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Swami Vivekananda, the Living Vedanta
The Vedanta was an inseparable part of Swami Vivekananda s personality. He lived and breathed this philosophy while preaching it to India and the west. While Vivekananda s landmark address at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 established him as modern India s great spiritual leader, his popularity and appeal is attributed to his ability to integrate his human side with his profound spiritual side. In this beautifully written biography, Chaturvedi Badrinath liberates Vivekananda from the confines of the worship room and offers an unforgettable insight into the life of a man who was the very embodiment of the Vedanta that he preached.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 28, 2014
This book written by chaturvedi badrinath throws some amout of light on the life of swami vivekananda but it isnt a literary joy to be reading the boom. That is because of a very unfathomable peculiar way in which this book is presented so its neither fiction nor can i say its non fiction. We have loads and loads of letters with none in a particular order from various people in the life if the swami. Leaving the shabby presentation apart the book is a stunning revelation on the man who preached vedanta and various other lectures, the gripping flow and command of swami vivekananda on language and his magnetic personality make you want to kiss the very dust he walks on. A enlightening read with lots to take home to.
February 18, 2013
It was a coincidence that I finished reading this book on the death anniversary of the author Chaturvedi Badrinath. One of the finest books on one of the greatest souls humanity has ever produced by an author who only could have written a book on Swami Vivekananda with such clarity and practical touch.
The author makes a good point in the starting that a great man like Swami Vivekanand can be understtod only if ones feels with him his time and surroundings and his interaction with many other contemporary persons. After completing the book, I fully understand his point.
The author makes a good point in the starting that a great man like Swami Vivekanand can be understtod only if ones feels with him his time and surroundings and his interaction with many other contemporary persons. After completing the book, I fully understand his point.
September 22, 2015
This is a must read for everyone of every religion. Through this book, you will meet an extraordinary human being - divine, but so human at the same time, a monk, a patriot, a socialist, a 'Vendant'ist, a person who's religion is love and who's family is world. His thoughts are applicable even today, more than 100 years after his death. I finished the book and wanted to read from the beginning again. I didn't know what to read next and what will match this quality. You will meet Swamiji through this book. His thoughts are not something which are just to be read once and kept aside. This book is a kind of self purification. You will see things in a different light.
To talk about the author and his writing style - He did a great job. Some may find this book a little 'academic'. But I would like to give credit to the author for not adding his own interpretations without any proofs, on the events and the thoughts of Swamiji. He has definitely studied Swamiji's life and even the smallest facets of his behaviour, his attitude and the events thoroughly. This book can prove as a guide for life.
Following is one of my favorite snippets from the book, which is actually what Swamiji said on the concluding day of Parliament of Religions:
"If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance: 'Help and not fight', 'Assimilation and not Destruction', 'Harmony and Peace and not Dissension'"
To talk about the author and his writing style - He did a great job. Some may find this book a little 'academic'. But I would like to give credit to the author for not adding his own interpretations without any proofs, on the events and the thoughts of Swamiji. He has definitely studied Swamiji's life and even the smallest facets of his behaviour, his attitude and the events thoroughly. This book can prove as a guide for life.
Following is one of my favorite snippets from the book, which is actually what Swamiji said on the concluding day of Parliament of Religions:
"If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written, in spite of resistance: 'Help and not fight', 'Assimilation and not Destruction', 'Harmony and Peace and not Dissension'"
June 24, 2020
The author just presents here different letters of Swami Vivekanda disciples and his and without any order he tries to force fix into his own socio-political outlook. The book shows Swami Vivekanda as a perfect liberal bereft of any any spiritual message. Whole book was presented as if Religion didn't matter to him at all and all the letters related to these topics are ignored. After reading the book Swami Vivekanda appeared like a socialite working in tandem with his white disciples and Indians are totally relegated to inferior position
September 14, 2018
An insight into the life and work of a man who was almost a personification of the Vedanta. What struck me the most, what is peppered throughout the book, is how honest and pure the Swami's work was and still is!
If you're looking for inspiration to be true to yourself and to your work, you should pick this one up on your next visit to the bookstore.
If you're looking for inspiration to be true to yourself and to your work, you should pick this one up on your next visit to the bookstore.
August 11, 2021
Book: Swami Vivekananda, the Living Vedanta
Author: Chaturvedi Badrinath
Publisher: Penguin; Latest edition (25 August 2015)
Language: English
Paperback: 480 pages
Item Weight: 445 g
Dimensions: 12.9 x 2 x 19.8 cm
Country of Origin: India
Price: 270/-
This book tells the story of a preacher of religious synchronization and toleration.
This preacher was Samkara in wisdom, Buddha in love and compassion to all beings, Christ in humanity, Mahavira in faith and allegiance to his Lord, Narada in bhakti, Arjuna in audacity and karmayoga, Vyas in the knowledge of the Shastras, and Shuka in purity.
He could be compared with only his Master whose plan he satisfied throughout his life. Vivekananda’s soul-stirring message will continue to inspire millions of men and women for ages to come to work for the unity of mankind and its happiness.
As early as 26 June 1895, at the height of Swamiji’s extravagant fame and his inaudibly working spiritual influence in the West and in India, he had written to Mary Hale:
The more the shades around deepen, the more the ends approach, and the more one understands the true meaning of life, that it is a dream; and we begin to understand the failure of everyone to grasp it, for they only attempted to get meaning out of the meaningless. To get reality out of a dream is boyish enthusiasm…’
‘Everything is evanescent, everything is changeful’—knowing this, the sage gives up both pleasure and pain and becomes a witness of this panorama—(the universe)—without attaching himself to anything. …Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage. Denial of the will to live, knowledge, and same-sightedness is the trinity of liberation.
