Editing Swami Vivekananda (section)

===Western esotericism===

Via his affiliations with [[Keshub Chandra Sen]]'s ''[[Nava Vidhan]]'',{{sfn|Michelis|2004|p=99}} the [[Freemasonry]] lodge,{{sfn|Michelis|2004|p=100}} the [[Sadharan Brahmo Samaj]],{{sfn|Michelis|2004|p=99}}{{sfn|Sen|2006|pp=12–14}}{{sfn|Banhatti|1995|p=8}}{{sfn|Badrinath|2006|p=20}} and Sen's [[Band of Hope]], Vivekananda became acquainted with Western [[Western esotericism|esotericism]].{{sfn|Michelis|2004|p=19-90, 97-100}} His knowledge of Western esotericism aided his success in Western esoteric circles, beginning with his speech in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions. He adapted traditional Hindu ideas and religiosity to suit the needs and understandings of his Western audiences, particularly those familiar with Western esoteric traditions and movements such as [[Transcendentalism]] and [[New thought]].{{sfn|Michelis|2004|p=119-123}}

Vivekananda's notion of [[Involution (esoterism)|involution]] was probably influenced by western [[Theosophy|Theosophists]], Darwin's notion of evolution, and possibly also the [[Samkhya]] term ''[[Satkaryavada|sātkarya]]''.{{sfn|Heehs|2020|p=175}} According to Meera Nanda, "Vivekananda uses the word involution exactly how it appears in Theosophy: the descent, or the involvement, of divine consciousness into matter."{{sfn|Nanda|2010|p=335}} Theosophic ideas on involution have "much in common" with "theories of the descent of God in Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and other esoteric schools".{{sfn|Heehs|2020|p=175}} With spirit, Vivekananda refers to ''[[prana]]'' or ''[[purusha]]'', derived from Samkhya and [[classical yoga]] as presented by Patanjali in the [[Yoga sutras]].{{sfn|Nanda|2010|p=335}}