Beej No.

14 :: 4 / October 2016

Analysis by an American Mystic

Swami Vivekananda had said that religion is in being and becoming and not in just believing. Dr.David Frawley an
American Scholar and a mystic explains this on the basis of understanding of God in Vedanta and the Abrahamic
religions. Some excerpts from it.

Hindu Dharma nds its summary in the great statements translated as Everything is God, equated with pantheism or
(Mahavakyas) of Vedanta, as taught in the Upanishads over nature worship in the views of western religious scholars. The
three thousand years ago. These statements reect the correct understanding of it is that everything in the universe is a
essential message of Hindu Dharma with its focus on Self- manifestation of a Universal Consciousness of Being-
knowledge, higher consciousness and universal truth. Consciousness-Bliss Absolute, inherently one with it like the
In this article, we will examine two of these great Vedantic waves with the sea.
statements relative to the primary statements of faith in Not only is Brahman the Self of each individual, it is also the
Christianity and Islam. These two main Vedantic statements Being of the entire universe. The Self that is Brahman
are: pervades all. It can be realized within the hearts of each one of
Aham Brahmasmi I am Brahman us through Yoga and meditation. The entire universe dwells
Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma EverythAing is Brahman within us as our own Self, and our inmost Self extends
Brahman is a term that is often translated as God or Godhead. throughout the entire world. This teaching is also rare in other
It includes both the aspect of the Divine nature as the ruling spiritual traditions, particularly monotheistic traditions that
intelligence behind the universe, the
creator, preserver and dissolver of all,
called Ishvara; and the transcendent
Absolute beyond all manifestation.
Brahman is further dened as Sat-Chit-
Ananda or Being-Consciousness-Bliss
Absolute.
The word Aham - I here does not refer to
the bodily self or to the mental self, not
even to the soul in its individual nature. It
refers to the core of our being, the inner
Self, the witness that stands beyond body
and mind, time and space. That inner
witness consciousness is one with the
transcendent Brahman.
Some scholars translate Aham
Brahmasmi as I am God, without dening
either term properly. The Upanishads
have a related statement Ayam Atma
Brahma this Self is Brahman. It is not the
separate the Divine from the world.
ordinary I or self that is Brahman but the I in itself, the pure I
Christianity's corresponding prime statement is Jesus is the
before its identication with any object, quality or identity. Only Son of God, and the corollary that salvation, virtue and
Hindu Dharma is not content to proclaim the existence of any removal of sin is only possible by belief in Jesus. The goal of
Supreme Being and its rulership over all. It takes us further to Christianity is to go to Heaven after death and dwell in the
recognizing that the Supreme Being and our innermost Self are company of Jesus. There is in this Christian statement of the
one. Though various mystics have hinted at such a state of supremacy of Jesus no recognition of any Self or Atman as the
unity, in Vedanta and Hindu Dharma it forms the foundation unity of all. The Divine is reduced to a supposed historical
teaching, presented in a clear and comprehensive manner. person who saves us by proxy, not by our own efforts. Our
The second statement Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma is often belief is required but not any change of consciousness, much

