Author: Swami Adiswarananda
Publisher: Rupa
Year: 2007
Language: English
Pages: 248
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8129110938
Description
A message of love, compassion and the spiritual unity of humankind from one of India’s visionary teachers
At the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, a young Hindu monk caused a sensation. At the utterance of his simple opening words—Sisters and Brothers of America—the audience broke into spontaneous applause for Swami Vivekananda. What followed was a stunning speech about the validity and unity of all religions. In just a little over a century, Vivekananda’s message has spread throughout the world.
In this book for spiritual seekers of all faiths and backgrounds, and for all who yearn for solutions to the ideological conflicts that threaten our world, Swami Adiswarananda presents a selection of Vivekananda’s most profound and inspiring lectures and an intimate glimpse of his life through newspaper reports from the time, personal reminiscences from disciples and others close to him, and impressions of his life and message from world leaders. A chapter by Swami Nikhilananda, founder of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York, offers a fascinating view of Vivekananda’s spiritual mission to America—a mission that brought the ideals of spiritual freedom and spiritual democracy to the forefront of Western religious thought.
REVIEWS
Vivekananda’s message gives us hope for the future. His love for humanity gave him the mandate for his message, and his innate purity gave him an irresistible power that nobody could match. The same love that was born as Buddha, the Compassionate One, once again assumed human form as Vivekananda.
—from the Introduction
This extraordinary collection of writings by and about one of history’s greatest spiritual pioneers touches the heart. We come face to face with Vivekananda and discover the impact of his journey west. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of spiritual thought in America.
– Joshua M Greene, historian and author of Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual Journey of George Harrison
Swami Adiswarananda has successfully captured the essence of Vivekananda’s humanistic world view. The selections presented in this collection will be of tremendous interest to all those seeking an alternative vision for our own troubled times.
– Michael S Russo, Director of International Education, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Molloy College
For individuals everywhere facing this fractured and confusing world and seeking the harmony and solidarity that is their true nature, Swami Adiswarananda’s beautiful selection (with a thoughtful and succinct introduction) from the copious speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda on the spiritual unity of humankind fulfills a vital need. Sometimes a single thought of Vivekananda lights up and clarifies the confusions we face.
– Nirupam Sen, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations
Contents
Introduction by Swami Adiswarananda
1. Swami Vivekananda: India and America by Swami Nikhilananda
2. The Ideal of a Universal Religion by Swami Vivekananda
3. Worship of the living God by Swami Vivekananda
4. Great Spiritual Teachers of the World by Swami Vivekananda
5. Intimate Glimpses of Vivekananda
CHRONOLOGY OF SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S LIFE
CREDITS
ABOUT THE EDITOR