Ideas & Examples of Swami Vivekanandas Practical Vedanta Ananda Mohan Ghosh.

Introduction to Swamijis Ideas Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was an ardent follower of Advaita Vedanta which teaches us that every person is potentially divine. Following the path of Raja-Yoga it is possible for anyone to attain God-like character and mental attitude. Therefore, the goal of every modern person should be to become pure and perfect both as a professional as well as a man or woman. Perfection comes automatically when mind becomes free from impurities like selfishness, lust, greed, jealousy, etc. Meditation and spiritual practices were invented by ancient Indian sages to achieve that desired goal. They recommended both spiritual and professional education for every teenager to become a good citizen. For spiritual practice, Rishi Patanjali discovered four categories of Yoga, namely Karma-Yoga, Raja-yoga, Jnana-Yoga and Bhakti-yoga, and practice of any one or a combination of them would be sufficient to make one physically sound and mentally pure. Swamiji discovered a new mind purifying method for busy modern people and he gave the name practical Vedanta to that method. To every human being Mother Nature provides five sense organs and a brain and mind to receive and process those signals for acquiring external information and extracting knowledge. Meditation like Raja-Yoga helps increasing the brains functional capacity and ability to capture messages coming from the inner soul or atman. However, so called mind of no two persons are found to be functioning similarly because of variations in the degree of manifestation. There are many factors involved in creating such variations like economy, environment, talent, opportunity, guidance, heredity, etc. Advaita Vedanta tells that at the level of soul or atman all are potentially equal, but external conditions and absence of selfcorrecting (spiritual) forces, getting generated inside, create the differences. These Spiritual self-correcting internal forces need to be grown individually either by practicing yoga or by adopting any other means of meditation. Modern India lost her spiritual glory by facing several foreign invasions and continuous torture by their rulers. As a wandering monk Swamiji could study the socio-economic and spiritual problems of India and tried to find out a permanent solution for their removal. He realized that for a hungry person food is more important than any spiritual or religious advice. However, giving dole or donation can never solve such problems permanently. For that the entire population, specially the poor and the underprivileged, are to be professionally trained so that they can earn their own bread and butter. Both science and spiritual education for all is a must. Equal opportunity must be extended to all by lifting all social restrictions and economic barriers. Swamiji,

therefore, started propagating his Gurus mantra Service to man is service to God as a modern method of spirituality. He gave the name practical Vedanta to this modern ritual which can be used as an alternative to all traditional ones. This new practical ritual can easily remove poverty, hunger, illiteracy, social injustice, etc from any backward society, still persisting in India. Secular minded modern people belonging to any religion will not hesitate to take part is such society lifting activities. Thus peace and harmony between different religions, castes and creeds can be restored and strengthened. Even non-believer modern people will come to realize what is meant by spirituality One Unique divine spirit is manifesting through different bodies. This is the central theme of Swamijis practical Vedanta. Only man making character building education can make a person proper human. So called educated modern people are running only after more money and physical comforts. Very often they forget to pay attention even to their near and dear ones. Side by side, traditional rituals and pujas in temples are also increasing day-by-day. Now God is treated as an agent for fulfilment of all selfish desires. This situation has been created due to lack of spiritual education. Swamiji, therefore, wanted to add spiritual component in the modern scienceoriented secular education pattern. After detecting differences in the mental orientation of the Eastern and Western people Swamiji came to the conclusion that Science must shake hands with Spirituality to bring back global peace and harmony. Modern people are very busy to meet their material needs and find no time to devote on traditional meditations. He, therefore, prescribed selfless social work as an alternative. We can expect love and respect from others, when we extend the same to them. Why should we love others -- because the same atman is manifesting through different bodies. Everyone belongs to one human family, so no one can be our enemy. Swamiji verified his new theory of practical Vedanta by applying it to few renowned persons. This article gives details of six such successful persons (three Indians and three Americans) who changed their mental attitude and work style by coming in contact with Swamiji. Before going to those details, let us acquire some more knowledge about practical Vedanta. Concept of Practical Vedanta Swamiji, as a social and spiritual scientist, carried out a first-hand survey (covering the period from 1889 to 1896) of socio-economic and spiritual conditions of common people of the East and the West. He was very much shocked to see the inhuman treatment the poor and lower caste people used to receive from the rich and higher caste Indians. Even religious minded Hindus were not sympathetic to lower caste people and think only for personal salvation. They tried to ignore all social responsibilities without understanding the true meaning of Vedanta. Swamiji was astonished to see such mental makeup of modern India where Vedanta philosophy was evolved several thousand years before. He realized that religion, in the

