Here the ideas and views of Swamiji on religion are presented through his own quotaions; in his own words.

1. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
Shreya Thusoo
IDD (B.Tech-M.Tech), Student
Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT(BHU), Varanasi

2. Definition
of
Religion
o
o

3. “The term “Dharama” is related to “Dhr” meaning keeping together.
It is due to dharma that people live together. So, whatever keeps
people together is dharama. Dharama means the good of all.
Whatever benefits all is dharama. Dharama is prescribed to protect
from harm every living object. Every action which does not
bring harm to any one is itself dharama. He who always desires
the good of all and is whole-heartedly engaged in doing good to one
and all, O Jājilē! Is one who knows what dharam is. “
Mahabharata states-

4. Why do humans need religion?
Human mind always oscillates between two
conflicting tendencies which are evil and good
Religion helps us decide the
path to peace, prosperity and
tranquillity –
THE NOBLE PATH

5. “I am a good Hindu, because I am a
good Christian and a good Muslim.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
“All religions are essentially the same
in their goal of developing a good
human heart so that we may become
better human beings.”
-Dalai Lama
“So many religions are so many
different paths.”
-Sri Ramakrishna

6. LOVE
RIGHTEOUS
CONDUCT
KINDNESS
BENEVOLENCE
SHARING AND
CARING ATTITUDE
TRUTHFULNESS

7. Interpretations of Religion
Religion
GOD
Religious mortalities
( Texts, Spiritual Leaders and
Religious Practices)

8. India’s first global citizen
Most influential
interpreter of the Hindu
tradition to both India
and the West .
In His works
amalgamation of ideas
from east and west can
be seen.

9. Physics or chemistry
has no internal
mandate to vouch for
its truth, which
religion has.
*

10. o
“Man must realise God,
feel God, see God, talk
of God. That is
religion”
o

11. *
By studying the lives of all
great messengers, we find that
each was destined to play only
a part. Harmony consists in
the sum total, and not in one
note.

12. o
o
Swami Vivekananda was
always ready to receive
and share religious
wisdom from traditions
other than His own.

13. *
“God-ward passion and man-ward love.”

14. *
Swamiji wanted to propagate a
religion that would be equally
acceptable to all minds; which
must be equally philosophic,
equally emotional, equally mystic,
and equally conducive to his
action.

15. • Easy, simple, popular, and at the
same time meeting the requirements
of the highest minds.
• Have concrete moral forms.
• Relate to scientific and practical
psychology.
• Should be equally philosophic,
equally emotional, equally mystic.

16. *
A person with all the
elements of philosophy,
mysticism, emotion, and of
work equally present in full
in him.

17. “In trying to
practise religion,
eighty per cent of
people turn cheats,
and about fifteen
per cent go mad;
only the remaining
five per cent
attain the
immediate
knowledge of the

18. [1] The Chambers Dictionary, Chambers.
[2] Religion; Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
[3] The Gita and The Quran by Pandit Sunderlal,Pilgrims Publishing
[4] Teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Advita Ashrama Publication Department
[5] Human Values by A.N. Tripathi, 3rd edition, New Age International Publishers
[6] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 1 by Swami
Ranganathananda
[7] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 2 by Swami Ranganathananda
[8] Universal Message of The Bhagavad Gita; Vol 3 by Swami Ranganathananda
[9] The Compelete Works of Swami Vivekanada: (a)-13th edition, (b)-9th edition
[10] Meditation and its Methods- swami Vivekananda, Advita Ashrama Publication
Department

19. THANK YOU