WHAT MEETS THE EYE OF THE EUROPEAN TRAVELER IN INDIA

Devastation by violent plague and cholera; malaria eating into the very vitals of the nation; starvation and semi-starvation as second nature; death-like famine often dancing its tragic... dance; the Kurukshetra (battlefield) of malady and misery, the huge cremation ground, strewn with the dead bones of lost hope, activity, joy and courage; and in the midst of that, sitting in august silence, the Yogi, absorbed in deep communion with the Spirit, with no other goal in the life than Moksha: This is what meets the eye of the European traveler in India.

- Swami Vivekananda
(Book: The east and the west - Swami Vivekananda Page - 5)

VIKRAM SATH AT HIS BEST..

NDTV facilitated India’s 25 Greatest Global Living legends @ Rastrapati Bhawan on Dec 14, 2013. When Vikram Sath (One of the 25 living legends of India) was called to share his three advices to youth of India, he ...shared below three corner stones which can act as elevated pedestal for any individual in 2014.

Intolerance is violence: -

My first piece of advice is …as great Ela Bhatt said “Poverty is violence. And poverty is violence with the acquiescence of society”. I would say in a perfectly parallel mode that “Intolerance is violence (applause). And accepted…. (Applause) intolerance is violence with acquiescence of society“.

There is no point in rapping yourself up in colors of a flag, when you don’t realize that the flag has more than one component. There are different colors in it, they mean different things, and in the heart of it – is the wheel. The wheel of Buddhism – you might call it, but really it's the wheel of Justice, the wheel of dharm, the wheel of recycle of birth, the wheel of law.........

We cannot have intolerance in family; you can see how disastrous that would be! And we cannot certainly have a spirit of intolerance within our country, as a whole….

Go with yourself: -

And the second one is …You may as well be yourself because really there is no else you can be. We are here for such a ridiculously short time, in this ridiculous trivial corner of the universe that if we aren’t ourselves than what’s the point of doing anything at all. So I would say in all matters…, whether it’s your profession, whether it’s your beliefs or whether it's the person you love, you must go at heart with who you are? Not what someone else tells you…Not what your clan tells you….Not even what unjust law tells you, go with yourself….!?

Respect your parents: -

And the third thing which I would say is…..Your parents are who make you who you are, in case of I, loving…hardworking, generous hearted parents…. I can only say I really vow more to them, then I can describe…Thank you....

THE LAW OF KARMA MUST HAVE ITS POUND OF FLESH

" Possibly the priest says his routine words and expects something. Sixty thousand people look to the skies and pray and pay the priest. Month after month they still look, still pay and pray. ...Think of that! Is it not lunacy? What else is it? Who is responsible? You may preach religion, but to excite the minds of undeveloped children...! You will have to suffer for that. In your heart of hearts, what are you? For every weakening thought you have put into anybody's head you will have to pay with compound interest. The law of Karma must have its pound of flesh......"

- Swami Vivekananda

WORK THROUGH YOGA [ CONCENTRATION ]

Gita teaches Karma - Yoga. We should work through Yoga ( concentration ). In such concentration in action ( Karma - Yoga ), there is no consciousness of the lower ego present. The consciousness that I doing this and that is never present when one works through Yoga.

- Swami Vivekananda [ Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - V5, Page 248 ]

THE HEART MUST BECOME A BURIAL GROUND

“The heart must become a burial ground” “Pride, selfishness, and desire all broken into dust” “Then and then alone will the Mother (Kali) dance there!”

- Swami Vivekananda
[From: Sister Nivedita - The Master as I Saw Him]

ADAPTABILITY - THE WHOLE MYSTERY OF LIFE

 What I say is not “Reform ", but “Move on". Nothing is too bad to reform. Adaptability is the whole mystery of life - the principle underneath, which serves to unfold it. Adjustment or adaptation i...s the outcome of the self-pitted against external forces tending to suppress it. He who adjusts himself best lives the longest. Even if I do not preach this, society is changing, it must change.

