Notes of Some Wanderings with the Swami Vivekananda

by Sister Nivedita

PREFACE.

In presenting this little book of the late Sister Nivedita to the public, the Editor has taken care to correct only a few minor inaccuracies as regards facts that crept into it, when it appeared as a series of articles in the Brahmavadin of Madras, The Chapter headings and a short Synopsis of the contents of each chapter are also his; and the letter has been joined to the book, to make it con venient for the reader to find out things dealt with in it, whenever' he feels so disposed. In conclusion he hopes that the book, which offers bright glimpses of the yet undiscovered nooks of the private life of the great Swami Vivekananda, and the period of training through which the much lamented Sister Nivedita had to pass in the hands bf her Master, ere she came out before the public gaze as the wonderful champion of truth and justice and righteousness and of the cause of India—will meet with the warm reception at the hands of the public, that it fully deserves.

SARA DAN AN DA.
-------
CHAPTER I

THE HOME ON THE GANGES.

A running description of the Home and its surroundings : Visits of the monks : The Master (Vivekananda) and his methods of education and rousing a new religious consciousness in the minds of his western pupils—never trying to soften things Indian repellant at first sight and conversation on any subject always ending in the infinite Adwaita : On nation-building, and Siva and Uma : Glimpses of God-Intoxication : A visit to Sarada Devi : Inftia-tion of Miss M. E. Noble into the life of a Brahmachdrini : The Master's going to Darjeeling and return after the first Plague de clarations at Calcutta : The signs of the times. ... *Pages 6-17

CHAPTER II

AT NAINI TAL AND ALMORA.



The two parties leaving Howrah and the first sight of the Himalayas : Nainital : Our introduction to the Maharaja of Khetri : The incident of the Dancing girls : A mahamedan

gentleman's feeling about the Swami : The dominant notes of Raja Ram Mohan Roy's message to India : Their acceptance by the Swami : How the dancing girls came to pay their respects to the Master : The incident of the nautch girl at Khetri : The journey to Almora : The morning talks of the Swami : The strange new element that crept in at this time in Miss Noble's relation with the Master, of bitterness and distrust on one side, and irritation and defiance on the other : How it began and how it ended : The form adopted in these mornfng-talks— comparative review of East and West and assaults on deep-rooted pre-conceptions. ... ... ... Pages 18-28-

CHAPTER III MORNING TALKS AT ALMORA.

The first morning talk on 'The central ideals of civilisations'— in the West, 'Truth', in the East, 'Chastity' : The four kinds of national functions performed by different nations : Talks on Indian history ? On the Moghuls : The Master's epigram des cribing the Taj : Opinion about Shah Jehan and Akbar : On China and Oriental untruthfulness : On Italy, Sivaji and the Aryans : Author's remarks on the fascination of Indian scholars for questions of Ethnology : The Master's treatment of old Indian History as a struggle between the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas : On the Kyasthas of Bengal and Buddhism : On Buddha, and the vision of the Swami regarding him : On Amba Pali, the courte san : On Bhakti : On the Babists of Persia : On the high poten tiality of love that seeks no personal expression : On God as the Universe ; Siva and Uma : Stories from the Puranas—Suka Deva : On Pundit Vidyisagar and David Hare : Influence of Christi anity on the Swami's life : Funny stories—on spirit-seance and the American Engineer : The Swami's longing for quiet : Blessing the Sister Nivedita : End of the sprained relationship : Death

.

85 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Sister Nivedita, born as Margaret Elizabeth Noble, was a Scots-Irish social worker, author, teacher, and disciple of Swami Vivekananda. She met Vivekananda in 1895 in London and traveled to Calcutta, India (present-day Kolkata), in 1898. Swami Vivekananda gave her the name Nivedita (meaning "Dedicated to God") when he initiated her into the vow of Brahmacharya on March 25, 1898. She had close associations with the newly established Ramakrishna Mission. However, because of her active contribution in the field of Indian Nationalism, she had to publicly dissociate herself from the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission under the then president Swami Brahmananda. She was very intimate with Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna and one of the major influences behind Ramakrishna Mission and also with all brother disciples of Swami Vivekananda. Her epitaph aptly reads, "Here reposes Sister Nivedita who gave her all to India."

Nivedita wrote in 1904 to a friend about her decision to follow Swami Vivekananada as a result of her meeting him in England in November 1895:

"Suppose he had not come to London that time! Life would have been like a headless dream, for I always knew that I was waiting for something. I always said that a call would come. And it did. But if I had known more of life, I doubt whether, when the time came, I should certainly have recognized it.

"Fortunately, I knew little and was spared that torture. . . . Always I had this burning voice within, but nothing to utter. How often and often I sat down, pen in hand, to speak, and there was no speech! And now there is no end to it! As surely I am fitted to my world, so surely is my world in need of me, waiting — ready. The arrow has found its place in the bow. But if he had not come! If he had meditated, on the Himalayan peaks! . . . I, for one, had never been here."

"The mother's heart, the hero's will The sweetness of the southern breeze, The sacred charm and strength that dwell On Aryan altars, flaming, free; All these be yours and many more No ancient soul could dream before- Be thou to India's future son The mistress, servant, friend in one." —A benediction to Sister Nivedita by Swami Vivekananda