On September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda, a young Hindu monk from India, addressed the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago with the words "Sisters and brothers of America" — receiving a standing ovation. Over several days, he presented Vedanta philosophy, the idea that all religions are paths to the same truth, and the spiritual traditions of India to a Western audience largely ignorant of them. His speeches electrified the audience and sparked widespread Western interest in Hindu philosophy, yoga, and meditation. Vivekananda went on to found the Ramakrishna Mission and became a symbol of India's spiritual contribution to the modern world.
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