- Swami Vivekananda

I WANT SAPPERS AND MINERS IN THE ARMY OF RELIGION

I want sappers and miners in the army of religion. So, boys, set yourselves to the task of training your muscles. For ascetics, mortification is all right, for workers, well - developed bodies, muscles of iron and nerves of steel

- Swami Vivekananda

COMMON RUN OF MEN

 

“Won’t you do something to show that you are in any way removed from the common run of men?”

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XLV Brothers

TO WHOM SHALL I BOW DOWN ?

What does the Advaitist preach? He dethrones all the gods that ever existed, or ever will exist in the universe and places on that throne the Self of man, the Atman, higher than the sun and the moon, higher than the heavens, greater than this great universe itself. No books, no scriptures, no science can ever imagine the glory of the Self that appears as man, the most glorious God that ever was, the only God that ever existed, exists, or ever will exist. I am to worship, therefore, none but myself. "I worship my Self," says the Advaitist. To whom shall I bow down? I salute my Self.

 - Swami Vivekananda
 The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Jnana-Yoga/The Atman

CREEDS AND SECTS - THEY ARE FOR CHILDREN

 

"Creeds and sects have their parts to play, but they are for children, they last but temporarily. Books never make religions, but religions make books. We must never forget that. No book ever created God, but God inspired all the great book...s. And no book ever created a soul. We must never forget that. "

- Swami Vivekananda
Talk given at Unity Hall, Hartford (Connecticut), USA, on March 8, 1895, as reported in ”Hartford Times " ( March 11, 1895 )See More

LISTENING TO VIVEKANANDA

"I was listening to Vivekananda this morning an hour. I believe him to be the reincarnation of some great spirit, perhaps Buddha, perhaps Christ. He is so simple, so pure, so unselfish..... His discourses this morning was most uplifting, his mere presence is that."

—Ella Wheeler Wilcox
(A celebrated journalist & poetess of Chicago, America)

"I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true “.

LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION

" Liberty of thought and action is the only condition of life, of growth and wellbeing." Where it does not exist, the man, the race, the nation must go down.

- Swami Vivekananda

 

THIS IS A BATTLEFIELD, FIGHT YOUR WAY OUT.

" This is a battlefield, fight your way out. Life in this world is an attempt to see God. Make your life a manifestation of WILL strengthened by renunication "

- Swami Vivekananda
[Bhagavad Gita - As viewed by Swami Vivekananda ]

THAT IS - THE POSITION OF STRENGHT

The solution of the Vedanta is that we are not bound, we are free already. Not only so, but to say or to think that we are bound is dangerous — it is a mistake, it is self-hypnotism. As soon as you say, "I am bound," "I am weak," "I am helpless," woe unto you; you rivet one more chain upon yourself. Do not say it, do not think it. I have heard of a man who live...d in a forest and used to repeat day and night, "Shivoham" — I am the Blessed One — and one day a tiger fell upon him and dragged him away to kill him; people on the other side of the river saw it, and heard the voice so long as voice remained in him, saying, "Shivoham" — even in the very jaws of the tiger. There have been many such men. There have been cases of men who, while being cut to pieces, have blessed their enemies. "I am He, I am He; and so art thou. I am pure and perfect and so are all my enemies. You are He, and so am I." That is - the position of strength.

- Swami Vivekananda

THIS LIFE IS HARD FACT; WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH IT BOLDLY

This life is a hard fact; work your way through it boldly, though it may be adamantine; no matter, the soul is stronger. It lays no responsiblity on little gods; for you are the makers of your own fortunes.

