Guest guest Posted April 18, 2002 Report Share Posted April 18, 2002 Parts 1 to 97 were posted earlier. This is part 98. 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 98 c) Freedom Is Attained by Realizing the Truth 1. Vedanta Alone Says That Religion Is a Superconscious State That Is To Be Realized As we find that somehow or other, by the laws of our mental constitution, we have to associate our ideas of infinity with the image of the blue sky, or of the sea, so we naturally connect our idea of holiness with the image of a church, a mosque, a cross. The Hindus have associated the idea of holiness, purity, truth, omnipresence, and such other ideas with different images and forms, but with this difference: that while some people devote their whole lives to their idol of a church and never rise higher (because with them religion means an intellectual assent to certain doctrines and doing good to their fellows), the whole religion of the Hindu is centered on realization. (20) The only way to get beyond this veil of maya is to realize what Truth is; and the Upanishads indicate what is meant by realizing the Truth. (21) Religion in India means realization and nothing short of that. "Believe in doctrines and you are a sage" can never be taught to us, for we do not believe in that. You are what you make yourselves. You are, by the grace of God and your own exertions, what you are. Mere believing in certain theories and doctrines will not help you much. The mighty word that came from the sky of spirituality in India was anubhuti, realization; and ours are the only books which declare again and again, "The Lord is to be seen." Bold, brave words, indeed; but true to their very core. Every sound, every vibration is true. Religion is to be realized, not only heard; it is not in learning some doctrine like a parrot. Neither is it mere intellectual assent - that is nothing; but it must come into us. (22) Cross reference to: Brih. Up., 2.4.5b Cha. Up., 4.9.2 Mund. Up., 3.2.9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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