All Power Is Within You

Marlene

I have always loved learning about different societies, ways of life, religions, and people who have impacted the world. One of these people is Swami Vivekananda. His short biography starts this way:

"Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and a world spokesperson for Vedanta. His lectures, letters and poems are published as The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. Swamiji, as Vivekananda is affectionately known, believed it was best to teach universal principles rather than personalities. Therefore, his teaching and writing focus on Vedanta philosophy and not Sri Ramakrishna.

Vivekananda represented Hinduism at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions convened during the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. With his opening words, 'Sisters and brothers of America', Swamiji brought the crowd to its feet. Subsequently, he was invited to speak all over America and Europe. Most Vedanta Societies founded in America and Europe up through the 1930s can trace their origins directly to Vivekananda or the people who heard him speak from 1893 through 1900.

Be curious about others and their ways of life. Most of the time we can find more similarities than differences. Take care today, and open your heart!