vivekanand and Rockefeller

Be a Trustee, NOT an Owner of Wealth | Swami Vivekananda’s Teaching to John Rockefeller

“This is a great land, but I wouldn’t like to live here. Americans think too much of money. They give it preference over everything else.”

– Swami Vivekananda speaking in 1894 on America’s excessive preoccupation with materialism (over spirituality) – an ideology which has now engulfed the whole world.

Swami Vivekananda being a God-realized soul, possessed many yogic powers, one of which was the ability to read into a person’s past, present and future.

He once described these mind reading powers of his, to a disciple:

Swami Vivekananda: “While I was in America I had certain wonderful powers developed in me. By looking into people’s eyes I could fathom in a trice the contents of their minds. The workings of everybody’s mind would be potent to me, like a fruit on the palm of one’s hand.

To some I used to give out these things, and of those to whom I communicated these, many would become my disciples; whereas those who came to mix with me with some ulterior motive would not, on coming across this power of mine, even venture into my presence any more.”

One prominent American whose mind Swamiji read was John D. Rockefeller the founder of Standard Oil, the parent company of today’s Exxon Mobil.

Rockefeller met Swami Vivekananda in the 1890s. At the time Rockefeller was in his mid-fifties and an exceptionally wealthy man, having amassed a huge fortune, often by indulging in highly unethical and monopolistic practices.

His relentless drive to make money at any cost however, came at a heavy price. His health started failing and ultimately became so heavily damaged that Rockefeller was almost at death’s door.

His digestive system had weakened so much that he could subsist only on milk and crackers. He also suffered from depression and a condition which had caused him to lose all his hair. It is said that Rockefeller used to look like a walking mummy.

These numerous health problems probably propelled Rockefeller to meet with Swami Vivekananda, of whose extraordinary yogic powers Rockefeller heard about, from his wealthy friends at whose homes Swamiji, at times resided as a guest.

An interesting account of what happened next has been given by Emma Calve, a famous French opera singer at the time.

“Mr. X, in whose home Swamiji was staying in Chicago, was a partner or an associate in some business with John D. Rockefeller. Many times John D. heard his friends talking about this extraordinary and wonderful Hindu monk who was staying with them, and many times he had been invited to meet Swamiji but, for one reason or another, always refused.

At that time Rockefeller was not yet at the peak of his fortune, but was already powerful and strong-willed, very difficult to handle and a hard man to advise.

But one day, although he did not want to meet Swamiji, he was pushed to it by an impulse and went directly to the house of his friends, brushing aside the butler who opened the door and saying that he wanted to see the Hindu monk.

The butler ushered him into the living room, and, not waiting to be announced, Rockefeller entered into Swamiji’s adjoining study and was much surprised, I presume, to see Swamiji behind his writing table not even lifting his eyes to see who had entered.

After a while, Swamiji told Rockefeller much of his past that was not known to any but himself, and made him understand that the money he had already accumulated was not his, that he was only a channel and that his duty was to do good to the world — that God had given him all his wealth in order that he might have an opportunity to help and do good to people.

Rockefeller was annoyed that anyone dared to talk to him that way and tell him what to do. He left the room in irritation, not even saying goodbye.

But about a week after, again without being announced, he entered Swamiji’s study and, finding him the same as before, threw on his desk a paper which told of his plans to donate an enormous sum of money toward the financing of a public institution.

“Well, there you are”, he said. “You must be satisfied now, and you can thank me for it.”

Swamiji didn’t even lift his eyes, did not move. Then taking the paper, he quietly read it, saying: “It is for you to thank me”. That was all. This was Rockefeller’s first large donation to the public welfare.”

In saying so Swami Vivekananda was probably referring to the fact that by listening to Swamiji’s advice, Rockefeller had taken a step towards altering his karmic path (destiny) and so he had much to thank Swamiji for.

By not hoarding his wealth and using a portion of it to benefit others, Rockefeller had an opportunity to accrue much positive karma and simultaneously evolve to become a more spiritual being.

It is interesting to note that some writers have written about how Rockefeller had an immense change of heart from a selfish and shrewd businessman, to a philanthropist right around this time-frame in the 1890s. So it is quite likely that Swamiji’s advice played a part in bringing about this change.

After this period, Rockefeller’s donations for public good steadily increased. He realized that he could not take his wealth with him beyond the grave and so he began to invest in building hospitals and universities. This change of heart helped him so much that slowly his health improved and ultimately he ended up living till the age of 97.

“This is the chief sin – Selfishness, thinking of ourselves first. He who thinks ‘I will eat first, I will have more money than others, and I will possess everything; he who thinks I will get to heaven before others, I will get to Mukti (freedom from cycle of birth and death) before others,’ is the selfish man.

The unselfish man says ‘I will be last, I do not care to go to heaven, I will even go to hell, if by doing that I can help my brothers.’

This unselfishness is the test of religion. He who has more unselfishness is more spiritual and nearer to Siva (God). Whether he is learned or ignorant, whether he knows it or not, he is nearer to Siva than anybody else.

And if a man is selfish, even though he has visited all the temples, seen all the places of pilgrimage, and painted himself like a leopard, still he is further off from Siva (God).”

– Swami Vivekananda, Complete Works, Volume 3.

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“In this Kali Yuga, the highest gift one can give others is the gift of spiritual knowledge (because it helps a person not only in this life, but in their future lives as well)” – Swami Vivekananda