less a search for Self-realization.
Islam's great statement is Allahu Akbar, meaning God is
Great or God is Greater. Islam emphasizes the supremacy Today there is a new study of the mind and consciousness
and absolute power of Allah, who nevertheless has personal
preferences, prophets and a special community of true
believers.
Islam not only requires belief in Allah, but recognition of
Mohammed as the last prophet. The need for Mohammed
brings in a personal and historical dimension to the religion just
as in the case of Christianity. There is in this Islamic statement
of the supremacy of Allah no sense of any One Self in all
beings, much less a universal reality of Brahman or Being-
Consciousness-Bliss Absolute beyond all beliefs.
Christianity and Islam similarly do not embrace the law of
karma and rebirth that is the necessary basis for
understanding the Self and the process of its realization.
These prime statements of Christianity and Islam, and the
emotions generated by them, deeply color the religions, their
practices and the behavior they instill in their followers. As
these religions contain no overt recognition of a Universal Self
within us, their main focus is outward and results in efforts to
convert or conquer the world as the goal of their religious
Bhagini Nivedita A Great Visionary in the Spread of
Women's Education in India
Sister Nivedita
Beej No.14 :: 4 / October 2016
striving. Self-knowledge is peripheral to these monotheistic
religions.
through science and Dharmic traditions. We are learning
that faith and belief are often forms of wishful thinking that
can be misleading. They are conditioning factors that can
promote misunderstanding and conict. For true
awareness, the practice of meditation is required. True
spirituality is a way of Self-knowledge, not a religious belief
that is blind or one-sided, insisting on an exclusive belief.
The great sayings of Vedanta and its path of Self-realization
take us beyond all belief systems. Unfortunately, the loss of
various cultural traditions are reducing the option of realizing
the Self and living life in harmony with all. If such loss of
culture continues then the path of Self-realization in the
world, which is the highest call of our species, may become
further obscured.
Author: Dr. David Frawley
Source: http://www.hindupost.in/society-culture/hindu-self-
realization-versus-christian-islamic-dogma/
Swami Vivekananda dreamt of empowering the women of
India. To him, a civilization would remain crippled, if women
were not involved in its march towards progress. He said that
a bird cannot y 'only on one wing'.
Nivedita's meeting with Swami Vivekananda in London in
1895, marked the beginning of a new history. Swamiji found
in her 'a real lioness' who could work for India, especially for
women. The great vision of Swamiji inspired Miss Noble to
set off for a long journey to an unknown land. She landed in
Calcutta on 28th January 1898. Her self-sacricing services
for the next few years in her adopted homeland earned her
the epithet of 'Lok Mata'. She was named as 'Nivedita', the
'dedicated soul,' by her Guru Swami Vivekananda.
Nivedita made vigorous efforts to know India, her
'Karmabhumi', and be an Indian to the core. She was a great
upholder of Indian values and traditions. She strongly
believed that people of the country should receive 'true
education' or 'national education' to become sons and
daughters of Bharatvarsha and not 'poor copies of Europe.'
For the upliftment of Indian women, Nivedita never wanted
to impose western values and way of life on them. She
believed India being 'a land of great women', should not
discard their old-time grace and sweetness, the gentleness
and piety in favour of western information and social
aggressiveness. Nivedita was very clear in her mind that
western education should not be imposed on Indian women.
Shortly after her arrival in India, she was asked by
Rabindranath Tagore to take charge of his younger
daughter's education through English medium. But Nivedita
declined and was of the view that there was no good 'in

imposing foreign ideals and standards' on Indian women
and she had not come to teach Indian women the English
language and culture.
Pioneer with a Difference
Nivedita initiated a nationalistic education for Indian girls.
She made a humble beginning on 13th November in 1898,
on Kali Puja day with a few girls on the roll. She had to literally
move from door to door to beg for students from the orthodox
neighbourhood. She had the grand vision of her school
producing modern day Maitreyis and Gargis. Running the
school and meeting its day-to-day
expenses were not an easy task.
Nivedita was forced to close the school
soon due to acute nancial hardship and
head for the West with Swamiji on
lecture tour to garner nancial support.
In February 1902, Nivedita re-opened
her school. She chose Saraswati puja
day, an important day in the calendar of
festivities, especially for students. From
then onwards, celebration of Saraswati
puja became an annual event in the
school. Initially, the girls had some
inhibitions about Sister's participation in
the puja but her enthusiasm and
keenness broke all barriers down.
Nivedita's experience of teaching in the
West and her deep respect for India and
its age-old values, helped her nd a
unique way of teaching suited to the
Indian situation. She introduced the
Kindergarten system in which lessons
were imparted in the mode of play. She
would receive each of them with folded
hands. They were her 'little goddesses'.
Nivedita would teach her students
conventional subjects such as, Bengali,
English, Arithmetic, Geography and History and also expose
them to sundry vocational work such as, clay-modelling, mat
weaving, paper-cutting, sewing and other handicarfts.
Physical exercises and the basic rules of hygiene were also
part of the curricula in her school. Nivedita was fully aware of
the contemporary realities in Hindu society and used to take
special care of Hindu widows as her students. On many
occasions, she would nd them reaching school without
food. Nivedita would feed them rst. She envisioned a
greater role for them. Her plan was that they should be
groomed to work as 'educational missionaries'. She had the
foresight of making them torch-bearers to touch the lives of
many with light of education. Her exhortations are as
inspiring as they are insightful. She said, Today our country
is in a sore plight. And in a special manner she calls on her
daughters at the moment to come forward, as those in the
ages before, to aid her with a great shraddha. How shall this
be done? - we are all asking. In the rst place let Hindu
mothers renew in their sons the thirst for Brahmacharya
without which our nation is short of her ancient strength. No
country in the world has an ideal of the student's life so high
as in this country and if it be allowed to die out of India, where
Beej No.14 :: 4 / October 2016
shall the world look to restore it? In Brahmacharya is the
secret of all strength, all greatness. Let every mother
determine that her sons shall be great!
Fanning the Sparks of Nationalistic Fervour
The school activities were seeped in nationalistic fervour.
When singing 'Vande Mataram' was banned in the country,
Nivedita made it the daily opening prayer song in her
school. Nivedita wanted her school to be the nucleus of the
'grand educational movement' and her students to imbibe
the spirit of nationalism. The British Government's freeing
some political prisoners from the Andaman jail
was an occasion to celebrate in her school.
The colonial inuence on students used to
disturb Nivedita immensely. Nivedita was
distraught when her students replied that the
queen of India was Queen Victoria. She was
keen to instill a sense of pride about vernacular
languages in her students.
Nivedita laid the foundation of adult education
and vocational training in the country. She
opened a Women's section on 2nd November,
1903 for the local women with a exible timing
in the afternoon when the women would be
free from household work. They were taught
the basics of reading and writing, of studying
the scriptures and various types of handiwork.
The teaching of handicarfts was to enable
them to earn a living even while being at home.
She had the larger picture in mind on the
revival of the old Indian industries with her
students contributing to it.
Empowering Women along National Lines
Nivedita was fascinated with the great Indian
epics and Indian history. She used to take her
students through the pages of Indian history
and talk about great women legends. She
writes, In all lands holiness and strength are treasures
which the race places in the hands of woman to preserve,
rather than in those of man. A few men here and there
become great teachers, but most have to spend their days
in toil for the wining of the bread. It is in the home that these
renew their inspiration and their faith and insight, and the
greatness of the home lies in the tapasya of women.
She was never conned to school hours or the students of
her school. In the evening hours, Nivedita would invite the
local women and hold meetings, organise recitation from
the Chandi, the puranas and other scriptures. Nivedita, and
her companion Sister Christine, would sit on one side of the
courtyard with the small girls and the women behind a
screen. Nivedita stood apart from contemporary Christian
Missionaries. Her unique initiatives in the eld of adult
education, vocational training, and education with
nationalistic fervour had made her a pioneer in the area of
women's empowerment. Her deep respect for India and the
greatness of Indian women made her acceptable to one
and all.
By- Archana Dutta. Courtesy- Samvit
 Beej No.14 :: 4 / October 2016

