Collection of Thoughts from Hindu Mystics - Part III (standard:non fiction, 2989 words) [3/4] show all parts
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Collection of thoughts from Swami Vivekananda

Collection of Thoughts from Hindu Mystics – Part III 

Subba Rao 

Swami Vivekananda on Universal Religion 

Universal religion must be able to show how to realize the philosophy
that teaches us that this world is one, that there is but one existence 
in the universe. For a mystic, such a religion shall provide science of 
mental analysis; for emotional people, share their laugh and devotion 
in the name of the lord. If the energetic worker comes, work with him 
with all energy without expecting rewards. And this combination will be 
the ideal of the nearest approach to a Universal Religion. 

Such a universal religion is attained by what we in India call
Yoga-union. To the worker, it is the union between men and the whole of 
humanity also called Karma-Yoga. To the mystic, between his lower and 
higher self also called Raja-Yoga. To the lover, union between himself 
and the God, also called Bhakti-Yoga, and to the philosopher, it is the 
union of all existence also called Jnana or Gyana-Yoga. 

Karma-yoga is the attainment of God through work. Many of us squander
away the great portion of our energies because we do not know the 
secret of work. Karma-yogi explains this secret and teaches how to work 
for work's sake, unattached, without caring who is helped, and what 
for. The karma-yogi works because it is his nature, because he feels 
that good for him to do so and he has no object beyond that. Karma-yogi 
knows that he is giving and does not ask for anything in return and 
therefore he avoids the misery. Examples of Karma-yogis are Mahatma 
Gandhi, Martin Luther king Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and 
others. 

The whole subject of studying Raja-Yoga is to bring the mind under
control. Raja-yoga is the psychological way to union. The only method 
of acquiring knowledge (from man to highest yogi), all have to use the 
same method, and the method is called concentration. The more the power 
of concentration, the more knowledge is acquired. The process of 
concentration is the only key to the treasure house of knowledge. 

Bhakta-Yoga is for the man of emotional nature, the lover. He wants to
love God, he relies upon, and uses all sorts of forms, rituals, 
flowers, incense and all such things in expressing his love towards 
God. The world's greatest spiritual giants have all been produced only 
by these religious sects which have been in possession of very rich 
mythology and rituals. 

All sects that attempted to worship God without any form or ceremony or
ritual were crushed without any mercy during the past history. 
Therefore do not belittle these rituals and mythologies. Let people 
practice the ritualistic devotion towards God. 

God to Bhakti-Yogis is something tangible, the only thing that is real,
they feel, hear and see him and love him. Bhakti yoga teaches how to 
love without any ulterior motives. Loving God and loving the good 
because it is good to do so, not for going to heaven, acquire wealth or 
anything else. 

Jnana (Gyana) -Yogi is the philosopher, the thinker who wants to go
beyond the visible. To say God is the Father or the Mother, the creator 
of the Universe, its protector and guide is to him is quite inadequate 
to express him. To Jnana yogi, God is life of his life, the soul of his 
soul. God is his own self. Jnana yogi teaches that he is essentially 
divine. It shows to mankind the real unity of being and each one of us 
is the Lord God himself manifested on the earth. 

Vedanta only can be the universal religion that it is already the
existing universal religion in the world, because it teaches principles 
not persons. No religion built upon a person can be taken up as a 
universal religion. Vedantic religion does not require any personal 
authority such as Christ, Buddha or Mohammed to attest its validity and 
universal applicability. 

Hindus can worship in churches, mosques or any other places of worship
since they believe in universality of every religion despite believers 
of other faiths who may not consider Hinduism as a universal religion. 


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