Swami Vivekananda in World Parliament of Religions, Chicago in 9/11 1893 and New York Two in Towers Blast in 9/11 2001. The solution of Jihad and World unrest were exhorted by Swamiji 122 yrs back.
~ Upananda Brahmachari.
If we the Indian, American and the other people of this universe, would have pay heed to Swamiji’s Message delivered in Chicago on 9.11.1893, the terrible incident of 9.11.2001 in NY and others would not be happened anyway.
What a rare juxtaposition ever ignored under our vacant look and simmered such a sensations in front of everyday loss due the Fanatic Jihad and other social apartheid all around.
WELCOME ADDRESS BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA – Chicago, 9.11/1893.
The World Parliament of Religions, Chicago…
Sisters and Brothers of America,
“It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: ‘Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me’. Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal”.
Swami Vivekananda was fully aware of the nature of the fundamentalism in Semitic religions and especially in Islam. He warned many times to be strong enough against the perpetrators meant for the destruction of Dharma and to save the humanity in the light of Power in Love and Self Reliance, Fraternity and Service to the Mankind. But, the Barbaric Jihadists want to destroy all the basics of the Civil Society including Freedom of Speech, Practice of Other Religion, Democracy and the Universal Brotherhood. The Islamists only believe in Islamic Brother hood or the “Islamic Umma” and they ruthlessly use all its accumulated powers only to finish the disbelievers (Kaffirs) at any moment for ever.
On the very welcome address in Chicago Parliament of Religions on 9.11 in 1983, Swami Vivekanada was the only speaker to point out the Demonic Power of the Fundamental Fanaticism (read the red lined mentions above repeatedly) to usually run their Bulldozer over the humanity tantamount to the destruction of the civil society prematurely. Swami Vivekananda wanted to a use that platform of world congregation of various faiths to put the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions made with the sword (i.e. Islam) or with the pen (i.e. the charters of Evangelicalism) or by other means.
We did not hear him. We did not pay heed to Swamiji’s message in 9.11/1893 in Chicago, so happened 9.11/2001 New York & the other brutal consequences against modern days humanity. (The hinted points by Swami Vivekananda are very much relevant now for the solution of Jihad and other unrests tormenting the globe vehemently).
We welcome everybody to the peace in Sanatana Bharat, the real abode of freedom of Soul, the sphere of sharing all Self Consciousness and the land of sacrifice of self in the service of the irrespective of societal discrimination of humanity, unique flora and fauna of all encompass, world nature in Oneness.
No Conversion. No Conspiracy. No Sectarian out-looks. If we want to live further in a peace and amity excluding the wrath of Allah and fire of Islam, we have to fight against Terrible Jihad, unitedly. The message of Swami Vivekananda, the spirit of Vedanta and our resolute will power can surely be able to bow down and wipe out the bigot and barbaric Jihad in Islam or any type of evangelic apartheid. (If we think, interfaith dialogue and liberal forums are the solutions, the message of Swami Vivekananda delivered in Chicago is like a beam of light to remove the darkness of misunderstanding between different sects fighting each others. His message can give us a platform of unity and amity to place us under a genuine peace of fraternity and philanthropy).
This is an ardent message for the citizens of America and the others from a remote corner of India.
“The more selfish a man, the more immoral he is. And also with that race which is bound down to itself has been the most cruel and the most wicked in the whole world. There has not been a religion that has clung to this dualism more than that founded by the Prophet of Arabia (Mohammed), and there has not been a religion (Islam) which has shed so much blood and been so cruel to other men. In the Koran there is the doctrine that a man, who does not believe these teachings, should be killed; it is mercy to kill him! And the surest way to get to heaven, where there are beautiful ‘houries’ and all sort of sense-enjoyments, is by killing these unbelievers. Think of the bloodshed there has been in consequence of such beliefs (Islam)!”
[Part of the speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda in London on 18th Nov.1896. This has been published in ‘Practical Vedanta’ part 4. Pages 352-353 of volume 2 of ‘Complete works of Swami Vivekananda, ‘Mayavati Memorial edition, 1990 published by Advaita Ashrama, the Publication division of Ramkrishna Mission, located at 5 Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata-700014]
“One religion may ordain something very hideous. For instance, the Mohammedan (Islam) religion allows Mohammedans to kill all who are not of their religion. It is clearly stated in the Koran, “Kill the infidels if they do not become Mohammedans.” They must be put to fire and sword. Now if we tell a Mohammedan that this is wrong, he will naturally ask, “How do you know that? How do you know it is not good? My book says it is.”
[A part of the speech, given in London on 17th November, 1896, “Practical Vedanta’ Part III, p. 335; vol. 2 ibid.]
This is reproduced from Hindu Existence posting dt. September 12, 2011.