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WritingsAddressbySwamiVivekanandaon“TheIdealofaUniversalReligion”

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturesbytheSwamiVivekanandaon“TheCosmos”

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturebytheSwamiVivekanandaon“TheAtman”

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturebytheSwamiVivekanandaon“TheRealandApparentMan”

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturebytheSwamiVivekanandaon“BhaktiYoga”

TheVedantaPhilosophy:AnAddressBeforetheGraduatePhilosophicalSocietyofHarvardUniversity

VedantaPhilosophy:EightLecturesbytheSwamiVivekanandaonKarmaYoga(TheSecretofWork)

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturesbytheSwamiVivekanandaonRajaYogaandOtherSubjects

MyMaster

VedantaPhilosophy:LecturesbytheSwamiVivekanandaonJnanaYoga

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World’s Fair Addresses1893

Swami Vivekananda1863–1902

信YOGeBooks:Springfield,MO

2010:02:18:19:12:01

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The Assembling of the Parliament

Words of Welcome and Fellowship

SwamiVivekananda,ofBombay,India,wasnextintroduced.WhenMr.Vivekanandaaddressedtheaudienceas“sistersandbrothersofAmerica,”therearoseapealofapplausethatlastedforseveralminutes.Hespokeasfollows:

SpeechofMr.Vivekananda.

Itfillsmyheartwithjoyunspeakabletoriseinresponsetothe warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. Ithankyouinthenameofthemostancientorderofmonks

intheworld;Ithankyouinthenameofthemotherofreligions,and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions ofHindupeopleofallclassesandsects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platformwhohavetoldyouthatthesemenfromfar‑offnationsmaywellclaim the honor of bearing to the different lands the idea oftoleration.Iamproudtobelongtoareligionwhichhastaughttheworldbothtoleranceanduniversalacceptance.Webelievenot only in universal toleration, but we accept all religionsto be true. I am proud to tell you that I belong to a religionintowhosesacred language, theSanskrit, thewordexclusionisuntranslatable.Iamproudtobelongtoanationwhichhasshelteredthepersecutedandtherefugeesofallreligionsandall nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have

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gatheredinourbosomthepurestremnantoftheIsraelites,aremnantwhichcametosouthernIndiaandtookrefugewithusintheveryyearinwhichtheirholyTemplewasshatteredtopiecesbyRomantyranny.Iamproudtobelongtothereligionwhich has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of thegrandZoroastriannation. Iwillquotetoyou,brethren,a fewlines fromahymnwhich I remember tohave repeated frommyearliestboyhood,whichiseverydayrepeatedbymillionsofhumanbeings:“Asthedifferentstreamshavingtheirsourcesindifferentplacesallmingletheirwaterinthesea,so,OLord,thedifferent paths which men take through different tendencies,variousthoughtheyappear,crookedorstraight,allleadtothee.”

The present Convention, which is one of the most augustassemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declarationtotheworldofthewonderfuldoctrinepreached intheGita.

“Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form I reachhim,theyareallstrugglingthroughpathsthatintheendalwaysleadtome.”Sectarianism,bigotryanditshorribledescendant,fanaticism, have possessed long this beautiful earth. It hasfilledtheearthwithviolence,drencheditoftenandoftenwithhuman blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nationsto despair. Had it not been for this horrible demon, humansocietywouldbefarmoreadvancedthanitisnow.Butitstimehas come, and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled thismorninginhonorofthisConventionmaybethedeathknelltoallfanaticism,toallpersecutionswiththeswordorthepen,andtoalluncharitablefeelingsbetweenpersonswendingtheirwaytothesamegoal.

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The Chronicle of the Parliament from the Second Day to the Sixteenth

Social Receptions

Justbeforethecloseoftheafternoonsession,theChairmaninvitedsomeremarksfromtheHindumonkSwamiVivekananda,ofBombay,whorespondedwithalittlefableintendedtoillustratethevarianceamongmenofdifferentracesandreligions.

Thefroglivedinawell.Ithadlivedthereforalongtime.Itwasbornthereandbroughtupthere,andyetwasalittle,small frog. Of course the evolutionists were not there

thentotelluswhetherthefroglostitseyesornot;but,forourstory’ssake,wemusttakeitforgrantedthatithaditseyes,andthatiteverydaycleansedthewaterofallthewormsandbacillithat lived in it, with an energy that would give credit to ourmodernbacteriologists. Inthisway itwentonandbecamealittlesleekandfat—perhapsasmuchsoasmyself.

