Vivekananda on the Vedas (part 150)

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Parts 1 to 149 were posted earlier. This is part 150. 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 150

3. The Arya Samaj, Whose Teaching Goes against Received National Opinion

The idea that the Samhitas are the only Vedas is very recent and has been started by the late Swami Dayananda. This opinion has not got any hold on the orthodox population.

The reason for this opinion was that, though Swami Dayananda could find a consistent theory of the whole based on a new interpretation of the Samhitas, the difficulties remained the same, only they fell back on the Brahmanas. And in spite of the theories of interpretation and interpolation, a good deal still remains.

Now, if it is possible to build a consistent religion on the Samhitas, it is a thousand times more sure that a very consistent and harmonious faith can be based upon the Upanishads; and moreover, here one has not to go against the already received national opinion. Here all the acharyas (teachers) of the past would side with you and you have a vast scope for new progress.(22)

4. The Brahmo Samaj, Which Could Not Hold Its Own against the "Old Vedanta"

The Brahmo Samaj, like Christian Science in [the USA] spread in Calcutta for a certain time and then died out. I am not sorry, neither glad that it died. It has done its work - viz., social reform. Its religion was not worth a cent, and so it must die out…. I am even now a great sympathizer with its reforms, but the "booby" religion could not hold its own against the "old Vedanta".(23)