Freedom is the goal of the universe…..’
Swamiji’s life is indissoluble from his changing responses to the social conditions of his times in India, and of the West equally so.
But this is not all.
There is in all human lives the interaction of history and transcendence; in the life of a man like Swamiji even more so. The tension between the two would become a source also of his self-division; for history began to trouble him more and more.
With its inner disorder and pain, that division of the self increased very nearly in the same measure as the spectacular progress of his mission in the West.
He gave expression to it in many of his letters to those American women—Mary Hale, Josephine MacLeod, Sara Chapman Bull, Christine Greenstidel (later Sister Christine) — and to Margaret Noble, who loved him and understood what he was. They understood that he had a mission, ‘the work’, rooted in the history of his times but which, simultaneously, transcended all history and touched the deepest longings of the human soul.
He was concerned with both, and thus spoke two languages: the language demanded by history, and the language beyond all history, with a passion that was uniquely his.
To meet Swamiji is to float with him in these two worlds at the same time.
Furthermore, in meeting Swami Vivekananda, one automatically meets many other persons, in India and the West, into whose lives he had come as a light and who had come into his life with their grace of love and care. Each of them had his or her history, of the mind and circumstance, as he had his. They do not constitute just a catalogue of names, only to be recited in the chanting of the Swami Vivekananda litany.
Each one of them shows, in different ways, the complexities of human ambitions and character, through which alone, and not in some abstract haze of spirituality or in the beating of drums of creed and doctrine, is life lived.
Swami Vivekananda was pointing to life where alongside its complexities is its utter simplicity, blissful joy coexisting with the pain and suffering of being human. In Vivekanandian thought, neither of the two ever remained unrelated to the other.
However, it is also true that if those who had come into his life were not to remain just names, and their life stories before and after meeting him are necessarily to be narrated insofar as they are known, the chain becomes longer and longer.
Furthermore, because each of them was individually in some relationship with him, they inevitably came into relationship with each other. And those relationships were complex, not always easy, but fascinating to study. That chain becomes even longer.
The difficulty is this: without them, Swami Vivekananda cannot be understood, but in the mass of details that have been gathered about them, the Swami is lost because the reader is overwhelmed and feels exhausted. There is no easy way to resolve this paradox. Then the easiest thing follows—Swami Vivekananda remains a worshipped icon.
This 450 page book is successful in bringing to the reader the ‘man’.
Badrinath divides his book into the following dozen chapters:
1. The Beginnings: The Inheritance
2. Another Inheritance, From Another Life
3. The Inheritance From the Dust of India
4. Towards the New World
5. The Web of Love and its Maya
6. Swami Vivekananda Reaches America
7. At the Parliament of Religions
8. After the Parliament of Religions: Swami Vivekananda’s Temptation and ‘The Work’
9. The Prakriti and the Swami: The Climate, Clothes, and the Diet
10. Simultaneity in the Life of Swami Vivekananda
11. Swami Vivekananda and Vivekananda: The Divided Self
12. Swami Vivekananda’s Last Benediction
To put in a nutshell, these are the core points that arise out of Badrinath babu’s scrutiny:
1) Vivekananda gave a new meaning to the Vedanta, away from its dehydrated metaphysics, and talked of ‘the living Vedanta’ which meant living relationships in a new light.
2) Even as he expounded ‘non-dualism’, he lived relationships, and relationship implies the existence of the other. The sense and the feeling of oneness with the other, in collective relationships quite as much as in the personal, had been always inherent in the Vedanta but was thoroughly obscured in its later scholastic developments.
3) Vivekananda brought out in his person that true meaning. He was, in a literal sense, the ‘quintessence of the true Vedanta’.
To all those who came into his life, took loving care of him and supported his work in one way or another, he expressed in a full-throated voice his gratitude, and gratitude implies the existence of the other.
4) Vivekananda never turned non-dualism, or any ism, into some hard theory ‘divorced from life’, but brought to a world full of abhorrence and brutality arising from religious absolutism, its deeper import, the inner unity of all life.
5) When he spoke, it was with authority, which struck even those who were antagonistic to him. That authority and its visible majesty grew out of the sense of oneness with all he displayed in his own life, in ways natural and easy.
6) Vivekananda’s Vedanta did not exclude the sincerest humbleness and gratitude for what he was receiving from others generously. And neither did it exclude a childlike capacity for merriment, fun and laughter. If university professors were attracted to his prevailing intellect and conversed with him for hours, a child of six too could sit in his lap, warm and snug, and widen her eyes in wonder as he told her the stories of Indian bazaars and remember him even decades after. Even before he began speaking about it, Vivekananda’s Vedanta was written in every line of his stunningly handsome face and reflected in his ‘midnight-blue’ eyes.
7) Vivekananda repudiated, both in his teachings and in his conduct, the prevalent notions of ‘sannyasa’, embodying false notions of ‘renunciation’. The Mahabharata had done that in the clearest language 3000 years earlier in the voice of a woman, and lest that be regarded as the self-serving argument of a wife, also in the words of a sage. Vivekananda did likewise in so many different ways: in his acutely felt social concerns and above all in his tireless efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, the oppressed, and the rejected.
8) There had been before, and there have been since, countless sannyasis in this ageless country. But none ever spoke, much less wept, in the name of the wretched and the poor masses of India. Vivekananda did. None among the sannyasis had ever worked for them. Vivekananda did, driving himself relentlessly, to the point of his early death.
