Religious Pluralism and Swami Vivekananda/ ধর্মীয় বহুত্ববাদ ও স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ

Abstract

When great men like Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda came, they left a mold to solve all the problems of that age. Vivekananda saw in Sri Ramakrishna the mold suitable for the present, the mold upon which to build universal religion, a unique form of religious pluralism. Vivekananda said in the Chicago Dharma Mahasabha about the ideal of universal religion, "We not only tolerate all religions (tolerance), we believe all religions to be true (acceptance)". In my research paper, I will discuss religious pluralism in the light of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda's teachings and try to show that one religion is not opposed to another, but complementary. The same truth exists in all religions, so if all religions try to express this truth, then where is the conflict?

          The mutual view of different religions can be mainly based on three types of views - religious exclusivism - 'Only my religion is true, all other religions are false'. Inclusivism says that other religions are individually inferior to one's own religion and only as a branch of one's own religion is the real importance of those religions. And pluralism says - all religions are true because they all lead to the same goal, but their paths may be manifold (ekang sat viprah bahudha badanti). Sri Ramakrishna is the first exponent of this view in the present world. Sri Ramakrishna showed through theory and practice the unity of form that exists in all religions. Truth is one though its expressions are many - 'Yat mit ty patha'. This Paramastya is beyond all conflicts and limitations. He cannot be bound by any particular dogma, by any particular belief. Sri Ramakrishna felt that God, Allah, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Shiva in various forms are the same consciousness which is the object of human worship. People can know that Supreme in different ways; According to his taste and ability. Just as a mother cooks rice and broth for some of her sick children, sago or barley for some, and sukto for others, considering their abilities and tastes, God has made different paths according to the nature of different people. There should be no conflict between different religions, because the paths of different religions lead people to the same perfection. Just as in a well-planned garden various types of flowering trees bloom in various colors and adorn the integral garden, so each religion maintains its distinctiveness and uniqueness through simultaneous peaceful co-existence as an integral religion. Inter-religious dialogue can be developed on the basis of Vivekananda's innovative religious thinking, through which the concept of human unity can be strengthened. However, along with inter-religious dialogue, inter-religious conflict should be resolved or reduced through mutual understanding and exchange of ideas between different communities of any religion - the purpose of which is to realize the Supreme Being in unity with all.