On September 11, 1893 Swami Vivekananda began his speech with “Sisters and Brothers of America!” and went on to rivet the audience with his call for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism. Exactly 108 years later, on September 11, 2001 very different events drew our attention to the great chasm of intolerance and fanaticism that now engulfs our modern world.
The Art Institute of Chicago’s Fullerton Hall now occupies the site where Swami Vivekananda delivered his famous speech. And standing there, after 120 years of his famous speech, I was suddenly overcome with feelings of grief at the realization that how intolerant the world has become.
As a young boy I was greatly influenced by Vivekananda’s teachings and many of my life’s philosophies were moulded by his teachings. I think the time has come that the world rediscovers Swami Vivekananda and starts following in his footsteps.
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings are accepted the world over. In his own country, lot of people preach about his teachings. But how many people pratice it———??????