AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF ULTIMATE REALITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF VIVEKANANDA

Abstract

Vivekananda is one of the Neo-Vedantin or contemporary Indian Philosophers who has got influenced by the Vedānta philosophy and used its philosophy in practical life for human welfare. Vivekananda considers the metaphysical question regarding the status of the Ultimate Reality as an important matter of discussion without which human life would be purposeless. Such metaphysical knowledge comes to man when he goes beyond the circle of reason or physical plane. Vivekananda’s Neo-Vedanta is a discussion of such metaphysical views. The concept of Ultimate Reality is here understood in the sense of both nirguṇa and saguṇa Brahman i.e., God without name and form and with name and form. However, in the present paper, the aim is to focus on the concept of Ultimate Reality both from the transcendental and empirical standpoint and to check whether the status of the nirguṇa Brahman and saguṇa Brahman are identical or different.