Swami Vivekananda reply to an American woman

Swami Vivekananda reply to an american woman

An American woman commented on Swami Vivekananda's clothes, his reply left her ashamed!

Swami Vivekananda was known not just a man who launched a revolution that even to this day resonates around the world, but a soul that enlightened the minds and conscious of many.

He was the first Indian to represent his country and Hinduism at the gigantic platform- Parliament of the World's Religions in year 1893. There is an interesting tale behind this.

Vivekananda came to know that for the first time a Parliament of World’s Religions was being organized in Chicago, where delegates from all over the world were invited to join in.

On his arrival in Chicago on July 30, 1893, Vivekananda learned that no one without any credential or bona fide could attend the Parliament as a delegate. Though he felt, utterly disappointed, but he didn’t give up.

As the event was weeks away, and Chicago seemed to be bit expensive for him, Vivekananda decided to cut down on his expenditure and to start with, he moved to Boston.

There he met Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University, who requested him to give a lecture at the University; and, later helped him get the requisite credentials for the big event.

Impresses by his friend’s generosity, he decided to open up to people of Boston and Chicago. During his stay for next few days in Boston, Swami Vivekananda came across so many people, some of whom inspired him and some who he left inspired.

Just a day before the big event, Swami Vivekananda returned to Chicago. In the evening, he decided to spend some time with himself, to clear his mind ahead of his lecture the next day.

 

For the evening walk, Vivekananda remained in his saffron robe, and while he was walking near a park, a woman (who had been conspicuously observing him for sometime) stopped him.

Unable to control her thoughts, she asked him, “Can't you wear proper clothes to look like a gentleman?”

Vivekananda with a polite smile and gesture replied, 

“In your culture, a tailor makes a gentleman; but, in our culture, Character makes gentleman.”

 

"Neither money pays, nor name, nor fame, nor learning, it is CHARACTER that can cleave/terminate through adamant/rigid walls of difficulties."- Swami Vivekananda