WHAT IS RELIGION ?

What is religion? To pray, "Give me this and that"? Foolish ideas of religion! Those who believe them have no true idea of God and soul. My Master used to say, "The vulture rise higher and higher until he becomes a spec...k, but his eye is always on the piece of rotten carrion on the earth." After all, what is the result of your ideas of religion? To cleanse the streets and have more bread and clothes? Who cares for bread and clothes? Millions come and go every minute. Who cares? Why care for the joys and vicissitudes of this little world?

Go beyond that if you dare; go beyond law, let the whole universe vanish, and stand alone.

"I am Existence-Absolute, Knowledge-Absolute, Bliss-Absolute; I am He, I am He."

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Lectures and Discourses/The Free Soul

IN YOU IS ALL POWER.

 What makes you weep, my friend? In you is all power. Summon up your all-powerful nature, O mighty one, and this whole universe will lie at your feet. It is the self alone that predominates and not matter.

- Swami Vivekananda
(VI.274)

THE SIGN IS THAT GOOD OR ILL FORTUNE CAUSES NO CHANGE IN HIS MIND

It is very hard thing to understand, but you will come to learn in time that nothing in the universe has power over you until you allow it to exercise such a power. Nothing has power over the self of man, until the self becomes a fool and loses independence. So, by non - attachment, you overcome and deny the power of anything to act upon you. It is very easy to say that nothing has the right to act upon you until you allow it to do so; but what is the true sign of the man who really does not allow anything to work upon him, who is neither happy nor unhappy when acted upon by the external world? The sign is that good or ill fortune causes no change in his mind; in all conditions he continues to remain the same.

- Swami Vivekananda

IT IS IN THE NATURE OF THINGS THAT MANY HSOULD FALL, THAT TROUBLES SHOULD COME

It is in the natrue of things that many should fall, that troubles should come, that tremendous difficulties should arise, that selfishness and all the other devils in the human heart should struggle hard, when they are about to be driven out by the fire of spirituality. The road to the good is the roughest and steepest in the universe. It is a wonder that so many succeed; no wonder that so many fall. Character has to be established through a thousand strumbles.

-Swami Vivekananda
{ VIII.383 }

INDIA WILL BE RAISED, NOT WITH THE POWER OF THE FLESH, BUT WITH THE POWER OF SPIRIT.

 

India will be raised, not with the power of the flesh, but with this power of the spirit; not with the flag of destruction but with the flag of peace and love, the garb of the Sannyasin; not by the power of wealth, but by the power of the begging bowl. Say not that you are weak. The spirit is omnipotent.

- Swami Vivekananda

THERE SHOULD NOT BE BREATH OF IMMORALITY, NOR A STAIN OF POLICY WHICH IS BAD.

I want that there should be no hypocrisy, no Jesuitism, no roguery. I have depended always on the Lord, always on Truth broad as the light of day. Let me not di...e with stains on my conscience for having played Jesuitism to get up name or fame, or even to do good. There should not be a breath of immorality, nor a stain of policy which is bad.

- Swami Vivekananda
TO MY BRAVE BOYS
(Written to Alasinga Perumal from New York on 19th November, 1894.)See More

...AND NOTHING CAN PREVENT OUR DEATH UNLESS WE COME BACK TO EXPANSION, WHICH IS LIFE

 

“Whatever cloak ancient or modern sophistry may try to throw over it, the inevitable result — the vindication of the moral law, that none can hate others... without degenerating himself — is that the race that was foremost amongst the ancient races is now a byword, and a scorn among nations. We are object-lessons of the violation of that law which our ancestors were the first to discover and disseminate.

Give and take is the law; and if India wants to raise herself once more, it is absolutely necessary that she brings out her treasures and throws them broadcast among the nations of the earth, and in return be ready to receive what others have to give her. Expansion is life, contraction is death. Love is life, and hatred is death. We commenced to die the day we began to hate other races; and nothing can prevent our death unless we come back to expansion, which is life”

- Swami Vivekananda
REPLY TO THE CALCUTTA ADDRESS
(Written from New York on Nov. 18, 1894, to Raja Pyari Mohan Mukherji, President of the public meeting held on Sept. 5, 1894 at the Calcutta Town Hall in appreciation of Swami Vivekananda's work in the West.)See More

...AND MORE LIGHT TO THE EDUCATED, FOR THE VANITIES OF THE EDUCATION OF OUR TIME ARE TREMENDOUS!

