The Practical Vedantist

By Gowrish Babu

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 12:45

Swami Vivekananda often told a story of a man whom he pointed out to be a practical Vedantist. He narrated the story to his followers in order to urge them to apply the essence of Vedanta in their day to day life.

Once Swamiji was travelling with the an Italian Duchess, the Duchess of Parma who was one of his friends he made in the Western world.

The Duchess once took Swamiji out in a carriage which was hired for their ride in the country side. Since Swamiji encouraged people to learn foreign languages, he himself familiar with a little French, the Duchess told him that the carriage driver could converse in polished French. A coachman to talk polished French was something unusual those days. As the conversation went on, the coachman slowly drove the carriage to the side of the road where a maid and two children belonging to the upper caste were waiting.

The coachman got off the carriage and picked up the children in his arms and stroked and kissed them. He then got into the carriage to resume the journey. The Duchess was shocked by his behaviour owing to the class distinction which was prevalent those days. A coachman apparently could not behave such way to children belonging to the upper caste. When she asked him the reason, he turned around and said that they were his own children!

The coachman then went on to narrate his story. He revealed that he had been a manager of a very famous bank that had failed, which the Duchess recoganised immediately at the very mention of it. He revealed that he had incurred a lot of debts owing to the bank's failure and that to clear them would take some years. Hence with the little that was left, he had purchased a carriage and drove it to earn his living. He has housed his children and wife in a nearby village, with a maid to take care of them. However while narrating the sudden tragedy that had befallen, he positively stated that soon he would pay off the debts and start a new bank.

Swami Vivekananda was amazed and delighted at the man's positive outlook. He exclaimed that he was an embodiment of a practical Vedantin. Despite having fallen from a high state, he still held on to life. He marvelled at the power of his mind. He also narrated the story often to his followers.