Detailed Notes on Vivekananda, Gandhi, and Aurobindo
Swami Vivekananda (1863 - 1902)
Introduction
Hindu monk and disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhamsa.
Introduced Indian yoga and Vedanta to the West.
Speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, 1893.
Advocated traditional meditation and selfless service (karma yoga).
Supported emancipation for Indian women and ending caste system excesses.
Figurehead of India's self-confidence and inspiration for nationalist leaders.
Biographical Sketch
Born Narendra Nath Datta on January 12, 1863, in Calcutta.
Studied Western thought, developing critical inquiry and analysis skills.
Reconciled spiritual characteristics with a rational outlook.
Turned to Brahmo Samaj, which rejected idol worship for formless worship of God.
Met Swami Ramakrishna in 1881, a turning point, accepting him as his guide.
Propounded unique visions in social and national life.
Preachings on nationalism, universal humanism, education, socialism, and equality impacted contemporary leaders.
Combined Indian spirituality with Western material progress.
Influences
Awareness of social, religious, and economic conditions of Indian masses.
Identified orthodoxy, superstitions, and loss of faith in spiritual values as reasons for social evils.
Influenced by Hindu philosophy (Vedanta) and Buddhist philosophy.
Influenced by Christianity and Brahmo Samaj.
Potentially influenced by Dayananda Saraswati.
The Gita was a constant source of inspiration.
Swami Ramakrishna revealed the spiritual path, consciousness, and removed ignorance.
Influenced by Western thinkers: and Herbert Spencer's evolutionism.
Socio-Religious and Political Ideas
Vedanta Religion and Socialism
Religion as a key to social and national life, specifically Vedic religion.
World spokesperson for Vedanta.
Vision of Vedanta is a lasting legacy to contemporary spiritual thought.
Ideas on nation-building through 'Practical Vedanta' and 'Man-Making'.
Vedanta teaches self-faith as the goal is to manifest Divinity by controlling nature.
Popularized yoga as Vedanta's practical aspect.
Elevates religion into spiritualism where all faiths are faces of the same truth.
Indians are bound by religious ties.
Spiritual elevation of religion could unite them beyond divides.
Neo-Vedantism distinguishes from Shankaracharya's traditional Vedanta.
Ardent supporter of Vedantic socialism.
Took pride in India's past but not an obscurantist revivalist with indiscriminate admiration.
India meant the people, especially the masses.
Removal of poverty, illiteracy, dignity restoration, freedom from fear, and universal access to knowledge.
Ending monopolies formed part of Vedantic socialism.
Vedantic socialism centers on progressive ideas on education.
Stressed universal literacy for mass uplift and development.
Valued chastity and family life for women but opposed their subjection.
Endeavored to give traditional religions a new orientation of social service.
Social Reforms
Swami Vivekananda as a great social reformer.
Preached elimination of all exploitation.
Addressed social problems through social activities.
Identified education, poverty, and castism as obstacles to progress.
Considered messiah of downtrodden.
First modern Indian leader to speak for the poor and downtrodden.
Traveled extensively to understand their problems.
Believed Indians’ downfall was due to neglect and exploitation of the poor.
Religion should be equally philosophic, emotional, mystic, and conductive to action.
Religion is a social institution, worship a social activity, and faith a social force.
Shifted focus of religion from God to God in man.
Service to man was service to God, the basis of his social service program.
Taught to see God in the poor, downtrodden, sick, and ignorant and to serve them.
First Indian to represent India and Hinduism in the World Parliament.
Enhanced Indian prestige through speeches at the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago, 1893, and subsequent work.
Showed universal relevance of Indian philosophy and spiritual culture.
Enabled appreciation of Indian philosophy and culture in the West.
Socio-economic change can be brought about through education.
Advocated moral and secular education for the common man.
Founded the Ramakrishna Mission on May 1, 1897, in Calcutta for social service.
Ideals of the Ramakrishna Mission are based on Karma Yoga.
Laid the foundation for harmony among religions and between religion and science.