Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was a pioneering figure in introducing yoga and the wisdom of Hinduism to the West. A learned scholar and wandering monk, in 1893 he traveled to Chicago for the World Parliament of Religions where he immediately won acclaim as an exceptional spiritual teacher. He established the first Vedanta centers in the United States and made a tremendous impression on a range of scholars, writers, and spiritual seekers. His message included an openness to other religions, the quest for God-consciousness within one's own soul, and the relation between spirituality and social concern. He died at the age of 39.