 Bring all light into the world. Light, bring light! Let light come unto every one; the task will not be finished till every one has reached t...he Lord. Bring light to the poor and bring more light to the rich, for they require it more than the poor. Bring light to the ignorant, and more light to the educated, for the vanities of the education of our time are tremendous! Thus bring light to all and leave the rest unto the Lord, for in the words of the same Lord "To work you have the right and not to the fruits thereof." "Let not your work produce results for you, and at the same time may you never be without work."

May He who taught such grand ideas to our forefathers ages ago help us to get strength to carry into practice His commands!

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Lectures from Colombo to Almora/Vedanta in its Application to Indian Life

IF YOU DARE OPPOSE THEM, TAKE IT UP; PUT THEIR TEACHINGS TO THE TEST.

When a Westernized Hindu spoke in a belittling manner of the " meaningless teachings " of the Vedic seers, the Swami { Swami Vivekananda } fell upon him with thunderbolt vehemence, crying out,

" How dare you criticize your venerable forefathers in such a fashion! A little learning has muddled your brain. Have you tested the science of the Rishis ? Have you even as much as read the Vedas ? There is the challenge thrown by the Rishis! If you DARE oppose them, take it up: put their teachings to the test. "

- Swami Vivekananda
[ Source: Alasinga Perumal - An illustrious disciple of Swami Vivekananda ]See More

IN EVERY ATTEMPT

" In every attempt there will be one set of men who will applaud, and another who will pick holes "

- Swami Vivekananda 
25th September, 1894 NEW YORK
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XLVII Brother disciples

OUR MISERY COMES, NOT FROM WORK

" Our misery comes, not from work, but by our getting attached to something "

- Swami Vivekananda

MOTION IS THE SIGN OF LIFE

I am thoroughtly convinced that no individual or nation can live by holding itself apart from the community of others, and whenever such an attempt has been made under false ideas of greatness, policy, or holiness, the result has always been disastrous to the secluding one. The fact of our isolation from all the other nations of the world is the cause of our degeneration, and its only remedy is getting back into the current of the world. Motion is the sign of life.


- Swami Vivekananda
( Quoted in The discovery of India, p, 402 )

ADVANCE LIKE A HERO

Advance like a hero. Don't be thwarted by anything. How many days will this body last, with its happingess and misery ? When you have got the human body, then rouse the Atman within and say - I have reached the state of fearlessness!......

- Swami Vivekananda

MAKE YOUR LIFE A MANIFESTATION OF WILL

“Make your life a manifestation of will strengthened by Renunciation". 

“Put yourself to work and you will find such tremendous power coming to you that you will feel it hard to bear. Even the least work done for others awakens the power within" 

- Swami Vivekananda
[ From Book : PROPHET AND PATHFINDER - PAGE: 292 ]

BUT IT IS A TREMENDOUS TRUTH THAT IF THERE BE REAL WORTH IN YOU

 " But it is a tremendous truth that if there be real worth in you, the more circumstances against you, the more will that inner power manifest itself "

- Swami Vivekananda

AN EFFORT TO FIND THE PLACE:

Yesterday, returned from Madurai . Swami Vivekananda visited this city on 2nd February 1897. Was keen to visit the place where Swamiji made the speech [ Reply to the address of Welcome] during his visit. Vague idea, that this place is located near Madurai Railway station, started inquiring people…...The old, the young, the middle aged, government employees, railway police, people in reservation counters…etc. Inquiry went on for an hour, but no one had the clue about the place; forget the place, every one started starring at me with astonishment [nothing new]. From these reactions of people, I decided that these people, not only do not know the place, but they also have no clue of who Swami Vivekananda was..

Intent of me asking people was to find two things; to find the location of the place, and another was to find if people know about Swami Vivekananda. But neither, they knew the place nor did they know about Swami Vivekananda [Some of them had, the slightest remember of the Name “Swami Vivekananda”]. 

After this experience of mine, I am certain of one thing, “The people, who do NOT know Swami Vivekananda, let them remain as they are [silent and muted]. BUT people who know Swami Vivekananda, if they remain muted and silent without reading him, then we are to see disastrous catastrophe happening!!! Is it not!?

