THE MEANING OF RELIGION

ACCORDING TO

SWAMI

VIVEKANANDA Shreya ThusooIDD (B.Tech-M.Tech), StudentDept. of Civil Engineering, IIT(BHU), Varanasi

Definition of

Religion

oBelief in, or the worship of, a god or

gods.oService and worship of God or the

Supernatural.

“The term “Dharama” is related to “Dhr” meaning keeping together. It is due to dharma that people live

together. So, whatever keeps people together is dharama. Dharama means the good of all. Whatever

benefits all is dharama. Dharama is prescribed to protect from harm every living object. Every action

which does not bring harm to any one is itself dharama. He who always desires the good of all and is whole-heartedly engaged in doing good to one and all,

O Jājilē! Is one who knows what dharam is. “

Mahabharata states -

Why do humans need religion?Human mind always oscillates between two

conflicting tendencies which are evil and good

Religion helps us decide the path to peace, prosperity

and tranquillity – THE NOBLE PATH

“I am a good Hindu, because I am a good Christian and a good Muslim.”

-Mahatma Gandhi

“All religions are essentially the same in their goal of developing a good human heart so that we may become better human beings.” -Dalai Lama

“So many religions are so many different paths.”

-Sri Ramakrishna

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND RELIGIONS

All religions profess the same philosophy

LOVE

RIGHTEOUS CONDUCT

KINDNESS

BENEVOLENCESHARING AND

CARING ATTITUDE

TRUTHFULNESS

Interpretations of Religion

Religion

GOD

Religious mortalities( Texts, Spiritual Leaders and

Religious Practices)

India’s first global citizen

Most influential interpreter of the Hindu tradition to both India and the West .

In His works amalgamation of ideas from east and west can be seen.

Physics or chemistry has no internal mandate to vouch for its truth, which religion has.

*Science of Religion

oReligion can not be understood, it can only be realised.

“Man must realise God, feel God, see God, talk of God. That is religion”

oIt is not learning but being.

*Unity of All Religions

By studying the lives of all great messengers, we find that each was destined to play only a part. Harmony consists in the sum total, and not in one note.

oAll religions can be thought to emerge from the same source.

oSects, tribes, regions are only labels.

Swami Vivekananda was always ready to receive and share religious wisdom from traditions other than His own.

*Practicing Religion

“God-ward passion and man-ward love.”

*Religion for Modern Minds

Swamiji wanted to propagate a religion that would be equally acceptable to all minds; which must be equally philosophic, equally emotional, equally mystic, and equally conducive to his action.

Universal Religion

• Easy, simple, popular, and at the same time meeting the requirements of the highest minds.

• Have concrete moral forms.

• Relate to scientific and practical psychology.

• Should be equally philosophic, equally emotional, equally mystic.

*Ideal Perfect Man

A person with all the

elements of philosophy, mysticism,

emotion, and of work equally present in full

in him.

“In trying to practise religion, eighty per cent of people turn cheats, and about fifteen per cent go mad; only the remaining five per cent attain the immediate knowledge of the infinite Truth.”

[1] The Chambers Dictionary, Chambers.

[2] Religion; Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

[3] The Gita and The Quran by Pandit Sunderlal,Pilgrims Publishing

[4] Teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Advita Ashrama Publication Department

[5] Human Values by A.N. Tripathi, 3rd edition, New Age International Publishers

[6] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 1 by Swami Ranganathananda

[7] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 2 by Swami Ranganathananda

[8] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 3 by Swami Ranganathananda

[9] The Compelete Works of Swami Vivekanada: (a)-13th edition, (b)-9th edition

[10] Meditation and its Methods- swami Vivekananda, Advita Ashrama Publication Department

THANK YOU