Showing posts with label Patanjali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patanjali. Show all posts

2023/07/04

The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope | Goodreads

The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living by Stephen Cope | Goodreads







The Wisdom of Yoga: A Seeker's Guide to Extraordinary Living

Stephen Cope
4.26
1,816 ratings131 reviews

For modern spiritual seekers and yoga students alike, here is an irreverent yet profound guide to the most sophisticated teachings of the yoga wisdom tradition–now brought to contemporary life by a celebrated author, psychotherapist, and leading American yoga instructor.

While many Westerners still think of yoga as an invigorating series of postures and breathing exercises, these physical practices are only part of a vast and ancient spiritual science. For more than three millennia, yoga sages systematically explored the essential questions of our human existence: 
  • What are the root causes of suffering, and how can we achieve freedom and happiness? 
  • What would it be like to function at the maximum potential of our minds, bodies, and spirits? 
  • What is an optimal human life?

Nowhere have their discoveries been more brilliantly distilled than in a short–but famously difficult–treatise called the Yogasutra. This revered text lays out the entire path of inner development in remarkable detail–ranging from practices that build character and mental power to the highest reaches of spiritual realization.

Now Stephen Cope unlocks the teachings of the Yogasutra by showing them at work in the lives of a group of friends and fellow yoga students who are confronting the full modern catastrophe of careers, relationships, and dysfunctional family dynamics. Interweaving their daily dilemmas with insights from modern psychology, neuroscience, religion, and philosophy, he shows the astonishing relevance and practicality of this timeless psychology of awakening.

Leavened with wit and passion, The Wisdom of Yoga is a superb companion and guide for anyone seeking enhanced creativity, better relationships, and a more ethical and graceful way of living in the world.
Genres
Spirituality
Nonfiction
Philosophy
Health
Self Help
Psychology
Buddhism
 
...more
352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006


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About the author
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Stephen Cope
34 books129 followers

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Stephen Cope is the director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, the largest yoga research institute in the Western world—with a team of scientists affiliated with major medical schools on the East coast, primarily Harvard Medical School. He has been for many years the senior scholar in residence at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, and is the author of four best-selling books.

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Ula
249 reviews
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September 26, 2011
This is the 1st book i've read about yoga and its deeper purpose. As an atheist, I am intrinsically weary of self-help and spiritual books but I am also deeply in love with yoga so I thought I'd give this book a go since I've heard great things about it. There was a lot of amazing insight in it for me, and I really like how he talks about the fact that scientists have studied what happens in our brains when we meditate and practice yogic physical and mental movements. That part of it speaks to me. Though I've done yoga on and off for probably 15 years, it never really did much for me until I needed it and in the last 2 years it really changed the way I think and live. Cope talks a lot about some of the initial changes that occur when you start practicing yoga and I can relate. I didn't connect with the latter half of the book because the whole idea of living in a yoga retreat for months on end just screams of a certain type of privilege that again, I am just intrinsically weary of. How does that apply to real peoples' lives when the insights in the book from its characters come from months (and sometimes years) of living in a cabin out in the woods? Who can really do that? Maybe some day in the future I will relate with those sections of the book as well but now, not so much.

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Phillip Moffitt
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November 9, 2010
Stephen Cope is a psychotherapist and a longtime Kripalu Yoga teacher. In this book he integrates the Buddha’s insight of suffering into the daily lives of a series of friends who are fellow yoga practitioners. He provides a thorough teaching on the overlap of Patanjali’s yoga sutras with Theravada Buddhism, while respecting both traditions. The book provides a feel for how you might start to incorporate mindfulness in your own daily life.
yoga-and-buddhism

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Clif Brittain
132 reviews
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January 27, 2010
There was a lot of meat on this bone. I have been practicing yoga for about eight months, and as I become more familiar with the physical aspects of yoga, I find myself more interested in the mental side as well. So there is a pull factor involved in exploring the wisdom of yoga. There is also a push factor, in that I am increasingly uneasy about my relationship with my church. There have been a lot of changes within the Catholic Church - new pope, new archbishop, new pastor - none of which resonate with me, so my needs for community are changing.

Pope's book fits into this niche very well. There is almost nothing on the physical aspects of yoga here. There is more about meditation, which I found very useful. The device Pope uses to reveal the wisdom of yoga is a group of yogis that he was a part of during a two year period. This group came together at Kripalu Yoga Center, where Cope has a position.

These people are a composite of people that Cope has met through Kripalu. This method is useful, but sometimes annoying. They are very different, and I found myself becoming very interested in the people and how yoga has helped their growth. In many ways they are archetypes, the Beautiful Woman, the Wizened Old Lady, the Accomplished Guru, the Powerful Lawyer, the Fat Lady and of course, the Conflicted Scholar (the author). Two things are annoying about this convention, first that I found myself caring about them. They are fictional characters, for goodness sake. The other is the detail that Cope burdens us with. I don't think it is necessary for me to know what type of tea they were drinking as they had a particular conversation.

But the device works. Cope explains a lot about the yoga sutras within this context, applying his knowledge and experience with these people to their specific problems, many of which I identify with. For instance, craving and aversion. Most of us are drawn to certain things, food, comfort, sex, money, excitement. We also have aversion to other things, conflict, physical work, cold, etc. Cope tells us how these people have used the guidance of the yoga sutras to resolve their problems.

This book has given me a further push down the yoga path. It contains a lot of solid information and inspiration.

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Deidra
29 reviews

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February 14, 2016
I felt this book made a lot of wisdom clear and accessible. Unfortunately, the author quotes Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh/Osho a couple times toward the end and that put a damper on things for me. No matter how insightful BSR/Osho's pull quotes seem, he was a deeply corrupt person who deeply corrupted his followers and did great harm. His ideas and words do not deserve the esteem they are given.

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Liz
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January 6, 2013
Fantastic book. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras can be very hard to read as they are written in short and sometimes cryptic messages of wisdom. However, this book will take you through the lives of people and their struggles and apply the sutras (and more) to their life trials and tribulations. It's a great read for anyone whether you're in to practicing yoga or not.

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Katerina
356 reviews
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November 14, 2019
4/5 Stars
Library Loan

For some reason, as of lately, I have been struggling with reading spiritually awakening books, yoga books, self-help books, etc. It might have to be because of the low scoring on the last two reads. Who knows. What I do know is that something happened when I read this book. All the other books were factual and gave me clarity on yoga, meditation, and finding your own path. The Wisdom of Yoga, however, touched a part of me and opened it up.

I had been struggling in my yoga practice, as well as the grind of daily life. My control was slipping and I decided to finally bite the bullet and pick this book up...hoping that it could give me an enlightenment that I have not already read.

My heart connected to each of the stories that Cope presents of his friends. You have Susan the compulsive eater, Kate the self-centered, Jacob the overly aggressive romantic, Maggie the story-teller, and Rudi the enlightened. In each of Cope's interactions with his friends, I found myself opening up piece by piece. I found a connection with Susan and her disordered eating due to my own years of anorexia. I found myself entering Jacob's body when it came to the lack of love, and believing I will never find anyone. Each of their struggles became my own and each of their enlightenment's brought clarity to my own situation.

I can't explain this feeling that washed over me once I finished the book, but for the first time in months I was....calm. I haven't been calm or clear-headed in quite a few months and I could finally breathe. It was like the teachings that each of these individuals had including Stephen Cope resonated inside myself. To some this might be hocus-pocus, but to someone like me who has been trying to find a book to finally make some ground with my own practice and healing. This book is truly a blessing.

I did find a few things that I did not like. All the science and backstory given about yoga. He would switch between stories and the yoga science that connected to those stories. Or connect to other spiritual yogi's that have gone down the same path. While I did like some of the insight given, once again you got that taste of medical writing from a doctor and it, at times, would throw the entire experience and story off. While I did find that some of the insights were pertinent to what Cope is teaching us. I could have done without some of the beginner yoga explanations. Especially since this book is more advanced than a beginner's guide, actually this is not a guide at all.

While I can't explain my own experience with the book, I do recommend that others pick up the book to finally find clarity in their own lives and their own paths that they take. This book has done wonders at opening up something inside me that I didn't even know existed. A calm state. Which most of us can agree that we feel very little of these days.

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Colleen
84 reviews
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March 25, 2011
I read this book for my Yoga Book Club here in Portland. As a yoga teacher, I really enjoyed how author Stephen Cope wove the Yoga Sutras throughout the book, making them less esoteric and more accessible than I've experienced in the past. He touches on psychology, neurology, and Buddhist philosophy as well as dozens of years of yoga scholarship to describe the yogic path to wisdom.

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Eevee
27 reviews
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August 14, 2022
Not bad for a bunch of privileged folks finding enlightenment.

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Sandrine
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December 14, 2022
Another step further down the exploration of the yogic wisdom. On the one hand one wanted to know what will happen to the characters encountered serving as „real life“ examples on the other that is an exercise in the witnessing practice. On the other hand it was a valiant effort in bringing the Yoga Sūtras to a mainstream mind challenging the neurones to come to grips with the what is what and the when is when of the manyfolded path.

