9/11 is not a date that anyone remembers in a good context any more. But one hundred and twenty years ago, a different kind of 9/11 had unfolded in Chicago. On Sep 11th, 1893, in a short speech that probably lasted may be 20 mins, Swami Vivekananda brought down the tall towers of misconception the western world had long held about this thought stream from ancient India, commonly referred to as the Hindu faith. On that Ground Zero, over the next 9 odd years, he would recast and install the true picture of Hindu Faith, leaving us with an ever burning beacon of light from his teachings. By the time Swami Vivekananda had attained maha samadhi at the young age of 39, the Hindu religion was no longer a subject matter reserved for the recluse and retired. It had become an empowering religion for the young, vibrant, intellectual, modern mind living in the middle of society and ready to serve it.
There were two key points that Swamiji had stressed in his Chicago address. One, that the Hindu religion was tolerant and accommodative of other faiths and two, that it had successfully stood the test of time. Now that bears the question, did both this happen by mere chance or by design? Let's take a quick look at it.
First of all, Religions generally compete on the greatness of the God they each profess and /or a holy scripture. The central focus of the Hindu religion is not a specific God, it is rather one's own self. The goal here is self-realization and the union of the self with the ultimate truth. And, what do the Hindu scriptures say about this ultimate truth: Ekam saT, viprah bahutha vadanthi. Truth is one but expressed differently by those who have realized it. What does the true Hindu believe..aakaasaath pathathi thoyam, yadaa gatchati saagaram, sarvadeva namaskaram, kesavam pratigatchathi. Just as all the rain water finally find their way to the same ocean, prostrations to any and all Gods find their way to the One God, Kesava. (Kesava means the Lord of all sensory perception). This is the source of the tolerant culture in India where by, over many centuries, all faiths have found a welcoming home.
Now let's look at who, according to the Hindu scriptures, takes on to the religious endeavors. According to Bhagawad Gita, they are of four kind; Aartha - one who is suffering; Arthaarthi - one who is desirous of a benefit; jijnaasu - One who is seeking the truth and Jnaani - one who has already realized the truth. Doesn't this pretty much cover everyone who take to the religious path, irrespective of the religion?
As far as the means are concerned, the Hindu religion doesn't believe in a one size fits all policy. It's means for God realization are many and are based on what makes us essentially human. What differentiates us, humans, from rest of a Animal kind?
1. The power to think. "I think; therefore I am", said Descartes. For those who want to rely on the intellectual prowess, the Hindu faith offers the path of Jnaana Yoga, union through knowledge
2. The power to feel, to love, to have a deep faith. For those gifted with this, it offers the path of Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion.
3. The self-will, the power to choose one's actions and the attitude with which they are performed. For the action-oriented, there is Karma Yoga, the path of action.
4. Finally, the power for self-restraint, to discipline the mind and expand one's level of consciousness. This is the focus of Raja yoga path or the Ashtanga Yoga.
This comprehensiveness is the foundation on which the universality, tolerance and resilience of the Hindu religion is built. Swamiji had affectionately and proudly called the Hindu religion as the Mother of all Religions, not from a superiority point of view but from its all embracing perspective. Thanks to Swami Vivekananda, we now have an exhaustive literature that expounds on each of these different paths in Hindu Religion. Hope you will take some time this year to review his works and feel inspired for there is no greater tribute to pay him on this anniversary year than being inspired and being proud of this great heritage.
PS: I had an opportunity to share some of these thoughts yesterday, at an event celebrating Swamiji's 150th birth anniversary. Thanks to the organizers of the event for inspiring me to reflect on the subject
There were two key points that Swamiji had stressed in his Chicago address. One, that the Hindu religion was tolerant and accommodative of other faiths and two, that it had successfully stood the test of time. Now that bears the question, did both this happen by mere chance or by design? Let's take a quick look at it.
First of all, Religions generally compete on the greatness of the God they each profess and /or a holy scripture. The central focus of the Hindu religion is not a specific God, it is rather one's own self. The goal here is self-realization and the union of the self with the ultimate truth. And, what do the Hindu scriptures say about this ultimate truth: Ekam saT, viprah bahutha vadanthi. Truth is one but expressed differently by those who have realized it. What does the true Hindu believe..aakaasaath pathathi thoyam, yadaa gatchati saagaram, sarvadeva namaskaram, kesavam pratigatchathi. Just as all the rain water finally find their way to the same ocean, prostrations to any and all Gods find their way to the One God, Kesava. (Kesava means the Lord of all sensory perception). This is the source of the tolerant culture in India where by, over many centuries, all faiths have found a welcoming home.
Now let's look at who, according to the Hindu scriptures, takes on to the religious endeavors. According to Bhagawad Gita, they are of four kind; Aartha - one who is suffering; Arthaarthi - one who is desirous of a benefit; jijnaasu - One who is seeking the truth and Jnaani - one who has already realized the truth. Doesn't this pretty much cover everyone who take to the religious path, irrespective of the religion?
As far as the means are concerned, the Hindu religion doesn't believe in a one size fits all policy. It's means for God realization are many and are based on what makes us essentially human. What differentiates us, humans, from rest of a Animal kind?
1. The power to think. "I think; therefore I am", said Descartes. For those who want to rely on the intellectual prowess, the Hindu faith offers the path of Jnaana Yoga, union through knowledge
2. The power to feel, to love, to have a deep faith. For those gifted with this, it offers the path of Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion.
3. The self-will, the power to choose one's actions and the attitude with which they are performed. For the action-oriented, there is Karma Yoga, the path of action.
4. Finally, the power for self-restraint, to discipline the mind and expand one's level of consciousness. This is the focus of Raja yoga path or the Ashtanga Yoga.
This comprehensiveness is the foundation on which the universality, tolerance and resilience of the Hindu religion is built. Swamiji had affectionately and proudly called the Hindu religion as the Mother of all Religions, not from a superiority point of view but from its all embracing perspective. Thanks to Swami Vivekananda, we now have an exhaustive literature that expounds on each of these different paths in Hindu Religion. Hope you will take some time this year to review his works and feel inspired for there is no greater tribute to pay him on this anniversary year than being inspired and being proud of this great heritage.
PS: I had an opportunity to share some of these thoughts yesterday, at an event celebrating Swamiji's 150th birth anniversary. Thanks to the organizers of the event for inspiring me to reflect on the subject
