在阿尔莫拉的欢迎致辞与回复
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中文
阿尔莫拉欢迎致辞及答辞
辨喜抵达阿尔莫拉时，阿尔莫拉市民向他呈递了一份印地语的欢迎致辞，以下为其译文：
伟大灵魂，
自从我们听闻您在西方完成精神征程之后，已从英国启程返回母邦印度，我们便自然而然地渴望一睹您的尊颜。承蒙全能上主的恩典，这吉祥的时刻终于来临。伟大诗人兼虔信（Bhakti）王者杜拉斯达萨（Tulasidâsa）的诗句——"深情挚爱者，必能寻得所爱"——今日得到了圆满的印证。我们汇聚于此，以虔诚之心欢迎您的到来。您不辞辛劳，再度莅临本城，令我们深感荣幸，我们无以回报您的厚爱。您是蒙福之人！那位引领您入门瑜伽（Yoga）的尊贵导师（Guru）是蒙福的！这片婆罗多（Bhârata）大地是蒙福的——即便在这可畏的卡利时代（Kali Yuga），仍有如您这般的雅利亚族领袖存在。即便在生命的早期，您已凭借您的质朴、赤诚、品格、博爱、严格的修行（苦行，Tapas）、行止与知识的宣说，在全世界赢得了令我们引以为豪的清白声誉。
您确实完成了一项艰巨的使命，这是自商羯罗（Shankarâchârya）时代以来，从未有人在这片土地上尝试过的。我们当中有谁曾梦想过，一位古老印度雅利亚人的后裔，凭借苦行（Tapas）之力，能向英美两国的饱学之士证明古代印度宗教优越于其他信仰？在芝加哥举办的世界宗教议会上，面对来自各宗教的代表，您以如此精湛的方式捍卫了古代印度宗教的优越性，令众人大开眼界。在那次盛大的集会上，博学的演讲者们各以其方式为本宗教辩护，而您令他们皆甘拜下风。您充分证明了没有任何宗教能与吠陀（Vedas）宗教相抗衡。不仅如此，通过在上述两块大陆的各地宣扬古代智慧，您已吸引了众多博学之士走近古老的雅利亚宗教与哲学。在英国，您也已竖起了古老宗教的旗帜，如今已无可撼动。
直至此前，欧美现代文明国家对我们宗教的真正本质尚完全蒙昧，然而您以我们的灵性教义开启了他们的眼目，使他们得以认识到：这个古老的宗教——他们曾因无知而蔑称为"自大者的微言奥义或专为愚人而设的冗长说教"——实乃蕴藏珍宝的矿山。"有一个贤能有德的儿子，远胜过有数百个愚昧之子"；"是月亮以一己之光驱散了所有黑暗，而非众星合力。"只有像您这样善良有德之子的一生，才真正有益于世界。印度母亲在其衰颓之状中，因有您这般虔诚之子的存在而得到慰藉。许多人渡海而去，漫无目的地四处奔走，而唯有凭借您过去善业（Karma）的福报，您才得以在大洋彼岸证明了我们宗教的伟大。您已将以言、以意、以行向人类传授灵性教导，立为您生命的唯一目标。您随时准备给予宗教指引。
我们欣闻您有意在此地设立一座道场（Math，修道院），并诚挚祈愿您在此方向的努力得以成就。昔日伟大的商羯罗在其灵性征程完成之后，也在喜马拉雅山脉的巴达里卡修罗玛（Badarikâshrama）建立了一座道场，以护持古老宗教。同样，若您的愿望也能实现，印度将大为受益。道场的建立将使我们库玛翁（Kumaon）人获得特别的灵性裨益，我们将不会看到古老的宗教从我们中间逐渐消逝。
自古以来，这一地区便是苦行的土地。印度最伟大的圣贤们在这片土地上于虔诚与苦行中度过他们的岁月；然而那已成为历史的陈迹。我们殷切希望，您通过建立道场，能够仁慈地使我们重新体认这一切。这片神圣的土地曾享有遍及全印的盛誉，拥有真正的宗教、业（Karma）、修行与公正待人之道，这一切似乎都因岁月流逝而日趋衰微。我们希望，凭借您的高尚努力，这片土地将重返其古老的宗教状态。
我们无法充分表达您到来所带给我们的喜悦。愿您长寿，健康完满，过着利他的生活！愿您的灵性力量与日俱增，使印度的悲惨境况通过您的努力早日消逝！
另有两份致辞呈上，斯瓦米作了以下简短答辞：
这是我们先祖梦境中的土地，印度之母帕尔瓦蒂（Pârvati）诞生于此。这是圣洁的土地，印度每一颗热忱的灵魂都希望在生命终结时来到这里，并在此合上其尘世历程的最后一章。在这片蒙福大地上巍峨山峰的顶端，在其深邃的岩洞之中，在其奔腾的急流之畔，那些最为奇妙的思想在此孕育——其中的片羽吉光已博得异域他乡的高度赞叹，并已被最具资格的评判者们宣称为无与伦比。这是一片土地，打从我幼年起，我就一直梦想在此度过我的一生；正如你们众所周知，我已一再尝试在此居住；尽管时机尚未成熟，尚有工作要做，我被席卷至这片圣地之外，然而在这仙人（Rishis）曾经居住、哲学由此诞生的"山之父"（喜马拉雅）某处了却余生，始终是我生命的希望。也许，朋友们，我将无法按照我早先所计划的方式实现它——我多么渴望那份寂静，那份默默无闻——然而我诚挚地祈愿并希望，并几乎深信，我的最后岁月将在这里度过，这是世间一切地方中我最属意之处。
这片圣土的居民们，请接受我的谢忱，感谢你们为我在西方所做的微小工作而给予的慷慨赞美。然而与此同时，我的心意并不愿在东方或西方谈及此事。当这位"山之父"一座接一座的山峰开始在我眼前展现时，多年来在我脑海中翻腾的一切工作热情与骚动，似乎都平息了下来。我的心灵不再谈论已成之事与将成之事，而是回归到那个永恒的主题——喜马拉雅永远向我们教授的那个主题，那个在此地的大气中回响的主题，那个我甚至在眼前奔腾的旋涡急流的喧响中仍能听到的低语——弃绝！
सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम्
——"世间一切事物皆充满恐惧。唯有弃绝（离欲，Vairagya）才使人无所畏惧。"是的，这是弃绝之地。
时间不许可，境况也不适宜，让我向你们充分陈述。因此，我必须以这样的话语作结：喜马拉雅代表着那种弃绝，而我们将永远向人类讲授的宏大教义，便是弃绝。正如我们的先祖在生命的晚年被吸引到这里，未来将有来自地球四方的坚强灵魂被吸引到这位"山之父"，彼时宗派之间的一切争斗与教义上的一切分歧都将不复被记忆，你我宗教之间的纷争也将销声匿迹，届时人类将理解：只有一种永恒的宗教，那便是对内在神性的感知，其余不过是浮沫。如此热忱的灵魂将来到这里，知晓世界不过是虚空中的虚空，知晓除了崇拜主与唯独崇拜主之外，一切皆是无益。