On 4 July 1902, at nine in the night, Swami Vivekananda passed into eternity. He was not yet forty. The next day his mortal body, through which he had been teaching his universal gospel of Vedanta as love but had suffered equally, was given over to Agni, the God of Fire.
Something else happened, too — yet another benediction of Swami Vivekananda, his last assurance of love, to his spiritual consort Nivedita, and, as she thought it to be, also his last letter to Joe that ‘he would not have allowed to be lost in the post’.
‘I said to Swami Saradananda seeing a certain cloth covering the bed-top—‘Is this going to be burnt? It is the last thing I ever saw Him wear!’ Swami Saradananda offered it to me there, but I would not take it. Only I said ‘If I could only cut a corner of the border off for Yum!’ But I had neither knife nor scissors, and the seemliness of the act would have been doubtful—so I did nothing. At 6 O’clock—or was it 5?—my first letter told you, I think it was 6—as if I were twitched by the sleeve. I looked down, and there, safe out of all that burning and blackness, there blew to my feet the very two or three inches I had desired out of the border of the cloth. I took it as a Letter from Him to you, from beyond the grave. I cannot believe that he has allowed it to be lost in the post!
What Sri Ramakrishna had said about Narendranath, we can say about Swami Vivekananda: ‘He has lighted the fire. Now it doesn’t matter whether he stays in the room or goes out.’
That fire has been burning for more than a hundred years.
And we shall keep the fire burning until death.
I cannot award more than five stars to a book, can I?
Author: Chaturvedi Badrinath
Publisher: Penguin; Latest edition (25 August 2015)
Language: English
Paperback: 480 pages
Item Weight: 445 g
Dimensions: 12.9 x 2 x 19.8 cm
Country of Origin: India
Price: 270/-
This book tells the story of a preacher of religious synchronization and toleration.
This preacher was Samkara in wisdom, Buddha in love and compassion to all beings, Christ in humanity, Mahavira in faith and allegiance to his Lord, Narada in bhakti, Arjuna in audacity and karmayoga, Vyas in the knowledge of the Shastras, and Shuka in purity.
He could be compared with only his Master whose plan he satisfied throughout his life. Vivekananda’s soul-stirring message will continue to inspire millions of men and women for ages to come to work for the unity of mankind and its happiness.
As early as 26 June 1895, at the height of Swamiji’s extravagant fame and his inaudibly working spiritual influence in the West and in India, he had written to Mary Hale:
The more the shades around deepen, the more the ends approach, and the more one understands the true meaning of life, that it is a dream; and we begin to understand the failure of everyone to grasp it, for they only attempted to get meaning out of the meaningless. To get reality out of a dream is boyish enthusiasm…’
‘Everything is evanescent, everything is changeful’—knowing this, the sage gives up both pleasure and pain and becomes a witness of this panorama—(the universe)—without attaching himself to anything. …Desire, ignorance, and inequality—this is the trinity of bondage. Denial of the will to live, knowledge, and same-sightedness is the trinity of liberation.
Freedom is the goal of the universe…..’
Swamiji’s life is indissoluble from his changing responses to the social conditions of his times in India, and of the West equally so.
But this is not all.
There is in all human lives the interaction of history and transcendence; in the life of a man like Swamiji even more so. The tension between the two would become a source also of his self-division; for history began to trouble him more and more.
With its inner disorder and pain, that division of the self increased very nearly in the same measure as the spectacular progress of his mission in the West.
He gave expression to it in many of his letters to those American women—Mary Hale, Josephine MacLeod, Sara Chapman Bull, Christine Greenstidel (later Sister Christine) — and to Margaret Noble, who loved him and understood what he was. They understood that he had a mission, ‘the work’, rooted in the history of his times but which, simultaneously, transcended all history and touched the deepest longings of the human soul.
He was concerned with both, and thus spoke two languages: the language demanded by history, and the language beyond all history, with a passion that was uniquely his.
To meet Swamiji is to float with him in these two worlds at the same time.
Furthermore, in meeting Swami Vivekananda, one automatically meets many other persons, in India and the West, into whose lives he had come as a light and who had come into his life with their grace of love and care. Each of them had his or her history, of the mind and circumstance, as he had his. They do not constitute just a catalogue of names, only to be recited in the chanting of the Swami Vivekananda litany.
Each one of them shows, in different ways, the complexities of human ambitions and character, through which alone, and not in some abstract haze of spirituality or in the beating of drums of creed and doctrine, is life lived.
Swami Vivekananda was pointing to life where alongside its complexities is its utter simplicity, blissful joy coexisting with the pain and suffering of being human. In Vivekanandian thought, neither of the two ever remained unrelated to the other.
However, it is also true that if those who had come into his life were not to remain just names, and their life stories before and after meeting him are necessarily to be narrated insofar as they are known, the chain becomes longer and longer.
Furthermore, because each of them was individually in some relationship with him, they inevitably came into relationship with each other. And those relationships were complex, not always easy, but fascinating to study. That chain becomes even longer.
The difficulty is this: without them, Swami Vivekananda cannot be understood, but in the mass of details that have been gathered about them, the Swami is lost because the reader is overwhelmed and feels exhausted. There is no easy way to resolve this paradox. Then the easiest thing follows—Swami Vivekananda remains a worshipped icon.
This 450 page book is successful in bringing to the reader the ‘man’.
