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Essential Vivekananda
BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.
660 pages, Paperback
Published January 20, 2019
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25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 20, 2019
Mukul Kanitkar and Anoop A.J, in Essential Vivekananda, has taken up the extremely difficult and arduous but certainly fulfilling task of collating the best of Swamiji’s work in a book. From Vedanta to his message for India, this book encapsulates the essence of Vivekananda in a few hundred pages.
If you are short of space when it comes to books like I am and cannot buy the Complete Works of Vivekananda, then you should definitely go for this. Essential Vivekananda is a book that will be an asset to me and is something that I will cherish forever.
If you are short of space when it comes to books like I am and cannot buy the Complete Works of Vivekananda, then you should definitely go for this. Essential Vivekananda is a book that will be an asset to me and is something that I will cherish forever.
January 18, 2026
Physical Strength + Intellectual sharpness + Spiritual courage + Purity of thought, speech & actions = Vedantism.
No, he isnt a nationalist as portrayed by the effete right wing factions.
His exact words were “if youre a hindu, be a better hindu. If youre a christian, be a better christian”.
Indians = World conquering Titans.
Religion = Monism. You’re God, So am I. We should Act like it.
Path = Spiritual. You cannot derieve unlimited strength by being an atheist.
The world = Your brothers / sisters. Acquire and provide as much wisdom as possible. (Gnana yoga)
Renunciation = Not to be a material beggar. Dont renounce your hard earned wealth. Dont go and sit uselessly in meditative retreats. Intense activity in the service of yourself and mankind (karma yoga) while being detached from the fruits of your labour.
How to realize the Ideal in Daily actions: Intense physical activity, Pranayama 10-30 mins, Meditative absorption, Read like a Lion, Work towards your & others welfare without any jealousy & resentments.
Take on the highest responsibility voluntarily. Be a Man. Be a Woman. But be better at it.
Intense Focus is a literal Superpower
If you arent getting to your strongest Physical strength, youre essentially a burden to earth.
In short, What Nietzsche & Kant did for the west, Vivekananda did for the east.
Reading through this 700 page behemoth is worth it, You might have literal goosebumps at places.
5/5.
No, he isnt a nationalist as portrayed by the effete right wing factions.
His exact words were “if youre a hindu, be a better hindu. If youre a christian, be a better christian”.
Indians = World conquering Titans.
Religion = Monism. You’re God, So am I. We should Act like it.
Path = Spiritual. You cannot derieve unlimited strength by being an atheist.
The world = Your brothers / sisters. Acquire and provide as much wisdom as possible. (Gnana yoga)
Renunciation = Not to be a material beggar. Dont renounce your hard earned wealth. Dont go and sit uselessly in meditative retreats. Intense activity in the service of yourself and mankind (karma yoga) while being detached from the fruits of your labour.
How to realize the Ideal in Daily actions: Intense physical activity, Pranayama 10-30 mins, Meditative absorption, Read like a Lion, Work towards your & others welfare without any jealousy & resentments.
Take on the highest responsibility voluntarily. Be a Man. Be a Woman. But be better at it.
Intense Focus is a literal Superpower
If you arent getting to your strongest Physical strength, youre essentially a burden to earth.
In short, What Nietzsche & Kant did for the west, Vivekananda did for the east.
Reading through this 700 page behemoth is worth it, You might have literal goosebumps at places.
5/5.
May 8, 2025
This is a gold mine of knowledge. How bharatiya culture is so rich and abundant with wisdom. I always wanted to read works of swamiji and this is the perfect start. First part is about life and childhood of swamiji and second explores his thoughts, ideas and speeches he gave around the globe in his lifetime. He explains everything about Vedas, Bhartiya culture and importance of our values. Highly recommended to people of Bharat, if you want to read “complete works of swami Vivekananda” this is a perfect start for you. All the essays contained in this book are from the complete works. Beautiful, amazing and precious.
June 6, 2019
Swami Vivekananda, the phenomenon that all Indians are proud of. The speech that begins with "Brothers and Sisters of Chicago" is known to any Indian beyond the age of 13. A lot of literature could be available on this legend but which one to go for is always confusing. Mukul Kanitkar and Anoop.A.J have compiled these for the ease of the readers and provided a concentrated smoothie of information.
The first part of the book is his journey from Narendra to Vivekananda. It is endearing to read how an ordinary boy with extraordinary thoughts managed to pave his way into the life of Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa to become his prime disciples and finally ended up being a bigger person that his Guru. Calling him a celebrity would be nothing less than a blasphemy. He is an undefinable source of intellect.
The second part of the book is about his messages and these form the crux of the book. Many topics are covered like women empowerment, gender equality, caste discrimination etc But what excited me on a personal level and what have been unknown to me, was that he professed the consumption of non vegetarian food.
The book touches the thin line of hagiography but for a human being as great as Swami Vivekananda, it could not be written off so. How Swami have been attacked by different interested groups especially against his speeches on how Hindus were converted covertly is written without any inhibition.
Overall the book is a first class addition into anyone's personal library.
The first part of the book is his journey from Narendra to Vivekananda. It is endearing to read how an ordinary boy with extraordinary thoughts managed to pave his way into the life of Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa to become his prime disciples and finally ended up being a bigger person that his Guru. Calling him a celebrity would be nothing less than a blasphemy. He is an undefinable source of intellect.
The second part of the book is about his messages and these form the crux of the book. Many topics are covered like women empowerment, gender equality, caste discrimination etc But what excited me on a personal level and what have been unknown to me, was that he professed the consumption of non vegetarian food.
The book touches the thin line of hagiography but for a human being as great as Swami Vivekananda, it could not be written off so. How Swami have been attacked by different interested groups especially against his speeches on how Hindus were converted covertly is written without any inhibition.
Overall the book is a first class addition into anyone's personal library.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews