Rita D. Sherma (editor) - Swami Vivekananda: His Life, Legacy, and Liberative Ethics

Advisory Board

Purushottama Bilimoria, Christopher Key Chapple, Jonathan Gold, Pankaj Jain, Nathan Katz, Kusumita Pedersen, and Rita D. Sherma

The region historically known as the Indian subcontinent (and more recently as South Asia) is rich with ancient and sophisticated traditions of intellectual and contemplative investigation. This includes both indigenous traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh) and traditions that have found a home in this region (Islamic, Christian, Jewish, and Zoroastrian). This series is devoted to studies rooted in critical and constructive methodologies (such as ethics, philosophy, and theology) that show how these traditions can illuminate universal human questions: questions about the meaning of life, the nature of knowledge, good and evil, and the broader metaphysical context of human existence. A particular focus of this series is the relevance of these traditions to urgent issues that face humanity todaysuch as the ecological crisis, gender relations, poverty and social inequality, and religiously motivated violenceon the assumption that these traditions, far from being of merely historical interest, have the potential to enrich contemporary conversations and advance human understanding.

Recent Titles in Series

Swami Vivekananda: His Life, Legacy, and Liberative Ethics, edited by Rita D. Sherma

Beacons of Dharma, edited by Jeffery D. Long, Michael Reading, Christopher Miller

Thinking with the Yogasutra of Patanjali: Translation and Interpretation, edited by Christopher Key Chapple and Ana Funes Maderey

The Metaphysics of Paradox: Jainism, Absolute Relativity, and Religious Pluralism, by Wm. Andrew Schwartz

Digital Hinduism: Dharma and Discourse in the Age of New Media, edited by Murali Balaji

Sri Chaitanyas Life and Teachings: The Golden Avatara of Divine Love, by Steven Rosen

Shakti's New Voice: Guru Devotion in a Woman-Led Spiritual Movement, by Angela Rudert

The Vedantic Relationality of Rabindranath Tagore: Harmonizing the One and its Many, by Ankur Barua

LEXINGTON BOOKS

Lanham Boulder New York London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Sherma, Rita DasGupta, editor.

Title: Swami Vivekananda : his life, legacy, and liberative ethics / Rita D Sherma.

Description: Lanham : Lexington Books, 2020. | Series: Explorations in Indic traditions: theological, ethical, and philosophical | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: This book re-assesses the life and legacy of Swami Vivekananda from the vantage point of socially engaged religion in a time of global dislocations and inequities. Due to the complexity of Vivekananda as a historical figure on the cusp of a new era, few works offer a nuanced, academic examination of his liberative vision and legacyProvided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019057363 (print) | LCCN 2019057364 (ebook) | ISBN 9781498586047 (cloth) | ISBN 9781498586054 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Vivekananda, Swami, 18631902. | Vivekananda, Swami, 1863-1902Philosophy. | Hindu philosophers. | Religion and sociology. | Ramakrishna Mission. | Social serviceReligious aspectsHinduism. | Ethical problems.

Classification: LCC BL1280.292.V58 S9345 2020 (print) | LCC BL1280.292.V58 (ebook) | DDC 294.5/55092 [B]dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019057363

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019057364

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Dedicated to the memory of Professor Shiva G. Bajpai

Teacher and mentor

This book would not be possible without the support of the School of Religion at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, & Sciences of the University of Southern California leading up to the 2013 International Conference on Vivekananda: Life, Legacy, and Contemporary Relevance. The USC School of Religion (SOR), at the time under the leadership of Professor Duncan Ryken Williams, provided staffing, funding, logistical assistance, and support in numerous ways, leading to a smooth experience for scholars and participants. The hospitality provided to the conference attendees was a gift of the DCF foundation. The Office of Religious Life offered helpful information and introduction to the facilities appropriate to the event, and I particularly wish to express sincere appreciation for the efficient and truly generous help extended by Dr. Varun Soni, Vice Provost for Campus Wellness and Crisis Intervention and the Dean of Religious Life of USC. My deepest gratitude goes to my understanding and inspiring family, especially my husband, whose steadfast support makes all things worthwhile.

Rita D. Sherma, PhD

This volume arises from deliberations presented at the first international academic conference in the United States in recent years to explore the life and legacy of Swami Vivekanandathe Hindu visionary, liberative theologian, pioneer of interreligious dialogue, and modern exponent of Advaita Vednta. The conference took place in October 2013 at the School of Religion, University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda.