Remembering Swami Vivekananda
on the 125th Anniversary of his Historic 1893 Chicago Address
Swami Sujayananda
When we remember a speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament
of Religions, Chicago, 125 years ago then we can safely assume that it must be
very special and especially relevant even today. We will try to see what he
spoke on that day and how it is relevant even in present times, what is its
impact and effect in India and in the world in general and most importantly
what tribulations and hardships he had to undergo before reaching the
Parliament of Religions at Chicago and becoming the world famous Vivekananda.
Even today he is remembered for that famous speech delivered on 11th
September, 1893. It
Before appearing on the world stage on 11th
September, 1893, he set out as a wandering mendicant from Calcutta in 1890 and
traversed almost whole of India. While living a mendicant’s life, he was
distressed to see the ancient India in its present degraded state after 700
years of Muslim rule and another 200 years under colonial rule.
In
his sojourn he took a vow that he will not touch money and he will not ask for
food; if it comes by chance then only he will partake it. It so happened that
he had to travel mostly on foot and many a times he couldn’t get food for 2-3
days at a stretch. Many a times he fainted due to hunger. During his travels he
lived with kings and rich people on the one hand and at the same time stayed
with lowest of the low so he could see the real India. He was trying to find
and feel the SOUL of India. The people who met him were enthralled and
enchanted by his depth and breadth of knowledge and insight on the one hand and
his purity, dispassion, childlike simplicity and sense of humor on the other.
It was in Madras that a group of young men seeing his vast knowledge
and oratorical skills requested the Swami to represent Hinduism in the then forthcoming
The World Parliament of Religions to be held in Chicago. They even collected
money from common people to this effect. But the Swami only agreed to their
proposal when he got the divine command from his Master Sri Ramakrishna
Paramhansa and also from Ramakrishna’s divine consort Holy Mother Sarada Devi.
He reached Chicago a few weeks earlier than the Parliament of
Religions. After reaching he learnt that the Parliament will happen only after
a few weeks. He also came to know that no one would be admitted as a delegate
without proper references and that in all the events the time for being
admitted had gone by. This almost broke the Swami’s spirit. To have come all
the way from India for nothing! He also realized that he had not brought any
credentials to show that he had come to represent Hinduism. Moreover, he had
very little money with which could hardly sustain him till the actual
Parliament began. So, he shifted to comparatively cheaper Boston till the
Parliament but he always felt sure in his heart that he had a divine command
and that the lord will guide him. Before embarking for America he said to his
brother disciple, Swami Turiyananda: “Haribhai, The Parliament of Religions is
being organized for this (pointing to himself)). My mind tells me so. You will
see it verified at no distant date.“ We certainly know that these were neither
the egoistic effusion nor the chauvinistic pride of an ambitious man but the
burning words of a Prophet.
In Boston he met Dr. John Henry Wright, a professor of Greek classics
at Harvard University, who became instrumental in helping him fulfill the
purpose for which he had come half way round the globe. The Swami had given up
all hopes of speaking at the Parliament but Prof. Wright was so deeply
impressed with him that he insisted that he represents Hinduism at the
important gathering. The Swami explained his difficulties and said that he had
no credentials whereupon Prof. Wright exclaimed, “to ask you, Swami, for
credentials is like asking the Sun to state its right to shine!” The
professor assured that he would take it upon himself to see that he had a place
as a delegate. He wrote a letter of introduction to the Chairman of the
selection Committee stating, “Here is a man who is more learned than all our
learned professors put together.“ This was indeed God send! The Swami rejoiced
at this indubitable manifestation of divine providence. The purpose for which
he had come so far was to be fulfilled in a way that could not have been
foreseen.
The
Parliament of Religions, which was held in connection with the World's
Columbian Exposition in the city of Chicago from September 11 to 27, 1893, was
undoubtedly one of the great epoch-making events of the world, marking as it
did an era in the history of religions, especially in that of Hinduism. Charles Bonney, the mastermind of the Parliament,
in his welcome address said, “We seek in this congress to unite all religions
against irreligion.” Also he said, “if the great religious faiths could be
brought (together), many points of sympathy and unity could be found and the
common unity of mankind in the love of god or the service of man (would) be
greatly facilitated and advanced.” It is another story that Reverend Barrows,
Pastor of the first Presbyterian Church of Chicago, who was responsible for
carrying out the preparations and many other leaders had other views. He said,
“we believe that Christianity is to supplant all other religions, because it
contains all the truth there is in them and much besides revealing and
redeeming God.” One bishop wrote, “One result (of the Parliament) will be to
show that the Christian faith was never more widely or more intelligently
believed in, or Jesus Christ more adoringly followed.”
