BIOGRAPHY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

made by Naren's relatives for his marriage. Prostrating himself in the shrine ofKali, he prayed repeatedly: 'O Mother! Do break up these plans. Do not let himsink in the quagmire of the world.' He closely watched Naren and warned himwhenever he discovered the trace of an impure thought in his mind.Naren's keen mind understood the subtle implications of Sri Ramakrishna'steachings. One day the Master said that the three salient disciplines ofVaishnavism were love of God's name, service to the devotees, and compassionfor all living beings. But he did not like the word compassion and said to thedevotees: 'How foolish to speak of compassion! Man is an insignificant wormcrawling on the earth — and he to show compassion to others! This is absurd. Itmust not be compassion, but service to all. Recognize them as God'smanifestations and serve them.'The other devotees heard the words of the Master but could hardly understandtheir significance. Naren, however fathomed the meaning. Taking his youngfriends aside, he said that Sri Ramakrishna's remarks had thrown wonderfullight on the philosophy of non-dualism with its discipline of non-attachment, andon that of dualism with its discipline of love. The two were not really in conflict.A non-dualist did not have to make his heart dry as sand, nor did he have to runaway from the world. As Brahman alone existed in all men, a non-dualist mustlove all and serve all. Love, in the true sense of the word, is not possible unlessone sees God in others. Naren said that the Master's words also reconciled thepaths of knowledge and action. An illumined person did not have to remaininactive; he could commune with Brahman through service to other embodiedbeings, who also are embodiments of Brahman.'If it be the will of God,' Naren concluded, 'I shall one day proclaim this nobletruth before the world at large. I shall make it the common property of all — thewise and the fool, the rich and the poor, the brahmin and the pariah.'Years later he expressed these sentiments in a noble poem which concluded withthe following words:Thy God is here before thee now,Revealed in all these myriad forms:Rejecting them, where seekest thouHis presence? He who freely sharesHis love with every living thingProffers true service unto God.It was Sri Ramakrishna who re-educated Narendranath in the essentials ofHinduism. He, the fulfilment of the spiritual aspirations of the three hundredmillions of Hindus for the past three thousand years, was the embodiment of theHindu faith. The beliefs Narendra had learnt on his mother's lap had been