Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 61)

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Earlier postings can be seen at

http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

 

Parts 1 to 60 were posted earlier. This is part 61.

 

c) Material Manifestations Are Limited Versions of Brahman, to Which They

Are All Subject

 

The Vedas are the only scriptures which teach the real absolute God, of

which all other ideas of God are but minimized and limited visions. (11)

 

What makes this creation? God. What do I mean by the use of the English word

God? Certainly not the word as ordinarily used in English - a good deal of

difference. There is no other suitable word in English. I would rather

confine myself to the Sanskrit word Brahman. It is the general cause of all

these manifestations. What is this Brahman? It is eternal, eternally pure,

eternally awake, the almighty, the all-knowing, the all-merciful, the

omnipresent, the formless, the partless. It "creates" this universe. (12)

 

All that has name and form is subject to all that has none. This is the

eternal truth the Shrutis preach. (13)

 

 

Cross reference to:

 

Isha Up., 16

 

Gita 2.24

 

 

d) The Desirability of Spiritual, Rather Than Material Monism

 

1. Absolute Oneness Is the Only System For People Who Want to Be Rational

and Religious at the Same Time

 

Here are two parallel lines of existence - one of the mind, the other of

matter. If matter and its transformations answer for all that we have, there

is no necessity for supposing the existence of a soul. But it cannot be

proved that thought has been evolved out of matter; and if a philosophical

monism is inevitable, spiritual monism is certainly logical and no less

desirable than a materialistic monism. (14)

 

In spite of people's curious notions about Advaitism, people's fright about

Advaitism, it is the salvation of the world, because therein alone is to be

found the reason of things. Dualism and other isms are very good as a means

of worship, very satisfying to the mind; and maybe they have helped the mind

onward; but if someone wants to be rational and religious at the same time,

Advaita is the one system in the world for him or her. (15)

 

Ceremonials and symbols etc., have no place in our religion, which is the

doctrine of the Upanishads, pure and simple. Many people think the

ceremonials etc. help them in realizing religion. I have no objection.

 

Religion is that which does not depend upon books or teachers or prophets or

saviors, and that which does not make us dependent in this or in any other

lives upon others. In this sense the Advaitism of the Upanishads is the only

religion. But savior, books, prophets, ceremonials etc. have their place.

They may help many, as Kali worship helps me in my secular work. They are

welcome. (16)