Swami Vivekananda and Adhikarawada

By Mangesh Buwa

Swami Vivekananda came among us to put the ancient message of Vedanta in simple language so that vast number of people can apply it to their lives; ‘his life’s work’, as he famously said, was: ‘… to put the Hindu ideas into English and then make out of dry philosophy and intricate mythology and queer startling psychology, a religion which shall be easy, simple, popular, and at the same time meet the requirements of the highest minds – is a task only those can understand who have attempted it. The dry, abstract Advaita must become living — poetic — in everyday life; out of hopelessly intricate mythology must come concrete moral forms; and out of bewildering Yogi-ism must come the most scientific and practical psychology — and all this must be put in a form so that a child may grasp it. That is my life’s work.’

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A Tribute to John

by Linda Prugh John Schlenck contributed so much to Vedantists in America and to the Ramakrishna Order. His musical compositions, which use western and eastern instruments and themes, help to establish a beautiful spiritual atmosphere for meditation. One splendid...

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John Schlenck : A Life of Dedicated Service

by Swami Tathagatananda Our dear brother John Schlenck led an ideal life. This ideal and dedicated life created a deep impact on all our minds. I do not know how he came in contact with Vedanta, but after finishing college, he came to this Society at the age of...

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Deification of the World

by Joan Shack Deification of the world is an ancient Upanishadic teaching: “Whatever exists in this universe is to be covered with the Lord.” Swami Vivekananda reinvigorated this teaching by defining practical Vedanta as service of God in man within society. “The...

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John Schlenck, My Spiritual Brother and Exemplar

by Pravrajika Gayatriprana I met John for the first time on January 4, 1969, when I attended the Sunday service at the Vedanta Society of New York headed by Swami Pavitrananda. John’s family was Unitarian and at the time I met him he certainly had the kind of...

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Considering John’s Legacy

by Jon & Anna Monday Freedom and courage come to mind when considering John’s legacy. We came to know him through American Vedantist, a courageous enterprise and a unique outlet that offers a home for often unorthodox ideas freely expressed to a readership already...

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A Glimpse of John’s Service in the Days Before His Passing

by Esther Warkov On the same day John Schlenck’s passing was announced, a letter he’d written arrived in the mail. His letter illustrates just one of the many ways John extended himself to support Vedantists over the decade we were acquainted. In this instance, he was...

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I Was Graced with Having John in My Life

by Katherine Durant As an attorney with my own law practice, I’m mostly busy and preoccupied with the “vicissitudes of this life.” But my heart’s desire is for music – listening to it and making it myself. I accept my dharma that I must be a lawyer-warrior in the...

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