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Mahay
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April 3, 2020
At first, I was intimidated by this book. I almost took it right back to the library to find a fluffy little novel that I could rip through. However, I felt drawn to finish it and knew I could learn something from its pages. After reading it, I am grateful I chose to stick it out. It is a book that you will be thinking about weeks after you’ve put the jacket back on, and you may even find yourself returning to it in the future.

Cope’s stories of his friends at the yoga center help keep the book accessible to those with very little knowledge of ancient Yoga like myself. While each character has a distinct set of issues that they have to work through, they find commonality in their quest to finding peace within themselves. Even the more technical side of the book was very interesting to me. While I know I won’t be enlightened anytime soon, the teachings of traditional Yoga can be applicable to anyone. Patanjali teaches that “the causes of suffering are not seeing things as they are.” For example, if you fixate on that which you don’t possess, i.e. a new car, a dream job, a plot of land, or worldly travels, you will be unhappy. However, if you can recognize the gifts in your life and simply be grateful, you will find happiness that you didn’t know you possessed. I think this is a very simple lesson that everyone can use.

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Jen
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April 28, 2012
This book helps explain the yoga-sutra to a layperson such as myself. By using personal stories of people he's known the author shows how the concepts or sutras are manifested and/or can be put into practice. Part Five of the book (the last part) was the only part I found too existentialist, but perhaps I'm just not ready for that yet. I liked how he provided a comparative of raja-yoga and Buddhism- having read some works of lama surya das i was thinking I was seeing similarities...but wasn't sure. The author also provides a translation of the complete yoga-sutra for reference.

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Devon Blakely
3 reviews
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January 14, 2013
Beautiful work!!! Cope has brought Patanjali's yoga sutras to life for me more than anything else i have read to date! Although he occasionally lost my interest with his foray into theoretical psychology, by framing the book around personal experience he has created a very modern day identification and the opportunity for personal application of this ancient wisdom.

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Lucy Ambs
3 reviews
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March 2, 2017
Okay so i only give 5 stars if the books changed my life.THIS BOOK CHANGED MY LIFE! 1. I have been mistaken my entire life on the most fundamental factors of being human. 2. I am now convinced Jesus was a Yogi. 3. Erratidating Duhka from my life will be but a byproduct of the life upon which i am embracing as of today. 4. WOW!

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Nancy B
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July 1, 2017
This is the first yoga book that I have read and found it very interesting and inspirational. I want to read Stephen's other book next....love the practice of yoga and want to continue reading more about the philosophy and practical applications.

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Charissa
26 reviews
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August 2, 2011
Love this book so much! 10 outta 5!
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Josh
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November 18, 2016
I like the combining aspects of Western Psychology with the inner mind working of yoga practice and meditation. Very inspiring to deepening my own practice.

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Veena
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March 13, 2021
Stephen Cope is a psychotherapist and a Yoga teacher at the Kripalu centre. In this book, Stephen takes the reader through Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, integrating them with western psychology and aspects of Buddhism. Stephen keeps it real by weaving the Yoga Sutras into the lives of real people. How the practice of Yoga helps and can be used as a tool for transformation and finding the peace within, is what this book talks about. It is an interesting read and takes one into a mode of reflection by looking into oneself and asking some fundamental questions. The story of each yogi mentioned in the book is very relatable and also gives one the hope that we all can reach the state they reached if we practice what they practiced. Highly recommended for psychotherapists and yogis alike.

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Jack
27 reviews
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July 15, 2021
Preface: have only read about 60% of the book

An enjoyable read as it is written more as an autobiography than a guide, but Unless you are unfamiliar with some of the basic concepts of Vedic philosophy or you don't quite understand them and you think reading about them in real-life situations would help, then this is more of an autobiography with a philosophical bent than it is a guide to moksha.
I do however think it would be a great introduction to some of the concepts of Vedic philosophy and the importance of some of its teachings to our lives for those that have not explored it deeply on their own and could lead to some profound realisations for some as to their perspectives on their lives and belief systems.

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Dan Bimrose
11 reviews
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April 13, 2018
This is an excellent book and enjoyable to read. It goes deep into meditation and provides some insight into what the possible actually is. It takes time for most of us to realize that “self” is a great deal more than what we see in the mirror. In a world full of meds to relieve depression and anxiety,any would be well served to take charge of their own healing and one does that by trying to figure out what’s going on in our head. I love speculating that many of the people that bought this book after attending a few yoga sessions at their local community center expecting tips on and a discussion on what goes on when they are on the yoga mat and discover this book is about so much more.

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Jeremiah
62 reviews
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March 14, 2022
This was a little woo woo for my taste, and I am
skeptical of the Western privileged perspectives. Most of the characters in this book are unrelatably successful, which is off-putting and adds a tension of expectation on the “less successful” listener, which I won’t further analyze here.

Nonetheless, I found some useful methods for thinking through anxiety, and I’m glad to have read this. What I keep reading in Chatter, Body Keeps the Score, Come As You Are, and this book is: try to take an outside perspective, and embrace undesired feelings and sides of yourself with non judgment. Life goals, right?

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Alistar
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July 24, 2018
Muy recomendable si te interesa la filosofía del yoga y la meditación. Se basa en hacer digerible para occidentales el tratado del Yoga-Sütra de Patañjali. Te permite ver que el Yoga es algo más que una colección de posturas. Me sorprendió comprobar las profundas relaciones que existen entre el raja-yoga y el budismo, ambas corrientes se influenciaron mutuamente.
Me gustó también que el autor utilizara las historias personales de su grupo de Yoga para hacer más comprensibles los conceptos que explica.
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Nava
81 reviews

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May 31, 2020
Stephen Cope gives the perspective of a psychotherapist (and Kripalu Yoga teacher) on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. The presentation through individual stories is helpful. The appendices contain a translation of the sutras, as well as some distinction from Buddhism.
This book was not at all about asanas and physiology though, and more about states of conciousness and breathing -- as in Buddism.
I picked it up to learn more about the physical practice, but in the end still got a lot out of reading it.

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Logan
23 reviews

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August 14, 2020
I really love the premise and structure of this book - a balanced blend of narrative, Western psychology, and yogic philosophy. This was probably my own personal taste but I found the narrative explorations much more compelling than Cope’s analysis or interpretations of the Yoga Sutras. I found this writing slightly too technical still, or just too far-reaching to really drive home specific teachings of the Sutras. The irony in this is that through the book Cope admits his own struggle with being too scholarly or technical in his writing, which makes me forgive my own experience of this book.

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Lisa
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November 24, 2017
I studied with Stephen Cope twice at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health and found him to be a very engaging and intelligent person. I spent a lot of time reading this book, as it's one to sip rather than guzzle. Stephen relates Patanjali's Yoga Sutras to his experience as a yoga seeker. As a yoga teacher, I'm hoping to use some of this in my teaching. The book is much more theoretical than I anticipated and quite dense.

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Scott Myers
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March 23, 2019
After having read Alistair Shearer's translation of "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" (an excellent translation, in my opinion; very accessible), this book expounded on the Sutras & brought them to life nicely. This book was also a nice story/journey with the characters that are followed in the book. Makes me want to head to Kripalu ... (a venture that has been on my mind for many years before this book came along!) and LIVE there.
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Kimmy Gaul
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December 28, 2018
An easy, relatable read that doesn’t skimp on depth. Diving into the yoga sutra and the ordinary struggles of life, readers gain a well rounded understanding of questions and experiences that humans have had for thousands of years. This is going up on the list of one my top books. Transformative in nature, especially for those who practice yoga and meditation wanting to sink deeper. Recommended!!

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Nirupa Umapathy
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October 7, 2019
A deep, profound book that I did not give into reading even though I had bought the book in 2013. I did not feel ready. I could not relate. I savored this book over almost 6 months this year, reflecting deeply on my new life, and putting it to work in my daily and constantly evolving yoga practice.
While I don't seek as much as I walk everyday, this book is unforgettable. I will always return.

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Laura
28 reviews
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June 26, 2020
Top!
Ho comprato questo libro per ovviare alle spese di spedizione di altri 2 libri.
E si è rivelato un libro molto interessante. Leggere lo yoga dal punto di vista di uno psicoterapeuta era qualcosa che mi mancava.
Fa molte analogie con la psicologia occidentale e, come si legge, gli yogi antichi avevano scoperto questi concetti da ben prima.

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Jeremy Duke
59 reviews

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January 26, 2021
Long and rambling with a few brief moments of actual insight. I found the characters thin and their issues and phobia conveniently introduced only to be nearly instantly resolved. I wasn't looking for a self-help book, rather a deeper understanding of the physical practice of yoga, so the book was a disappointment to me.

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Omly
204 reviews
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October 20, 2022
I had had Stephen Cope recommended to me, and I can see why. Having completed this one, I already have thoughts about returning to reread it, which is relatively unusual for me.

This particular book is written in a very approachable manner, presented as a series of anecdotes to highlight the philosophical concepts .

