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The Path of Action
Celebrating Swami Vivekandanda
Gayatri Mantra:
The Hymn of the Universe
Aum
Bhoor Bhuvah Swaha
May the worlds bear
witness to my prayer
Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya
Dheemahi
That adorable light on
which the enlightened
meditate
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat
May That illumine my intellect
The Life of Swami
Vivekananda
Ajay Kshatriya
The life of Narendranath Datta
Birth in Kolkata
12 Jan 1863
Guru and Disciple
1881-1886
Meditation at the tip of India
24 Dec 1882
1879
1890-1892
1893
Higher
Learning
Parliament
of WorldWandering
Religions Monk
Unity of all Existence
What is Unity?
As soon as I think that I am a little body,
I want to preserve it, to protect it, to keep
it nice, at the expense of other bodies;
then you and I become separate.
What is Unity?
All is the Self or Brahman. The saint, the
sinner, the lamb, the tiger, even the
murderer, as far as they have any reality,
can be nothing else, because there is
nothing else.
Prabhuji More
Avagun
Indian Students Dance Group
Thy Name is Same Sightedness
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
Samdarsi hai naam tihaaro, chaaho to paar
karo
O Lord, Look not upon my evil qualities
Thy name O Lord is Same Sightedness
See in us both the same Brahman (Higher Self)
Ik loha pooja mein raakhat, ik ghar vyadhik
paro
One piece of iron is in the image in the temple
And another is the knife in the hands of a
butcher
But the philosopher’s stone knows not these
distinctions,
Both alike turn to gold
Sau duvidha paaras nahi jaanat, kanchan karat
kharo
Ik nadiya ik naar kahaavat, main lohi neer
bhayo
Jab mili dono ek baran bhai, sur sari naam
paro
One drop of water is in the sacred Yamuna
Another is found in the ditch by the roadside
But when they finally meet and flow as one
stream into the Ganges
Both alike become holy
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Sama darsi hai naam tiharo
Thy name O Lord is Same Sightedness
Sama darsi hai naam tiharo
Thy name O Lord is Same Sightedness
Chaaho to paar karo
If you want you can emancipate me
Chaaho to paar karo
If you want you can emancipate me
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Ek loha pooja mein rakhat
One piece of iron in the deity in the temple
Ek ghar badhik paro
And another is the knife in the hands of a butcher
Ek loha pooja mein rakhat
One piece of iron in the deity in the temple
Ek ghar badhik paro
And another is the knife in the hands of a butcher
Sau doovidha paras nahin jaanat
It matters not to the philosopher's stone
Sau doovidha paras nahin jaanat
It matters not to the philosopher's stone
Kanchan kharat karo
Which turns both to gold
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Ek nadiya ek naar kahaavat
One drop of water in the sacred Yamuna
Mailo hi neer bharo
Another drop in the ditch by the roadside
Ek nadiya ek naar kahaavat
One drop of water in the sacred Yamuna
Mailo hi neer bharo
Another drop in the ditch by the roadside
Jab mili dono ek baran bhaye
But when they fall into the Ganga
Jab mili dono ek baran bhaye
But when they fall into the Ganga
Sur sari naav taro
Both alike become holy
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Tan maya mey jo brahma kahaavat
When a materially trapped being utters the name of Brahman
Tan maya mey jo brahma kahaavat
When a materially trapped being utters the name of Brahman
Kayan ko nirdhar kijiye
Make the body a carrier of water
Kayan ko nirdhar kijiye
Kaipan jat taro
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Prabhuji more avagun chit na dharo
O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities
Realize this Unity
“Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest
this divinity within, by controlling nature, external and
internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic
control, or philosophy - by one, or more, or all of these and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or
dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but
secondary details."
- Swami Vivekananada
The Path of Action (Karma Yoga)
You only control your action and not the
results.
So be not motivated by results; nor be
attached to inaction.
Bhagvad Gita, 2:47
The Path of Action (Karma Yoga)
Joyful Being
Swami Vivekananda’s
thoughts on Social
Reform
Lauren Bausch
Vyadha Gita
The Butcher’s Song
Introducing Interfaith Dialogue
Introducing Interfaith Dialogue
“God is the thread that runs through all
these pearls, and each pearl is a religion or
even a sect thereof.”
Introducing Interfaith Dialogue
“The idea that one man is born superior to
another has no meaning in Vedanta (Hindu
philosophy). Never judge the customs of
other people by your own standards.”
Introducing Interfaith Dialogue
“Who has given you the right to say that
truth exists nowhere else but in the Vedas
(the ancient books of the Hindus)?”
Introducing Interfaith Dialogue
“Why should I tolerate? Toleration means
that you are wrong and I am just allowing
you”
Selfless Action in
the Bahá'í Faith
James Threatt
Stanford Bahá'í Association
Breaking Out of The Lesser Self:
Selfless Dedication to Others
Morghan Velez Young
World Peace Buddhists
How we view ourselves is reflected in how
we see the world and how we treat others

Selfishness is often the flip side of a lack of
self-identity.

Buddhism views altruism as an expression of
one’s awakening to one’s true self and
explains that it stems from compassion,
appreciation and a sense of interconnection
rather than insecurity.

