This power point presentation was prepared and presented at various locations in New York City and New Jersey in commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Dr. Prasad thanks the Society of Indian Academics in America, KCO Brindavana, the World Brahman Federation, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center and the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society for arranging his presentation. Those who would like to receive the recorded audio lecture can send an email to mgprasad@comcast.net

1. Everlasting Contributions
of Swami Vivekananda
Dr. M.G.Prasad
(www.taranga.us)
mgprasad@comcast.net

2. Topics

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
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Early years
Major Events in his Life
Travels (in India)
Travels (in the West)
Some Anecdotes in Swami Vivekanandaʼs Life
Contributions to revival of Hinduism
Contributions to development of India
At the Parliament of Religions (Text of first speech)
Contributions to Global harmony
Some quotes from Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekanandaʼs message to youth
Comments by famous personalities about the work of Vivekananda
A poem “Peace” by Swami Vivekananda
Acknowledgements
References
Some pictures of Swami Vivekananda
Some additional information

3. Early years


Narendranath (Naren) was born on January 12, 1863 for Vishwanath Datta and
Bhuvaneshwari Devi
Father Vishwanath Datta was a noted lawyer and proficient in English and Persian, studied
Hindu scriptures, progressive and rationalistic outlook, very charitable

Mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi was traditional and religious and told the stories of Ramayana
and Mahabharata to Naren, which highly influenced him at an early age.

Even in his early years in discussions he demanded convincing arguments.

At young age, he also acquired an unusual method of reading a book and acquiring the
knowledge of its subject matter. In his own words, “I could understand an author without
reading every line of his book…………..”

In college days as a handsome youth he was muscular and agile. He enjoyed serious
studies. He specialized in western philosophy. His memory was prodigious. Professor
Hastie once remarked about Naren, “He is a real genius I have traveled far and wide but,
have not yet come across a lad of his talents and possibilities even among the
philosophical students in German universities. He is bound to make his mark in life”.

In a lecture on Wordsworthʼs poem The Excursion (to Narenʼs class) when referring to
trances as religious ecstasies resulting from purity and concentration, Prof. Hastie had
referred to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

4. Major Events in Life
•
•
•
•
•
•
Born
Jan
12,
1863
(Hindu
fes6val:
Makara
Sankran6)
Meets
Sri
Ramakrishna
at
age
18
Father
passes
away
at
21
Sri
Ramkrishna
Samadhi
at
23
Delivers
famous
addresses
in
Chicago
at
30
Samadhi
July
4,
1902
at
age
of
39

5. Travels-India
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sets
up
Baranagore
Math
in
1886
(at
age
23)
Goes
on
Pilgrimage
twice
(at
age
25)
Travels
to
North
India
(at
age
27,
28)
Travels
to
Rajasthan
(famous
episode
with
Maharaja
Mangal
Singh
on
worship
of
image)
,
Gujarat,
Maharashtra
and
South
Of
India
up
to
Kanyakumari
&
Vivekananda
Rock
(at
29)
Away
In
the
west
for
3-­‐1/2
years
from
age
30-­‐34,
• Sets
up
Vedanta
Society
in
New
York
in
1896
(age
33)
Sets
up
Ramakrishna
Mission
in
1897
in
Calcu]a
(at
age
34)
North
India-­‐Kashmir,
Amarnath,
Almora
in
1898
(at
35)
Sets
up
Ramakrishna
Math
in
1899
(at
age
36)
Again
in
West
for
1-­‐1/2
yrs
age
36-­‐37
Sets
up
Belur
Math
in
1900
(at
age
37)
To
Assam,
Dacca
in
1901
(age
38)

