Madame Marie Louise/Swami Abhayananda, one of Swami Vivekananda's first two Western-born followers, was initiated into sannyasa in 1895 by Swami Vivekananda in the United States.
She had been connected with radical movements in New York,
where she had resided as a naturalized American citizen, while being French by
origin.
She threatened to switch her allegiance to Theosophy in
1897, citing a lack of support as head of the New York Vedanta Society during
Vivekananda's absence in England.
She founded the Advaita Society in Chicago shortly after.
Abhayananda left the Ramakrishna organization in 1899 after
teaching independently in India, reportedly because Vivekananda had preached
that Ramakrishna was an avatar, however Vivekananda's adherents have ascribed
her behavior to personal ambition.
She went on to develop the New York-based School of Mind and
Soul Culture.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
See also:
Avatara; Ramakrishna Math and Mission; Ramakrishna, Sri; Samnyasa; Theosophy and the Theosophical Society; Vivekananda, Swami
References And Further Reading:
French, H.W. 1974. The Swan’s Wide Waters. New York: Kennikat Press.
