Rediscovering Swami Vivekananda

Contents: Foreword. 1. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the spiritual Guru. 2. The impact of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address on the world today. 3. Swami Vivekananda’s message to the west. 5. God in Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy. 5. Swami Vivekananda’s doctrine of Universal religion. 6. Swami Vivekananda as an advaitist. 7. Swami Vivekananda as a Vedantist. 8. Swami Vivekananda’s practical (Applied) Vedanta. 9. Vivekananda’s re-interpretation of the Vedanta as the Basis of Universal religion. 10. Vivekananda’s vision of global unity. 11. Vivekananda’s analysis of secularism, education and religion. 12. Swami Vivekananda’s vision of national integration. 13. National values-problems of their application in contemporary India. 14. Society, social change and Vivekananda. 15. Vivekananda as a socialist. 16. Instrumental values vs. ultimate values: Vivekananda. Notes. Index.

Rediscovering Swami Vivekananda makes a critical examination of the keynote of Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy which was spiritual unity of the universe and most importantly raising interfaith awareness which the oriental monk introduced in the occident more than hundred years ago. An uncompromising Advaitist, Vivekananda has always been a champion of freedom a doctrine which mirrors his idea of socialism visualizing a movement in which the individuals acted freely and spontaneously for the good of the whole. Harmony and peace, and not dissension, Vivekananda’s stirring call at the concluding session of the historic Parliament of Religions at Chicago, in September 1893 has the most significant relevance today when we are standing at a critical phase of history.

When erosion of ethical values is a global experience, human morals are fast decaying, religious fundamentalism is prompting fratricides, the teachings of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) a missionary of socialism, a great educator and overall a propagator of universal religion, are emerging with renewed significance.