Ramakrishna Mission: Swami Vivekananda’s Spiritual Legacy & Humanitarian Vision

Ramakrishna Mission: Swami Vivekananda’s Spiritual Legacy & Humanitarian Vision

Ramakrishna Paramhansa: Life and Teachings

• Early Life:
  • Gadadhar Chattopadhyaya, later known as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
  • Born in a poor Brahmana family in the village of Kamarpukur, Bengal, on February 18, 1836.
  • Father, Khudiram Chatterjee, known for his piety and moral character.
  • Mother, Chandramani Devi, a woman of virtuous qualities.
• Education:
  • Limited formal education, not progressing beyond the elementary stage.
  • Lacked formal training in philosophy and Shastras.
  • Self-education through study of Hindu epics, listening to scholars’ recitals, and direct observation of people and nature.
• Devotion and Career:
  • Devoted his life to God.
  • Priest at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where he attracted numerous monastic and household disciples.
  • Strong devotion to Goddess Kali.
• Marriage:
  • Married Sarada Devi, who also became his spiritual partner.
• Notable Disciple:
  • Narendra Nath Datta (1863-1902), later known as Swami Vivekananda, was the most dedicated pupil of Ramakrishna.
  • Swami Vivekananda carried the message of his Guru, Ramakrishna, to different parts of the world, particularly in America and Europe.
• Mentorship:
  • Ramakrishna entrusted the care of young boys to Vivekananda.

Swami Vivekanand: A Pioneer of Ethical Philosophy and Universal Religion

• Swami Vivekananda, originally named Narendra Nath Datta and born on January 12, 1863, was a monk and the primary disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. 
• He played a pivotal role in introducing Indian philosophies like Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. 
• Swami Vivekananda is renowned for promoting interfaith dialogue and elevating Hinduism’s global presence during the late 19th century. 
• Furthermore, Swami Vivekananda represented India at the inaugural Parliament of Religions held in Chicago, United States, in 1893.
• Swami Vivekananda advocated the doctrine of service—the service of all beings. 
  • The service of jiva (living objects) is the worship of Siva. 
  • Life itself is religion. 
  • By service, the Divine exists within man.

Core Values of Swami Vivekanand’s Philosophy

• Ethics
  • Swami Vivekananda introduced a novel ethical theory and moral principle rooted in the intrinsic purity and unity of the Atman, distinct from the conventional morality driven by fear of societal judgment.
  • He regarded ethics as a set of guidelines for being a responsible citizen, with purity reflecting our true divine nature and interconnectedness promoting love and service to others.
• Religion
  • Swami Vivekananda’s most influential contribution was his interpretation of religion as a universal experience of transcendent Reality shared by all humanity.
  • This universal approach liberated religion from superstitions, dogmas, priestly authority, and intolerance.
  • Swami Vivekananda believed that every religion offered a path to the eternal supreme, be it freedom, knowledge, or happiness, attainable by recognizing one’s Atman as part of the Paramatma.
• Education
  • Swami Vivekananda stressed the paramount importance of education in revitalizing the nation.
  • He advocated for mass education, emphasizing the need for an educational system that helps students manifest their innate knowledge and abilities.
  • His vision of education aimed at character development, self-reliance, and life preparation while admonishing the educated elite to serve the underprivileged.
• Rationality
  • Swami Vivekananda ideology embraced both modern science and reason, not sidelining them in favor of faith.
  • He acknowledged intuition as a higher faculty than reason but insisted that truths derived from intuition must be rationalized and systematized.
• Nationalism
  • Swami Vivekananda nationalism stemmed from Indian spirituality and morality, grounded in humanism and universalism.
  • Unlike Western secular nationalism, his was deeply rooted in religious and spiritual principles, reflecting the spiritual essence of India.
  • His nationalism was characterized by a deep concern for the masses, freedom, equality, spiritual unity, and the concept of “Karmyoga” for attaining both political and spiritual freedom.
• Youth
  • Swamiji believed that the determined youth had the potential to achieve the impossible.
  • He encouraged the youth to dedicate themselves to their goals and pursue challenges with unwavering commitment.
  • Swami Vivekananda advocated that youth should develop not only mental but also physical strength, emphasizing the need for both “muscles of iron” and “nerves of steel.”
  • His birthday, January 12, is celebrated as National Youth Day in India, with the week following it known as National Youth Week. 
  • As part of National Youth Week celebrations, the Indian government hosts the National Youth Festival, promoting national integration, communal harmony, brotherhood, courage, and adventure among the youth through cultural events and activities.

His Lectures:

• He gave his famous lecture “Religion not the Crying need of India” at the Parliament of Religions held at Chicago in 1893. 
  • The keynote of his opening address was the need for a healthy balance between spiritualism and materialism.
  • Envisaging a new culture for the whole world, he called for a blend of the materialism of the West and the spiritualism of the East into a new harmony to produce happiness for mankind.
• Swami Vivekananda gave several lectures on Vedanta in the USA and in London before returning to India in 1897. 
• A series of lectures were delivered in India, whose focus was:
  • To infuse into the new generation a sense of pride in India’s past, a new faith in India’s culture, and a rare sense of confidence in India’s future;
  • To bring about a unification of Hinduism by pointing out the common foundation of its sects; 
  • To make the educated people see the misery of the downtrodden and work for their uplift by the application of practical Vedanta principles.
• He emphasised not only on personal salvation but also on social good and reforms.

Vedanta: Liberation in Upanishadic Philosophy

• Rooted in the Upanishads, this philosophy sought to investigate the concept of ‘Brahman,’ the ultimate reality central to the Upanishads.
• It regarded the Vedas as the unquestionable source of knowledge and authority.
• Emphasizing the path of knowledge (jnana) over sacrifice (karma), it aimed for ‘Moksha,’ which signifies liberation from the cycle of ‘sansara.’