name of rituals, was misused by the priests to exploit illiterate common people. So India needs no new spirituality concept, but scientific reinterpretation and proper application of its Vedanta philosophy. Of course, India needs import of technical know-how to generate more material resources locally. He decided to visit economically and technically advanced countries like USA and Europe to find out ways and means necessary for material growth of this country. He observed that the West is materially strong but spiritually weak. To bridge complementary gaps at two ends of the world he started setting up Vedanta centres in America and Europe and a cluster of Ramkrishna Math and Mission centres for monks in India. His idea was that Scientific and technical knowledge from the West should come to India and the spiritual ideas of Vedanta should flood the Western people. Scientific knowledge would help India to grow materially and spiritual wisdom would enrich western minds to bring global peace and harmony. Thus the world as a whole would be a better place to live and grow uniformly. For exchange of spiritual ideas Indian monks and sages are to be contacted and for exchange of technical ideas foreign experts are to be consulted. This was Swamijis plan and program. The Chicago World Fair (started in May 1893 and continued up to Oct 1893) organized, as one of many other cultural and technical events, the first Parliament of World Religions (from 11th Sep to 27th Sept 1893) where Swamiji delivered several mind-blowing lectures on Hinduism and Advaita Vedanta. His inaugural address made him famous overnight and his popularity started spreading all over the world. America and Europe became eager to know more about Indias spirituality and her people. He decided to stay there to fulfil his most cherished mission and vision. Coming back to India Swamiji established the Ramkrishna Math and Mission headquarters at Belur in 1898-99. Through Ramakrishna Mission he then started propagating the idea of true man making and character building education. Existing British education model was not suitable for poor India to adopt and reach the level of world standard. Of course, no country can grow and prosper without having full freedom. So he gave a call to the nation to make India free within next 50 years. India became independent in August, 1947. However, free India failed to understand Swamijis forward looking nation-building ideas and started worshiping him as a new God. The same British designed education pattern is followed even now and our Universities are crowding job-markets with unemployable degree holders. Man making and character building component has not been included in the syllabus as yet. Educated professionals with very poor work-culture are increasing the sufferings of the poor more and more. New generation has started blindly imitating Western style of living, forgetting Indias glorious past and tradition of plain living and high thinking. As a result social and moral fabric of our country is going down very fast. The poor is becoming poorer and the rich richer. Swamiji, as a prophet, could visualize such a situation in advance and as a corrective measure suggested By uniting the materialism of the West and the spirituality of the East I believe much can be accomplished. Independent India, even after six decades and a half, has

