|
|
 |
| |
The Indian mind, in its long struggle to discover the absolute
truth, found its culmination in Advaita Vedanta, the crest jewel
of the Vedas. A galaxy of the greatest sages who ever walked
the earth, for thousands of years, have attested and propounded
this sublime philosophy. Other philosophies that were scrutinized
on the path, were like so many steps leading to the rarefied
heights of the reality known as Brahman. |
| Swami Vivekananda
said Advaita philosophy has saved India twice from materialism,
once by Lord Buddha who worked out its moral side, next
by Sri Shankaracharya, who rigorously worked out its
intellectual side. Advaita has, with Swamiji's appearance,
saved India and the world for the third time. Swamiji
reestablished not only its moral and intellectual sides
but also made it intensely practical and open to all.
Swamiji perceived in it great promise in solving the
current and future problems of life that human evolution
was raising, both in the east and the west.
|
|
|
| |
| |
| Swamiji had always been
attracted by the Himalayas, the land of tyaga (renunciation)
and yoga, the domain of Lord Shiva. During his tour of
the Swiss Alps the idea to found an Ashrama in similar
conditions in India took shape. When Swamiji returned
from the West in 1897 and roused India by his tremendous
personality and message, comatose religion too was rejuvenated.
In Almora, he inspired Captain Sevier and Mrs. Sevier
along with Swami Swarupananda, his disciple, to commence
looking for a place to house an Ashrama 'dedicated to
advaita'. They found it in Mayavati, 6,400 ft. above sea
level, surrounded by mountains on three sides, one side
opening to a breathtaking view of the snow-capped Himalayan
range. The Advaita Ashrama was inaugurated in March 1899.
Belur Math, established earlier, approved of its objects
and principles and recognized Advaita Ashrama as its branch.
Swamiji paid the Ashrama a visit in January 1901 and stayed
for a fortnight. |
|
| The object of the
Ashrama was to study, practise and preach the Advaita
philosophy free from ritualistic settings, and also
to train others in spreading it. The Ashrama in
a short time became a melting pot, as it were, of
the best minds of the east and the west. It helped
spread the core Advaita doctrine, that of the Atman
beyond body and mind, which it clothed in novel
ways to suit different disciplines and temperaments.
The other focus was a creation of a huge body of
Vedantic, Ramakrishna-Holy Mother-Vivekananda literature
in Sanskrit-English, English and Hindi. This is
acting as a launching pad for the spiritual, philosophical,
psychological and cultural awakening all over the
world. |
|
There have been hardships
but when one has a great ideal to live by, hardships become
insignificant. Advaita Ashrama had a press of its own
and the first editions of Swami Vivekananda's works, his
life, etc. were published from Mayavati, besides Prabuddha
Bharata, the monthly journal. Following the laws of inevitability,
a good library stocked with excellent books naturally
grew.
|
|
Next
>>
|
|
|
 |
|
