A rare soul - Swami Vivekananda - was born in Calcutta (India) on 12th of
January 1863. His father was a renowned pleader of his time and lived an
aristocratic but pious life. His mother was an embodiment of wisdom and simplicity. She taught
Narendra
- later to be known as Swami Vivekananda - the true meaning of Hindu Religion.
Based on the
mythological stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata, she introduced Narendra to
fearless
character of Hanuman, to the divine nature of Sri Rama and Krishna, and values of truthfulness and simplicity.
Narendra was very scientific in his attitude. He did not accept anything
without proof of knowledge. During his college days (it was British India
that time) once his professor told him to go to
Sri Ramakrishna at Dakshineswar Temple if he wanted to know true meaning of trance or
Samadhi.
This opened up a new relationship of Teacher and Disciple unparalleled in the history of spirituality. This wise man of Dakshineswar with his
simplicity and immense knowledge of Advaita Vedanta won over the mind and the heart of this young boy --Narendra-- once for all. At the lotus
feet of his Teacher Sri Ramakrishna, Narendra learnt and realized true spirit of Eternal Vedantic Religion --Sanatana Dharma, and gradually
evolved into Swami Vivekananda.
The realization that with spiritual practice one can transcend the limitations of body-mind complex
- the ego - and regain the memory of one's true divine nature made a great impact on the mind of Swami
Vivekananda. He renounced the transient worldly pleasures based on the five senses and started to lead a life of a monk that later on paved the
way for a new monasticism in modern India. For him now the mission of his life was to broadcast this message of Sri Ramakrishna to the East
and the West - everywhere.
Vivekananda The Scientist!
To arrest the sectarian influence of onward march of 'scientific reason', to
fight the onslaught of external technological progress which
claimed material prosperity as the only goal for humanity, one required answers in
the scientific language alone. Language of simplicity and
faith was brushed aside as weakness and defeat. Religion was on defensive in the
face of clattering advances of science. To combat this
destructive march of quasi purposive science, Swami Vivekananda entered the world arena
as a great disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.
Chicago; 11th September 1893. His call of, "Sisters and Brothers of America…" echoed the voice of universality and oneness of life. It shook
the Western thought of reason and science at its very root. He extracted
scientific truths from Upanishads and Vedanta and put breaks on the criticism of religion as non-scientific mumbling. The old philosophy of
Vedanta was given new form suited to the modern scientific thinking.
Swami Vivekananda experienced neo-vedantic culture and evolutionary
vision in the wonderful life of Sri Ramakrishna, and he maintained that that
was the essential pre-requisite for future survival of
civilization. As a man of vision, however, Swami Vivekananda advocated the unity of physical
and spiritual sciences. One is lame without the
other. He truthfully elaborated the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna that were in 'seed form', so to say.
New Dispensation: Worship of Man as God
The Divinity is best manifest as human consciousness. Hence it is logical
and rational to 'worship God in each human face' rather than try
to find Him in icons and images, temples and buildings, scriptures and books.
Swami Vivekananda was convinced that the blot of apartheid, caste
and racial prejudice, exploitation based on privileges, and slave mentality
would vanish from the face of the earth if the teachings of
Sri Ramakrishna are put in practice. He was convinced about this most important teaching of his Master that all religions are but so many
paths to reach the same perfection or goal. Naturally, religious fanaticism,
persecution, and bigotry had no place in Swamiji's concept
of religion.
In the year 1897, after his triumphant return from the West he formed the
New Monastic Order -Ramakrishna Math and Mission- with its Head Quarters at Belur, P. O. Howrah, Calcutta, India. The world to day is rich
because of his tremendous contribution in the realm of true
Spirituality which he has elevated to the category of Science.
His return to India was a phenomenal event. From Colombo to Calcutta, everywhere he went, a rousing reception and welcome was accorded to
this great sage.
His famous replies to these welcome addresses are so nicely compiled in the famous book: "From Colombo to
Almora". Moreover, whatever he spoke, preached, or taught is all available as
"Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda" in nine volumes.
Also his wonderful biography by His Eastern and Western Disciples.
All these books are published by & and are available at Advaita Ashrama,
5 Dehi Entally Road, Calcutta 700014 (India).
Also at: Vedanta Press, 1946 Vedanta Place, Hollywood, California,
90068-3996, USA.
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A rare soul - Swami Vivekananda - was born in Calcutta (India) on 12th of
January 1863. His father was a renowned pleader of his time and lived an
aristocratic but pious life. His mother was an embodiment of wisdom and simplicity. She taught
Narendra
- later to be known as Swami Vivekananda - the true meaning of Hindu Religion.
Based on the
mythological stories from Ramayana and Mahabharata, she introduced Narendra to
fearless
character of Hanuman, to the divine nature of Sri Rama and Krishna, and values of truthfulness and simplicity. 