wherein were stored the holy secrets of a man's heart.
Max Müller asked the Swami, 'What are you doing to make Sri Ramakrishna known to
the world?' He himself was eager to write a fuller biography of the Master if he could
only procure the necessary materials. At the Swami's request, Swami Saradananda
wrote down the sayings of Sri Ramakrishna and the facts of his life. Later Max Müller
embodied these in his book The Life and Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna.
One day Saradananda asked the Swami why he himself had not written about the
Master's life for Max Müller. He answered: 'I have such deep feeling for the Master
that it is impossible for me to write about him for the public. If I had written the article
Max Müller wanted, then I would have proved, quoting from philosophies, the
scriptures and even the holy books of the Christians, that Ramakrishna was the greatest
of all prophets born in this world. That would have been too much for the old man.
You have not thought so deeply about the Master as I have; hence you could write in a
way that would satisfy Max Müller. Therefore I asked you to write.'
Max Müller showed the Swami several colleges in Oxford and the Bodleian Library,
and at last accompanied him to the railroad station. To the Swami's protest that the
professor should not take such trouble, the latter said, 'It is not every day that one
meets with a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.'
Besides doing intensive public work in England, the Swami made there some
important personal contacts. The names of Goodwin, Henrietta Müller, Margaret
Noble, and Sturdy have already been mentioned. These knew him intimately during his
second visit and had become his disciples. Now came the turn of Captain and Mrs.
Sevier. The captain was a retired officer of the English army, forty-nine years old, and
had served for many years in India. Both were earnest students of religion and had
sought the highest truth in various sects and creeds, but had not found it anywhere.
When they heard Swami Vivekananda, they intuitively realized that his teachings were
what they had so long sought. They were deeply impressed by the non-dualistic
philosophy of India and the Swami's personality.
Coming out of one of the Swami's lectures, Captain Sevier asked Miss MacLeod, who
had already known the Swami in America: 'You know this young man? Is he what he
seems?'
'Yes.'
'In that case one must follow him and with him find God.'
The Captain went to his wife and said, 'Will you let me become the Swami's disciple?'
'Yes,' she replied.
She asked him, 'Will you let me become the Swami's disciple?'
He replied with affectionate humour, 'I am not so sure!'