The Quest for Meaning of Svāmī Vívekānanda

Description

This scholarly study offers a nuanced re-examination of the spiritual development of Swami Vivekananda, one of modern India's most influential religious figures. Moving beyond the common hagiographical portrayals of unwavering conviction, George M. Williams charts Vivekananda's life as a dynamic and often tumultuous "quest for meaning."

The book meticulously traces the evolution of Vivekananda's "patterns of ultimate concern" through various distinct phases: his early intellectual explorations as a member of the Brahmo Samaj, a Freemason, and a skeptic influenced by Western philosophy; his transformative and complex discipleship under Sri Ramakrishna; and a subsequent, lesser-known period of profound doubt that led him to question scriptural authority and even seek guidance from another guru.

Drawing primarily on a chronological analysis of Vivekananda's own writings, the author focuses on the historical development of his beliefs rather than their ultimate truth. The study culminates in an exploration of Vivekananda's mature philosophy of "The Religion Eternal" and "Practical Vedanta," presenting it not as a static doctrine but as the hard-won outcome of a lifelong spiritual struggle. This work provides a critical and humanizing portrait, essential for understanding the internal tensions that shaped both the man and the modern Hindu Renaissance.