Thanks
Rajhashekher BC

WE MUST SEE RLIGION FACE TO FACE

Dear respected friends,

Just returned from Madurai, the city where Swamiji traveled. Saw the place [ MC school ] where Swamiji, gave a speech - Reply to the address of Welcome. Below transcript [in part] of the same address, gives the intensity with which he wanted India to raise.

“WE must see Religion face to face, experience it, and thus solve our doubts about it; and then standing up in the glorious light of Rishihood each one of us will be a giant; and every word falling from our lips will carry behind it that infinite sanction of security; and before us evil will vanish by itself without the necessity of cursing any one, without the necessity of abusing any one, without the necessity of fighting any one in the world. May the Lord help us, each one of us here, to realise the Rishihood for our own salvation and for that of others! "


- Swami Vivekananda
Reply to the Address of Welcome at Madura

WE WANT THAT, WE WANT THAT ENERGY, THAT LOVE OF INDEPENDENCE, THAT SPIRIT OF SELF - RELIANCE, THAT IMMOVABLE FORTITUDE, THAT RELIGION IN ACTION

 " What we should have is, what we have not, prehaps what our forefathers even had not, that which the Yananas (Greeks) had, that dynamism by whose vibration is issuing forth in rapid succession from the power - house of Europe, the electrific flow of tremendous energy vivifying the whole world. We want that, we want that energy, that love of independence, that spirit of self-reliance, that immovable fortitude, that religion in action, that bond of unity in purpose, that thirst for improvement "

- Swami Vivekananda

LIVING IN TRUTH

" 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

THEN THE SOUL COMES OUT AS A GIANT AND LAUGHS AT THE IDEAL HE HAS BEEN STRUGGLING FOR.....

It is not truth, but development, that is the great aim. The struggle is the great lesson. Mind you, the great benefit in this life is struggle. It is through that we pass. If there is any road to Heaven, it is through Hell. Through Hell to Heaven is always the way. When the soul has wrestled with circumstance and has met death, a thousand times death on the way, but nothing daunted has struggled forward again and again and yet again—then the soul comes out as a giant and laughs at the ideal he has been struggling for, because he finds how much greater is he than the ideal. I am the end, my own Self, and nothing else…

- Swami Vivekananda

GIVE ME GENUINE MAN; I DO NOT WANT MASSES OF CONVERTS. MY SON, HOLD FAST!

Onward! Upon ages of struggle a character is built. Be not discouraged. One word of truth can never be lost; for ages it may be hidden under rubbish, but it will show itself sooner or later. Truth is indestructible, virtue is indestructible, purity is indestructible. Give me a genuine man; I do not want masses of converts. My son, hold fast! Do not care for anybody to help you. Is not the Lord infinitely greater than all human help? Be holy—trust in the Lord, depend on Him always, and you are on the right track; nothing can prevail against you.¹⁰

- Swami Vivekananda

NATURE - IF YOU DO NOT CARE FOR HER AT ALL, SHE BECOMES YOUR SLAVE

The more you fly from nature, the more she follows you; and if you do not care for her at all, she becomes your slave.
(Raja Yoga: Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms. Chapter II - Concentration: Its practice)

He who has conquered the internal nature controls the whole universe; it becomes his servant.
(Raja Yoga: Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms. Chapter II - Concentration: Its practice)
- Swami Vivekananda

WORK, WORK, WORK - I CARE FOR NOTHING ELSE. WORK, WORK, WORK, EVEN UNTO DEATH!!!

It is that sort of work which can conquer the world. What do differences of sect and opinion matter? Bravo! Accept a hundred thousand embraces and blessings from me. Work, work, work — I care for nothing else. Work, work, work, even unto death! Those that are weak must make themselves great workers, great heroes — never mind money, it will drop from the heavens.

Yours with all love,
VIVEKANANDA.
15th June, 1897.

WE WANT GREAT SPIRIT, TREMENDOUS ENERGY, AND BOUNDLESS ENTHUSIASM, NO WOMANISHNESS WILL DO.

We want great spirit, tremendous energy, and boundless enthusiasm, no womanishness will do. Try to go on exactly as I wrote to you in my last. We want organisation. Organisation is power, and the secret of this is obedience.