Well,onedayanotherfrog,thatlivedinthesea,cameandfellintothewell.

“Whenceareyoufrom?”“I’mfromthesea.”“Thesea?howbigisthat?Isitasbigasmywell?”andhetook

aleapfromonesideofthewelltotheother.“Myfriend,”saysthefrogofthesea,“howdoyoucompare

theseawithyourlittlewell?”

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Thenthefrogtookanotherleap,andasked:“Isyourseasobig?”

“What nonsense you speak, to compare the sea with yourwell!”

“Well,then,”saidthefrogofthewell,“nothingcanbebiggerthanmywell;therecanbenothingbiggerthanthis;thisfellowisaliar,soturnhimout.”

Thathasbeenthedifficultyallthewhile.

ThesessionwasconcludedbyabriefspeechfromSwamiVivekananda,whosaid:

Christians must always be ready for good criticism. and Ihardlythinkthatyouwillcare if Imakea littlecriticism.YouChristianswhoaresofondofsendingoutmissionariestosavethesoulsoftheheathen,whydoyounottrytosavetheirbodiesfromstarvation?InIndiaduringtheterriblefaminesthousandsdied from hunger, yet you Christians did nothing. You erectchurchesallthroughIndia,butthecryingevilintheEastisnotreligion—theyhavereligionenough—butitisbreadthatthesesuffering millions of burning India cry out for with parchedthroats.Theyaskusforbread,butwegivethemstones.Itisaninsulttoastarvingpeopletoofferthemreligion;itisaninsuittoastarvingmantoteachhimmetaphysics. In Indiaapriestthatpreachedformoneywouldlosecaste,andbespatuponbythepeople.Icameheretoseekaidformyimpoverishedpeople,andIfullyrealizedhowdifficultitwastogethelpforheathensfromChristiansinaChristianland.

HeconcludedhisspeechbyafewremarksontheHindudoctrineofreincarnation.

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The Close of the Parliament

SwamiVivekananda,havingbeenpresented,madehisfinaladdressasfollows:

The World’s Parliament of Religions has become anaccomplished fact, and themercifulFatherhashelpedthosewholaboredtobringitintoexistenceandcrowned

withsuccesstheirmostunselfishlabor.My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and

love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and thenrealizedit.Mythankstotheshowerofliberalsentimentsthathas overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightenedaudience for their uniform kindness to me and for theirappreciationofeverythoughtthattendstosmooththefrictionofreligions.Afewjarringnoteswereheardfromtimetotimeinthisharmony.Myspecialthankstothem,fortheyhave,bytheirstrikingcontrast,madethegeneralharmonythesweeter.

Much has been said of the common ground of religiousunity.Iamnotgoingjustnowtoventuremyowntheory.Butifanyoneherehopesthatthisunitywouldcomebythetriumphofanyoneofthesereligionsandthedestructionoftheothers,tohimIsay,“Brother,yoursisanimpossiblehope.”DoIwishthattheChristianwouldbecomeHindu?Godforbid.DoIwishthat the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? Godforbid.

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Theseedisput intheground,andearthandairandwaterareplacedaroundit.Doestheseedbecometheearth,ortheair,orthewater?No.Itbecomesaplant;itdevelopsafterthelawofitsowngrowth,assimilatestheair,theearthandthewater,convertsthemintoplantsubstanceandgrowsaplant.

Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not tobecomeaHinduoraBuddhist,noraHinduoraBuddhisttobecomeaChristian.Buteachmustassimilatetheothersandyetpreserveitsindividualityandgrowaccordingtoitsownlawofgrowth.

If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to theworlditisthis:Ithasprovedtotheworldthatholiness,purityand charity are not the exclusive possessions of any churchin the world, and that every system has produced men andwomenofthemostexaltedcharacter.

Inthefaceofthisevidenceifanybodydreamsoftheexclusivesurvivalofhisownandthedestructionoftheothers,Ipityhimfromthebottomofmyheart,andpointouttohimthatuponthebannerofeveryreligionwouldsoonbewritten,inspiteoftheirresistance:“Help,andNotFight,”“Assimilation,andNotDestruction,”“Harmony,andPeace,andNotDissension.”

SwamiVivekanandawasalwaysheardwithinterestbytheParliament,butverylittleapprovalwasshowntosomeofthesentimentsexpressedinhisclosingaddress.

