Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

 

                             Swami Vivekananda was born in 1863 in Calcutta. His Original name was Narendra Dutta son of an advocate and and attorney in the Calcutta High Court provided his son with the best of education. Narendra Dutta was a brilliant student and graduated with honours from Calcutta University. He had an excellent command over languages, Bengali, Sanskrit and English and was deeply interested in philosophy. He studied comparative systems of the religions and philosophies of the East and the West. He was also a teacher and was not satisfied from the current religious system of India.  His search for God ultimately took him to Rama Krishna, a mystic who was regarded as the embodiment of the teaching of the Vedanta. His meeting with Rama Krishna in 1888 transformed the life of Narendra which led him to fled from home, broke all earthly ties and became a wandering monk. For twelve years he travelled all over India preaching the Vedanta philosophy and scriptures, He was invited to speak and to deliver a message of peace and harmony to the Parliament of Religions held at the World’s Fair in Chicago, in 1893. He placed the philosophy and religion of Vedanta among the highest philosophical spiritual and religious ideas of the world at the Parliament of Religions. He was the first Indian to cross the Atlantic in order to deliver the message of the Vedanta from India to the people of the American continents. He was also invited to lecture on the Vedanta in almost all the large cities of the USA. At Harvard University, he addressed the philosophical society and was offered the Chair of the Eastern Philosophy, but being a sanyasi he refused to accept it.

Apart from it:

1.       In 1896, he was invited to England to lecture at Oxford University.

2.       . During the time of terrible plague and famine in Indian I 1897,  Swami Vivekananda started the Rama Krishna Mission with the help of his disciple and established relief centres in different places to help the poor and suffering people with food, clothes, medicines and medical treatments. Orphanages were also started in Bengal, Rajputana and Punjab.

3.       In 1899, he established Belur Math.

4.       In 1899,  he was invited to visit California , he gave many lectures and many scholars became his disciples there.

5.       He founded the Vedanta Society of San Francisco which is still very active.

                          In 1901, his health began deteriorating and he dies in 1902 at the young age of 39 years.

Principles underlying the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda:-

1.       Vedanta constitutes the essence of Hinduism. He believes that all school of Indian thought, including Buddhism and Jainism have their roots in the Vedanta.

2.       Vedanta represents the highest spiritual and ethical values of mankind. It teaches the unity of life, divinity of man selfless devotion and fearlessness.

3.        To rely on the teachings of the Upanishads gives solutions to political and social problems. It will enable the down-trodden people in India to stand on their own feet and be free.

4.       The ultimate reality behind the diverse forms of the material word, as an undivided unity , a single force which is the very essence of created existence.

5.       Vedanta is identified with the free and self-spirit in man. It is opposed neither to science nor to any other religious system. It is and effort of man to know the truth.

Concept of Religion:-

1.       The essential parts of all religions are the same. We need not find faults with other religion on account of their differences.

2.       For Swami Vivekananda, The Bhagvad Gita is the last of the Upanishads. It adheres to the ideals of Self- realization as the goal of man on Earth.

3.       Atma is the true reality and it is identical with God.

4.       Vivekananda regards karma yoga as a system of ethics and religion intended to for the attainment of through unselfishness And good work.

5.       Love is the highest goal of religion, an individual becomes aware of and express his unity with mankind through unselfishness and good work.

6.       Service to man is equated with devotion to God. For Vivekananda, the best image for worshipping God is Man, as God resides in every human heart.

7.       All forms of cosmic energy, such as matter, thought, force, and intelligence are simply the manifestation of cosmic intelligence which Vivekananda identifies as God or the Supreme Being.

Educational Ideas and principles of Swami Vivekananda:

i.                     Education according to Swami Vivekananda is the best means for the development of the inner man. It is also the means for making mankind arise out of his poverty and helplessness.

ii.                   For the improvement of the masses, Vivekananda advocates a broad system of free and compulsory education.

iii.                  Vivekananda wanted education for women so that training would be given to them so that they can tackle the problems and also face them. We should try to make them improve their status and become equal partners with men. The example of educated and brilliant women in ancient India, such as Savitri, Damayanti, Lilawati and Meera were quoted. Indian women today should derive inspiration from these noble characters. School should be established for girls and education should be given to women.

iv.                 Vivekananda recommended for only one society. There are no necessities for two kinds of society i.e. rural and urban. There should be only one society which is the human society, where there blessings of the Science and Technology of the west will be blended meaningfully with the spirituality of the East.

