Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 129)

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Parts 1 to 128 were posted earlier. This is part 129. 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 129

d) The Great Commentators on the Vedas

1. The Mimamsakas, Who Believed That We, as We Are, Create the Universe through the Vedas

This is the claim of a certain sect of karmis, [the Mimamsakas, a Hindu philosophical sect]: the universe is thought and the Vedas are the words. We can create and uncreate this whole universe. Repeating the words, the unseen thought is aroused, and as a result a seen effect is produced…. They think that each one of us is a creator. Pronounce the words, the thought which corresponds will arise, and the result will become visible. "Thought is the power of the word, the word is the expression of the thought", they say.(43)

2. The Sankhyas, Who Attempted to Harmonize the Philosophy of the Vedas through Reason and Taught That Our Nature Is Purity and Perfection

We think the Sankhya philosophy is the first attempt to harmonize the philosophy of the Vedas through reason.(44)

The common ism all through India [is] this marvelous doctrine of the soul, of the perfection of the Soul, [which is] commonly believed in by all sects. As says our great philosopher Kapila [the founder of the Sankhya school], if purity had not been the nature of the soul it could never attain purity afterwards, for anything that was not perfect by nature, even it if attained to perfection, that perfection would go away again. If impurity is the nature of humanity, then humanity will have to remain impure, even though it may be pure for five minutes. The time will come when this purity will wash out, pass away, and the old natural impurity will have its sway once more. Therefore, say all our philosophers, good is our nature, perfection is our nature, not imperfections, not impurity - and we should remember that.(45)