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Hopes for the Religious Union of the Whole Human Family

TheHindumonk,SwamiVivekananda,ofBombay,saidinresponsetowelcomethatitwasaHinduprincipletorecognizeallfaithsasexpressionsoftruth,andthatfromhisearliestboyhoodhehadrepeatedasacredtext,useddailybymillionsinIndia,which says that as the different streams, having their sources in different places,all mingle their water in the sea, so the different paths which men take throughdifferenttendencies,variousthoughtheyappear,andcrookedorstraight,all leadtotheoneLord.

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The Parliament Papers: The Ninth Day

Hinduism.

Three religions stand now in the world which havecome down to us from time pre‑historic—Hinduism,Zoroastrianism,andJudaism.

They all have received tremendous shocks and all of themprove by their survival their internal strength; but whileJudaismfailedtoabsorbChristianity,andwasdrivenoutofitsplaceofbirthbyitsall‑conqueringdaughter,andahandfulofParsees,areallthatremainstotellthetaleofhisgrandreligion,sect after sect have arisen in India and seemed to shake thereligionoftheVedastoitsveryfoundation,butlikethewatersof the seashore in a tremendous earthquake, it receded onlyforawhile,onlytoreturninanall‑absorbingflood,athousandtimesmorevigorous,andwhenthetumultoftherushwasover,theyhavebeenallsuckedin,absorbedandassimilatedintheimmensebodyofanotherfaith.

From the high spiritual flights of Vedantic philosophy, ofwhichthelatestdiscoveriesofscienceseemliketheechoes,theagnosticismoftheBuddhas,theatheismoftheJains,andthelowideasofidolatrywiththemultifariousmythology,eachandallhaveaplaceintheHindu’sreligion.

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Where then, the question arises, where is the commoncentertowhichallthesewidelydivergingradiiconverge;whereisthecommonbasisuponwhichalltheseseeminglyhopelesscontradictionsrest?AndthisisthequestionIshallattempttoanswer.

The Hindus have received their religion through theirrevelation, the Veda. They hold that the Vedas are withoutbeginning and without end. It may sound ludicrous to thisaudience,howabookcanbewithoutbeginning orend.ButbytheVedasnobooksaremeant.Theymeantheaccumulatedtreasury of spiritual law discovered by different persons indifferent times. Just as the law of gravitation existed beforeitsdiscovery,andwouldexistifallhumanityforgotit,sowiththe laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethicaland spiritual relation between soul and souls and betweenindividualspiritsandtheFatherofallspiritsweretherebeforetheirdiscoveryandwouldremainevenifweforgotthem.

ThediscoverersoftheselawsarecalledRishis,andwehonorthemasperfectedbeings,and Iamgladtotell thisaudiencethatsomeoftheverybestofthemwerewomen.

Hereitmaybesaidthatthelawsaslawsmaybewithoutend,buttheymusthavehadabeginning.TheVedasteachusthatcreationiswithoutbeginningorend.Sciencehasprovedtousthatthesumtotalofthecosmicenergyisthesamethroughoutall.Theniftherewasatimewhennothingexisted,wherewasallthismanifestedenergy?SomesayitwasinapotentialforminGod.ButthenGodissometimespotentialandsmetimeskinetic,whichwouldmakehimmutable,andeverythingmutableisacompound, and everything compound must undergo thatchangewhich iscalleddestruction.ThereforeGodwoulddie.Thereforethereneverwasatimewhentherewasnocreation.IfImaybeallowedtoapplyasimile,creationandcreatoraretwolives,withoutbeginningandwithoutend,runningparalleltoeachother,andGodispower,aneveractiveprovidence,underwhose power systems after systems are being evolved out of

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chaos,—made to run for a time and again destroyed. This iswhattheHinduboyrepeatseverydaywithhisguru:“Thesunandthemoon,theLordcreatedafterothersunsandmoons.”Andthisagreeswithscience.

