A Comprehensive Collection - Swami Vivekananda

THE HIMALAYAS.**HIS fs the land of dreams of our forefathers, in whichwas born Parvati, the mother of India. This is theholy land, where every ardent soul in tndia wantsto comeat the end of its life and to close the last chapterof its mortal career. % There on the tops of the mountains of this blessed land, in the depths of its caves, on thebanks of its rushing torrents, have been thoughtout. thenfost wonderful thoughts, a Httle bit of which has drawnso much admiration even from foreigners, and whio^i havebeen pronounced by the most competent of judgesto beincomparable. This is the land in which, since my very childhood, I have been dreaming of passing my life,and, as all of you are aware, I have attempted again andagain to live for ever, and, althoughthte time was notripe,and I had work to do and was whirled outside of thisholy place, yet it is the hope of my life to end my dayssomewhere in this father of mountains, where Rishis lived,where philosophy was born. Perhaps, my friends, I shallnot be able to do it, in the same way that it wasmy plan before that silence, that unknownneas,yet I sincerely pray and hojCe, and almost believe,my last days will be here of all places on \earth.Inhabitants of this holy land, accept my gratitude for thekind praise that has fallen from you for myin the "V^est. But, at the same time, my mind does notlittle work*From the Reply to the Addrels of Welcome presented atAlmora after the Swami s return fr m America.