Nivedita, CONTINUED

When we try to imagine a collectivity like nation (desh) or universal humanity (biswamanav) in an embodied form in our hearts, no clear image really rises up before us. There are reasons for that. It is because we try to reach this image of the collective, through our intellects. We have not actually seen ‘universal humanity’.  Anyone who does not see the image of his nation, in each face he encounters, has not really seen his nation, no matter what claim he may make. I have seen Sister Nivedita, to see and touch the nation, in the truest manner possible. I once saw her address a very ordinary Muslim woman, living in a hut in a village, with the greatest respect. Unless one really sees the glorious image of universal humanity in everyone, it is not possible to show such respect.  It is because she was capable of respecting all human beings as the Ultimate Human Being that she never lost her sense of respect even after having lived so close to India for so many years.