Vedanta Education & Welfare Society

EXCERPTS FROM THE CHICAGO ADDRESSES

References to Hindu Scriptures

(Response to Welcome – 11th September 1893)

As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.

- Siva Mahimnah Stotram 7

Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me.

- Gita, 4.11

World Parliament of Religions
Chicago, September 1893

EXCERPTS FROM THE CHICAGO ADDRESSES

References to Hindu Scriptures

Hear ye Children of immortal bliss! Even ye that reside in higher spheres! I have found the Ancient One who is beyond all darkness, all delusions; knowing Him alone, you shall be saved from death over again.

- Svetasvatara Upanishad 2.5, 3.8

Lord, I do not want wealth, nor children; nor learning. If it be Thy wull, I shall go from birth to birth, but grant me this, that I may love Thee without the hope of reward – love unselfishly for Love’s sake.

- Siksastakam 4

I am in every religion as the thread through a string of pearls.

- Gita 7.7

He reveals Himself to the pure heart; the pure and the stainless see God, yea, even in this life; then and then only all the crookedness of the heart is made straight. Then all doubt ceases.

- Mundakopanisad 2.2.8

External worship, material worship is the lowest stage; struggling to rise high, mental prayer is the next stage, but the highest stage is when the Lord has been realized.

- Mahanirvana Tantra 4.12

Wherever thou seeest extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power raising and purifying humanity, know thou that I am there.

World Parliament of Religions
Chicago, September 1893

- Gita 10.41

(Paper on Hinduism - 19th September 1893)

EXCERPTS FROM THE CHICAGO ADDRESSES

Hinduism cannot live without Buddhism nor Buddhism without Hinduism. Then realize what the separation has shown to us, that the Buddhists cannot stand without the brain and philosophy of the Brahmins nor the Brahmin without the heart of the Buddhist. This separation between the Buddhists and the Brahmins is the cause of the downfall of India.

World Parliament of Religions
Chicago, September 1893

(Buddhism: The Fulfilment of Hinduism - 26th September, 1893)

That is why India is populated by three hundred millions of beggars, and that is why India has been the slave of conquerors for the last thousand years. Let us then join the wonderful intellect of the Brahmin with the heart, the noble soul, the wonderful humanizing power of the Great Master.

Before his appearance at the World Parliament Of Religions at Chicago in September 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his first public Lecture in America at the Annisquam Village Church near Boston on 27th August, 1893. It was at Annisquam that Swamiji, being a guest of Professor J H Wright could secure his participation at the Chicago conference. The Annisquam Village Church holds Inter-faith services on special occasions and remembers Swami Vivekananda through short plays, musical programmes and documentaries.

At Annisquam Village Church, Massachusetts.
Before the World Parliament of Religions
August, 1893

After the World Parliament of Religions in September 1893, it was in July 1894 that Swamiji attended the Greenacre Religious Conferences and stayed at Greenacre for more than two weeks. This
was an important period in Swamiji’s mission in America. Here, Swamiji held his first course of classes expounding the Vedanta Philosophy, talking on an average 7 -8 hours in a day. With a group of enthusiastic students who sat around him in oriental fashion under a venerable Pine Tree, Swamiji uttered the Shivoham mantra which his students repeated with innocence and purity. Swamiji was convinced about his work in America.

At Greenacre, near Eliot, Maine
After the World Parliament of Religions
July, 1894

After establishing the first Vedanta centre at New York in November, 1894, Swami Vivekananda chose to stay at Thousand Island Park, close to New York, where with twelve selected students, whom He accepted as his disciples he held classes on Vedanta.

It was from Thousand Island Park that Swamiji wrote, “Now for the world that gave me this body – the country that gave me the ideas, and humanity which allows me to be one of them. The older I grow, the more I see behind the idea of the Hindus that man is the greatest of all beings.”

And it was to man – not to any particular individual or nation – that he gave himself.

At Thousand Island Park, USA
July, 1895

Swamiji visited America for the second time in August, 1899 and on 30th November arrived in Los Angeles. Lecturing extensively in Los Angeles and its adjoining areas he moved to San Francisco on 22nd February, 1900.

Swamiji delivered his first lecture in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Hall entitled “The Ideal of a Universal Religion”. Swamiji attended the Congress of Religions at the First Unitarian Church in Oakland and delivered his first lecture on “The Claims of Hinduism on the Modern world.”

Swamiji spoke in a fully packed Auditorium in which there were many prominent Clergymen. Swamiji delivered his second lecture at the Oakland Church entitled “Vedanta and Christianity”.

At Oakland, San Francisco, February, 1900

What is the God of Vedanta? He is principle, not person. You and I are all personal Gods. The absolute God of the universe, the creator, preserver and destroyer of the universe, is impersonal principle.

The infinite truth is never to be acquired. It is here all the time, undying and unborn. He, the Lord of the Universe, is in everyone. There is but one temple – the body. It is the only temple that ever existed. In this body He resides, the Lord of souls and the King of kings.

Is Vedanta the future Religion
San Francisco 8th April, 1900

At San Francisco, 1900

Worship everything as God – every form is His temple. All else is delusion. Always look within, never without. Such is the God that Vedanta preaches and such is His worship. Naturally, there is no sect, no creed, no caste in Vedanta.

Welcome to Vedanta Education & Welfare Society

Vedanta Education & Welfare Society is a registered society (non-profit organization) that has been formed drawing inspiration from the preachings of Swami Vivekananda and his message to the youth of India :

Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached

Swami ji based his slogan on a sloka from the Katha Upanishad (Verse 1.3.14)

Uttisthata jagrata prapya varannibodhata

Ksurasya dhara nisita duratyaya durgam pathastatkavayo vadanti.

( Arise, Awake, Approach the great and learn Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path So the wise say – hard to tread and difficult to cross.)

Vedanta Education & Welfare Society is keen to present to the youth the essential teachings of Swami Vivekananda that were based on the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads through seminars, workshops and publications. Vedanta Education & Welfare Society is keen to associate with educational institutions which will impart job oriented training and skill development courses.

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Swami Vivekananda and The Spirit of New India

The Tourism Department of the Government of India, a couple of years back, in an effort to create a brand identity for promoting and marketing India as a fascinating and must see destination, launched a contest inviting participants to write a brand statement that best captures the spirit of our country. If Thailand is “Amazing” and Malaysia is “Truly Asia”, the contest went on to ask “What is India?”. If one attempts to contain the spirit of India in such few words, then one must follow what Swami Vivekananda said, way back in 1897, at Madras, describing our country as “The Eternal India”.

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Vedanta Education & Welfare Society

We are a society registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and donations are exempted under Section 80G (5) of the Act.

We are also registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India under Registration No: CSR00028928 for undertaking CSR activities.