The Path of Action Celebrating Swami Vivekandanda.

The Path of ActionCelebrating Swami Vivekandanda

Gayatri Mantra: The Hymn of the Universe

Aum

Bhoor Bhuvah Swaha

Tat Savitur VarenyamBhargo Devasya

Dheemahi

Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

May the worlds bear

witness to my prayer

That adorable light onwhich the enlightened

meditate

May That illumine my intellect

The Life of Swami Vivekananda

Ajay Kshatriya

Birth in Kolkata

12 Jan 1863

1879Higher Learning

Guru and Disciple

1881-1886

1890-1892Wandering Monk

Meditation at the tip of India

24 Dec 1882

The life of Narendranath Datta

1893 Parliament of World Religions

Unity of all Existence

What is Unity?

As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of other bodies;

then you and I become separate.

All is the Self or Brahman. The saint, the sinner, the lamb, the tiger, even the murderer, as far as they have any reality, can be nothing else, because there is

nothing else.

What is Unity?

Prabhuji More Avagun

Indian Students Dance Group

O Lord, Look not upon my evil qualitiesThy name O Lord is Same SightednessSee in us both the same Brahman (Higher Self)

One piece of iron is in the image in the templeAnd another is the knife in the hands of a

butcherBut the philosopher’s stone knows not these

distinctions, Both alike turn to gold

One drop of water is in the sacred YamunaAnother is found in the ditch by the roadsideBut when they finally meet and flow as one

stream into the GangesBoth alike become holy

Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharoSamdarsi hai naam tihaaro, chaaho to paar

karo

Ik loha pooja mein raakhat, ik ghar vyadhik paro

Sau duvidha paaras nahi jaanat, kanchan karat kharo

Ik nadiya ik naar kahaavat, main lohi neer bhayo

Jab mili dono ek baran bhai, sur sari naam paro

Thy Name is Same Sightedness

Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharoO Lord, look not upon my evil qualities

Sama darsi hai naam tiharoThy name O Lord is Same Sightedness

Chaaho to paar karo If you want you can emancipate me

Ek loha pooja mein rakhatOne piece of iron in the deity in the temple

Ek ghar badhik paro And another is the knife in the hands of a butcher

Ek loha pooja mein rakhatOne piece of iron in the deity in the temple

Ek ghar badhik paro And another is the knife in the hands of a butcher

Sau doovidha paras nahin jaanat It matters not to the philosopher's stone

Kanchan kharat karoWhich turns both to gold

Ek nadiya ek naar kahaavatOne drop of water in the sacred Yamuna

Mailo hi neer bharo Another drop in the ditch by the roadside

Ek nadiya ek naar kahaavatOne drop of water in the sacred Yamuna

Mailo hi neer bharo Another drop in the ditch by the roadside

Jab mili dono ek baran bhaye But when they fall into the Ganga

Sur sari naav taroBoth alike become holy

Tan maya mey jo brahma kahaavat When a materially trapped being utters the name of Brahman

Kayan ko nirdhar kijiye Make the body a carrier of water

Kayan ko nirdhar kijiye

Kaipan jat taro

Realize this Unity“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within, by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all of these - and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details."

- Swami Vivekananada

You only control your action and not the results.

So be not motivated by results; nor be attached to inaction.

Bhagvad Gita, 2:47

The Path of Action (Karma Yoga)

Joyful Being

The Path of Action (Karma Yoga)

Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts on Social

Reform

Lauren Bausch

Vyadha Gita The Butcher’s Song

Introducing Interfaith Dialogue


“God is the thread that runs through all these pearls, and each pearl is a religion or even a sect thereof.”


“The idea that one man is born superior to another has no meaning in Vedanta (Hindu philosophy). Never judge the customs of other people by your own standards.”


“Who has given you the right to say that truth exists nowhere else but in the Vedas (the ancient books of the Hindus)?”


“Why should I tolerate? Toleration means that you are wrong and I am just allowing you”

Selfless Action in the Bahá'í Faith

James Threatt

Stanford Bahá'í Association

Breaking Out of The Lesser Self: Selfless Dedication to Others

Morghan Velez Young

World Peace Buddhists

How we view ourselves is reflected in how we see the world and how we treat others

Selfishness is often the flip side of a lack of self-identity.

Buddhism views altruism as an expression of one’s awakening to one’s true self and explains that it stems from compassion, appreciation and a sense of interconnection rather than insecurity.

The notion of the “four virtues of the Buddha” describes and encourages a holistic view of self, a view that transcends selfishness.


The Four Virtues: true self, eternity, happiness and purity

The original concept of these four virtues predates Buddhism. Atman–“the breath of life.”

Espoused by the Brahmans, supreme purpose of atman was to acquire wealth and honor. So, by making offerings to the deities, people sought worldly gains.

