A Hindu Vision of Religious Cosmopolitanism | Swami Medhananda

Swami Medhananda presents a Hindu vision of religious cosmopolitanism, theologizing with Sri Ramakrishna & Swami Vivekananda. This talk, originally presented at the Harvard Divinity School in April 2024, is being cross-posted here with kind permission from / @harvardcswrfrom , with all credit to Harvard Divinity School (HDS) Center for Study of World Religions.
Swami Medhananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and an academic philosopher, currently serving as Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy at the Vedanta Society of Southern California in Hollywood. He is also the Hindu Chaplain at UCLA and the University of Southern California.
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ABOUT VEDANTA
Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions.
ABOUT US
Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

[@infiniteone11]

It was a different audience and atmosphere from his usual talks. He handled the pressure admirably and gave an exceptional presentation. Thank you.

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

THE TRUTH ABOUT "SWAMI" VIVEKANANDA & THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION: Some of the following three points apply to practically any "religious" organization, not only to the Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society. Nota bene: I refer to the founder of that pseudo-religious organization by his proper name, Mr. Narendranath Datta, and NOT the name by which he is addressed by the deluded fanatics who follow him, "Swami Vivekananda", for reasons that should become obvious when reading the following. 1. A spiritual master ought to be a member of the Holy Priesthood (that is, the "brāhmaṇa" class of society, usually wrongly transliterated as "Brahmin"). Mr. Datta was a member of the working-class ("śūdra", in Sanskrit), since he failed to exhibit key characteristics of a genuine brāhmaṇa. Firstly, he was a drug addict (he died at a young age, due to lung cancer caused by chain smoking tobacco). 🚬 Secondly, he was a carnist. A carnist is a person who considers animals unworthy of moral protection (he virtually suckled on the teats of cows, thus causing undue harm to both himself, to the cows from whom he stole their milk, and of course the poor, innocent calves, who were robbed of their food). 🍼 🐄 🥛 In order to learn of the prerequisites for being a TRUE BRĀHMAṆA, email me for a copy of the Holiest of All Holy Scriptures, "A Final Instruction Sheet for Humanity" ("FISH"). 2. The Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society condones the two MOST PERNICIOUS institutions in the history of the planet - democracy and feminism. There is insufficient space in this comment section to properly explicate the reasons why democracy (or, for that matter, any system of non-monarchical governance) and feminism are so adharmic and evil, so, if you are one of the very few souls who is desirous of understanding my reason for stating the above, you should find my Email address in the "About" page of my KZbin channel. 3. Because, as mentioned previously, Mr. Datta was an ultra-fundamentalist pseudo-religious fanatic, and an ignorant "śūdra", none of his disciples and grand-disciples, et cetera, can ever attain to self-realization, for as Lord Jesus Christ rightly stated two millennia ago, "A student can never be greater than his teacher". Therefore, if one has ambition to become even more "realized" than Mr. Datta, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that he seek training from a guru who is on a higher state of spiritual understanding and realization than Mr. Datta, or any of the current Ramakrishna Mission "sannyasins". Just to provide a couple of examples for the above accusation, the current head of the Advaita Society of New York, Mr. Vishvarupa (so-called "Swami" Sarvapriyānanda) is a self-confessed candāla (dog-eater), since he consumes the bloody carcasses of poor, innocent animals, and of course, as a member of that demonic organization, he promulgates the second-most pernicious institution in history (feminism). Furthermore, the British woman who hosts his KZbin channel, Diane Crafford, according to her Facebook profile picture, condones not only unjustified animal slaughter, but she supports the murder of even poor, innocent, defenseless, unborn humans. 👿 In order to study dharma and yoga with the current World Teacher Himself, search for "Jagadguru Svami Vegananda" in Facebook. 😇 सत्यमेव जयते! 😇

[@semag4595]

Wonderful, talk loved it

[@br.govinda]

Brahma-Śakti satyam, jagat satyam Brahma-Śakti is real, and the world is a real manifestation of Śakti. A beautiful teaching. I am excited to know what this wonderful online community think about this unique teaching?

