Address to the parliament
'It was 11th September, 1893. Swami Vivekananda was at the Art Institute of Chicago for the World Parliament of Religions, representing Hinduism. He began his speech, addressing the audience as 'Sisters and Brothers of America'. Instantly, the 7000 strong audience gave a standing ovation for a full two minutes. The spontaneity and the force of conviction in these words connected with their hearts and in a moment transcended all distinctions of race, religion and nationality.
In his speech, he stressed upon the spirit of pluralism in Hinduism and told the audience how India, since olden times, has been giving shelter to the religious refugees like Jews and Zoroastrians. The monk cautioned the audience of the dangers posed by religious sectarianism. While others had spoken for their sect alone, Swami Vivekananda spoke of mutual respect and universalism.
“…holiness, purity, and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart."'
In his speech, he stressed upon the spirit of pluralism in Hinduism and told the audience how India, since olden times, has been giving shelter to the religious refugees like Jews and Zoroastrians. The monk cautioned the audience of the dangers posed by religious sectarianism. While others had spoken for their sect alone, Swami Vivekananda spoke of mutual respect and universalism.
“…holiness, purity, and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart."'