My friends ask why should we celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birthday now, when he had actually lived and died 158 years ago. As a devotee of Swamiji, how should I make them understand?
- Sri.Kumar, Mysuru.
Answer: There are many who lead lives like worms creeping in the gutter without knowing why and for what reason they were born.
Normally one feels satisfied, in celebrating one’s own birthday. However, great people love to celebrate the day they got their ideal in life, more so the birthday of one who gave them such an ideal, instead of celebrating their own birthdays.
The great thoughts, sacrifice and life of Swami Vivekananda inspire every idealist with a new life. Swamiji presents an ideal life to those who aspire to progress in life. In order to express their gratitude, they celebrate his birthday. They feel more meaningful about Swamiji’s birth in their heart than about their own physical birth.
I was talking to children on 12th Janurary 2021, the National Youth Day. I told them that a few reckless youths of these days, celebrate their birthdays either by smearing ice cream on their faces or by squirting soft drinks on their friends’ faces or by roaming like mad on their bikes.
But those who were inspired by Swamiji’s ideas would do good to at least a few people in one way or other, on their birthday, I added.
The next day 10 year old Dinesh who regularly visited Thanjavur Math came to me and startled me by saying, “Maharaj! I will start saving money from this day and on my birthday that is on March 22, I shall feed ten poor people”.
Kumar, narrate this incident to your friend and if he listens to it earnestly, truly he is your good friend. The occurrence of such a noble thought in a young boy is a proof that Swamiji is yearning to live among us even now. Certainly glory will be ours, when we celebrate Swamiji and follow his teachings.
Swami Vimurtananda
31 January, 2021
Ramakrishna Math, Thanjavur