Social philosophy of Swami Vivekananda
by Baruah Debajit | 2017 | 87,227 words
This study deals with Swami Vivekananda鈥檚 social philosophy and his concept of religion. He was the disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Important subjects are discussed viz., nature of religion, reason and religion, goal of religion, religious experience, ways to God, etc. All in the context of Vivekananda....
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Chapter 5.1 - The Four Lectures on Practical Vedanta
Vivekananda went to Western World with his message of Vedanta, which can be regarded as Vedanta in practice or practical Vedanta. Here Vivekananda accepted 鈥榁edanta鈥� in a broad sense, including Veda, Upanishad, and Gita. Vivekananda鈥檚 mission was to show the entire world that Vedanta is not only an intellectual exercise in search of 鈥楻eality鈥� alone, Vedanta bears also a practical aspect. It was his conviction that Vedanta can be guiding principle of our life and it can re-order, re-generate our life and society. So, Vivekananda stated, 鈥淭he Upanishad in the past was only for the sannyasin. Sankara made it available also to the house-holder. But it is in the Gita, the best commentary on the Veda, that it is made available for everyone in every occupation of life.鈥�[1] Further we can add that Vivekananda showed this practical aspect of Vedanta to the whole World. In 1896, he delivered several lectures on practical Vedanta in London. Vivekananda realized that, theory is good but, without practical application, it has no value. Such kind of theory just becomes intellectual gymnastics. He says 鈥渢heory is very good indeed, but how are we to carry it into practice? If it be absolutely impracticable no theory is of any value whatever, except as intellectual gymnastics. The Vedanta, therefore, as a religion must be intensely practical. We must be able to carry it out in every part of our lives.鈥�[2]
[(i) The First Lecture];
[(ii) The Second Lecture];
[(iii) The Third Lecture];
[(iv) The Fourth Lecture].
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Abhedananda, Swami, Universal Religion and Vedanta, p-46.
[2]:
[Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda] vol. 2, p-291.