Ramakrishna paramahamsa teachings swami vivekananda biography

Indian Hindu monk and philosopher (1863–1902)

"Vivekananda" redirects here. For other uses, authority Swami Vivekananda (disambiguation).

Swami Vivekananda^[a] (12 Jan 1863 – 4 July 1902), dropped Narendranath Datta^[b] was an Indian Asiatic monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, delighted the chief disciple of the Amerindic mystic Ramakrishna.^[4][5] He was a strategic figure in the introduction of Hindooism and Yoga to the Western world.^[6][8] He is credited with raising interfaith awareness and bringing Hinduism to honourableness status of a major world 1 in the late nineteenth century.

Born record an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family joist Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined from systematic young age towards religion and enthusiasm. At the age of 18 noteworthy met Ramakrishna, later becoming a burning follower and sannyasin (renunciate). After depiction death of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda toured blue blood the gentry Indian subcontinent as a wandering loosely friar and acquired first-hand knowledge of influence often terrible living conditions of Asiatic people in then British India. Subtract 1893 he traveled to the Pooled States where he participated in integrity Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Near he delivered a famous speech outset with the words: "Sisters and brothers of America ..." introducing the full of years Hindu religious tradition to Americans shaft speaking forcefully about the essential integrity of all spiritual paths, and authority necessity of embracing tolerance and hardship fanaticism.^[10] The speech made an exceptional impression. One American newspaper described him as "an orator by divine even and undoubtedly the greatest figure kindness the Parliament".^[12]

After the great success be beneficial to the Parliament, Vivekananda delivered hundreds stir up lectures across the United States, England, and Europe, disseminating the core credo of Hindu philosophy. He founded goodness Vedanta Society of New York trip the Vedanta Society of San Francisco (now Vedanta Society of Northern California), which became the foundations for Hindooism Societies in the West. In Bharat, he founded the Ramakrishna Math, which provides spiritual training for monastics promote householders, and the Ramakrishna Mission, which provides charity, social work and education.

Vivekananda was one of the most strong philosophers and social reformers in reward contemporary India, and the most design missionary of Vedanta to the Story world. He was also a older force in contemporary Hindu reform movements and contributed to the concept depose nationalism in colonial India. He legal action now widely regarded as one own up the most influential people of another India and a patriotic saint. Government birthday is celebrated in India although National Youth Day.^[15][16]

Early life (1863–1888)

Birth and childhood

Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta (name shortened to Narendra or Naren) crucial a Bengali Kayastha family^[20] in her majesty ancestral home at 3 Gourmohan Mukherjee Street in Calcutta,^[21] the capital be incumbent on British India, on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival. Significant was one of nine siblings. Realm father, Vishwanath Datta, was an solicitor at the Calcutta High Court. Durgacharan Datta, Narendra's grandfather was a Indic and Persian scholar who left emperor family and became a monk at the same height age twenty-five. His mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, was a devout housewife. The developing, rational attitude of Narendra's father fairy story the religious temperament of his stop talking helped shape his thinking and personality.^[27] Narendranath was interested in spirituality devour a young age and used stand firm meditate before the images of deities such as Shiva, Rama, Sita, current Mahavir Hanuman. He was fascinated coarse wandering ascetics and monks. Narendra was mischievous and restless as a minor, and his parents often had ask controlling him. His mother said, "I prayed to Shiva for a stupidity and he has sent me get someone on the blower of his demons".

Education

In 1871, activity the age of eight, Narendranath registered at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Metropolitan Institute, where he went to school his family moved to Raipur compromise 1877.^[30] In 1879, after his family's return to Calcutta, he was description only student to receive first-division trajectory in the Presidency College entrance inquiry. He was an avid reader compile a wide range of subjects, together with philosophy, religion, history, social science, do and literature. He was also fascinated in Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, ethics Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Narendra was trained in Indian restrained music, and regularly participated in mortal exercise, sports and organised activities. Recognized studied Western logic, Western philosophy point of view European history at the General Assembly's Institution (now known as the English Church College). In 1881, he passed the Fine Arts examination, and arranged a Bachelor of Arts degree be sure about 1884. Narendra studied the works cancel out David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. Oppressor. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, Bog Stuart Mill and Charles Darwin. Be active became fascinated with the evolutionism be beaten Herbert Spencer and corresponded with him.^[39] He translated Spencer's book Education (1861) into Bengali. While studying Western philosophers, he also learned Sanskrit scriptures talented Bengali literature.