not been able to modify the syllabus and the examination system appropriately. We are politically free but still maintaining old slave mentality. We never even feel shy for that. Swamiji invented practical Vedanta for modern scientific minded busy people. His idea was for material gain man should take help of science and technology, but should never forget the importance of spirituality for personal and social development. Every work should be taken as worship of the (living) God that is human. Advaita Vedanta teaches us that God (Bramha) is present as atman in every living being. Therefore, service to man should be taken as service to God. This modern method of worshiping (living) God can easily replace any traditional ritual as mind purifier said Swamiji. Our leaders are paying least attention to that new interpretation of Vedanta by Swamiji but why? We have totally ignoring Swamijis advice-- It is only when the mind is very calm and collected that the whole of its energy is spent in doing good work.1 To bring that calmness and concentration of mind spiritual training is a must for every student. Instead of paying attention to that every stake holder is running after high-grades and career, sometimes adopting unethical means if required. Swamijis man making character building idea has just become a poster to befool voters of the largest democracy. In his paper on Hinduism at the Parliament of World Religions Swamiji said Just as the law of gravitation existed before its discovery, and would exist if all humanity forgot it, so is it with the laws that govern the spiritual world. The moral, ethical, and spiritual relations between soul and soul and between individual spirits and the Father of all spirits, were there before their discovery, and would remain even if we forget them.2 If we neglect or ignore this natural law, we are bound to face the consequences. Neuro-scientists have also discovered that spiritualism is capable of bringing a positive change in human health and thoughts, behaviour and attitude provided its cultivation gets started from an early age. In Karma-Yoga Swamiji further added that our idea about universe is limited by our mind the universe of the senses, which we can see, feel, touch, hear, think of, imagine. This alone is under law; but beyond it, existence cannot be subject to law, because causation does not extend beyond the world of our minds.3 This very statement proves that knowledge of physical science only cannot help one to clean up his/her selfish desires. The urge for mental clean-up must be aroused by parents and supported by the society. Modern society is running only after money, power and physical comforts forgetting all societal needs and responsibilities. So the corruption in our country is spreading like cancer. Students and youths are moving like radar less vessels in the ocean of uncertainties. Swamiji rightly said All the sciences are for this one end, to bring happiness to humanity; and that which brings the larger amount of happiness, man takes and gives up that which brings a lesser amount of happiness.4 Swamiji further added -- Great indeed are the manifestations of muscular power, and marvelous the manifestations of intellect expressing

themselves through machines by the appliances of science; yet none of these is more potent than the influence which spirit exerts upon the world.5 To induct pure love, honesty and selflessness in the mind of a citizen, spiritual education cannot be avoided. Countrys future depends on the young-generation and they must get proper spiritual training. They must be trained to think for others and feel for the poor. How can we forget what Swamiji said in his Practical Vedanta lecture -- The history of the world shows that those who never thought of their little individuality were the greatest benefactors of the human race, and that the more men and women think of themselves, the less are they able to do for others?6 In this age of science & technology arousal of spiritual consciousness in every mind is more important because science can be used either as a weapon of destruction or as a tool of construction. Modern selfish society is continuously disintegrating instead of finding the unity in diversity. Only God knows when we will start realizing our mistakes and make a U-turn! As a spiritual doctor Swamiji placed before us his prescription, but as weak minded patients we are unwilling to swallow his medicine. So we have to suffer in spite of tremendous material growth by applying science & technology. In Swamijis time, elite learned people had full faith in human values. So he could induce in their minds the concept of practical Vedanta. A few examples are given below. Examples of Practical Vedanta Swamiji, in his short span of life, could persuade quite a few Scientists, Engineers, Industrialists, Philosophers and State Rulers to follow the path of practical Vedanta keeping all daily routines intact. He just asked them to think about others whenever they think about their own growth and development. While spending money they should think of donating excess wealth for the welfare of the poor and the underprivileged. He advised them to promote science & technology education and setup new industries for meeting employment and material needs of ever growing population. He inspired scientists to find scientific truths lying behind religious thoughts and ideas. He asked professionals and administrators to serve poor people with selfless love and care, as if they are serving a living God. He advised young generation to think always positive and acquire self-confidence and self-respect. Many rich, powerful and talented persons of the world got spiritually transformed after coming in contact with Swamiji. Here only six such examples are placed before the readers. He tried to induct scientific temperament to those who had built-in spiritual mentality and injected spirituality to those who had faith only in science and technology.
Example-1: The King of Khetri Raja Ajit Singh

As a wondering monk Swamiji reached Khetri in 1891. During his stay at Khetri (from august 7, to October 27, 1891), both of them (Raja and Swamiji) had exchange of views on spiritualism, every day. To broaden the mind of the Raja, Swamiji not only brought home the

importance of modern science to him, but also taught him this faculty.7 He insisted Raja Ajit Singh to setup a science laboratory within his palace and Raja fulfilled his desire without any delay. Swamiji himself helped raja to understand science subjects by performing experiments in the laboratory. His idea was that every ruler of a state should have some basic knowledge of science and participate in daily spiritual activities so that his subjects could follow him as a Role-model. Citizens like to see their ruler as a person of principles and consider him/her as their role-model. Swamiji was successful in converting Raja Ajit Singh completely.
Example-2: Industrialist Sir Jamshedji N. Tata

