Ramakrishna Math Spoken English Material

“India is immortal”, he said, “if she persists in her search for God. Then he conversed for a long time with the members on the rise and fall of nations. When questioned as to its utility, he said: “The study of the Vedas will kill superstition.” On his return, he inquired about the welfare of every member of the monastery. In the afternoon, he went out with Swami Premananda and walked nearly two miles, discussing his plan to start a Vedic College in the monastery. Immediately after, he gave lessons to the Brahmacharins on Sanskrit grammar for three hours. He partook of the noon meal with great relish, in company with the members of the Math, unlike on other days when he took his meal alone in his room. He did not agree with Mahidhara and exhorted the disciple to make independent research into the Vedas. And yet how many Vivekanandas shall be born in time?” Next he asked his disciple, Swami Shuddhananda, to read a passage from the Shukla Yajur-Veda with the commentary of Mahidhara on it. Then he said in a whisper: “If there were another Vivekananda, then he would have understood what this Vivekananda has done. He came down the steps of the shrine, singing a beautiful song to the divine Mother Kali. Going to the chapel alone, he shut the doors and bolted them, contrary to his habit, and meditated for three hours. On the last day, Friday, 4th July 1902, he rose very early. The reply, “But that was the last time” came to her lips, but remained unuttered. His reply startled her: “Jesus washed the feet of his disciples,” he said. “It is I who should do these things for you, Swamiji, not you for me”, she protested. At the end of her meal he helped her wash her hands by pouring water for her, and then he dried them with a towel. Three days before, on an Ekadashi day, he fed Sister Nivedita with his own hands, though he himself was fasting. A week before the end, he was seen consulting the Bengali almanac. “You may be right, but I cannot enter any more into these matters I am going down into death”, he told Sister Nivedita when she questioned him on some important matter concerning her educational programme.Įverything about the Swami in the last days was deliberate and significant. “I can no more enter into outside affairs, I am already on the way” was his reply to those who came to him with problems regarding work. “How often does a man ruin his disciples”, he said, “by remaining always with them! leader leaves them, for without his absence they cannot develop themselves.” He refused to express any opinion on the questions of the day. His body was wearing away day by day, and he was preparing for the final departure. Swamiji’s temple Belur Math – built at the exact spot where his body was cremated

Ramakrishna Math Spoken English Material