Here I stand,and if I shutmyeyesandtrytoconceivemyexistence,I,I,I—whatistheideabeforeme?Theideaofabody.AmI,then,nothingbutacombinationofmatterandmaterialsubstances? The Vedas declare “No,” I am a spirit living in abody. Iamnotthebody.Thebodywilldie,butIwillnotdie.HereamIinthisbody,andwhenitwillfail,stillIwillgoonliving,andalsoIhadapast.Thesoulwasnotcreatedfromnothing,for creation means a combination, and that means a certainfuture dissolution. If, then, the soul was created, it must die.Therefore it was not created. Some are born happy, enjoyingperfecthealth,beautifulbody,mentalvigor,andwithallwantssupplied.Othersarebornmiserable:somearewithouthandsor feet, some idiots, and only drag on a miserable existence.Why,igtheyareallcreated,doesajustandmercifulGodcreateonehappyandtheotherunhappy—whyishesopartial?Norwoulditmendmattersintheleastbyholdingthatthosethataremiserableinthislifewillbeperfectinafuture.WhyshouldamanbemiserablehereinthereignofajustandmercifulGod?Inthesecondplace,itdoesnotgiveusanycause,butsimplyacruelactofanall‑powerfulbeing,andthereforeunscientific.Theremusthavebeencauses,then,tomakeamanmiserableor happy before his birth, and those were his past actions.Arenotallthetendenciesofthemindandthoseofthebodyansweredforbyinheritedaptitudefromparents?Herearethetwoparallellinesofexistence—onethatofthemind,theotherthatofmatter. Ifmatteranditstransformationanswerforallthatwehave,thereisnonecessityofsupposingtheexistenceofasoul.Butitcannotbeprovedthatthoughthasbeenevolvedout of matter, and if a philosophical monism is inevitable, aspiritualmonismiscertainlylogicalandnolessdesirable,butneitheroftheseisnecessaryhere.

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We cannot deny that bodies inherit certain tendenciesfrom heredity, but these tendencies only mean the secularconfiguration,throughwhichapeculiarmindalonecanactinapeculiarway.Thecauseofthosepeculiartendenciesinthatsoulhavebeencausedbyhispastactions,anda soulwithacertaintendencywouldgoandtakebirth inabodywhich isthe fittest instrument of the display of that tendency by thelawsofaffinity.Andthis is inperfectaccordwithscience, forsciencewantstoexplaineverythingbyhabit,andhabitisgotthroughrepetitions.Sotheserepetitionsarealsonecessarytoexplainthenaturalhabitsofanew‑bornsoul—andtheywerenot got in this present life; therefore they must have comedownfrompastlives.

Butthereisanothersuggestion;takingalltheseforgranted,howisitthatIdonotrememberanythingofmypastlife?Thiscan be easily explained. I am now speaking English. It is notmymothertongue,infactnowordsofmymothertonguearepresentinmyconsciousness,butletmetrytobringthemup,theyrushintomyconsciousness.Thatshowsthatconsciousnessisthenameonlyofthesurfaceofthementalocean,andwithinitsdepthsisstoredupallourexperiences.Tryandstruggleandtheywillcomeupandyouwouldbeconscious.

Thisisthedirectanddemonstrativeevidence.Verificationistheperfectproofofatheoryandhereisthechallenge,thrownto the world by the Rishis. We have discovered precepts bywhichtheverydepthsoftheoceanofmemorycanbestirredup—tryitandyouwouldgetacompletereminiscenceofyourpastlife.

SothentheHindubelievesthatheisaspirit.Himtheswordcannotpierce—himthefirecannotburn—

himthewatercannotmelt—himtheaircannotdry.Andthatevery soul is a circle whose circumference is nowhere, butwhosecenterislocatedinabody,anddeathmeansthechangeofthiscenterfrombodytobody.Noristhesoulboundbytheconditionsofmatter.Initsveryessence,itisfree,unbounded,

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holyandpureandperfect.Butsomehoworother ithasgotitselfbounddownbymatter,andthinksitselfallmatter?Whyshouldthefree,perfectandpurebeingbeunderthethraldomofmatter,isthenextquestion.Howcantheperfectbedeludedinto the belief that he is imperfect, is the question. We havebeentoldthattheHindusshirkthequestionandsaythatnosuchquestioncanbethere,andsomethinkerswanttoansweritbytheposingofoneormorequasiperfectbeings,andbigscientificnamestofillupthegap.Butnamingisnotexplaining.Thequestionremainsthesame.Howtheperfectbecomesthequasi perfect; how can the pure, the absolute, change evena microscopic particle of its nature? But the Hindu is moresincere.Hedoesnotwanttotakeshelterundersophistry.Heisbraveenoughtofacethequestioninamanlyfashion.Andhisansweris,Idonotknow.Idonotknowhowtheperfectbeing,the soul came to think itself as imperfect, as joined to andconditionedbymatter.Butthefactisafactforallthat.Itisafactineverybody’sconsciousnessthathethinkshimselfasthebody.WedonotattempttoexplainwhyIaminthisbody.TheanswerthatitisthewillofGod,isnoexplanation.Itisnothingmorethanwhattheysaythemselves.“Wedonotknow.”

