Enlightenment is losing the
world and gaining the universe. That doesn’t mean that you get out of the world
as the ascetics in the Himalayas do. On the contrary, enlightenment takes you
deep into the world. Enlightenment enables you to see the world more clearly.
You see the connectedness between everything. Nobody is your enemy now.
Swami
Vivekananda was an enlightened person.
Swami
Vivekananda is often projected by India’s right wing as a champion crusader of
Hinduism. His Chicago speech is cited as an example for his claims on the
superiority of Hinduism. The truth, however, is that Vivekananda had an enlightened
approach to reality. Let us look at his stand on Christianity for example.
Vivekananda
translated The Imitation of Christ into Bengali. The Imitation is
a Christian devotional book which gives practical guidelines on spirituality while
it also serves as a meditation book. It is based entirely on the life of Jesus.
In an article published in a special
edition of The Frontline [8 Feb 2013] issued on the
occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda,
Anantanand Rambachan wrote that The Imitation of Christ was the only
text, other than the Bhagavad Gita, that Vivekananda kept with him while
he travelled around in India after the death of his guru, Sri Ramakrishna.
Swami
Vivekananda did not like the Christian missionaries for two reasons. One, they
let down Jesus absolutely. Their life was an absolute antithesis of all that
Jesus stood for. Two, their insistence that their religion was the only right
path to spiritual truths and God.
What would
Swami Vivekananda say seeing the present day ‘missionaries’ of Hindutva?
Swami
Vivekananda liked The Imitation of Christ because of its emphasis on
renunciation and its unabated thirst for purity. He compared the concept of
self-surrender advocated by that book to the similar spirit exuded by the Gita.
He was of the opinion that the teachings of Jesus had the spirit of Advaita in
essence. When Jesus said, “I and my father are one,” he was expressing the
Advaita concept of Aham Brahmasmi. The human and the divine are not
different entities.
We may or may
not accept Vivekananda’ s views. The point that this post is trying to make is
that he did not oppose other religions in order to propagate Hinduism. Instead,
he accepted whatever was good in other religions. He was an enlightened soul. Those
who uphold his love for Hinduism nowadays need to delve deeper into his
teachings and become enlightened.
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An enlightening post on enlightenment. As for example, I was not aware of the book " Imitation of Christ " and that it was very dear to Swami Vivekananda.
ReplyDeleteGlad I could contribute this little bit of information. Sometimes small details like this can change whole perspectives.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteEnergising! Every word a gem. I am certain Vivekananda-ji would be Exceptionally Exasperated at current Events...
As a point of interest, one of my favourite pastimes is to compare the Sermon on the Mount with Shruti Shlokas... I have no doubt at all that Yeshu spent is missing 14 years in study of a Hindu guru! YAM xx
E=Eternalnot
I don't know whether Jesus was a disciple of an Indian guru. I have a book which 'proves' that Jesus died in Kashmir. Whatever that is, Jesus and all other genuine teachers were very open-minded about the paths to the divine. Their followers are just the opposite, more often than not.
DeleteAm aware of his teachings and quotes but didn't know about the imitation of Christ book. It's enlightening to know that he picked good from every religion. I also never felt he advocated a specific religion....like u said prophets teach well ..followers twist them
ReplyDeleteThat is the real tragedy of prophets: they are misinterpreted and their teachings are manipulated.
DeleteSometimes, I wonder why more 'well-read' people can't see the 'read to regurgitate' mode employed by all 'fanatics'. Perhaps, we're not reading anything deeply enough any more. Else, such accusations/ideas wouldn't stand a chance in sane society.
ReplyDeleteWhat I understand is that it's about politics rather than spirituality. People who misuse religion for political power do not want to understand religion.
DeleteTrue.
DeleteHe was a rational reformist too. He tried his best. He should have lived longer.
ReplyDeleteTrue. India lost him too early. Otherwise he would have made a bigger impact.
DeleteSwami Vivekananda was way ahead of his times! Can we ever have anyone like him, in today's chaotic India?
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the book The Imitation of Christ. An enlightening post.
We need someone like Swamy Vivekananda today.
DeleteI am in complete agreement with the thoughts expressed herein. Let me just add from my side that those who uphold his love for Hinduism nowadays will never delve into his teachings because they are relentlessly in search of historical figures (barring from the Nehru family) whose love for Hinduism (real or perceived) is to be upheld to further their vested interests. Skilled in distorting facts and figures (all meanings included), such people are already enlightened (as to what they want for themselves). They do not need any Vivekananda.
ReplyDeleteSo true, they all pretend to be enlightened.
Delete