[@nsamant20]

It is a very profound teaching, and thereby suited for advanced spiritual practitioners, and of course it is a spontaneous expression of a Vijnani (the one higher than even the Brahman-Jnani). According to my humble opinion, the novice should start with Jagat Mithya since he is already immersed in the quagmire of worldliness due to mental conditioning and having materialistic tendencies accrued over many lifetimes. Otherwise, discernment (viveka)- the first and indispensable step towards spiritual Sadhana is not possible, to start with. There is a high possibility of complacency on the part of many novices (most of us are novices, very few advance far enough).

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

Don't believe everything you READ. 📖 Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@estelleschmid]

Wonderful talk, thank you so much .. especially from min 35' on ...🕉️☯️♾️🕎✝️💟 🙏🌿

[@SGH1111]

LOVE this ❤

[@laika5757]

Advaita and meditation changed my life for the better. I wish more people indulge in this Path..🙏

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

Good Girl! 👌 Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@RadhaGupta]

Nice presentation

[@anagha.aniruddha16]

॥जय श्रीरामकृष्ण|| 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Medhanandaji Maharaj 🙏🏻

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

MAHARAJ??🤔 Over which kingdom does that "GREAT KING" rule? 👑 THE TRUTH ABOUT "SWAMI" VIVEKANANDA & THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION: Some of the following three points apply to practically any "religious" organization, not only to the Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society. Nota bene: I refer to the founder of that pseudo-religious organization by his proper name, Mr. Narendranath Datta, and NOT the name by which he is addressed by the deluded fanatics who follow him, "Swami Vivekananda", for reasons that should become obvious when reading the following. 1. A spiritual master ought to be a member of the Holy Priesthood (that is, the "brāhmaṇa" class of society, usually wrongly transliterated as "Brahmin"). Mr. Datta was a member of the working-class ("śūdra", in Sanskrit), since he failed to exhibit key characteristics of a genuine brāhmaṇa. Firstly, he was a drug addict (he died at a young age, due to lung cancer caused by chain smoking tobacco). 🚬 Secondly, he was a carnist. A carnist is a person who considers animals unworthy of moral protection (he virtually suckled on the teats of cows, thus causing undue harm to both himself, to the cows from whom he stole their milk, and of course the poor, innocent calves, who were robbed of their food). 🍼 🐄 🥛 In order to learn of the prerequisites for being a TRUE BRĀHMAṆA, email me for a copy of the Holiest of All Holy Scriptures, "A Final Instruction Sheet for Humanity" ("FISH"). 2. The Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society condones the two MOST PERNICIOUS institutions in the history of the planet - democracy and feminism. There is insufficient space in this comment section to properly explicate the reasons why democracy (or, for that matter, any system of non-monarchical governance) and feminism are so adharmic and evil, so, if you are one of the very few souls who is desirous of understanding my reason for stating the above, you should find my Email address in the "About" page of my KZbin channel. 3. Because, as mentioned previously, Mr. Datta was an ultra-fundamentalist pseudo-religious fanatic, and an ignorant "śūdra", none of his disciples and grand-disciples, et cetera, can ever attain to self-realization, for as Lord Jesus Christ rightly stated two millennia ago, "A student can never be greater than his teacher". Therefore, if one has ambition to become even more "realized" than Mr. Datta, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that he seek training from a guru who is on a higher state of spiritual understanding and realization than Mr. Datta, or any of the current Ramakrishna Mission "sannyasins". Just to provide a couple of examples for the above accusation, the current head of the Advaita Society of New York, Mr. Vishvarupa (so-called "Swami" Sarvapriyānanda) is a self-confessed candāla (dog-eater), since he consumes the bloody carcasses of poor, innocent animals, and of course, as a member of that demonic organization, he promulgates the second-most pernicious institution in history (feminism). Furthermore, the British woman who hosts his KZbin channel, Diane Crafford, according to her Facebook profile picture, condones not only unjustified animal slaughter, but she supports the murder of even poor, innocent, defenseless, unborn humans. 👿 In order to study dharma and yoga with the current World Teacher Himself, search for "Jagadguru Svami Vegananda" in Facebook. 😇 सत्यमेव जयते! 😇