Well,then,thehumansouliseternalandimmortal,perfectandinfinite,anddeathmeansonlyachangeofcenterfromonebodytoanother.Thepresentisdeterminedbyourpastactions,andthefuturewillbebythepresent;thatitwillgoonevolvinguporrevertingbackfrombirthtobirthanddeathtodeath.Buthereisanotherquestion;ismanatinyboatinatempest,raisedone moment on the foaming crest of a billow and dasheddownintoayawningchasmthenext,rollingtoandfroatthemercyofgoodandbadactions—apowerless,helplesswreckinanever‑raging,ever‑rushing,uncompromisingcurrentofcauseandeffect—alittlemothplacedunderthewheelofcausation,whichrollsoncrushingeverythinginitsway,andwaitsnotforthewidows’tearsortheorphans’cry?Theheartsinksattheidea,yetthisisthelawofnature.Istherenohope?Isthereno

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escape?wasthecrythatwentupfromthebottomoftheheartofdespair.Itreachedthethroneofmercy,andwordsofhopeandconsolationcamedownandinspiredaVedicsage,andhestood up before the world and in trumpet voice proclaimedthe glad tidings to the world. “Hear ye children of immortalbliss, even ye that reside in higher spheres. I have found theAncient One, who is beyond all darkness, all delusion, andknowinghimaloneyoushallbesavedfromdeathoveragain.Childrenofimmortalbliss,whatasweet,whatahopefulname.”Allow me to call you, brethren, by that sweet name, heirs ofimmortalbliss—yea,theHindurefusestocallyousinners.YearethechildrenofGod,thesharersofimmortalbliss,holyandperfectbeings,yearedivinitiesonearth.Sinners?Itisasintocallamanso;Itisastandinglibelonhumannature.Comeup,Oh,liveandshakeoffthedelusionthatyouaresheep;youaresouls immortal, spirits free and blest and eternal; ye are notmatter,yearenotbodies;matterisyourservant,notyoutheservantofmatter.

ThusitisthattheVedasproclaimnotadreadfulcombinationofunforgivinglaws,notanendlessprisonofcauseandeffect,butthatattheheadofalltheselaws,inandthrougheveryparticleofmatterandforce,standsonethroughwhosecommandthewind blows, the fire burns, the clouds rain, and death stalksupontheearth.Andwhatishisnature?

Heiseverywherethepureandformlessone.TheAlmightyandtheAll‑merciful.“Thouartourfather,thouartourmother;thouartourbelovedfriend;thouartthesourceofallstrength;giveusstrength.Thouarthethatbearesttheburdensoftheuniverse;helpmebearthelittleburdenofthislife.”Thussangthe Rishis of the Veda; and how to worship him—throughlove.“Heistobeworshipedastheonebeloved,”“dearerthaneverythinginthisandthenextlife.”

ThisisthedoctrineoflovepreachedintheVedas,andletusseehowitisfullydevelopedandpreachedbyKrishna,whomtheHindusbelievetohavebeenGodincarnateonearth.

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Hetaughtthatamanoughttoliveinthisworldlikealotusleaf,whichgrowsinwaterbutisnevermoistenedbywater—soa man ought to live in this world—his heart to God and hishandstowork.ItisgoodtoloveGodforhopeofrewardinthisorthenextworld,butitisbettertoloveGodforlove’ssake,andtheprayergoes:“Lord,Idonotwantwealth,norchildren,norlearning.IfitbethywillIwillgotoahundredhells,butgrantme this, that I may love thee without the hope of reward—unselfishlyloveforlove’ssake.”OneofthedisciplesofKrishna,thethenEmperorof India,wasdrivenfromhisthronebyhisenemies,andhadtotakeshelter ina forest intheHimalayaswithhisqueen,andthereonedaythequeenwasaskinghimhow it was that he, the most virtuous of men, should suffersomuchmisery;andYuohisteraanswered:“Behold,myqueen,the Himalayas, how beautiful they are; I love them. They donotgivemeanything,butmynatureistolovethegrand,thebeautiful,thereforeIlovethem.Similarly,IlovetheLord.Heisthesourceofallbeauty,ofallsublimity.Heistheonlyobjecttobeloved;mynatureistolovehim,andthereforeIlove.Idonotprayforanything;Idonotaskforanything.Lethimplacemewhereverhelikes.Imustlovehimforlove’ssake.Icannottradeinlove.”

The Vedas teach that the soul is divine, only held underbondage of matter, and perfection will be reached when thebondshallburst,andthewordtheyuseisthereforeMukto—freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedomfromdeathandmisery.