- Swami Vivekananda

THE AWAKENING OF THE MASSES MUST COME FIRST

" The uplift of the women, the awakening of the masses must come first, and then only can any real good come about for the country, for INDIA "

- Swami Vivekananda
 

HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION

" The history of civilization is the progressive reading of spirit into matter " - Swami Vivekananda

KEEP UP THE DEEPEST MENTAL POISE

All great undertakings are achieved through mighty obstacles. Keep up the deepest mental poise. Take not even the slightest notice of what puerile creatures may be saying against you.

- Swami Vivekananda

WE MUST BECOME WORLD-MOVERS, FOR EVERYTHING IS IN US

 

We have to remember that you, I and every one of us will be called upon to become Rishis; and we must have faith in ourselves; we must become world-movers, for everything is in us.

- Swami Vivekananda

WE HAVE TO BECOME ABHIH, FEARLESS AND OUR TASK WILL BE DONE

We have to become Abhih, fearless, and our task will be done. Arise, awake, for your country needs this tremendous sacrifice.

- Swami Vivekananda

MEN, MIND AND NOT BRUTES

India wants the sacrifice of atleast a thousand of her young men - men, mind, and not brutes.

- Swami Vivekananda

IF MATTER IS POWERFUL, THOUGHT IS OMNIPOTENT

Whatever you do, think well on it. All your actions will be magnified, transformed, deified, by the very power of the thought. If matter is powerful, thought is omnipotent.

- Swami Vivekananda

WITHIN THERE IS THE LION - THE ETERNALLY PURE

Within there is the lion - the eternally pure, illumined and ever-free Atman; and directly one realizes Him through meditation and concentration, this world of Maya vanishes.

- Swami Vivekananda

 

LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND ACTION IS THE ONLY CONDITION OF LIFE

" Liberty of thought and action is the only condition of life, of growth and well being. Where it does not exist, the man, the race, the nation must go down "

- Swami Vivekananda

IT WILL RAISE YOU HIGHER

If you remember what I say, think of it, and digest it, it will be yours, it will raise you higher, and make you capable of understanding and living in truth.

- Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda - News paper Reports

AN ORIENTAL GOD IN NEW YORK.

 

Davenport Daily Republican
Jan 30, 1896

......IT SHOULD BE DONE NO DOUBT WHEN SUCH BRAVE SOULS AS YOU STILL HOLD YOUR OWN.

It is a great work to bring this world into a spirit of sympathy with each other but it should be done no doubt when such brave souls as you still hold your own. Lord help you ever and ever my brother and may you live long to carry on the mighty work you and your society has undertaken.

- Swami Vivekananda
54 W. 33 NEW YORK, 25th April, 1895.

IT IS THAT ETERNAL LOVE, UNRUFFLED EQUANIMITY UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Truth will preach itself, it will not die for the want of the helping hands of me! "Making happiness and misery the same, making success and failure the same, fight thou on" (Gita). It is that eternal love, unruffled equanimity under all circumstances, and perfect freedom from jealousy or animosity that will tell. That will tell, nothing else. 

Yours,
VIVEKANANDA
1895

A WORD FOR YOU.

. . . A word for you. Remember always, I may not see you again. Be moral. Be brave. Be a heart-whole man. Strictly moral, brave unto desperation. Don't bother your head with religious theories. Cowards only sin, brave men never, no, not even in mind. Try to love anybody and everybody. Be a man and try to make those immediately under your care, namely Ram, Krishnamayi, and Indu, brave, moral.

- Swami Vivekananda
Allahabad
5th January, 1890.
My Dear Fakir,

THE DIFFERENCE WAS MADE BY PERSONALITY

" Compare the great teachers of religion with the great philosophers. The philosophers scarcely influenced anybody's inner man, and yet they wrote most marevellous books. The religious teachers, on the other hand, moved countries in their lifetime. The difference was made by personality. In the philosopher it is a faint personality that influences; in the great prophets it is tremendous. In the former we touch the intellect, in the latter we touch life. "

- Swami Vivekananda
Prophert and Pathfinder - 224

I CARE ONLY FOR THE SPIRIT

" I am no politician or political agitator. I care only for the spirit. When it is right, everything will be righted by itself "

- Swami Vivekananda

SO STAND UP MEN AND WOMEN, DARE TO BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH, DARE TO PRACTICE THE TRUTH !!!

