I notice how the Bengali Hindu saint Ramakrishna was born today in 1836.
By a sweet coincidence I’ve committed to preaching this Sunday on aspects of Hinduism and my touchstone is going to be Ramakrishna Vivekananda Vedanta.
Several thoughts spin out from this small factoid.
First, after reading the Wikipedia article, as is my wont for quick summaries, I went to see what the discussion material revealed. And, my goodness, it showed up once again why Wikipedia might well be the best first source for quick research today, but also why it also should not be the last source. The feuding between the editors as revealed in the comments is fierce. It wasn’t entirely clear what all the fights were about, at least in the quick read I gave it, although it seemed largely of two parts. The first a tension between those accused of hagiographical inclinations and those accused of appealing to suspect psycho-social analysis.
The other wasn’t touched on at all in the article and that is the Unitarian connection which will be the object of some personal research this week. As is the case with such work a lot, a little or maybe none of the results will wind up in the sermon. Still, gotta follow the threads…
At the beginning is the connection between the Brahmo Samaj and Ramakrishna and his disciples. The Brahmo was, is a rationalist Hindu reform movement that had deep Unitarian connections. I’m hoping to find what if any influences are alleged and to what effect…
And more directly it appears there is, at least for me, a fascinating connection between Ramakrishna’s great disciple, the renowned Swami Vivekananda and Unitarians in his visit to America. It appears he first spoke publicly at a Unitarian church in Massachusetts and that he gave significant lectures at the Unitarian churches in Detroit and Oakland. I’m hoping to learn more about this.
Of course a sermon gets a few days of research, at best, actually at wildly best; and then must be written.
Also a sermon isn’t a historical treatise, and so, as I said, even if I find a treasure trove of information, none of it might end up in the final document.
Ah the life of the mind
and of the spirit…
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