Guest guest Posted June 19, 2004 Report Share Posted June 19, 2004 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 201 The Hindus were bold - to their great credit be it said - bold thinkers in all their ideas, so bold that one spark of their thought frightens the so-called bold thinkers of the West. Well has it been said by Professor Max Muller about these thinkers [of India] that they climbed up to heights where only their lungs could breathe, and where those of other beings would have burst. These brave people followed reason wherever it led them, no matter at what cost, never caring if all their best superstitions were being smashed to pieces, never caring what society would think about them or talk about them; but what they thought was right and true they preached and they talked. (3) We know that in [the Vedantic books] a clear distinction is made between two sets of truths. The one set is that which abides for ever, being built upon the nature of humanity, the nature of the soul, the soul’s relation to God, the nature of God, perfection, and so on; there are also the principles of cosmology, of the infinitude of creation - or, more correctly speaking, projection, the wonderful law of cyclical procession, and so on - these are the eternal principles founded upon the universal laws in nature. The other set comprises the minor laws which guided the working of our everyday life. They belong more properly to the Puranas, to the Smritis, and not to the Shrutis. These have nothing to do with their principles. Even [in India], these minor laws have been changing all the time. Customs of one age, of one yuga, [age in time] have not been the customs of another; and, as yuga comes after yuga, they will still have to change. Great rishis will appear and lead India to customs and manners that are suited to new environments. The great principles underlying all this wonderful, infinite, ennobling, expansive view of humanity and God and the world have been produced in India. In India alone people have not stood up to fight for a little tribal god, saying, " My god is true and yours is not true; let us have a good fight over it. " It was only [in India] that such ideas as fighting for little gods did not occur. These great underlying principles, being based on the eternal nature of humanity, are as potent today for working for the good of the human race as they were thousands of years ago, and they will remain so, so long as this earth remains, so long as the law of karma remains, so long as we are born as individuals and have to work out our own destiny by our individual power. (4) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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