AndthisbondagecanonlyfalloffthroughthemercyofGod,andthismercycomesonthepure,sopurityistheconditionofhismercy.Howthatmercyacts.Herevealshimselftothepureheart,andthepureandstainlessmanseesGod,yeaeveninthislife,andthen,andthenonly,allthecrookednessoftheheartismadestraight.Thenalldoubtceases.Heisnomorethefreakofaterriblelawofcausation.Sothisistheverycenter,theveryvitalconceptionofHinduism.TheHindudoesnotwanttolive

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uponwordsandtheories—ifthereareexistencesbeyondtheordinarysensualexistence,hewantstocomefacetofacewiththem.Ifthereisasoulinhimwhichisnotmatter,ifthereisanall‑mercifuluniversalsoul,hewillgotohimdirect.Hemustseehim,andthatalonecandestroyalldoubts.SothebestproofaHindusagegivesaboutthesoul,aboutGod,is“Ihaveseenthe soul; Ihave seenGod.”Andthat is theonlyconditionofperfection. The Hindu religion does not consist in strugglesand attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but inrealizing;notinbelieving,butinbeingandbecoming.

Sothewholestruggleintheirsystemisaconstantstruggletobecomeperfect,tobecomedivine,toteachGodandseeGod,andthisreachingGod,seeingGod,becomingperfect,evenasthefatherinHeavenisperfect,constitutesthereligionoftheHindus.

Andwhatbecomesofmanwhenhebecomesperfect?Helivesalifeofbliss, infinite.Heenjoysinfiniteandperfectbliss,having obtained the only thing in which man ought to havepleasure; God, and enjoys the bliss with God. So far all theHindusareagreed.Thisisthecommonreligionofallthesectsof India;but thenthequestioncomes,perfection isabsolute,andtheabsolutecannotbetwoorthree. Itcannothaveanyqualities.Itcannotbeanindividual.Andsowhenasoulbecomesperfectandabsolute,itmustbecomeonewithBrahma,andhewouldonlyrealizetheLordastheperfection,thereality,ofhisownnatureandexistence, theexistenceabsolute,knowledgeabsolute,andlifeabsolute.Wehaveoftenandoftenreadaboutthisbeingcalledthelosingofindividualityasbecomingastockorastone.“Hejestsatscarsthatneverfeltawound.”

Itellyouitisnothingofthekind.Ifitishappinesstoenjoytheconsciousnessofthissmallbody,itmustbemorehappinesstoenjoytheconsciousnessoftwobodies, sothree, four,five;and the aim, the ultimate of happiness would be reachedwhen it would become a universal consciousness. Therefore,to gain this infinite, universal individuality, this miserable

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littleprisonindividualitymustgo.Thenalonecandeathceasewhen Iamonewith life, thenalonecanmiseryceasewhen Iam one with happiness itself; then alone can all errors ceasewhenIamonewithknowledgeitself;andititisthenecessaryscientific conclusion, science has proved to me that physicalindividuality is a delusion, that really my body is one littlecontinuouslychangingbody, inanunbrokenoceanofmatter,andtheAdwaitamisthenecessaryconclusionwithmyothercounterpart,mind.

Scienceisnothingbutthefindingofunity,andasanysciencecanreachtheperfectunity,itwouldstopfromfurtherprogress,because it would reach the goal, thus chemistry cannotprogress farther, when it would discover one element out ofwhich all others could be made. Physics would stop when itwouldbeabletofulfillitsservicesindiscoveringoneenergyofwhichalltheothersarebutthemanifestations,andthescienceofreligionbecomeperfectwhenitdiscoveredHimwhoistheonelifeinauniverseofdeath;Himwhoistheconstantbasisofanever‑changingworld;Onewhoistheonlysoulofwhichallsoulsarebutdelusivemanifestations.Thuswasit,throughmultiplicity andduality, theultimateunitywas reached, andreligioncangonofarther,andthisisthegoalofall,againandagain,scienceafterscience,againandagain.

Andallscienceisboundtocometothisconclusioninthelongrun.Manifestation,andnotcreation,isthewordofscienceofto‑day,andheisonlygladthatwhathehadcherishedinhisbosomforagesisgoingtobetaughtinsomeforciblelanguage,andwithfurtherlightbythelatestconclusionsofscience.

Descendwenowfromtheaspirationsofphilosophytothereligionoftheignorant?Ontheveryoutset,ImaytellyouthatthereisnopolytheisminIndia.Ineverytemple,ifonestandsby and listens, he will find the worshipers applying all theattributesofGod,includingomnipresence,totheseimages.Itisnotpolytheism,neitherwouldthenamehenotheismanswer

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ourquestion.“Therosecalledbyanyothernamewouldsmellassweet.”Namesarenotexplanations.

