Vedanta in the West

[Guest guest]

Further to this posting from Brad:-

 

<snip> " I thought it might provoke some interesting discussion on whether Vedanta

and/or the Ramakrishna Movement is growing in the West. If not, why - - and,

what could/should be done?

 

==========================response=========================

 

This can appear worrying. Why are Ramakrishna/Vivekanda not better known in the

West? When one studies Vivekananda one quickly recognises how important and

relevant are his teachings not only for India but more so for the West. We have

presented Vivekananda's ideas to Western youth as well as to Hindu youth at many

schools in this country. What has really surprised us is the far greater

enthusiasm these talks provoke in Western youth. The effect is quite stunning.

We have told many Hindu youth groups, " Hang on to your Vivekananda as the West

is about to steal him from you. In no time they will give him blonde hair and

blue eyes and turn him into an occidental : )

 

He has done his work and sown the seeds of spirituality in the West. We now have

to wait for the right conditions to prevail for these seeds to germinate and

produce something very unique and exciting in the field of spirituality. These

conditions are just beginning to fall into place. This is not wishful thinking,

we can actually feel a major paradigm shift about to take place. We are

confident that in the next few years we will see Vivekananda's ideas becoming

centre stage in the West. Every God-man comes with his own unique message and

manner of infusing spirituality into society. This time around the thrust will

be far more comprehensive than seen before. It is not going to influence only

one nation or one people but will generate universal acceptance. It will bring

about a major paradigm shift that will fuse science with spirituality. It will

offer resolution to the thorny question of strife in the name of religion and

most importantly will shift the location of God from the heavens to mankind.

This may seem like a tall order but we feel confident. We had even suggested to

the Secretary Maharaj of RK order that the venue for the unfolding of this

spiritual drama will not be India or America but London. What Ramakrishna has

unleashed on the West - " Vivekananda " cannot be contained nor stopped. We live

in interesting times.

 

jay

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear List, Brad especially,

 

When John Yale wrote " The Making of a Devotee " , I believe he was not talking

about being a Hindu or having Hinduism sprout forth abundantly in the West, but

the ingesting of the great inspiration of Ramakrishna/Vivekananda as a means of

revitalizing the Eternal Truth in its own soil. Vedanta -- mind you -- not

Hinduism. There is no " ism " to the Truth, that Truth which is Eternal. Thich

Nhat Hanh said in his BEING PEACE: " When Buddhism enters one country, that

country always acquires a new form of Buddhism. The first time I visited

Buddhist communities in this country, I asked a friend, 'Please show me your

Buddha, your American Buddha.' The question surprised my friend, because he

thought that the Buddha is universal. In fact, the Chinese have a Chinese

Buddha. Tibetans have a Tibetan Buddha, and also the teaching is different.

The teaching of Buddhism in this country is different from other countries.

Buddhism, in order to be Buddhism, must be suitable, appropriate to the

psychology and the culture of the society that it serves... My question was a

very simple question. 'Where is your Boddhisattva? Show me an American

Bodhisattva.' My friend was not capable of doing that... I think we can learn

from other Buddhist traditions, but you have to create your own Buddhism. I

believe that out of deep practice you will have your own Buddhism very soon. "

 

I do believe that is what John Yale meant -- and what has not happened even yet.

Edith

[Guest guest]

Hello Edith,

 

" A Yankee and the Swamis " by John Yale will answer the question of how

Vedanta has adapted itself to the West. Vedanta practised in US has certain

differences when compared to what is done in India. Swami Vidyatmananda

(John Yale) describes his visit to India and in that he also discusses how

Buddhism adapted itself when it went to China.

 

regards,

--Sunil

 

 

>Edith Tipple <edtipple

>Ramakrishna

>Ramakrishna

>[sri Ramakrishna] Re:Vedanta in the West

>Fri, 28 May 2004 20:06:17 -0700

>

>Dear List, Brad especially,

>

>When John Yale wrote " The Making of a Devotee " , I believe he was not

>talking about being a Hindu or having Hinduism sprout forth abundantly in

>the West, but the ingesting of the great inspiration of

>Ramakrishna/Vivekananda as a means of revitalizing the Eternal Truth in its

>own soil. Vedanta -- mind you -- not Hinduism. There is no " ism " to the

>Truth, that Truth which is Eternal. Thich Nhat Hanh said in his BEING

>PEACE: " When Buddhism enters one country, that country always acquires a

>new form of Buddhism. The first time I visited Buddhist communities in this

>country, I asked a friend, 'Please show me your Buddha, your American

>Buddha.' The question surprised my friend, because he thought that the

>Buddha is universal. In fact, the Chinese have a Chinese Buddha. Tibetans

>have a Tibetan Buddha, and also the teaching is different. The teaching of

>Buddhism in this country is different from other countries. Buddhism, in

>order to be Buddhism, must be suitable, appropriate to the

>psychology and the culture of the society that it serves... My question was

>a very simple question. 'Where is your Boddhisattva? Show me an American

>Bodhisattva.' My friend was not capable of doing that... I think we can

>learn from other Buddhist traditions, but you have to create your own

>Buddhism. I believe that out of deep practice you will have your own

>Buddhism very soon. "

>

>I do believe that is what John Yale meant -- and what has not happened even

>yet.

>Edith

>

>

>

>

 

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