The notion of the “four virtues of the Buddha”
describes and encourages a holistic view of
self, a view that transcends selfishness.
World Peace Buddhists
The Four Virtues: true self, eternity,
happiness and purity

The original concept of these four virtues predates
Buddhism. Atman–“the breath of life.”

Espoused by the Brahmans, supreme purpose of
atman was to acquire wealth and honor. So, by
making offerings to the deities, people sought
worldly gains.

In his early teachings, Shakyamuni refuted the
Brahmanic view of self and in his later teachings
revealed a different perspective on the matter.

In his later teachings, Mahayana or “Greater
Vehicle” teachings, especially in the Lotus and
Nirvana sutras, Shakyamuni expounds an entirely
new view of self.

The “Greater Self.”
World Peace Buddhists
Inner Reformation

Mahayana Buddhism advocates the
inner reform to discard one’s lesser self
and develop the greater self rooted in
compassion.

Buddhas are those who are awakened to
the greater self of compassion: they see
that their lives are connected to others
and the world around them.

Buddhas have genuine appreciation for
others and are driven by their desire to
contribute to the world around them.
World Peace Buddhists
Manifesting Our Innate
Buddhahood

Revealing true self means to chant Nammyoho-renge-kyo, transform our
perspectives, and expand our abilities to
contribute to others’ happiness.

Manifesting our innate Buddhahood means
shedding the lesser self of egotism.

By establishing our true self of
Buddhahood, we come to understand,
perhaps not intellectually but with our
innermost heart, the eternity of life, and
remain unswayed by our ever-changing
circumstances while confidently challenging
ourselves.

With a secure sense of self, we can even
positively influence our environment.

Developing confidence in the Buddha
nature as our true self.
World Peace Buddhists
True Selflessness

Only through dedication to the happiness of others can we
break through our lesser self

Our bodhisattva practice is the cause for the Buddha’s four
virtues to manifest in our lives

Their understanding of self is so encompassing that our own
existence and the world around us becomes
indistinguishable. A limited understanding of self, however,
leads to egotism, bringing suffering and misery to both
oneself and others.
World Peace Buddhists
The Hymn of Self-Awareness
Nahee Shurjo, Nahee Jyoti,
Nahee Shashanka Shundara
Lo! The sun is not, Nor light,
Nor the comely moon,
Bhaashey Brahmey Chaaya Shamo,
Chobi Bissho Charaa Charo
In the great void of space,
Floats shadow-like the image Universe.
Ashfuto Mono Akaashey,
Jagato Sangshaaro Bhaashey
In the void of mind involute,
Oothey Bhaashey,
Dobey Punoh Aham Shatey Nirantaro
Dheerey Dheerey Chaaya Dolo,
Mahalaye Probeshilo
Bohey Dhaara “Aamee,” “Aamee,”
Eyee Dhaara Onushkhon
Sheyee Dharaao Boddho Holo,
Shunno Shunney Milaaeelo
Obang Mono Shogo Charam,
Bojhey Praano Bojhey Jaaro
There floats the fleeting Universe,
Rises and floats,
Sinks again, ceaseless, in the current "I"
Slowly, slowly, the shadow-multitude,
Entered the primal womb,
And flowed, ceaseless,
The only current, the "I am", "I am".
It is stopped, ev'n that current flows no more,
Void merged into void
Beyond speech and mind,
Whose heart understands, he verily does
Selfless Action
Salman Latif
Islamic Society of Stanford University
Detached "Good
Works"
Douglas MacKinnon
Devotee of Christ
The Song of the
Karma Yogi
Triparna Bhattacharya
Aaji pronamey tomare cholibo,
natho songsaro kaje
O Higher Self, today I surrender the
lower Self to you as I proceed to act
Tumi amar noyone noyon rekho,
ontoro majhe
May you place your eyes in mine
Just as you reside in my heart
Hridoyo debota royecho prane,
mono jeno taha niyoto jane,
O God of my heart
May my mind always know your presence
Paaper chinta more jeno
dohi duhsoho laje
May every thought of sin
Burn in the flame of shame
Sobo kolorobe sara dinoman,
suni onadi songeetogan
In the ceaseless din of the world,
I hear the sacred music all the time
Sobaro songe jeno
obiroto tomaro songo raje
Be you with me
When I be with others
Nimeshe nimeshe noyone bochone,
sokol korme, sokol monone
In every blink of the eye,
In every action and thought
Sokol hridoy tontre
jeno mongol baje
In every part of my heart
May the sacred music play.
Judaism: Mitzvahs
and the Art of
Giving
Ariel Dowling
Stanford Hillel
Judaism: Mitzvahs and the Art of
Giving
Tzedakah
Judaism: Mitzvahs and the Art of
Giving
Maimonides
The Legacy of
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vedananda
Vedanta Society of San Francisco
Vote of Thanks
Priyanka Sharma & Somik Raha
The Hindu Students Council
Closing Prayer
Sarve Bhavantu
Sukhinaha
May ALL be
happy
Sarve Santu
Niraamaya
May ALL be
free from Disease
Sarve Bhadrani
Pashyantu
May ALL see things
auspicious
Maa Kaschit
Dukhabhaag bhavet
AUM SHANTI SHANTI
SHANTIHI
Many NONE be subjected
to misery
Peace, Peace, Peace
Be unto us all