I can't recall how we fell to talking. We hardly knew each other. But the hour ended with us sharing a coffee pot and his telling of the event which changed the world for him.
He was a well-off merchant hailing from an affluent trading state. He had come to Calcutta on business. People gave him a list of places for sight-seeing. He was perhaps fed up with routine sights. His bored eyes picked out one place from the list. Belur Math! His hotel attendant told him he can see Mahatmas there. One morning found him there. He saw a deserted expanse of area with a huge stone temple in the middle. He asked the only person he could see, the gate-keeper, about the holy men of the place.
'Go upstairs of that building. The biggest of the holy men lives there' the gateman pointed. The merchant entered the room to see a small man in monk's robes folding up a mat, who left quietly. Then he saw the monk sitting on the chair.
'I came to see holy men. The gate-keeper said you are the biggest' said the merchant.
The monk laughed. 'How, how, do you find me?' he asked.
The merchant fell to loving him at first sight. The monk talked at a fast pace, repeating his words. There was an earnestness and affection in his talk. He rang a bell and called for breakfast. A younger monk brought a tray with sweets and fruits and left.
The monk said, 'Take this. It is prasad'.
'I don't care for Prasad and temples', said the young man, 'however, it is good breakfast, so I shall have it'.
After breakfast a glass of milk came for the monk. He gave it to the young merchant and asked him to drink it.
The visitor protested. 'No, you are an old man. You need it', he said.
'No, you need it more' said the monk, 'one day you will be a monk like us'
'What in the world are you talking about' said the astonished merchant.
'Yes, you have seen all the enjoyment in the world so far. Now, I am teaching renunciation, how it gives joy to renounce. Your taking that milk gives me happiness.
So take it'
The merchant was still dazed. The monk was so sure and serene as he said these words that he felt panicky for some minutes.
'I never have thought of becoming a monk. I came here on business. How can you say this?' protested the young man.
'Yes, it happens that way. Don't be panicky. Usually you should have met a couple of other people before meeting me. He who brought you direct to me today will bring you to monastic life in his own sweet time. Keep reading Upanishads and works of Swami Vivekananda till then. Be at ease with yourself and with everybody. All will happen in good time' said the monk.
And so it happened. The ground was not aware of its fertility. But that descendant of the expert divine farmer recognized it and planted the seed. The full grown tree whispered the story to me.
Spirituality can literally be given to somebody like a flower or like a fruit breakfast with a live seed to be swallowed. Such men were there and such things did happen.
Swami Sampurnananda, 18 November 2003.
The Monk was Swami Madhavananda, who was the General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission then. The other monk folding the mat was Swami Vireswarananda.
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