Swami Vivekananda

1863–1902 CE (modern).

Editorial overview

Historical context

Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta in Kolkata, was a disciple of Ramakrishna. His addresses at the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 made him a prominent interpreter of Hindu thought abroad, and in 1897 he founded the Ramakrishna Mission. His lectures, published as Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga, present Vedanta and Yoga for a modern, international audience. Scholars often describe his thought as a modern reinterpretation of Advaita that emphasises experience, social service and the harmony of religions; it should be read as a modern exposition rather than as classical Advaita.

On attribution: Most of his books are transcriptions of lectures, edited for publication.

Core ideas

Every soul is potentially divine, and the goal of life is to manifest that divinity
Four yogas (knowledge, action, devotion and meditation) as complementary paths to the same goal
Service to human beings as service to God, especially for the poor
The harmony of religions as different paths to one truth
A practical Vedanta that inspires strength, self-confidence and social reform

Major works

Textज्ञानयोगJnana YogaVivekananda's lectures presenting Advaita Vedanta to Western audiences as a rational philosophy of knowledge and freedom.Textकर्मयोगKarma YogaVivekananda's lectures on the yoga of action: working without attachment as a path to freedom.Textभक्तियोगBhakti YogaVivekananda's account of the path of devotion, from preparatory worship to supreme love for God.TextराजयोगRaja YogaVivekananda's influential presentation of Patanjali's yoga, with lectures on practice and his own rendering and commentary on the Yoga Sutras.Textश्रीमद्भगवद्गीताBhagavad GitaA 700-verse dialogue in which Krishna counsels the warrior Arjuna, who has collapsed in despair on the battlefield, on action, the Self and devotion.Textयोगसूत्रYoga Sutras of PatanjaliThe root text of the Yoga darshana: a terse manual on the mind, its afflictions, and the disciplined path to isolation of pure consciousness.

Also: Chicago addresses (1893) · Lectures from Colombo to Almora · Letters and other talks collected in the Complete Works

Concepts

ConceptयोगYogaJoining or disciplining — a path of practice toward freedom.Conceptज्ञानJnana — knowledgeLiberating knowledge — seeing reality and the Self as they are.Conceptभक्तिBhakti — devotionLoving devotion to God, as a path and as an end in itself.Conceptकर्मKarmaAction — and the way actions shape future experience.ConceptसेवाSevaSelfless service offered without seeking reward.Conceptआत्मन्Atman — the SelfThe innermost Self — what you are beneath body, mind and personality.Conceptब्रह्मन्BrahmanThe ultimate reality, the ground from which everything arises.Conceptअद्वैत / अद्वयNon-duality (advaya / advaita)The claim that reality is ultimately 'not two' — understood very differently across schools.

Lineage of ideas

Influenced by

Thinkerआदि शङ्कराचार्यAdi ShankaracharyaTraditionally 788–820 CE; many scholars prefer an earlier 8th-century or late 7th-century date. Dates are debated.Thinkerपतञ्जलिPatanjaliThe Yoga Sutras are placed by scholars anywhere between about the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE; many recent scholars favour a date around the 4th–5th century CE.

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Related thinkers

आदि शङ्कराचार्यAdi Shankaracharya पतञ्जलिPatanjali रमण महर्षिRamana Maharshi

Traditions

आधुनिकModern expositions अद्वैत वेदान्तAdvaita Vedanta वेदान्तVedanta