The Vedanta Society of New York (VSNY) is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, it is the Order’s first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. This was an historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was first sown here in New York over a century ago. The Vedanta Society of New York bases its teachings on the system of Vedanta, especially as explained by Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886) and his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) and as demonstrated in their lives. Swami Vivekananda was the first teacher of Vedanta to come to the West, drawing wide acclaim by his electrifying addresses at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. After the conclusion of the Parliament, Swami Vivekananda toured the USA and lectured extensively in the Northeast. Slowly, a group of eager students, keen to learn more about Vedanta gathered about the Swami, and the first Vedanta Center in the West was established in New York City.