Badrinath divides his book into the following dozen chapters:
1. The Beginnings: The Inheritance
2. Another Inheritance, From Another Life
3. The Inheritance From the Dust of India
4. Towards the New World
5. The Web of Love and its Maya
6. Swami Vivekananda Reaches America
7. At the Parliament of Religions
8. After the Parliament of Religions: Swami Vivekananda’s Temptation and ‘The Work’
9. The Prakriti and the Swami: The Climate, Clothes, and the Diet
10. Simultaneity in the Life of Swami Vivekananda
11. Swami Vivekananda and Vivekananda: The Divided Self
12. Swami Vivekananda’s Last Benediction
To put in a nutshell, these are the core points that arise out of Badrinath babu’s scrutiny:
1) Vivekananda gave a new meaning to the Vedanta, away from its dehydrated metaphysics, and talked of ‘the living Vedanta’ which meant living relationships in a new light.
2) Even as he expounded ‘non-dualism’, he lived relationships, and relationship implies the existence of the other. The sense and the feeling of oneness with the other, in collective relationships quite as much as in the personal, had been always inherent in the Vedanta but was thoroughly obscured in its later scholastic developments.
3) Vivekananda brought out in his person that true meaning. He was, in a literal sense, the ‘quintessence of the true Vedanta’.
To all those who came into his life, took loving care of him and supported his work in one way or another, he expressed in a full-throated voice his gratitude, and gratitude implies the existence of the other.
4) Vivekananda never turned non-dualism, or any ism, into some hard theory ‘divorced from life’, but brought to a world full of abhorrence and brutality arising from religious absolutism, its deeper import, the inner unity of all life.
5) When he spoke, it was with authority, which struck even those who were antagonistic to him. That authority and its visible majesty grew out of the sense of oneness with all he displayed in his own life, in ways natural and easy.
6) Vivekananda’s Vedanta did not exclude the sincerest humbleness and gratitude for what he was receiving from others generously. And neither did it exclude a childlike capacity for merriment, fun and laughter. If university professors were attracted to his prevailing intellect and conversed with him for hours, a child of six too could sit in his lap, warm and snug, and widen her eyes in wonder as he told her the stories of Indian bazaars and remember him even decades after. Even before he began speaking about it, Vivekananda’s Vedanta was written in every line of his stunningly handsome face and reflected in his ‘midnight-blue’ eyes.
7) Vivekananda repudiated, both in his teachings and in his conduct, the prevalent notions of ‘sannyasa’, embodying false notions of ‘renunciation’. The Mahabharata had done that in the clearest language 3000 years earlier in the voice of a woman, and lest that be regarded as the self-serving argument of a wife, also in the words of a sage. Vivekananda did likewise in so many different ways: in his acutely felt social concerns and above all in his tireless efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, the oppressed, and the rejected.
8) There had been before, and there have been since, countless sannyasis in this ageless country. But none ever spoke, much less wept, in the name of the wretched and the poor masses of India. Vivekananda did. None among the sannyasis had ever worked for them. Vivekananda did, driving himself relentlessly, to the point of his early death.
On 4 July 1902, at nine in the night, Swami Vivekananda passed into eternity. He was not yet forty. The next day his mortal body, through which he had been teaching his universal gospel of Vedanta as love but had suffered equally, was given over to Agni, the God of Fire.
Something else happened, too — yet another benediction of Swami Vivekananda, his last assurance of love, to his spiritual consort Nivedita, and, as she thought it to be, also his last letter to Joe that ‘he would not have allowed to be lost in the post’.
‘I said to Swami Saradananda seeing a certain cloth covering the bed-top—‘Is this going to be burnt? It is the last thing I ever saw Him wear!’ Swami Saradananda offered it to me there, but I would not take it. Only I said ‘If I could only cut a corner of the border off for Yum!’ But I had neither knife nor scissors, and the seemliness of the act would have been doubtful—so I did nothing. At 6 O’clock—or was it 5?—my first letter told you, I think it was 6—as if I were twitched by the sleeve. I looked down, and there, safe out of all that burning and blackness, there blew to my feet the very two or three inches I had desired out of the border of the cloth. I took it as a Letter from Him to you, from beyond the grave. I cannot believe that he has allowed it to be lost in the post!
What Sri Ramakrishna had said about Narendranath, we can say about Swami Vivekananda: ‘He has lighted the fire. Now it doesn’t matter whether he stays in the room or goes out.’
That fire has been burning for more than a hundred years.
And we shall keep the fire burning until death.
I cannot award more than five stars to a book, can I?
April 22, 2015
I have never thought that i would be hooked to spiritual books however I have read two books about Vivekananda i.e. Living at the source and the Living Vedanta.
I finished this book today and the moment i finished it, i felt a bit of dizziness inside me regarding what i would be reading tomorrow morning as i was aware that no book in my collection can replace this book.
I may start reading this book again b'coz of the value addition it has done to me.
I won't comment on the writing style or anything of this book and would agree that few may find it bit boring and confusing though it's one of the best depiction of a person with all his flaws and it's nice to know that swamiji can also have a dichotomy of thoughts ,that he also got angry some times and he was also so caring about his mother and brother.
I was impressed by the fact that we don't need to be god to be good however we can be just be good for the good.
It's an impressive book which would surely impress everyone.
I finished this book today and the moment i finished it, i felt a bit of dizziness inside me regarding what i would be reading tomorrow morning as i was aware that no book in my collection can replace this book.
I may start reading this book again b'coz of the value addition it has done to me.
I won't comment on the writing style or anything of this book and would agree that few may find it bit boring and confusing though it's one of the best depiction of a person with all his flaws and it's nice to know that swamiji can also have a dichotomy of thoughts ,that he also got angry some times and he was also so caring about his mother and brother.
I was impressed by the fact that we don't need to be god to be good however we can be just be good for the good.
It's an impressive book which would surely impress everyone.
May 29, 2022
I have beean a lot of lectures from Swami Sarvapriyananda on youtube lately, as I have got intrstred in Vedanata, and I have been acquainted with vivekananda since young ge, as my father was also an follower of Vivekananda's teachings. So being intrestred in his life I decided to pick this book in order to understand more about Swamiji's life.
The book is a bit of hit & miss for me, because the author has explored Swamiji's life with the help of letters he wrote or the letters which were written to him by different persons he encountered in his life, and then the author gives a commentary about the situation, and tries to tells us about what situation swamiji was.
Although this technique is sound, but unfortunately some of the context gets lost. But still I will recommend this book for anyone who wants to know swamiji as person.
I will give this book 3/5 stars.
The book is a bit of hit & miss for me, because the author has explored Swamiji's life with the help of letters he wrote or the letters which were written to him by different persons he encountered in his life, and then the author gives a commentary about the situation, and tries to tells us about what situation swamiji was.
Although this technique is sound, but unfortunately some of the context gets lost. But still I will recommend this book for anyone who wants to know swamiji as person.
I will give this book 3/5 stars.
September 20, 2019
The book was more from a spiritual side and reflects the teaching and behaviour of Radhakrishna Parmahansa Swami Vivekanand. It explores the complete different style of Vivekananda
November 18, 2015
A well written book on the life of Vivekananda. It presents an unbiased view and leads the reader to the predicament of conflicting emotions in swamis mind. Its a must read for people in India to understand this towering personality and his candid views on rituals and religion. The courage he had to present some revolutionary views without worrying about the political consequence of it is truly appreciable.
September 9, 2016
Well researched and chronologically written.
April 3, 2018
great book
January 9, 2021
The book has succeeded in giving a small peek into the journey of Swami Vivekananda's life. The writing is very plain though so it couldn't trigger a sense of attachment to the book. I belive there would be more books that could help us understand him better.
August 10, 2015
The book is unique in the approach it takes - trying to understand Vivekananda as a person rather than the religious and national leader that we all know him as. It traces the life of Naren, his relationship with his master Sri Ram Krishna Paramhansa, his thoughts and ideas of nation building and uplifting India from the shackles of poverty and dogmatic religious practices.
It is an account of the life Vivekananda lived - real and normal as you and I live - his practical difficulties around travel,finances,managing people and their expectations,dealing with adversaries and controversies, choices made between serving his family and the "nation", and the triumphs and agony of those choices.
The book also gives a fair view of the contribution made by people who supported his transition from Naren to Vivekananda, remarkable people of whom we know little.
The book runs in a criss-cross time frame, moving forwards and backwards with alacrity. While that may be necessary for connecting the dots, the narrative appears shaken with such frequent jumps. As such the book becomes less coherent than desired. The book is rich in description and "feel" of the life Vivekananda lived transporting one back in time but its a pity that it never elaborates upon Vivekananda's core philosophy or Hinduism as he interpreted it. All we get is the broad idea that India needed to move to the philosophical roots of Hinduism (Advaita) rather than remain entrenched in ritualistic dogmatic blind beliefs of religion.
The book is a winner when it comes to bringing alive Vivekananda, rather Naren who came to be recognized as Vivekananda. However,it leaves me wanting more on his teachings.
My big takeaway from the book is that even leaders of his stature go through conflicts between the head and heart, and nobody has all the answers. Even Vivekananda was human, after all. This by itself is a sign that the author is successful in what he set out to achieve- giving a living breathing rich description of Naren and his life and times.
It is an account of the life Vivekananda lived - real and normal as you and I live - his practical difficulties around travel,finances,managing people and their expectations,dealing with adversaries and controversies, choices made between serving his family and the "nation", and the triumphs and agony of those choices.
The book also gives a fair view of the contribution made by people who supported his transition from Naren to Vivekananda, remarkable people of whom we know little.
The book runs in a criss-cross time frame, moving forwards and backwards with alacrity. While that may be necessary for connecting the dots, the narrative appears shaken with such frequent jumps. As such the book becomes less coherent than desired. The book is rich in description and "feel" of the life Vivekananda lived transporting one back in time but its a pity that it never elaborates upon Vivekananda's core philosophy or Hinduism as he interpreted it. All we get is the broad idea that India needed to move to the philosophical roots of Hinduism (Advaita) rather than remain entrenched in ritualistic dogmatic blind beliefs of religion.
The book is a winner when it comes to bringing alive Vivekananda, rather Naren who came to be recognized as Vivekananda. However,it leaves me wanting more on his teachings.
My big takeaway from the book is that even leaders of his stature go through conflicts between the head and heart, and nobody has all the answers. Even Vivekananda was human, after all. This by itself is a sign that the author is successful in what he set out to achieve- giving a living breathing rich description of Naren and his life and times.
May 3, 2019
The book is a compilation of letters written by Swami Vivekananda to his acquaintances, the letter he received from them and other sources. Candidly, book is a duo of above mentioned sources and interpretation of the author. A good book to initiate the understanding of Swami Vivekananda's life.
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July 30, 2019great to know the man. I always took him for a mystic but he was definitely more.
At times a tough read & quite detailed in its narration the book was overall good.
At times a tough read & quite detailed in its narration the book was overall good.
March 20, 2025
So, this book has been sitting on my shelf since 2019, and I could never reach the second chapter. Now, finally I was able to read this biography of Swami Vivekananda by Chaturvedi Badrinath, without marking it as dnf.