6. Travels-West
•
First
visit
to
West
sailing
from
Bombay
May
31,
1893
6ll
Jan
1897
• For
3-­‐1/2
yrs
at
his
age
30-­‐34
mainly
in
USA
and
Bri6sh
isles
• Delivers
famous
addresses
in
Chicago
at
30
• Sets
up
Vedanta
Society
in
New
York
in
1896
(age
33)
• In
USA
visits:
Chicago,
Detroit,
New
York
City,
Thousand
islands
in
New
York
State,
Boston
• In
Bri6sh
Isles,
visits
London
comes
back
to
NY
and
then
again
on
way
to
India
•
Second
visit
from
July
1899
6ll
Nov
1900
• 1-­‐1/2
yrs
at
his
age
36-­‐37
• Bri6sh
Isles:
London,
• USA:
Ridgely
Manor,
NY,
California
• Europe:
Paris,
Vienna,
Cairo

7. Some Anecdotes in Swami Vivekanandaʼs Life

Encounter with prince of Alwar about question of vigraha pooja - portrait of father of the
prince.

Ability in concentration - (1) in Belur Math: example of reading encyclopedia of
Britannica - questions by Sharatchandra Chakravarti (2) during 2nd tour of USA: some
young men on the bank of a river missing the shooting of eggshell - swamiji was able to
aim and shoot first time.

Simplicity of Swamiji - in alwar station lot of people cam to receive him - Swamiji
recognized an unassuming old friend of him - Ramamsnehi.

Inspiring nature - when Rockefeller came to meet Swamiji when told him to donate Rockefeller was annoyed and left - came back again - told that Swamiji should thank but
Swamiji told Reckefeller that “it is for you to thank me”

Swamiji felt the shock once in the night at Belur math at 2 am. Swamiji had felt the shock
of suffering of large number of people in a volcanic eruption near Fiji .

Gratitude - once Swamiji almost collapsed due to hunger and exhaustion - a muslin fakir
has fed him cucumber - seven years later in a meeting swamiji recognized muslim fakir.

Josephine MacLeod asked how she can help Swamiji for which he said “Love India”

8. Contributions to Revival of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma)

Identity of its integral nature - He showed the common bases of Hinduism and the
common ground of all sects. Its vision that views of all Hindu philosophers and different
sects as different aspects of One Total view of Reality.

Unity in Diversity - Hinduism has rich diversity. It has external expressions of rituals and
traditions with a solid core of philosophy and spirituality.

Importance of Upanishads (Vedanta) - Realization of Atman in all. This is the basis of
unity and equality. They are the source of strength. Yoga as a spiritual practice - Yoga is
not limited to postures but to achieve higher states. It is complimentary to Vedanta. Yoga
emphasizes harmony. Four approaches in Yoga namely Jnana (Knowledge), Raja
(control of mind), Karma (selfless work) and Bhakti (Love of God).

Practical Vedanta - Brahman (Atman) as Omnipresent. Man-making approach.-The
approach to see Atman everywhere brings morality, develops inner strength and brings
love and service. “Shiva Jnaane Jeeva Seva” Service to realize Lord Shiva (Sri
Ramakrishna), “Atmano mokshaartham Jagaddhitaaya cha” Self-realization as well as
doing good for the world (Swami Vivekananda)- Head to think, Heart to feel and Hands to
work.

9. Contributions to Revival of Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma)

Vedanta and Science - Unity of existence or the oneness of matter and energy or
the oneness of God, man and nature. The Supreme Reality Brahman is the
substratum of all phenomena. Swami Vivekananda and Nikola Tesla met to discuss
on Vedantic concept of unity. Prana as force and Akasha as matter.

In 1896 Swamiji said “ …It is out of mind, the Mahat, the universally existing
thought-power, that these two (Akasha and Prana) have been produced. Thought is
a still higher manifestation of of being than either Akasha or Prana. It is thought that
splits itself into these two. The universal thought existed in the beginning, and that
manifested, changed, evolved itself into these two Akasha and Prana: and by the
combination of these two the whole universe is produced.” (C.W., II: 265)

New Ideal of Monasticism - In this major contribution of Swami Vivekananda is
rejuvenation of Hindu monasticism. New monastic ideals, followed in the
Ramakrishna order, the ancient principles of renunciation and God-realization are
combined with service to God in man. (Shiva Jnane jiva seva) (Atmano
mokshartham Jagaddhitaya cha)

10. Contributions to Development of India

Swami Vivekananda is referred as a Patriot-Saint. He traveled extensively
throughout India and had first hand experience of the people and the land.

