practicalization of the Eternal Truth — the Oneness of All Beings. "Dependence is
misery. Independence is happiness." The Advaita is the only system which gives unto
man complete possession of himself and takes off all dependence and its associated
superstitions, thus making us brave to suffer, brave to do, and in the long run to attain
to Absolute Freedom.
'Hitherto it has not been possible to preach this Noble Truth entirely free from the
settings of dualistic weakness; this alone, we are convinced, explains why it has not
been more operative and useful to mankind at large.
'To give this One Truth a freer and fuller scope in elevating the lives of individuals and
leavening the mass of mankind, we start this Advaita Ashrama on the Himalayan
heights, the land of its first formulation.
'Here it is hoped to keep Advaita free from all superstitions and weakening
contaminations. Here will be taught and practised nothing but the Doctrine of Unity,
pure and simple; and though in entire sympathy with all other systems, this Ashrama is
dedicated to Advaita and Advaita alone.'
After the Swami's return from Kashmir his health had begun to deteriorate visibly. His
asthma caused him great suffering. But his zeal for work increased many times.
'Ever since I went to Amarnath,' he said one day, 'Siva Himself has entered into my
brain. He will not go.'
At the earnest request of the brother monks, he visited Calcutta frequently for
treatment; yet even there he had no respite from work. Visitors thronged about him for
religious instruction from morning till night, and his large heart could not say no to
them. When the brother monks pressed him to receive people only at appointed hours,
he replied: 'They take so much trouble to come, walking all the way from their homes,
and can I, sitting here, not speak a few words to them, merely because I risk my health
a little?'
His words sounded so much like those of Sri Ramakrishna during the latter's critical
illness, no wonder that Swami Premananda said to him one day, 'We do not see any
difference between Sri Ramakrishna and you.'
But the Swamis greatest concern was the training of the sannyasins and brahmacharins
— the future bearers of his message — and to this task he addressed himself with all
his soul. He encouraged them in their meditation and manual work, himself setting the
example. Sometimes he would cook for them, sometimes knead bread, till the garden,
or dig a well. Again, he would train them to be preachers by asking them to speak
before a gathering without preparation. Constantly he reminded the monks of their
monastic vows, especially chastity and renunciation, without which deep spiritual
perception was impossible. He attached great importance to physical exercise and said:
'I want sappers and miners in the army of religion! So, boys, set yourselves to the task