as the shapers of our nation’s future. He had immense faith in Hinduism and our women and believed that we would be able to bounce back to our worthy position as the spiritual and ethical leaders of the world. His views on women need to be revisited, most importantly because they highlight the ethics and values that we once again need to inculcate as a society.
Chapter fifteen covers his favourite concept — to serve all beings amounts to service to God. The only God to worship is the human soul in the human body. Shiva is more pleased by one who has served and helped one poor man seeing Shiva in him, without thinking of his caste, creed or race, rather than those that see Shiva only in temples. This is practical Vedanta — a spiritual perspective that influences daily life.
The last chapter includes a variety of Swami Vivekananda quotes and sayings that do not thematically fit in with the preceding chapters. Happiness and misery are the two sides of the same coin. All the happiness which comes from the senses will eventually bring pain. Renunciation is the very basis of

true life and real joy. The book aligns with Swamiji’s noble vision:

• To rouse the religious consciousness of the people and create in them pride in their cultural heritage;
• To bring about unification of Hinduism by pointing out the common bases of its sects;
• To focus the attention of educated people on the plight of the downtrodden masses, and to expound his plan for their uplift by the application of the principles of Practical Vedanta.

While accessible to all readers, this book is a treasure house for research students and Sanskrit scholars. The essence of its message deserves to be translated into vernacular languages and brought to the doorstep of educational institutions and lay readers. This book should be presented in simple condensed form for school children. It would transform our society and Swamiji’s dream of an India awakened to the spiritual power of its civilisational heritage shall be fulfilled with divine grace.

Bhavan's Journal,May 15, 2022∎ 73