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India Tribune
January 4, 2013
VIVEKANANDA’S 150 BIRTH ANNIVERSARY TH
A gospel of practical Vedanta as revealed by Swami Vivekananda Vivekananda – His Gospel of Man-making; Compiled, edited and published by Swami Jyotirmayananda; Sixth Enlarged Edition (in commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda); Pages: 1,064; Price: $25; Copies available at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, (www.arshavidya.in), P.O. Box 1059, Saylorsburg, PA-18353.
BY J.V. LAKSHMANA RAO India can be singularly proud of being the ancient land giving to the world thousands of spiritual scriptures, including the ageless Vedas, the Upanishads, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, but Swami Jyotirmayananda’s latest edition of Vivekananda – His Gospel of Man-making can easily be termed as a modern compendium of all the essence of these scriptures as enunciated by 19th century Vedic and Vedanta messenger – Swami Vivekananda. This over 1,000-page gospel, which clearly, gracefully and forcefully conveys the message of what Swami Vivekananda calls the “Man-making,” commemorates his 150th birth anniversary being celebrated the world over on January 12, 2013. Swami Vivekananda can aptly and justifiably be called a yuga purusha or “a man of the era,” who became a bridge between the East and West with his universal message of Vedanta. He was a cultural and spiritual ambassador of India to the West. He interpreted Indian values in the universal language of science. In fact, he harmonized philosophies and spiritualities of the East and the West indicating the true knowledge is one and universal. He explained the real meaning of Sanatana Dharma – the dharma of oneness – the true manifestation of God. Sanatana Dharma is also known as the rational and universal gospel of the Vedanta. In his short life of 39 years, he had turned out work of thousands of years put in by thousands of people. His wisdom is boundless; his spiritual knowledge is without boundaries; his knowledge of life as envisaged by him is as old as the universal existence, his teachings are all-compassing; and he lives beyond
his times. He stunned the audience with his eloquence, oratory and depth of knowledge with his historic “Sisters and Brothers of America” address when he spoke at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893. In the last nine years of his short span of life he addressed several conferences, meetings and groups, met many religious personalities, scholars, authors and even common people and influenced them with his depth of knowledge of the Vedanta. While paying tributes to
forms, but the soul (atman) that dwells in them is One – the Ultimate Truth – the God. According to Swami Vivekananda, “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 psychic control or philosophy – by one or more or all of these – and be free.” In the progress of modern science and
BOOK REVIEW technology, Swami Vivekananda also visualized the beginning of degeneration of humanity and human values. He emphasized the practice of religion must be based on service and sacrifice; sharing and caring. He advocated basic rights – freedom of thought and existence without any boundaries or limitation for all human beings. Swami Vivekananda’s message and teachings have strong influence on all
Above: Cover jacket of the book — “Vivekananda — His Gospel of Man-making;” Right: Swami Jyotirmayananda (extreme right) with J.V. Lakshmana Rao.
his Master Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda said that he was only the human form, while his Master spoke through him. Without confusing his audience, with no ambiguity, without being verbose, without using high-sounding vocabulary, with clarity of thought and in simplest words, he had explained the intricate and deepest inner meaning of the Vedanta. According to him Vedanta means realization of the Ultimate Truth – the realization of Ultimate Reality of oneness of all, the Truth of all truths beyond all diversities. The whole world is one family (Vasudhaiva kutumbakam). The individuals may be identified by their physical
those who have an exposure to them. They include scholars, intellectuals and common people of both Eastern and Western origin. In this voluminous compilation — Vivekananda – His Gospel of Man-making — Swami Jyotirmayananda has distilled with high concentration all the essentials of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and message of Vedanta, which are relevant even today. The book consists of Benedictions by Swami Ranganathananda, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati; a homage by Sri Anand-
shankar Pandya, publisher’s note, foreword by Swami Tapasyananda, prolegomenon by Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari, elaborate reviews by M. V. Kamath, and Prof. K. R. Sirnivasa Iyengar, editor’s note, and a synoptic view of the book by K. P. Shivkumar. The chapters include, Introduction; Vivekananda: His Gospel of Man-making; Vivekananda on Education and Religion; Vivekananda – the Man and His mission -- Tributes, A Chronicle of Important Events in the Life and Times of Vivekananda; Vivekananda – a voice across the century; Winds of Change –Vivekananda and his impact on the Western mind. The book has a complete section of several very rare pictures of Swami Vivekananda; a six-part appendix, Glossary, Bibliography, an exhaustive list of Vivekananda Literature (books by and on Vivekananda), brief introduction to the author, general index and subject index. While the whole book makes a most interesting reading, a special mention must be made about the explanation and meaning of “Man-making,” which is the essence of the message of Swami Vivekananda; and the tributes paid to Swami Vivekananda by a cross-section of people, foreign, Indian, laymen, scholars, savants and saints. There is no need for one to read many books to know various aspects of life and work of Swami Vivekananda; it is enough for one to grasp, gather and understand thoroughly all about Swami Vivekananda and his Vedanta philosophy if one reads — Vivekananda: His Gospel of Man-making — by Swami Jyotirmayananda, who calls his work a “Labor of Love.” Besides all accolades that he has been receiving for the contents and years of labor put in by Swami Jyotirmayananda in compiling — Vivekananda: His Gospel of Man-making — he rightly deserves a doctorate. It is a priceless book that every one must read and recommend others to read it. It is a book that should find a prestigious place in all personal, private and institutional libraries.