 

“It was the great King Bhartrihari¹ who said – “Let the sages blame or let them praise; let the goddess of fortune come or let her go wherever she lik...es; let death come to-day, or let it come in hundreds of years; he indeed is the steady man who does not move one inch from the way of truth.”

“So stand up men and women, dare to believe in the truth, dare to practice the truth!”

- Swami Vivekananda

HE SEETH THE SPARROW'S FALL

It is all He! In the tiger and in the lamb, in the saint and sinner all He! In Him I have taken my refuge, body, soul, and Atman. Will He leave me now after carrying me in His arms all my life? Not a drop will be in the ocean, not a twig in the deepest forest, not a crumb in the house of the god of wealth, if the Lord is not merciful. Streams will be in the desert and the beggar will have plenty, if He wills it. He seeth the sparrow's fall. Are these but words, mother, or literal, actual life?

- Swami Vivekananda
 

CHARACTER IS REPEATED HABITS, AND REPEATED HABITS ALONE CAN REFORM CHARACTER

The only remedy for bad habits is counter habits; all the bad habits that have left their impressions are to be controlled by good habits. Go on doing good, thinking holy thoughts continuously; that is the only way to suppress base impressions. Never say any man is hopeless, because he only represents a character, a bundle of habits, which can be checked by new and better ones. Character is repeated habits, and repeated habits alone can reform character.

- Swami Vivekananda

THIS MISERY THAT I AM SUFFERING IS OF MY OWN DOING, AND THAT VERY THING PROVES THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE UNDONE BY ME ALONE

 

Say, " This misery that I am suffering is of my own doing, and that very thing proves that it will have to be undone by me alone. " That which I created, I can demolish; that which is created by someone else, I shall never be able to destroy. Therefore, stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny.

- Swami Vivekananda
[ Page 28 - Education for character ]

WHAT ARE MEN ?

What are men ? He is with me, the Beloved. He was with me when I was in America, in England, when I was roaming about unknown from place to place in India. What do I care about what they talk - the babies, they do not know any better. What! I, who have realised the Spirit, and the vanity of all earthly nonsense, to be swerved from my path by babies prattle ? ...............

- Swami Vivekananda

NEITHER BY PROGENY NOR WEALTH

Dispciple : - If it is so, Swamiji, how is it then that the texts on Bhakti say that too much of renunciation kills the feelings that make for tenderness ?

Swamiji : - Throw away, I say, texts which teach things like that! Without renunciation, without burning dispassion for sense-object, without turning away from wealth and lust as from filthy abominations - " Never can one attain salvation even in hundreds of Brahm's cycles." Repeating the names of the Lord, mediation, worship, offering libations in sacred fire, penance - all these are for bringing forth renunciation. One who has not gained renunciation, know his efforts to be like unto those of the man who is pulling at the oars all the while that the boat is at anchor. - " Neither by progeny nor wealth, but by renunciation alone some attained immortality ".

- Swami Vivekananda
[ Page 243 - Talks with Swami Vivekananda ]

HOW EASY IT IS TO INTERPRET SLAVERY AS DUTY

" How easy it is to interpret slavery as duty - the morbid attachment of flesh for flesh as duty! Men go out into the world and struggle and fight for money or for any other thing to which they get attached. Ask them why they do it. They say, " It is a duty." It is the absurd greed for gold and gain, and they try to cover it with a few flowers. "

- Swami Vivekananda

HAVE FIRE AND SPREAD ALL OVER

Have fire and spread all over. Work, work. Be the servant while leading, be unselfish, and never listen to one friend in private accusing another. 