朋友们，你们提及我的一个想法——在喜马拉雅设立一个中心——这令我深感欣慰。我已充分阐明了为何应当如此，以及为何在所有地方中，这是我最希望选为宣扬这一普世宗教的伟大中心之一的地方。这些山脉与我们民族最美好的记忆息息相关；若将喜马拉雅从印度宗教历史中移除，所剩下的将寥寥无几。因此，这里必须是那些中心之一——不仅仅是活动的中心，更是静谧、冥想与和平的中心；我希望有朝一日能够实现它。我也希望能在其他时候与你们相聚，有更好的机会与你们交谈。此刻，让我再次感谢你们给予我的一切善意，让我视之不仅是对我个人的善意，而是对一位代表我们宗教之人的善意。愿它永不离开我们的心！愿我们始终保持如此时刻般的纯洁，并如此时此刻般对灵性充满热忱！
English
ADDRESS OF WELCOME AT ALMORA AND REPLY
On his arrival at Almora, Swamiji received an Address of Welcome in Hindi from the citizens of Almora, of which the following is a translation:
Great-Souled One,
Since the time we heard that, after gaining spiritual conquest in the West, you had started from England for your motherland, India, we were naturally desirous of having the pleasure of seeing you. By the grace of the Almighty, that auspicious moment has at last come. The saying of the great poet and the prince of Bhaktas, Tulasidâsa, "A person who intensely loves another is sure to find him", has been fully realised today. We have assembled here to welcome you with sincere devotion. You have highly obliged us by your kindly taking so much trouble in paying a visit to this town again. We can hardly thank you enough for your kindness. Blessed are you! Blessed, blessed is the revered Gurudeva who initiated you into Yoga. Blessed is the land of Bhârata where, even in this fearful Kali Yuga, there exist leaders of Aryan races like yourself. Even at an early period of life, you have by your simplicity, sincerity, character, philanthropy, severe discipline, conduct, and the preaching of knowledge, acquired that immaculate fame throughout the world of which we feel so proud.
In truth, you have accomplished that difficult task which no one ever undertook in this country since the days of Shri Shankarâchârya. Which of us ever dreamt that a descendant of the old Indian Aryans, by dint of Tapas, would prove to the learned people of England and America the superiority of the ancient Indian religion over other creeds? Before the representatives of different religions, assembled in the world's Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, you so ably advocated the superiority of the ancient religion of India that their eyes were opened. In that great assembly, learned speakers defended their respective religions in their own way, but you surpassed them all. You completely established that no religion can compete with the religion of the Vedas. Not only this, but by preaching the ancient wisdom at various places in the continents aforesaid, you have attracted many learned men towards the ancient Aryan religion and philosophy. In England, too, you have planted the banner of the ancient religion, which it is impossible now to remove.