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Vince
109 reviews

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January 4, 2019
One of the most helpful things about this book is how the author clearly articulates the similarities between Buddhism and the yogic tradition (along with a few of the differences). It's a little dense, but helpful for anyone looking to understand the philosophy behind those stretchy poses.

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Diya
14 reviews
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January 13, 2019
This book was part of my yoga teacher training recommended reading list..... Goodreads just (re)recommended it to me. I often return to the journey my inner world took during this book.... ‘transformative’ is accurate. Stephen Cope walks his talk and is a very good role model.

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Cody
35 reviews
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October 2, 2019
This was a fantastic read! Personally, I would have preferred more of the “technical stuff” and less stories, but that’s just me. There’s a ton of information here and I really enjoyed each chapter. If you are AT ALL interested in the philosophy of yoga, I think you’ll enjoy this book too.
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Angela Morgan
8 reviews

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February 3, 2020
More of a guided psychological book of how to live your life based on yogic and buddhist principals, its a really good book to live your life by, I found lots of ways to incorporate actions into my daily life, and new ways of looking at old situations.

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Alyson
63 reviews
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April 29, 2020
This was the perfect book to read at this moment in time... I savored every page, especially the last chapter. I forced myself to read it slowly and went right back to the beginning when I read the last page. This is a book that I will keep close and return to again and again.


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chiara Rancan
228 reviews
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February 7, 2021
Cercavo una guida che mi permettesse di studiare, di apprendere, di comprendere con facilità gli insegnamenti degli Yogasutra, e l’ho trovata.
Da leggere, sottolineare, e ri leggere tra qualche tempo per metabolizzare e guardare dentro se.

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Kanan Choquette
22 reviews
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January 4, 2023
An amazing dive into the teachings of patanjali and yoga through the perspective of the narrarator’s learnings by interacting with a small group of friends. This more social-approach makes it feel much more relatable and breaks up the density. I highly recommend this book on yoga.

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Pradnya
152 reviews

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June 12, 2017
Interesting case studies and how the experiences of individuals evolve in response to their introspective and meditation practices.
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Jordan Yee
34 reviews
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July 17, 2017
Required reading for yoga teacher training

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Stephanie Spence
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September 28, 2017
One of my favorites that I refer to often.
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From other countries
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Such a beautiful book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 9 June 2023
Verified Purchase
Read it in two sittings. Loved how the author intertwines wisdom with real life stories, making it such a compelling read with so many amazing lessons in it. Highly recommend!
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Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 6 January 2023
Verified Purchase
Truly amazing and enlightening book that will leave you wanting more. The end is really good but is the beginning of wanting to find concentration of a different nature. I have read two of his books and will re-read them both,wow and wow.
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Steven Barber
4.0 out of 5 stars Experience over theory
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 3 September 2022
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This book is a sly exposition of the key parts of yoga philosophy in a deliberately non-scholarly way. The emphasis is on direct experience, the acts of seeking, and the Importance of community. Cope comes at the Sutras from a different angle than most and in that fresh approach is clarity
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I am so thankful that I found this book!
Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on 11 June 2022
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed every page and got inspired so much! I can recommend it to everyone who is interested in yoga and want to get more knowledge packed in a great story!
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Dr. V
5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, personal, lived version of the Yoga Sutras
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 18 July 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is Stephen Cope's commentary and explanation of Patanjali's yoga sutras. However, it is not a dry commentary, even though it is scholarly. Cope brings together Yoga (as lived by himself and a group of seeker friends) with scholarly but accessible explanations of phenomena addressed by the Yoga Sutras. The explanations are drawn from both Eastern and Western psychology. He often illustrates concepts with quotes from Western literature, most frequently Thoreau. Each chapter begins with a person's story and struggle - which is then explained in terms of both the Yoga Sutras and Western concepts about the self. The book helps the reader join virtually the admirable group of friends Cope was a part of during a period of about two years, when they each (and all) sought freedom from their own kind of suffering. It provides a warm and personal, lived version of the Yoga Sutras, and thus makes them much more accessible to the average (but not only) reader. The book is not a complete treatise on the Yoga Sutras. And I am not sure it is necessarily a guide, since it is really explanatory, not prescriptive. But it is beautifully, wisely, and warmly written, and it will get the reader closer to the essence of Yoga - which has very little to do with physical postures.

I love Cope's combination of rigorous scholarship, spirituality, self-disclosure, warmth, and humor. His voice comes through clearly in this book and is very personable. For me, this is one of the books I hope to come back to again and again.
5 people found this helpful
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KitKat1972
4.0 out of 5 stars Textbook for a course I'm to take...
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 31 December 2007
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I've participated in yoga courses for quite a few years now on and off, --some excellent and some not so great, depending on the instructors. I have an excellent teacher now and she is about to offer a new course in meditation and yoga. This is the text for it. I am excited to be learning more about what yoga is all about on spiritual/philosophical/meditative levels. This book is easy to read and offers insights about yoga for the average Westerner and how it can both simplify and enrich your life and help you understand more about yourself and others, how you can become more mindful in your daily life. Life in the 21st century is crazy, fast-paced, and full of pressures, stresses, and negativity (war, global warming, worries about the economy). Yoga is one of various paths to greater understanding, serenity, clarity, and wisdom. Earlier this year I took a course called Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction which included some yoga as well as meditation, and other exercises for reducing stress. This course resulted in my wanting to learn more about what is behind yoga and meditation, their history, to understand more about their modern-day and past expert practitioners. I guess the only thing that bothers me at all about the book is all of the unfamiliar terms that are introduced that I can't get fixed in my mind, but perhaps taking the course will help with that, or perhaps that doesn't matter so much. The book is easy to read and understand and is very informative and insightful.
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Sara Smithie
5.0 out of 5 stars Mind Blowing approach on the depth of yoga
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 20 July 2021
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Stephen Cope has become a writer I will follow for several reasons. This book has changed my life regarding yoga and its power to change us. His writing is comprehensive and inspiring - and actually, down right mind-blowing in what he brings to the reader. I will read more if his work. Thank You Stephen Cope.
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Erick DuPree
3.0 out of 5 stars not bad... for a beginner, but not philosophy either
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 25 April 2014
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This is the 1st book i've read about yoga and its deeper purpose. As an atheist, I am intrinsically weary of self-help and spiritual books but I am also deeply in love with yoga so I thought I'd give this book a go since I've heard great things about it. There was a lot of amazing insight in it for me, and I really like how he talks about the fact that scientists have studied what happens in our brains when we meditate and practice yogic physical and mental movements. That part of it speaks to me. Though I've done yoga on and off for probably 15 years, it never really did much for me until I needed it and in the last 2 years it really changed the way I think and live. Cope talks a lot about some of the initial changes that occur when you start practicing yoga and I can relate. I didn't connect with the latter half of the book because the whole idea of living in a yoga retreat for months on end just screams of a certain type of privilege that again, I am just intrinsically weary of. How does that apply to real peoples' lives when the insights in the book from its characters come from months (and sometimes years) of living in a cabin out in the woods? Who can really do that? Maybe some day in the future I will relate with those sections of the book as well but now, not so much
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Jamie O'Connell
5.0 out of 5 stars Great 1st yoga book
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 17 June 2019
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I started hot yoga six months ago for back pain and it has changed my life. Now, I want to have a deep understanding of it and started to study at home in addition to spending a session almost every day at my local studios.

After googling for "best yoga books", "great yoga books", and "yoga books"...this one kept on appearing at the top of many lists, so I decided to purchase it. The book is great, reads like a novel and is highly recommended for those who are looking to increase their knowledge of yoga off the mat.
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Rachael Enright
5.0 out of 5 stars Story of discovery
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 12 January 2020
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This book was very refreshing I am usually so drawn to facts and non-fiction. Whereas this book is a story of friends on the path of self discovery. The disclosure of each person's patterns and blocks gives you a great perspective of the range of people and issues which can attract you to yoga.

The book itself is a sweet discription of what mindfulness is and the various stages in which you fall deeper into practice and peace.

I felt like this book was really reaffirming. Nice read.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully written, wonderful journey into the most important principles of a 'yoga' kind of life
Reviewed in Spain 🇪🇸 on 18 September 2017
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This is probably one of the most beautiful books I've ever read, one that wish it wouldn't end. One that I will come back again and again to remind me who I am and how to get back to my center every time I feel astray.
Stephen Cope writes humbly, beautifully and so satisfying for both a fiction lover as well as for a scientific minded reader. It takes the basic principles of yoga, opens them to the understaing of us all and shows them applicability in different stories of his characters.
It's a book for beginners, for those who don't know what yoga is and for advanced practicioners at the same time.
It has really changed both my perspective on meditation, it changed my yoga practice and my way of seeing things in general
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R Sharpe
5.0 out of 5 stars Tonic for the soul
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 11 June 2019
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I’ve just read three of Stephen Cope’s books in succession and loved them all: The Great Work of Your Life, The Wisdom of Yoga and Deep Human Connection. They each offer a valuable distillation of more complex works enabling the lay reader, like me, to absorb truths that I otherwise may not have accessed. Stephen has a beautiful writing style and peppers his own thoughts and other quotes with stories that make his writing come alive. Each of the books I have is beginning to look rather battered as I have a tendency to keep referring back to them.
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Amanda
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Yoga Teachers
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 2 January 2015
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I ordered this book before I did my yoga teacher training, since it was on the recommended reading list.