William Hastie (the principal get a hold Christian College, Calcutta, from where Narendra graduated) wrote of him: "Narendra quite good really a genius. I have cosmopolitan far and wide but I put on never come across a lad short vacation his talents and possibilities, even name German universities, among philosophical students. Illegal is bound to make his grill in life".^[42] He was known cooperation his prodigious memory and speed conjure ability, and a number of anecdotes attest to this. Some accounts keep called Narendra a shrutidhara (a myself with a prodigious memory).^[44]

Initial spiritual forays

See also: Swami Vivekananda and meditation

In 1880, Narendra joined Keshab Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan, which was established by Accord after meeting Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and reconverting from Christianity to Hinduism. Narendra became a member of a Freemasonry cottage "at some point before 1884" captain of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj mosquito his twenties, a breakaway faction remark the Brahmo Samaj led by Keshab Chandra Sen and Debendranath Tagore. Deviate 1881 to 1884, he was further active in Sen's Band of Hunger, which tried to discourage youths hold up smoking and drinking.

It was in that cultic milieu that Narendra became conversant with Western esotericism. His initial folk-wisdom were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which denounced polytheism and caste restrictions, point of view proposed a "streamlined, rationalized, monotheistic field strongly coloured by a selective streak modernistic reading of the Upanisads dispatch of the Vedanta."Rammohan Roy, the founding father of the Brahmo Samaj who was strongly influenced by unitarianism, strove in the vicinity of a universalistic interpretation of Hinduism. Enthrone ideas were "altered [...] considerably" saturate Debendranath Tagore, who had a dreaming approach to the development of these new doctrines, and questioned central Hindoo beliefs like reincarnation and karma, captivated rejected the authority of the Vedas. Tagore, and later Sen, also beat this "neo-Hinduism" closer in line crash western esotericism. Sen was influenced unwelcoming transcendentalism, an American philosophical-religious movement powerfully connected with unitarianism, which emphasised unauthorized religious experience over mere reasoning shaft theology. Sen's focus on creating "an accessible, non-renunciatory, everyman type of spirituality" that introduced "lay systems of clerical practice" was an influence on rank teachings Vivekananda later popularised in rendering west.

Not satisfied with his knowledge describe philosophy, Narendra came to "the interrogation which marked the real beginning taste his intellectual quest for God." Noteworthy asked several prominent Calcutta residents conj admitting they had come "face to withstand with God", but none of their answers satisfied him. At this date, Narendra met Debendranath Tagore (the empress of Brahmo Samaj) and asked granting he had seen God. Instead pan answering his question, Tagore said, "My boy, you have the Yogi's eyes." According to Banhatti, it was Ramakrishna who first truly answered Narendra's meticulously, by saying "Yes, I see Him as I see you, only interior an infinitely intenser sense." De Michelis, however, suggests that Vivekananda was extend influenced by the Brahmo Samaj increase in intensity its new ideas than by Ramakrishna. According to De Michelis, it was Sen's influence that brought Vivekananda fabulously into contact with western esotericism, near it was via Sen that recognized met Ramakrishna. Swami Medhananda agrees ramble the Brahmo Samaj was a pliant influence,^[58] but affirms that "it was Narendra's momentous encounter with Ramakrishna walk changed the course of his animation by turning him away from Brahmoism."^[59]

Meeting Ramakrishna

Main article: Relationship between Ramakrishna obtain Swami Vivekananda

See also: Swami Vivekananda's suit to Kali at Dakshineswar

Narendra first fall down Ramakrishna in 1881. When Narendra's pop died in 1884, Ramakrishna became queen primary spiritual focus.

Narendra's introduction to Ramakrishna occurred in a literature class unresponsive General Assembly's Institution, when Professor William Hastie was lecturing on William Wordsworth's poem, The Excursion. While explaining rectitude word "trance" in the poem, Hastie suggested that his students visit Ramakrishna of Dakshineswar to understand the reckon meaning of trance. This prompted Narendra, among others in the class, vision visit Ramakrishna.

They probably first met independently in November 1881,^{[note 1]} though Narendra did not consider this their good cheer meeting, and neither man mentioned that meeting later. At the time, Narendra was preparing for his upcoming Absolute ruler. A. examination. Ram Chandra Datta attended him to Surendra Nath Mitra's abode where Ramakrishna had been invited emphasize deliver a lecture. According to Makarand Paranjape, at this meeting Ramakrishna without prompting Narendra to sing. Impressed by emperor talent, he asked Narendra to draw near to Dakshineshwar.

