BIOGRAPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

security and devoted to the contemplation of God. Narendra felt that he had thepower to realize either of these ideals; but when his mind reflected on theirrespective virtues, he was inevitably drawn to the life of renunciation. Theglamour of the world would fade and disappear. His deeper self instinctivelychose the austere path.For a time the congregational prayers and the devotional songs of the BrahmoSamaj exhilarated Narendra's mind, but soon he found that they did not givehim any real spiritual experience. He wanted to realize God, the goal of religion,and so felt the imperative need of being instructed by a man who had seen God.In his eagerness he went to Devendranath, the venerable leader of the BrahmoSamaj, and asked him, even before the latter had uttered a word, 'Sir, have youseen God?'Devendranath was embarrassed and replied: 'My boy, you have the eyes of ayogi. You should practise meditation.'The youth was disappointed and felt that this teacher was not the man to helphim in his spiritual struggle. But he received no better answer from the leadersof other religious sects. Then he remembered having heard the name ofRamakrishna Paramahamsa from Professor Hastie, who while lecturing hisclass on Wordsworth's poem The Excursion, had spoken of trances, remarkingthat such religious ecstasies were the result of purity and concentration. He hadsaid, further, that an exalted experience of this kind was a rare phenomenon,especially in modern times. 'I have known,' he had said, 'only one person whohas realized that blessed state, and he is Ramakrishna of Dakshineswar. Youwill understand trances if you visit the saint.'Narendra had also heard about Sri Ramakrishna from a relative, RamchandraDatta, who was one of the foremost householder disciples of the Master.Learning of Narendra's unwillingness to marry and ascribing it to his desire tolead a spiritual life, Ramchandra had said to him, 'If you really want to cultivatespirituality, then visit Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar.'Narendra met Ramakrishna for the first time in November 1881 at the house ofthe Master's devotee Surendranath Mitra, the young man having been invitedthere to entertain the visitors with his melodious music. The Paramahamsa wasmuch impressed by his sincerity and devotion, and after a few inquiries askedhim to visit him at Dakshineswar. Narendra accepted. He wished to learn ifRamakrishna was the man to help him in his spiritual quest.