WE, HINDUS, NEED MISSIONARY ZEAL ... 1

WE, HINDUS, NEED MISSIONARY ZEAL ... 1

Hinduism must become aggressively missionary. Otherwise Hindus will decrease percentage-wise. No wonder Swamiji wanted this but was denied fulfilment by altered activity of his followers, of course by following other welfare lines laid down by him, for his was a universal being and he understood the limitations of lesser endowed men as also the compulsions of organisational existence in complex political scenario. But the fiery spirit that characterised Swamiji and was his life's work to try and infuse in his countrymen, more so in his followers, has been sadly diminishing over the decades till it has now been reduced to cipher, nay, even plummeting to the negative sometimes as compromise and commerce which characterise our capitalist society these days infilitrate the rank and file of his followers. 

Hindus keep getting victimised physically and through conversion to Christianity and Islam while Vivekananda's titular followers keep mutely watching. There is no organised effort to scale up missionary activity to propagate Hinduism across the world but there is every attempt to promote pseudoharmony of faiths which are simply irreconcilable on foundational grounds. The inability to call a spade a spade has mummified the mission of the Master. Therefore, we as individuals and as groups need to activate our own mental, intellectual and spiritual resources to discover in Vivekananda the message of self-mastery and missionary activity to serve our civilisation better. No need to wait on those who have compromised. Let us awake to our own responsibilities and fight on. So, onward!

Written by Sugata Bose

Provided below is an extract from Swamiji in this regard:

(Prabuddha Bharata, September, 1898)

In an interview which a representative of Prabuddha Bharata had recently with the Swami Vivekananda, that great Teacher was asked: "What do you consider the distinguishing feature of your movement, Swamiji?"

"Aggression," said the Swami promptly, "aggression in a religious sense only. Other sects and parties have carried spirituality all over India, but since the days of Buddha we have been the first to break bounds and try to flood the world with missionary zeal."

https://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_5/interviews/reawakening_of_hinduism.htm