Email exchange with Tim

[Guest guest]

Tim Gerchmez <fewtch

Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda

08 June 1999 07:57

Vivekananda Revisited...

 

Dear Jay,

 

I recently ordered and received a copy of " Living at the Source " from the

Vedanta Society of Southern California, and am again rereading the words of

Vivekananda. And once again, I'm struck speechless by the clarity and

power of Vivekananda's words. Of course, the experience of the Atman

cannot be communicated in words, but of all the words I've ever read, his

is the closest to communicating the actual *experience* of Advaita, rather

than just acting as a " finger pointing at the moon. " Sri Ramakrishna

picked a most worthy chela.

 

How is it that Vivekananda's legacy is still somewhat unclear, even to this

day? His words are like a large pile of gold bars sitting in public view,

yet somehow very few ever take notice. Perhaps it's because his message is

so simple and so clear that it escapes notice, like the " scarlet letter "

hidden on the mantle in plain sight. People are looking for complexity;

they think truth lies in complexity, not in simple, perfect clarity and

wisdom, and so the pure gold is missed, and the tinfoil is what people

focus their attention on.

 

Just as an example, here was this man advocating perfect equality for

women... in the late 1800's!! I am speechless, and most puzzled that

Vivekananda is not 100 times more recognised today than he is. Perhaps you

have some intimation as to why?

 

Tim

 

>>-----

Reply sent to Tim>

 

Hi Tim

 

Nice to hear from you and - what grand things you say about this person and

his teachings!

 

(1) Yes here is the most vibrant message of advaita - lived to the full.

One American while observing him walking up to give a speech said:

" I saw this man - he was walking as if he owned the world and yet desired

nothing " .

The person who was walking was 'Advaita - personified in all its glory.'

This was the majesty of his person.

 

He is still an unopened book in many respects - I feel very sure that in the

next ten or twenty years his teachings are going to make a serious comeback

in a major way (via the progress of Modern Science into the realms of

spirituality).

 

(2) Again he never patronised women - he never opened doors for them - he

never gave them a hand while climbing and so on -- (hundred years ago in

USA!)

He said " Why should I give you a hand, are you disabled?

 

Here is a real man! A true son of any mother!!

 

Tim - some of your comments on Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda are so well

focused that I am going to take the liberty of putting these on the

mail-list/website without your permission.

 

regards

jay