Contact vs. Connection

A Monk of the Ramakrishna Mission was being interviewed by a journalist from New York.

Journalist:  “Sir, in your last lecture, you told us about Jogajog (Contact) and Sanjog (Connection). It’s really confusing. Can you explain?”

The Monk smiled and, apparently deviating from the question, asked the journalist: 

“Are you from New York?”

Journalist: “Yeah…”

Monk: “Who are there at home?”

The Journalist felt that the Monk was trying to avoid answering his question since this was a very personal and unwarranted question. Yet the  journalist said: “My mother has expired. Father is there. Three brothers and one sister. All married…”

The Monk, with a smile on his face, asked again: “Do you talk to your father?”

The journalist looked visibly annoyed…

The Monk asked, “When did you talk to him last?” 

The journalist, supressing his annoyance said: “May be a month ago.”

The Monk: “Do you brothers and sisters meet often? When did you meet last as a family gathering?”

At this point, sweat appeared on the forehead of the journalist. Now who is conducting the interview, the Monk or the journalist. 

It seemed that the Monk was interviewing the journalist.

With a sigh, the journalist said: “We met last at Christmas two years ago.”

The Monk: “How many days did you all stay together?”

The Journalist (wiping the sweat on his brow) said: “Three days…”

Monk: “How much time did you spend with your father, sitting right beside him?”

The journalist, looking  perplexed and embarrassed, started scribbling something on a paper…

The Monk: “Did you have breakfast, lunch or dinner together? Did you ask how he was? Did you ask how his days are passing after your mother’s death?”

Drops of tears coming out started to flow from the eyes of the journalist.

The Monk held the hand of the journalist and said: “Don’t be embarrassed, upset or sad. I am sorry if I have hurt you unknowingly… But this is basically the answer to your question about ‘Contact and Connection (Jogajog and Sanjog).’

“You have ‘Contact’ with your father but you don’t have ‘Connection’ with him. You are not connected to him. Connection is between heart and heart… Sitting together, sharing meals and caring for each other, touching, shaking hands, having eye contact, spending some time together… You  your brothers and sisters have ‘Contact’ but you have no  ‘Connection’ with each other…”

The journalist wiped his eyes and said: “Thanks for teaching me a fine and unforgettable lesson.”

The Monk was none other than Swami Vivekananda.

Pic of postage stamps and miniature sheet courtesy: https://belurmath.org/