- Swami Vivekananda 

THERE MAN STANDS AS SPIRIT

 

There is a conflict in Arjuna's heart between his emotionalism and his duty. The nearer we are to [ beasts and ] birds, the more we are in the hells of emotion. We call it love. It is self - hypnotization. We are under the control of our [ ...emotions ] like animals. A cow can sacrifice its life for its young. Every animal can. What of that ? It is not blind, bird like emotion that leads to perfection....[ To reach ] the eternal consciousness, that is the goal of man! There emotion has no place, nor sentimentalism, nor anything that belongs to the senses - only the light of pure reason. [ There ] man stands as spirit.

- Swami Vivekananda

IS THERE ANYTHING DIFFICULT FOR THE HERO ?

 

Disciple: Sir, it is so difficult to direct this uncontrolled mind towards Brahman.

Swamiji: Is there anything difficult for the hero? Only faint hearts speak so. - Mukti is easy of attainment ...only to the hero - but not to cowards. "

Says the Gita, " By renunciation and by practice is the mind brought under control, O Arjuna. "

- Swami Vivekananda
[ From Book: Bhagavad Gita as viewed by Swami Vivekananda ]See More

BUT YOUR SPIRIT. PULL YOURSELF OUT OF DIFFICULTIES BY YOURSELF!

There is no help for man. None ever was, none is, and none will be. Why should there be ? Are you not men and women ? Are the lords of the earth to be helped by others ? Are you not ashamed ? You will be helped when you are reduced to dust. But you are spirit. Pull yourself out of difficulties by yourself! Save yourself by yourself! There is none to help you - never was. To think that there is, is sweet delusion. It comes to no good. 

- Swami Vivekananda
Bhagavad Gita as Viewed by Swami Vivekananda

AGAIN, ONWARD, FORWARD!

Don't worry, do not fear. Everything before you will be swept away......Hail to MA who delights in battle!........Truly speaking, there's no greater vice than cowardice.......Take one blow and deliver ten - that is manliness.........Have no fear. She is coming and you will conquer all, you will conquer the whole world with great power.........Again, onward, forward!

- Swami Vivekananda

DO NOT SEEK HELP FROM ANYONE.

It is a termendous error to feel helpless. Do not seek help from anyone. We are our own help. If we cannot help ourselves, there is none to help us. This is the lest and greatest lesson, and Oh, what a time it takes to learn it! We seem to get hold of it, and the next moment the old wave comes. The back bone breaks. We weaken and again grasp for that superstition and help. Just think of that huge mass of misery, and all caused by this false idea of going to seek for help!

- Swami Vivekananda

THIRUVANNAMALAI - I AM ONE OF THE PROUDEST MEN EVER BORN

 

 

Sunday 23rd morning reached Thiruvannamalai { Anna means all powerful in Tamil and malai means hills } at around 3:00 AM, and was able to witness once in a life time image; Sea of people coming around the holy hill on bare foot { called as “Girivalam – in tamil" and to come one full around on road which covers about 14 km’s }. Kids, children, their parents [young and old] participated in this ritual.
One thing which is un-comprehensible by human mind is, why do people like us, who don’t get up from their beds ever after sun rise [ unless it is money driven ], get up at 3:00 AM or before, for GOD [ or faith or for selfish motives or whatever it can be categorized ] venture to take such holy journey, with logical reason or not, one thing which is indicative is the greatness of India and it’s might to move sea of people, in this fashion.

If these very minds are introduced [in the form of eductiveness] towards a great vision and rightness of purpose, an unthinkable astonishing INDIA will arise for reformation of entire world.

Will people of India [US] give any heed to such transformation, is an answer which time alone can answer, but we have a duty to perform [as Indian’s] which is very well portrayed in the below quote of Swami Vivekananda: -

 “I am one of the proudest men ever born, but let me tell you frankly, it is not for myself, but on account of my ancestry “.

Thanks
Rajhashekher BC - Raj
25th, June, 2013  

NONSENSE! WE ARE IMBECILES THAT IS WHAT WE ARE !!!

