Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 99)

April 25, 2002

Parts 1 to 98 were posted earlier. This is part 99. 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 99

2. There Is No Salvation for Human Beings Until, Here and Now, They Work Their Way Up from Theories and Realizes Their Own Soul

Hinduism has this advantage: its secret is that doctrines and dogmas do not mean anything; what you are is what matters. If you talk all the best philosophies the world every produced, [but] if you are a fool in your behavior, they do not count; and if in your behavior you are good, you have more chances. That being so, the Vedantist can wait for everybody. (23)

Vedanta declares that religion is here and now, because the question of this life and that life, of life and death, this world and that world, is merely one of superstition and prejudice. There is no break in time beyond what we make. What difference is there between ten and twelve o'clock, beyond what we make by certain changes in nature? Time flows on the same. So what is meant by this life or that life? It is only a question of time, and what is lost in time may be made up by speed in work. So, says Vedanta, religion is to be realized now. And for you to become religious means that you will start without any religion, work your way up and realize things, see things for yourself; and when you have done that then, and then alone, you have religion. Before that you are no better than atheists, or worse, because the atheist is sincere - or she stands up and says, "I do not know about these things" - while those others do not know but go about the world saying, "We are very religious people." What religion they have no one knows, because they have swallowed some grandmother's story and priests have asked them to believe these things; if they do not, then let them take care. That is how it is going on. (24)

Vedanta teaches that nirvana can be attained here and now, that we do not have to wait for death to reach it. Nirvana is the realization of the Self; and after having once, if only for an instant, known this, never again can one be deluded by the mirage of personality. Having eyes, we must see the apparent; but all the time we know it for what it is, we have found out its true nature. It is the "screen" that hides the Self, which is unchanging. The screen opens and we find the Self behind it - all change is in the screen. In the saint the screen is thin and the Reality can almost shine through; but in the sinner, it is thick and we are apt to lose sight of the truth that the Atman is there, as well as behind the saint. (25)

As soon as human beings perceive the glory of the Vedanta, all abracadabras fall off of themselves.

(26)

Cross reference to:

Cha. Up., 7.18.1