[@PavaniGanga]

💛🙏💛

[@Pallasathena-hv4kp]

Pranam, Swami 🙏 Jai Sri Ramakrishna 🌺Jai Ma 🌺 Jai Swamiji 🌺😊🙏

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

THE TRUTH ABOUT "SWAMI" VIVEKANANDA & THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION: Some of the following three points apply to practically any "religious" organization, not only to the Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society. Nota bene: I refer to the founder of that pseudo-religious organization by his proper name, Mr. Narendranath Datta, and NOT the name by which he is addressed by the deluded fanatics who follow him, "Swami Vivekananda", for reasons that should become obvious when reading the following. 1. A spiritual master ought to be a member of the Holy Priesthood (that is, the "brāhmaṇa" class of society, usually wrongly transliterated as "Brahmin"). Mr. Datta was a member of the working-class ("śūdra", in Sanskrit), since he failed to exhibit key characteristics of a genuine brāhmaṇa. Firstly, he was a drug addict (he died at a young age, due to lung cancer caused by chain smoking tobacco). 🚬 Secondly, he was a carnist. A carnist is a person who considers animals unworthy of moral protection (he virtually suckled on the teats of cows, thus causing undue harm to both himself, to the cows from whom he stole their milk, and of course the poor, innocent calves, who were robbed of their food). 🍼 🐄 🥛 In order to learn of the prerequisites for being a TRUE BRĀHMAṆA, email me for a copy of the Holiest of All Holy Scriptures, "A Final Instruction Sheet for Humanity" ("FISH"). 2. The Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society condones the two MOST PERNICIOUS institutions in the history of the planet - democracy and feminism. There is insufficient space in this comment section to properly explicate the reasons why democracy (or, for that matter, any system of non-monarchical governance) and feminism are so adharmic and evil, so, if you are one of the very few souls who is desirous of understanding my reason for stating the above, you should find my Email address in the "About" page of my KZbin channel. 3. Because, as mentioned previously, Mr. Datta was an ultra-fundamentalist pseudo-religious fanatic, and an ignorant "śūdra", none of his disciples and grand-disciples, et cetera, can ever attain to self-realization, for as Lord Jesus Christ rightly stated two millennia ago, "A student can never be greater than his teacher". Therefore, if one has ambition to become even more "realized" than Mr. Datta, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that he seek training from a guru who is on a higher state of spiritual understanding and realization than Mr. Datta, or any of the current Ramakrishna Mission "sannyasins". Just to provide a couple of examples for the above accusation, the current head of the Advaita Society of New York, Mr. Vishvarupa (so-called "Swami" Sarvapriyānanda) is a self-confessed candāla (dog-eater), since he consumes the bloody carcasses of poor, innocent animals, and of course, as a member of that demonic organization, he promulgates the second-most pernicious institution in history (feminism). Furthermore, the British woman who hosts his KZbin channel, Diane Crafford, according to her Facebook profile picture, condones not only unjustified animal slaughter, but she supports the murder of even poor, innocent, defenseless, unborn humans. 👿 In order to study dharma and yoga with the current World Teacher Himself, search for "Jagadguru Svami Vegananda" in Facebook. 😇 सत्यमेव जयते! 😇

[@sumitdutta7043]

​@@JagadguruSvamiVeganandaagain you started doing notanki.

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

@@sumitdutta7043, kindly repeat that in ENGLISH, Miss.☝️ Incidentally, Slave, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@marides1479]

Just be humble❤

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

What you have written presupposes freedom of volition. ☝🏼 However, it is a demonstrable scientific fact, that EVERY thought, action, and motion that has occurred in the phenomenal universe, was entirely determined by every preceding action, all the way back to the “Big Bang” singularity event. 🤓

[@startreck1673]

🙏🙏

[@damarubhatta]

All the religions can never be the same.

