Guest guest Posted February 18, 1999 Report Share Posted February 18, 1999 Namaste fellow friends I'm a member in several other lists relating to Advaita. A few learned (?) members in the other lists consider Swami Vivekananda-ji a neo-advaitin or neo-vedantin. Some even contend that Swami-ji has deviated from classical Advaita. I would like to start a thread on this subject in this list where I would like to request everyone to contribute their opinion(s). It is also worth noting that Swami-ji gave a different set of teachings to the west and the east. Similarly, Christ too taught his direct disciples and lay followers differently. Maybe a lesson could be learnt from this limited analysis of one of the greatest propounders of Practical Vedanta. Thank you. Om Tat Sat Kathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 1999 Report Share Posted February 19, 1999 >K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan > >Namaste fellow friends > >I'm a member in several other lists relating to Advaita. A few learned (?) >members in the other lists consider Swami Vivekananda-ji a neo-advaitin or >neo-vedantin. Some even contend that Swami-ji has deviated from classical >Advaita. I would like to start a thread on this subject in this list where >I would like to request everyone to contribute their opinion(s). > >It is also worth noting that Swami-ji gave a different set of teachings to >the west and the east. Similarly, Christ too taught his direct disciples >and lay followers differently. Maybe a lesson could be learnt from this >limited analysis of one of the greatest propounders of Practical Vedanta. >Thank you. > Namaste, Kathi I would like to reply to this more fully when I have a bit more time. For now let me just say that there is no such thing as " neo-Vedanta " . When did Vedanta become something fixed and static and not adaptable to new times and conditions? Vedanta means an outlook which must be continually renewed as language changes and cultures change and as It migrates from land to land. ------ Swami Yogeshananda The Eternal Quest 302 Sycamore Drive Decatur, GA 30030 (404)373-0107 yogeshananda http://www.mindspring.com/~yogeshananda/index.html ----- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 1999 Report Share Posted February 19, 1999 Dear Kathi, The key to your question is in your reference to " learned <?> members. The academic world makes distictions and classifications designed, in theory, to aid study. These serve a scholarly purpose, perhaps, but are often quite arbritrary and have little meaning outside acadamia. " Neo-Vedanta " means Vedanta propounded in recent times compared, in time, to " classical Vedanta " of old. One Vedanta, viewed in segmemnts of history, as in any other area of study. People misunderstand this academic classification in time. Nameste, Pamela Hoye BA in Religious Studies Fresno State University, 1974 At 7:13 PM -0800 on 2/18/99, Swami Yogeshananda wrote: > Swami Yogeshananda <yogeshananda > > >K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan > > > >Namaste fellow friends > > > >I'm a member in several other lists relating to Advaita. A few learned (?) > >members in the other lists consider Swami Vivekananda-ji a neo-advaitin or > >neo-vedantin. Some even contend that Swami-ji has deviated from classical > >Advaita. I would like to start a thread on this subject in this list where > >I would like to request everyone to contribute their opinion(s). > > > >It is also worth noting that Swami-ji gave a different set of teachings to > >the west and the east. Similarly, Christ too taught his direct disciples > >and lay followers differently. Maybe a lesson could be learnt from this > >limited analysis of one of the greatest propounders of Practical Vedanta. > >Thank you. > > > Namaste, Kathi > I would like to reply to this more fully when I have a bit more time. For > now let me just say that there is no such thing as " neo-Vedanta " . When did > Vedanta become something fixed and static and not adaptable to new times > and conditions? Vedanta means an outlook which must be continually renewed > as language changes and cultures change and as It migrates from land to > land. > > ------ > Swami Yogeshananda > The Eternal Quest > 302 Sycamore Drive > Decatur, GA 30030 > (404)373-0107 > yogeshananda > http://www.mindspring.com/~yogeshananda/index.html > ----- > > > > ------ > Is ONElist important to you? Come to our new web site and share with > us your stories. > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest guest Posted February 21, 1999 Report Share Posted February 21, 1999 --------------- cc:Mail Forwarded --------------- Sunil Sudhakar 02/19/99 04:05 PM ramakrishna AT INTERNET Re: [ramakrishna] Re: Swami Vivekananda & Advaita Re: [ramakrishna] Re: Swami Vivekananda & Advaita Author: Sunil Sudhakar at FWENJ8 2/19/99 4:05 PM Dear Friends Thankyou for this e-mail satsangh for the discussions on Guru Maharaj's ideals and life. The letter saying that everyone perceives Swamiji(the ocean) as per the size and shape of his pitcher was beautiful. For me whether Swamiji was a vedantin or neo-vedantin, how he taught in the east or in the west is not as important as the way his words and actions go direct to your heart and the way his words sets us on fire and prompts us to act. Coming back to the analogy of the Pitcher, the pitcher should be used to perceive the magnitude of the ocean. Just because our neighbours pitcher looks different, it should not create doubt in us about the efficacy of ones own pitcher. Guru Maharaj gives us his famous direct approach saying if you want to know the glory of the landlord (god), go and befriend the landlord and he will himself tell you all about himself. Do not spend time counting his property, the number of houses he has, the number of servants