This book skillfully presents Swamiji not merely as a spiritual icon but as a deeply human figure, rich in emotions, struggles, and a visionary outlook for humanity. The narrative intertwines personal anecdotes with profound philosophical insights, making the book both captivating and enlightening.
The early chapters shine a light on the pivotal figures in Vivekananda’s life. His father, Biswanath Dutta, a compassionate lawyer, believed in extending kindness even to the most marginalized, seeing value in easing suffering, however briefly. His mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, instilled in him a profound love for Indian culture through stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Central to his spiritual development was his guru, Sri Ramakrishna—a humble priest whose profound teachings shaped Vivekananda’s path.
India itself served as a wellspring of inspiration, and Badrinath introduces key figures who supported Vivekananda, like Surendranath Mitra, Swami Saradananda, and Raja Ajit Singh, especially during times of financial need, particularly for his journey to the West.
The author masterfully captures Swamiji’s open-mindedness and acceptance of all religions. A poignant example is when, at the end of his life, a piece of Swamiji’s cloth blew to the feet of Sister Nivedita during his cremation—a symbolic gesture that underscores their deep connection and her unwavering dedication to his mission. This moment reflects how his spirit continued to touch those he loved, even in death.
Swamiji’s ability to embrace diverse cultures is further highlighted when he dined at a Muslim’s home while holding both the Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. Such moments embody his commitment to the Vedantic principle of unity in diversity and his practice of tolerance.
As the narrative progresses, we follow Swamiji’s transformative journey to America, culminating in his landmark address at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. This event marked a significant turning point for both him and Indian spirituality, as his powerful words captivated an international audience, showcasing India’s rich spiritual heritage. Badrinath doesn’t shy away from revealing Swamiji’s personal struggles—such as the heart-wrenching loss of his sister—which deepened his reflections on love and attachment, making his teachings on compassion and detachment even more poignant.
Women played an integral role in Vivekananda’s life, serving as both inspirations and allies in his mission. His mother was his first guide, while strong supporters like Katherine Sanborn and the Hale family helped amplify his message in the West. Their deep respect and affection for him highlight the profound impact he had on those he encountered, illustrated by moments such as Dr. Prince Woods’ refusal to part with Swamiji’s monk staff and blanket, opting instead to preserve them as cherished symbols of their bond.
Badrinath emphasizes Swamiji’s views on religion, portraying his belief that true spirituality should be joyous and liberated from rigid dogmas. He promoted an inclusive approach to faith, embracing all religions. While the book does not include his actual speeches from the Parliament of Religions, I recommend reading them on Belur Math’s website [https://belurmath.org/swami-vivekanan...] to grasp the full impact of his words. Swamiji believed that love was the antidote to hatred—a message that resonates as powerfully today as it did then.
A compelling aspect of the book is how Swamiji sought solutions to India’s struggles under British rule by garnering Western support. What was originally intended to showcase the superiority of Christianity instead became a platform for him to reveal the depth of India’s spiritual traditions.
The Ramakrishna Mission Association, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897, aimed to blend spiritual development with humanitarian service, embodying the principles of universal brotherhood and selfless service, or Karma Yoga. Vivekananda believed true spirituality manifests through service to humanity. The mission’s efforts to alleviate suffering through education, healthcare, and disaster relief marked a transformative era in India, merging spiritual practice with practical action.
The Advaita Ashram in Almora, established by Vivekananda in 1899, became a sanctuary for the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta, nestled in the serene hills that fostered meditation and contemplation. The ashram played a crucial role in disseminating Vedantic teachings through writings and lectures, contributing significantly to spiritual discourse.
Swami Vivekananda’s four spiritual sisters—Sister Nivedita (Margaret Noble), Sara Bull, Josephine MacLeod, and Christina Greenstidel—were vital to his mission. These women, inspired by his teachings, not only supported him spiritually but also actively advanced his vision for blending spirituality with practical service, influencing social reform and the spread of Vedanta.
Despite his international acclaim, Swamiji remained grounded and joyful. His letters to his friend Alasinga Perumal brim with wit, and simple pleasures—like indulging in ice cream—reveal a childlike spirit. Yet, he faced personal challenges, battling illness and anxiety, all while imparting the wisdom of Vedanta, even amid criticism from orthodox circles. His resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
While Badrinath celebrates Swamiji’s achievements, the book does not shy away from addressing his critiques of India. Vivekananda admired the West’s discipline and progress but was often harsh in his assessments of India’s condition under British rule. Some may argue that his critiques overlooked the colonial context, as India’s identity was heavily suppressed at the time. Nevertheless, his later speeches reflect a deep appreciation for India’s spiritual wealth, reminding the world of its ancient wisdom.
In his final years, Swamiji returned to India, sensing his time was drawing near. He had foreseen his death on July 4th while in Cairo, a prediction that hauntingly came true. His unwavering commitment to teaching, even as fatigue set in, stands as a testament to his love for humanity. His last moments, imbued with a profound sense of peace and fulfillment, leave a lasting impression on the reader.
A divine moment that highlighted Sister Nivedita’s profound connection to Vivekananda occurred during his cremation when a piece of his cloth miraculously blew to her feet. This extraordinary event served as a powerful symbol of his enduring presence and the spiritual bond they shared, reinforcing her determination to carry forward his teachings. Sister Nivedita not only supported Vivekananda spiritually but also became an essential figure in the propagation of Vedanta and the upliftment of Indian society.
