Swami Vivekananda's Ideas on Practical Vedanta

53 Pages·2006·0.61 MB·English

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RABUDDHA
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HARATA
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Arise!Awake! Andstopnot tillthegoalisreached!
Vol.111 FEBRUARY 2006 No.2
Traditional Wisdom
VIVEKANANDA(cid:146)S IDEAL OF SERVICE
seJmuJtJ{;k g(cid:244)g j(cid:204)gbtme(cid:224)bne;ju >
(cid:210)ttlbt(cid:192)bd;k gtu Ji ;ul btduoK mE‚;& >>
fUrboKu (cid:210)ttrllu aiJ C(cid:255)Utg (cid:244)Jtrblu vwl& >
rJJufUtl(cid:224)=`vtg Cqgtu Cqgtu lbt(cid:246)gnbT >>
Onewhose aimwastoservethe jivas(asShiva)onthisearth,andwhorealizedthe
knowledgeofthe Atmantreadingthisverypath(cid:151)thatSwami Vivekananda,amanof
action,ajnaniandabhakta,Isaluteagainandagain.
g(cid:192)muJtJ{;btbl´(cid:224); bwlgtu cw(cid:176)tu rsl& NE(cid:181)h& >
¶ehtb& fUbleg=ªzfUJlu J](cid:224)=tJlu bt˘tJ& >>
st(cid:159)(cid:212)gt& mw;xuMw dtizdnlu dtihtE‚=uJ(cid:244);:t >
;(cid:192)muJtJ{;b(cid:145) mt˘tfUJh& (cid:244)Jtbe vwlDtuoM;u >>
That pathofservicewhichwasdeclaredbytheseers,Buddha, MahaviraandShankara,
byRamainthelovelyforestof Dandaka,byKrishnainVrindavana,andby Chaitanya
on theshoresoftheGangaintheheartof Gauda(cid:151)thatsamepath ofservicehas again
beenproclaimedby Vivekananda,theprinceofsadhakas.
aªztjtu c{t(cid:209)Ktu Jt dwh¥h¥; Jgmt jtDJ& v´ªz;tu Jt
bqFtuo =eltu ˘tltZ(cid:211)& mfUjdwKdKih´(cid:224)J;tu rldwoKtu Jt >
mJuo lthtgKt(cid:244);u Jgbrv a ;:t gqgb¸g”tCq;t
yt(cid:192)bt lthtgKtu~gk v{ahr; cnwN& mu(cid:212)g;tbt(cid:192)b`v >>
Beit anoutcasteor a brahmin,elderlyoryoung inage,learnedorignorant,poor or
rich,possessingawealthofvirtuesorbereftofthem(cid:151)Theyareall Narayana,soare
we,andyouwhoarehere;thisAtman,whichis verily Narayana,moves aboutinmani-
foldforms. Servethem,youwhoaretheAtman!
(cid:151)adaptedfromDakshinaranjanBhattacharya,(cid:145)Sri-Vivekananda-Stotram(cid:146)
11 PB-FEBRUARY2006
(cid:151) (cid:150)
This Month
TheinspirationalqualityofSwamiVive- Deoghar,underscoresthepragmatismandthe
kananda(cid:146)smessagehasbeenuniversallyac- idealofdiscipleshipthatcharacterizeSwami
knowledged,althoughthereasonsforthis Vivekananda(cid:146)spersonality.
havebeenvaried.Thismonth(cid:146)seditorialex-
ploressomereasonswhySwamijiandhis DrCVMadhavaReddyoftheDepart-
messagehaveremainedAPerennialInspira- mentofPhiosophy,SriVenkateswaraUniver-
tion. sity,Tirupati,hasgivenusasuccinctaccount
ofthephilosophicalbasisandpracticalimpli-
PrabuddhaBharata(cid:151)100YearsAgopre- cationsofSwamiVivekananda(cid:146)sIdeason
sentsextractsfromJusticeNGChandavar- PracticalVedanta.
kar(cid:146)smuchacclaimedSocialConferencead-
dressatBenaresin1905. SriMMBarik,SeniorTeacherinEnglish
attheRamakrishnaMissionschoolinAlong,
Prof.UrmilaSrivastava,whoholdsthe hasbeautifullyoutlinedhowVedanta,Shakti
VivekanandaChairattheDepartmentofRe- worshipandaman-makingeducationwent
ligiousStudies,UniversityofNairobi,pres- intothemakingofSwamiVivekananda(cid:151)the
entsalucidsummaryofSwamiji(cid:146)slifeand EpitomeofStrength.
messageinSwamiVivekanandaandHis
UniversalGospel. WesternersWhoSawSriRamakrishnais
awell-researchedarticleaboutthelifeand
(cid:145)Oneofthemostfascinatingdevelopments worksofsomeimportantwesternerswhohad
istheincreasingvisibilityofthelinkagebe- occasiontomeetSriRamakrishna.Theau-
tweenRamakrishna-VivekanandaVedanta thor,DrGordonStavig,isaresearcherfrom
andalmostallfieldsofhumanconcern(cid:146),says Hollywood.
