Historic speeches by Swami Vivekananda at the 1893 World Parliament of Religions held at Chicago. Here we will attempt to explain the main concepts of each of Swamiji 's six Parliamentary addresses.
1) His 'Answer to Welcome,' which started with the words 'Sisters and Brothers of America,' was Swamiji's most famous speech to the Parliament. Every other speaker of Parliament gave the greeting to the opening speech. Nevertheless, Swamiji's greeting was applauded not only because it contained the message of brotherhood, not only because it gave priority to women whom Swamiji worshiped as the Divine Mother's embodiments, but also because the awareness and knowledge behind those words of greeting was that all beings and all worlds are one. Next came his gesture of appreciation, which was related to his culture and heritage, that of an ancient Hindu monastic order.
Swamiji lost no time and reached his core concept explicitly, as well as his master's core message, Sri Ramakrishna, which was also ostensibly Parliament 's core message — the validity of all religions and traditions of faith. He explained how he belonged to a nation as well as to a faith which did not persecute anyone but rather gave sanctuary to anyone who came to them. Swamiji ended his first speech to Parliament with a very optimistic note that everyone would understand that they were all seeking to accomplish the same aim, though through different paths. We do not seem to have heard the message even today.One is eager to show that one's faith-tradition or religion is special and is the only true way toward God.
2) 'Why We Disagree' gives us reason enough to conclude that there was not much rivalry among Parliament's orthodox members in the optimistic note in which he ended his first speech. Swamiji told a story in that address about an encounter between a frog in a well and a frog coming from the ocean to the well. Swamiji encouraged us to move beyond barriers, overcome borders and seek to connect with and appreciate religions other than one's own. Doing so would make it possible for us not to have pigeonholed thoughts and beliefs about God and allow us to live in peace, even though there are endless ways of approaching God.
3) 'Paper on Hinduism,' he explained his religion's age-old antiquity, explaining that Hinduism was not based on any finite text, that it was not established by any individual, and that it was based on eternal laws observed by rishis. He has said that the creation has no beginning or end according to Hinduism. He said the meaning or concept of 'I' is eternal, and that it is not the body or the mind that is transitory, but beyond, and in essence everlasting. He explained how birth-to-birth tendencies are developed and how those tendencies control the existence of successive births.He clarified that ignorance or the cause of the spirit being embodied is not understood, that ignorance is nevertheless a reality, and it does not matter what caused ignorance but the purpose is to know that our true nature is of the eternal and free spirit.
4) 'Religion Not India's Crying Need,' is Swamiji's very straightforward way of telling other religious preachers, particularly Christians, not to teach Indians religion. He said India need not religion but money.
5) 'Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism,' Swamiji showed how not so far from Hinduism is Buddhism. He did so, possibly because, he saw an unnecessary harping on Buddhism 's uniqueness. Until now, as the Buddhists and Hindus revel in defining their differences, this situation is the same, instead of recognizing their similarity. Swamiji warned that the decline of India started when it separated Buddhism from Hinduism.
6) No religion may claim to be the ultimate in itself. The alternative is not to convert to any faith, leaving one's born into faith. The remedy, then, is to establish a peaceful and harmonious coexistence of various religions and religious practices. Swamiji has pitied someone who believes her or his faith would prevail alone.