Swami Vivekanand was taking a stroll along the banks of the Ganga near Belur Math one evening. Sister Nivedita, Sharatchandra Chakravarti and a few others were also accompanying him. While walking, some of them started discussing about Indian culture which is called Divine Culture (Dev Sanskriti).

Swamiji said, “Dev Sanskriti represents a harmonious blend of sadhana (purity and strength of character) and samvedana (lempathy, kindness and compassion). Lack of either would strike at the very roots of the structure and aim of our culture. Sadhana without samvedana leads to arrogance. And, samvedana sans sadhana proves to be nothing more than sentimental effervescence. A balanced cultivation of both generates what is essential for the expression of divinity in humanity."

                                                                                           FALSE LOVE

A young man used to visit the ashram of a great saint and was very devoted to him. The saint was very pleased with him and used to preach him that self realisation is the only true aim of life and one should work for the same. The young man would express his anxiety that if he relinquishes the world, his parents and his young wife will not be able to survive. The saint explained that all this is not true love. Nobody will give away life after he leaves them, and this can be tested. On the consent from the young man the saint taught him pranayam to control his breathing so that he could stop breathing for quite some time. The young man on reaching home feigned illness and he was given all possible treatment. Next morning the young man used pranayam and stopped breathing. Everybody started crying for him taking him to be dead and all the neighbours also gathered.

At this stage the saint also reached there. He showered praises on the man and said that he could make the man alive but it called for some sacrifice. All his relatives said, "We are ready to sacrifice all our wealth and property, even our lives, if that can bring him alive." The saint called for a glass of milk and put a pinch of ash in it chanting some mantra. He then said that whoever takes this milk shall die and this man will come alive.

The parents said, "If he does not come alive we lose one more life. If we are alive we will beget another son." The young man's wife also said that even if he comes alive now, ultimately one has to die. Now she could live happily without her husband at her mother's place. None of the other relatives present there came forward. All neighbours also left the place gradually.

The saint then offered to take the milk himself, which pleased everybody and they said, "You are a great saint. The life of a saint is for making sacrifices and for welfare of all." The saint drank up the milk and shaking up the young man told him, "Get up my child! Haven't you got the full knowledge now as to who sacrifices his life for you?" The young man got up and agreeing with the saint fell at his feet. He then left with the saint in spite of all persuasions of the relatives, and relinquishing all worldly attractions devotedly started working for self realisation.