Prof.MSivaramkrishna,formerHeadofthe
DepartmentofEnglish,OsmaniaUniversity, SwamiTathagatanandaji,Minister-in-
Hyderabad.Heplanstoexplorethisinhis Charge,VedantaSociety,NewYork,con-
newseries,TheMany-splendouredRama- cludeshisinterestingstudyofDhan Gopal
krishna-VivekanandaVedanta. Mukerji and The Face of Silencebyexplor-
inghowthemeetingbetweenMukerjiand
AfterSriRamakrishna(cid:146)sPassingAwayis RomainRollandculminatedinthelatter(cid:146)s
SwamiChetananandaji(cid:146)stranslationoffourof famousbiographiesofSriRamakrishnaand
M(cid:146)s(MahendranathGupta(cid:146)s)diaryentries SwamiVivekananda,andhowthesefound
thatwerefirstpublishedintheBengali theirwayintoSovietRussia.
monthlyNavyaBharatin1904,buthavenot
asyetbeenincludedintheSriSriRamakrish- Anger,asanemotion,isasubiquitousasit
naKathamrita.ThetranslatorisMinister-in- isdestructive.Itwreakshavoconitssubjectas
Charge,VedantaSocietyofStLouis. wellasonthesurroundings.TheBhagavata
storyofKingAmbarishaunderscoresthisfact
InthefirstinstalmentofhisarticleUnder- evenasithighlightsgenuinedevotion.Wages
standingVivekananda,SwamiSandarshana- ofWrathisaninsightfulretellingofthispop-
nandajiofRamakrishnaMissionVidyapith, ularlegendbySriNHariharanofMadurai.
PB-FEBRUARY2006 12
A Perennial Inspiration
EDITORIAL
RoleModelsofIndianYouth ancethatwouldmakehimstandoutanywhere.
A
2003HindustanTimessurveyidentified Annie Besant found in him (cid:145)a striking figure,
parents, Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh cladinyellowandorange,shininglikethesun
BachchanandSwamiVivekanandaasthe of India (cid:133) a lion head, piercing eyes, mobile
most important role models of Indian youth. lips,movementsswiftandfast.(cid:133)Purposeful,
ThatyouthinIndiaconsiderparentsasprimary virile,strong,hestoodout,amanamongmen,
role models certainly lays to rest speculations able to hold his own.(cid:146) There were others who
that family values have been irreparably dam- saw in him (cid:145)a God of Greek sculpture(cid:146). There
aged.Familybondsremainasignificantdeter- havebeennumerouscommentsonthe(cid:145)power
minant not only of social values and interac- ofhiseyes(cid:146)ofwhich(cid:145)nophotographordescrip-
tionsbutalsoofpoliticalalliancesandbusiness tioncangiveacorrectidea(cid:146).AccordingtoSri-
transactions(cid:151)areaswherefilialaffiliationsmay nivasaPai,(cid:145)likethe(cid:147)AncientMariner(cid:148)inCole-
besupposedtoplayalessimportantrole.And ridge(cid:146)sfamouspoemhe(cid:147)heldyoubytheeye(cid:148).(cid:146)
this holds good for the whole of Asia, where a However,inthewordsofSisterChristine,
middle-aged son is still likely to consider his (cid:145)itwasnotthiswhichmadethefirstoutstand-
motherhisbestfriend. ing impression. (cid:133) It was the mind that made
Thatacelluloidiconorthecountry(cid:146)smost thefirstgreatappeal,thatamazingmind!(cid:133)It
prominent sports personality should act as a was a mind so far transcending other minds,
rolemodelforyoungstersisinkeepingwiththe even of those who rank as geniuses, that it
disproportionately large media coverage given seemed different in its very nature. Its ideas
to these figures(cid:151)the larger-than-life dramatic were so clear, so powerful, so transcendental
images and the subliminal effects of publicity that it seemed incredible that they could have
and crowd adulation. This form of hero-wor- emanatedfromtheintellectofalimitedhuman
shipisaglobalphenomenon. being.(cid:146)
Our interest here lies in Swami Viveka- To his disciples who saw him during the
nanda.WhyshouldIndianyouthlookuptoa parivrajaka days in Madras, (cid:145)the Swami(cid:146)s per-
person(cid:151)that too a monk(cid:151)who passed away sonalitytoweredovereverything.Histhrilling
more than a hundred years ago? What makes musicalvoice,hissongs,hisstrengthofsoul,his