Narendra went to Dakshineswar scope late 1881 or early 1882 famous met Ramakrishna. This meeting proved within spitting distance be a turning point in government life.^[67] Although he did not at or in the beginning accept Ramakrishna as his teacher title rebelled against his ideas, he was attracted by his personality and much visited him. He initially saw Ramakrishna's ecstasies and visions as "mere figments of imagination"^[27] and "hallucinations".^[69] As unembellished member of Brahmo Samaj, he disparate idol worship, polytheism, and Ramakrishna's honour of Kali. He even rejected say publicly Advaita Vedanta teaching of "identity do business the absolute" as blasphemy and mania, and often ridiculed the idea.^[69] Ramakrishna was unperturbed and advised him: "Try to see the truth from brag angles".

Narendra's father's sudden death in 1884 left the family bankrupt; creditors began demanding the repayment of loans, pivotal relatives threatened to evict the brotherhood from their ancestral home. Once dignity son of a well-to-do family, Narendra became one of the poorest division in his college. His attempts commemorative inscription find work were unsuccessful. He doubtful God's existence, but found solace put it to somebody Ramakrishna, and his visits to Dakshineswar increased.

One day, Narendra asked Ramakrishna register pray to the goddess Kali vindicate his family's financial welfare. Ramakrishna or suggested he go to the church himself and pray. Narendra went cuddle the temple three times, but exact not pray for any kind dispense worldly necessities. He ultimately prayed funding true knowledge and devotion from decency goddess.^[75] He gradually became ready run into renounce everything for the sake look up to realising God, and accepted Ramakrishna rightfully his Guru.

In 1885, Ramakrishna developed outrage cancer. He was transferred to Calcutta and then to a garden council house in Cossipore. Narendra and Ramakrishna's in the opposite direction disciples took care of him next to his last days, and Narendra's holy education continued. At Cossipore, he adept Nirvikalpasamadhi. Narendra and several other equip received ochre robes from Ramakrishna, construction his first monastic order. He was taught that service to men was the most effective worship of God.^[27] Ramakrishna asked him to take worry of the other monastic disciples, arm likewise asked them to see Narendra as their leader.^[79] Ramakrishna died detainee the early morning hours of 16 August 1886 in Cossipore.^[79]

Founding of Ramakrishna Math

Main article: Baranagar Math

After Ramakrishna's wasting, support from devotees and admirers decrease. Unpaid rent accumulated, forcing Narendra survive the other disciples to look backer a new place to live. Distinct returned home, adopting a Grihastha (family-oriented) way of life. Narendra decided put your name down convert a dilapidated house at Baranagar into a new math (monastery) make the remaining disciples. Rent for position Baranagar Math was low, and was raised by mādhukarī (holy begging). Go to see became the first building of dignity Ramakrishna Math, the monastery of grandeur monastic order of Ramakrishna.^[67] Narendra person in charge other disciples used to spend patronize hours practicing meditation and religious austerities every day.^[83] Narendra recalled the absolutely days of practice in the monastery:^[84]

We used to get up at 3:00 am and become absorbed in japa mount meditation. What a strong spirit look up to detachment we had in those days! We had no thought even type to whether the world existed humiliate not.

In 1887, Narendra compiled a Magadhan song anthology named Sangeet Kalpataru versus Vaishnav Charan Basak. Narendra collected ray arranged most of the songs explain this compilation, but unfavourable circumstances prevented its completion.

Monastic vows

In December 1886, probity mother of one of the monks, Baburam, invited Narendra and his relative monks to Antpur village. In Antpur, on the Christmas Eve of 1886, the 23 year old Narendra fairy story eight other disciples took formal religious vows at the Radha Gobinda Jiu temple.^[86][83] They decided to live their lives as their master lived.^[83]

Travels inspect India (1888–1893)

Main article: Swami Vivekananda's passage in India (1888–1893)

In 1888, Narendra undone the monastery as a Parivrâjaka – a wandering monk, "without fixed dwelling-place, without ties, independent and strangers wheresoever they go".^[87] His sole possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff coupled with his two favourite books: the Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. Narendra travelled extensively in India acquire five years, visiting centres of information and acquainting himself with diverse celestial traditions and social patterns. He experienced sympathy for the suffering and insolvency of the people, and resolved disclose uplift the nation.^[91] Living primarily bear out bhiksha (alms), he travelled on measure and by railway. During his cruise he met and stayed with Indians from all religions and walks leave undone life: scholars, dewans, rajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, paraiyars (low-caste workers) and reach a decision officials.^[91] On the suggestion of realm patron, friend and disciple Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri, he adopted honourableness name "Vivekananda"–a conglomerate of the Indic words: viveka and ānanda, meaning "the bliss of discerning wisdom". As Vivekananda he departed Bombay for Chicago, hint 31 May 1893, intending to perform in the World's Parliament of Religions.

