Sisters and Brothers of America

[Guest guest]

Posted by: " Uttishthata " uttishthata

Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:02 pm (PST)

 

September 11 is the most remarkable day in the history of mankind.

On this day an unknown monk form the Holy Land of India with his

shot but eloquent speech filed with Universal Humanism addressed the

august assembly at the World's Parliament of Religions at Chicago

held in 1893. A crucial event in shaping a more pluralistic,

tolerant view of religions was the inaugural World Parliament of

Religions in 1893.

 

As part of the Chicago exhibition it was decided to invite

participants from all the main religions. Some suggest the

Parliament was founded in the expectation of proving the superiority

of Christianity over the other religions. This may or may not have

been a partial motive, but the idea of inviting representative from

different religions was a relative novel concept and an outreach

towards greater tolerance. The World Parliament of Religions could

possibly have passed into relative anonymity had it not been for the

participation of the young Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda.

 

Vivekananda was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna a great saint

from Bengal, India. Under his guidance Vivekananda had learnt,

practised and embodied the ancient ideals of Vedanta. Foremost Sri

Ramakrishna was a devotee of Mother Kali, but after realising the

highest spiritual experience in his own sadhana (spiritual

discipline) he was inspired to practise with great devotion, the

religious and spiritual disciplines of other religions and sects.

Thus Ramakrishna was able to proclaim with the inner certainty of

direct experience that all religions led to the same goal. For

Ramakrishna the unity of all religions was not just a philosophical

idea it was something he had realised and experienced himself. As

the spiritual successor to Ramakrishna it was fitting that

Vivekananda would be able to make such a positive impression on the

Parliament of World Religions. In Vivekananda the audience felt a

sincere spirituality a religious feeling that was not

confrontational but all-inclusive. At his inaugural address

Vivekananda began his immortal address with the words sisters and

brothers of America. Spontaneously the 4,000 audience rose to their

feet in appreciation for the sentiments and spirit of his lofty

message. Vivekananda continued. It fills my heart with joy

unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome

which you have given us. Swami Vivekananda was chosen to represent

Hinduism however he did not try to prove the superiority of his

religion. Instead Vivekananda spoke with great sincerity about the

harmony of world religions and the common spirituality of humanity.

It was this universal message of oneness which captivated the

audience. As different streams, having their sources in different

places, all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different

paths which men take through different tendencies, various though

they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee. Vivekananda

proved to be an eloquent exponent of Vedanta and the ideals of all

religions. In addition people felt in this handsome and striking

Monk a calm detachment, a luminous personality and genuine

spirituality.

 

Vivekananda explained the gist of Hinduism by quoting a sloka from

Baghavad Gita and the Upanishad that explains the concept of

Universal acceptance of all religions.

 

Now let us read the complete text of the speech and get transported

to the height of Oneness of Being, Jato Mat Tato Path.

 

>

 

At the World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago, 11th September, 1893

 

Response to Welcome

 

Sisters and Brothers of America,

 

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the

warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the

name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in

the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of

millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

 

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who,

referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these

men from far-off nations may well claim the honour of bearing to

different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a

religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal

acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we

accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which

has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and

all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have

gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came

to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which

their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am

proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still

fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote

to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have

repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by

millions of human beings: " As the different streams having their

sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O

Lord, the different paths which men take through different

tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all

lead to Thee. "

 

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies

ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of

the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: " Whosoever comes to Me,

through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through

paths which in the end lead to me. " Sectarianism, bigotry, and its

horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful

earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often

and often with human blood, destroyed civilisation and sent whole

nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human

society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is

come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in

honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism,

of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all

uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same

goal.

 

<>

 

Hear Swami Vivekananda Speech at Chicago - Welcome Address:

 

http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=lxUzKoIt5aM

 

Though it is not the actual voice of Vivekananda, we can feel the

power of his thoughts on Hinduism, and his respect for other

religions.

 

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