Yoga journey of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh

Dr. Rajesh Manik

Department of Yoga Sciences, Kalinga University, Raipur, C.G, India

Corresponding Author: rajesh.manik@kalingauniversity.ac.in)

Introduction

Swami Vivekananda was a spiritual leader and one of the most influential figures in modern Hinduism. He was born into a wealthy family in Calcutta, India in 1863 [1]. He studied Vedanta philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita and was deeply influenced by his spiritual teacher, Sri Ramakrishna. He became an influential figure in the revival of Hinduism and the spread of yoga in the West. He travelled to the United States in 1893 and gave lectures on Indian philosophy and religion at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 and wrote several books on yoga and Vedanta philosophy.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was another influential figure in modern Hinduism[5]. He was born in 1872 in Calcutta, India and studied at Cambridge University in England. He returned to India and was influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. He was a leader of the Indian independence movement and wrote several books on yoga and Vedanta philosophy. He developed his own system of Integral Yoga, which combines meditation, physical exercise, and ethical practices. He established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India in 1926 and wrote extensively about yoga, spirituality, and philosophy. He died in 1950.

Yoga teachings

Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh are two of the most influential yogic teachers in modern times. They have both left lasting impressions on the world of yoga and spirituality, and their teachings have been instrumental in shaping the practice of yoga today. Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa [2, 3], and he is credited with introducing the philosophy of Vedanta and Yoga to the West. He was a passionate advocate for the dissemination of yoga, and he spread the message of yoga throughout India by lecturing in cities and villages. He believed that yoga was the way to attain liberation from suffering and to experience oneness with the divine. He taught that it was important to practice meditation and to develop a deep inner awareness of the body and mind. He also stressed the importance of selfless service and the cultivation of moral values.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was a spiritual leader and yogic master who was heavily influenced by the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita. He developed a unique form of Integral Yoga, which focused on the integration of all aspects of the individual—body, mind and spirit. He believed that yoga was a path towards spiritual enlightenment and the realization of one’s true nature. Sri Aurobindo taught that the practice of yoga should involve a combination of physical and mental practices, including meditation, chanting, and asanas. He also emphasized the need to develop a sense of detachment and surrender to divine will. Both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo Ghosh have contributed significantly to the development of modern yoga [4, 5, 6]. Their teachings have been instrumental in spreading the message of yoga and its importance to humanity. Their teachings have been adopted and adapted by many modern yoga practitioners, and they have helped to make yoga accessible to people from all walks of life. Their teachings have been a source of inspiration and guidance for many, and they continue to influence yoga today.

Figure1. Portrait of Swami Vivekananda

Figure2. Portrait of Sri Aurobindo

Similarities between both the teachers

1. Both Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Swami Vivekanand were influential spiritual leaders of India.
2. Both of them advocated for social reforms and spiritual awakening in India.
3. Both of them were against the caste system in India and worked towards creating a society free of discrimination.
4. They both had a great interest in Indian philosophies and cultures and worked to promote them.
5. Both were strong proponents of education and believed that education was key to the growth of India.
6. Both were strong believers in the power of meditation and yoga and used it to guide their lives.

Dissimilarities between both the teachers

1. Philosophical Viewpoints:Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was an Indian philosopher and yogi who developed a spiritual philosophy based on Vedic and Upanishadic teachings. Swami Vivekananda, on the other hand, was a Hindu monk and teacher who spread the ideals of Vedanta, which is the Hindu system of beliefs [7, 8].
2. Education:Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was educated in England and in the Indian school system. Swami Vivekananda was trained in the Vedic and Upanishadic traditions [3, 7].
3. Spiritual Practices:Sri Aurobindo Ghosh practiced yoga and meditation as part of his spiritual practice. Swami Vivekananda believed that physical activities like jogging and swimming were important for spiritual development.
4. Social Activism: Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was active in the Indian independence movement and the struggle for civil rights. Swami Vivekananda was a social reformer and was active in the Hindu revival movement.
5. Legacy: Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s legacy is seen in his philosophy of Integral Yoga, which combines elements of mysticism, philosophy, and activism. Swami Vivekananda’s legacy is seen in the spread of Vedantic thought throughout India and around the world [2, 8].

Conclusion

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Swami Vivekananda were two great spiritual leaders of modern India who have left an indelible mark on the history of our country Sri. Aurobindo’s teachings focused on the unity of all existence and the power of the individual to reach his or her highest spiritual potential. He taught that each person is capable of realizing the divine within themselves. Vivekananda on the other hand, believed in the power of the individual to create a harmonious and prosperous society. He believed in the importance of education and social reform for the upliftment of all human beings. Both of these great spiritual teachers left behind a legacy of wisdom and knowledge that continues to inspire and guide us today. By following their teachings, we can create a better world for ourselves and for future generations.

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Kalinga University for their support and assistance in reviewing our literature writing. We are grateful for their generous contribution of time and expertise. Their valuable insights and guidance were invaluable in helping us to create a comprehensive and accurate literature review. We are appreciative of their commitment to helping us produce a high-quality piece of work.

References

1. Vivekananda, S. (1981). Teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Advaita Ashrama.
2. Banhatti, G. S. (1995). Life and Philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. Atlantic Publishers & Dist.
3. Gokhale, B. G. (1964). Swami Vivekananda and Indian Nationalism. Journal of Bible and Religion, 32(1), 35-42.
4. Sil, N. P. (1997). Swami Vivekananda: A Reassessment. Susquehanna University Press.
5. Bera, A. K., Ghosh, A., & Xiao, Z. (2013). A smooth test for the equality of distributions. Econometric Theory, 29(2), 419-446.
6. Southard, B. (1980). The political strategy of Aurobindo Ghosh: The utilization of Hindu religious symbolism and the problem of political mobilization in Bengal. Modern Asian Studies, 14(3), 353-376.
7. Mitra, P. K., Agrawal, V., & Ghosh, A. (2015). Exploring the factors for effective sustainability reporting: A survey of Indian chemical industry. Asian Social Science, 11(3), 197.
8. Seikh, H. A. (2020). Philosophical Thoughts of Aurobindo: Its Impact on Modern Educational System. International Journal of Engineering Applied Sciences and Technology, 5(8), 232-234.