Iremember,whenaboy,aChristianmanwaspreachingtoacrowdInIndia.Amongothersweetthingshewastellingthepeoplethatifhegaveablowtotheiridolwithhisstick,whatcould it do? One of his hearers sharply answered, “If I abuseyourGodwhatcanhedo?”“Youwouldbepunished,”saidthepreacher,“whenyoudie.”“Somyidolwillpunishyouwhenyoudie,”saidthevillager.

Thetreeisknownbyitsfruits;andwhenIhaveseenamongstthem that are called idolatrous men, the like of whom inmoralityandspiritualityandlove,Ihaveneverseenanywhere,Istopandaskmyself,Cansinbegetholiness?

Superstitionistheenemyofman,bigotryworse.WhydoesaChristiangotochurch,whyisthecrossholy,whyisthefaceturnedtowardtheskyinprayer?WhyaretheresomanyimagesintheCatholicChurch,whyaretheresomanyimages inthemindsofProtestants,whentheypray?Mybrethren,wecannomorethinkaboutanythingwithoutamaterialimagethanitisprofitableforustolivewithoutbreathing.Andbythelawofassociationthematerialimagecallsthementalideaupandvice versa.Omnipotenttoalmostthewholeworldmeansnothing.HasGodsuperficialarea?ifnot,whenwerepeatthewordwethinkoftheextendedearth;thatisall.

As we find that somehow or other, by the laws of ourconstitution,wehavegottoassociateourideasofinfinitywiththe ideal of a blue sky, or a sea; the omnipresence coveringtheideaofholinesswithanidolofachurchoramosque,oracross;sotheHindushaveassociatedtheideaofholiness,purity,truth,omnipresence,andallotherideaswithdifferentimagesandforms.Butwiththisdifference:uponcertainactionssomearedrawntheirwholelivestotheiridolofachurchandneverrise higher, because with them religion means an intellectualassenttocertaindoctrinesanddoinggoodtotheirfellows.Thewhole religionof theHindu iscentered in realization.Man is

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to become divine, realizing the divine, and, therefore, idol ortempleorchurchorbooks,areonlythesupports,thehelpsofhisspiritualchildhood,butonandonhemustprogress.

He must not stop anywhere; “external worship, materialworship,”saystheVedas“istheloweststage;strugglingtorisehigh,mentalprayer isthenextstage,butthehigheststage iswhentheLordhasbeenrealized.”Markthesameearnestmanwhowaskneelingbeforetheidoltellyouhereafterofstruggles,

“Himthesuncannotexpress,northemoonnorthestars,thelightningcannotexpresshim,norwhatwespeakoffire;throughhimtheyallshine.”Butwiththisdifference,hedoesnotabusetheimagesorcallitsin.Herecognizesinitanecessarystageofhislife.“Thechildisfatheroftheman.”Woulditberightfortheoldmantosaythatchildhoodisasinoryouthasin?NorisitcompulsoryinHinduism.

Butifamancanrealizehisdivinenaturewiththehelpofanimage,woulditberighttocallitasin?Norevenwhenhehaspassedthatstagethatheshouldcallitanerror.TotheHinduman is not traveling from error to truth, but from truth totruth,fromlowertohighertruth.Tohimallthereligionsfromthelowestfetichismtothehighestabsolutismmeansomanyattempts of the human soul to grasp and realize the Infinite,determinedbytheconditionsofitsbirthandassociation,andeachofthesemarkastageofprogress,andeverysoulisachildeagle soaring higher and higher; gathering more and morestrengthtillitreachestheglorioussun.

Unity in variety is the plan of nature, and the Hindu hasrecognizedit.Everyotherreligionlaysdownacertainamountoffixeddogma,andtries to forcethewhole society throughit.TheylaydownbeforesocietyonecoatwhichmustfitJackand Job, and Henry, all alike. If it does not fit John or Henry,theymustgowithoutcoattocoverbody.Theyhavediscoveredthattheabsolutecanonlyberealizedorthoughtoforstatedthroughtherelative,andtheimage,crossorcrescentaresimplysomanycenters,—somanypegstohelpthespiritualideaon.It

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isnotthatthishelpisnecessaryforeveryone,butformany,andthosethatdonotneedit,havenorighttosaythatitiswrong.