It's a fascinating book that reads almost like a novel. I started reading it, then actually started over when I was just a few pages in so I could get a highlighter and mark the passages that really sang to me.

The best part of this book, for me, was learning about metta meditation. Doing that meditation was the first time I was really able to let myself sink into a meditation, and it taught me an appreciation for and interest in further study of meditation.

You might not find this book interesting if you're not into yoga. I would definitely recommend it, certainly for any yoga teacher or aspiring yoga teacher.
14 people found this helpful
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Caitlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book Ever
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 17 April 2014
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I saw someone reading this book and asked them about it, they told me that it was life changing. Now I hear that about a lot of things this day and age, but, being the book feign I am, I just had to go and buy it. I'm here to tell you anyone who want to know if they should by this or not, BUY IT! The book has nothing to do with poses and such, its more about the deeper knowledge and how the lessons of yoga can effect and change your life. Mixed in with the message of the book, they do however give you ideas on what to do and how to do them. Amazing and outstanding. I would buy this book for all my friends if I could
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K. Jolly
1.0 out of 5 stars No thanks
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on 9 June 2023
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Recommended reading for a teacher training program. Would never have purchased otherwise. Nothing of substance to be found within these pages.
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M. Gordon
5.0 out of 5 stars now I get it- thanks Stephen
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 20 December 2006
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There is little need for another rave review about this book as I agree with the other positive reviews. I just would like to add this: I became a Cope fan reading his articles in Yoga Journal and his first book. Most of my yoga instructors learned at Kripalu. Amrit Desai, who started Kripalu, requires 2 years of daily yoga practice before you can take his teacher's training course. Now I understand why, as I have been practicing hatha yoga daily for that long now. A daily practice, from a few days a week for decades, has opened me up in ways that I would never have imagined. Reading and absorbing this fantastic, understandable interpretation of the Sutra I have now been given the gift of validation for how I manage to live an "extraordinary life" and can manage my "human" moments. Read this book and then...practice, practice, practice.
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Barbara A. Parcells
5.0 out of 5 stars A real treasure.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 20 June 2017
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This is my second time around reading this book. With a little age and wisdom behind me, it takes me much deeper and answers the questions I couldn't have answered before without experiencing life a bit more. The author does get a bit technical from a psychology point of view, but it is in the stories of the individual people and their struggles to find an authentic, peace filled way to live that we learn and grow from it. I don't doubt that at some point I will revisit these stories again in the future.
4 people found this helpful
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Erik C. Pihl
5.0 out of 5 stars Some answers to a few of life's persistant questions
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 7 January 2007
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In his book, "The Wisdom of Yoga," Stephen Cope has created a small masterpiece. He has not tried to answer questions about man's place in the universe or or the existence of an external world. He has, however, by means of telling vignettes from the lives of people he knows well and insightful comments about what must be one of the most gnomic series of insights into the practice of Yoga, given the average reader a sence of what it is to become involved in the practice of Yoga and some of its life-changing potential. In addition to this, he has included illustrations from other belief systems, specifically Buddhist thought and Christianity that provide a wider context for his practice. The Yoga practioner, as well as the average person who would like to learn a little about Yoga, could both benefit from the wonderful book.
40 people found this helpful
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Francie Nolan
3.0 out of 5 stars I Found Myself Skimming Too Much
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 31 March 2018
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I just started doing yoga and Googled the top ten books on yoga. This was named number one on one of the lists, so it had a lot to live up to.

I found myself skimming way too early. The stories he weaves in about his friends were a distraction. I didn't feel it contributed to this book at all.

When I skim, I read the first sentence of each or every other paragraph until one holds me. Sometimes I found very interesting and riveting information. Sometimes not.

I didn't finish the book. Stopped about half way. I think the writer is a great guy. I loved his energy, but the book needed a better editor IMO.
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Debra Newman
5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful book that brings yoga wisdom home
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 21 August 2006
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I love this book from the first page to the last! The introduction, prologue and appendices are quite helpful in providing vital information to the reader. Cope takes some everyday people and their life's challenges and brings to light some answers to the struggles of the human condition. The book reads like a novel, in a way, but is very scholarly and cites the words and philosophies of many pundits in the field of religion such as Mircea Eliade, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Thomas Merton and Georg Feuerstein, to name but a few. I didn't want the book to end and the final chapter made me cry with joy of the knowledge of contentment, despite challenges, in our lives. Thank you Stephen Cope!
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2023/02/17

Swami Vivekananda - Wikipedia

Swami Vivekananda - Wikipedia

Swami Vivekananda



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Vivekananda)

Vivekananda
স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ
Black and white image of Vivekananda, facing left with his arms folded and wearing a turban
Vivekananda in Chicago, September 1893. On the Left note, Vivekananda wrote: "One infinite pure and holy – beyond thought beyond qualities I bow down to thee".[1]
Personal
Born
Narendranath Datta

12 January 1863
Died4 July 1902 (aged 39)
Belur Math, Bengal Presidency, British India
(present-day West Bengal, India)
ReligionHinduism
CitizenshipBritish subject
EraModern philosophy
RegionEastern philosophy
Alma materUniversity of Calcutta (BA)
SignatureSignature of Swami Vivekananda.svg
Founder of
PhilosophyNeo-Vedanta[2][3]
Rāja yoga[3]
Religious career
GuruRamakrishna
Disciples
Influenced by
Literary works

Swami Vivekananda (/ˈswɑːmi ˌvɪvˈkɑːnəndə/Bengali: [ʃami bibekanɔndo] (listen); 12 January 1863 – 4 July 1902), born Narendranath Datta (Bengali: [nɔrendronatʰ dɔto]), was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna.[4][5] He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world;[6][7][8] and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion.[9] Vivekananda became a popular figure after the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where he began his famous speech with the words, "Sisters and brothers of America...," before introducing Hinduism to Americans.[10][11] He was so impactful at the Parliament that an American newspaper described him as: “an orator by divine right and undoubtedly the greatest figure at the Parliament”.[12] After great success at the Parliament, in the subsequent years, Vivekananda delivered hundreds of lectures across the United States, England and Europe, disseminating the core tenets of Hindu philosophy, and founded the Vedanta Society of New York and the Vedanta Society of San Francisco (now Vedanta Society of Northern California),[13] both of which became the foundations for Vedanta Societies in the West.

Born into an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family in Calcutta, Vivekananda was inclined from a young age towards religion and spirituality. He later found his guru, Ramakrishna, and became a monk. After the death of Ramakrishna, Vivekananda extensively toured the Indian subcontinent, acquiring first-hand knowledge of the living conditions of Indian people in then British India. Moved by their plight, he resolved to help his countrymen, and found a way to travel to the United States where he was highly successful. In India, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math, which provides spiritual training for monastics and householder devotees, and the Ramakrishna Mission, to provide charity, social work and education.[7] Vivekananda was also a major force in contemporary Hindu reform movements, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India.[14] He is regarded as a patriotic saint, and his birthday in India is celebrated as National Youth Day.[15][16]

Early life (1863–1888)

A Bengali woman, sitting
Bhubaneswari Devi (1841–1911); "I am indebted to my mother for the efflorescence of my knowledge."[17] – Vivekananda
Vivekananda as a wandering monk
3, Gourmohan Mukherjee Street, birthplace of Vivekananda, now converted into a museum and cultural centre

Birth and childhood

Vivekananda was born as Narendranath Datta (name shortened to Narendra or Naren)[18] in a Bengali family[19][20] in his ancestral home at 3 Gourmohan Mukherjee Street in Calcutta,[21] the capital of British India, on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival.[22] He belonged to a traditional family and was one of nine siblings.[23] His father, Vishwanath Datta, was an attorney at the Calcutta High Court.[19][24] Durgacharan Datta, Narendra's grandfather was a Sanskrit and Persian scholar[25] who left his family and became a monk at age twenty-five.[26] His mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, was a devout housewife.[25] The progressive, rational attitude of Narendra's father and the religious temperament of his mother helped shape his thinking and personality.[27][28] Narendranath was interested in spirituality from a young age and used to meditate before the images of deities such as ShivaRamaSita, and Mahavir Hanuman.[29] He was fascinated by wandering ascetics and monks.[28] Narendra was mischievous and restless as a child, and his parents often had difficulty controlling him. His mother said, "I prayed to Shiva for a son and he has sent me one of his demons".[26]