Yours affectionately,
VIVEKANANDA.
63 ST. GEORGE'S ROAD, LONDON S.W.,
24th June, 1896.

THESE PEOPLE WILL GO ON THE NEGATIVE, TILL THEY ARE ACTUALLY REDUCTED TO NOTHING

It won't do merely to sit idle. You have done a heroic deed! Bravo! Those who falter and vacillate will lag behind, and you will jump straight on top of all! Those that are working for their own salvation will neither have their own nor that of others. Let the commotion that you make be such as to resound to the world's end. There are people who are ready to pick holes in everything, but when it comes to the question of work, not a scent of them can be had! To work! — as far as in you lies! Then I shall go to India and move the whole country. What fear! "Even a snake loses its venom if it is insisted that it has none." These people will go on the negative track, till they are actually reduced to nothing! . . .

- Swami Vivekananda
Jan., 1896.
 The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XCI Sarada
 

THE ELEPHANT PASSING THROUGH THE MARKET - PLACE IS ALWAYS BESET BY CURS, BUT HE CARES NOT. HE GOES STRAIGHT ON HIS OWN WAY.

I hate this world, this dream, this horrible nightmare with its churches and chicaneries, its books and blackguardisms, its fair faces and false hearts, its howling righteousness on the surface and utter hollowness beneath, and, above all, its sanctified shopkeeping. What! measure any soul according to what the bond-slaves of the world say? — Pooh! Sister, you do not know the Sannyasin. "He stands on the heads of the Vedas!" say the Vedas, because he is free from churches and sects and religions and prophets and books and all of that ilk! Missionary or no missionary, let them howl and attack me with all they can, I take them as Bhartrihari says, "Go thou thy ways, Sannyasin! Some will say, 'Who is this mad man?' Others, 'Who is this Chandâla?' Others will know thee to be a sage. Be glad at the prattle of the worldlings." But when they attack, know that, "The elephant passing through the market-place is always beset by curs, but he cares not. He goes straight on his own way. So it is always, when a great soul appears there will be numbers to bark after him."

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/XXXII Sister

STRUGGLE, STRUGGLE, WAS MY MOTTO FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

Struggle, struggle, was my motto for the last ten years. Struggle, still say I. When it was all dark, I used to say, struggle; when light is breaking in, I still say, struggle. Be not afraid, my children. Look not up in that attitude of fear towards that infinite starry vault as if it would crush you.

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 4/Writings: Prose/To my Brave Boys

THESE ARE THE ONLY TRAITS THAT LEAD TO INDIVIDUAL AND NATIONAL REGENERATION

" It is not at all in our nature to do a work conjointly. It is to this that our miserable condition is due. He who knows how to obey knows how to command. Learn ...obedience first. Among these Western nations, with such a high spirit of independence, the spirit of obedience is equally strong. We are all of us self-important — which never produces any work. Great enterprise, boundless courage, tremendous energy, and, above all, perfect obedience — these are the only traits that lead to individual and national regeneration. These traits are altogether lacking in us "

- Swami Vivekananda
LONDON, 13th Nov., 1895.
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXXV Akhandananda

 

 

PURITY, PERSEVERANCE AND ENERGY

C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM, READING, ENGLAND

17th Sept., 1895.
DEAR MRS. BULL,

Mr. Sturdy and I want to get hold of a few of the best, say, strong and intelligent men in England to form a society, and therefore we must proceed slowly. We must take care not to be run over with "fads" from the first. This you will know has been my policy in America too. Mr. Sturdy has been in India living with our Sannyasins in their manner for some time. He is an exceedingly energetic man, educated and well versed in Sanskrit. ... So far so good. ... Purity, perseverance, and energy — these three I want, and if I get only half a dozen here, my work will go on. I have a great chance of such a few.

VIVEKANANDA

MEN ( WHO WRONGLY CRITICISE ARE TO BE TREATED AS WORMS

The worldly-wise instinct is most difficult to root out. . . . Let him come and work in the Math. One is apt to imbibe a lot of mischievous ideas by concerning oneself too long in worldly affairs. If he refuses to take the monastic vow, please tell him to clear out. I don't want amphibious type of men who will be half monks and half householders. . . . Haramohan has coined a Lord Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, I see. What does he mean? English Lord, or Duke? Tell Rakhal, let people say whatever they will — "Men (who wrongly criticise) are to be treated as worms!" as Shri Ramakrishna used to say.