In 1893, the ship in which Swamiji was sailing from Japan to Vancouver of Canada on his way to Chicago, Sir Jamshedji N. Tata was a co-passenger. Sir Tata was going to attend the Chicago Worlds Fair where all latest engineering machines and systems were exhibited. During sea journey both had several discussions on the need of Indias scientific research to support indigenous industries to grow smoothly without any foreign help. At that time India had no Iron and Steel Industry. Swamiji told Sir J.N. Tata to build up such an industry to reduce imports and to utilize huge iron ores available within the country. A picture worth visualizing a young monk is inspiring a well-established elderly businessman to start a manufacturing industry and to establish one research institution for generating required technical know-how. Being inspired by Swamijis ideas, Jamshedji decided to setup M/s Tata Iron & Steel at Jamshedpur, Bihar and a research institute at Bangalore, named Indian Institute of Science. Five years later, Tata wrote to Vivekananda, I trust, you remember me as a fellow-traveller on your voyage from Japan to Chicago. I very much recall at this moment your views on the growth of the ascetic spirit in India I recall these ideas in connection with my scheme of Research Institute of Science for India.8 Thus Tata Iron & Steel (established in August 1907) at Jamshedpur and Indian Institute of Science (established in May 1909) at Bangalore came to exist and enrich India both economically and technically. Thus an industrialist came forward to fulfill Swamijis idea of practical Vedanta and to elevate the prestige of India and her people.
Example-3: Electrical Engineer & Inventor Nikola Tesla

During Swamijis stay in New York he came in contact with a great Inventor cum Engineer, Nikola Tesla. He was an Electrical Engineer and invented Alternating Current (A.C) machines and power systems to replace more costly and problem giving Direct Current (D.C) machines and systems. The whole world is now using Teslas A. C. electrical machines and power systems. To honour such a great inventor the International Bureau of Standards has used his surname tesla as the SI unit of flux density. Swami Nikhilananda, in his book on Swami Vivekananda A Biography introduced Mr. Tesla with these words -- By the year 1891, Nikola Tesla had invented many useful devices. These included a system of arc lighting (1886), the alternating current motor, power generation and transmission systems (1888), systems of

electrical conversion and distribution by oscillatory discharges (1889), and a generator of high frequency currents (1890), to name a few. . It was while observing the sunset that Tesla had a vision of how rotating electromagnetic fields could be used in a new form of electric motor. This led to the well-known system of alternating current power distribution. In 1891 however, Tesla patented what one day may become his most famous invention. It is the basis for the wireless transmission of electrical power and is known as the Tesla Coil Transformer.9 Tesla used to attend Swamijis classes on Vedanta. He was asked by Swamiji to find a relationship between Akasha (matter) and Prana (energy). Mr. Tesla agreed to do that. Later, in a letter (LVII) to Mr. E. T. Sturdy, dated 13.2.1896, Swamiji wrote -- In that case, the Vedantic cosmology will be placed on the surest of foundations. I am working a good deal now upon the cosmology and eschatology (That is, doctrine of the last things death, judgement, etc.) of the Vedanta. I clearly see their perfect unison with modern science, and the elucidation of the one will be followed by that of the other. I intend to write a book later on in the form of questions and answers.10 However Swamijis expectation remained unfulfilled. Tesla could not establish the relationship between energy and matter. The mathematical proof of mass-energy principle ultimately came from Albert Einstein when he published his paper on special theory of relativity [in 1905] showing E = mc2. Thus Swamiji as a prophet could place before scientists a fundamental problem to solve.
Example-4: Father of Modern Psychologists Prof. William James