The opening session was inaugurated on September
11, 1893, at 10 am by sounding the bell ten times signifying the ten principal
religions. The sessions were held in the large Hall of Columbus, with a
capacity of 7000. The hall was filled to capacity on the opening day. It was
presided over by Cardinal Gibbons, who sat in the center. Around him sat all
the delegates including Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda was on the podium along
with scholarly and erudite representatives from all over the world. Numerous
papers were read by the various delegates. He was a little intimidated, as he
himself confessed, and kept passing up his chance to give his inaugural
address. At last, however, in the last session of the day, he could refuse no
more and rose up to give his address.
There were other speakers who spoke before him who were all duly
applauded but when Swami Vivekananda rose to speak and started his address by
uttering, ”Sisters and Brothers of America,” the effect was electrical; the
whole audience stood up to a man, cheering and waiving wildly for minutes. It
was an inspiration of sorts which were conveyed by the speaker - an actuality
that touched their hearts and fused them all into a common humanity. It was as
if the Parliament had been convened just for this supreme moment. It was
Vivekananda’s communication of spirituality to the West. When the audience
again settled down to hear him, it was the most ancient nation of India
extending its hand of spiritual brotherhood to the new nation of America
through a short speech of the Swami from whose lips every word fell like nectar
saturated with intense feeling that went straight to the heart.
The Swami said
that he belonged to the most ancient order of monks, and that he was proud of
the tolerance, nay, universal acceptance taught by his religion, and practiced
by his nation. He said:
I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and
the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell
you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites,
who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which
their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to
belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant
of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines
from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which
is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different
streams having their sources in different paths which men take through
different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead
to Thee.”
“The present convention,” he continued, “is one of the most august
assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of
the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: ‘Whosoever comes to Me, through
whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the
end lead to me.’ Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant,
fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the
earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed
civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these
horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But
their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this
morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all
fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all
uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.”
Each of the other orators had spoken of his God, of the God of his
sect. Swami Vivekananda alone spoke of all their Gods, and embraced them all in
the Universal Being. It was the message of eternal India taught by his Master
Sri Ramakrishna breaking down the barriers through the mouth of this great
personality. The Parliament of Religions gave the young orator an ovation.
It was palpable
even to the dullest intellect that Vivekananda’s universalism was a felt
reality, and that his call to brotherhood and plea for tolerance, cooperation
and mutual respect were not sounded in the name of any one religion, but in the
name of all religions. Quotation from scriptures and references to historical
actualities proved that these were not ideal fancies but the reiteration of
beliefs concretized in a whole nation‘s life.
Swamiji use to
say that he had a message for the West as Buddha had one for the East. After
his successful advent in the western horizon his ideas were discussed for or against
among preachers. General people understood the importance and significance of
prayers and promised to lead a better life. Swami Vivekananda had hailed
America saying that “It was reserved for America to proclaim to all quarters of
the globe that the Lord is in every religion.” Marie Louise Burke, in her
monumental research work which has been published in six huge volumes as New Discoveries, opines that the advent
of so great an Acharya as Swamiji seems to have agitated the spiritual forces
latent in America. It had awakened among some Americans a hunger for spiritual
sustenance and men and women spontaneously rushed to satisfy it. Swamiji had
lit the fire of spirituality in innumerable hearts. The Church authorities
realized the futility and foolishness of sending half educated theological
students to instruct the wise Orientals.
Swamiji’s great
speeches cannot be forgotten or bypassed with the passage of time. It is always
resonating and continually influencing the world thinkers. We may mention by
way of illustration the address given by Mr. Federico Mayor, Director General,
UNESCO (1987 to 1999) on 8 October, 1993 at Paris
wherein he mentioned being struck by the similarity between UNESCO‘s objectives
and the thought given by Swami Vivekananda one hundred years ago.
The impact of
his message on Indian people brought a breeze of amazement as the Swami’s
unique achievement swept over the land; it created an outburst of joy and
national pride. They provided stimulus enough to awaken the sleeping Leviathan
that was India at that time. This instilled in the Indian mind a pride, not
known for centuries. Swamiji’s vindication that India was the spiritual teacher
of the world was a stimulating experience for heathen Indians.
The greatest
service rendered by Swamiji was perhaps his service to Hinduism. Sister
Nivedita writes in the introduction to Complete
Works of Swami Vivekananda (first volume of total nine volumes) that “When
he (The Swami) began to speak, it was the religious ideas of the Hindu; but
when he ended, Hinduism had been created.” None before him could present such a
comprehensive view of the vast mass of the religious ideas that passed for
Hinduism. Besides, the presentation of Hinduism as embracing all the forms,
from the lowest to the highest, added a new significance in the religious
history of India. These raised Hinduism not only in the estimation of the West
but in its own estimation as well. It contributed eventually to bring about cohesion
and intrinsic strength in India’s national life. The import of his world
mission can be summed up as follows:
i) Swamiji
reminded the Parliament that holiness, purity, charity and such other virtues
could be found in all climes and in all periods of history. Every religion has
produced men of exalted character. These indicated that there is truth in every
religion. Presenting this historical fact, the Swami bluntly told the religious
leaders that triumph of any one religion and destruction of others was an
impossible hope. He called upon the religious leaders to accept religious
pluralism, recognizing the principle of unity in diversity and shun the concept
of uniformity. To help society to keep itself from sectarianism, bigotry, and
fanaticism, it demanded the practitioner of diverse faiths not only toleration
but accepting other faiths as true.
