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The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda: Volume 3
This universe of ours, the universe of the senses, the rational, the intellectual, is bounded on both sides by the illimitable, the unknowable, the ever unknown. Herein is the search, herein are the inquiries, here are the facts; from this comes the light which is known to the world as religion. Essentially, however, religion belongs to the super-sensuous and not to the sense plane. It is beyond all reasoning, and is not on the plane of intellect. It is a vision, an inspiration, a plunge into the unknown and unknowable, making the unknowable more than known for it can never be “known”. This search has been in the human mind, as I believe, from the very beginning of humanity. There cannot have been human reasoning and intellect in any period of the world’s history without this struggle, this search beyond.
In our little universe, this human mind, we see a thought arise. Whence it arises, we do not know; and when it disappears, where it goes, we know not either. The macrocosm and the microcosm are, as it were, in the same groove, passing through the same stages, vibrating in the same key.
I shall try to bring before you the Hindu theory that religions do not come from without, but from within. It is my belief that religious thought is in man’s very constitution, so much so that it is impossible for him to give, up religion until he can give up his mind and body, until he can give up thought and life. As long as a man thinks, this struggle must go on, and so long man must have some form of religion. Thus, we see various forms of religion in the world. It is a bewildering study; but it is not, as many of us think, a vain speculation. Amidst this chaos, there is harmony, throughout these discordant sounds, there is a note of concord; and he who is prepared to listen to it will catch the tone.
Swami Vivekananda
In our little universe, this human mind, we see a thought arise. Whence it arises, we do not know; and when it disappears, where it goes, we know not either. The macrocosm and the microcosm are, as it were, in the same groove, passing through the same stages, vibrating in the same key.
I shall try to bring before you the Hindu theory that religions do not come from without, but from within. It is my belief that religious thought is in man’s very constitution, so much so that it is impossible for him to give, up religion until he can give up his mind and body, until he can give up thought and life. As long as a man thinks, this struggle must go on, and so long man must have some form of religion. Thus, we see various forms of religion in the world. It is a bewildering study; but it is not, as many of us think, a vain speculation. Amidst this chaos, there is harmony, throughout these discordant sounds, there is a note of concord; and he who is prepared to listen to it will catch the tone.
Swami Vivekananda
Audible Audio
Published May 27, 2019
About the author
Vivekananda
1,658 books1,584 followers"Arise Awake and Stop not til the goal is reached"
Vivekananda left a body of philosophical works (see Vivekananda's complete works). His books (compiled from lectures given around the world) on the four Yogas (Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga) are very influential and still seen as fundamental texts for anyone interested in the Hindu practice of Yoga. His letters are of great literary and spiritual value. He was also considered a very good singer and a poet.By the time of his death, He had composed many songs including his favorite Kali the Mother. He used humor for his teachings and was also an excellent cook. His language is very free flowing. His own Bengali writings stand testimony to the fact that he believed that words - spoken or written - should be for making things easier to understand rather than show off the speaker or writer's knowledge.
Swami Vivekananda [ স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ ] (1863 – 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion.
Born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
Vivekananda left a body of philosophical works (see Vivekananda's complete works). His books (compiled from lectures given around the world) on the four Yogas (Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga) are very influential and still seen as fundamental texts for anyone interested in the Hindu practice of Yoga. His letters are of great literary and spiritual value. He was also considered a very good singer and a poet.By the time of his death, He had composed many songs including his favorite Kali the Mother. He used humor for his teachings and was also an excellent cook. His language is very free flowing. His own Bengali writings stand testimony to the fact that he believed that words - spoken or written - should be for making things easier to understand rather than show off the speaker or writer's knowledge.
Swami Vivekananda [ স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ ] (1863 – 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion.
Born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
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January 6, 2026
I was so disappointed with this book on every level. Whereas the first two volumes in the series contain mainly works from Vivekananda's travels in the West, these were mainly composed for Indian audiences after his return, and the difference is striking. There is far more political commentary, which has not aged well. There are also various forms of bigotry that are more trenchantly expressed. In the Western materials, they felt typical of the period, but here they are at times quite shocking and contradictory of statements elsewhere. Buddhism, for instance, is described as a bestial religion, although Vivekananda elsewhere refers to Buddha as an avatar of Krishna (and yes, he means the same individual and not another of a similar name; I am aware of that controversy.) There is also considerable ableism, racism and sexism. Although there are some pieces that stick to more philosophical topics and are unaffected, I would no longer feel comfortable citng them in the knowledge of the wider context, nor can I see myself citing the earlier material again in future.
In addition to this, the narration is inexplicably poorer than in the first two volumes, with far more frequent mispronunciations in both English and Sanskrit. These extend to key Hindu terms such as Gita and Saivite, which is really inexcusable in a work on this topic. I'm not sure what went wrong there; I don't think it can be a veiled protest against Vivekananda's views, because as I understand it, Lomakayu self-publishes and is therefore under no contractual obligation. Anyway, don't waste your time listening to this.
In addition to this, the narration is inexplicably poorer than in the first two volumes, with far more frequent mispronunciations in both English and Sanskrit. These extend to key Hindu terms such as Gita and Saivite, which is really inexcusable in a work on this topic. I'm not sure what went wrong there; I don't think it can be a veiled protest against Vivekananda's views, because as I understand it, Lomakayu self-publishes and is therefore under no contractual obligation. Anyway, don't waste your time listening to this.
Displaying 1 of 1 review