Vivekananda: Hindus, Buddhist and Jains
How can the Hindu, whose thoughts are centered on God, believe in Buddhism, which is agnostic?
Realization of the Bhagavad Gita Course
Reflection of Swami Vivekananda on Hindus, Buddhist and Jains.
In the following excerpt from Swami Vivekananda's speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 we can observe the influence of the Bhagavad Gita and Sri Ramakrishna (so many paths, so many religions). Vivekananda was an admirer of Christ or Buddha. He always defended the idea of the uniqueness of religions.
First let us remember verse 7 of Chapter 7 - The Yoga of Knowledge and Realization of Brahman of the Bhagavad Gita to verify the enormous influence that the Bhagavad Gita had on Swami Vivekananda:
«There is nothing greater than Myself, O Arjuna, the conqueror of wealth. Everything rests in Me, like gems strung on a thread” Gita 7-7 The Yoga of Knowledge and Realization of Brahman.
Swami Vivekananda posed the following question:
How can the Hindu, whose thought is centered on God, believe in Buddhism, which is agnostic, or in Jainism, which is atheist?
The Lord has declared to the Hindu in His incarnation as Krishna: “I am in all religions like the thread through a string of pearls. Wherever you see extraordinary holiness and extraordinary power elevating and purifying humanity, I am there.”
And what was the result?
I challenge the world to find, throughout the entire system of Sanskrit philosophy, some expression such as that only the Hindu will be saved and not others. Said Vyasa: “We find perfect men even beyond the limits of our caste and creed.”
So how can the Hindu, whose fabric of thought is centered on God, believe in Buddhism, which is agnostic, or Jainism, which is atheist?
Buddhists or Jains do not depend on God; but all the force of their religion is directed to the great central truth in every religion, developing a God from man. They have not seen the Father, but they have seen the Son. And whoever has seen the Son has also seen the Father..»
Source: Extract from Swami Vivekananda's speech on Hinduism at The World Parliament of Religions in Chicago (1893), translated by Pedro Nonell
What do you think?
To what extent do you accept people of other religions or beliefs?
Free E-Book: Life of Swami Vivekananda (summary)
Swami Vivekananda: hindúes, budistas 
Swami Vivekananda: hindus, budistas.
(c) Gita Institute
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