India (Bharata) in spite of her linguistic, ethnic and regional diversities has had a
sense of cultural unity. However, Swami Vivekananda revealed the true foundations
of the culture and thus clearly defined and strengthened the sense of unity as a
nation.

Swami Vivekananda says “ We have yet something to teach to the world. This is the
very reason raison dʼetre, that this nation has lived on, in spite of hundreds of years
of persecution, in spite of nearly a thousands of years of foreign rule and foreign
oppression. This nation still lives; the raison dʼetre is, it still holds to God, to the
treasure-house of religion and spirituality.”

Again Swami Vivekananda says “ And I challenge anybody to show one single period
of her national life when India was lacking in spiritual giants, capable of moving the
world. But her work is spiritual, and that cannot be done with blasts of war trumpets
or the march of cohorts. Her influence has always fallen upon the world like that of
the gentle dew, unheard and scarcely marked, yet bringing into bloom the fairest
flowers of the earth.”

11. Contributions to Development of India
Swami Vivekananda identified some of the causes of downfall of India. They were:
(1) neglect of masses - “ The one thing that is at the root of all evils in India is the
condition of the poor…..”
(2) Monopoly of education - “The chief cause of Indiaʼs ruin has been the monopolizing
of the whole education and intelligence of the land, by dint of pride and royal authority,
among a handful of men.”
(3) Laziness and meanness - “We would do nothing ourselves and would scoff at others
who try to do something - this is the bane that has brought downfall as a nation.”
(4) Lack of organization - “Our nation is totally lacking in the faculty of organization. It is
this one drawback which produces all sorts of evil. We are altogether averse to making
common cause for anything. The first requisite for organization is obedience.”
(5) Neglect of womenfolk - “It is very difficult to understand why in this country so much
difference is made between men and women, whereas the Vedanta declares that one
and the same conscious Self is present in all beings.”

12. Contributions to Development of India

Swami Vivekananda contributed immensely to regeneration of India in various
aspects. Some of them are:
(1) For the upliftment of masses he said, “Keep the motto before you - Elevation of
the masses without injuring their religion.”
(2) “ In religion lies the vitality of India, so long as the Hindu race do not forget the
great inheritance of their forefathers, there is no power on earth to destroy them.”
(3) Education for self-reliance: “All the wealth of the world cannot help one little
Indian village if the people are not taught to help themselves. Our work should be
mainly educational, both moral and intellectual. ”
(4) “The uplift of the women, the awakening of masses must come first, and then
only can any real good come about for the country for India.”
(5) Global exchange of ideas- “..that we did not go out, that we did not compare
notes with other nations…Therefore we must go out, and the secret of life is give
and take.”

13. At Parliament of Religions, Chicago (September 11-27, 1893)

14. Text of the speech (September 11, 1893)
Click to hear Simulated Speech
Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given
us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother
of religions; and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have
told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to different lands the idea of
toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance.
We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation
which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell
you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and
took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny.
I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian
nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest
boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “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.”

15. Contributions to Global Harmony

Universality of Religion
Interpretation of religion as an universal experience of transcendent Reality.
Complimentary relationship between science and religion.
Religion as a Science of Consciousness.

Manifestation of Divinity
Concept of “potential divinity of the soul”
Basis for Spiritual Humanism

New Principle of Morality and Ethics
Based on intrinsic purity and oneness of Atman.
Love and service to all because we are all one in Brahman

Mutual understanding of East and West
Interpretation of Hindu scriptures and philosophy in the language of the west.
Showed the relevance and application of western humanism to the East.
Establishment of Vedanta Societies around the world.
Extensive contribution through writings in English and lectures around the world.

