Swami Vivekananda's Speech in Chicago
Swami Vivekananda Chicago Speech
WELCOME ADDRESS - Chicago, Sept 11, 1893
Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have
given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of
the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and
sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient,
have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the
idea of toleration.
I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We
believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation
which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to
tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India
and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny.
I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand
Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated
from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams
having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they
appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
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The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a
declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through
whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me."
Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They
have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and
sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more
advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in
honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the
pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
Swami Vivekananda's Chicago Speech Video
You can also view the audio trasncript of Swami Vivekananda's chicago speech as a video below.
Please feel free to share your views about the chicago speech of Swami Vivekananda in the form of
comments below.
Swami Vivekananda Chicago Speech
WELCOME ADDRESS - Chicago, Sept 11, 1893
Sisters and Brothers of America,
It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have
given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of
the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and
sects.
My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient,
have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the
idea of toleration.
I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We
believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation
which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to
tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India
and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny.
I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand
Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated
from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams
having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they
appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."
Page 1/2
PDF generated by PHPKB Knowledge Base Script
The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a
declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through
whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me."
Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They
have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and
sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more
advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in
honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the
pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.
Swami Vivekananda's Chicago Speech Video
You can also view the audio trasncript of Swami Vivekananda's chicago speech as a video below.
Please feel free to share your views about the chicago speech of Swami Vivekananda in the form of
comments below.
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