Author: Swami Dhruveshananda
Editor(s): Swami Dhruveshananda
Publisher: Ramakrishna Mission
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 90
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8189157566
Description
A profusely illustrated publication in color on art paper in large format, this book consists of a short biographical sketch of Swami Vivekananda and a compilation of his words with photographs and paintings depicting his wonderful life and message. This book is primarily intended for the younger generation of India.
To introduce the life of Swami Vivekananda is to introduce the subject of spiritual life itself. Indeed, his life revealed throughout, the glory of the supersensuous life. All the intellectual struggle, all the doubts, all the burning faith, all the unfolding process of spiritual illumination were revealed in him. He was a manifold personality, a spiritual colossus, who, not satisfied with his own spiritual unfoldment, intensely strove for the good of all. Whatever he did or spoke, it was for the salvation of India, for the removal of the misery of the world, and above all, how every human being could get the knowledge of his divinity. His message was, therefore, not for one time, but for al times-not for one country, but for whole humankind, not for one aspect of life, but for all aspects of human existence.
The light of the world dawned for the first time upon the future Swami Vivekananda on Monday, January 12, 1863 (Makara Sankranti Day), a few minutes before sunrise. He had been born to usher in a new age of glory for this country, who was to reorganize the spiritual and national consciousness of India, and who was to become a great apostle-preaching unto the world another gospel of redemption, namely the message of Vedanta. And only a few miles north of Calcutta, in the garden of Dakshineshwar, his would be Master Sri Ramakrishna, was waiting for the coming of this babe, who was to grow into manhood to carry on his great work. Speaking about this, Sister Nivedita wrote: I see in him the heir to the spiritual discoveries and religious struggles of innumerable teachers and saints in the past of India and the world, and at the same time the pioneer and prophet of a new and future order of development, I believe that each trace of those higher and uncommon modes of thought and consciousness to which he held the key, has its significance for the modern age.