In Memory of 9/11

[Guest guest]

Swami Vivekananda’s

response to the welcome at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago is brought before you to refresh the

memories. Even after 113 years it is still fresh, elevating and true even in

today’s context. Sister Nivedita in her

introduction to the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda remarked about His

address to the august assembly of learned men and women of the world:

 

Of the Swami's address before the Parliament of

Religions, it may be said that when he began to speak it was of " the religious

ideas of the Hindus " , but when he ended, Hinduism had been created.

 

At the

World's Parliament of Religions, Chicago

 

11th September,

1893

 

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.

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

You may listen to the first three famous lectures by Swami Vivekananda

at the Parliament of Religions at the following link. Please note that this

voice is not of Swami Vivekananda.

 

http://www.theuniversalwisdom.org/hinduism/welcome-address-vivekananda/

 

 

I request you to forward this message to as many of your contacts as

possible to spread the message of tolerance and Universal Acceptance.