HSS to organize ‘Dharma Bee’ to spread Swami Vivekananda’s message BY J.V. LAKSHMANA RAO Chicago: A broad five-point yearlong action plan to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda to spread his message has been chalked out by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh-USA in 150 cities of the country. The theme of the celebration is “Universal peace through Dharma and Yoga.” This was announced at a press conference jointly addressed by Dr. Siddhesh Shevde, joint general secretary of HSS-USA, and Vasant Pandav, PR coordinator of the organization for the Mid-West region, at Mysore Woodlands restaurant on Devon Avenue here on December 19. Dr. Siddhesh Shevde said that the plan would be kicked off on January 12, 2013, which would mark the 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda. The celebration
would be held in 150 cities. The five-point action would include a national contest called “Dharma Bee” on the lines of Spelling Bee for children on the stories of Swami Vivekananda and Lord Sri Krishna, field trips, adventure activities and sewa or service activities for the youth; a nationwide mobile exhibition on life and message of Swami Vivekananda; lecture series on Hinduism in universities during the spring and fall semesters of 2013; and a dharma and yoga fest to commemorate Swamiji’s 1893 historic “Sisters and Brothers of America” address (at World’s Parliament of Religions) to be held on September 11, 2013. The celebration, he said, would include screening of a documentary film on Swami Vivekananda; volunteers taking a oath or sankalp to do sewa or service; collective participation in Suryanamaskar and yoga to
spread the message of Swamiji; competition for children in 200 centers. Giving details of each point of the five-point action plan, he said that 10,000 children in the age group of 5-13 years are expected to participate in “Dharma Bee,” in 200 centers. The winners in the initial contest will participate in regional level contests to be held in 30 centers in April. The winners numbering 120 children of regional level contest will participate in the final one-day contest to be held in Chicago in the third weekend of June. The children are also expected to visit any one of the Vedanta centers and talk about Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy and his Vedanta message. A visit for them to Fullerton Hall of Art Institute of Chicago would also be arranged. Awards worth $50,000 would be given to the children participating at various levels
in the “Dharma Bee.” The three finalists would get $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively in each of four categories. All participants would be given certificates. The final “Dharma Bee” awards ceremony to be held in Chicago in June would be marked by a one-hour play on life and message of Swami Vivekananda, in which 80 children would be participating. Dr. Siddhesh Shevde said that field trips, adventure activities and service activities would be conducted for the youth. The youth would be encouraged to visit places connected with Vivekananda’s US tour and take up volunteer work. He said that a mobile exhibition on the life and message of Swami Vivekananda would travel various cities in the country to educate people. A series of lectures by eminent scholars would be arranged in 50
universities in the US during the spring and fall semesters of 2013. He also said that the Dharma and Yoga Fest would be held during August-September in 25 metro cities of the US. Vasant Pandav said that the launch ceremony of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary in Chicago would be held on January 12 in three places – Schaumburg, Aurora and Libertyville. In Schaumburg, it would be held at the Community Center of Schaumburg Park District between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m; in Aurora it will be in the Eola Community Center between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. In Libertyville, it would be held in Libertyville Sports Complex between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. For more information, please call Vasant Pandav at (630) 340-7672 or Dr. Siddhesh Shevade at (630) 3863036.