It is easier to criticize
Once upon a time, a painter completed his course under a
great painter. This young artist decided to assess his skills. He
took 3 days and painted beautiful scenery. He wanted
people's opinion about his caliber and painting skills.
He put his creation at a busy street-crossing. And just down
below a board which read-"Gentlemen, I have painted this
piece. Since I'm new to this profession I might have committed
some mistakes in my strokes etc. Please put a cross wherever
you see a mistake.
While he came back in the evening to collect his
painting he was completely shattered to see that
whole canvass was lled with Xs (crosses) and
some people had even written their comments
on the painting.
Disheartened and broken completely he ran to
his master's place and burst into tears. Sobbing
and crying he told his master about what
happened. This young artist was breathing
heavily. Master smiled and suggested, "My Son,
I will prove that you are a great artist and have
learnt a awless painting." Young disciple could not believe it
and said "I have lost faith in me and I don't think I am good
enough. Don't make false hopes..
"Do as I say without questioning it. It WILL work." Master
interrupted him.
Young artist reluctantly agreed and two days later early
morning, he presented a replica of his earlier painting to his
master. Master took that gracefully and smiled.
"Come with me." master said.
They reached the same street-square early morning and
displayed the same painting exactly at the same place. Now
master took out another board, which read -"Gentlemen, I
have painted this piece. Since I'm new to this
profession I might have committed some
mistakes in my strokes etc. I have put a box with
colors and brushes just below. Please do a favor.
If you see a mistake, kindly pick up the brush and
correct it." Master and disciple walked back
home.
They both visited the place same evening.
Young painter was surprised to see that actually
there was not a single correction done so far.
Next day again they visited and found painting
remained untouched!
It is easier to criticize, but difcult to improve. If we only keep
on saying what is wrong with our society or nation we cannot
improve. We have to nd out what needs to be done. Then
practice that to bring improvement.

Dharmabeej Quiz
1. What is the full form of ISRO?
2. How many foreign satellites did ISRO launch on 22 June 2016?
3. Name any 3 Hindu festivals celebrated in Singapore.
4. Which are the 4 places where Kumbh Mela is held at every 12 years?
5. According to Swami Vivekananda, why internationalism can't exist without nationalism?
Answers to this quiz along with your name, address and photo be sent by email to: dharmabeej@gmail.com

The winner of the last quiz

SUNIL LUHAR
MEDTA, NAGAUR, RAJASTHAN

Strength, strength is what the Upanishads speak to me from every page. This is the one great thing to
remember, it has been the one great lesson I have been taught in my life; strength, it says, strength, O
man, be not weak. Are there no human weaknesses? says man. There are, say the Upanishads, but
will more weakness heal them, would you try to wash dirt with dirt? Will sin cure sin, weakness cure
weakness? Strength, O man, strength, say the Upanishads, stand up and be strong.
-Swami Vivekananda