Up to this time, the modern civilised nations of Europe and America were entirely ignorant of the genuine nature of our religion, but you have with our spiritual teaching opened their eyes, by which they have come to know that the ancient religion, which owing to their ignorance they used to brand "as a religion of subtleties of conceited people or a mass of discourses meant for fools", is a mine of gems. Certainly, "It is better to have a virtuous and accomplished son than to have hundreds of foolish ones"; "It is the moon that singly with its light dispels all darkness and not all the stars put together." It is only the life of a good and virtuous son like yourself that is really useful to the world. Mother India is consoled in her decayed state by the presence of pious sons like you. Many have crossed the seas and aimlessly run to and fro, but it was only through the reward of your past good Karma that you have proved the greatness of our religion beyond the seas. You have made it the sole aim of your life by word, thought, and deed, to impart spiritual instruction to humanity. You are always ready to give religious instruction.
We have heard with great pleasure that you intend establishing a Math (monastery) here, and we sincerely pray that your efforts in this direction be crowned with success. The great Shankaracharya also, after his spiritual conquest, established a Math at Badarikâshrama in the Himalayas for the protection of the ancient religion. Similarly, if your desire is also fulfilled, India will be greatly benefited. By the establishment of the Math, we, Kumaonese, will derive special spiritual advantages, and we shall not see the ancient religion gradually disappearing from our midst.
From time immemorial, this part of the country has been the land of asceticism. The greatest of the Indian sages passed their time in piety and asceticism in this land; but that has become a thing of the past. We earnestly hope that by the establishment of the Math you will kindly make us realise it again. It was this sacred land which enjoyed the celebrity all over India of having true religion, Karma, discipline, and fair dealing, all of which seem to have been decaying by the efflux of time. And we hope that by your noble exertions this land will revert to its ancient religious state.
We cannot adequately express the joy we have felt at your arrival here. May you live long, enjoying perfect health and leading a philanthropic life! May your spiritual powers be ever on the increase, so that through your endeavours the unhappy state of India may soon disappear!
Two other addresses were presented, to which the Swami made the following brief reply:
This is the land of dreams of our forefathers, in which was born Pârvati, the Mother of India. This is the holy land where every ardent soul in India wants to come at the end of its life, and to close the last chapter of its mortal career. On the tops of the mountains of this blessed land, in the depths of its caves, on the banks of its rushing torrents, have been thought out the most wonderful thoughts, a little bit of which has drawn so much admiration even from foreigners, and which have been pronounced by the most competent of judges to be incomparable. This is the land which, since my very childhood, I have been dreaming of passing my life in, and as all of you are aware, I have attempted again and again to live here; and although the time was not ripe, and I had work to do and was whirled outside of this holy place, yet it is the hope of my life to end my days somewhere in this Father of Mountains where Rishis lived, where philosophy was born. Perhaps, my friends, I shall not be able to do it, in the way that I had planned before — how I wish that silence, that unknownness would be given to me — yet I sincerely pray and hope, and almost believe, that my last days will be spent here, of all places on earth.
Inhabitants of this holy land, accept my gratitude for the kind praise that has fallen from you for my little work in the West. But at the same time, my mind does not want to speak of that, either in the East or in the West. As peak after peak of this Father of Mountains began to appear before my sight, all the propensities to work, that ferment that had been going on in my brain for years, seemed to quiet down, and instead of talking about what had been done and what was going to be done, the mind reverted to that one eternal theme which the Himalayas always teach us, that one theme which is reverberating in the very atmosphere of the place, the one theme the murmur of which I hear even now in the rushing whirlpools of its rivers — renunciation! सर्वं वस्तु भयान्वितं भुवि नृणां वैराग्यमेवाभयम् — "Everything in this life is fraught with fear. It is renunciation alone that makes one fearless." Yes, this is the land of renunciation.
The time will not permit me, and the circumstances are not fitting, to speak to you fully. I shall have to conclude, therefore, by pointing out to you that the Himalayas stand for that renunciation, and the grand lesson we shall ever teach to humanity will be renunciation. As our forefathers used to be attracted towards it in the latter days of their lives, so strong souls from all quarters of this earth, in time to come, will be attracted to this Father of Mountains, when all this fight between sects and all those differences in dogmas will not be remembered any more, and quarrels between your religion and my religion will have vanished altogether, when mankind will understand that there is but one eternal religion, and that is the perception of the divine within, and the rest is mere froth: such ardent souls will come here knowing that the world is but vanity of vanities, knowing that everything is useless except the worship of the Lord and the Lord alone.
Friends, you have been very kind to allude to an idea of mine, which is to start a centre in the Himalayas, and perhaps I have sufficiently explained why it should be so, why, above all others, this is the spot which I want to select as one of the great centres to teach this universal religion. These mountains are associated with the best memories of our race; if these Himalayas are taken away from the history of religious India, there will be very little left behind. Here, therefore, must be one of those centres, not merely of activity, but more of calmness, of meditation, and of peace; and I hope some day to realise it. I hope also to meet you at other times and have better opportunities of talking to you. For the present, let me thank you again for all the kindness that has been shown to me, and let me take it as not only kindness shown to me in person, but as to one who represents our religion. May it never leave our hearts! May we always remain as pure as we are at the present moment, and as enthusiastic for spirituality as we are just now!
文本来自Wikisource公共领域。原版由阿德瓦伊塔修道院出版。