself in a whisper loud enough to be heard by Swami Premananda who was nearby. The Swami was saying to himself, "If there were another Vivekananda, he would have understood what Vivekananda has done! And yet, how many Vivekanandas shall be born in time!!" This remark startled his brother-disciple, for never did the Swami speak thus, save when the flood-gates of his soul were thrown open and the living waters of the highest Consciousness rushed forth.

Another unusual incident took place, when the Swami, who was not in the habit of taking his food with his brother-monks and disciples, dined with them in the refectory. Still more strange was his relish of food. He had never felt better, he said.

At 1 p.m., a quarter of an hour after the midday repast, the Swami entered the Brahmacharis' room and called them to attend the class on Sanskrit grammar.

Some time later the Swami, accompanied by Swami Premananda, went out for a long walk, as far as the Belur Bazaar, and spoke with his brother-disciple on many interesting subjects, particularly on his proposed scheme of founding a Vedic college in the monastery. In order to have a clearer understanding of what the Swami felt on the matter, Swami Premananda asked, "What will be the good of studying the Vedas, Swamiji?" To this the Swami replied, "It will kill out superstitions!"

After meditating and telling his beads for about an hour, he laid himself down on his bed on the floor, and calling the disciple, who was waiting outside, asked him to fan his head a little. He had the rosary still in his hand. The disciple thought the Swami was perhaps having a light sleep. About an hour later, his hand shook a little. Then came two deep breaths. The disciple thought he fell into Samadhi. He then went downstairs and called a sannyasi, who came and found on examination that there was neither respiration nor pulse. Meanwhile, another sannyasi came and, thinking him to be in Samadhi, began to chant aloud the Master's name continually, but in no way was the Samadhi broken! That night an eminent physician was called in. He examined the body for a long time and afterwards said that life was extinct. The next morning it was found that the eyes were bloodshot and that there was a little bleeding through the mouth and nostrils. Other doctors remarked that it was due to the rupture of a blood-vessel in the brain. This clearly leads to the conclusion that, in the process of Japa and meditation, his Brahmarandhra [aperture in the crown of the head] must have been pierced when he left the body!

(p.652-656, V.2, Life of Swami Vivekananda)

THE PASSING OF THE SWAMI

Last days in the great life of Swami Vivekananda, as narrated by Sister Nivedita, in the book 'The Master as I saw Him'. Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi on 4th July 1902.

THE PASSING OF THE SWAMI

"... Personal revelation was so rare with him, that these words could never be forgotten. Again, on returning from the cave of Amarnath, in that same summer of 1898, had he not said, laughingly, that he had there received the grace of Amar Nath - not to die till he himself should will to do so? Now this, seeming to promise that death would never take him by surprise, had corresponded so well with the prophecy of Sri Ramakrishna - that when he should know who and what he was, he would refuse to remain a moment longer in the body - that one had banished, from one's mind all anxiety on this score, and even his own grave and significant words at the present time did not suffice to revive it.

Did we not remember, moreover, the story of the great Nirvikalpa Samadhi of his youth, and how, when it was over, his Master had said, "This is your mango, Look! I lock it in my box. You shall taste it once more, when your work in finished."

"- And we may wait for that," said the monk who told me the tale. "We shall know when the time is near. For he will tell us that again he has tasted his mango."

How strange it seems now, looking back on that time, or realise in how many ways the expected hint was given, only to fall on ears that did not hear, to reach minds that could not understand!

It would seem, indeed, that in his withdrawal from all weakness and attachment, there was one exception. That which had ever been dearer to him than life, kept still its power to move him. It was on the last Sunday before the end that he said to one of his disciples, "You know the WORK is always my weak point! When I think that might come to an end, I am all undone!"

On Wednesday of the same week, the day being Ekadasi, and himself keeping the fast in all strictness, he insisted on serving the morning meal to the same disciple. Each dish as it was offered - boiled seeds of the jack-fruit, boiled potatoes, plain rice, and ice-cold milk - formed the subject of playful chat; and finally, to end the meal, he himself poured the water over the hands, and dried them with a towel...

... There was nothing sad or grave about the Swami, during these days. In the midst of anxiety about over-fatiguing him, in spite of conversation deliberately kept as light as possible, touching only upon the animals that surrounded him, his garden, experiments, books, and absent friends, over and beyond all this, one was conscious the while of a luminous presence, of which his bodily form seemed only as a shadow, or symbol.

Never had one felt so strongly as now, before him, that one stood on the threshold of an infinite light. Yet none was prepared, least of all on that last happy Friday, July the 4th, on which he appeared so much stronger and better than he had been for years, to see the end so soon.