ii) Swamiji
proclaimed that man was potentially divine contrary to the Christian belief
that man was a born sinner, the Veda
declared men as “children of immortal bliss.” However different a man may be
from another with regard to the body, complexion, race, language, belief etc., every
man is but a spark of the divine, if not divinity itself. There is animality as
well as divinity present in man and the divinity is always struggling to win
over its animality so that it can fully manifest his divinity. Every religion
is committed to help man achieve this but unfortunately man has made very
little use of religion for this purpose. Therefore, Swamiji’s main emphasis is
on “Man-making religion” which pins its faith on the spiritual nature of man.
iii) Man looks
lost in spite of the striking achievements of science and technology which have
brought unthinkable comfort and conveni-ences. He finds himself divided into so
many races, linguistic groups, religions, etc. He fails to reckon the spiritual
substratum of all things and beings is a fact. Despite doctrines and dogmas,
spiritual unity of mankind cannot be denied. Recognising this truth men and
women all over the world should learn to keep the interests of individuals and
nations in conformity with the interests of humankind at large.
A new world
order based on harmony of religions and effective unity of mankind is what we
all want today so that all can live in peace, happiness and fulfillment, and
Swami Vivekananda did more than the “ground clearing job”. The noble ideas and
inspirations his gospel provided are working imperceptibly but steadily even
now we can see:
a) It has given
rise to inter faith movements which is gaining momentum. Earlier they were
confined to inter-religious dialogues but now for better understanding among
people of diverse faiths they are participating in such dialogues. The study of
comparative religions has become practice-oriented to improve the “quality of
life.”
b) Even the
dogmatic Catholic Church in their second ecumenical Council in 1970 declared
with a little reservation that it rejects nothing which is true and holy in
other religions.
c) Swamiji’s
participation in the Parliament opened the door to eastern religious
traditions, including Vedanta. In the last few decades, a large number of
religious groups from South East Asia, particularly India, have invaded the West
culturally.
One hundred and twenty five years may be enough
for evaluating an event in retrospect, but not sufficient for appraisal of as
great a historic event as the Parliament of Religions that was held in 1893 in
Chicago that had created quite a stir. It brought among the liberals the vision
of a new world, a world of harmony and peace. But many parliaments of Religions
were held after this Chicago Parliament; even to commemorate its centenary in
1993 a similar parliament was held in that very place. In 1893, only16
religious group participated where as in 1993 as many as 125 religious groups
addressed 6000 delegates from all over the world. But it turned out to be
insignificant compared to the first parliament held in 1893. The 1893
Parliament was a defining moment in world history.
It is unfortunate that terrorists selected this
very date in 2001 for the biggest terror attack in the U.S.A. There is one 9/11, 1893 when Vivekananda appealed
to the people against
“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism” and it was on the very same date in 2001 that few
fanatics did just the opposite of what Swamiji said. In modern times 9/11, 2001
is more remembered for this terror attack rather than Swamiji’s appearance like
a meteor in the sky and it quickly vanished from the awareness of the people in
general.
Never before was Swamiji’s gospel more relevant
than it is today. Ignoring Swami Vivekananda’s fervent appeal at the Parliament,
most of the religious communities have continued to nurture the deep-seated
sectarianism, bigotry, fanaticism and fundamentalism. Evils like racism and
inter-ethnic and religious conflict are reappearing among us with renewed
force. But the flame Swami Vivekananda ignited has not
died down. The famous historian Arnold Toynbee has concluded at the end of his
12 volume monumental research entitled A
Study of History that “It is already becoming clear that a
chapter which had a Western beginning will have to have
an Indian ending if it is not to end in self-destruction of the human
race. At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of
salvation is the ancient Hindu way. Here we have the attitude and spirit that
can make it possible for the human race to grow together into a single family.”
Swami Vivekananda’s historic address before the
Parliament will continue to be our guide as well as source of perennial
inspiration. He will continue to be our
pole star in the ages to come.
·
Swami
Sujayananda is a Senior Monk at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Gwalior, M.P.
Published in Re-Markings Vol 18 No.1 March 2019 www.re-markings.com
Swami Sujayananda with Nibir K. Ghosh at the launch of Bose: Immortal Legend of India's Freedom at Agra on 18 March 2017.
Copyright Nibir K. Ghosh 2019.
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