SWAMI VIVEKANANDA, HIS CALL to the NATION
Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) Indian Yogi, revolutionary thinker and
Great disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa introduced the distilled wisdom of Indian
spiritual tradition especially Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world at
historical Parliament of the World's Religions in
Chicago (1893), advocating universal harmony and spiritual unity. Swamiji championed
service to humanity as worship of God, and promoted Indian nationalism during
colonial rule, leaving a legacy of self-confidence and spiritual wisdom.
Presenting here the essence of his teachings/life mantras from his Complete Works, compiled by revered disciples in the small book – Swami Vivekananda, His Call to the Nation. These thought capsules motivates readers to be strong, self-reliant and unveil the inner strength and face life’s challenges confidently.
“Give me a few men and women who are pure and
selfless, and I shall shake the world.” - Swami Vivekananda
FAITH AND STRENGTH
He is an atheist who doesn't believe in himself. The
old religions said that he was an atheist who does not believe in atheist who
did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is an atheist who does
not believe in himself. (II. 301)
The history of the world is the history of a few men
who had faith in themselves. That faith calls out the divinity within. You can
do anything. You fail only when you do not strive sufficiently to manifest
infinite power. As soon as a man or a nation loses faith, death comes. (VIII.
228)
Faith, faith, faith in ourselves, faith, faith in God,
this is the secret of greatness. If you have faith in all the three hundred and
thirty millions of your mythological gods, and in all the gods which foreigners
have now and again introduced into your midst, and still have no faith in
yourselves, there is no salvation for you. (III. 190)
Never think there is anything impossible for the soul.
It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin-to
say that you are weak, or others are weak. (II. 308)
Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think
yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you
will be. (III. 130)
Be free; hope for nothing from any one. I am sure if
you look back upon your lives, you will find that you were always vainly trying
to get help from others, which never came. All the help that has come was from
within yourselves. (II. 324)
Never say, 'No'; never say, 'I cannot', for you are
infinite. Even time and space are as nothing compared with your nature. You can
do anything and everything, you are almighty. (II. 300)
Ye are the children of God, the sharers of immortal
bliss, holy and perfect beings. Ye divinities on earth-sinners! It is a sin to
call a man so; it is a standing libel on human nature. Come up, O lions, and
shake off the delusion that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits
free, blest and eternal. (I. 11)
Never mind the struggles, the mistakes. I never heard a cow tell a lie, but it is only a cow-never a man. So never mind these ideal a thousand times; and if you fail a failures, these little backslidings; hold the thousand times make the attempt once more, (II. 152)
The remedy for weakness is not brooding over weakness,
but thinking of strength. Teach men of the strength that is already within
them. (II. 300)
If there is one word that you find coming like a bomb
from the Upaniṣads, bursting like a bomb-shell upon masses of ignorance, it is
the word, fearlessness. (III. 160)
If you look, you will find that I have never quoted
anything but the Upaniṣads. And of the Upaniṣads, it is only that one idea
strength. The quintessence of the Vedas and Vedānta and all lies in that one
word. (VIII. 267)
Be strong, my young friends, that is my advice to you.
You will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of the
Gitā. These are bold words, but I have to say them, for I love you. I know
where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand
the Gitā better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger. (III. 242)
This is the one question I put to every man. Are you
strong? Do you feel strength?-for I know it is truth alone that gives strength.
Strength is the medicine for the world's disease. (II. 201)
This is the great fact: Strength is life; weakness is
death. Strength is felicity, life eternal, immortal; weakness is constant
strain and misery, weakness is death. (II. 3)
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance,
tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean', says the persevering soul, 'at
my will, mountains will crumble up.' Have that sort of energy, that sort of
will; work hard, and you will reach the goal. (I. 178)
Men, men, these are wanted: everything else will be
ready, but strong, vigorous, believing young men, sincere to the backbone, are
wanted. A hundred such and the world becomes revolutionized. (III. 223-24)
