Some perspectives on the thought of Vivekananda

Abstract

This is a study of the thought of Vivekananda in its religious, philosophical and social dimensions, in the light of 'contemporary' conditions which were relevant to his thought and interests. The word 'contemporary' here, denotes the meaning of the 'modern'. It is, however, an open question whether Vivekananda should be addressed as a 'modern' or a 'traditional' thinker. The question becomes all the more difficult when it is realised that Religion in India is not taken in the historical sense: it is regarded as 'sanatana' or eternal. To put its relevance in terms of past, present and future and to evaluate it from a purely human or social point of view, does justice to its temporal or accidental aspect only. Vivekananda is a representative of the eternal mode of religion as he is concerned with the truths of the fundamental nature of things. Yet, his approach to reality is not that of mere dogmatic, 'a priori' and transcendental concern. He shows a sensitivity to the this-worldly, practical, human and environmental issues. In this sense, his thought bridges the gap between the eternal and the temporal, the traditional and the modern. Keeping this in view, the first chapter is written to cover the time-context, to explore the historical nature and the religio-philosophical connotations of the 'contemporary', for the purpose of providing a fuller and a more accurate understanding of his thought. Chapter II delineates a metaphysical framework into which the religious thought of Vivekananda may be fitted. Chapter III analyses the religious meaning and the experiential option of his metaphysical orientation. In the latter sense, it is not merely an individual but also a social expression. Chapter IV, therefore, is written to examine the social content of the religious thought of Vivekananda. Finally, we conclude by examining the coherence and the consistency of Vivekananda's thought with the Indian tradition as a whole and his contribution to the understanding of that tradition in the East and the West.