##49 (Vivekananda) Visits To West Again Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

On 20th June,1899, once again,
Swamiji started out on a plan
To visit the Western world,
Where branches he had opened.

The sea trip was smooth
And it improved his health.
With two of his disciples,
He enjoyed the sea travel.

He reached the destination,
New York, one afternoon,
His old friends and disciples
Welcomed his grand arrival.

Then, he went to Los Angeles,
Where he conducted classes
And gave many public lectures,
Attended by local admirers.

Back in New York, he visited
Vedanta Society, which enlisted
Several University professors
And other learned scholars.

In Paris, he attended the Congress
Of the History of Religions,
Like the Parliament of Religions,
Last held in the United States.

After visiting many places,
He was feeling more restless.
So, to Bombay, he left then
By the first available ship alone.

During his second visit,
He smelt war in the West,
Europe looked like a base
For all military operations.

On a Volcano, Europe stood.
And if there was no flood
Of spirituality to put it out
The fire would burn it.

In this second visit
More commercial interest
Greed, craze for power,
He saw everywhere.

It gave rise to a question
About his Universal Religion,
How best it would integrate
And harmonize East and West?