Vivek
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HINDUISM
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Swami Vivekananda’s Contributions to Hinduism
SWAMI BHAJANANANDA
wami Vivekananda was a prince among monks. He was a Sannyasin of the highest order, a Paramahamsa Parivràjakàchàrya, who dwelt constantly at the superconscious realm. In the hymm Sukàshtaka, there occurs the line, nistraigunye pathivicharatàm ko vidhir ko nishedhah—‘What injunction or prohibition can apply to an illumined soul who moves freely on the transcendent path beyond the three gunas?’ Nevertheless, in spite of being a fully illumined soul, Swami Vivekananda lived the life of a true Sannyasin, even when he was in the West. Many people think that Swamiji lived a luxurious life in the West. This is not true. He himself wrote in one of his letters that he led a wandering life in India and was doing the same in America also. Monastic life was for Swamiji what an airport is for a plane. A plane may fly all over the world, but it finally returns to the airport. In the same way, although he travelled all over the world, Swamiji always returned to the monastic way of life. Monastic life was not a limitation but a means of liberation for Swamiji. Monastic life liberated him from family and social bonds and made him free to devote his life to the service of humanity. As a matter of fact, the whole of his public life (which lasted only nine and a half years) was a continual act of self-sacrifice at the altar of love for
2010
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humanity. During this brief period Swamiji made important contributions to the welfare of humanity. These contributions can be grouped under three categories: contributions to Hinduism, contributions to the uplift of India, and contributions to world culture. Owing to the limitation of space, I can discuss here only about Swamiji’s contributions to Hinduism.
Swamiji’s contributions to Hinduism
1. Identity and unity: One main contribution that Swami Vivekananda made to Hinduism was to give it a
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Swami Vivekananda’s Contributions to Hinduism
SWAMI BHAJANANANDA
wami Vivekananda was a prince among monks. He was a Sannyasin of the highest order, a Paramahamsa Parivràjakàchàrya, who dwelt constantly at the superconscious realm. In the hymm Sukàshtaka, there occurs the line, nistraigunye pathivicharatàm ko vidhir ko nishedhah—‘What injunction or prohibition can apply to an illumined soul who moves freely on the transcendent path beyond the three gunas?’ Nevertheless, in spite of being a fully illumined soul, Swami Vivekananda lived the life of a true Sannyasin, even when he was in the West. Many people think that Swamiji lived a luxurious life in the West. This is not true. He himself wrote in one of his letters that he led a wandering life in India and was doing the same in America also. Monastic life was for Swamiji what an airport is for a plane. A plane may fly all over the world, but it finally returns to the airport. In the same way, although he travelled all over the world, Swamiji always returned to the monastic way of life. Monastic life was not a limitation but a means of liberation for Swamiji. Monastic life liberated him from family and social bonds and made him free to devote his life to the service of humanity. As a matter of fact, the whole of his public life (which lasted only nine and a half years) was a continual act of self-sacrifice at the altar of love for
2010
S
humanity. During this brief period Swamiji made important contributions to the welfare of humanity. These contributions can be grouped under three categories: contributions to Hinduism, contributions to the uplift of India, and contributions to world culture. Owing to the limitation of space, I can discuss here only about Swamiji’s contributions to Hinduism.
Swamiji’s contributions to Hinduism
1. Identity and unity: One main contribution that Swami Vivekananda made to Hinduism was to give it a