The text is from Volume 5 of the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, which includes various writings such as letters, interviews, lecture notes, dialogues, sayings, and original and translated prose and poetry. It highlights a discussion that took place at the Graduate Philosophical Society of Harvard University on March 25, 1896, following a lecture on Vedanta Philosophy. During the discussion, Swami Vivekananda addresses questions about the current state of philosophical thought in India. He explains that most Indians are dualists, with the primary topics of debate being concepts like Mâyâ and Jiva. He contrasts this with the lack of religious knowledge among laborers in the U.S., who may be aware of politics but not their own religious doctrines. In India, even uneducated peasants are familiar with complex philosophical ideas due to teachings from monks. Additionally, Vivekananda discusses the concept of orthodoxy in Hinduism, explaining that it mainly involves adherence to caste laws concerning food and marriage, allowing for personal belief systems beyond that. He notes the absence of an organized church in India, which has led to a diverse understanding of orthodoxy, often rooted in the Vedas, though many dualistic sects may prioritize the Purânas.

by Swami Vivekananda in English Biography

Writen by Swami Vivekananda

Category Biography