Guest guest Posted February 23, 2002 Report Share Posted February 23, 2002 Parts 1 to 90 were posted earlier. This is part 91. 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 91 The Egyptians and the Semites cling to the theory of sin, while the Aryans, such as the Indians and Greeks, quickly lost it. In India, righteousness and sin become vidya and avidya [knowledge and ignorance], both to be transcended. (60) The fundamental principle is that there is eternal freedom for everyone Every one must come to it. We have to struggle, impelled by our desire to be free. Every other desire but that to be free is illusive. Every good action, the Vedantist says, is a manifestation of that freedom. (61) It is children who say that there is no morality in Vedanta. Yes, they are right; Vedanta is above morality. (62) We had better remember here that, throughout the Vedanta philosophy, there is no such thing as good and bad; they are not two different things. The same thing is good or bad, and the difference is only in degree. The very thing I call pleasurable today, tomorrow, under better circumstances I may call pain. The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire. Thus, the Soul being pure and perfect, people who do evil are giving the lie to themselves; they do not know the nature of themselves. (63) Cross reference: Ka. Up., 1.2.10 Cha. Up., 6.8.7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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