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