Swami Vivekananda catapulted Vedanta out of dusty manuscript shelves and into the heartbeat of modern life. By pitching non-dualism (Advaita) as a universal truth rather than a sectarian doctrine, he planted seeds for today’s global spirituality. His 1893 address at the Chicago Parliament of Religions still reads like a manifesto for interfaith harmony—an idea that underpins this year’s UNESCO forum on inclusive spirituality.

“Practical Vedanta” became his trademark: the notion that service to humanity equals worship of the divine. That tagline—service as sacred—is echoed by countless NGOs and social enterprises, from climate action startups emerging at the 2023 Youth for Earth Summit in Mumbai to grassroots education drives in rural India. It’s no small potatoes to claim that tapping inner divinity fuels real-world change.

Raja Yoga, as Vivekananda taught it, also left a lasting footprint. His 1896 book demystified meditation for a scientifically minded West, and today’s mindfulness apps—Headspace, Calm or the Apple Watch’s Breathe feature—owe a nod to his breezy, practical style. Even AI ethics debates at the 2025 Global AI & Ethics conference in Geneva drew on Vedantic ideas of unified consciousness, echoing his plea for a human-centered approach to emerging tech.

Vivekananda’s universalism influenced a spectrum of thinkers: William James called him a “great soul,” Einstein admired his openness, and modern wellness coaches still mine his teachings for daily resilience hacks. When CEOs talk about “mindful leadership,” they’re essentially riffing on his call for self-realization as the bedrock of ethical action.

At its core, today’s Neo-Vedanta blends head and heart—ancient insight with cutting-edge science. It’s more than spiritual fluff; it’s a toolbox for tackling burnout, bridging cultural divides, and steering tech toward the common good. Vivekananda’s legacy isn’t some relic of the past but a live wire, sparking fresh conversations at conferences, on podcasts and around kitchen tables worldwide.