Ramdev marks 120th anniversary of Vivekananda's speech

Chicago, Sept 29: Yoga guru Ramdev on Sunday visited the city to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech at the Parliament of World Religions here.

Ramdev lit the lamp and remembered Swami Vivekananda, who spoke from the same stage in the Fullerton Hall in Art Institute of Chicago, as Vivekananda did in 1893.

"I feel that this message is as relevant today as it was 120 years ago," he said. After the Art Institute event, Ramdev visited Jain Temple in Bartlett. "I've dedicated my life in the service of others. I work 18-24 hours a day," he said.

Speaking to the public, he called on all Hindus to unite. On Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) withdrawing from event, Ramdev asked why they called it CPWR if they do not see all religions as one. "One should see all religions in the same light," he said, else make it an organisation with only one religion.

At the Jain Temple Ramdev asked people to rise and move forward and have hope and determination. "One should see God in every human being. Humanity is the biggest religion.

Amidst poverty, ignorance and power, Swami Vivekananda's message is even more important," he said. "We have to create an India that Swami Vivekananda dreamt of," Ramdev implored.

On the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda program held at Jain Mandir, he was happy. "There is so much enthusiasm in Jain Mandir, we might have to close the doors," Ramdev said.

"Swami Vivekananda said get up and rise and find the true meaning and keep moving until you find the destination. Hope is life and despair is death. Use enthusiasm and courage.

There is darkness but always in your mind determine that bad days will go and good days will come. "There is darkness in India and insecurity in the world but we have to sow seeds of hope and trust here. We have to see God in man and serve mankind.

Ramdev lit the lamp and remembered Swami Vivekananda.

This was a big lesson Vivekananda gave us and I feel this teaching will come true and what he saw as India's future it will come true and it will herald the beginning of a new era.

"The world remembers this saint, who was born in 1863 and when he said that we have to see religion in a new light in 1893. I haven't come to convert but give a teaching in Vedic and Hindu religion. We have to begin with a new mindset just as Vivekananda had said," Ramdev said.

PTI