Today is Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary (per Gregorian calendar). People may have seen many inspiring quotes from him on the occasion. Let me approach from another angle and throw light on an important and rare lesson from his life!

Swamiji suffered so much through his life and yet discharged his dharma so well that we still remember him! Those who complain about various problems and things not going well for them, should take inspiration not only from his deeds but also from the circumstances he dealt with!

Swamiji suffered a lot in his youth. He could not find a job after finishing BA degree and his father's sudden death left his family in debts and poverty. During that phase, he even became an atheist and told people God does not exist!

His sister Jogendrabala committed suicide. In fact, there was a history of suicides in his family.

Throughout his short life of 39 years, he suffered from many ailments like migraines, tonsillitis, diphtheria, asthma, typhoid, malaria, persistent fevers, liver problems, gastroenteritis, dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia and abdominal pain, gallstone, lumbago, neck pain, Bright’s disease (acute nephritis), kidney problems, albuminuria, bloodshot eyes, loss of vision in his right eye, chronic insomnia, neurasthenia, excessive fatigue, sea-sickness, sunstroke, diabetes and heart problems.

Though he experienced samadhi in his very second encounter with his guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he had his doubts on his guru's spiritual caliber, almost till his guru's death due to throat cancer.

After Ramakrishna Paramahamsa's death, he and his guru bhais had many confusions and second thoughts on whether to stay committed to spiritual lives or to go back to their families and lead regular lives. The years following Ramakrishna's death were a tumultuous period for several of them.

Even when he came to US for the parliament of religions, there was a confusion on the date and he came many months before the event. He had to find some hosts in a foreign country and stayed near Boston for a few months.

Even when he finally went to Chicago, he lost the address of the place and wandered hungry before making it to the event.

None of these troubles stopped him from doing his dharma!

He crossed oceans to grab his opportunity in Chicago in 1893, introduced so many westerners to Sanatana Dharma and Vedanta, established Belur math and sowed enough seeds of Dharma in India and across the world that many still enjoy the fruits of the trees that came from them.

If something is holding you back from doing your dharma, think of Swami Vivekananda's circumstances and how he overcame them.

You may think "he has a great guru in Ramakrishna, who took care of him." But, let me assure you, great gurus and rishis are always there to guide us, if only we are sincere. If you sincerely pray to them (e.g. your gotra rishi), they WILL show you the path, perhaps after a lot of testing and troubles.

You just have to have faith, hang in there and keep listening to your heart (conscience)!

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