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| Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) |
LOVE FOR MOTHERLAND
Once, Vivekananda had gone to London and America. While returning to India, the American journalists asked him what he thought of his motherland, Bharat. He said, “I have a great regard and love for my country.
I respect even the dust, the air and the environment of Bharat. I offer myself completely to the service of my motherland.” He who has no love for his motherland, mother tongue and religion is no better than a living corpse.
- “Royal Path to Divinity”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 32, Part I, April 15, 1999, Brindavan
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| Swami Vivekananda in Chicago |
When Vivekananda was in America, he declared, “God’s hands, feet, eyes, heads, mouth and ears are everywhere. There is no place in the land of Bharat where God’s presence is not felt. His footsteps are heard wherever one goes. The melody of God is heard wherever one pays heed to. The joy of God is felt in every heart. I must return to Bharat. Earlier, I had shown a little indifference. Now I shall go back and proclaim emphatically that every atom in Bharat is suffused with divinity. I shall sprinkle her dust on my head. I shall feel the love that stirs in every drop of river Ganges”.
- “Fundamental Principles of Indian Culture”,
Summer Showers in Brindavan 2002, Brindavan
Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) tried his best to control his thoughts, when he was a youth. When he finally succeeded, he acquired a pure heart. He constantly reminded himself, “I am very proud of my birth as Bharatiya. How great and sacred is this country Bharat! How pure it is!” To whichever country he travelled, he used to teach the people of that country about the greatness of Bharat. The very thought of the sacredness of Bharat would make you great. Hence, you must constantly remind yourself of the greatness of Bharat.
- “Expel the Six Enemies and Elicit Values”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 32, September 29, 2006, Prasanthi Nilayam
PEARLS OF WISDOM
God is to be recognised in all that exists, all that is charming, or suffering, blooming or drooping. He is intelligence in the insect, faithfulness in the dog, latent energy in the rock! Vivekananda announced at Chicago that Hinduism uncovered the Upadi (body encasement) and sought the inner core of the Divine in all things, animate and inanimate.
- “The True Tablet”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 08, March 5, 1968, Hyderabad
As Vivekananda used to say, you should have nerves of steel and muscles of iron. That is to say, you should have hope and joy and elation as an unshakeable resolution, not despair and dejection.
- “The Best Tonic”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 01, September 21, 1960, Prasanthi Nilayam
“Vidya without Shraddha is futile”, said Swami Vivekananda. Shraddha (perseverance coupled with the capacity to take pains) is absolutely indispensable for Adhyatma Vidya (the science of the Self).
- “The Sovereign Knowledge”, Summer Showers in Brindavan 1979, Brindavan
Vivekananda once said that if anyone wants to understand his sagacity and his ability, he must first himself become an able and sagacious person. The result of your effort would depend on the extent of your effort and your sacrifice. The final result will only correspond to the effort that you put in.
- “Brahman denotes the Totality of Prajna in the World”, Summer Showers in Brindavan 1974, Brindavan
Ramakrishna once brought a householder devotee and Vivekananda, the ascetic devotee, together. He asked Vivekananda, “Son, What exactly is your goal of securing Jnana (wisdom)?”
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| Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa - The Guru of Swami of Vivekananda |
In reply, Vivekananda elaborated on Kapila’s Sankhya system of philosophy. He said that everything, big or small, every cell and star, undergoes change every instant. Food consumed becomes fertilizer to feed plants which provide further food. The air which one man exhales is inhaled by another and the minute particles of one’s system enter the system of the other person. Sea water becomes the moisture in the air and gathered together as rain-clouds which feed the fields and gardens, is transformed into edible sweetness. Matter is but the perpetual communion and separation of particles. The human body has all its component cells replaced by new ones during every seven-year period of time. Therefore, how can we pronounce anything as stable, as permanent, as true? This is the reason man does not get contentment or peace. This is the reason man does not get joy, however wealthy or famous he may become. So long as he revels in the trivial and the temporary, he cannot be happy. It is only when he has discovered the Atman and is always deep in the ecstasy of that discovery that he can be in unblemished happiness. In that stage he is aware that he is eternal and all knowing, absolute and omniscient.
- “My Joy, My Sustenance”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 14, September 29, 1979, Brindavan
Earn the qualification; win the visualization. Vivekananda once said that no Aviveki (a person devoid of discrimination and sharp intelligence) can understand him and his mission.
- “The Third Force”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 08, September 29, 1968, Prasanthi Nilayam
The human body composed of the five elements, can drop off at any time and at any place. The wise person recognises the inevitable nature of death and knows the frail mortal body to be a mere water bubble. Swami Vivekananda used to remind his disciples of this and tell them that the knowledge and awareness of death enables man to understand the nature of truth.
- “The Voyage of Death”, Summer Showers in Brindavan 1979, Brindavan
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