Called Shrutidhara (person with excellent memory) due to sharp memory.

1880: Joined Keshab Chandra Sen's Nava Vidhan.

1884: Member of Sadharan Brahmo Samaj.

Sen introduced him to Ramakrishna.

Inspired by Ramakrishna, accepted him as Guru.

After Ramakrishna's death (1886), established Math in Baranagar (West Bengal).

Lived as monk, became Swami Vivekananda.

1888-1893: Traveled vastly in India, observed diverse traditions, developed sympathy for suffering, resolved to uplift nation.

1893: Reached Chicago, spoke at Parliament of Religions.

Speech began with 'Sisters and brothers of America', received standing ovation.

1897: Returned to India, received warm welcome.

May 1897: Founded Ramakrishna Mission for Social Service in Calcutta.

Ramakrishna Math and Mission headquarters: Belur Math (West Bengal).

Founded two journals: Prabuddha Bharata (English) and Udbhodan (Bengali).

Died: July 1902, while meditating.

Raja Yoga (1896)
Karma Yoga (1896)
Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897)
Jnana Yoga (1899)
My Master (1901)
The Life Divine
The Synthesis of Yoga
Essays on The Gita
The Secret of The Veda
Hymns to the Mystic Fire
The Upanishads
The Renaissance in India
War and Self-determination
The Human Cycle
The Ideal of Human Unity
The Future Poetry
Letters (collected in 3 volumes of Letters on Yoga).
Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol (epic poem in blank verse, based on Mahabharata theology).

Vedanta: God is real, visible world unreal.
Goal: absorption of individual soul into supreme soul (liberation through true knowledge).
Three principles: oneness of God/man, solidarity of universe.
Not renunciation, but selfless action for humanity (service to man = service to God).
Universal tolerance: different faiths are paths to same goal.

Indians should be proud of history, culture, religion.
Religion is dominant force of nationalism.
Social reforms are secondary, religion is main theme.
Built foundations of religious theory of nationalism (later advocated by Bipin Chandra Pal, Aurobindo Ghosh).
Critical of British rule: Indians lost confidence, famine, poverty, deprived.
National regeneration needs fearless people demanding rights.
Caste system divided society, created inferiority/superiority.
Variety of languages/cultures/religions, but common ground among Indians.
Religion was unifying force, spirituality was blood of India.
Aurobindo defined nationalism as manifestation of divine on earth, Bipinchandra as 'Viratpurusha'.

Condemned oppressive caste system.
View similar to Gandhi: caste as socio-functional, not hereditary.
Not wrong/oppressive initially, but degenerated into inequality.
Accepted degeneration, but didn't approve conversion or separate representation for lower castes (would lead to permanent divide, weaken national movement).