Vivekananda: The Revolutionary Bridge Between East and West

A living example of the transformative power of yoga, Vivekananda, a bridge between East and West, is a revolutionary force who continues to guide humanity towards a more holistic and interconnected existence, says OSWALD PEREIRA

Swami Vivekananda was a revolutionary yogi in more ways than one. The most important revolution he created was in the application of Vedanta. Vivekananda’s chief mission in life was to bring Vedanta to the common man — from the seclusion of the forest to the realm of daily living. By a practical approach to Vedanta, he aspired to transform even worldly people into spiritual persons.

Vivekananda’s master Sri Ramakrishna asked, “Is meditation possible only with closed eyes, and not with open eyes?”  The question “sets us all thinking,” senior monk at Belur Math, Swami Kritarthananda writes in his book, Finding Peace and Purpose: Life lessons from Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. “Following in his master’s footsteps, Swami Vivekananda discovered a revolutionary idea, naming it as ‘Practical Vedanta’,” Kritarthananda adds.

He remarks: “God can also be seen in all walks of life. As a matter of fact, there is nothing but God, and no world at all.”

In the Preface to his book, Kritarthananda observes: “People often mistakenly think that spirituality and householder life are two incompatible paths.

“They wrongly believe that a householder is less spiritual than a renunciate and that spiritual life is meant only for old age. But the fact is that spirituality is not exclusive to any particular lifestyle or any individual. Everyone can lead a spiritual life, including a householder, by following the right path.”

The second most important revolution that Vivekananda created was in the practice of yoga. He transcended the traditional boundaries of yogic practice and applied its principles to address the pressing social and spiritual needs of the time. He revolutionised the practice of Karma Yoga by institutionalising selfless service as a spiritual discipline.

John Schlenck, American Vedantist, and Resident Minister, Vedanta Center of Atlanta, said, Swami Vivekananda is a multi-faceted revolutionary, who  revolutionised Vedanta itself.

“He revolutionized Indian monasticism, did more than any other to forge India’s concept of itself as a single entity, gave India back its pride and confidence in its own culture, effected in the West a new spirit of religious toleration and respect, introduced yoga to the West, and, what is often not appreciated, made Hinduism independent of Indian culture,” Schlenck added.

Swami Nikhilananda in his biography of Vivekananda, observes, “Service to man as the visible manifestation of the Godhead was the special form of worship he advocated for the Indians, devoted as they were to the rituals and myths of their ancient faith.”

Commentators say, Vivekananda didn’t just preach yoga; he embodied it, lived it, and wielded its transformative power to challenge societal norms, inspire national pride, and foster a universal brotherhood.” He revolutionised the understanding of Raja Yoga by presenting it as a scientific and accessible path to self-realization.

At its core, yoga is a discipline aimed at uniting the individual self with the universal consciousness. Traditionally, it encompasses various paths — Raja Yoga (the yoga of meditation), Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action), Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion), and Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge). Vivekananda masterfully integrated these diverse paths, presenting a holistic and practical approach to spiritual realization.

The bedrock of his revolutionary approach was his firm belief in the inherent divinity of every human being. It was this Vedantic principle that fanned his social reformist zeal. He argued his case for equality most logically, emphasising that if every soul is a spark of the Divine, then distinctions based on caste, creed, or gender become meaningless.

This radical assertion confronted the rigid social hierarchy prevalent in India at the time. Vivekananda saw the oppression and suffering of the marginalised as a direct contradiction to the Vedantic ideal of oneness. His call to serve the poor and downtrodden, to see Narayana (God) in the Daridra (poor), was not merely an act of charity but a profound yogic practice — recognising the divine within and acting in accordance with that realization.

This active engagement with the world, fuelled by spiritual insight, was a revolutionary departure from the traditional emphasis on individual liberation in isolation, analysts observe.

Vivekananda’s revolution was not confined to Indian shores alone but was carried across national boundaries.  His inspiring personality was well known both in India and overseas.

Writes Nikhilananda: “The hitherto unknown monk of India suddenly leapt into fame at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, at which he represented Hinduism. His vast knowledge of Eastern and Western culture as well as his deep spiritual insight, fervid eloquence, brilliant conversation, broad human sympathy, colourful personality, and handsome figure made an irresistible appeal to the many types of Americans who came in contact with him.”

People who saw or heard Vivekananda even once cherished his memory for a long time to come. He revolutionised the perception of India’s spiritual heritage on the global stage, affirming its universality and relevance.

His emphasis on the harmony of all religions, the inherent divinity of humanity, and the power of inner transformation resonated deeply with an audience seeking spiritual alternatives to the materialistic worldview. This bold assertion of India’s spiritual strength on a global platform was a revolutionary act of cultural and spiritual assertion, challenging the colonial narrative of Western superiority.

Vivekananda is reckoned as one of the greatest nationalists the country has ever known. He was the one responsible for reviving the pride of the nation not only in its great religious and cultural heritage but its nationalism.

He revolutionised the spirit of a nation by instilling pride, self-belief, and a vision for a brighter future rooted in its ancient wisdom. “Vivekananda is regarded as the patriot saint of modern India and an inspirer of her dormant national consciousness,” writes Nikhilananda. “Many political leaders of India have publicly acknowledged their indebtedness to Swami Vivekananda,” points out Nikhilananda.

Swami Vivekananda was not a mere yogi. He was a living example of its transformative power.

He is a revolutionary force who continues to inspire and guide humanity towards a more holistic and interconnected existence. His legacy as a revolutionary yogi demonstrates to the world the power of spiritual principles to guide and shape not only individual lives but also the course of history.

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Oswald Pereira, a senior journalist, has also written ten books, including Beyond Autobiography of a Yogi, The Newsroom Mafia, Chaddi Buddies, The Krishna-Christ Connexion, How to Create Miracles in Our Daily Life and Crime Patrol: The Most Thrilling Stories. Oswald is a disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda, and practises Kriya Yoga.

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