16. Some Quotes from Swami Vivekananda
On 23 June 1894, Swami Vivekananda gave this message to the then
Maharaja of Mysore.
“My noble prince, this life is short, the vanities of the world are
transient, but they only live who live for others, the rest are dead more than
alive. One such noble minded Royal Son of India as your Highness can do
much towards raising India on her feet again.
That the Lord may make your noble heart feel intensely for the
suffering millions of India sunk in ignorance…….”
is the prayer of Vivekananda
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“The faculty of organization is entirely absent in our nature, but this has to be
infused. The great secret is - absence of jealousy. Be always ready to
concede to the opinions of your brothers, and try always to conciliate. That
is the whole secret.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“Infinite power is within you. If you can think Infinite power, Infinite knowledge
and indomitable energy lie within you and if you can bring out that power
you can also become like me.”


17. Some More Quotes from Swami Vivekananda

"Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature,
external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by
one, or more, or all of these - and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or
rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details."

"The one theme of the Vedanta philosophy is the search after unity. The Hindu mind does not
care for the particular; it is always after the general, nay, the universal. "what is it that by
knowing which everything else is to be known.That is the one search."

"All power is within you, you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that
you are weak... You can do anything and everything, without even the guidance of any one. All
power is there. Stand up and express the divinity with you... Arise, awake, sleep no more. With
each of you there is the power to remove all wants and all miseries. Believe in this, that power
will be manifested.”

"When there is conflict between the heart and the brain, let the heart be followed… It is the
heart which takes one to the highest plane, which intellect can never reach; it goes beyond
intellect and reaches to what is called inspiration.… Always cultivate the heart; through the
heart the Lord speaks and through the intellect you yourself speak."

"It may be that I shall find it good to get outside of my body -- to cast it off like a disused
garment. But I shall not cease to work! I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall
know that it is one with God."

18. Swami Vivekanandaʼs message to youth

Whatever you think, do well on it. All your actions will be magnified transformed deified by the
very power of the thought.

Whatever you think, you will be, you think yourself weak, weak you will be. You think yourself
strong, strong you will be.

Vedanta and modern science both posses a self evolving cause, physical science is to find out
facts, metaphysics is the thread to bind the flowers into a bouquet.

My whole ambition in life is to set in motion a machinery which will bring noble ideas to the door
of everybody.

Each nation has a main current in life; in India it is religion. Make it strong and the waters on
either side must move along with it.

"We are ever free if we would believe it, only have faith enough. You are the soul, free and
eternal, ever free, ever blessed. Have faith enough and you will be free in a minute. Everything
in time, space, and causation is bound. The soul is beyond all time, all space, all causation.
That which is bound is nature, not the soul.”

"ARISE! AWAKE! AND STOP NOT TILL THE GOAL IS REACHED!"

19. Some comments by famous personalities about the work of Swami Vivekananda


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


“Here is a man who is more learned than all our learned professors put together .”
Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University
“…addressed the meeting a representative of Hinduism, and captured everyone by his magnificent presence,
his gospel of the unity of all religions, and his simple ethics of human service as the best worship of God..”
Will Durant
“His words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like march of Handel
choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his, scattered as they are through the pages of books at thirty
yearsʼ distance, without receiving a thrill my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports
must have been produced when in burning words they issued from the lips of the hero!”
Romain Rolland
“Vivekananda was a soul of puissance if ever there was one, a very lion among men, but the definite work he
has left behind is quite incommensurate with our impression of his creative might and energy. We perceive
his influence still working gigantically.”
Sri Aurobindo
“I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for
my country became a thousand-fold.”
Mahatma Gandhi
“Vivekanandaʼs message lights up for manʼs consciousness the path to limitless liberation from the trammels
and limitations of the self.”
Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore
“He gave us fortitude in suffering; he gave us hope in distress; he gave us courage in despair..Renunciation,
courage, service, discipline - these are the mottoes which we can learn from his life.”
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