Education

In 1871, at the age of eight, Narendranath enrolled at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's Metropolitan Institution, where he went to school until his family moved to Raipur in 1877.[30] In 1879, after his family's return to Calcutta, he was the only student to receive first-division marks in the Presidency College entrance examination. [31] He was an avid reader in a wide range of subjects, including philosophyreligionhistorysocial scienceart and literature.[32] He was also interested in Hindu scriptures, including the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Narendra was trained in Indian classical music,[33] and regularly participated in physical exercise, sports and organised activities. Narendra studied Western logic, Western philosophy and European history at the General Assembly's Institution (now known as the Scottish Church College).[34] In 1881, he passed the Fine Arts examination, and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1884.[35][36] Narendra studied the works of David HumeImmanuel KantJohann Gottlieb FichteBaruch SpinozaGeorg W. F. HegelArthur SchopenhauerAuguste ComteJohn Stuart Mill and Charles Darwin.[37][38] He became fascinated with the evolutionism of Herbert Spencer and corresponded with him,[39][40] translating Herbert Spencer's book Education (1861) into Bengali.[41] While studying Western philosophers, he also learned Sanskrit scriptures and Bengali literature.[38]

William Hastie (principal of Christian College, Calcutta; from where Narendra graduated) wrote, "Narendra is really a genius. I have travelled far and wide but I have never come across a lad of his talents and possibilities, even in German universities, among philosophical students. He is bound to make his mark in life".[42]

Narendra was known for his prodigious memory and the ability at speed reading. Several incidents have been given as examples. In a talk, he once quoted verbatim, two or three pages from Pickwick Papers. Another incident that is given is his argument with a Swedish national where he gave reference to some details on Swedish history that the Swede originally disagreed with but later conceded. In another incident with Dr. Paul Deussen's at Kiel in Germany, Vivekananda was going over some poetical work and did not reply when the professor spoke to him. Later, he apologised to Dr. Deussen explaining that he was too absorbed in reading and hence did not hear him. The professor was not satisfied with this explanation, but Vivekananda quoted and interpreted verses from the text, leaving the professor dumbfounded about his feat of memory. Once, he requested some books written by Sir John Lubbock from a library and returned them the very next day, claiming that he had read them. The librarian refused to believe him, until cross-examination about the contents convinced him that Vivekananda was indeed being truthful.[43]

Some accounts have called Narendra a shrutidhara (a person with a prodigious memory).[44]

Initial spiritual forays

In 1880, Narendra joined Keshab Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan, which was established by Sen after meeting Ramakrishna and reconverting from Christianity to Hinduism.[45] Narendra became a member of a Freemasonry lodge "at some point before 1884"[46] and of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj in his twenties, a breakaway faction of the Brahmo Samaj led by Keshab Chandra Sen and Debendranath Tagore.[45][34][47][48] From 1881 to 1884, he was also active in Sen's Band of Hope, which tried to discourage youths from smoking and drinking.[45]

It was in this cultic[49] milieu that Narendra became acquainted with Western esotericism.[50] His initial beliefs were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which denounced polytheism and caste restrictions,[29][51] and a "streamlined, rationalized, monotheistic theology strongly coloured by a selective and modernistic reading of the Upanisads and of the Vedanta."[52] Rammohan Roy, the founder of the Brahmo Samaj who was strongly influenced by unitarianism, strove towards a universalistic interpretation of Hinduism.[52] His ideas were "altered [...] considerably" by Debendranath Tagore, who had a romantic approach to the development of these new doctrines, and questioned central Hindu beliefs like reincarnation and karma, and rejected the authority of the Vedas.[53] Tagore also brought this "neo-Hinduism" closer in line with western esotericism, a development which was furthered by Sen.[54] Sen was influenced by transcendentalism, an American philosophical-religious movement strongly connected with unitarianism, which emphasised personal religious experience over mere reasoning and theology.[55] Sen strived to "an accessible, non-renunciatory, everyman type of spirituality", introducing "lay systems of spiritual practice" which can be regarded as an influence to the teachings Vivekananda later popularised in the west.[56]

Not satisfied with his knowledge of philosophy, Narendra came to "the question which marked the real beginning of his intellectual quest for God."[47] He asked several prominent Calcutta residents if they had come "face to face with God", but none of their answers satisfied him.[57][36] At this time, Narendra met Debendranath Tagore (the leader of Brahmo Samaj) and asked if he had seen God. Instead of answering his question, Tagore said, "My boy, you have the Yogi's eyes."[47][41] According to Banhatti, it was Ramakrishna who really answered Narendra's question, by saying "Yes, I see Him as I see you, only in an infinitely intenser sense."[47] According to De Michelis, Vivekananda was more influenced by the Brahmo Samaj's and its new ideas, than by Ramakrishna.[56] Swami Medhananda agrees that the Brahmo Samaj was a formative influence,[58] but that "it was Narendra's momentous encounter with Ramakrishna that changed the course of his life by turning him away from Brahmoism."[59] According to De Michelis, it was Sen's influence which brought Vivekananda fully into contact with western esotericism, and it was also via Sen that he met Ramakrishna.[60]

Meeting Ramakrishna

In 1881, Narendra first met Ramakrishna, who became his spiritual focus after his own father had died in 1884.[61]

Narendra's first introduction to Ramakrishna occurred in a literature class at General Assembly's Institution when he heard Professor William Hastie lecturing on William Wordsworth's poem, The Excursion.[51] While explaining the word "trance" in the poem, Hastie suggested that his students visit Ramakrishna of Dakshineswar to understand the true meaning of trance. This prompted some of his students (including Narendra) to visit Ramakrishna.[62][63][64]

They probably first met personally in November 1881,[note 1] though Narendra did not consider this their first meeting, and neither man mentioned this meeting later.[62] At this time, Narendra was preparing for his upcoming F. A. examination, when Ram Chandra Datta accompanied him to Surendra Nath Mitra's, house where Ramakrishna was invited to deliver a lecture.[66] According to Makarand Paranjape, at this meeting Ramakrishna asked young Narendra to sing. Impressed by his singing talent, he asked Narendra to come to Dakshineshwar.[67]

In late 1881 or early 1882, Narendra went to Dakshineswar with two friends and met Ramakrishna.[62] This meeting proved to be a turning point in his life.[68] Although he did not initially accept Ramakrishna as his teacher and rebelled against his ideas, he was attracted by his personality and began to frequently visit him at Dakshineswar.[69] He initially saw Ramakrishna's ecstasies and visions as "mere figments of imagination"[27] and "hallucinations".[70] As a member of Brahmo Samaj, he opposed idol worship, polytheism and Ramakrishna's worship of Kali.[71] He even rejected the Advaita Vedanta of "identity with the absolute" as blasphemy and madness, and often ridiculed the idea.[70] Narendra tested Ramakrishna, who faced his arguments patiently: "Try to see the truth from all angles", he replied.[69]

Narendra's father's sudden death in 1884 left the family bankrupt; creditors began demanding the repayment of loans, and relatives threatened to evict the family from their ancestral home. Narendra, once a son of a well-to-do family, became one of the poorest students in his college.[72] He unsuccessfully tried to find work and questioned God's existence,[73] but found solace in Ramakrishna and his visits to Dakshineswar increased.[74]

One day, Narendra requested Ramakrishna to pray to goddess Kali for their family's financial welfare. Ramakrishna instead suggested him to go to the temple himself and pray. Following Ramakrishna's suggestion, he went to the temple thrice, but failed to pray for any kind of worldly necessities and ultimately prayed for true knowledge and devotion from the goddess.[75][76][77] Narendra gradually grew ready to renounce everything for the sake of realising God, and accepted Ramakrishna as his Guru.[69]

In 1885, Ramakrishna developed throat cancer, and was transferred to Calcutta and (later) to a garden house in Cossipore. Narendra and Ramakrishna's other disciples took care of him during his last days, and Narendra's spiritual education continued. At Cossipore, he experienced Nirvikalpa samadhi.[78] Narendra and several other disciples received ochre robes from Ramakrishna, forming his first monastic order.[79] He was taught that service to men was the most effective worship of God.[27][78] Ramakrishna asked him to care of the other monastic disciples, and in turn asked them to see Narendra as their leader.[80] Ramakrishna died in the early-morning hours of 16 August 1886 in Cossipore.[80][81]

Founding of Ramakrishna Math

After Ramakrishna's death, his devotees and admirers stopped supporting his disciples.[82] Unpaid rent accumulated, and Narendra and the other disciples had to find a new place to live.[83] Many returned home, adopting a Grihastha (family-oriented) way of life.[84] Narendra decided to convert a dilapidated house at Baranagar into a new math (monastery) for the remaining disciples. Rent for the Baranagar Math was low, raised by "holy begging" (mādhukarī). The math became the first building of the Ramakrishna Math: the monastery of the monastic order of Ramakrishna.[68] Narendra and other disciples used to spend many hours in practicing meditation and religious austerities every day.[85] Narendra later reminisced about the early days of the monastery:[86]

We underwent a lot of religious practice at the Baranagar Math. We used to get up at 3:00 am and become absorbed in japa and meditation. What a strong spirit of detachment we had in those days! We had no thought even as to whether the world existed or not.

