TO THE LIVING GOD WHO DWELLS IN THE PERSONS OF THE POOR

. . . Curtail the expenses of worship to a rupee or two per mensem. The children of the Lord are dying of starvation. . . . Worship with water and Tulasi leaves alone, and let the allowance for His Bhoga (food offerings) be spent in offering food to the Living God who dwells in the persons of the poor — then will His grace descend on everything. - Swami Vivekananda Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 6, Page 404

THAT THERE IS NO OTHER OBJECT IN WORK EXCEPT THE PURIFICTION OF THE SOUL

"If you have known the Atman as the one existence and that nothing else exists, for whom, for what desire, do you trouble yourself?" Through Maya all this doing good etc. came into my brain--now they are leaving me. I get more and more convinced that there is no other object in work except the purification of the soul--to make it fit for

knowledge. This world with its good and evil will go on in various forms. Only the evil and good will take new names and new seats. My soul is hankering after peace and rest eternal undisturbed. "Live alone, live alone. He who is alone never comes into conflict with others--never disturbs others, is never disturbed by others." - Swami Vivakananda Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume - 6, Page 356

THE POOR, THE ILLITERATE, THE IGNORANT, THE AFFLICTED - LET THESE BE YOUR GOD - KNOW THAT SERVICE TO THESE ALONE IS THE HIGHEST RELIGION

Work, worship, and Jnana (knowledge) — first work, and your mind will be purified; otherwise everything will be fruitless like pouring oblations on a pile of ashes instead of in the sacred fire. When Gunanidhi comes, move from door to door of the poor and the destitute in every village of Rajputana. If people object to the kind of food you take, give it up immediately. It is preferable to live on grass for the sake of doing good to others. The Geruâ robe is not for enjoyment. It is the banner of heroic work. You must give your body, mind, and speech to “the welfare of the world”. You have read — “मातृदेवो भव, पितृदेवो भव — Look upon your mother as God, look upon your father as God” — but I say “दरिद्रदेवो भव, मूर्खदेवो भव — The poor, the illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted — let these be your God.” Know that service to these alone is the highest religion. Swami Vivekananda Page 288, Epistles, Volume 6, Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda