THE IDEAL OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGION BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

[Guest guest]

THE IDEAL OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGION BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

http://www.salvationscience.com/v224.htm

 

Jesus said: " Concern yourselves not with the outside of the cup, but with the

inside of the cup. " In other words, forget the theatrical props, and get down to

the water! Jai Om. - Sw. Tantrasangha

-----------

 

THE IDEAL OF A UNIVERSAL RELIGION BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/spiritual/swami_vivekananda_talks\

/the-ideal-of-a-universal-religion

 

Whatever we experience through our senses is marked by the constant

inter-play of opposites, forces of attraction and repulsion or centripetal and

centrifugal forces in the external world; or love and hate, or good and evil, in

the internal world of our minds. This conflict is particularly marked in the

field of religion. Religion expresses itself at three levels, the philosophical,

the mythological or historical, and the ritualistic. Each of these three levels

is marked by the same conflict of opposites, often taking positions of violent

extremes.

 

Given these cleavages, is the idea of the universal religion realistic or

just idealistic? But behind all these differences, we must recognise a deeper

level of commonality that suggests that the universal religion already exists,

and is constantly evolving and taking clearer shape. No two persons are exactly

alike, yet, despite these differences, there is a common thread of humanity.

 

" If I am sure of anything, it is this humanity, which is common to all... So

it is with the universal religion, which runs through all the various religions

of the world in the form of God; it must and does exist through eternity. 'I am

the thread that runs through all these pearls... ' (Gita) and each pearl is a

religion or even a sect thereof, only the majority of mankind is entirely

unconscious of it... "

 

How do we cope with differences? The only rational way is to accept them,

not only as inevitable, but essential. " One must learn that truth may be

expressed in a hundred thousand different ways, and that each of these ways is

true as far as it goes. We must learn that the same thing can be viewed from a

hundred different standpoints, and yet be the same thing... "

 

" Suppose we all go with vessels in our hands to draw water from the lake.

One has a cup, another a jar, another a bucket, and so forth, and we all fill

our vessels. The water, in each case, takes the form of the vessel carried by

each of us, but in every case, water, and nothing but water is in the vessel...

God is like that water filling these different vessels, and in each vessel, the

vision of God comes in the form of the vessel. Yet He is One....... "

(Like Jesus said: " Concern yourselves not with the outside of the cup, but with

the inside of the cup. " In other words, forget the theatrical props, and get

down to the water!)

 

" But is there any way of practically working out this harmony in

religions?...I have also my little plan...In the first place, I would ask

mankind to recognise the maxim :'Do not destroy'. If it be true that God is at

the centre of all religions, and that each of us is moving along one of these

radii, then it is certain that all of us must reach that centre (but only if

one's theology is correct and practice is sufficient). At the centre, where all

radii meet, all our differences will cease; but until we reach there,

differences there must be... "

 

" It is imperative that Yoga should be carried out in practice. Mere theories

about them will not do any good... Religion is realisation, not talk (alone),

nor doctrine (alone), nor theories (alone), however beautiful they may be. It is

being and becoming, not (only) hearing or acknowledging; it is the whole soul

becoming changed into what it believes. That is religion. ( " Faith without works

is nothing. " - from the Holy Bible. Religion without Salvation is worse than

nothing. It is life's cruelest scam. The great masters came to Save mankind -

not to start up religions which can't Save anybody from anything.)

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/spiritual/swami_vivekananda_talks\

/the-ideal-of-a-universal-religion

http://www.salvationscience.com/v224.htm

*****************************************************************