In 1887, Narendra compiled a Bengali song anthology named Sangeet Kalpataru with Vaishnav Charan Basak. Narendra collected and arranged most of the songs of this compilation, but could not finish the work of the book for unfavourable circumstances.[87]

Monastic vows

In December 1886, the mother of Baburam[note 2] invited Narendra and his other brother monks to Antpur village. Narendra and the other aspiring monks accepted the invitation and went to Antpur to spend a few days. In Antpur, on the Christmas Eve of 1886, Narendra and eight other disciples took formal monastic vows.[85] They decided to live their lives as their master lived.[85] Narendranath took the name "Swami Vivekananda".[88]

Travels in India (1888–1893)

In 1888, Narendra left the monastery as a Parivrâjaka— the Hindu religious life of a wandering monk, "without fixed abode, without ties, independent and strangers wherever they go".[89] His sole possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff and his two favourite books: the Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ.[90] Narendra travelled extensively in India for five years, visiting centres of learning and acquainting himself with diverse religious traditions and social patterns.[91][92] He developed sympathy for the suffering and poverty of the people, and resolved to uplift the nation.[91][93] Living primarily on bhiksha (alms), Narendra travelled on foot and by railway (with tickets bought by admirers). During his travels he met, and stayed with Indians from all religions and walks of life: scholars, dewansrajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, paraiyars (low-caste workers) and government officials.[93] On 31 May 1893, Narendra left Bombay for Chicago with the name, as suggested by Ajit Singh of Khetri, "Vivekananda"–a conglomerate of the Sanskrit words: viveka and ānanda, meaning "the bliss of discerning wisdom".[94][95]

First visit to the West (1893–1897)

Vivekananda started his journey to the West on 31 May 1893[96] and visited several cities in Japan (including NagasakiKobeYokohamaOsakaKyoto and Tokyo),[97] China and Canada en route to the United States,[96] reaching Chicago on 30 July 1893,[98][96] where the "Parliament of Religions" took place in September 1893.[99] The Congress was an initiative of the Swedenborgian layman, and judge of the Illinois Supreme CourtCharles C. Bonney,[100][101] to gather all the religions of the world, and show "the substantial unity of many religions in the good deeds of the religious life."[100] It was one of the more than 200 adjunct gatherings and congresses of the Chicago's World's Fair,[100] and was "an avant-garde intellectual manifestation of [...] cultic milieus, East and West,"[102] with the Brahmo Samaj and the Theosophical Society being invited as representative of Hinduism.[103]

Vivekananda wanted to join, but was disappointed to learn that no one without credentials from a bona fide organisation would be accepted as a delegate.[104] Vivekananda contacted Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University, who invited him to speak at Harvard.[104] Vivekananda wrote of the professor, "He urged upon me the necessity of going to the Parliament of Religions, which he thought would give an introduction to the nation".[105][note 3] Vivekananda submitted an application, "introducing himself as a monk 'of the oldest order of sannyāsis ... founded by Sankara,'"[103] supported by the Brahmo Samaj representative Protapchandra Mozoombar, who was also a member of the Parliament's selection committee, "classifying the Swami as a representative of the Hindu monastic order."[103] Hearing Vivekananda speak, Harvard psychology professor William James said, "that man is simply a wonder for oratorical power. He is an honor to humanity."[106]

Parliament of the World's Religions

The Parliament of the World's Religions opened on 11 September 1893 at the Art Institute of Chicago, as part of the World's Columbian Exposition.[107][108][109] On this day, Vivekananda gave a brief speech representing India and Hinduism.[110] He was initially nervous, bowed to Saraswati (the Hindu goddess of learning) and began his speech with "Sisters and brothers of America!".[111][109] At these words, Vivekananda received a two-minute standing ovation from the crowd of seven thousand.[112] According to Sailendra Nath Dhar, when silence was restored he began his address, greeting the youngest of the nations on behalf of "the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance".[113][note 4] Vivekananda quoted two illustrative passages from the "Shiva mahimna stotram": "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!" and "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths that in the end lead to Me."[116] According to Sailendra Nath Dhar, "it was only a short speech, but it voiced the spirit of the Parliament."[116][117]

Parliament President John Henry Barrows said, "India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful influence over his auditors".[111] Vivekananda attracted widespread attention in the press, which called him the "cyclonic monk from India". The New York Critique wrote, "He is an orator by divine right, and his strong, intelligent face in its picturesque setting of yellow and orange was hardly less interesting than those earnest words, and the rich, rhythmical utterance he gave them". The New York Herald noted, "Vivekananda is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation".[118] American newspapers reported Vivekananda as "the greatest figure in the parliament of religions" and "the most popular and influential man in the parliament".[119] The Boston Evening Transcript reported that Vivekananda was "a great favourite at the parliament... if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded".[120] He spoke several more times "at receptions, the scientific section, and private homes"[113] on topics related to Hinduism, Buddhism and harmony among religions until the parliament ended on 27 September 1893. Vivekananda's speeches at the Parliament had the common theme of universality, emphasising religious tolerance.[121] He soon became known as a "handsome oriental" and made a huge impression as an orator.[122]

Lecture tours in the UK and US

"I do not come", said Swamiji on one occasion in America, "to convert you to a new belief. I want you to keep your own belief; I want to make the Methodist a better Methodist; the Presbyterian a better Presbyterian; the Unitarian a better Unitarian. I want to teach you to live the truth, to reveal the light within your own soul."[123]

After the Parliament of Religions, he toured many parts of the US as a guest. His popularity opened up new views for expanding on "life and religion to thousands".[122] During a question-answer session at Brooklyn Ethical Society, he remarked, "I have a message to the West as Buddha had a message to the East."

Vivekananda spent nearly two years lecturing in the eastern and central United States, primarily in ChicagoDetroitBoston, and New York. He founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894.[124] By spring 1895 his busy, tiring schedule had affected his health.[125] He ended his lecture tours and began giving free, private classes in Vedanta and yoga. Beginning in June 1895, Vivekananda gave private lectures to a dozen of his disciples at Thousand Island Park, New York for two months.[125]

During his first visit to the West he travelled to the UK twice, in 1895 and 1896, lecturing successfully there.[126] In November 1895, he met Margaret Elizabeth Noble an Irish woman who would become Sister Nivedita.[125] During his second visit to the UK in May 1896 Vivekananda met Max Müller, a noted Indologist from Oxford University who wrote Ramakrishna's first biography in the West.[117] From the UK, Vivekananda visited other European countries. In Germany, he met Paul Deussen, another Indologist.[127] Vivekananda was offered academic positions in two American universities (one the chair in Eastern Philosophy at Harvard University and a similar position at Columbia University); he declined both, since his duties would conflict with his commitment as a monk.[125]

Vivekananda in Greenacre, Maine (August 1894).[128]
Vivekananda at Mead sisters' house, South Pasadena in 1900.

Vivekananda's success led to a change in mission, namely the establishment of Vedanta centres in the West.[129] Vivekananda adapted traditional Hindu ideas and religiosity to suit the needs and understandings of his western audiences, who were especially attracted by and familiar with western esoteric traditions and movements like Transcendentalism and New thought.[130] An important element in his adaptation of Hindu religiosity was the introduction of his "four yogas" model, which includes Raja yoga, his interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga sutras,[131] which offered a practical means to realise the divine force within which is central to modern western esotericism.[130] In 1896, his book Raja Yoga was published, becoming an instant success; it was highly influential in the western understanding of yoga, in Elizabeth de Michelis's view marking the beginning of modern yoga.[132][133]

Vivekananda attracted followers and admirers in the US and Europe, including Josephine MacLeodBetty LeggettLady SandwichWilliam JamesJosiah RoyceRobert G. IngersollLord KelvinHarriet MonroeElla Wheeler WilcoxSarah BernhardtNikola TeslaEmma Calvé and Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz.[27][125][127][134][135] He initiated several followers : Marie Louise (a French woman) became Swami Abhayananda, and Leon Landsberg became Swami Kripananda,[136] so that they could continue the work of the mission of the Vedanta Society. This society still is filled with foreign nationals and is also located in Los Angeles.[137] During his stay in America, Vivekananda was given land in the mountains to the southeast of San Jose, California to establish a retreat for Vedanta students. He called it "Peace retreat", or, Shanti Asrama.[138] The largest American centre is the Vedanta Society of Southern California in Hollywood, one of the twelve main centres. There is also a Vedanta Press in Hollywood which publishes books about Vedanta and English translations of Hindu scriptures and texts.[139] Christina Greenstidel of Detroit was also initiated by Vivekananda with a mantra and she became Sister Christine,[140] and they established a close father–daughter relationship.[141]