First visit to the West (1893–1897)

See also: Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament doomed the World's Religions

Vivekananda visited several cities in Japan (including Nagasaki, Kobe, City, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo),China and Canada en route to the United States, reaching Chicago on 30 July 1893. The "Parliament of Religions" took pull together in September 1893. An initiative illustrate the Swedenborgian layman and Illinois Principal Court judge Charles C. Bonney,^[98][99] interpretation Congress sought to gather all position religions of the world, with description aim of showing "the substantial entity of many religions in the acceptable deeds of the religious life."^[98] Prestige Brahmo Samaj and the Theosophical Glee club were invited as representative of Hinduism.

Vivekananda wished to participate, but learned turn only individuals with credentials from exceptional bona fide organisation would be pitch as delegates. Disappointed, he contacted Academician John Henry Wright of Harvard Asylum, who had invited him to write at Harvard. Vivekananda wrote of class professor: "He urged upon me glory necessity of going to the Talking shop parliamen of Religions, which he thought would give an introduction to the nation". On hearing that Vivekananda lacked high-mindedness credentials to speak at the Assembly, Wright said: "To ask for your credentials is like asking the helios to state its right to light in the heavens". Vivekananda submitted nickelanddime application introducing himself as a loosely friar "of the oldest order of sannyāsis ... founded by Sankara". The attract was supported by the Brahmo Samaj representative Protapchandra Mozoombar, who was further a member of the Parliament's verdict committee.

Parliament of the World's Religions

The Congress of the World's Religions opened impression 11 September 1893 at the Ingenuity Institute of Chicago, as part salary the World's Columbian Exposition. On that day, Vivekananda gave a brief talking representing India and Hinduism. He unreasonable to Saraswati (the Hindu goddess detail learning) and began his speech hear "Sisters and brothers of America!". Whet these words, Vivekananda received a two-minute standing ovation from the crowd past its best seven thousand. When silence was new he began his address, greeting rendering youngest of the nations on consideration of "the most ancient order rigidity monks in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both toleration and universal acceptance".^{[note 2]} Vivekananda quoted two illustrative passages from the "Shiva mahimna stotram": "As the different streams having their sources in different accommodation all mingle their water in righteousness sea, so, O Lord, the contrastive paths which men take, through divergent tendencies, various though they appear, askew or straight, all lead to Thee!" and "Whosoever comes to Me, jab whatsoever form, I reach him; come to blows men are struggling through paths delay in the end lead to Me." According to Sailendra Nath Dhar, "it was only a short speech, however it voiced the spirit of rank Parliament."^[113]

Parliament President John Henry Barrows vocal, "India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful weight over his auditors". Vivekananda attracted general attention in the press, which dubbed him the "cyclonic monk from India". The New York Critique wrote, "He is an orator by divine okay, and his strong, intelligent face shut in its picturesque setting of yellow stand for orange was hardly less interesting go one better than those earnest words, and the affluent, rhythmical utterance he gave them". Character New York Herald noted, "Vivekananda stick to undoubtedly the greatest figure in decency Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it evaluation to send missionaries to this perspicacious nation". American newspapers reported Vivekananda because "the greatest figure in the legislative body of religions" and "the most approved and influential man in the parliament". The Boston Evening Transcript reported focus Vivekananda was "a great favourite fall back the parliament... if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded".^[116] Forbidden spoke several more times "at receptions, the scientific section, and private homes" on topics related to Hinduism, Faith and harmony among religions. Vivekananda's speeches at the Parliament had the prosaic theme of universality, emphasising religious permissiveness. He soon became known as put in order "handsome oriental" and made a gigantic impression as an orator. Hearing Vivekananda speak, Harvard psychology professor William Crook said, "that man is simply simple wonder for oratorical power. He task an honor to humanity."^[119]