He had spent hours of that day in formal meditation. Then he had given a long Sanskrit lesson. Finally he had taken a walk from the monastery gates to the distant highroad.

On his return from this walk, the bell was ringing for evensong, and he went to his own room, and sat down, facing towards the Ganges, to meditate. It was the last time. The moment was come that had been foretold by his Master from the beginning. Half an hour went by, and then, on the wings of that meditation, his spirit soared whence there could be no return, and the body was left, like a folded vesture, on the earth".

04 जुलाई / पुण्यतिथि विशेष –विश्वविजेता #स्वामी_विवेकानंद |

||🚩ॐ श्री गुरुदेवाय नमः🚩||

04 जुलाई / पुण्यतिथि विशेष –विश्वविजेता #स्वामी_विवेकानंद |

संत विवेकानंद अमर आप, अमर आपकी पावन वाणी |

आपको सदा ही शीश नवाते,भारत का हर प्राणी-प्राणी ||

भारतीय पुनर्जागरण के अग्रदूत महापुरुषों में स्वामी विवेकानंद का अन्यतम स्थान है। वह सच में नर - इंद्र ही हैं। विवेक विकसित करा देते हैं। नर को सत- चित - आनंद में डुबो देते हैं। सनातन दर्शन के विज्ञान से दुनिया को आलोकित करते हैं तब विश्व की कथित विकसित सभ्यताएं पानी मांगने लगती हैं। शास्त्र सम्मत कार्य उन्हें पसंद हैं। शास्त्रों की उपेक्षा उन्हें बर्दाश्त नहीं। अंग्रेजी माध्यम में शिक्षा लेकर भी संस्कृत को संस्कृति के लिए अनिवार्य मानते हैं। केवल युग पुरुष या युग द्रष्टा भर नहीं हैं , यकीनन नए भारत के प्रणेता हैं स्वामी विवेकानंद। वह महज कोई संत नहीं है बल्कि दुनिया को विश्वगुरु की झलक दिखा जाने वाली एक ऐसी झांकी हैं जिससे दुनिया अभी भी किसी चमत्कार जैसा ही देखती है। यकीनन उन्हें सनातन संस्कृति का सूर्य कहना ज्यादा श्रेयस्कर होगा। 

किसी विद्वान ने तो यहाँ तक लिखा है - काल के भाल पर कुंकुम उकेरने वाले सिद्धपुरुष का नाम है, स्वामी विवेकानन्द। नैतिक मूल्यों के विकास एवं युवा चेतना के जागरण हेतु कटिबद्ध, मानवीय मूल्यों के पुनरुत्थान के सजग प्रहरी, अध्यात्म दर्शन और संस्कृति को जीवंतता देने वाली संजीवनी बूटी, भारतीय संस्कृति एवं भारतीयता के प्रखर प्रवक्ता, युगीन समस्याओं के समाधायक, अध्यात्म और विज्ञान के समन्वयक, वेदान्त के विख्यात और प्रभावशाली आध्यात्मिक गुरु हैं स्वामी विवेकानन्द। उनके प्रभाव की अनुभूति केवल भारत ही नहीं बल्कि दुनिया आज भी कर रही है। स्वामीजी के जन्मदिवस को वर्ष १९८५ से भारत में राष्ट्रीय युवा दिवस के रूप में मनाया जा रहा है। आज यानि 12 जनवरी ,उनका जन्मदिवस है। 

🚩 स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी का जन्म 12 जनवरी सन 1863  (विद्वानों के अनुसार #मकर संक्रान्ति संवत 1920) को #कलकत्ता में एक कायस्थ परिवार में हुआ था। उनके बचपन का नाम #नरेन्द्रनाथ दत्त था। पिता विश्वनाथ दत्त कलकत्ता हाईकोर्ट के एक प्रसिद्ध वकील थे।

  🚩दुर्गाचरण दत्ता, (नरेंद्र के दादा) संस्कृत और फारसी के विद्वान थे उन्होंने अपने #परिवार को 25 वर्ष की उम्र में छोड़ दिया और साधु बन गए।

🚩उनकी माता भुवनेश्वरी देवी धार्मिक विचारों की महिला थी। उनका अधिकांश समय भगवान शिव की पूजा-अर्चना में व्यतीत होता था। नरेंद्र के पिता और उनकी माँ के धार्मिक, #प्रगतिशील व तर्कसंगत रवैये ने उनकी सोच और व्यक्तित्व को आकार देने में मदद की ।

