Swami Vivekananda taught an important lesson on facing life’s challenges through a personal experience with monkeys in Varanasi. His story encourages confronting difficulties rather than avoiding them to find peace and solutions.
The Incident in Varanasi
Swami Vivekananda, a renowned Indian monk and philosopher, once walked through a ground in Varanasi that had a large water tank on one side and a high wall on the other. A group of large monkeys lived there, and as he approached, they became hostile. The monkeys howled and tried to stop him, clutching at his feet as he tried to pass. Vivekananda ran, but the monkeys chased him closely, trying to bite him. Feeling trapped, he heard a stranger say, “Face the brutes.” Turning to face the monkeys, Vivekananda saw them retreat and eventually run away.
The Lesson for Life
This experience became a lasting lesson for Vivekananda. He realized that like the monkeys, the hardships and troubles of life disappear if we stop running from them. Avoiding problems only lets them grow worse, while facing them can lead to resolution.
Applying the Lesson
When faced with difficulties, it is natural to seek distractions like video games or social media to avoid discomfort. However, true progress begins by acknowledging the problem honestly, such as admitting if you’ve upset a friend and are afraid to apologize. Taking small steps like sending a simple message can begin the process of healing. Feeling nervous is normal, but if fear does not control our actions, we move beyond denial.
True peace, Swami Vivekananda teaches, is not the absence of trouble but understanding that when difficulties come, we will confront them with patience and wisdom rather than fleeing.