forhisenduringappeal? power of intellect, his luminous and ready re-
plies,hisscintillatingwit,hisepigramsandelo-
ThePowerThatWasVivekananda
quence(cid:151)theseallheldhishearersspellbound.(cid:146)
Both during his parivrajaka days and on To the young collegian Kamakhya Nath
hisreturnfromtheWestin1897SwamiVivek- Mitra,(cid:145)hisawakeningpowerwasincredible.(cid:133)
ananda generated a great deal of enthusiasm Herewasamanoffaithinanageofdoubt,sin-
among the youth. They would attend to his cere to the backbone, a dynamo of supernal
needs, take his advice, argue with him, collect force.Tohaveseenhimwaseducation.Tohave
funds for his travel, work out his instructions heardhimwasinspiration.(cid:146)
andgivehimmammothreceptions. (cid:145)Ontheplatformanothersidecameout(cid:146),
Butappraisalsofthereasonsforhisappeal adds Annie Besant. (cid:145)The dignity and the in-
varied. He had a remarkable physical appear- bornsenseofworthandpowerstillwerethere,
13 PB-FEBRUARY2006
132 PrabuddhaBharata
but all was subdued to the exquisite beauty of going tremendous mental struggle as a preco-
thespiritualmessagewhichhehadbrought(cid:133) ciousadolescent,hehappenedtochanceupon
the wondrous teaching of the Self.(cid:146) To Mary the works of Swami Vivekananda at a neigh-
Funke, to be with the swami at Thousand Is- bour(cid:146)s house. Having leafed through a few
land Park was an extraordinary experience: pagesherealizedthatthiswaspreciselywhathe
(cid:145)EveninmywildestdreamsIcouldnotimagine had been seeking for long. These words pro-
anything so wonderful, so perfect. To be with vided an ideal to which he could dedicate his
Vivekananda!Tobeacceptedbyhim!(cid:133)Ifeel entire being. He wrote, (cid:145)I was barely fifteen
that I shall never be the same again for I have whenVivekanandaenteredmylife.Thenthere
caughtaglimpseoftheReal.(cid:133)Wearetaught followed a revolution within. (cid:133) It was, of
toseeGodineverythingfromthebladeofgrass course,alongtimebeforeIcouldappreciatethe
to man(cid:151)(cid:147)even in the diabolical man(cid:148). (cid:133) In fullsignificanceofhisteachingsorthegreatness
histalkshemaygoeversofarafield,butalways ofhispersonality,butcertainimpressionswere
he comes back to the one fundamental, vital stampedindeliblyonmymindfromtheoutset.
thing(cid:151)(cid:147)Find God! Nothing else matters.(cid:148)(cid:146) Bothfromhisportraitaswellasfromhisteach-
ThomasAllan,whoheardtheswamilectureat ings, Vivekananda appeared before me as a
Oakland,wasconvincedthathehadheard(cid:145)not full-blown personality. Many of the questions
aman,butaGod!(cid:146) whichvaguelystirredmymind,andofwhichI
wastobecomeconsciouslateron,foundinhim
ThePowerThatIsVivekananda
asatisfactorysolution.(cid:146)ThesebooksledSubhas
TohavemetSwamiVivekanandainper- BosetoVivekanandatheperson.Soin1932he
sonwasobviouslyanunforgettableexperience. could say: (cid:145)I cannot write about Vivekananda
Buthumanmemoryisshort,andheroesrarely withoutgoingintoraptures.(cid:133)Hispersonality
survivetheirlifetimes.Iftheydo,theircharisma wasrich,profoundandcomplexanditwasthis
clearly lies beyond their physical person. Ac- personality(cid:151)asdistinctfromhisteachingsand
cording to Sri Aurobindo, (cid:145)It was the spirit of writings(cid:151)which accounts for the wonderful
Vivekanandawhofirstgavemeaclueinthedi- influencehehasexertedonhiscountrymen.(cid:133)
rectionoftheSupermind.(cid:133)Hevisitedmefor Recklessinhissacrifice,unceasinginhisactiv-
fifteen days in Alipore jail and, until I could ity,boundlessinhislove,profoundandversa-
graspthewholething,hewentonteachingme tile in his wisdom, exuberant in his emotions,
and impressed upon my mind the working of mercilessinhisattacksbutyetsimpleasachild
the Higher Consciousness(cid:151)the Truth-Con- (cid:151)hewasararepersonalityinthisworldofours.(cid:146)
