BIOGRAPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Line, sailing from Naples for Ceylon on December 16, 1896. The Seviers wantedto lead a retired life in India, practising spiritual disciplines and helping theSwami in carrying out the idea of building a monastery in the Himalayas.Faithful Goodwin, who had already taken the vows of a brahmacharin, wouldwork as the Swami's stenographer. It was also planned that Miss Müller andMiss Noble would follow the party some time after, the latter to devote her life tothe cause of women's education in India.The Swami was given a magnificent farewell by his English friends, devotees,and admirers on December 13 at the Royal Society of Painters in Water-Colours,in Piccadilly. There were about five hundred people present. Many were silent,tongue-tied and sad at heart. Tears were very near in some eyes. But the Swami,after his farewell address, walked among the assembled friends and repeatedover and over again, 'Yes, yes we shall meet again, we shall.' It was decided thatSwami Abhedananda would continue the work after the Swami's departure.Of the impressions left by the Swami's teachings in England, Margaret Noblewrites:To not a few of us the words of Swami Vivekananda came as living waterto men perishing of thirst. Many of us have been conscious for years pastof that growing uncertainty and despair, with regard to religion, whichhas beset the intellectual life of Europe for half a century. Belief in thedogmas of Christianity has become impossible for us, and we had no tool,such as now we hold, by which to cut away the doctrinal shell from thekernel of Reality, in our faith. To these, the Vedanta has givenintellectual confirmation and philosophical expression of their ownmistrusted intuitions. 'The people that walked in darkness have seen agreat light.'... It was the Swami's I am God that came as somethingalways known, only never said before.... Yet again, it was the Unity ofMan that was the touch needed to rationalize all previous experiencesand give logical sanction to the thirst for absolute service, never boldlyavowed in the past. Some by one gate, and some by another, we have allentered into a great heritage, and we know it.The practical Englishman saw in the Swami's life the demonstration offearlessness which was the necessary corollary of his teaching regarding thedivinity of the soul. It was revealed in many incidents.One in particular illustrates this. He was one day walking with Miss Müller andan English friend across some fields when a mad bull came tearing towardsthem. The Englishman frankly ran, and reached the other side of the hill insafety. Miss Müller ran as far as she could, and then sank to the ground,incapable of further effort. Seeing this and unable to aid her, the Swami —thinking, 'So this is the end, after all' — took up his stand in front of her, withfolded arms.