In this short life there is no time for the exchange of compliments. We can compare notes and compliment each other to our hearts' content after the battle is finished. Now, do not talk; work, work! work! I do not see anything permanent you have done in India — I do not see any centre you have made — I do not see any temple or hall you have erected — I do not see anybody joining hands with you. There is too much talk, talk, talk! We are great, we are great! Nonsense! We are imbeciles; that is what we are!

- Swami Vivekananda

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE SPENT IN TALKING ABOUT FRAUDS AND CRANS

Enough of books and theories. It is the life that is the highest and the only way to stir the hearts of people; it carries the personal magnetism. . . . The Lord is giving me a deeper and deeper insight every day. Work, work, work. . . . Truce to foolish talk; talk of the Lord. Life is too short to be spent in talking about frauds and cranks.

- Swami Vivekananda
To G.G. Narasimhachariar
CHICAGO
11th January, 1895
DEAR G. G
 

WORK ON, BE LIONS

To G.G. Narasimhachariar
CHICAGO,
11th January, 1895.

In future do not pay any heed to what people say either for or against you or me. Work on, be lions; and the Lord will bless you. I shall work incessantly until I die, and even after death I shall work for the good of the world.
VIVEKANANDA.

PS. Tell Alasinga, Kidi, Dr. Balaji, and all the others not to pin their faith on what Tom, Dick, and Harry say for or against us, but to concentrate all their energy on work.

Swami Vivekananda Letters - INSPIRED SOULTS LIKE YOURSELF

Dear friend,

Many many thanks for your very instructive book. I have been going through a few pages already and have already learned a few great and beautiful lessons - one specially where you insist that the life of Lord Jesus is the only commentary to His teachings as recorded contradict the life we are sure that the record was wrong. That is wonderful insight and keen reason. I am sure to read the book several times over and learn many a lesson. May the Lord speak through you long - for the world needs and never more than now inspired souls like yourself.

Ever yours in the Lord,
Vivekananda
63 St George's Road, London SW. July 17th.  

WHO HAS EVER BECOME GREAT

Brought up in the lap of luxury, lying on a bed of roses, and never shedding a tear, who has ever become great, who has ever unfolded the Brahman within ?

- Swami Vivekananda
[ Letters of Swami Vivekananda - Page 445 ]

WE BEGIN, ANEW BUT ON ADAMANTINE FOUNDATIONS.

Everywhere it is better to have a whirlwind come over the work. That clears the atmosphere & gives us a true insight into the nature of things. We begin, anew but on adamantine foundations.

I am strong very strong now - I always am when left to stand alone. May you be strong very strong always.

Ever yours with love and blessings,

- Swami Vivekananda
2nd September 1899

SKILLFUL MANAGEMENT

Skillful management lies in giving every man work after his own heart.

- Swami Vivekananda
Letters of Swami Vivekananda - 379

THE RELIGION

We want to lead mankind to the place where - there is neither the Vedas, nor the Bible, nor the Koran; yet this has to be done by harmonizing the Vedas, the Bible, and the Koran. Mankind ought to be taught that religions are but the varied expressions of the THE RELIGION, which is Oneness, so that each may choose the path that suits him best.

- Swami Vivekananda
Letters of Swami Vivekananda - 380

GIVE UP HOPE, SAYS THE VEDANTA

Give up hope, says the Vedanta. Why should you hope? You have everything, nay, you are everything. What are you hoping for? If a king goes mad, and runs about trying to find the king of his country, he will never find him, because he is the king himself. He may go through every village and city in his own country, seeking in every house, weeping and wailing, but he will never find him, because he is the king himself. It is better that we know we are God and give up this fool's search after Him; and knowing that we are God we become happy and contented. Give up all these mad pursuits, and then play your part in the universe, as an actor on the stage.

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Practical Vedanta and other lectures/Practical Vedanta: Part II