- Swami Vivekananda
C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM, ENGLAND,

PURITY, PATIENCE, AND PRESEVERANCE OVERCOME ALL OBSTACLES

READING, ENGLAND,
4th Oct., 1895.
DEAR— ,

. . . Purity, patience, and perseverance overcome all obstacles. All great things must of necessity be slow. . . .

Yours with love,
VIVEKANANDA.

WE MUST TAKE CARE NOT TO BE RUN OVER WITH " FADS" FROM THE FIRST.

C/O E. T. STURDY, ESQ.,
HIGH VIEW, CAVERSHAM, READING, ENGLAND,
17th Sept., 1895.

DEAR MRS. BULL,

Mr. Sturdy and I want to get hold of a few of the best, say, strong and intelligent men in England to form a society, and therefore we must proceed slowly. We must take care not to be run over with "fads" from the first. This you will know has been my policy in America too. Mr. Sturdy has been in India living with our Sannyasins in their manner for some time. He is an exceedingly energetic man, educated and well versed in Sanskrit. ... So far so good. ... Purity, perseverance, and energy — these three I want, and if I get only half a dozen here, my work will go on. I have a great chance of such a few.

VIVEKANANDA

HAS DANGER HAS POWER OVER ONE WHOM THE LORD HAS TAKEN INTO HIS FOLD ?

Tell Chuni Babu in private that he has nothing to fear, that those who are protected by the Lord must be above fear. I am a puny man, but the glories of the Lord are infinite. — Discard fear. Let not your faith be shaken. ...Has danger any power over one whom the Lord has taken into His fold?

Ever yours,
VIVEKANANDA.

VIVEKA HAMSA - BANGALORE - HANATHE 2012

VIVEKA HAMSA - HANATHE 2012

A WISE MAN SHOULD STAND FIRM ON HIS OWN LEGS AND ACT

Everybody requests me to return to India. It is all right, but don't you see it is not wise to depend upon others. A wise man should stand firm on his own legs and act. Everything will come about slowly. For the present don't forget to be on the look-out for a site. We want a big plot — of about ten to twenty thousand rupees — it must be right on the Ganga. Though my capital is small, I am exceedingly bold. Have an eye on securing the land. At present we shall have to work three centres, one in New York, another in Calcutta and a third in Madras. Then, by degrees, as the Lord will arrange. ... You must keep a strict eye on your health; let everything else be subordinated to that....

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXVIII Rakhal

WHEN YOU CAN THROW AWAY ALL, ONLY THE TRUE SELF WILL REMAIN

The first thing to be got rid of by him who would be a Jnani is fear. Fear is one of our worst enemies. Next, believe in nothing until you know it. Constantly tell yourself, "I am not the body, I am not the mind, I am not thought, I am not even consciousness; I am the Atman." When you can throw away all, only the true Self will remain.

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 8/Lectures And Discourses/Discourses On Jnana-Yoga

IF YOU REALLY WANT THE GOOD OF OF OTHERS, THE WHOLE UNIVERSE MAY STAND AGAINST YOU AND CANNOT HURT YOU.

But, mind you, this is life's experience; if you really want the good of others, the whole universe may stand against you and cannot hurt you. It must crumble before your power of the Lord Himself in you if you are sincere and really unselfish.

- Swami Vivekananda
My Life And Mission (Delivered at the Shakespeare Club of Pasadena, California, on January 27, 1900)

THE ONLY CONDITION OF NATIONAL LIFE, OF AWAKENED AND VIGOROUS NATIONAL LIFE, IS THE CONQUEST OF THE WORLD BY INDIA THOUGHT

Spirituality must conquer the West. Slowly they are finding out that what they want is spirituality to preserve them as nations. They are waiting for it, they are eager for it. Where is the supply to come from? Where are the men ready to go out to every country in the world with the messages of the great sages of India? Where are the men who are ready to sacrifice everything, so that this message shall reach every corner of the world? Such heroic spurs are wanted to help the spread of truth. Such heroic workers are wanted to go abroad and help to disseminate the great truths of the Vedanta. The world wants it; without it the world will be destroyed. The whole of the Western world is on a volcano which may burst tomorrow, go to pieces tomorrow. They have searched every corner of the world and have found no respite. They have drunk deep of the cup of pleasure and found it vanity. Now is the time to work so that India's spiritual ideas may penetrate deep into the West. Therefore young men of Madras, I specially ask you to remember this. We must go out, we must conquer the world through our spirituality and philosophy. There is no other alternative, we must do it or die. The only condition of national life, of awakened and vigorous national life, is the conquest of the world by Indian thought.

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Lectures from Colombo to Almora/The Work before us

WELL, MY BOY, THIS IS THE SCHOOL OF MISERY, WHICH IS ALSO THE SCHOOL OF GREAT SOULS

 

 

I am called by the Lord for this. I have been dragged through a whole life full of crosses and tortures, I have seen the nearest and dearest die, almost of starvation; I have been ridiculed, distrusted, and have suffered for my sympathy for the very men who scoff and scorn. Well, my boy, this is the school of misery, which is also the school for great souls and prophets for the cultivation of sympathy, of patience, and, above all, of an indomitable iron will which quakes not even if the universe be pulverised at our feet.

 

- Swami Vivekananda
[ From the book: Swami Vivekananda - On Himself ]

FOR IT IS THE TEACHING OF THE VEDANTA THAT YOU ARE ALL PROPHETS, AND ALL MUST BE PROPHETS.

Intellect is like limbs without the power of locomotion. It is only when feeling enters and gives them motion that they move and work on others. That is so all over the world, and it is a thing which you must always remember. It is one of the most practical things in Vedantic morality, for it is the teaching of the Vedanta that you are all prophets, and all must be prophets. The book is not the proof of your conduct, but you are the proof of the book.

- Swami Vivekanananda

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 2/Practical Vedanta and other lectures/Practical Vedanta: Part 1

NO NEGATIVE, ALL POSITIVE, AFFIRMATIVE. I AM, GOD IS, EVERYTHING IS IN ME.

Self-depreciation! What is it for? I am the child of the Infinite, the all-powerful Divine Mother. What means disease, or fear, or want to me? Stamp out the negative spirit as if it were a pestilence, and it will conduce to your welfare in every way. No negative, all positive, affirmative. I am, God is, everything is in me.

- Swami Vivekananda
25th September, 1894 NEW YORK
 The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XLVII Brother disciples
 Pestilence : A usually fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague

DOING GOOD TO OTHERS IS THE ONE GREAT UNIVERSAL RELIGION

 

RELIGION IS THE REALIZATION OF SPIRIT AS SPIRIT. NOT SPIRIT AS MATTER

"Religion is the realization of Spirit as Spirit. Not spirit as matter."

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Notes of Lectures and Classes/The Gita — III

ONE RAY OF DIVINE LIGHT WILL FREE HIM, REVEAL TO HIM HIS TRUE NATURE.

This idea of one being held down fast by past Karma, or work, is all nonsense. No matter how dense one may be, or how bad, one ray of light will dissipate it all. A bale of cotton, however large, will be utterly destroyed by a spark. If a room has been dark for untold ages, a lamp will end it all. So with each soul, however benighted he may be, he is not absolutely bound down by his past Karma to work for ages to come. "One ray of Divine Light will free him, reveal to him his true nature."

- Swami Vivekananda
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 9/Notes of Lectures and Classes/The Gita

MOUNTAINS CAN BE CRUMBLED INTO ATOMS

I AM NO MORE TO BE DUPED BY WORDS. LET HIM WHO HAS COURAGE IN HIS MIND AND LOVE IN HIS HEART COME WITH ME. I WANT NONE ELSE.

What if you don't get Mukti? What childish prattle! Lord! They say even the venom of a snake loses its power by firmly denying it. Isn't it true? What queer humility is this to say, "I know nothing !" "I am nothing !" This is pseudo-renunciation and mock modesty, I tell you. Off with such a self-debasing spirit! "If I do not know, who on earth does!" What have you been doing so long if you now plead ignorance? These are the words of an atheist — the humility of a vagabond wretch. We can do everything, and will do everything! He who is fortunate enough will heroically join us, letting the worthless mew like cats from their corner. A saint writes, "Well, you have had enough of blazoning. Now come back home." I would have called him a man if he could build a house and call me. Ten years' experience of such things has made me wiser. I am no more to be duped by words. Let him who has courage in his mind and love in his heart come with me. I want none else.

