The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15

One of the Interesting Foreigners mt
the Congress of Religions.
Chicago Letter.

the congress OF Religions.
Chicago Letter
ante-roemh is Swami Vivekananda. the
Brahmin monk He is a large, well-built
man, with the superb carriage of the Hin
nodded regular features, White teeth, and
with .well-chiselled lips that are usually
parted in a benevolent smile while he is
conversing. His finely poised head Is
crowned with either a lemon-colored or a
red red turban, and his cassock (not the tech.
the waist and falling below the knees, al
ternates in a bright orange and rich
crimson He speaks excellent English, and
replies readily to any questions asked in
Along with his simplicity of maner there
is q touch of personal reserve when speaking
ton. When. questioned about the laws of
his order, he has said: Il can do as /
please | am Independent Sometimes
live in the Himalaya mountains and some
times in the streets of cities. / never
know where 1 will get my next meal. I
ne hever, keep money With me; l come here
one or two of his fellow-countrymen who
Glanced cha, to be standing. near, he added:
inference that his board bill in Chicago is
attended to by others. When asked If he
was wearing his usual monks costume he
said: This is a good dress; when / am at
home | am in rags. and | go barefooted;;
custom; religion has nothing to do with it;
all castles will associate with me-"
9nite appaTent, n1Wever from m t me
Nivekananda that he was born among high
castes-years of voluntary poverty and
of his birthright of gentleman; even his
family name is unknown; he took that of
Vivekananda in embracing religious ca
reer and swami is merely the title of
reverend accorded to him. He cannot be
far along in the thirtles, and looks if
made for this life and It's fruition, as well
as for meditation on the life beyond. One
cannot help wondering what could have
been the turning point with him.
why should I marry" was his abrupt
noaneed in TO monk Om a When MAJ
In every woman only the divine mother?
Why do l make all these sacrifices? To
attachments so that there will be no re-
birth for me. When l die / want to be-
come at once absorbed In the divine, one
with God. l would be a Buddha."
,Vivekananda does not mean by this that
he is a Buddhist. No name or sect can
label him. He is an outcome of the higher
Brahminism, product of the Hindu spirit
which is vast, dreamy. self-extinguishing, a
SanyaSi or holy man.
He has some pamphlets that he dlstrib-
ntes. relating to his master, Paramhan Ilss
pressed his hearers and pupils that many of
them became ascetics after his death. Mo
master, but Mozoomdar works for holiness
in the world, in it but not OF 1t, as Jesus
taught.
Vivekananda's address before the parlia-
ment was broad as the heavens above us,
embracing the best In all religions as the
ultimate universal religion-charity to all
mankind. good works for the love Of God,
not for fear Of punishment or hope Of re-
ward. He is a great favorite at the yaria-
ment, from the grandeur of his sentiments
and his appearance as well. If he merely
crosses the platform he Is applauded, and
this marked approval of thousands he ac-
cepts In childlike spirit Of qualification,
without a trace of conceit- 1t must be a
strange experience, too, for this humble
young Brahmin monk, this sudden trash
ton from poverty and self-effacement to
afFuence and aggrandizemen When asked
If he. knew anything Of those brothers in
the Himalayas so firmly believed in by the
Theosophists he answered with the simple
statement, II have never met one of tnen,"
as much as to imply, There may be sucn
persons, but, though I am at home in the
Hinalayas, 1 have yet to come across
Them" =