WHAT ARE WE NOW? (Apr )
By Swami Vivekananda
Summary
In "What Are We Now?" (April 2019), Swami Vivekananda critiques the state of society, emphasizing physical and moral weaknesses as root causes of societal decline. He describes people as self-seeking, lazy, and overly focused on personal comforts, leading to a life of idleness and disorganization. He highlights traits like cruelty, selfishness, quarreling, and jealousy, along with physical weakness, which he attributes to centuries of oppression and a lack of self-reliance. Vivekananda points out a reliance on external saviors and a lack of enterprise, business acumen, or integrity, further weakening societal progress. He criticizes the habit of empty talk without action, particularly in reforms, which he sees as ineffective due to weak resolve and faith. Vivekananda also condemns the growing tendency to ridicule sacred values, calling it a national vice. He stresses the need to overcome physical weakness and mental sloth to rebuild strength and seriousness, urging society to abandon these negative traits to avoid further ridicule and stagnation. The text underscores his belief that physical and moral renewal are essential for progress.
Conclusion
Swami Vivekananda’s stark assessment of societal decay remains disturbingly relevant, framing a century-old mirror to contemporary challenges. Physical and mental weakness, he argues, underpin systemic issues—laziness, disorganization, and selfishness—fueling a cycle of stagnation and conflict. The emphasis on external saviors over self-reliance, coupled with the paralysis of "speaking and not doing," highlights a profound disconnect between ideals and action. His critique of societal fragmentation, whether through quarrels or the ridicule of sacred values, underscores the erosion of collective purpose. Vivekananda’s call to address physical and moral weakness serves as both warning and catalyst, urging a reclamation of agency and integrity to break the cycle of dependency and disunity.