Prof. William James of Harvard University met Swamiji at the residence of Mrs. Bull in September 1894. In his research program Prof. James tried to verify a few Vedantic truths that Swamiji described in his Raja-Yoga lectures. Prof. James wrote in 1908 The paragon of all Unity systems is the Vedanta philosophy of India, and the paragon of Vedantist missionaries was the late Swami Vivekananda who visited our land some years ago. I have just been reading some of Vivekananda's address in England, which I had not seen. The man is simply a wonder for oratorical power...the Swami is an honor to humanity.11 Prof. James research activities were heavily influenced by Swamijis ideas on practical Vedanta and Raja-Yoga. In 1884 William James described a two-stage model of free-will: in the first stage the mind develops random alternative possibilities for action, and in the second an adequately determined will selects one option.12 However, Swamiji had a different opinion about FreeWill. He said there cannot be any such thing as free-will; the very words are a contradiction, because will is what we know, and everything that we know is within our universe, and everything within our universe is moulded by conditions of time, space and causality. ... To acquire freedom we have to get beyond the limitations of this universe; it cannot be found here. Later Prof. James added a comment on Swamijis remark However, the preceding quote has often been misinterpreted as Vivekananda implying that everything is

predetermined. What Vivekananda actually meant by lack of free will was that the will was not "free" because it was heavily influenced by the law of cause and effect"The will is not free, it is a phenomenon bound by cause and effect, but there is something behind the will which is free". Vivekananda never said things were absolutely determined and placed emphasis on the power of conscious choice to alter one's past karma: "It is the coward and the fool who says this is his fate. But it is the strong man who stands up and says I will make my own fate."13 This is an example where Swamiji as a Vedantist could mould a psychologist to give much better and scientific interpretation of the free will.
Example-5: American Oil Baron John D. Rockefeller

The Rockefeller foundation was founded on the suggestion of Swami Vivekananda. The thing happened like this -- It was early 1894 and Swamiji was traveling around the United States giving lectures. He had become very popular after his famous speech at the Parliament of Religions. It was around that time an American had amassed a lot of riches from the oil business. This was John D. Rockefeller and he was known for his ruthlessness and single-minded pursuit for making money. In fact, he was known to be obsessed with his wealth and making profits that had begun to tell on his health. It was around then that he learnt of the wonderful and extraordinary Hindu monk staying in the house of one of his business colleagues in Chicago. Rockefeller was invited many times by this friend but he refused the invitation. One day, although he did not want to meet the Swamiji, he was pushed to do so by an impulse and went directly to the house of his friend, brushing aside the butler saying that he wanted to meet the Hindu monk. The butler ushered him into the living room and not waiting to be announced, Rockefeller entered Swamijis adjoining study room and was much surprised to see Swamiji behind a writing table. He did not lift his eyes to see who actually entered. After a while, in a quiet voice Swamiji, who had not seen Rockefeller before, talked to him of his (Rockefellers) innermost secrets and anxieties. He talked of things which even his closest friends and relatives would not have known. It seemed miraculous, almost supernatural to Rockefeller. How do you know all these? Who has talked of this to you? he burst out. Swamiji looked at him with a quiet, calm smile on his lips as if a child standing before him had asked a foolish question. Swamiji said, Forget the past. Become gay again. Build up your health. Do not dwell on your sorrows. Transmute your emotions into some form of creative external expression. Your spiritual health requires it. You are only a channel for Gods money that you have accumulated and it is your duty to do good to the world. God has given you all His wealth in order that you may get an opportunity to serve Him and His starving millions of children. On hearing this, Rockefeller was annoyed that anyone dared to talk to him in that mann er. He left the room in irritation, not even saying goodbye. But after a week, again without being

announced, he entered Swamijis study and finding him the same as before, threw on his desk a paper which told of his plans to donate an enormous sum of money towards financing a public institution. Well, there you are Swami Rockefeller said, You must be satisfied now and you can thank me for it. Swamiji did not even lift his eyes, did not move for a time. Then taking the paper he quietly read it and said, It is for you to thank me.14 Mr. Rockefeller also donated a handsome amount to the Chicago University for research and development. Till 2013 that University has produced 97 Nobel Laureates. This shows what a sage can do for the world by converting the mind of a rich businessman.
Example-6: Indian Scientist Sir Jagadish C. Bose

