True remembrance is in fulfilling the unfinished dream of a Rishi

It has been 154 years since Swami Vivekananda visited this planet and ever since his name instills waves of current in all those who have read or heard about him!

The magnanimity of the persona is such that even after 154 years, the very same words of his, ushers infinite energy unto every human. From Bharata to the America in the west; to the Japan in Far East, his influence has been immense.

The life of Swamy Vivekananda is very intense and dynamic. To read and know him is to understand many facets. It seems as though that he has spoken about all those things that needs to be spoken. His life is an inspiration to all! Many persons, institutions, and societies have be set up and are blossoming on account of his words. He was the inspiration behind many revolutionaries during the freedom struggle.

Subhash Chandra Bose said these words about Swami Ji "He is a full-blooded masculine personality".

From a universe of Swami Vivekananda, I see two of his messages, as a part of his idea of education, as very important ones:-

1.  Character Building

2. Man-Making

Swami Ji said, “Education is not the amount of information that we put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life. We must have life building, man making, and character making assimilation of ideas. If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your life and character, you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library”.

The word character is used here in the sense of “शिला”! The word sheela has an interesting meaning. Sheela is not jus honour, but character. He whose thought, words, and actions are in union is “शीलवान” (sheelawan). Now when thoughts are filthy and words are sweet, he is a character-less person, and vice-versa. Even when words are foul and actions are right, the course is not correct. That is education which directs a human in the path of building his “Character”. To build a swabhava (sheela) of union in thought, words, and action is the goal of education.
Man making may mean three things, and I think Vivekananda used the word in all the senses. 1. Manliness meaning courage, strength, valour, etc. 2. Nurturing the potentials of a human being which leads to the distinct identity of humanity from the other species on the planet. 3. Fostering “samvedana” without which a human is nothing but a wild animal or a devil.

Manliness

All through our history, we see stories of courage, strength, and valour. Bhima and other warriors, it is said, had arms as big as the bark. We hear stories of Samarth Ramdas ji who used to practice 1200 Surya Namaskaars a day. The feats of all our kshtriyas since time immemorial and even through the independence movement, and the valour displayed by our soldiers in the borders even today, are all but representation of the culture of valour in our Nation.

Human Identity

The ability to think rationally, and to address a single problem/situation in a hundred different ways is a unique a gifted potential of a human. Puranas say that Manushya Janma (Human Life) is begotten after Punya (Good deeds/merit) of many lives (Janma). This opportunity to explore  the infinite potential and expand likewise is all that is to be a human. To expand the vision and capabilities of self is an opportunity and every human being gets.

Samvedana

Vedana is the pain of the physical body. Samvedana is feeling the pain of others as ones own. The Rakshas (devils) do not see the pain of others. In fact, Schadenfreude is the exact opposite nature of a human being. To expand the identity is samvedana.

Let strength and valour be our two hands, and character and morality be the two legs. Standing on these 4 limbs a man is bound to excel in life.

He also stressed on Physical Education “You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through the study of Gita. You will understand Gita better by your biceps, your muscles a little stronger. You will understand the Upanishads better and the glary of the Atman, when your body stands firm on your feet and you feel yourself as man.”

Swami Ji has expressed on many occasion that the purpose of his life was to serve the lotus feet of Bharata Maata. He was the first person to call for the Worship of Bharata Maata and to leave all other Gods and deities for a few years. The slogans “Bharat Maata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”, and consequently the revolutionary freedom struggle were all inspired from Swami Vivekananda.  

On another occasion he said,"…the land where humanity has attained its highest towards generosity, towards purity, towards calmness, above all, the land of introspection and of spirituality - it is Bharat”.

For Bharat as a Nation, to reliaze his dream of Bharat becomming the "VishwaGuru" is the ultimate Motto.

Remembering a Rishi means to become like him or to try to fulfill his unfinished dream. WE must all work towards making Bharat Maat the vishwaguru, then alone we will have paid a proper tribute to Swami Vivekananda. शिवो भूत्वा शिवम् यजेत्|

वन्दे मातरम|