In conclusion, Swami Vivekananda: The Living Vedanta is more than a biography; it is a profound reflection on the meaning of life, spirituality, love and service to humanity. The essence of Vedanta, as Swamiji articulated, is Jeevan Mukti—liberation in life—and this book captures that spirit beautifully. It serves as an inspiring read for anyone eager to understand Swami Vivekananda’s legacy and the timeless wisdom of Vedanta.
Love is joyous!
“He has lighted the fire now it doesn’t matter whether he stays in the room or goes out.”
Neti Neti
This book skillfully presents Swamiji not merely as a spiritual icon but as a deeply human figure, rich in emotions, struggles, and a visionary outlook for humanity. The narrative intertwines personal anecdotes with profound philosophical insights, making the book both captivating and enlightening.
The early chapters shine a light on the pivotal figures in Vivekananda’s life. His father, Biswanath Dutta, a compassionate lawyer, believed in extending kindness even to the most marginalized, seeing value in easing suffering, however briefly. His mother, Bhubaneswari Devi, instilled in him a profound love for Indian culture through stories from the Mahabharata and Ramayana. Central to his spiritual development was his guru, Sri Ramakrishna—a humble priest whose profound teachings shaped Vivekananda’s path.
India itself served as a wellspring of inspiration, and Badrinath introduces key figures who supported Vivekananda, like Surendranath Mitra, Swami Saradananda, and Raja Ajit Singh, especially during times of financial need, particularly for his journey to the West.
The author masterfully captures Swamiji’s open-mindedness and acceptance of all religions. A poignant example is when, at the end of his life, a piece of Swamiji’s cloth blew to the feet of Sister Nivedita during his cremation—a symbolic gesture that underscores their deep connection and her unwavering dedication to his mission. This moment reflects how his spirit continued to touch those he loved, even in death.
Swamiji’s ability to embrace diverse cultures is further highlighted when he dined at a Muslim’s home while holding both the Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. Such moments embody his commitment to the Vedantic principle of unity in diversity and his practice of tolerance.
As the narrative progresses, we follow Swamiji’s transformative journey to America, culminating in his landmark address at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. This event marked a significant turning point for both him and Indian spirituality, as his powerful words captivated an international audience, showcasing India’s rich spiritual heritage. Badrinath doesn’t shy away from revealing Swamiji’s personal struggles—such as the heart-wrenching loss of his sister—which deepened his reflections on love and attachment, making his teachings on compassion and detachment even more poignant.
Women played an integral role in Vivekananda’s life, serving as both inspirations and allies in his mission. His mother was his first guide, while strong supporters like Katherine Sanborn and the Hale family helped amplify his message in the West. Their deep respect and affection for him highlight the profound impact he had on those he encountered, illustrated by moments such as Dr. Prince Woods’ refusal to part with Swamiji’s monk staff and blanket, opting instead to preserve them as cherished symbols of their bond.
Badrinath emphasizes Swamiji’s views on religion, portraying his belief that true spirituality should be joyous and liberated from rigid dogmas. He promoted an inclusive approach to faith, embracing all religions. While the book does not include his actual speeches from the Parliament of Religions, I recommend reading them on Belur Math’s website [https://belurmath.org/swami-vivekanan...] to grasp the full impact of his words. Swamiji believed that love was the antidote to hatred—a message that resonates as powerfully today as it did then.
A compelling aspect of the book is how Swamiji sought solutions to India’s struggles under British rule by garnering Western support. What was originally intended to showcase the superiority of Christianity instead became a platform for him to reveal the depth of India’s spiritual traditions.
The Ramakrishna Mission Association, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897, aimed to blend spiritual development with humanitarian service, embodying the principles of universal brotherhood and selfless service, or Karma Yoga. Vivekananda believed true spirituality manifests through service to humanity. The mission’s efforts to alleviate suffering through education, healthcare, and disaster relief marked a transformative era in India, merging spiritual practice with practical action.
The Advaita Ashram in Almora, established by Vivekananda in 1899, became a sanctuary for the study and practice of Advaita Vedanta, nestled in the serene hills that fostered meditation and contemplation. The ashram played a crucial role in disseminating Vedantic teachings through writings and lectures, contributing significantly to spiritual discourse.
Swami Vivekananda’s four spiritual sisters—Sister Nivedita (Margaret Noble), Sara Bull, Josephine MacLeod, and Christina Greenstidel—were vital to his mission. These women, inspired by his teachings, not only supported him spiritually but also actively advanced his vision for blending spirituality with practical service, influencing social reform and the spread of Vedanta.
Despite his international acclaim, Swamiji remained grounded and joyful. His letters to his friend Alasinga Perumal brim with wit, and simple pleasures—like indulging in ice cream—reveal a childlike spirit. Yet, he faced personal challenges, battling illness and anxiety, all while imparting the wisdom of Vedanta, even amid criticism from orthodox circles. His resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
While Badrinath celebrates Swamiji’s achievements, the book does not shy away from addressing his critiques of India. Vivekananda admired the West’s discipline and progress but was often harsh in his assessments of India’s condition under British rule. Some may argue that his critiques overlooked the colonial context, as India’s identity was heavily suppressed at the time. Nevertheless, his later speeches reflect a deep appreciation for India’s spiritual wealth, reminding the world of its ancient wisdom.
In his final years, Swamiji returned to India, sensing his time was drawing near. He had foreseen his death on July 4th while in Cairo, a prediction that hauntingly came true. His unwavering commitment to teaching, even as fatigue set in, stands as a testament to his love for humanity. His last moments, imbued with a profound sense of peace and fulfillment, leave a lasting impression on the reader.
