What we want is strength. We Indians, more than any other race, want strong and vigorous thought. We have enough of the superfine in all concerns. For centuries we have been stuffed with the mysterious; the result is that our intellectual and spiritual digestion is almost hopelessly impaired, and the race has been dragged down to the depths of hopeless imbecility — never before or since experienced by any other civilized community. There must be freshness and vigor of thought behind to make a virile race. More than enough to strengthen the whole world exists in the Upanishads. The Advaita is the eternal mine of strength. But it requires to be applied. It must first be cleared of the incrustation of scholasticism, and then in all its simplicity, beauty and sublimity be taught over the length and breadth of the land, as applied even to the minutest detail of daily life. “This is a very large order”; but we must work towards it, nevertheless, as if it would be accomplished tomorrow. Of one thing I am sure — that whoever wants to help his fellow beings through genuine love and unselfishness will work wonders.
Rise from sleep!
Now my one desire is to rouse the country — the sleeping
leviathan that has lost all faith in his power and makes no response. If I can wake
it up to a sense of the Eternal Religion then I shall know that Shri
Ramakrishna’s advent and our birth are fruitful. That is the one desire in my
heart: Mukti and all else appear of no consequence to me.
From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, 7.188; 9.76
The Advaita is the eternal mine of strength. But it requires to be applied. It must first be cleared of the incrustation of scholasticism, and then in all its simplicity, beauty and sublimity be taught over the length and breadth of the land, as applied even to the minutest detail of daily life.
This statement of Swami Vivekananda emphasizes the
transformative potential of Advaita, suggesting that it is a perpetual source
of strength. However, for its efficacy to manifest, it needs to be actively
applied. Let's break down and expand on the key points:
Advaita as an Eternal Mine of Strength:
Advaita Vedanta is a philosophical and spiritual tradition
rooted in ancient Hindu wisdom. It espouses the concept of non-duality,
asserting that the ultimate reality is a singular, unchanging consciousness.
Describing it as an "eternal mine of strength"
implies that within the principles of Advaita lies an enduring and boundless
source of inner fortitude. This strength could be seen as the resilience and
wisdom gained from understanding the unity of all existence.
Clearing Incrustations of Scholasticism:
The mention of "clearing the incrustation of
scholasticism" suggests a need to strip away any unnecessary complexities
or dogmas that may have accumulated around the core teachings of Advaita. This
could be a call for a return to the essence of the philosophy, free from
unnecessary intellectual or institutional baggage.
Teaching in Simplicity, Beauty, and Sublimity:
The call for teaching Advaita in its "simplicity,
beauty, and sublimity" emphasizes the importance of conveying the
philosophy in a way that is accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and elevating.
This could involve presenting the teachings with clarity and grace, making them
resonate with individuals on a profound level.
Application to Daily Life, Even in Minutest Detail:
The crux of the statement lies in the insistence that
Advaita should not remain a theoretical or abstract concept but should be
applied to every aspect of daily life. This implies a holistic integration of
the philosophy into one's thoughts, actions, and interactions, emphasizing the
transformative potential of its principles in even the smallest details of
existence.
In essence, the expanded interpretation suggests a call to
make Advaita a living philosophy—one that is not only understood intellectually
but is also embraced and enacted in the practicalities of everyday life,
fostering strength, simplicity, beauty, and sublimity.