Lecture tours valve the UK and US

After authority Parliament of Religions, Vivekananda toured spend time at parts of the US as calligraphic guest. His popularity gave him lever unprecedented opportunity to communicate his views on life and religion to sheer numbers of people. During a question-answer session at Brooklyn Ethical Society, purify remarked, "I have a message scolding the West as Buddha had pure message to the East." On other occasion he described his mission thus:

I do not come to convert command to a new belief. I hope against hope you to keep your own belief; I want to make the Wesleyan a better Methodist; the Presbyterian undiluted better Presbyterian; the Unitarian a safer Unitarian. I want to teach prickly to live the truth, to dodge the light within your own soul.^[120]

Vivekananda spent nearly two years lecturing ordinary the eastern and central United States, primarily in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, extract New York. He founded the Hindooism Society of New York in 1894. His demanding schedule eventually began support affect his health, and in Bound 1895 he ended his lecture roam and began giving free, private rule in Vedanta and yoga. Beginning generate June 1895, he gave private lectures to a dozen of his inculcate at Thousand Island Park, New Royalty for two months. Vivekananda was offered academic positions in two American universities (one the chair in Eastern Position at Harvard University and a be like position at Columbia University); he declined both, since his duties would disorder with his commitment as a monk.

Vivekananda travelled to the United Kingdom develop 1895 and again in 1896. Relish November 1895 he met an Country woman, Margaret Elizabeth Noble, who would become one of his closest school in, known as Sister Nivedita (a label given her by the Swami, belief "dedicated to God"). On his in a tick visit, in May 1896, Vivekananda fall over Max Müller, a noted Indologist outlandish Oxford University who wrote Ramakrishna's labour biography in the West.^[113] From influence UK, he visited other European countries. In Germany, he met Paul Deussen, another renowned Indologist.^[124]

Vivekananda's success led attain a change in mission, namely magnanimity establishment of Vedanta centres in dignity West. He adapted traditional Hindu matter and religiosity to suit the fundamentals and understandings of his western audiences, who were more familiar with sandwich esoteric traditions and movements. An condescending element in his adaptation of Religion religiosity was the introduction of emperor "four yogas" model, based in Rajah yoga, which offered a practical implementation to realise the divine force also gaol, a central goal of modern excitement esotericism. In 1896, his book Raja Yoga, an interpretation and adaptation get ahead Patanjali's Yoga sutras, was published, apposite an instant success; it became enthusiastically influential in the western understanding sponsor yoga, in Elizabeth de Michelis's spy on marking the beginning of modern yoga.

Vivekananda attracted followers and admirers in class US and Europe, including Josephine Physiologist, Betty Leggett, Lady Sandwich, William Crook, Josiah Royce, Robert G. Ingersoll, Monarch Kelvin, Harriet Monroe, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Sarah Bernhardt, Nikola Tesla, Emma Calvé and Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz.^{[27][124][131][132]} He initiated several followers, including Marie Louise (a French woman) who became Swami Abhayananda, and Leon Landsberg who became Swami Kripananda, so that they could serve the mission of magnanimity Vedanta Society. He also initiated Christina Greenstidel of Detroit, who became Cherish Christine, with whom he developed spiffy tidy up close father–daughter relationship.^[136]

While in America, Vivekananda was given land to establish systematic retreat for Vedanta students, in prestige mountains to the southeast of San Jose, California. He called it "Peace retreat", or Shanti Asrama. There were twelve main centres established in Ground, the largest being the Vedanta Theatre group of Southern California in Hollywood. Nearby is also a Vedanta Press clod Hollywood which publishes books about Hindooism and English translations of Hindu koran and texts.

From the West, Vivekananda revitalized his work in India. He traditionally corresponded with his followers and kinsman monks, offering advice and financial back up. His letters from this period throw back his campaign of social service, stream were strongly worded. He wrote take advantage of Akhandananda, "Go from door to threshold amongst the poor and lower directive of the town of Khetri reprove teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography brook such other subjects. No good prerogative come of sitting idle and receipt princely dishes, and saying "Ramakrishna, Dope Lord!"—unless you can do some and above to the poor". In 1895, Vivekananda founded the periodical Brahmavadin. His conversion of the first six chapters divest yourself of The Imitation of Christ was in print in Brahmavadin in 1899. Vivekananda passed over for India from England on 16 December 1896, accompanied by his drill Captain and Mrs. Sevier and J.J. Goodwin. On the way, they visited France and Italy, and set air strike for India from Naples on 30 December 1896. He was followed transmit India by Sister Nivedita, who fervent the rest of her life fall prey to the education of Indian women don the goal of India's independence.

Back confined India (1897–1899)

Vivekananda arrived in Colombo, Island Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 15 January 1897, and received a deplete welcome. In Colombo, he gave climax first public speech in the Eastmost. He travelled from Colombo to Pamban, Rameswaram, Ramnad, Madurai, Kumbakonam and State, delivering lectures. Common people and rajas gave him an enthusiastic reception. Past his train travels, people often sat on the rails to force primacy train to stop, so they could hear him. From Madras (now Chennai), he continued his journey to Calcutta and Almora. While in the Westmost, Vivekananda spoke about India's great abstract heritage; in India, he repeatedly addressed social issues: uplifting the people, excepting the caste system, promoting science ground industrialisation, addressing widespread poverty, and lenience colonial rule. The lectures, published importance Lectures from Colombo to Almora, demonstrated his fervent nationalism and spiritual ideology.

On 1 May 1897 in Calcutta, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission, an concern dedicated to social service, with based on Karma Yoga. Its highest body consists of the trustees near the Ramakrishna Math (which conducts god-fearing work). Both Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission have their headquarters at Belur Math.^[113] Vivekananda founded two other monasteries: one in Mayavati in the Range (near Almora), the Advaita Ashrama prep added to another in Madras (now Chennai). Several journals were founded: Prabuddha Bharata leisure pursuit English and Udbhodan in Bengali. Turn this way year, famine-relief work was begun in and out of Swami Akhandananda in the Murshidabad district.^[113]

Vivekananda earlier inspired Jamsetji Tata to stiffen up a research and educational company when they travelled together from Port to Chicago on Vivekananda's first call on to the West in 1893. Tata now asked him to head enthrone Research Institute of Science; Vivekananda declined the offer, citing a conflict peer his "spiritual interests".^[153][154] He visited Punjab, attempting to mediate an ideological trouble between Arya Samaj (a reformist Asian movement) and sanatan (orthodox Hindus).^[156] Sustenance brief visits to Lahore,Delhi and Khetri, Vivekananda returned to Calcutta in Jan 1898. He consolidated the work adequate the math and trained disciples funding several months. Vivekananda composed "Khandana Bhava–Bandhana", a prayer song dedicated to Ramakrishna, in 1898.

Second visit to the Westward and final years (1899–1902)

See also: Master Vivekananda in California

Despite declining health, Vivekananda left for the West for clever second time in June 1899.^[158] Hasty this occasion, he was accompanied shy Sister Nivedita and Swami Turiyananda. Pinpoint a brief stay in England, of course went to the United States spin he established Vedanta Societies in San Francisco and New York and supported a shanti ashrama (peace retreat) bask in California. He travelled to Paris presage the Congress of Religions in 1900. His lectures at the Congress think about the worship of the lingam most important the authenticity of the Bhagavad Gita. Vivekananda then visited Brittany, Vienna, Stamboul, Athens and Egypt. The French discerning Jules Bois was his host be pleased about most of this period. Vivekananda common to Calcutta on 9 December 1900.

After a brief visit to the Advaita Ashrama in Mayavati, Vivekananda settled whack Belur Math, where he continued co-ordinating the works of the Ramakrishna Career, the math, and the initiatives slot in England and the US. He confidential many visitors, including royalty and politicians. Due to deteriorating health, Vivekananda was unable to attend the Congress accept Religions in Japan in 1901, on the contrary he made pilgrimages to Bodhgaya tolerate Varanasi. His health problems, including asthma, diabetes and chronic insomnia, restricted fillet activity.

Death

On 4 July 1902 (the unremarkable of his death), Vivekananda awoke indeed, went to the monastery at Belur Math and meditated for three noon. He taught Shukla-Yajur-Veda, Sanskrit grammar remarkable the philosophy of yoga to genre, later discussing with colleagues a primed Vedic college in the Ramakrishna Mathematics. At 7:00 pm Vivekananda went to authority room, asking not to be disturbed; he died at 9:20 p.m. while briefing. The rupture of a blood utensil in his brain was reported on account of a possible cause of death.^[167] According to his disciples, the rupture was due to his brahmarandhra (an luck in the crown of his head) being pierced when he attained mahasamādhi. Vivekananda fulfilled his prophecy that explicit would not live forty years.^[169] Illegal was cremated on a sandalwood inhumation pyre on the bank of distinction Ganga in Belur, opposite where Ramakrishna was cremated sixteen years earlier.^[170]

Teachings esoteric philosophy

Main article: Teachings and philosophy cancel out Swami Vivekananda

See also: Neo-Vedanta and Beefy Hinduism

Vivekananda synthesised and popularised various strands of Hindu thought, most notably symmetrical yoga and Advaita Vedanta. As natty young man, he had been worked by western ideas such as Universalism, via Unitarian missionaries who collaborated constant the Brahmo Samaj. His initial doctrine were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which included belief in a formless Spirit, the deprecation of idolatry, and, according to Michelis, a "streamlined, rationalized, monotheistic theology strongly coloured by a discriminatory and modernistic reading of the Upanisads and of the Vedanta".

Influenced by Ramakrishna, he came to see the Hinduism as providing the ontological basis pine śivajñāne jīver sevā – the nonmaterialistic practice of serving human beings laugh actual manifestations of the divine. Put under somebody's nose Vivekananda, the practice of remembering loftiness presence of the divine in reduction people, regardless of social status, promoted social harmony and helped develop honourableness capacity for love.

Vedanta and yoga

Vivekananda gain knowledge of that the essence of Hinduism was best expressed in Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta philosophy. He adhered to Ramakrishna's teaching that the Absolute is both immanent and transcendent.^{[note 3]} According add up Anil Sooklal, Vivekananda's neo-Vedanta "reconciles Dvaita or dualism and Advaita or non-dualism," viewing Brahman as "one without span second" yet both saguna (qualified) service nirguna (qualityless).^{[note 4]} According to Politician, the Vedanta acquires a modern give orders to Universalistic form in Vivekananda's summary, rise also the influence of classical yoga:

Each soul is potentially divine. The purpose is to manifest this Divinity clandestine by controlling nature, external and public. Do this either by work, secondary worship, or mental discipline, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all chuck out these—and be free. This is illustriousness whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.

Vivekananda's emphasis on nirvikalpa samadhi was preceded by medieval yogic influences on Advaita Vedanta. In line with Advaita Hindooism texts like Dŗg-Dŗśya-Viveka (14th century) lecturer Vedantasara (of Sadananda) (15th century), Vivekananda saw samadhi as a means cheerfulness attain liberation.^{[note 5]}

An important element emit his adaptation of Hindu religiosity was the introduction of his four yogas model, which includes Raja yoga, surmount interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga sutras. That offered a practical means to harmonize the divine force within, a principal idea in modern Western esotericism. Realm book Raja Yoga was highly meaningful in the Western understanding of yoga.

Western esotericism

Via his affiliations with Keshub Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan, the Freemasonry shelter, the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, and Sen's Band of Hope, Vivekananda became familiar with Western esotericism. His knowledge detailed Western esotericism aided his success take away Western esoteric circles, beginning with fillet speech in 1893 at the Congress of Religions. He adapted traditional Hindi ideas and religiosity to suit righteousness needs and understandings of his Gothic audiences, particularly those familiar with Epic esoteric traditions and movements such style Transcendentalism and New thought.

Vivekananda's notion win involution was probably influenced by adventure Theosophists, Darwin's notion of evolution, delighted possibly also the Samkhya term sātkarya. According to Meera Nanda, "Vivekananda uses the word involution exactly how go past appears in Theosophy: the descent, elite the involvement, of divine consciousness happen to matter."^[196] Theosophic ideas on involution maintain "much in common" with "theories persuade somebody to buy the descent of God in Unorthodoxy, Kabbalah, and other esoteric schools". Shrink spirit, Vivekananda refers to prana extend purusha, derived from Samkhya and standard yoga as presented by Patanjali girder the Yoga sutras.^[196]

Moral and social philosophy

Vivekananda linked morality with control of depiction mind, seeing truth, purity and public-spiritedness as traits which strengthened it. Misstep advised his followers to be ethereal, unselfish and to have shraddhā (faith). Vivekananda supported brahmacharya, believing it high-mindedness source of his physical and thorough stamina and eloquence.^[199]

Nationalism was a evident theme in Vivekananda's thought. He held that a country's future depends go bust its people, and his teachings persistent on human development.