From the West, Vivekananda revived his work in India. He regularly corresponded with his followers and brother monks,[note 5] offering advice and financial support. His letters from this period reflect his campaign of social service,[142] and were strongly worded.[143] He wrote to Akhandananda, "Go from door to door amongst the poor and lower classes of the town of Khetri and teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography and such other subjects. No good will come of sitting idle and having princely dishes, and saying "Ramakrishna, O Lord!"—unless you can do some good to the poor".[144][145] In 1895, Vivekananda founded the periodical Brahmavadin to teach the Vedanta.[146] Later, Vivekananda's translation of the first six chapters of The Imitation of Christ was published in Brahmavadin in 1899.[147] Vivekananda left for India on 16 December 1896 from England with his disciples Captain and Mrs. Sevier and J.J. Goodwin. On the way, they visited France and Italy, and set sail for India from Naples on 30 December 1896.[148] He was later followed to India by Sister Nivedita, who devoted the rest of her life to the education of Indian women and India's independence.[125][149]

Back in India (1897–1899)

The ship from Europe arrived in ColomboBritish Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 15 January 1897,[148] and Vivekananda received a warm welcome. In Colombo, he gave his first public speech in the East. From there on, his journey to Calcutta was triumphant. Vivekananda travelled from Colombo to PambanRameswaramRamnadMaduraiKumbakonam and Madras, delivering lectures. Common people and rajas gave him an enthusiastic reception. During his train travels, people often sat on the rails to force the train to stop, so they could hear him.[148] From Madras (now Chennai), he continued his journey to Calcutta and Almora. While in the West, Vivekananda spoke about India's great spiritual heritage; in India, he repeatedly addressed social issues: uplifting the people, eliminating the caste system, promoting science and industrialisation, addressing widespread poverty and ending colonial rule. These lectures, published as Lectures from Colombo to Almora, demonstrate his nationalistic fervour and spiritual ideology.[150]

On 1 May 1897 in Calcutta, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission for social service. Its ideals are based on Karma Yoga,[151][152] and its governing body consists of the trustees of the Ramakrishna Math (which conducts religious work).[153] Both Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission have their headquarters at Belur Math.[117][154] Vivekananda founded two other monasteries: one in Mayavati in the Himalayas (near Almora), the Advaita Ashrama and another in Madras (now Chennai). Two journals were founded: Prabuddha Bharata in English and Udbhodan in Bengali.[155] That year, famine-relief work was begun by Swami Akhandananda in the Murshidabad district.[117][153]

Vivekananda earlier inspired Jamsetji Tata to set up a research and educational institution when they travelled together from Yokohama to Chicago on Vivekananda's first visit to the West in 1893. Tata now asked him to head his Research Institute of Science; Vivekananda declined the offer, citing a conflict with his "spiritual interests".[156][157][158] He visited Punjab, attempting to mediate an ideological conflict between Arya Samaj (a reformist Hindu movement) and sanatan (orthodox Hindus).[159] After brief visits to Lahore,[153] Delhi and Khetri, Vivekananda returned to Calcutta in January 1898. He consolidated the work of the math and trained disciples for several months. Vivekananda composed "Khandana Bhava–Bandhana", a prayer song dedicated to Ramakrishna, in 1898.[160]

Second visit to the West and final years (1899–1902)

Despite declining health, Vivekananda left for the West for a second time in June 1899[161] accompanied by Sister Nivedita and Swami Turiyananda. Following a brief stay in England, he went to the United States. During this visit, Vivekananda established Vedanta Societies in San Francisco and New York and founded a shanti ashrama (peace retreat) in California.[162] He then went to Paris for the Congress of Religions in 1900.[163] His lectures in Paris concerned the worship of the lingam and the authenticity of the Bhagavad Gita.[162] Vivekananda then visited BrittanyViennaIstanbulAthens and Egypt. The French philosopher Jules Bois was his host for most of this period, until he returned to Calcutta on 9 December 1900.[162]

After a brief visit to the Advaita Ashrama in Mayavati, Vivekananda settled at Belur Math, where he continued co-ordinating the works of Ramakrishna Mission, the math and the work in England and the US. He had many visitors, including royalty and politicians. Although Vivekananda was unable to attend the Congress of Religions in 1901 in Japan due to deteriorating health, he made pilgrimages to Bodhgaya and Varanasi.[164] Declining health (including asthmadiabetes and chronic insomnia) restricted his activity.[165]

Death

On 4 July 1902 (the day of his death),[166] Vivekananda awoke early, went to the monastery at Belur Math and meditated for three hours. He taught Shukla-Yajur-Veda, Sanskrit grammar and the philosophy of yoga to pupils,[167][168] later discussing with colleagues a planned Vedic college in the Ramakrishna Math. At 7:00 pm Vivekananda went to his room, asking not to be disturbed;[167] he died at 9:20 p.m. while meditating.[169] According to his disciples, Vivekananda attained mahasamādhi;[170] the rupture of a blood vessel in his brain was reported as a possible cause of death.[171] His disciples believed that the rupture was due to his brahmarandhra (an opening in the crown of his head) being pierced when he attained mahasamādhi. Vivekananda fulfilled his prophecy that he would not live forty years.[172] He was cremated on a sandalwood funeral pyre on the bank of the Ganga in Belur, opposite where Ramakrishna was cremated sixteen years earlier.[173]

Teachings and philosophy

While synthesizing and popularizing various strands of Hindu-thought, most notably classical yoga and (Advaita) Vedanta, Vivekananda was influenced by western ideas such as Universalism, via Unitarian missionaries who collaborated with the Brahmo Samaj.[174][175][176][177][178] His initial beliefs were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which included belief in a formless God and the deprecation of idolatry,[29][51] and a "streamlined, rationalized, monotheistic theology strongly coloured by a selective and modernistic reading of the Upanisads and of the Vedanta".[179] He propagated the idea that "the divine, the absolute, exists within all human beings regardless of social status",[180] and that "seeing the divine as the essence of others will promote love and social harmony".[180] Via his affiliations with Keshub Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan,[181] the Freemasonry lodge,[182] the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj,[181][34][47][48] and Sen's Band of Hope, Vivekananda became acquainted with Western esotericism.[183]

He was also influenced by Ramakrishna, who gradually brought Narendra to a Vedanta-based worldview that "provides the ontological basis for 'śivajñāne jīver sevā', the spiritual practice of serving human beings as actual manifestations of God."[184]

Vivekananda propagated that the essence of Hinduism was best expressed in Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta philosophy.[185] Nevertheless, following Ramakrishna, and in contrast to Advaita Vedanta, Vivekananda believed that the Absolute is both immanent and transcendent.[note 6] According to Anil Sooklal, Vivekananda's neo-Vedanta "reconciles Dvaita or dualism and Advaita or non-dualism," viewing Brahman as "one without a second," yet "both qualified, saguna, and qualityless, nirguna."[188][note 7] Vivekananda summarised the Vedanta as follows, giving it a modern and Universalistic interpretation,[185] showing the influence of classical yoga:

Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or mental discipline, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all of these—and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details.

Vivekananda's emphasis on nirvikalpa samadhi was preceded by medieval yogic influences on Advaita Vedanta.[189] In line with Advaita Vedanta texts like Dŗg-Dŗśya-Viveka (14th century) and Vedantasara (of Sadananda) (15th century), Vivekananda saw samadhi as a means to attain liberation.[190][note 8]

Vivekananda popularized the notion of involution, a term which Vivekananda probably took from western Theosophists, notably Helena Blavatsky, in addition to Darwin's notion of evolution, and possibly referring to the Samkhya term sātkarya.[193] Theosophic ideas on involution has "much in common" with "theories of the descent of God in Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and other esoteric schools."[193] According to Meera Nanda, "Vivekananda uses the word involution exactly how it appears in Theosophy: the descent, or the involvement, of divine cosnciousness into matter."[194] With spirit, Vivekananda refers to prana or purusha, derived ("with some original twists") from Samkhya and classical yoga as presented by Patanjali in the Yoga sutras.[194]

Vivekananda linked morality with control of the mind, seeing truth, purity and unselfishness as traits which strengthened it.[195] He advised his followers to be holy, unselfish and to have shraddhā (faith). Vivekananda supported brahmacharya,[196] believing it the source of his physical and mental stamina and eloquence.[197]

Vivekananda's acquaintance with Western esotericism made him very successful in Western esoteric circles, beginning with his speech in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions. Vivekananda adapted traditional Hindu ideas and religiosity to suit the needs and understandings of his Western audiences, who were especially attracted by and familiar with Western esoteric traditions and movements like Transcendentalism and New thought.[198] An important element in his adaptation of Hindu religiosity was the introduction of his four yoga's model, which includes Raja yoga, his interpretation of Patanjali's Yoga sutras,[199] which offered a practical means to realize the divine force within which is central to modern Western esotericism.[200] In 1896, his book Raja Yoga was published, which became an instant success and was highly influential in the Western understanding of yoga.[201][202]

Nationalism was a prominent theme in Vivekananda's thought. He believed that a country's future depends on its people, and his teachings focused on human development.[203] He wanted "to set in motion a machinery which will bring noblest ideas to the doorstep of even the poorest and the meanest".[204]