OnethingImusttellyou. Idolatry in Indiadoesnotmeanahorror.Itisnotthemotherofharlots.Ontheotherhand,itis the attempt of undeveloped minds to grasp high spiritualtruths.TheHindushavetheirownfaults,theysometimeshavetheirexceptions;butmarkthis,itisalwaystowardspunishingtheirownbodies,andnevertocutthethroatsoftheirneighbors.IftheHindufanaticburnshimselfonthepyre,heneverlightsthefireofinquisition;andeventhiscannotbelaidatthedoorofreligionanymorethantheburningofwitchescanbelaidatthedoorofChristianity.

To the Hindu, then, the whole world of religions is only atraveling,acomingup,ofdifferentmenandwomen,throughvariousconditionsandcircumstances,tothesamegoal.Everyreligion is only an evolving a God out of the material man;andthesameGodistheinspirerofallofthem.Why,then,aretheresomanycontradictions?Theyareonlyapparent,saystheHindu.Thecontradictionscomefromthesametruthadaptingitselftothedifferentcircumstancesofdifferentnatures.

It is the same light coming through different colors. Andthese little variations are necessary for that adaptation. Butintheheartofeverythingthesametruthreigns;theLordhasdeclared to theHindu inhis incarnationasKrishna, “I am inevery religion as the thread through a string of pearls. Andwhereverthouseestextraordinaryholinessandextraordinarypowerraisingandpurifyinghumanity,knowyethatIamthere,”Andwhatwastheresult!ThroughthewholeorderofSanscritphilosophy,IchallengeanybodytofindanysuchexpressionasthattheHinduonlywouldbesavedandnotothers.SaysVyas,

“Wefindperfectmenevenbeyondthepaleofourcasteandcreed,”Onethingmore.Howcan,then,theHinduwhosewholeideacentersinGodbelieveintheBuddhistwhoisagnostic,ortheJainwhoisatheist?

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TheBuddhistsdonotdependuponGod;butthewholeforceoftheirreligionisdirectedtothegreatcentraltruthineveryreligion,toevolveaGodoutofman.TheyhavenotseentheFather,buttheyhaveseentheSon.AndhethathathseentheSonhathseentheFather.This,brethren,isashortsketchoftheideasoftheHindus.TheHindumighthavefailedtocarryoutallhisplans,butifthereistobeeverauniversalreligion,itmustbeonewhichwouldholdnolocationinplaceortime,whichwould be infinite like the God it would preach, whose sunshinesuponthefollowerofKrishnaorChrist;saintsorsinnersalike;whichwouldnotbetheBrahmanorBuddhist,ChristianorMohammedan,butthesumtotalofallthese,andstillhaveinfinitespacefordevelopment;whichinitscatholicitywouldembrace in its infinite arms and formulate a place for everyhumanbeing, fromthe lowestgrovelingmanwho isscarcelyremovedinintellectualityfromthebrute,tothehighestmind,toweringalmostabovehumanity,andwhomakessocietystandinaweanddoubthishumannature.

It would be a religion which would have no place forpersecution or intolerance in its polity, and would recognizea divinity in every man or woman, and whose whole scope,whosewhole forcewouldbecentered inaidinghumanity torealize its divine nature. Offer religions in your hand, and allthenationsmustfollowthee.Asoka’scouncilwasacounciloftheBuddhistfaith.Akbar’s,thoughmoretothepurpose,wasonlyaparlor‑meeting. Itwas reserved forAmerica tocall, toproclaimtoallquartersoftheglobethattheLordis ineveryreligion.

MayHewhoistheBrahmaoftheHindus,theAhuraMazdaoftheZoroastrians,theBuddhaoftheBuddhists,theJehovahoftheJews,theFatherinHeavenoftheChristians,givestrengthtoyoutocarryoutyournobleidea.ThestararoseintheEast;ittraveledsteadilytowardtheWest,sometimesdimmedandsometimeseffulgent,tillitmadeacircuitoftheworld,andnowit is again risingon theveryhorizonof theEast, theborders

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oftheTasifu,athousand‑foldmoreeffulgentthaniteverwasbefore.HailColumbia,mother‑landofliberty!Ithasbeengivento thee, who never dipped her hand in her neighbor’s blood,who never found out that shortest way of becoming rich byrobbingone’sneighbors,ithasbeengiventotheetomarchonatthevanguardofcivilizationwiththeflagofharmony.

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BibliographyBarrows,JohnHenry,ed.The World’s Parliament of Religions: An Illustrated

and Popular Story of the World’s First Parliament of Religions, Held in Chicago in Connection with The Columbian Exposition of 1893.Chicago,IL:TheParliamentPublishingCompany,1893.