🚩बचपन से ही #नरेन्द्र अत्यन्त कुशाग्र बुद्धि के तो थे ही नटखट भी थे। अपने साथी बच्चों के साथ वे खूब शरारत करते और मौका मिलने पर अपने अध्यापकों के साथ भी शरारत करने से नहीं चूकते थे। उनके घर में नियमपूर्वक रोज पूजा-पाठ होता था धार्मिक प्रवृत्ति की होने के कारण माता भुवनेश्वरी देवी को पुराण, रामायण, महाभारत आदि की कथा सुनने का बहुत शौक था। संत इनके घर आते रहते थे। नियमित रूप से #भजन-कीर्तन भी होता रहता था। #परिवार के धार्मिक एवं आध्यात्मिक वातावरण के प्रभाव से #बालक नरेन्द्र के मन में बचपन से ही धर्म एवं अध्यात्म के संस्कार गहरे होते गये। माता-पिता के संस्कारों और धार्मिक वातावरण के कारण बालक के मन में बचपन से ही #ईश्वर को जानने और उसे प्राप्त करने की लालसा दिखायी देने लगी थी। ईश्वर के बारे में जानने की उत्सुकता में कभी-कभी वे ऐसे प्रश्न पूछ बैठते थे कि इनके माता-पिता और कथावाचक पण्डितजी तक चक्कर में पड़ जाते थे।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी की शिक्षा..!!

🚩सन् 1871 में, आठ साल की उम्र में नरेंद्रनाथ ने #ईश्वर चंद्र विद्यासागर के मेट्रोपोलिटन संस्थान में दाखिला लिया जहाँ वे स्कूल गए। 1877 में उनका परिवार रायपुर चला गया। 1879 में कलकत्ता में अपने परिवार की वापसी के बाद, वह एकमात्र छात्र थे जिन्होंने प्रेसीडेंसी कॉलेज प्रवेश परीक्षा में प्रथम डिवीजन अंक प्राप्त किये ।

🚩वे दर्शन, धर्म, इतिहास, सामाजिक विज्ञान, कला और साहित्य सहित विषयों के एक #उत्साही पाठक थे। इनकी वेद, उपनिषद, भगवद् गीता, रामायण, महाभारत और पुराणों के अतिरिक्त अनेक हिन्दू शास्त्रों में गहन रूचि थी। नरेंद्र को #भारतीय शास्त्रीय संगीत में प्रशिक्षित किया गया था और ये नियमित रूप से शारीरिक व्यायाम में व खेलों में भाग लिया करते थे। नरेंद्र ने पश्चिमी तर्क, पश्चिमी दर्शन और यूरोपीय इतिहास का अध्ययन जनरल असेंबली इंस्टिटूशन (अब स्कॉटिश चर्च कॉलेज) में किया। 1881 में इन्होंने ललित कला की परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण की, और 1884 में कला स्नातक की डिग्री पूरी कर ली।

🚩नरेंद्र ने डेविड ह्यूम, इमैनुएल कांट, जोहान गोटलिब फिच, बारूक स्पिनोजा, जोर्ज डब्लू एच हेजेल, आर्थर स्कूपइन्हार , ऑगस्ट कॉम्टे, जॉन स्टुअर्ट मिल और चार्ल्स डार्विन के कामों का अध्यन किया। उन्होंने स्पेंसर की किताब एजुकेशन (1861) का बंगाली में अनुवाद किया।  ये हर्बर्ट स्पेंसर के विकासवाद से काफी मोहित थे।  #पश्चिम दार्शनिकों के अध्यन के साथ ही इन्होंने संस्कृत ग्रंथों और बंगाली साहित्य को भी सीखा।विलियम हेस्टी (महासभा संस्था के प्रिंसिपल) ने लिखा, "नरेंद्र वास्तव में एक जीनियस है। मैंने काफी विस्तृत और बड़े इलाकों में यात्रा की है लेकिन उनकी जैसी प्रतिभा वाला एक भी बालक कहीं नहीं देखा यहाँ तक कि जर्मन #विश्वविद्यालयों के दार्शनिक छात्रों में भी नहीं।" अनेक बार इन्हें श्रुतिधर( विलक्षण स्मृति वाला एक व्यक्ति) भी कहा गया है।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी की आध्यात्मिक शिक्षुता - ब्रह्म समाज का प्रभाव!!

