Life is Wonderful

Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher and author.
He is best known for his ground-breaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in US, in which he introduced Hinduism to America and called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism.

I’m not going to describe his life, work and achievements, as it’s too vast to cover in a blog post in one go. Whenever I start reading him, I get immersed in the ocean of his deeds, achievements and words. So, I’m taking here just one aspect of his life.

Swami was the chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Vivekananda considered him as an incarnation of God. Vivekananda had written that Ramakrishna had infinite knowledge, infinite love, infinite work, and infinite compassion for all being. He considered it his good fortune that he could see the man so close.

Swami owed everything to Ramakrishna, “All that I am, all that the world itself will some day be, is owing to my Master, Shri Ramakrishna.”

At one occasion, Vivekananda asked him, “Have you seen God?”

Ramakrishna replied, “Yes, I’ve seen. Like I’m seeing you right now, I’ve seen God exactly the same way.”

Swami had asked this question to many great people, but a clear affirmative reply came only from Sri Ramakrishna.

I have come across a beautiful conversation Swami Vivekananda had with his Guru, Ramkrishna Paramahansa. Hope you too will like to have a look at his eleven questions and answers thereto:

1. Swami Vivekanand:- I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic.

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you free.

2. Swami Vivekanand:- Why has life become complicated now?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Stop analyzing life, it makes it complicated. Just live it.

3. Swami Vivekanand:- Why am I then constantly unhappy?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Worrying has become your habit. That’s why you are not happy. Any person can make you realise how wonderful the world is, but only few will make you realise how wonderful you are in the world..!

4. Swami Vivekanand:- Why do good people always suffer?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don’t suffer. With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

5. Swami Vivekanand:- You mean to say such experience is useful?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Yes. In every term, experience is a hard teacher. It gives the test first and the lessons .

6. Swami Vivekanand:- Because of so many problems, we don’t know where we are heading.

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides the way.

7. Swami Vivekanand:- Does failure hurt more than moving in the right direction?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you.

8. Swami Vivekanand:- In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

9. Swami Vivekanand:- What surprises you about people?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- When they suffer they ask, “why me?” When they prosper, they never ask “Why me?”

10. Swami Vivekanand:- How can I get the best out of life?

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

11. Swami Vivekanand:- One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

Ramkrishna Paramahansa:- There are no unanswered prayers. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.

–Kaushal Kishore

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