sciousnessingeneral(cid:151)whichleadstowardsthe Lal Bahadur Shastri said, (cid:145)I remember, I
Supermind.(cid:146) This event took place more than was deeply attracted by reading Swamiji(cid:146)s
six years after Vivekananda(cid:146)s passing. If there lecuresasastudent.Itsoinfluencedmymind
have been other reports of such supernatural thatitchangedmyoutlook,andbroughtadif-
appearances, they have not been all too com- ferent perspective upon life.(cid:146) The famous lin-
mon.ButAurobindowashimselftostateinhis guistSunitiKumarChatterjeewasintroduced
lateryears:(cid:145)Weperceivehisinfluenceworking to Vivekananda at thirteen through such texts
gigantically, we know not well how, in some- asLecturesfromColombotoAlmora.Andwhat
thing that is not yet formed, something leo- didhereceivefromhim?(cid:145)Itwas,inthefirstin-
nine, grand, intuitive, upheaving that has en- stance, a sense of the Infinite, and a necessity
tered the soul of India, and we say, (cid:147)Behold, and duty of man to realise within himself this
VivekanandastilllivesinthesoulofhisMother Infiniteandatthesametimetoputhimselfin
andinthesoulsofherchildren.(cid:148)(cid:146) tunewithItbyleadinganormal(cid:151)amoraland
When Subhas Chandra Bose was under- anaturalandaltruistic(cid:151)life.Vivekanandaap-
PB-FEBRUARY2006 14
APerennialInspiration 133
pearedtomeimmediatelytobeamanwhowas investedhislifewithawonderfuldynamismin
intenselymovedbythesufferingsofHumanity.(cid:146) variousspheres.Thereatthesourceofthead-
venturousactivitiesoftoday(cid:146)syouthofBengal
ThePowerofHisMessage
isthemessageofVivekananda(cid:151)whichcallsthe
It has been pointed out that one comes soulofman,nothisfingers.(cid:146)JawaharlalNehru
across several apparent contradictions as one observed:(cid:145)Whathewroteorspokeaboutdealt
goesthroughtheworksofSwamiVivekananda. with certain fundamental matters and aspects
(cid:145)It is difficult, for instance,(cid:146) writes Swami of our problems or the world(cid:146)s problems.
Shuddhananda,(cid:145)formanytofindout,whether Therefore they [his writings and speeches] do
Swamijiwasachampionoforthodoxyorsocial notbecomeold.(cid:133)Directlyorindirectlyhehas
reform; whether he was a staunch advocate of powerfullyinfluencedtheIndiaoftoday.(cid:146)
politicalfreedom(cid:151)whetherhewasanational- (cid:145)Vivekanandamayhaveostensiblypreach-
istorinternationalist;whetherhewasanadvo- ed religious reform, social reconstruction as
cateofthecastesystemoragainstit;whetherhe well as crusade against poverty,(cid:146) notes the re-
was a supporter of vegetarianism or meat-eat- putedsociologist,BenoyKSarkar,(cid:145)butitisthe
ing;whetherheadvisedmeditationinsolitude making of individuals, the training of man-
or work in the bustle of society as the best hood, the awakening of personality and indi-
methodofrealisingGod;whetherhefavoured vidualityonwhichhiswholesoulwasfocussed.
organisationorwantedindividualspiritualcul- (cid:133)TheobjectiveofhisdiversetreatisesonYoga
tureinpreferencetoanyorganisation,etc.(cid:146) isnoneotherthanthe(cid:147)chisellingforth(cid:148)ofsuch
It is curious that it is precisely in that individuals as may be depended on as (cid:147)divini-
which the pedant considers confusing other tiesonearth(cid:148),aspersonswhoaredeterminedto
brilliant minds have discovered the power of master the adverse conditions of life and con-
Vivekananda. (cid:145)One of the most enchanting quertheworld.(cid:146)SwamiVivekanandacontinues
thingsaboutVivekananda(cid:146),writesChristopher to provide direction to the youth of today(cid:151)a
Isherwood,(cid:145)isthewayhewaseternallychang- senseofpurposethatishugelysoughtafterbut
ingsideswhenhewasspeakingtodifferentpeo- scarcelyavailableintoday(cid:146)spostmodernworld.
