Rockefeller and the Indian Monk

At just 30 Swami Vivekananda was the voice of Hindu philosophy with a following similar to a modern pop star. He brought a message of universality, tolerance and respect to the West and his fans came from everywhere to hear him. Now 150 years after his birth his story is being introduced to a new audience. Even before he delivered his famous words proclaiming the oneness of the world’s religions, Swami Vivekananda had roused seven thousand people to their feet at the first Parliament of the World’s Religions by greeting them as ‘Sisters and Brothers of America.’

The young turbaned Hindu with the legendary voice and poetic turn of phrase was just 30 years old when he arrived in America to address the august meeting of religious leaders and scholars who gathered at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893.? But the Hindu philosopher managed to steal the show from the local speakers, according to Robert Grant of the Ramakrishna Society.

‘All the other speakers that day were quite formal, the sort of "Ladies and Gentleman" approach. Whereas when he got up they felt this is coming from deep within his heart, he is greeting us and showing his oneness with us... The audience could sense that here was a person who wasn’t just speaking from a book, he was speaking from his own experience, from deep within his heart, within his soul.’

Swami Vivekananda was at the World's Fair to promote the Hindu philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga, which was taught to him by the living Hindu saint, Ramakrishna. It was a message of universality that spoke of God as both form and formless and of the world’s religions as equally valid manifestations of the one God. It was also a plea for tolerance and mutual respect, which Vivekananda was certain the West needed to hear.? He was proven right as people all over America and England clamoured to hear him speak, including 1500 people at Madison Square Garden.

"Come Hear the Swami Speak", "Come hear the Hindu Monk",?and people would go and listen to him... He went to Iowa, to Chicago, the Mid West… Women loved him, he was so handsome…He had a wonderful wit and charm and exuberance.’ The industrialist John D. Rockefeller met the swami who encouraged him to divert more of his wealth to philanthropy, while the scientist, Nikola Tesla became?interested in Vedanta philosophy’s teachings on matter and energy.?Even the reclusive American author, J.D. Salinger, would become intimately acquainted with the Ramakrishna order of monks that were established in New York City as a result of Vivekananda’s American tour.

There was this particular event that took place in 1893 when at the age of 53 Rockefeller fell sick. All his hair started shedding, his body became weaker and he lost appetite. He just lived on a little bowl of soup and water. His deteriorating health was a matter of concern to his team of eminent doctors of those times who merely told him that he might just live for a year at the most looking at his condition. Swami Vivekanand happened to be in Chicago at that time and a friend of Rockefeller gave advice to have a meeting with Swamiji. The first reaction of Rockefeller was that he did not believe in such 'monks' or their philosophies.

Finally after lot of convincing Rockefeller got read to meet him in a hotel room. Rockefeller entered the room when Swamiji was busy writing something on a desk. Rockefeller introduced himself saying that "I am a billionaire from America and even the President of USA stands when I enter a room as a mark of respect to me".

Swamiji did not even look at him and continued his writing on the desk without getting up."So how can I help you?" Rockefeller told him about his physical condition and his sickness being untreated by so many eminent medical practitioners. Swamiji just looked at him and said " You seem to be very anxious minded" and then Swamiji narrated some important events of the life of Rockefeller which no one else knew except for his close associates. He was astonished after listening to Swamiji who later told Rockefeller that he must start doing charity for the needy people from his profits.

Rockefeller became so impressed with Swamiji's thoughts that he immediately launched Rockefeller Foundation which funded big projects like research on medicines for live saving drugs against Malaria, TB to be made available to the needy patients. Rockefeller got so engrossed in this humanitarian work that he lived up to the age of 98 and never looked back again in his life. So much was the impact of Swamiji on him.

To mark the 150th anniversary of Vivekananda’s birth, Broun was commissioned by the Ramakrishna Society of Sydney to bring the young Hindu swami’s story to the Sydney Opera House stage in a way that symbolises the universality of his message.?African, Indian, Asian, Anglo-Celtic, and Arabic actors all play significant roles but the part of Vivekananda is particularly demanding, since the charismatic swami possessed a marvellous singing voice and had especially distinctive looks.

Save for his large blue eyes, Indian actor Shaheb Chatterjee is a mesmerising look-alike from Bengal, the home of Vivekananda.?Well known as a singer and TV star in India, Shaheb was a natural choice.?But it is his personal devotion to Vivekananda that marks him out as particularly suited for the role.? ‘I worship him, I have his photo in my car, on my desk top, almost everywhere in my house…I’ve been to the Ramakrishna Mission several times as a child…I’m doing it because I want it from the deepest core of my heart, I’m doing this because my father wants it from the deepest core of his heart, I’m doing it because my God wants it from the deepest core of His heart.’

Swami Vivekananda’s passionate search for personal spiritual enlightenment and his conviction that peaceful relations between nations could be accomplished by recognising their essential religious unity may seem hopelessly out of touch with our sceptical secular age. But for Broun nothing could be more urgent. ‘The really strong message that comes through is the oneness of all beings, but apart from that is that "all paths lead to thee", that all paths lead to the same goal of enlightenment.?

So it's the idea of religion that is important rather than the religion.?We see in our world so much tension due to religions:?this religious belief versus that religious belief. This is a desperately important?message:?to put aside our religious differences and realise that in the end we are all searching for Enlightenment. Whether its Krishna or Buddha or Jesus or Allah, it doesn’t matter, we are all on the same path.’