🚩1880 में नरेंद्र ईसाई से हिन्दू धर्म में रामकृष्ण के प्रभाव से परिवर्तित केशव चंद्र सेन की नव विधान में शामिल हुए, नरेंद्र 1884 से पहले कुछ बिंदु पर, एक फ्री मसोनरी लॉज और साधारण #ब्रह्म समाज जो ब्रह्म समाज का ही एक अलग गुट था और जो केशव चंद्र सेन और देवेंद्रनाथ टैगोर के नेतृत्व में था। 1881-1884 के दौरान ये सेन्स बैंड ऑफ़ होप में भी सक्रीय रहे जो धूम्रपान और शराब पीने से युवाओं को हतोत्साहित करता था।

🚩यह नरेंद्र के परिवेश के कारण पश्चिमी आध्यात्मिकता के साथ परिचित हो गया था। उनके प्रारंभिक विश्वासों को ब्रह्म समाज ने (जो एक निराकार ईश्वर में विश्वास और मूर्ति पूजा का प्रतिवाद करते थे) ने प्रभावित किया और सुव्यवस्थित, युक्तिसंगत, अद्वैतवादी अवधारणाओं , धर्मशास्त्र ,वेदांत और उपनिषदों के एक चयनात्मक और आधुनिक ढंग से अध्ययन पर प्रोत्साहित किया।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी की निष्ठा..!!

🚩एक बार किसी #शिष्य ने #गुरुदेव की #सेवा में घृणा और निष्क्रियता दिखाते हुए नाक-भौं सिकोड़ीं। यह देखकर विवेकानन्द को क्रोध आ गया। वे अपने उस गुरु भाई को सेवा का पाठ पढ़ाते और गुरुदेव की प्रत्येक वस्तु के प्रति प्रेम दर्शाते हुए उनके बिस्तर के पास रक्त, कफ आदि से भरी थूकदानी उठाकर पी गये । #गुरु के प्रति ऐसी अनन्य भक्ति और निष्ठा के प्रताप से ही वे अपने गुरु के शरीर और उनके दिव्यतम आदर्शों की उत्तम सेवा कर सके। गुरुदेव को समझ सके और स्वयं के अस्तित्व को गुरुदेव के स्वरूप में विलीन कर सके। और आगे चलकर समग्र विश्व में #भारत के अमूल्य आध्यात्मिक भण्डार की महक फैला सके।

🚩ऐसी थी उनके इस #महान व्यक्तित्व की नींव में गुरुभक्ति, गुरुसेवा और गुरु के प्रति अनन्य निष्ठा जिसका परिणाम सारे संसार ने देखा।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द अपना जीवन अपने #गुरुदेव #रामकृष्ण परमहंस को समर्पित कर चुके थे। उनके गुरुदेव का शरीर अत्यन्त रुग्ण हो गया था। गुरुदेव के शरीर-त्याग के दिनों में अपने घर और #कुटुम्ब की नाजुक हालत व स्वयं के भोजन की चिन्ता किये बिना वे गुरु की सेवा में सतत संलग्न रहे।

🚩विवेकानन्द बड़े स्‍वप्न‍दृष्‍टा थे। #उन्‍होंने एक ऐसे समाज की कल्‍पना की थी जिसमें धर्म या जाति के आधार पर मनुष्‍य-मनुष्‍य में कोई भेद न रहे। उन्‍होंने वेदान्त के सिद्धान्तों को इसी रूप में रखा। अध्‍यात्‍मवाद बनाम भौतिकवाद के विवाद में पड़े बिना भी यह कहा जा सकता है कि समता के सिद्धान्त का जो आधार विवेकानन्‍द ने दिया उससे सबल बौद्धिक आधार शायद ही ढूँढा जा सके। #विवेकानन्‍द को युवकों से बड़ी आशाएँ थी।

आज के युवकों के लिये इस ओजस्‍वी सन्‍यासी का जीवन एक आदर्श है।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी यात्राएँ!!

🚩25 वर्ष की अवस्था में नरेन्द्र ने गेरुआ वस्त्र धारण कर लिया था । तत्पश्चात उन्होंने पैदल ही पूरे #भारतवर्ष की यात्रा की। सन्‌ 1893 में शिकागो (अमरीका) में विश्व धर्म परिषद् हो रही थी। स्वामी विवेकानन्द उसमें भारत के प्रतिनिधि के रूप में पहुँचे। यूरोप-अमरीका के लोग उस समय पराधीन भारतवासियों को बहुत हीन दृष्टि से देखते थे।