Influence and legacy

Neo-Vedanta

Vivekananda was one of the main representatives of Neo-Vedanta, a modern interpretation of selected aspects of Hinduism in line with western esoteric traditions, especially TranscendentalismNew Thought and Theosophy.[3] His reinterpretation was, and is, very successful, creating a new understanding and appreciation of Hinduism within and outside India,[3] and was the principal reason for the enthusiastic reception of yoga, Transcendental Meditation and other forms of Indian spiritual self-improvement in the West.[205] Agehananda Bharati explained, "...modern Hindus derive their knowledge of Hinduism from Vivekananda, directly or indirectly".[206] Vivekananda espoused the idea that all sects within Hinduism (and all religions) are different paths to the same goal.[207] However, this view has been criticised as an oversimplification of Hinduism.[207]

Indian nationalism

In the background of emerging nationalism in British-ruled India, Vivekananda crystallised the nationalistic ideal. In the words of social reformer Charles Freer Andrews, "The Swami's intrepid patriotism gave a new colour to the national movement throughout India. More than any other single individual of that period Vivekananda had made his contribution to the new awakening of India".[208] Vivekananda drew attention to the extent of poverty in the country, and maintained that addressing such poverty was a prerequisite for national awakening.[209] His nationalistic ideas influenced many Indian thinkers and leaders. Sri Aurobindo regarded Vivekananda as the one who awakened India spiritually.[210] Mahatma Gandhi counted him among the few Hindu reformers "who have maintained this Hindu religion in a state of splendor by cutting down the dead wood of tradition".[211]

Name-giving

In September 2010, the then Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India before the current President Ram Nath Kovind, approved in principle the Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project at a cost of ₹1 billion (US$13 million), with objectives including: involving youth with competitions, essays, discussions and study circles and publishing Vivekananda's works in a number of languages.[212] In 2011, the West Bengal Police Training College was renamed the Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy, West Bengal.[213] The state technical university in Chhattisgarh has been named the Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University.[214] In 2012, the Raipur airport was renamed Swami Vivekananda Airport.[215]

Celebrations

While National Youth Day in India is observed on his birthday, 12 January, the day he delivered his masterful speech at the Parliament of Religions, 11 September 1893, is "World Brotherhood Day".[216][217] The 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated in India and abroad. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India officially observed 2013 as the occasion in a declaration.[218]

Movies

Indian film director Utpal Sinha made a film, The Light: Swami Vivekananda as a tribute for his 150th birth anniversary.[219] Other Indian films about his life include: Swamiji (1949) by Amar MullickSwami Vivekananda (1955) by Amar Mullick, Birieswar Vivekananda (1964) by Modhu Bose, Life and Message of Swami Vivekananda (1964) documentary film by Bimal RoySwami Vivekananda (1998) by G. V. IyerSwamiji (2012) laser light film by Manick Sorcar.[220] Sound of Joy, an Indian 3D-animated short film directed by Sukankan Roy depicts the spiritual journey of Vivekananda. It won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Animation Film in 2014.[221]

Works

Lectures from Colombo to Almora front cover 1897 edition
Lectures from Colombo to Almora front cover 1897 edition
Vedanta Philosophy An address before the Graduate Philosophical Society 1901 cover page
Vedanta Philosophy An address before the Graduate Philosophical Society 1901 cover page

Lectures

Although Vivekananda was a powerful orator and writer in English and Bengali,[222] he was not a thorough scholar,[223] and most of his published works were compiled from lectures given around the world which were "mainly delivered [...] impromptu and with little preparation".[223] His main work, Raja Yoga, consists of talks he delivered in New York.[224]

Literary works

Bartaman Bharat meaning "Present Day India"[225] is an erudite Bengali language essay written by him, which was first published in the March 1899 issue of Udbodhan, the only Bengali language magazine of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. The essay was reprinted as a book in 1905 and later compiled into the fourth volume of The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.[226] [227] In this essay his refrain to the readers was to honour and treat every Indian as a brother irrespective of whether he was born poor or in lower caste.[228]

Publications

Published in his lifetime[229]


Published posthumously

Published after his death (1902)[229]

  • Addresses on Bhakti Yoga
  • Bhakti Yoga
  • The East and the West (1909)[233]
  • Inspired Talks (1909)
  • Narada Bhakti Sutras – translation
  • Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion
  • Practical Vedanta
  • Speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda; a comprehensive collection
  • Complete Works: a collection of his writings, lectures and discourses in a set of nine volumes[234]
  • Seeing Beyond the Circle (2005)[235]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The exact date of the meeting is unknown. Vivekananda researcher Shailendra Nath Dhar studied the Calcutta University Calendar of 1881—1882 and found in that year, examination started on 28 November and ended on 2 December[65]
  2. ^ A brother monk of Narendranath
  3. ^ On learning that Vivekananda lacked credentials to speak at the Chicago Parliament, Wright said "To ask for your credentials is like asking the sun to state its right to shine in the heavens".[105]
  4. ^ McRae quotes "[a] sectarian biography of Vivekananda,"[114] namely Sailendra Nath Dhar A Comprehensive Biography of Swami Vivekananda, Part One, (Madras, India: Vivekananda Prakashan Kendra, 1975), p. 461, which "describes his speech on the opening day".[115]
  5. ^ Brother monks or brother disciples means other disciples of Ramakrishna who lived monastic lives.
  6. ^ According to Michael Taft, Ramakrishna reconciled the dualism of form and formless,[186] regarding the Supreme Being to be both Personal and Impersonal, active and inactive.[187] Ramakrishna: "When I think of the Supreme Being as inactive – neither creating nor preserving nor destroying – I call Him Brahman or Purusha, the Impersonal God. When I think of Him as active – creating, preserving and destroying – I call Him Sakti or Maya or Prakriti, the Personal God. But the distinction between them does not mean a difference. The Personal and Impersonal are the same thing, like milk and its whiteness, the diamond and its lustre, the snake and its wriggling motion. It is impossible to conceive of the one without the other. The Divine Mother and Brahman are one."[187]
  7. ^ Sooklalmquoytes Chatterjee: "Sankara's Vedanta is known as Advaita or non-dualism, pure and simple. Hence it is sometimes referred to as Kevala-Advaita or unqualified monism. It may also be called abstract monism in so far as Brahman, the Ultimate Reality, is, according to it, devoid of all qualities and distinctions, nirguna and nirvisesa [...] The Neo-Vedanta is also Advaitic inasmuch as it holds that Brahman, the Ultimate Reality, is one without a second, ekamevadvitiyam. But as distinguished from the traditional Advaita of Sankara, it is a synthetic Vedanta which reconciles Dvaita or dualism and Advaita or non-dualism and also other theories of reality. In this sense it may also be called concrete monism in so far as it holds that Brahman is both qualified, saguna, and qualityless, nirguna (Chatterjee, 1963 : 260)."[188]
  8. ^ The Advaita Vedanta tradition in medieval times was influenced by, and incorporated elements from, the yogic tradition and texts like the Yoga Vasistha and the Bhagavata Purana.[191] The Yoga Vasistha became an authoritative source text in the Advaita vedanta tradition in the 14th century, while Vidyāraņya's Jivanmuktiviveka (14th century) was influenced by the (Laghu-) Yoga-Vasistha, which in turn was influenced by Kashmir Shaivism.[192]

References

  1. ^ "World fair 1893 circulated photo". vivekananda.net. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Bhajanānanda (2010), Four Basic Principles of Advaita Vedanta, p.3" (PDF). Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  3. Jump up to:a b c d De Michelis 2005.
  4. ^ "Swami Vivekananda: A short biography"www.oneindia.com. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Life History & Teachings of Swami Vivekanand". Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  6. ^ "International Yoga Day: How Swami Vivekananda helped popularise the ancient Indian regimen in the West". 21 June 2017.
  7. Jump up to:a b Feuerstein 2002, p. 600.
  8. ^ Syman, Stefanie (2010). The Subtle Body: The Story of Yoga in America. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-374-23676-2.
  9. ^ Clarke 2006, p. 209.
  10. ^ Barrows, John Henry (1893). The World's Parliament of Religions. The Parliament of Religions Publishing Company. p. 101.
  11. ^ Dutt 2005, p. 121.
  12. ^ "Sisters and brothers of America — full text of Swami Vivekananda's iconic Chicago speech". The Print. 4 July 2019.
  13. ^ Jackson 1994, p. 115.
  14. ^ Von Dense 1999, p. 191.
  15. ^ "Know About Swami Vivekananda on National Youth Day 2022"SA News Channel. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  16. ^ "National Youth Day 2022: Images, Wishes, and Quotes by Swami Vivekananda That Continue to Inspire us Even Today!"News18. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  17. ^ Virajananda 2006, p. 21.
  18. ^ Paul 2003, p. 5.
  19. Jump up to:a b Banhatti 1995, p. 1.
  20. ^ Steven Kemper (2015). Rescued from the Nation: Anagarika Dharmapala and the Buddhist World. University of Chicago Press. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-226-19910-8.
  21. ^ "Devdutt Pattanaik: Dayanand & Vivekanand". 15 January 2017.
  22. ^ Badrinath 2006, p. 2.
  23. ^ Mukherji 2011, p. 5.
  24. ^ Badrinath 2006, p. 3.
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Sources

Further reading

External links