- Swami Vivekananda
1895, The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/LXXI Rakhal

YOU WILL TEACH THEM HOW TO LOVE GOD AND HOW TO KNOW GOD. YOU WILL HELP THE POOR, TOO ?

The Baranagore Monastery 

After some time, Sri Ramakrishna became ill. He was taken to a garden-house in Cossipore, near Calcutta. Naren and the other boys went there to stay with him and nurse him. When they were not busy nursing Sri Rama­krishna, they spent their time meditating.

One night Naren went into very deep medita­tion. He had a spiritual experience which filled him with bliss. He told Sri Ramakrishna that he wanted to stay in meditation all the time. ‘No, Naren,’ Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘there is much work for you to do. First, do your work. Then you may stay in meditation.’ Sri Ramakrishna did not get any better. He became more and more ill. He could not live much longer.

One day, he said to Naren: ‘I have given you all my spiritual power. With this great power, you will help all the people in the world. You will teach them how to love God and how to know God. You will help the poor, too.’

Naren was still a young boy. He did not understand how these words of his Guru could be true. How could he teach people these things? How could he help the poor?

It was on the 16th August 1886 that Sri Ramakrishna left his body. The boys felt very sad, for they missed him so much! He was like both father and mother to them.

Then they said: ‘Yes, Sri Ramakrishna has left his body. But he is still with us. He lives in our hearts.’

After that the boys left their homes and became sannyasins. Their first monastery was a tumble-down house, so old that hissing cobras lived under it. Sometimes the boys had nothing to eat. But they did not mind. They talked and thought of nothing but God.

It was while he was at the Baranagore Math that Naren began to think of what Sri Ramakrishna had said. How was he going to teach people and help them to overcome the sufferings of life? That was the question in Naren’s mind.

OURS IS TO WORK. THE RESULTS WILL TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

" OUR PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH IN THEMSELVES " said Swamiji sadly " I WILL BRING BACK THAT FAITH TO THEM. NOW I GO; BUT WHEN I RETURN, I SHALL AWAKEN THE SLEEPING MILLIONS OF MY PEOPLE "

Journey to the West

Swamiji swam back to the shore. He then went to Madras. There he had many disciples. He told them that in his travels he had found that India was asleep. India was like a person who had been asleep for hundreds of years. She had to be awakened.
Swamiji now explained the plan he had thought of. He would go away from India. He would see what the people in other countries were doing. They had faith in themselves, so they could do any­thing. Also he would tell them all about India. India believes that nothing is stronger than the spirit that is in man. But now India has forgotten this. She has no faith.

‘Our people have lost faith in themselves,’ said Swamiji sadly ‘I will bring back that faith to them. Now I go; but when I return, I shall awaken the sleeping millions of my people.’

A Parliament of Religions was to be held in America, in the city of Chicago. Leaders of all the different religions of the world were going to speak.

‘I will go there,’ Swamiji said, ‘I will tell them about the ancient religion of India. I will tell them what I know, and I will learn from them the things they know.’

Chicago was many thousands of miles away. To get there, money was needed. Swamiji’s disciples in Madras collected money. And the Raja of Khetri, one of his disciples, also gave him much help. But Swamiji said that he was not yet ready to go. He said: ‘I shall not go, until I know that God wants me to go. If it is God’s plan, I shall go, otherwise not.’

One day, Swamiji was standing on the seashore looking at the beautiful sea and thinking about his plan. Then he saw a marvellous thing. In a vision, he saw Sri Ramakrishna walking on the sea. He was asking Swamiji, by signs, to follow him! Now Swamiji knew that it was his duty to go to America. It was the wish of Sri Rama­krishna.

It was on the 31st May 1893 that Swami Vivekananda sailed for America. He boarded the ship at Bombay. The Captain gave his orders. The ship’s whistle sounded a long, loud blast; and the ship sailed out of the harbour.

Swamiji watched the shores of India until they faded into the distance. Mother India faded from his sight But she stayed in his heart and he never ceased to serve her.

- Swami Vivekananda