Finger Pointing At The Moon

As I launch this website I find myself being reminded of the Buddhist quote about the finger pointing at the moon. In other words, don’t look at me but at the Master who has inspired me.

To which end, I recall one evening in Santa Barbara in about 1996 when I was living at the side of my Master. I had been reading through the complete works of Vivekananda and I asked my two colleagues if Swami Vivekananda was in one room in the house and Sri Ramakrishna in another room and they could visit one of these two Masters, which one would they choose.

I was surprised by their answer with which I disagreed. They both said Vivekananda, the disciple of Ramakrishna. I felt that if they did visit Vivekananda he would surely tell them that they had chosen the wrong room.

Later that same evening our Master called me to his side. Even though he had not heard our earlier conversation, as I approached he looked up at me from his chair with a glint in his eye and said quietly, “I’m the Master you want to come and see.”

I feel that both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna would have laughed and nodded their agreement…

Swami Vivekananda (left) with Sri Ramakrishna