Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 81)

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Parts 1 to 80 were posted earlier. This is part 81. Your comments are welcome... Vivekananda Centre London

Earlier postings can be seen at http://www.vivekananda.btinternet.co.uk/veda.htm

 

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ON THE VEDAS AND UPANISHADS

By Sister Gayatriprana

part 81

 

2. The Impersonal Idea of the Upanishads Removed the Monotheistic Idea of Fear and Sin

Zoroaster was a reformer of some old religion. Even Ormzud and Ahriman, with him, were not supreme; they were only manifestations of the Supreme. That older religion must have been Vedantic. (40)

[Humanity began to progress spiritually] when it kicked the devil out. It stood up and took the responsibility of the misery of the world upon its own shoulders. But whenever people looked [at the] past and the future and [at the] law of causation, they knelt down and said, "Lord, save us, [Thou] who art our creator, our father, and dearest friend." That is poetry, but not very good poetry, I think. Why not? It is the painting of the Infinite, [no doubt]... [but] it is the infinite of the senses, of the muscles. (41)

In the case of [the Vedic god] Varuna there is... the germ of one idea... which was quickly suppressed by the Aryan mind, and that was the idea of fear.... We read that they are afraid they have sinned and ask Varuna for pardon. These ideas were never allowed... to grow on Indian soul, but the germs were there, sprouting; the idea of fear, and the idea of sin. This is the idea, as you all know, of what is called monotheism. (42)

The worst punishment, according to the Vedas, is coming back to earth, having another chance in the world. From the very first we see that the idea is taking an impersonal turn. The ideas of punishment and reward are very material, and they are only consonant with the idea of a human God who loves one and hates another, just as we do. Punishment and reward are only admissible with the existence of such a God. They had such a God in the Samhita, and there we find the idea of fear entering; but as soon as we come to the Upanishads the idea of fear vanished and the impersonal idea takes its place. It is naturally the hardest thing for people to understand, this impersonal idea, for they are always clinging on to the person. (43)