ple;hecoulddenouncetheBritishinwordsof But even this does not exhaust the possi-
fire,butagainhewouldturnontheIndiansand bilities of Vivekanada(cid:146)s works. Swami Vive-
say,(cid:147)Youcannotmanufactureonepin,andyou kanandahadsaidtoHemchandraGhosh,who
daretocriticizetheBritish!(cid:148)Andthenhewould laterwentontobecomeanotedrevolutionary
speak of the awful materialism of the United leader, (cid:145)It is as clear as daylight that the entire
States,andontheotherhand,hewouldsaythat Orientwillhavearesurrectiontobuildanewa
nowomenintheworldweregreater,andthat human world. Lo! The future greatness of
thetreatmentofwomeninIndiawasabsolutely China, and in the wake of it of all Asiatic na-
disgraceful. And so in every way, he was inte- tions.(cid:133)Youtakeitfromme,thisrisingofthe
grating.(cid:133)I(cid:146)mquotingallthisbecausebycon- SudraswilltakeplacefirstinRussia,andthenin
sidering all these different attitudes that China.Indiawillrisenextandwillplayavital
Vivekanandatook,oneseestheimmensescope role in shaping the future world.(cid:146) Has there
andintegrityofhisgoodwill.(cid:146) beenabetterpredictionofthecourseofglobal
Thereasonforthe(cid:145)irresistibleappeal(cid:146)that eventsoverthelasthundredyears?Itisthisun-
Gandhiji found in Vivekananda(cid:146)s works is erring vision that sets Swami Vivekananda
probablybestsummedupbyRabindranthTa- apartasaguide,asouryouthtrytosetpersonal
gore: (cid:145)This message has, at one and the same and social goals for themselves. In uncertain
time, imparted dignity and respect to man timesabeaconlightsuchasthiscanhardlybe
alongwithenergyandpower.(cid:133)Ithasindeed dispensedwith. ~
15 PB-FEBRUARY2006
Prabuddha Bharata—100 Years Ago
February 1906
Mr Chandavarkar(cid:146)s Social Conference Address
T
heancientworld,saidMrJohnMorley,thoughtthatManexistedfortheState,whereaswein
moderntimesthinkthattheStateexistsforMan.(cid:145)Therelationofmantohumanityatlarge,tothe
Universeofwhichhumanityisbutapart,wasnotanintegralfactorofthecommonmoralityofthe
ancientworld(cid:146),though(cid:145)Socratesmadeanapproachtowardsuniversalmorality.(cid:146)Thesameopinionis
sharedbyotherthinkersofourtimes.Forinstance,MrBernardBosanquetremarksthattheconcep-
tionofauniversalhumanity,thathumanityhasabirth-right,isabsolutelymodernandistheoutcome
oftheconvictionthat(cid:145)asingleprincipleorwillliesattherootofnatureandisalsoembodiedinthe
mindsandactionsofmen(cid:146).
Theseremarksaresuggestiveofthequestion,whethertheancientHindoosfallwithinthede-
scriptionofMrJohnMorleyandMrBernardBosanquet.Iamnotthemantogointohystericsoverour
ancientcivilizationandpaintitincoloursofexaggeration,becauseitsuitsourprideatthepresent
moment;but,viewingitinaspiritofcalmnessandmakingdueallowanceforitsdefects,itappearsto
methattheRishisofold,wholaiddownourlawsandconceivedtheideas,outofwhichancient
Hindoosocietyemerged,startedwiththeconceptionofauniversalmoralityandthebirth-rightofhu-
manityasthedeep-downbasisoflife.Whatisfamiliartousinthesedaysas(cid:145)theeternalverities(cid:146),or,
as(cid:145)theEverlastingYea(cid:146)and(cid:145)theEverlastingNay(cid:146),intheexpressivelanguageofCarlyle,hadfound
itseloquentexponentsintheRishis,whonevertiredoftheirfaithintheprincipleofunityunderlying
themindandactionsofmenaswellasthemindandactionsofNature.Theygaveitthenameof
(cid:145)SANATANADHARMA(cid:146)orShashwataDharma,i.e. thereligionoftheEternalVeritiesunconditionedand
applicabletoallhumanbeingsofwhatevercaste,class,orcreed,embodyingthelawsoftheuniver-
salmind,andtheprincipleofuniversalmorality,asdistinguishedfromtheVarnashramaDharmaor
thelawsapplicabletoparticularcastesorconditionsoflife.Forinstance,intheApaddharmaParvaof
theShantiParvaoftheMahabharata,TruthisrepresentedastheSanatanaDharmaorthereligionof
