SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

 SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

I stumbled on this book in 1972, at a library/book shop in Guyana, which was going out of business. At that time, during my formative educational life, I yearned for expansive knowledge in the religions of the world, primarily, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam. 


I was born a Hindu and learnt about its teachings through my mother, the local pandit, and reading the Gita, Ramayana, and some of the Vedas. Christianity came to me during my high school days, and discussions with my relatives, many of whom are Christians. I also read parts of the Koran during my teenage years. Through personal inspiration and revelations I became a Christian, following the teachings of Jesus, just after graduating from high school.


In 1972 when I read Vivekananda's 'What Religion Is' a whole new understanding of religion was opened up to me. You are god he says! This was easy to understand, since I already believed in Jesus, when he says that the kingdom of heaven is within you.


I brought this book to the USA when I migrated, permanently, in 1986. It was taken from me,on loan, in the 90's, in Queens, New York. It was never returned!  Just bought it again, from Amazon. It's a book I could read over, and over!


Vivekananda was born in 1863 and died in 1902. His birth name was Narendranath Datta, which was charged to Swami Vivekananda when he achieved samadhi. He was offered jobs at Harvard and Columbia, which he refused because he wanted to spread his message of self realization and live as a monk.

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