🚩वहाँ लोगों ने बहुत प्रयत्न किया कि स्वामी विवेकानन्द को सर्वधर्म परिषद् में बोलने का समय ही न मिले। परन्तु एक अमेरिकन प्रोफेसर के प्रयास से उन्हें थोड़ा समय मिला। उस परिषद् में उनके विचार सुनकर सभी विद्वान चकित हो गये। फिर तो अमरीका में उनका अत्यधिक स्वागत हुआ। वहाँ उनके भक्तों का एक बड़ा समुदाय बन गया। तीन वर्ष वे #अमरीका में रहे और वहाँ के लोगों को भारतीय तत्वज्ञान की अद्भुत ज्योति प्रदान की। उनकी वक्तृत्व-शैली तथा ज्ञान को देखते हुए वहाँ के मीडिया ने उन्हें साइक्लॉनिक हिन्दू का नाम दिया।

🚩"अध्यात्म-विद्या और भारतीय दर्शन के बिना विश्व अनाथ हो जायेगा" यह स्वामी विवेकानन्द का दृढ़ विश्वास था। अमरीका में उन्होंने #रामकृष्ण मिशन की अनेक #शाखाएँ स्थापित कीं। अनेक अमरीकी विद्वानों ने उनका शिष्यत्व ग्रहण किया। वे सदा अपने को 'गरीबों का सेवक' कहते थे। भारत के गौरव को देश-देशान्तरों में उज्ज्वल करने का उन्होंने सदा प्रयत्न किया।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्दजी का योगदान !!

🚩39 वर्ष के संक्षिप्त जीवनकाल में स्वामी #विवेकानन्द जो काम कर गये वे आने वाली अनेक शताब्दियों तक पीढ़ियों का मार्गदर्शन करते रहेंगे।

🚩तीस वर्ष की आयु में स्वामी #विवेकानन्द ने #शिकागो, अमेरिका के #विश्व धर्म सम्मेलन में हिंदू धर्म का प्रतिनिधित्व किया और उसे सार्वभौमिक पहचान दिलवायी।

🚩 गुरुदेव रवीन्द्रनाथ ठाकुर ने एक बार कहा था-"यदि आप भारत को जानना चाहते हैं तो विवेकानन्द को पढ़िये। उनमें आप सब कुछ सकारात्मक ही पायेंगे, नकारात्मक कुछ भी नहीं।"

🚩रोमारोला ने उनके बारे में कहा था-"उनके द्वितीय होने की कल्पना करना भी असम्भव है, वे जहाँ भी गये, सर्वप्रथम ही रहे। हर कोई उनमें अपने नेता का दिग्दर्शन करता था। वे ईश्वर के प्रतिनिधि थे और सब पर प्रभुत्व प्राप्त कर लेना ही उनकी विशिष्टता थी।

🚩हिमालय प्रदेश में एक बार एक अनजान यात्री उन्हें देख ठिठक कर रुक गया और आश्चर्यपूर्वक चिल्ला उठा-‘शिव!’ यह ऐसा हुआ मानो उस व्यक्ति के #आराध्य देव ने अपना नाम उनके माथे पर लिख दिया हो।"

🚩वे केवल सन्त ही नहीं, एक #महान देशभक्त, वक्ता, विचारक, लेखक और मानव-प्रेमी भी थे। अमेरिका से लौटकर उन्होंने #देशवासियों को आह्वान करते हुए कहा था-"नया भारत निकल पड़े मोची की दुकान से, भड़भूँजे के भाड़ से, कारखाने से, हाट से, बाजार से; निकल पडे झाड़ियों, जंगलों, पहाड़ों, पर्वतों से।" और जनता ने स्वामीजी की पुकार का उत्तर दिया। वह गर्व के साथ निकल पड़ी। #गान्धीजी को आजादी की लड़ाई में जो जन-समर्थन मिला, वह विवेकानन्द के आह्वान का ही फल था।

🚩इस प्रकार वे #भारतीय स्वतन्त्रता संग्राम के भी एक प्रमुख प्रेरणा-स्रोत बने। उनका विश्वास था कि पवित्र भारतवर्ष धर्म एवं दर्शन की पुण्यभूमि है। यहीं बड़े-बड़े महात्माओं व ऋषियों का जन्म हुआ, यही संन्यास एवं त्याग की भूमि है तथा यहीं-केवल यहीं-आदिकाल से लेकर आज तक मनुष्य के लिये जीवन के सर्वोच्च आदर्श एवं मुक्ति का द्वार खुला हुआ है।

🚩उनके कथन-"‘उठो, जागो, स्वयं जागकर औरों को जगाओ। अपने नर-जन्म को सफल करो और तब तक नहीं रुको जब तक लक्ष्य प्राप्त न हो जाये।"

🚩उन्नीसवीं सदी के आखिरी वर्षोँ में विवेकानन्द लगभग सशस्त्र या हिंसक क्रान्ति के जरिये भी देश को आजाद करना चाहते थे। परन्तु उन्हें जल्द ही यह विश्वास हो गया था कि परिस्थितियाँ उन इरादों के लिये अभी परिपक्व नहीं हैं। इसके बाद ही विवेकानन्द जी ने ‘एकला चलो‘ की नीति का पालन करते हुए एक परिव्राजक के रूप में भारत और दुनिया को खंगाल डाला।

🚩उन्होंने कहा था कि #मुझे बहुत से युवा संन्यासी चाहिये जो भारत के ग्रामों में फैलकर देशवासियों की सेवा में खप जायें।  विवेकानन्दजी पुरोहितवाद, धार्मिक आडम्बरों, कठमुल्लापन और रूढ़ियों के सख्त खिलाफ थे। उन्होंने धर्म को मनुष्य की सेवा के केन्द्र में रखकर ही आध्यात्मिक चिंतन किया था। उनका हिन्दू धर्म अटपटा, लिजलिजा और वायवीय नहीं था।

🚩विवेकानन्द जी इस बात से आश्वस्त थे कि #धरती की गोद में यदि ऐसा कोई देश है जिसने मनुष्य की हर तरह की बेहतरी के लिए ईमानदार कोशिशें की हैं, तो वह भारत ही है।

🚩उन्होंने पुरोहितवाद, ब्राह्मणवाद, धार्मिक कर्मकाण्ड और रूढ़ियों की खिल्ली भी उड़ायी और लगभग आक्रमणकारी भाषा में ऐसी विसंगतियों के खिलाफ युद्ध भी किया। उनकी दृष्टि में हिन्दू धर्म के #सर्वश्रेष्ठ चिन्तकों के विचारों का निचोड़ पूरी दुनिया के लिए अब भी ईर्ष्या का विषय है। #स्वामीजी ने संकेत दिया था कि विदेशों में भौतिक समृद्धि तो है और उसकी भारत को जरूरत भी है लेकिन हमें याचक नहीं बनना चाहिये। हमारे पास उससे ज्यादा बहुत कुछ है जो हम पश्चिम को दे सकते हैं और पश्चिम को उसकी बेसाख्ता जरूरत है।

🚩यह स्वामी विवेकानन्द का अपने देश की धरोहर के लिये दम्भ या बड़बोलापन नहीं था। यह एक वेदान्ती #साधु की भारतीय सभ्यता और संस्कृति की तटस्थ, वस्तुपरक और मूल्यगत आलोचना थी। बीसवीं सदी के इतिहास ने बाद में उसी पर मुहर लगायी।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी की महासमाधि!!

🚩विवेकानंद #ओजस्वी और सारगर्भित व्याख्यानों की प्रसिद्धि #विश्व भर में है। जीवन के अन्तिम दिन उन्होंने शुक्ल यजुर्वेद की व्याख्या की और कहा-"एक और विवेकानन्द चाहिये, यह समझने के लिये कि इस #विवेकानन्द ने अब तक क्या किया है।" उनके शिष्यों के अनुसार जीवन के अन्तिम दिन 04 जुलाई 1902 को भी उन्होंने अपनी ध्यान करने की दिनचर्या को नहीं बदला और प्रात: दो तीन घण्टे ध्यान किया और ध्यानावस्था में ही अपने ब्रह्मरन्ध्र को भेदकर #महासमाधि ले ली। बेलूर में #गंगा तट पर चन्दन की चिता पर उनकी अंत्येष्टि की गयी। #इसी गंगा तट के दूसरी ओर उनके गुरु रामकृष्ण परमहंस का सोलह वर्ष पूर्व अन्तिम संस्कार हुआ था।

🚩उनके शिष्यों और अनुयायियों ने उनकी स्मृति में वहाँ एक #मन्दिर बनवाया और समूचे विश्व में विवेकानन्द तथा उनके गुरु #रामकृष्ण के सन्देशों के प्रचार के लिये 130 से अधिक केन्द्रों की स्थापना की।

🚩स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी के जीवन की महत्त्वपूर्ण तारीखें!!

🚩12 जनवरी 1863 -- कलकत्ता में जन्म

🚩1879 -- प्रेसीडेंसी कॉलेज कलकत्ता में प्रवेश

🚩1880 -- जनरल असेम्बली इंस्टीट्यूशन में प्रवेश

🚩नवंबर 1881 -- रामकृष्ण परमहंस से प्रथम भेंट

🚩1882-86 -- रामकृष्ण परमहंस से सम्बद्ध

🚩1884 -- स्नातक परीक्षा उत्तीर्ण; पिता का स्वर्गवास

🚩1885 -- रामकृष्ण परमहंस की अन्तिम बीमारी

🚩16 अगस्त 1886 -- रामकृष्ण परमहंस का निधन

🚩1886 -- वराहनगर मठ की स्थापना

🚩जनवरी 1887 -- वराह नगर मठ में संन्यास की औपचारिक प्रतिज्ञा

🚩1890-93 -- परिव्राजक के रूप में भारत-भ्रमण

🚩25 दिसम्बर 1892 -- कन्याकुमारी में

🚩13 फ़रवरी 1893 -- प्रथम सार्वजनिक व्याख्यान सिकन्दराबाद में

🚩31 मई 1893 -- मुम्बई से अमरीका रवाना

🚩25 जुलाई 1893 -- वैंकूवर, कनाडा पहुँचे

🚩30 जुलाई 1893 -- शिकागो आगमन

🚩अगस्त 1893 -- हार्वर्ड विश्वविद्यालय के प्रो॰ जॉन राइट से भेंट

🚩11 सितम्बर 1893 -- विश्व धर्म सम्मेलन, शिकागो में प्रथम व्याख्यान

🚩27 सितम्बर 1893 -- विश्व धर्म सम्मेलन, शिकागो में अन्तिम व्याख्यान

🚩16 मई 1894 -- हार्वर्ड विश्वविद्यालय में संभाषण

🚩नवंबर 1894 -- न्यूयॉर्क में वेदान्त समिति की स्थापना

🚩जनवरी 1895 -- न्यूयॉर्क में धार्मिक कक्षाओं का संचालन आरम्भ

🚩अगस्त 1895 -- पेरिस में

🚩अक्टूबर 1895 -- लन्दन में व्याख्यान

🚩6 दिसम्बर 1895 -- वापस न्यूयॉर्क

🚩22-25 मार्च 1896 -- फिर लन्दन

🚩मई-जुलाई 1896 -- हार्वर्ड विश्वविद्यालय में व्याख्यान

🚩15 अप्रैल 1896 -- वापस लन्दन

🚩मई-जुलाई 1896 -- लंदन में धार्मिक कक्षाएँ

🚩28 मई 1896 -- ऑक्सफोर्ड में मैक्समूलर से भेंट

🚩30 दिसम्बर 1896 -- नेपाल से भारत की ओर रवाना

🚩15 जनवरी 1897 -- कोलम्बो, श्रीलंका आगमन

🚩जनवरी, 1897 -- रामनाथपुरम् (रामेश्वरम) में जोरदार स्वागत एवं भाषण

🚩6-15 फ़रवरी 1897 -- मद्रास में

🚩19 फ़रवरी 1897 -- कलकत्ता आगमन

🚩1 मई 1897 -- रामकृष्ण मिशन की स्थापना

🚩मई-दिसम्बर 1897 -- उत्तर भारत की यात्रा

🚩जनवरी 1898 -- कलकत्ता वापसी

🚩19 मार्च 1899 -- मायावती में अद्वैत आश्रम की स्थापना

🚩20 जून 1899 -- पश्चिमी देशों की दूसरी यात्रा

🚩31 जुलाई 1899 -- न्यूयॉर्क आगमन

🚩22 फरवरी 1900 -- सैन फ्रांसिस्को में वेदान्त समिति की स्थापना

🚩जून 1900 -- न्यूयॉर्क में अन्तिम कक्षा

🚩26 जुलाई 1900 -- यूरोप रवाना

🚩24 अक्टूबर 1900 -- विएना, हंगरी, कुस्तुनतुनिया, ग्रीस, मिस्र आदि देशों की यात्रा

🚩26 नवम्बर 1900 -- भारत रवाना

🚩9 दिसम्बर 1900 -- बेलूर मठ आगमन

🚩10 जनवरी 1901 -- मायावती की यात्रा

🚩मार्च-मई 1901 -- पूर्वी बंगाल और असम की तीर्थयात्रा

🚩जनवरी-फरवरी 1902 -- बोध गया और वाराणसी की यात्रा

🚩मार्च 1902 -- बेलूर मठ में वापसी

🚩4 जुलाई 1902 -- महासमाधि!!