A divine moment that highlighted Sister Nivedita’s profound connection to Vivekananda occurred during his cremation when a piece of his cloth miraculously blew to her feet. This extraordinary event served as a powerful symbol of his enduring presence and the spiritual bond they shared, reinforcing her determination to carry forward his teachings. Sister Nivedita not only supported Vivekananda spiritually but also became an essential figure in the propagation of Vedanta and the upliftment of Indian society.
In conclusion, Swami Vivekananda: The Living Vedanta is more than a biography; it is a profound reflection on the meaning of life, spirituality, love and service to humanity. The essence of Vedanta, as Swamiji articulated, is Jeevan Mukti—liberation in life—and this book captures that spirit beautifully. It serves as an inspiring read for anyone eager to understand Swami Vivekananda’s legacy and the timeless wisdom of Vedanta.
Love is joyous!
“He has lighted the fire now it doesn’t matter whether he stays in the room or goes out.”
Neti Neti
June 16, 2023
An insightful and touching memoir.
The book introduces alternative perspectives on several episodes in Swami Vivekananda's life. This makes this biography different from others and more interesting.
The book brilliantly captures the interplay of history and transcendence in the life of Swami Vivekananda, which made him the living Vedanta. On one hand, Swami Vivekananda was caught in the net of work, organization, teaching, and creating a new order of humanity-—the net of history. He wanted to set up a centre from which would go forth thousands of selfless men and women, to teach through their own lives that those who are selfish, are dying; those who love, live. On the other hand, he kept hearing another call, that of transcendence, longing for freedom from all of them. He longed for absorption in a state in which all distinctions are dissolved and all human limitations transcended.
The two stories, in intimate simultaneity in the same person, are among the most magnificent stories of all times. The book makes a compelling argument that they have to be felt and not simply read. Not until Swami Vivekananda is felt contemporaneously, will he ever be understood in the fullness of his being. Those who don’t meet him and feel him contemporaneously, cannot fully understand the meaning of what he is saying.
This book is neither strictly a biography of Swami Vivekananda nor a study of his philosophy. This book will help anyone to feel the actual person.
The book introduces alternative perspectives on several episodes in Swami Vivekananda's life. This makes this biography different from others and more interesting.
The book brilliantly captures the interplay of history and transcendence in the life of Swami Vivekananda, which made him the living Vedanta. On one hand, Swami Vivekananda was caught in the net of work, organization, teaching, and creating a new order of humanity-—the net of history. He wanted to set up a centre from which would go forth thousands of selfless men and women, to teach through their own lives that those who are selfish, are dying; those who love, live. On the other hand, he kept hearing another call, that of transcendence, longing for freedom from all of them. He longed for absorption in a state in which all distinctions are dissolved and all human limitations transcended.
The two stories, in intimate simultaneity in the same person, are among the most magnificent stories of all times. The book makes a compelling argument that they have to be felt and not simply read. Not until Swami Vivekananda is felt contemporaneously, will he ever be understood in the fullness of his being. Those who don’t meet him and feel him contemporaneously, cannot fully understand the meaning of what he is saying.
This book is neither strictly a biography of Swami Vivekananda nor a study of his philosophy. This book will help anyone to feel the actual person.
June 8, 2021
It talks less about philosophy of Swami Vivekananda but more about his life, circumstances, people in his life. The book presents Vivekananda and Swami Vivekananda as two personalities that coexisting and conflicting, as is usually the case with everyone. Brings out and tries to dissect his personality more than focussing on his message. I guess the purpose of the book, being a biography, was more on bringing forth, presenting the man more than his message.
December 1, 2023
The book gives a nice balance between Swami Vivekananda's personal and public life.
Even though today many know him as a fiery and stoic person. This book gives us an insight into his sensitive heart and the mental anguishes regarding the duality of his life.
I enjoyed reading it!
Even though today many know him as a fiery and stoic person. This book gives us an insight into his sensitive heart and the mental anguishes regarding the duality of his life.
I enjoyed reading it!
December 8, 2019
Favorite on swamiji
January 29, 2022
Must read
March 17, 2022
Not a conventional biography, if that is what you seek. A bit too meandering and hagiographic.
April 1, 2022
What an amazing read; the author has given us his views adding to the said events. Read with an open mind, the words will touch your heart.
July 2, 2015
The life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda are brilliant. However, I found the authors style a little too academic. The book is rich in detail and has a footnote on every page. It is more of an encyclopedia than a normal book. The author laments the lack of detail in other books often. Many letters which Vivekananda wrote are included in the book and it is because of these that it stays interesting.
August 16, 2014
The facets of Swami Vivekanand's personality revealed through his brilliant letters have been meticulously analyzed by the author. The contrasts, the conflicts, the academic versatility and the relationships of Swamiji's evoke mixed feelings of awe, reverence, pity and love. In the author's words 'his life is to be felt' rather than read.
Read
September 26, 2016Too preachy, and very concerned about perception than truth.
August 25, 2022
A brilliant insight into the mind of a special one.
Read
June 27, 2017Truly speaks about Swami Vivekananda as living Vedanta , lucidly explains how life changed of many people and raises many question which are not answered in available biographies of Swamiji.
Read
November 12, 2017The book primarily talks about the various interactions that Swami had with various people at various points of life. It starts off with the interaction he had with Paramahamsa and how he shaped the future Swami into becoming what he became. Though it was well researched in terms of the various interactions he had with various western women and the correspondemces it throws little light on his actual teachings and does not delve into the vedanta aspects.
In a nutshell, its a book on the various interactions and correspondences he had with various people through his course of life.
In a nutshell, its a book on the various interactions and correspondences he had with various people through his course of life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews