AN INTERVIEW WITH SWAMI ABHEDANANDA (Sep )

Summary

In a 1917-18 interview with *The Vedanta Kesari*, Swami Abhedananda explained Vedantic principles, emphasizing the immortality of the soul and the concept of reincarnation. He stated that after death, souls do not immediately go to heaven or hell but remain in a transitional spiritual state, eventually being judged based on their earthly actions. He rejected eternal damnation, asserting that all souls will eventually achieve perfection. According to Vedanta, the soul’s next life is determined by past actions (karma), a universal law of cause and effect that aligns with scientific principles like causation and action-reaction. Parents, he clarified, are merely channels for souls to assume material forms, with souls entering new bodies based on their desires. The interview also highlighted Vedanta’s inclusive approach, recognizing diverse spiritual paths and religious traditions without sectarian limitations. Vedanta prioritizes moral behavior rooted in the spiritual unity of existence rather than scriptural mandates, embracing teachings from all great spiritual figures as expressions of the Divine. Swami Abhedananda stressed that Vedanta, as a universal and impersonal philosophy, avoids reliance on any founder’s personality, unlike religions centered on specific figures. He concluded by noting the integration of religion, science, and philosophy in Indian thought, asserting that man-made laws are temporary and that civilizations based on commercialism are unsustainable.