Guest guest Posted January 29, 2002 Report Share Posted January 29, 2002 PRACTICAL VEDANTA PART II (Delivered in London, 12th November 1896) I will relate to you a very ancient story from the Chandogya Upanishad, which tells how knowledge came to a boy. The form of the story is very crude, but we shall find that it contains a principle. A young boy said to his mother, " I am going to study the Vedas. Tell me the name of my father and my caste. " The mother was not a married woman. and in India the child of a woman who has not been married is considered an outcast; he is not recognized by society and is not entitled to study the Vedas. So the poor mother said, " My child, I do not know your family name; I was in service, and served in different places, I do not know who your father is, but my name is Jabala and your name is Satyakama. " The little child went to a sage and asked to be taken as a student. The sage asked him, " What is the name of your father, and what is your caste? " The boy repeated to him what he had heard from his mother. The sage at once said, " None but a Brahmin could speak such a damaging truth about himself. You are a Brahmin and I will teach you. You have not swerved from truth. " So he kept the boy with him and educated him. -- ______________________________ Today we begin: PRACTICAL VEDANTA--PART II (Delivered in London, 12th November 1896) This lecture is found in Vol. II of the Complete Works, pg. 311-327. This is a part of a daily study of the lectures and writings of Swami Vivekananda. All lectures are sent out in sequenced form, as he spoke them. Please tell a friend about this Vivekananda Mailing (VML) list and study group. To or send a message to sarada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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