SWAMI VIVEKANANDA            

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Context

• The Nation Paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda, on his Jayanti.

Key Facts

• Disciple of:Ramakrishna Paramhansa
• Founder of:Ramakrishna Mission (1897), Ramakrishna Math, Vedanta Society of New York
• Philosophy:Advaita Vedanta
• Literary works:Raja Yoga (1896), Karma Yoga (1896), Bhakti Yoga (1896), Jnana Yoga, My Master (1901), Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897)

Contribution

• He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualismand established Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage.
• His message of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevantespecially in the current backdrop of widespread political turmoil around the world.
• The Ramakrishna Mission undertook various forms of social service like establishing and running school, collages and hospitals, propagation of practical tenets of Vedanta through conference, seminars and workshops, initiating relief and rehabilitation work across the country.
• He introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.
• He harmonized the East and the West, religion and science, past and present.
• He believed that working for social change requires energy and spirit.
• Hence, he asked the youth to work on both - mental energy and physical fitness.
• What Vivekananda wanted from the youth was 'muscles of iron' and 'nerves of steel'. He advised the youth to 'Serve God in man'.
• Swami Vivekananda suggested to rebuild the Indian society, education was the primary means for empowering the people.
• Vivekananda called for a nationwide renovation with the ideals of 'tyaga' or sacrifice and 'seva' or selfless service, the most imperative aspects of shaping the life of young people.
• Swami made the point that this way of life is what can be called 'spiritual pursuit'.
• His vision of India was that of a transformed society inspired by dignity, freedom and individuality and rooted in strength, love and service.

Some important quotes by Vivekananda

• Arise, awake and do not stop until the goal is reached.
• We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.
• Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.
• Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse. If superstition enters, the brain is
• We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand on one's own feet.

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