RELIGION IS BUT MOTHER OF US. WHEN SOMEONE ABUSES THE MOTHER, SHOULD A SON LISTEN TO IT QUIETLY ?

 PREACHING IN AMERICA

Swami Vivekananda became world famous with his maiden speech on the first day of the Parliament of Religions at Chic...ago.

The following day large facsimiles of a photograph of Swamiji were displayed on the streets of the city of Chicago. You now see the same photograph on this page. The media went crazy in praise of him.

This was a time when the people of the West usually looked down upon India. Having seen and heard Swamiji, a deep respect for the Indian religion and civilisation began to grow in their mind. Swamiji won a high place for his mother­land among the nations of the world.

When the Parliament was over, he travelled far and wide in the States to deliver lectures. Many became his disciples and a few, even monks.

Swamiji could never tolerate any unjust criticism or cal­umny about India. He used to retaliate like a lion. Once, dur­ing a sea voyage, some Christian missionary was abusing the Indians and the Hiduism. Initially Swamiji tried patiently to explain points. But the man did not relent. At last Swamiji caught the man by his neck and warned, “If you dare to utter a single word more, I shall throw you overboard.” The man had to beat a retreat. Later he observed on this incident as, “Religion is but mother of us. When someone abuses the mother, should a son listen to it quietly?”

- Swami Vivekananda