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Swami Vivekananda and Human Excellence A Book Summary
Swami Vivekananda and Human Excellence A Book Summary
Swami Vivekananda and Human Excellence A Book Summary
A Book Summary
Presented by Devatanu Banerjee
Overview
Swami Ranganathananandji, the Vice President of the Ramakrishna Mission, delivers a memorable lecture on Swami Vivekananda and Human Excellence at the Harvard University in 1985. This paperback published by the Advaita Ashram compiles his speech into ten chapters that, in the most lucid way, capture the essence of what Swami Vivekanadas synthesized view of Human Excellence. In this paper, our group hopes to summarize each chapter in an effort to learn from the lecture and Vivekanandas message as a whole.
Chapter 1: Introduction
In a quick acknowledge, Swami Ranganathananandji thanks the organizers of the lecture and his excitement at the prospect of dealing with the subject of human excellence especially with reference to Swami Vivekanandas teachings.
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Vidya
Knowledge
Shradha
Faith / Conviction
Upanishad
Deep thinking
Viryavataram
Supreme Excellence
Figure 1: Constituents of Supreme Excellence By combining knowledge (Vidya) with the other two virtues, one can build character. Quoting from the lecture, The educated citizen is the source from which a modern democratic society receives nourishment. He believed that knowledge seeking in educational institutions and social interactions, leads to character building, which he terms Manliness. Vivekanada seems to be especially impressed by the wests tremendous inner faith and daring to overcome all odds called the Promethean Spirit. This he compares to the story of Bhagiratha who brings down the Ganges from heaven. Based on Aristotle saying Man is a social animal, he goes on to suggest western philosophys political view of man, which has both positive and negative sides.
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this as a duality, Sri Ramakrishna coins a new term Vijnana for the comprehensive philosophical and view of Advaita (the philosophy of duality existing as one). The author goes on to reveal how Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda created a philosophic symphony and evolved a message that would have a great impact on the east as well as the west. The meeting of these two seemingly opposite individuals and creation of such a unity is also used as a symbolic justification of the unity that they propounded.
Figure 3: Complete excellence model based on intrinsic value Vivekananda also mentions that the goal of life is to manifest the divine within by controlling nature (using science, technology, politics) and internally (ethics / arts / spiritualism/ inward thought).
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He goes on to suggest that true freedom emanating from the manifestation of the divine can be done using one, many or all of the following 1. Work 2. Worship 3. Physic control
Chapter 9: Vivekananda on Indias Scientific Approach to Religion and Its Sweet Fruits
Here Vivekanada stresses that there are two aspects of human excellence 1. Harmony and peace - Being able to tolerate other regions and views 2. Strength and fearlessness One who is feared (respected by others) While we have come to except that these two aspects are exclusive, Vivekananda believes that we should strive to combine strength and gentleness to achieve human excellence. Vivekananda also urges the world to follow Indias example and separate religious dogma and intolerance from faith and tolerance. He uses the example of India being alone (with the exception of the British and Mughal rule) in not having an aggressive / expansionist past. It is also stated this India is the only country where
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all religions are tolerated. (This can be debated however does not form part of the scope of this paper). Swami Ranganathananandji also quotes many examples from Jewish and Greco Roman history to drive home the point that there are many forms in which God is worshiped; however there is only one God.
Thank you.
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