Swami Vivekananda humanified and humanised

Swami Vivekananda wrote to Ms. Mary Hale from New York on Feb. 1, 1895. After four long paragraphs of self-praise, he made two conclusions: 1. "... The elephant passing through the market-place is always beset by curs,* but he cares not. He goes straight on his own way. So it is always, when a great soul appears there will be numbers to bark after him." (Tulasidasa) ... ". *cur = inferior dog, mongrel. "Lord bless you all ever and ever — and may He lead you quickly out of this big humbug, the world! May you never be enchanted by this old witch, the world! May Shankara help you! May Umaa open the door of truth for you and take away all your delusions." BLOGGER'S VIEW *Was Swamiji an elephant? Were others just dogs? *How does the world become a humbug, if Swamiji had some arguments with a Presbyterian! *How can Swamiji say that Mary Hale had delusions? *While eating barfis, ice creams and luchis, the world does not appear to him an old witch! *While cull...

There is a blind belief that Swami Vivekananda traversed the length and breadth of India, from Himalayas to Kanyakumari by foot. This is far from truth. He travelled to those places where there is some train link, and where there is some native ruler (raja / divanji ) / rich merchant (sethji) to send him horse carriage to the railway stations. Wherever/whenever he travelleed, he tried to obtain a second class train ticket from his hosts / devotees. Bus/car transport was not much in vogue in those days. For this reason only, he could not cover Coastal Andhra, because Calcutta-Madras rail line was completed in 1905. People of Visakhapatnam in those days, apparently have travelled to Madras by Steamers. Swami Vivekananda went to Hyderabad, because there was a railway line to Hyderabad. For true monks, the traditional transportation was walk. But this prescription was violated by rich monks and those who enjoyed royal patronage. They resorted to travel by "pallanquins...

Swami Vivekananda claimed to have inherited his oath of distancing from "kaamini and kaancan" (women and gold) from his mentor Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. FACTS Swamiji wrote to Ms. Christina Greenstidel from Belur Math on Aug. 6, 1901. "... What do you think will be very good for me on earth? Silver? Gold? Pooh! I have got something infinitely better; but a little gold will not be amiss to keep my jewel in proper surroundings, and it is coming, don't you think so? I am a man who frets much, but waits all the same; and the apple comes to my mouth by itself. So, it is coming, coming, coming. Now, how are you? Growing ever thinner, thinner, thinner, eh? Do have a very good appetite and good sleep in anticipation of the coming good time — to be in trim for welcoming its advent. ... " "... Well, you are right as about taste: I renounce the yellow of gold and the white of silver, but stick to amber always — that is to my taste ... " " ... Amber and cor...