b. CE 201 - Vivekananda: The Great Journey to the West by Romain Rolland
Channel: Ishan Marvel
Date: 23/09/2020

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTSoWRKkWJTYMu6FhrV9JzlNVJaRU4HeI
Romain Rolland (1866-1944)
* French novelist, dramatist and essayist who won the Nobel in 1915. Wrote a biography of Mahatma Gandhi (published in 1924). 
* Influenced by Vedant philosophy, i.e. belief in a universal divinity, parts of which live in every human soul, and which have been variously interpreted by different cultures and religions.

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)
* Renowned spiritual leader and reformer, disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
* Stressed the universal and humanistic aspects of the Veda -- the message that all religions are in essence the same.
* Against caste system -- called for a complete rejuvenation of India's national life in all aspects, and stressing the significance of education therein.
* He greatly valued Indian culture and spiritual traditions, but also wanted India to use Western ideas and technology to fight poverty and develop into a strong nation.
* Founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897, which continues to spread his and his Guru's philosophy to the world.

THE GREAT JOURNEY TO THE WEST
Rolland describes how young Vivekananda (aged 30) made his adventurous journey to Chicago to address the Parliament of Religions in 1893. He had neither sufficient funds nor any letters of recommendation, but he had a strong will and determination to mark his rightful attendance at the Parliament against all odds. 
When he finally did so, his speech had a fiery, spellbinding effect on the audience, as he presented Hinduism as the mother of all religions and expressed the essence of Hinduism to the West by emphasising its belief in universal brotherhood--that Gods of different religions are one--and in the unity of the human soul and the divine absolute.
Rolland describes it as 'The Great Journey to the West' because this was Vivekananda's first journey to the West, where though he found many things exciting and admirable, yet found it deficient in spirituality -- and also because he took the West the essence of Hinduism, which has greatly influenced the spirituality and religions of the entire East.

Vivekanandas's Address at the Parliament of Religions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIOtnn6meWA