Thus spoke Vivekananda …

I am not so ignorant of Vivekananda’s teachings that I needed a primer. But, if one were to fall onto my laps I would not ignore it. I would perhaps re-prime myself. The Hindu of 12 January 2013 carries an interview (in a Q & A format) that the paper claims Vivekananda gave “during a train journey from Chingleput to Madras” [1]. I do not vouch for the paper’s claims and also for what is given in the article.

I am just going to copy-paste a few statements from the article, with no comments or commentary. I am doing this as a service to those who are deep into spirituality and I have no ulterior motives. It is of course possible that my choice from among a host of ideas Vivekananda had discussed in this interview is selective and that may reinforce or undermine the reader’s positions about him and his teachings. But, I plead not guilty.

Ø  The world has never seen such a patriotic and artistic race as the Japanese … while in Europe and elsewhere Art generally goes with dirt. Japanese Art is Art plus absolute cleanliness

Ø  Each nation has a theme: everything else is secondary. India’s theme is religion, Social reform and everything else are secondary

Ø  We are not like the Japanese, we are Hindus

Ø  It is only from spiritual work that we can get rest in India. If your work is material here, you die of diabetes

Ø  Chicago Parliament … helped on the tide of Vedanta, which is flooding the world

Ø  Before many years elapse, a vast majority of the English people will be Vedantins

Ø  Even Christians cannot understand their New Testament, without understanding the Vedanta

Ø  The Vedanta is the rationale of all religions. Without the Vedanta every religion is superstition, with it everything becomes religion

Ø  Our masses are very good because poverty here is not a crime

Ø  Impart even secular knowledge through religion … if there are enough self-sacrificing young fellows, who, I hope, will work with me, it can be done tomorrow

Ø  Karma is the eternal assertion of human freedom

Ø  If we can bring ourselves down by our Karma, surely it is in our power to raise ourselves by it

Ø  The masses, besides, have not brought themselves down altogether by their own Karma

Ø  I do not propose any levelling of castes. Caste is a very good thing. Caste is the plan we want to follow. What caste really is, not one in a million understands

Ø  In India, from caste we reach to the point where there is no caste. Caste is based throughout on that principle. The plan in India is to make everybody Brahmana …

Ø  … the Brahmana being the ideal of humanity

Ø  … this has mostly to be done by the Brahmanas themselves

Ø  It is in the Vedas that we have to study our religion

Ø  With the exception of the Vedas, every book must change. The authority of the Vedas is for all time to come; the authority of every one of our other books is for the time being

Ø  Caste should not go, but should only be readjusted occasionally … It is sheer nonsense to desire the abolition of caste

Ø  … learn from the Englishman the idea of prompt obedience to leaders, the absence of jealousy, the indomitable perseverance and undying faith in himself

Ø  Rituals … are absolutely necessary for the world as it is now; only we shall have to give people newer and fresh rituals

Ø  One sect wanted to destroy [the Hindu race?], and they were thrown out of India; they were the Buddhists

Ø  ... The progress of the Hindu race has been towards the realisation of the Vedantic ideals … through good or bad fortune

Ø  Whenever there was any reforming sect or religion which rejected the Vedantic ideal, it was smashed into nothing

Raghuram Ekambaram

References

1.    http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/raise-the-masses-slowly-up-raise-them-to-equality/article4300432.ece