20. A poem “Peace” by
Swami Vivekananda
Peace
Behold,
it
comes
in
might,
The
power
that
is
not
power,
The
light
that
is
in
darkness,
The
shade
in
dazzling
light.
It
is
joy
that
never
spoke,
And
grief
unfelt,
profound,
Immortal
life
unlived,
Eternal
death
unmourned.
It
is
not
joy
nor
sorrow,
But
that
which
is
between,
It
is
not
night
nor
morrow,
But
that
which
joins
them
in.
It
is
sweet
rest
in
music,
And
pause
in
sacred
art;
The
silence
between
speaking;
Between
two
fits
of
passion
It
is
the
calm
of
the
heart.
It
is
beauty
never
seen,
And
love
that
stands
alone,
It
is
song
that
lives
un-­‐sung,
And
knowledge
never
known.
It is death between two lives,
And lull between two storms
The void whence rose creation,
And that where it returns.
To it the tear-drop goes,
To spread the smiling form,
It is the Goal of Life,
And Peace - its only home!
----------------------------------------(Composed at Ridgley Manor, N.Y.
21 September 1899)

21. Acknowledgements
The author acknowledges the help of
Chetan and Pallavi Bhatt
Harsh and Kanan Jani
Seshadri Prativadi
M.G. Sampath Kumar
K.V. Varadaraja Iyengar
Geetha Prasad
during the preparation of this presentation.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Also, Dr. Prasad thanks Society of Indian Academics in America, World Brahman
Federation, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Hindu American Temple Cultural
Center and Hindu Temple and Cultural Society for arranging his presentation in New
York City and New Jersey in commemoration of 150th birth anniversary celebrations
of Swami Vivekananda during 2013.

22. References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
http://www.belurmath.org
Vivekananda - A Biography by Swami Nikhilananda
Viveka Prabha (A special 150th birth anniversary issue), Mysore. January 2013.
http://www.vedantany.org (Articles by swami Tathagatananda)
What Religion is (in the words of Swami Vivekananda) Advaita Ashrama, 1978
Chronological record compiled and edited by Terrance Hohner and Carolyn Kenny (Amala)
of the Vedanta Society of Portland (Primary Source: Marie Louise Burkeʼs 6-volume set,
Swami Vivekananda in the West: New Discoveries.
Posters published by Ramakrishna Mission, Fort, Belgaum, Karnataka-590016
The Life of Swami Vivekananda by His Eastern & Western Disciples – Vol2
Swami Vivekananda – The Prophet of India compiled by Dr. P. Jayaraman
My India – The India Eternal by Swami Vivekananda, R.M. Institute of Culture, July 2000
Swami Vivekananda in India: A Corrective Biography By Chattopadhyay Rajagopal
Life and Philosophy Of Swami Vivekananda By Gopal Shrinivas Banhatti
Swami Vivekananda by Prakasarao V Velagapudi, PhD
http://www.vivekananda.net/
Swami-Vivekananda-History by (Ms Sharma)
Swami Vivekananda - India Condensed, Compiled and edited by K. Surynanarayana Rao
Complete works of Swami Vivekananda

26. Some pictures during later years

27. Calcutta-1897

28. London-1896

29. Colombo-1897

30. Madras-1897

31. Thousand Islands Park~1898

32. San Francisco-1900

33. Kashmir ~1901

34. Room at Belur Math

35. With Tesla

36. Contemporaries of Swamiji

37. `

38. `

39. `

40. Swami Vivekananda, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sharada Devi

41. More Maps (see References #5)

USA









British Isles


Massachusetts
Boston & Cambridge
Chicago & Vicinity
Detroit
Northern California
San Francisco – Oakland/Alameda
Southern California
Los Angeles/Pasadena & Vicinity
London & Vicinity
Europe

Paris

42. Illustrating 40 day duration for letters from Swamiji to reach India

43. Family Tree

44. Route to the West

45. Places in Europe

46. Places visited while in America

47. Places Visited while in New York

48. Places visited while in British Isles

49. Places Visited while In Europe