[@sumitdutta7043]

Yes they are not I think you haven't even listened the videos unbiasedly.

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

In your own words, define “RELIGION”. ☝️🤔☝️

[@sagar696]

36:36 counted karma yoga twice

[@sumitdutta7043]

Yeah one should be Raja Yoga

[@JagadguruSvamiVegananda]

THE TRUTH ABOUT "SWAMI" VIVEKANANDA & THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION: Some of the following three points apply to practically any "religious" organization, not only to the Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society. Nota bene: I refer to the founder of that pseudo-religious organization by his proper name, Mr. Narendranath Datta, and NOT the name by which he is addressed by the deluded fanatics who follow him, "Swami Vivekananda", for reasons that should become obvious when reading the following. 1. A spiritual master ought to be a member of the Holy Priesthood (that is, the "brāhmaṇa" class of society, usually wrongly transliterated as "Brahmin"). Mr. Datta was a member of the working-class ("śūdra", in Sanskrit), since he failed to exhibit key characteristics of a genuine brāhmaṇa. Firstly, he was a drug addict (he died at a young age, due to lung cancer caused by chain smoking tobacco). 🚬 Secondly, he was a carnist. A carnist is a person who considers animals unworthy of moral protection (he virtually suckled on the teats of cows, thus causing undue harm to both himself, to the cows from whom he stole their milk, and of course the poor, innocent calves, who were robbed of their food). 🍼 🐄 🥛 In order to learn of the prerequisites for being a TRUE BRĀHMAṆA, email me for a copy of the Holiest of All Holy Scriptures, "A Final Instruction Sheet for Humanity" ("FISH"). 2. The Ramakrishna Mission/Vedanta Society condones the two MOST PERNICIOUS institutions in the history of the planet - democracy and feminism. There is insufficient space in this comment section to properly explicate the reasons why democracy (or, for that matter, any system of non-monarchical governance) and feminism are so adharmic and evil, so, if you are one of the very few souls who is desirous of understanding my reason for stating the above, you should find my Email address in the "About" page of my KZbin channel. 3. Because, as mentioned previously, Mr. Datta was an ultra-fundamentalist pseudo-religious fanatic, and an ignorant "śūdra", none of his disciples and grand-disciples, et cetera, can ever attain to self-realization, for as Lord Jesus Christ rightly stated two millennia ago, "A student can never be greater than his teacher". Therefore, if one has ambition to become even more "realized" than Mr. Datta, it is ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE that he seek training from a guru who is on a higher state of spiritual understanding and realization than Mr. Datta, or any of the current Ramakrishna Mission "sannyasins". Just to provide a couple of examples for the above accusation, the current head of the Advaita Society of New York, Mr. Vishvarupa (so-called "Swami" Sarvapriyānanda) is a self-confessed candāla (dog-eater), since he consumes the bloody carcasses of poor, innocent animals, and of course, as a member of that demonic organization, he promulgates the second-most pernicious institution in history (feminism). Furthermore, the British woman who hosts his KZbin channel, Diane Crafford, according to her Facebook profile picture, condones not only unjustified animal slaughter, but she supports the murder of even poor, innocent, defenseless, unborn humans. 👿 In order to study dharma and yoga with the current World Teacher Himself, search for "Jagadguru Svami Vegananda" in Facebook. 😇 सत्यमेव जयते! 😇

[@bhaswatibhattacharya860]

When Shankaracharya says 'jagat mithya' doesn't mean jagat unreal per say. What he meant that jagat is transient, ever changing. Only Brramhan remains unchanged and hence Bramha alone is true. This is as per my very limited and naive understanding. In deep introspection, hardly find any serious contradiction. We hv to be more accommodative and discerning with the terms.