In his early teachings, Shakyamuni refuted the Brahmanic view of self and in his later teachings revealed a different perspective on the matter.

In his later teachings, Mahayana or “Greater Vehicle” teachings, especially in the Lotus and Nirvana sutras, Shakyamuni expounds an entirely new view of self.

The “Greater Self.”


Inner Reformation Mahayana Buddhism advocates the

inner reform to discard one’s lesser self and develop the greater self rooted in compassion.

Buddhas are those who are awakened to the greater self of compassion: they see that their lives are connected to others and the world around them.

Buddhas have genuine appreciation for others and are driven by their desire to contribute to the world around them.


Manifesting Our Innate Buddhahood

Revealing true self means to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, transform our perspectives, and expand our abilities to contribute to others’ happiness.

Manifesting our innate Buddhahood means shedding the lesser self of egotism.

By establishing our true self of Buddhahood, we come to understand, perhaps not intellectually but with our innermost heart, the eternity of life, and remain unswayed by our ever-changing circumstances while confidently challenging ourselves.

With a secure sense of self, we can even positively influence our environment.

Developing confidence in the Buddha nature as our true self.


True Selflessness Only through dedication to the happiness of others can we

break through our lesser self

Our bodhisattva practice is the cause for the Buddha’s four virtues to manifest in our lives

Their understanding of self is so encompassing that our own existence and the world around us becomes indistinguishable. A limited understanding of self, however, leads to egotism, bringing suffering and misery to both oneself and others.


The Hymn of Self-Awareness

Nahee Shurjo, Nahee Jyoti,

Nahee Shashanka Shundara

Bhaashey Brahmey Chaaya Shamo,

Chobi Bissho Charaa Charo

Ashfuto Mono Akaashey,

Jagato Sangshaaro Bhaashey

Oothey Bhaashey,

Dobey Punoh Aham Shatey Nirantaro

Dheerey Dheerey Chaaya Dolo,

Mahalaye Probeshilo

Bohey Dhaara “Aamee,” “Aamee,”

Eyee Dhaara Onushkhon

Sheyee Dharaao Boddho Holo,

Shunno Shunney Milaaeelo

Obang Mono Shogo Charam,

Bojhey Praano Bojhey Jaaro

Lo! The sun is not, Nor light,

Nor the comely moon,

In the great void of space,

Floats shadow-like the image Universe.

In the void of mind involute,

There floats the fleeting Universe,

Rises and floats, Sinks again, ceaseless, in the current "I"

Slowly, slowly, the shadow-multitude, Entered the primal womb,

And flowed, ceaseless, The only current, the "I am", "I am".

It is stopped, ev'n that current flows no more,

Void merged into void

Beyond speech and mind, Whose heart understands, he verily does

Selfless Action

Salman Latif

Islamic Society of Stanford University

Detached "Good Works"

Douglas MacKinnon

Devotee of Christ

The Song of the Karma Yogi

Triparna Bhattacharya

Aaji pronamey tomare cholibo,

natho songsaro kaje

Tumi amar noyone noyon rekho,

ontoro majhe

Hridoyo debota royecho prane, mono jeno taha niyoto jane,

Paaper chinta more jeno

dohi duhsoho laje

Sobo kolorobe sara dinoman,

suni onadi songeetogan

Sobaro songe jeno

obiroto tomaro songo raje

Nimeshe nimeshe noyone bochone,

sokol korme, sokol monone

Sokol hridoy tontre

jeno mongol baje

O Higher Self, today I surrender the

lower Self to you as I proceed to act

May you place your eyes in mine

Just as you reside in my heart

O God of my heartMay my mind always know your presence

May every thought of sin Burn in the flame of shame

In the ceaseless din of the world,

I hear the sacred music all the time

Be you with me

When I be with others

In every blink of the eye,

In every action and thought

In every part of my heart

May the sacred music play.

Judaism: Mitzvahs and the Art of

Giving

Ariel Dowling

Stanford Hillel

Judaism: Mitzvahs and the Art of Giving

Tzedakah

Judaism: Mitzvahs and the Art of Giving

Maimonides

The Legacy of Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vedananda

Vedanta Society of San Francisco

Vote of Thanks

Priyanka Sharma & Somik Raha

The Hindu Students Council

Closing PrayerSarve Bhavantu

Sukhinaha

Sarve Santu Niraamaya

Sarve Bhadrani Pashyantu

Maa Kaschit Dukhabhaag bhavet

AUM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTIHI

May ALL behappy

May ALL be free from Disease

May ALL see things auspicious

Many NONE be subjected to misery

Peace, Peace, PeaceBe unto us all

The Path of Action Celebrating Swami Vivekandanda.

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Transcript of The Path of Action Celebrating Swami Vivekandanda.