theEternalVeritiesandTruthisdescribedascomprehendingthevirtuesofSamata(equityorjus-
tice),Dama(self-control),Amatsaryam(freedomfromjealousy),Kshama(mercy),Hri(self-respect),
Titiksha(patience),Anasuyata(freedomfromfault-finding),Tyaga(liberality),Dhyana(meditation),
Aryatva(magnanimity),Dhriti(resolution),Daya(sympathy),andAhimsa(humanity).Andinthe
BhagavadGita,GodaftersayingthatHehasestablishedtheDharmasofthefourcastes,according
toqualitiesandactions(cid:151)not,mindyou,accordingtobirth(cid:151)declaresthatHeistheCreatorand
FounderoftheShashwataDharma,i.e.thereligionoftheEternalVeritiesorUniversalMorality.this
conceptionofthefundamentalunityanduniversalmoralityisacknowledgedbyEmersonasfinding
(cid:145)itshighestexpression(cid:146)inourVedas,theBhagavadGita,andtheVishnuPurana.(cid:133)
StartingwiththisideaoffundamentalUnityanduniversalmorality,theRishisconceivedofman,
asaspiritualbeing,standingforthespiritualinterestsoftheworld.Getintotheheartofthebestoftheir
descriptionsofManinrelationtotheuniversesurroundinghim,poreovertheirsubtlestanalysisofhis
actionsandemotionsandyoufindthatMantheindividualstoodtothemnotas(cid:145)amerefractionofsoci-
ety(cid:146),or,whattheancientGreeksandRomans,accordingtoMrJohnMorley,regarded(cid:145)asamerecog
orpiniononthevastmachineoftheState(cid:146);butasan(cid:145)epitome(cid:146)ofSocietyandoftheStateaswell. ~
PB-FEBRUARY2006 16
Swami Vivekananda and His Universal Gospel
PROF. URMILA SRIVASTAVA
S
wami Vivekananda and his universal gos- enter the room after smashing the door latch
pel,whichhasheraldedthebeginningofa andshakehimoutofhismeditation.1
new era, are widely recognized as instru- Besides this calmness there was another
mentsfortherenovationofIndiaandforthere- sidetoNarendranath.Hehadgreatrespectfor
vivaloftheworld.ThoughSwamijilivedavery elders and love for his playmates. He was the
short public life he achieved a great lot within soul of social circles, a sweet singer, a brilliant
that period of less than a decade. The work conversationalist and a meritorious student.
done by him during that period and the re- And above all he possessed an ascetic instinct
markablereformmovementledbyhiminthe beneath the surface of his normal attitude.
formoftheRamakrishnaMission stilloccupy When the matter of his marriage arose in his
thesamestatustheyhadinthepastandwillsur- family,herebelled,andstrangetosay,someun-
vivethroughcenturies.Achoseninstrumentof foreseendifficultyalwaysobstructedthenego-
Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, his proclama- tiationsofmarriage.
tionshavehelpedgenerationstowakeupfrom Asayoungmanwhenhisintellectualhori-
theirage-longsleepwithanunfadingfreshness zonbegantowiden,somedoubtsandquestions
andeverlastingwarmth. regarding orthodox beliefs haunted him. He
had faith and devotion for his family religious
TheGeniusUnfolds
traditions, but he needed reasons to support
ThefutureheroSwamiVivekanandawas them. At this time the renowned leader of the
borninthefamousDattafamilyofCalcuttain Brahmo Samaj movement, Keshab Chandra
1863on12January.Hischildhoodnamewas Sen,captivatedhimwithhislecturesandwrit-
NarendranathDattaandasSwamiVivekanan- ings.Itwastheaimofthemovementtoprotest
daheappearedonthestageofIndiannational againstorthodoxtenetsofreligion,polytheism,
lifetoremindpeoplethatthepurposeoflifewas childmarriage,idolworshipandthecastesys-
to develop the potentiality to transform one(cid:146)s tem,andtoencouragewomen(cid:146)seducation.Itis
selfintotheDivine,formanisbutasparkofthe not surprising that this movement had influ-
supremeDivinity.Allthefunctionsofthehu- enced young Bengali intellectuals. Narendra-
manmindsuchasthinking,feelingandwilling nathwasalsoimbuedwiththesamethinkingas
mustsupportthisevolutionaryprocessofspiri- theBrahmoSamajleaders,whohopedtofind
tualgrowth. revolutionarysolutionstosocialevils.