Aims in Education:-

  The ultimate goal of all educational efforts is man-mankind, but the specific aims are :

1.       Education should strive towards character development – such as development of will power, leading to courage, stamina and fearlessness.

2.       Education should help people to build up self-confidence and self-reliance, based on balanced human relationship.

3.       Every individual should be able to meet the challenges of a changing society.

4.       Development of spirituality, such as developing spirit of follow-feeling, sympathy and sharing and solutions of common problems.

5.       Education should lead to a feeling of brotherhood and for the unity of mankind.

6.       Education should teach us to serve- humanity – the hungry, the ignorant and the suffering masses.

7.       Education should help us to love knowledge, humanity, self-sacrifice and a desire to work for others.

8.       One of the important aims of education in India is to aim at self-sufficiency . the individual should be given practical and vocational training along with the traditional , religious and cultural subjects. Students must be given education in western science, technology, engineering, commerce and economics.

Curriculum:-

        The curriculum should include:-

1.       Subjects like history, poetry, grammar, languages lives of great men, Vedanta studies, the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the story of India’s past.

2.       Scientific knowledge, through a study of the various branches of modern science.

3.       Western knowledge and engineering should be included in the curricular of school and colleges.

4.       In scientific and technological studies teachers should bring about a synthesis of the knowledge of the West and the East.

5.       Emphasis on the Indian languages, Grammar, English, Commerce and Psychology.

6.       The curriculum of girls should include cookery, needle-craft, child rearing, economics and psychology.

7.       Vocational subjects should be included in the curriculum for every child skills, crafts and some vocation, along with other studies should enable people to learn a living at the end of their studies.

8.       Organizational abilities should be developed in schools and colleges, among students.

The method of instructions in school and colleges:-

 The methods of instruction proposed are based on ancient Indian tradition:-

1.       Guru-pupil relationship is to be very close, the pupil is to learn by examples rather than through books and lectures

2.       Meditation and concentration in a strictly disciplined atmosphere are pre-requisites for studying and subject.

3.       The pupil’s faith is himself, respect for Guru and teachers will create in him a love for all learning and knowledge.

4.       Frank and open discussions among teachers and pupils in the finest method of instruction.

5.       Humility should lead to self-sacrifices, kindness and gentleness in manner, towards others. Learning and intellectual development can be fostered in such an atmosphere.

6.       Travel is an ideal method of learning, He urged pupils and teachers to go out, observe and listen in order to learn from the world outside.

The Role of the Teachers:-

1.       A true teacher should come down to the level of the student.

2.       Guru Gahayasa is recommended by Swami Vivekananda , and is one of the best ways a teacher can help the pupil. Teacher and pupil live in the same house.

3.       A teacher’s personality should help the pupil to become strong and powerful.

4.       The teacher should have a great love of humanity. A selfish and self-centered person should never become a teacher.

5.       Deep learning renunciation, poverty, self-sacrifice, devotion to humanity and love for his pupil are the qualities to be possessed by a teacher.

Contribution of Swami Vivekananda to Education:-

1.       Swami Vivekananda interpreted Vedantic Philosophy to mean that the worship of God is in reality, service to mankind.

2.       Education should lead us to the goal of realizing God through love of humanity, self-sacrifice and work for the uplift of mankind.

3.       Free and compulsory education should be given as Education is the birth right of every human being.

4.       Opportunities of education should be provided irrespective of caste, position, wealth or poverty.

5.       A study on Indian heritage of culture, arts, poetry, religion, history and languages should be a part of the National system of education.

6.       Women education is given importance and training was emphasized to prepare them for the economic, socile and educational reforms of the country.

7.       Swami Vivekananda attacked on casteism and untouchability which was existing in full-fledged way. All members of society observe equal educational opportunities.

8.        The greatest contribution was given to India in 1899, when he formed the Rama Krishna Mission. The immense misery caused by flood, plague and cholera were controlled by relief-measures with the assistance of his disciples.

9.        Hospitals, Schools and Colleges were opened to serve the society.

10.    The Vedanta Society established in Sab Francisco by Swami Vivekananda is also another contribution, Lectures, publications and visiting scholars-written and outside India spread the message of Vedanta all over the World.