that he has and such other details. Are we not fortunate enough to hear his soothing words like, " Whoever wants God intensely, finds Him. Go and verify it in your own life. " Friends, please visit the brand new web-site of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai at www.sriramakrishnamath.org. It was inaugrated on the auspicious day of Guru Maharaj's birthday on 18th Feb. Browse and enjoy. Sunil Sudhakar _________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ [ramakrishna] Re: Swami Vivekananda & Advaita Author: ramakrishna (Dr C S Shah <drcssha) at INTERNET 2/19/99 6:03 AM Dear Friends, The readers are requested to go through the book: " Vivekananda: The Great Spiritual Teacher " brought out by (1995) Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Calcutta 700014, India. In relation to the use of word " Neo-Vedanta " , the reader is specifically referred to the article: " Vivekananda's Neo-Vedantism and Its Practical Application " by Dr. Satischandra Chatterji on page 255 of the same book. * Swami Vivekananda is a " Ocean of Knowledge " . Every one can take his share from this 'ocean' depending upon the size and shape of his/her pitcher. But that " Ocean " will not be affected. Through spiritual practice (sadhana) one can increase one's capacity to procure more and more knowledge from it. And to know the Swamiji fully the person will have to become the " ocean of Knowledge " himself. dr. c. s. shah K Kathirasan ADM NCS wrote: > K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan > > Namaste fellow friends > > I'm a member in several other lists relating to Advaita. A few learned (?) > members in the other lists consider Swami Vivekananda-ji a neo-advaitin or > neo-vedantin. Some even contend that Swami-ji has deviated from classical > Advaita. I would like to start a thread on this subject in this list where > I would like to request everyone to contribute their opinion(s). > It is also worth noting that Swami-ji gave a different set of teachings to > the west and the east. Similarly, Christ too taught his direct disciples > and lay followers differently. Maybe a lesson could be learnt from this > limited analysis of one of the greatest propounders of Practical Vedanta. > Thank you. > > Om Tat Sat > Kathi > > ------------------------------ --------- > Explore a new interest; start a new hobby. Go to http: //www. > ------------------------------ --------- > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 1999 Report Share Posted February 22, 1999 Friends: Sunil Sudhakar's message is very apt, and needs to be taken to heart. I have only this to add: For long years there has been an academic group who have fussed about Swamiji's having " distorted " classical Advaita. One is hard put to know what exactly is classical Advaita, so how could Swamiji have distorted it? There are the views of Gaudapada, of Sankara, of Vidyaranya et al. and it is most probable that their were many views before Gaudapada, which have been lost to us. Vedanta, as one of our most eminent Swamis has said, is a huge department store; one comes to get what one most needs. Furthermore, the same set of scholars tries to draw a line between Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji, alleging that the disciple was not faithful to the views and ways of his Master. At one time I read those books, and permitted such a doubt to be entertained in my mind. When, later, I joined the Order, I discovered the orally transmitted connections between Swamiji and his Master--matters totally unknown to those learned professors. How could they know what the monks know, about what was and was not passed on? It is also good to remember that Ramakrishna only said, " Naren will preach " -- not " Naren will be my clone. " ------ Swami Yogeshananda The Eternal Quest 302 Sycamore Drive Decatur, GA 30030 (404)373-0107 yogeshananda http://www.mindspring.com/~yogeshananda/index.html ----- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 22, 1999 Report Share Posted February 22, 1999 > Swami Yogeshananda <yogeshananda > Namaste, Kathi > I would like to reply to this more fully when I have a bit more time. For > now let me just say that there is no such thing as " neo-Vedanta " . When > did > Vedanta become something fixed and static and not adaptable to new times > and conditions? Vedanta means an outlook which must be continually > renewed > as language changes and cultures change and as It migrates from land to > land. > > > Namaste Swami-ji I fully agree with you and that there is no such thing as neo-vedanta. I am basically re-stating what some other members stated in their posts in other lists. I intend to start this thread so that we can learn more and be more informed of Swami Vivekananda-ji's works by discussion. Thanks. Om Shanti Kathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 1999 Report Share Posted February 23, 1999 Dear friends, Please refer to a standard book by a monk of Sri Ramakrishna Order: " Meditation on Swami Vivekananda " , By Swami Tathagatananda, published by Vedanta Society of New York, 1994, where on page 58 of Practical Vedanta Part II the Swami concludes: " Really, Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) was " the inaugurator of the Neo-Vedantic Movement in India. " There are many such references. One should use and look at the term Neo-Vedanta in this spirit and from this angle. Dr. C. S. Shah K Kathirasan ADM NCS wrote: > K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan > > > Swami Yogeshananda <yogeshananda > > Namaste, Kathi > > I would like to reply to this more fully when I have a bit more time. For > > now let me just say that there is no such thing as " neo-Vedanta " . When > > did > > Vedanta become something fixed and static and not adaptable to new times > > and conditions? Vedanta