Swamiji had immense love and respect for anything Indian. He used to mention India as a Punya-Bhumi. He had special respect for Indian Physicist Sir J. C. Bose, who missed Physics Nobel Prize because the Radio signal detector, invented by him, was copied by Marconi and patent rights acquired. Prof. Bose demonstrated his experiment in 1896 but did not apply for its patent. Marconi took advantage of that negligence. Even Swami Vivekananda repeatedly told Prof. Bose to apply for patent rights of all his research work, but he cared little. However, for Boses another new discovery (semi-conductor type radio/microwave detector) -Vivekananda tried to set matters straight by taking a copy of JC Bose's work and giving it to his disciple, Sara Chapman Bull, to file for a Patent in USA. Though she filed the application in 1901, the Patent Office granted it only on 29th March 1904 (Patent numbers US 755840).15 Marconi got the patent for the older detector in his name and India had to lose the chance of winning a Nobel Prize in Physics. In 1997 a few scientists of the IEEE, USA could trace out Sir J. C. Boses patent on semi-conductor type radio/microwave detector and tried to honour him posthumously. Swamiji always wanted to raise the honour and prestige of India for bringing back self-respect and self-confidence of Indians. Vedantist Swamiji was more practical than scientist Bose in this matter. All Scientists and Engineers of free India should make a note of this incident. Applying patent rights for all original work should be regarded as a national duty to enhance countrys prestige. Conclusions Democratic India has failed to implement Swamijis ideas of practical Vedanta. Modern leaders are blindly following the Western model of development neglecting our special needs and socio-cultural requirements. Major fruits of science education and industrialization are reaching to the richer section of the society. Share of national wealth is not percolating up to the grass root level due to rampant corruption and political interferences. The same British designed education system is carried on with little patches here and there. There are so many degree holders but learned persons are very few. Teaching is no longer a mission but a profession. Graduates are job hunters and not nation builders. Swamiji is treated as an idol and

his ideals are not taken for implementation. As a result Indias prestige, image and glory are sacking down more and more. In Swamijis time our country was under the British rule and the scope for holistic development was very much restricted. Even then he advised -- With the help of Western science set yourselves to dig the earth and produce food-stuffs not by means of mean servitude of others but by discovering new avenues to production, by your own exertions aided by Western science. After independence our national economy started improving but the condition of the poor has not changed much. Science & technology education is spreading but spiritual component finds no place there. Our secular leaders are not ready, as yet, to implement Swamijis man-making character building ideas. We have totally forgotten Swamijis very valuable message -- Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life. We must have life-building, manmaking, character-making assimilation of ideas. If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your life and character, you have more education than any man who has got by heart a whole library. The main goal of our students and their guardians is career building by any means. Of course, exceptions are there but they find little scope for further growth in this country. Our talented youths prefer to settle in foreign countries to avoid unwanted political and administrative interferences. Free India has failed to produce teachers or mentors like Swamiji and India is not getting any more country lovers like Tatas or Boses. To become a true lover of India, every one of us has to study and apply Swamijis practical Vedanta in personal and professional life. Better late than never it is high time now to take the oath by joining hands together -- Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached. References:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Practical Vedanta, Part - I, Swami Vivekananda, London, 10th November, 1896. Paper on Hinduism, CW of Swamiji, Vol 1, p. 7. Complete Works, Karma-Yoga, Vol 1, p. 95. Unity, the goal of religion: CW, Volume 3. Ibid., Reply to the address of welcome at Pamban. Quotation taken from Swamijis Practical Vedanta Lectures. Website: www.rkmissionkhetri.org/ INDIA NOW Volume 4, Issue 1, April-May 2008.

Swami Vivekananda- A Biography (Book) by Swami Nikhilananda, Ramkrishna Vivekananda Center, New York, 1973.
10

Swamijis letter (LVII) to Mr. E. T. Sturdy, dated 13.2.1896

10

11

William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience: A Study in Human Nature, Penn State Electronic Classics Series Publication, 2002. Accessed at URL: http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/wjames/Varieties-Rel-Exp.pdf
12 13

Wikipedia on William James. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_will CW, Vol 5, Saying and Utterances

14

Balus Musings Blog, Swami Vivekananda and the Rockefeller Foundation. Accessed at URL: http://rbalu.wordpress.com/?s=Rockefeller+
15

Acharya Jagadis Chandra Bose, Vigyan Prasar Science Portal. URL: http://www.vigyanprasar.gov.in/scientists/JCBOSE.htm

11