This book, Universal Religion and Vedanta, contains eight illuminating lectures of Swami Abhedananda delivered in India and abroad at different times between 1904 and 1922. In these lectures, the Swami has done scholarly discussions on the Vedantic religion of India from different angles, maintaining a most scientific approach to the subject in his own inimitable and lucid style. He has convincingly established that the religion of Vedanta is an eternal religion-the Sanatana Dharma-as, unlike other sectarian religions, it has no founder and is thus not affected by the limitations of any particular personality. The teachings of Vedanta are therefore as broad-based and all-embracing as they are in perfect harmony with all the truths discovered by modern science. Hence, the Swami says, it is the only religion in the world which is fit to be called universal in the truest sense of the term. A unique book which ought to be collected by all serious readers and seekers after spiritual truths.

SWAMI ABHEDANANDA, an apostle of Sri Ramakrishna-Born October 2, 1866-Spent his early life among the brotherhood in Baranagar monastery near Calcutta in severe austerity-Travelled barefooted all over India from 1888-1895-Acquainted with many distinguished savants, including Prof. Max Muller and Prof. Deussen-Landed in New York and took charge of the Vedanta Society in 1897-Became acquainted with Prof. William James, Rev. R. H. Newton, Prof. Josiah Royce of Harvard, Prof. Hyslop of Columbia, Prof. Lanmann, Prof. G. H. Howison, Prof. Fay, Mr. Edison, the inventor, Dr. Elmer Gates, Ralph Waldo Trine, W. D. Howells, Prof. Herschel C. Parker, Dr. Logan, Rev. Bishop Potter, Prof. Shaler, Dr. Jaynes, the chairman of the Cambridge Philosophical Conference and the Professors of Columbia, Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Barkeley and Clarke Universities- Travelled extensively all through the United States, Canada, Alaska and Mexico-Made frequent trips to Europe, delivering lectures in different parts of the Continent-Crossed the Atlantic seventeen times-Was appreciated very much for his profundity of scholarship, intellectual brilliance, oratorial talents, charming personality and nobility of character-Made a short visit to India in 1906-Returned to America-Came back to India finally in 1921-On his way home joined the Educational Conference, Honolulu-Visited Japan, China, the Philippines, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Rangoon Started on a long tour and went as far as Tibet in 1922-Established centres at Calcutta and Darjeeling-Left his mortal frame on September 8, 1939.

This book UNIVERSAL RELIGION AND VEDANTA is a collection of eight lectures delivered by Swami Abhedananda in New York and in India from 1904 to 1922. As the lectures are of the same category or nature, these have been bunched together to form a book which is pregnant with religious and philosophical thoughts, having an out and out universal outlook. The Chapters I to IV contain four lectures on (1) the Sanatana Dharma, (2) The Universal Religion, (3) The Progressive Hinduism and (4) The Message of Vedanta, which were delivered in different places at Jamshedpur in Bihar, in 1922, consecutively on the 10th, 12th, 13th and 15th January. Swami Abhedananda was invited by the students and citizens of Jamshedpur and also by the members of the local Vivekananda Society. A public meeting of the residents of Jamshedpur was convened on the 10th January, 1922, at 6 P.M. to accord His Holiness Swami Abhedananda a cordial welcome to the town. The gathering of over two thousand souls, including many European and American gentlemen, were charmed by the lucid and elegant style of his English lecture.

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