means an outlook which must be continually > > renewed > > as language changes and cultures change and as It migrates from land to > > land. > > > > > > > Namaste Swami-ji > > I fully agree with you and that there is no such thing as > neo-vedanta. I am basically re-stating what some other members stated in > their posts in other lists. I intend to start this thread so that we can > learn more and be more informed of Swami Vivekananda-ji's works by > discussion. Thanks. > > Om Shanti > Kathi > > ------ > Is ONElist important to you? Come to our new web site and share with > us your stories. > ------ > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > Vivekananda Centre London > http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Guest guest Posted February 24, 1999 Report Share Posted February 24, 1999 Namaste First of all, I would like to thank Dr Shah for the beautiful quotes presented and for the effort. I truly enjoyed reading it. The features of the new Vedanta is indeed what Swami-ji taught and I believe it is the most practical way of realizing the ideals of Vedanta in this modern age. In the context mentioned below, the usage of the term neo-vedanta is justified. This neo-vedanta we are talking about is not something new, but a more rational and scientific approach to spirituality as Dr Shah stated. Thank you. Om Shanti Kathi > > Dr C S Shah [sMTP:drcssha] > Wednesday, February 24, 1999 3:39 AM > ramakrishna ; ramakrishna > [ramakrishna] Re: Swami Vivekananda & Advaita > > Dear Friends, > Swami Adiswarananda in his long scholarly essay on " Vivekananda: His > Message of Vedanta & The Western Way " in 'Vivekananda the Great Spiritual > Teacher, Advaita Ashrama Calcutta' has devoted half of the essay (pp. 245 > to 253) on elaborating the concepts of " The New Vedanta " . > Here the Swami discusses the cardinal features of the New Vedanta as > follows: > 1) The most important contribution of the new Vedanta is its practicality. > It replaces humanitarian ideals of compassion and charity with the > spiritual precept of service to the living God dwelling in the hearts of > all beings. > 2) The New Vedanta is available to all regardless of caste, colour, or > race. Its practice does not require a person to have a male body and > brahmin birth, and to live in the seclusion of the forest. > 3) The old Vedanta said that one who did not believe in God was an > atheist, the new Vedanta says: He who does not believe in himself is an > atheist. For the new vedanta material and spiritual development are > conjoined. Work and worship go together. The inner and outer dimension of > a person must be balanced in a pleasing harmony. The new approach does not > believe in a God who promises a person eternal bliss in heaven but cannot > give him bread here. Practical Vedanta is an active spiritual quest --not > letting things happen, but causing them to happen. > * > One should approach Vedanta through reason and rationality. Anything > irrational, anything that contradicts reason shunned away as superstition. > This scientific approach towards spirituality is the basis of Vedanta. > This is what is Neo-Vedanta for me. Jealousy, hatred, and narrowness of > mind are not conducive to the study and absorption of Vedantic truths. > possessing a critical attitude will not usher in an enlightened attitude > as expressed by Swami Vivekananda. The spirit of rivalry and an aggressive > attitude will only force the people to shun religion and will never make > them friendly. > What is taught by the Holy Trio - Sri Ramakrishna, Ma Saradadevi, and > Swami Vivekananda is Neo-Vedanata for me. > I choose to close the discussion with malice towards none and love for > all. I pray the graceful and all merciful Almighty kindles the fire of > renunciation and service in the hearts of everyone so that the humanity > can scale the new peak of spiritual awakening. > Dr C S Shah > > Dr C S Shah wrote: > > Dear friends, > Please refer to a standard book by a monk of Sri Ramakrishna Order: > " Meditation on Swami Vivekananda " , By Swami Tathagatananda, > published by Vedanta > Society of New York, 1994, > where on page 58 of Practical Vedanta Part II the Swami concludes: > " Really, Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda) was " the inaugurator of the > Neo-Vedantic > Movement in India. " > There are many such references. One should use and look at the term > Neo-Vedanta > in this spirit and from this angle. > Dr. C. S. Shah > > K Kathirasan ADM NCS wrote: > > > K Kathirasan ADM NCS <kathirasan > > > > > Swami Yogeshananda <yogeshananda > > > Namaste, Kathi > > > I would like to reply to this more fully when I have a bit more > time. For > > > now let me just say that there is no such thing as > " neo-Vedanta " . When > > > did > > > Vedanta become something fixed and static and not adaptable to > new times > > > and conditions? Vedanta means an outlook which must be > continually > > > renewed > > > as language changes and cultures change and as It migrates from > land to > > > land. > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Swami-ji > > > > I fully agree with you and that there is no such thing as > > neo-vedanta. I am basically re-stating what some other members > stated in > > their posts in other lists. I intend to start this thread so that > we can > > learn more and be more informed of Swami Vivekananda-ji's works by > > > discussion. Thanks. > > > > Om Shanti > > Kathi > > > > > ------ > > Is ONElist important to you? Come to our new web site and share > with > > us your stories. <> > > > ------ > > Sri Ramakrishnaye Namah > > Vivekananda Centre London > > <http://www.btinternet.com/~vivekananda/> > << File: Card for Dr C S Shah >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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