Narendranath(cid:146)smotherhadagreatinflu- Looking for satisfactory answers to the
ence over his personality throughout his life. questions tormenting his mind, he came in
Swamijiusedtorecallmemoriesofeventsofhis contact with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa,
lifeassociatedwithhismother.Inhisyounger whohadrealizedthelivingpresenceofGodin
days he liked to play the game of meditation. theimageofKalithroughintensespiritualdis-
Though it was only play, sometimes it carried ciplines. Narendranath was conquered by Sri
himintodeeperstatesofmindwhenhebecame Ramakrishna(cid:146)s love. It is difficult to describe
unawareoftheouterworld.Oncehelosthim- thesweetrelationshipthatexistedbetweenthe
self in such a meditative condition in a lonely two.Themasterwasalivingexampleofgenu-
part of the house. His family members had to ine spirituality and the disciple was (cid:145)a thou-
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136 PrabuddhaBharata
sand-petalledlotus(cid:146)(1.91).ThefutureofIndia hadagreatimpactonworldcitizensfromvari-
wasbeingmouldedintheshapeofyoungNar- ous walks of life(cid:151)inspiring them, transform-
endranathbyhisteacherthroughdiscourseson ingthemandelevatingthem.Lateintheafter-
spiritualpractice.Inthelastdaysofhislife,Sri noon when Swami Vivekananda opened his
Ramakrishna initiated Narendranath into lips, hardly had he pronounced these simple
monasticism and actually commissioned him openingwords(cid:151)(cid:145)SistersandBrothersofAmer-
for his future mission. As a tribute to his ica(cid:146)(cid:151)when hundreds of deafening shouts of
teacher, the young monk used his organizing applause arose in the hall. The congregation
capacity to set up a monastery in Calcutta in wentmadforafulltwominutes.Thiswasthe
1886inordertopromotetheHindureligionin language of affection in which Swamiji ad-
accordance with the life and teachings of Sri dressed his audience. When silence was re-
Ramakrishna. Swamiji considered himself the stored,hepresentedHinduismwithitscombi-
most obedient servant of his great master. He nationofloveandtoleranceasthemotherofall
laidnoclaimtohismerits;itwasallhismaster(cid:146)s religions. It was a short but profound speech.
training.Hesaid: Swami Vivekananda had made his mark. All
leading American newspapers gave him wide
If there has been anything achieved by me, by
coverageandhebecameareputedperson.The
thoughts,orwords,ordeeds,iffrommylipshas
everfallenonewordthathashelpedanyonein NewYorkHeraldreferredtohimas(cid:145)undoubt-
theworld,Ilaynoclaimtoit,itwashis.Butif edlythegreatestfigureintheParliamentofRe-
there have been curses falling from my lips, if ligions(cid:146).Itwentontoadmit,(cid:145)Afterhearinghim
therehasbeenhatredcomingoutofme,itisall wefeelhowfoolishitistosendmissionariesto
mine and not his. All that has been weak has thislearnednation(cid:146)(1.428).
been mine, and all that has been life-giving, Everywhereintheworld,includingIndia,
strengthening,pure,andholy,hasbeenhisin- the name of Vivekananda was recognized and
spiration,hiswords,andhehimself.2
lecturebureausofferedtotakehimonatourof
As was the custom with monks, Swami the United States. Swamiji took this opportu-
VivekanandaleftCalcuttaandroamedallover nity to speak of the glories of India and the
the country to experience first-hand the un- greatnessofIndiancultureandspirituality.He
known and difficult path of a monk(cid:146)s life. He was satisfied that the ideals of Hindu religion
wandered free of any plans and with the and its philosophy of Vedanta were spreading
thoughtofGodconstantlyinhismind.Inthe andpercolatingthroughoutthewholethought
courseofhispilgrimagehemetallsortsofpeo- worldofAmerica.HesoonsailedtoEnglandto
pleinallconditionsoflife.Somedayshespent carry to the English people the same message
with despised beggars and others as a guest of which he had preached in America. His main
maharajas. purpose was to bring about an exchange of
He sailed from Bombay to Chicago in thought between the West and the East. The
1893toattendtheParliamentofReligionsand profound learning and universal teachings of
with some difficulty secured entry. Dr J H Swamiji made a deep impression upon the
Wright,aprofessorofGreekclassicsatHarvard minds of the world intelligentsia. He com-
University, was so deeply impressed by manded great admiration with his brilliant,
Swamiji(cid:146)srareabilitiesthat,recognizinghisge- philosophicalspeeches,andinhishomecoun-
nius, he said, (cid:145)To ask you, Swami, for creden- try his words were regarded as gospel truth.
tials is like asking the sun to state its right to Then,afterashorttourofcontinentalEurope,
shine!(cid:146)3(cid:151)meaning that the flame had reached hecamebackhometohisbelovedcountryvia
itsfullsplendourandwouldsheditslustrefor Ceylonon26January1897.Thewholenation
thousands of years. As it happened, Swamiji received him like one man, with the most en-
PB-FEBRUARY2006 18
SwamiVivekanandaandHisUniversalGospel 137
thusiastic greetings. His achievements abroad philosophy, the inspirational quality of which
hadcreatedintheaverageIndianmindapride canneverfade.Itisaphilosophywhichwillen-
initspastandaconfidenceinitsfuture,asifby ableustofacethechallengesoftoday(cid:146)scompli-
amiracle. cationsbroughtaboutbyscientificandpsycho-
In spite of all this recognition, applause logicaladvancement;itisaphilosophywhichis
and popularity, Swamiji never forgot his duty capableofunitingalllife,whichhasavisionof
to the sunken masses of India. Here, in India, universalreligionanduniversalbrotherhood;it
hehadtoworkforthemillionsofhisbrothers isaphilosophywhichoffersusapeculiarwayof
and sisters who were suffering in misery and life which vibrates with rhythms of harmony
distress(cid:151)for them who were the backbone of andlove.Infact,anewreformationofmankind
the nation because of their hard labour, but could be achieved by teaching the universal
about whom nobody thought. Swamiji dedi- doctrines of Vedanta and keeping these as the
catedhisbodyandsoultotheirserviceandreac- backgroundofallourdealings.Thentheresult
tivated,asitwere,theparalysedpartofthena- wouldbeasimultaneousdevelopmentofboth
tion by circulating the blood of energy uni- theindividualandsocietyatallstagesofevolu-
formly throughout the whole body of the na- tion.ThebasicpremiseofVedantaisthat(cid:145)At-
tion. In spite of his physical ailments due to man, the reality underlying man(cid:146)s conscious-
stress of work, he was ever fresh mentally and ness,isnon-differentfromBrahman,thereality
inspired his followers to start new projects to underlying the whole universe.(cid:146) It then asserts
serve the motherland. Austerities, hard work, thatman(cid:146)srealnaturebeingdivine,theaimof
extensive travels, endless public lectures and humanlifeistounfoldandmanifestthisdivine
changing environments undermined his nature.Thisuniversaltruthisthecentraltenet
health.Atlast,on4July1902,attheageofonly of Vedantic religion and helps the process of
thirty-nineyears,thetiredchildwenttosleepin humandevelopmentbyaidingitintheattain-
thelapofhisMother,nevertowakeupagain. ment of salvation. Thus human development
(cid:145)Whendeathisinevitable,isitnotbettertodie andtheultimateobjectofhumanlifeareinsep-
likeheroesthanasstocksandstones?Andwhat arablyunited.Allreligions,philosophies,theol-
is the use of living a day or two more in this ogies,ritualsordogmasaretobevaluedonlyto
transitoryworld?Itisbettertowearoutthanto theextenttheyhelpmankindrealizeandmani-
rust out(cid:151)specially for the sake of doing the fest its latent divinity. This was the universal
leastgoodtoothers(cid:146)4(cid:151)thatwashisfirmopin- philosophythatSwamiVivekanandapreached
iontillthelast.TheworthysonofMotherIndia underthebannerofVedantainordertoestab-
had dreamt of rousing the land of his birth so lish harmony and mutual goodwill in these
thatitcouldregainitshighpositionintheco- times of religious pluralism. He was of the
mity of nations. He roared like a lion: (cid:145)None opinionthatthebasicstructureofanypractical
can resist her any more; never is she going to philosophy of life ought to include these four
sleep any more; no outward powers can hold principles: i) divinity of the soul, ii) brother-
herbackanymore;fortheinfinitegiantisrising hoodofman,iii)universaloutlook,andiv)ser-
toherfeet(cid:146)(3.146). vicetomankind.Andthiswasallthemoretrue
inthecontextofIndiannationalregeneration.
Vedanta:theUniversalGospel
Thedemonofmaterialismisontheram-
Mansuffersunderthecrushingweightof pageandisdevouringculture,astateoflifein
his own self-image, his own limited ideas and consonance with natural laws. Society and so-
attitudes. Nevertheless, he can outgrow this cial relationships are all coming under its evil
narrow disposition. Here lies the relevance of grip. Swami Vivekananda(cid:146)s message warns
Swami Vivekananda(cid:146)s teachings of Vedanta mankind against the threat of losing cultural
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