#SwamiVivekanand #Punyatithi

                 ||🚩भारत माता की जय🚩||

बुद्ध ने ज्ञान के सार को कुल 55 बिंदुओं में समेट दिया।*

*बुद्ध ने ज्ञान के सार को कुल 55 बिंदुओं में समेट दिया।*

            👉 चार - आर्य सत्य

            👉 पाँच - पंचशील

             👉 आठ - अष्टांगिक मार्ग और

              👉 अड़तीस - महामंगलसुत 

👉 *बुद्ध के चार आर्य सत्य*

    1. दुनियाँ में दु:ख है।

     2. दु:ख का कारण है।

     3. दु:ख का निवारण है। और

     4. दु:ख के निवारण का उपाय है।

              **********

*पंचशील*

1. झूठ न बोलना

2. अहिंसा

3. चोरी नहीं करना

4. व्यभिचार नहीं करना और

5. नशापान/मद्यपान नहीं करना

                   ********

*अष्टांगिक मार्ग*

1. सम्यक दृष्टि (दृष्टिकोण) /Right view

2. सम्यक संकल्प / Right intention

3. सम्यक वाणी / Right speech

4.  सम्यक कर्मांत/ Right action

5. सम्यक आजीविका/ Right livelihood (profession)

6. सम्यक व्यायाम / Right exersie (physical activity)

7. सम्यक स्मृति / Right mindfulness

8. सम्यक समाधि / Right meditation (Vpasana Meditation)

          ***********

*तथागत बुद्ध ने 38 प्रकार के मंगल कर्म बताये है जो महामंगलसुत के नाम से भी जाना जाता है, निम्न प्रकार है

2. बुद्धिमानों की संगति करना। 

3. शीलवानो की संगति करना। 

4. अनुकूल स्थानों में निवास करना। 

5. कुशल कर्मों का संचय करना। 

6. कुशल कर्मों में लग जाना। 

7. अधिकतम ज्ञान का संचय करना। 

8. तकनीकी विद्या अर्थात शिल्प सीखना। 

9. व्यवहार कुशल एवं विनम्र होना। 

10. विवेकवान होना। 

11. सुंदर वक्ता होना। 

12. माता पिता की सेवा करना। 

13. पुत्र-पुत्री-स्त्री का पालन पोषण करना। 

14. अकुशल कर्मों को ना करना। 

15. बिना किसी अपेक्षाके दान देना। 

16. धम्म का आचरण करना। 

17. सगे सम्बंधियों का आदर सत्कार करना। 

18. कल्याणकारी कार्य करना। 

19. मन, शरीर तथा वचन से परपीड़क कार्य  ना करना। 

20. नशीली पदार्थों का सेवन ना करना। 

21. धम्म के कार्यों में तत्पर रहना। 

22. गौरवशाली व्यक्तित्व बनाए रखना। 

23. विनम्रता बनाए रखना। 

24. पूर्ण रूप से संतुष्ट होना अर्थात तृप्त होना। 

25. कृतज्ञता कायम रखना। 

26. समय समय पर धम्म चर्चा करना ।

27. क्षमाशील होना। 

28. आज्ञाकारी होना। 

29. भिक्षुओ, शीलवान लोगों का दर्शन करना। 

30. मन को एकाग्र करना। 

31. मन को निर्मल करना। 

32. सतत जागरूकता बनाए रखना ।

33. पाँच शीलों का पालन करना। 

34. चार आर्य सत्यों का दर्शन करना ।

35. आर्य अष्टांगिक मार्ग पर चलना। 

36. निर्वाण का साक्षात्कार करना। 

37. लोक धम्म लाभ हानि, यश अपयश, सुख-दुख,जय-पराजय से विचलित ना होना। 

38. शोक रहित, निर्मल एवं निर्भय होना। 

अगर कोई अपने दैनिक जीवन में इन 38 मंगल कर्मों का पालन करने लग जाये, तो उसके जीवन से सारे दुःख एवं परेशानियां हमेशा के लिए दूर हो  जायेंगी।।।

अध्यात्म के क्षेत्र में गहरा उतरने वालों को त्रिपिटक का अध्ययन करना चाहिए 

किंतु, गृहस्थ जीवन सफल और सम्मानित तरीके से जीने और निर्वाण प्राप्त करने के लिए यहाँ दी गई 55 बातें हीं काफी (सफिसियेंट) है।

तो आईये। बुद्ध के बताये मार्ग पर चलकर जीवन यापन करें और धार्मिक आडंबरों और पाखंड से दूर रहें।

बुद्धं शरणम गच्छामि!

धम्मं शरणम गच्छामि!

संघम् शरणम गच्छामि!

                      नमो बुद्धाय !

                 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