Swami Vivekananda’s Inspired Talks : The Gospel

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S INSPIRED TALKS: THE GOSPEL / 2nd Part – Dr. Sushil Rudra

Swami Vivekananda’s Inspired Talks: The Gospel are the collection of Swamiji’s talks which he pronounced before his Western disciples as a World Teacher.

He taught his disciples the very essence of ancient Indian spiritual knowledge and philosophy. It’s not his bookish knowledge, but his deep conceptions that he gained from his highly intuitive power and contemplation.

Obviously, his vigorous reading and learning of Indian scriptures influenced him and above all, the life and teaching of Sree Ramkrishna made him a wonderful world teacher to teach Vedanta and Hindu religion to the Western disciples .

Moreover, he is the first Indian Guru who preaches it and abled to establish the Bharatchetana ( Sanatan Dharma) in West.

• THOUSAND ISLAND PARK : SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S INSPIRED TALKS : The Gospel

Vivekananda spent six weeks at Thousand Island Park along with his students and “manufactured” some “Yogis” by his teaching of spiritual thoughts.

Miss S. E. Waldo collected and edited all these talks of Swamiji and finally published it from Sree Ramkrishna Advaita Ashram in 1909 in the name of ” Inspired Talks”. It’s now familiar as “Swami Vivekananda’s Inspired Talks : The Gospel”.

It’s dedicated to Swami Brahmananda, the other disciple of Sree Ramkrishna.

I have already started a discussion on it and hope you have read the introduction chapter last week. I have depicted there the demographic environment. It massively amazed Swamiji.

The natural surroundings attracted him and it was a superb place for spiritual seekers and nature lovers. Swamiji was highly pleased being spent here with these marvellous natural surroundings.

Occasionally he became absorbed in meditation which is referred to herein in this memoir ” Inspired Talks”. We are grateful to Miss Waldo who took notes of Swamiji’s valuable divine talks.

• MY VIEWS ON SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S INSPIRED TALKS

To me,” Swami Vivekananda’s Inspired Talks : The Gospel ” is the gist of our ancient spiritual treasure from Vedas to Upanishads, Bhoktiyoga – Rajyoga to Karmayoga to Gita, Vedanta and other philosophical and spiritual doctrines, but ultimately it is the very essence of true Hindu religion. We, the Hindus should follow and work out this doctrine.

Everyone should read and follow this book as a Hindu’s Bible. No Political vendetta or bigotry is expressed in this book.

The true Hindu religion and its generosity, expansion and holiness have been described herein. Every word has come from the very depth of a divine soul.

This book is a must guide to spiritual seekers. Its language is very poetical. Every word has come not from the brain, but from the very depth of the heart of a real monk.

He himself, was enlightened first and then preached true religion.

• WORLD TEACHER SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S INSPIRED TALKS


Swami Vivekananda is truly a World Teacher. He knows that his students are all from Western families. Their upbringing is from the Christian faith and environment. So he started the classes with Bible.

As Krishna, Buddha, Sree Ramkrishna, Jesus Christ is also a great incarnation of God. The absolute can not be known; we can’t know the Father, only the Son.

Jesus, the special manifestation of the Absolute, is known and knowable. Swamiji told that only they can see the Absolute through the ” tint of humanity”, through Christ.

• SWAMI’S VIEWS ON BIBLE

Swamiji’s views on Bible is unique. According to him, the first five verses of John is the essence of Christianity, each verse is full of the profoundest philosophy.

So he taught them about the nature to whom the Hindu calls “Maya”, the manifestation of God. It’s the power of God.

In the twenty- ninth verse, Christ told us the way to become perfect. God became Christ to show man his true nature. That we are also God . We are human coverings over the Divine; but as the divine man, Christ and we are one.

Swamiji explained the divinity of Christ. In Christ, there’s no imperfection. He is the incarnation of God. He has always been in His divinity and is well aware of that.

Hence, Swamiji stupendously narrates the role of these divine men. He told that they come to this world as an actor. They act in the play like a common man, but they shower divinity in the world and establish purity, humility and good values and ethics.

So, When their work is over and done, return to please others. This great one is untouched by aught of the earth. They assume our form and our limitations for a time to teach us; but in reality, they are never limited, they are ever free.

• SWAMI’S GURU SREE RAMKRISHNA

Swamiji experienced all these things to his Guru, Sree Ramkrishna. Ramkrishna was born in a poor family. He did not have any traditional schooling. His attitude was like a common person. But he was a divine man or incarnation of God.

Today we all worship him as God , not only in India, but aboard also. In his own time , he was less famous . Even his relatives neglected him . They couldn’t understand that he is the incarnation of God. He came to teach us . No imperfection was in him . Aught of earth couldn’t touch him.

Swamiji’s teaching influenced his students. He always insisted on the purity of heart . We should overcome all the limitations. We must find that we are beyond both evil and good.

Really good and evil are one and are in our own mind . Be perfectly free . Swamiji gave a beautiful example of the two – One iron chain , and another golden chain.

Evil is the iron chain, and good is the golden chain. Both are chans . Everyone should keep away from both of the chains. Lay hold of the golden chain to loosen the hold of the iron one, then throw both away. He said:

” The thorn of evil is in our flesh; take another thorn from the same bush and extract the first thorn ; and then throw away both and be free….

This he always emphasis on the sacrifice. Always teaches us to take possession of a giver. ” Give everything and look for no return.”

The End

Read more:SWAMI VIVEKANANDA: THE POET & HIS POEMS

RAJA YOGA AS DEFINED BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA