SWAMI VIVEKANANDA - Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture

Memorable Events in the Life of Swami Vivekananda29
occasion, 'Haribhai, I am still unable to understand
anything of your so-called religion/ He could not finish
all that he wanted to say as he was overwhelmed with an
intense emotion that shook his frame and brought a look
of profound sadness to his face. But he soon composed
himself, and placing his hand on his chest, added, 'But
my heart has expanded beyond measure and I have
learnt to feel the sufferings of others! Believe me, I
literally writhe with pain when anybody suffers!"
Swamiji was again overwhelmed and teare streamed
down his cheeks, Swami Turiyananda was stunned.
'Didn't Buddha feel the same way and utter these very
words of love?' he thought. He could clearly perceive
that the endless misery of millions of people was creating
a tempest in Swamiji.
* * *
Swamiji had a deep sense of self-respect and also
wanted all Indians to be equally conscious of their selfrespect.
The following incident prior to his journey to the
West will illustrate this point.
Swamiji and Jagmohanlal were sitting inside a
railway coach at the Abu Road station, waiting for the
train to leave for Bombay. A Bengali admirer of Swamiji
who came to see them off was also in the compartment.
In the mean time, a European ticket collector came and
harshly ordered the gentleman out of the train. The
gentleman was also a railway employee. He tried to
convince the ticket collector that he had done nothing