Editing Swami Vivekananda (section)

===Parliament of the World's Religions===

The Parliament of the World's Religions opened on 11 September 1893 at the [[Art Institute of Chicago]], as part of the [[World's Columbian Exposition]].{{Sfn|Houghton|1893|p=22}}{{Sfn|Bhide|2008|p=9}}{{Sfn|Paul|2003|p=33}} On this day, Vivekananda gave a brief speech representing India and [[Hinduism]].{{Sfn|Banhatti|1995|p=27}} He bowed to [[Saraswati]] (the Hindu goddess of learning) and began his [[s:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Addresses at The Parliament of Religions/Response to Welcome|speech]] with "Sisters and brothers of America!".{{Sfn|Bhuyan|2003|p=17}}{{Sfn|Paul|2003|p=33}} At these words, Vivekananda received a two-minute standing ovation from the crowd of seven thousand.{{Sfn|Paul|2003|p=34}} When silence was restored he began his address, greeting the youngest of the nations on behalf of "the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance".{{sfn|McRae|1991|p=17}}{{refn|group=note |McRae quotes "[a] sectarian biography of Vivekananda,"{{sfn|McRae|1991|p=16}} namely Sailendra Nath Dhar ''A Comprehensive Biography of Swami Vivekananda, Part One'', (Madras, India: Vivekananda Prakashan Kendra, 1975), p. 461, which "describes his speech on the opening day".{{sfn|McRae|1991|p=34, note 20}}}} Vivekananda quoted one illustrative passage from the "[[Shiva mahimna stotram]]" (Verse 7): "As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take, through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee!" and another from the Bhagavad Gita (4.11) "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths that in the end lead to Me."{{sfn|McRae|1991|pp=18}} According to Sailendra Nath Dhar, "it was only a short speech, but it voiced the spirit of the Parliament."{{Sfn|McRae|1991|pp=18}}{{Sfn|Prabhananda|2003|p=234}}

Parliament President [[John Henry Barrows]] said, "India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful influence over his auditors".{{Sfn|Bhuyan|2003|p=17}} Vivekananda attracted widespread attention in the press, which called him the "cyclonic monk from India". The ''New York Critique'' wrote, "He is an orator by divine right, and his strong, intelligent face in its picturesque setting of yellow and orange was hardly less interesting than those earnest words, and the rich, rhythmical utterance he gave them". The ''[[New York Herald]]'' noted, "Vivekananda is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send [[Christian missionary|missionaries]] to this learned nation".{{Sfn|Farquhar|1915|p = 202}} American newspapers reported Vivekananda as "the greatest figure in the parliament of religions" and "the most popular and influential man in the parliament".{{Sfn|Sharma|1988|p=87}}
The ''[[Boston Evening Transcript]]'' reported that Vivekananda was "a great favourite at the parliament... if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded".{{Sfn|Adiswarananda|2006|pp=177–179}} He spoke [[s:The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Addresses at The Parliament of Religions|several more times]] "at receptions, the scientific section, and private homes"{{sfn|McRae|1991|p=17}} on topics related to Hinduism, [[Buddhism]] and harmony among religions. Vivekananda's speeches at the Parliament had the common theme of universality, emphasising religious tolerance.{{Sfn|Bhuyan|2003|p=18}} He soon became known as a "handsome oriental" and made a huge impression as an orator.{{Sfn|Thomas|2003|pp=74–77}} Hearing Vivekananda speak, Harvard psychology professor [[William James]] said, "that man is simply a wonder for oratorical power. He is an honor to humanity."<ref>{{cite web|title=When East Met West – in 1893|url=https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2019/9/6/when-east-met-west-in-1893?rq=Vivekananda|website=The Attic|access-date=5 November 2019|archive-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420050443/https://www.theattic.space/home-page-blogs/2019/9/6/when-east-met-west-in-1893?rq=Vivekananda|url-status=dead}}</ref>