stray collections of writing from swami vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda

on India...

a race of dotards, you lose your caste if you come out! sitting down with an ever-increasing load of crystallized superstition...and what are you doing now? promenading the sea shores with books in your hands, repeating undigested stray bits of european brainwork, and the whole soul bent upon gettin a thrity rupee clerkship...is there water enough in the sea to drown you, books, gowns, diplomas and all?

All the religions lead to him(/her), and to him(/her) alone, says the swami. he also quotes something interesting-'if a bhangi(shudra) were to walk into a temple, he would be denied rights. but if he were to wear a sacred thread and a rich dhoti, who would deny him a seat or a handshake?'

while all people think these days are about differences, here was a man, in the nineteenth century, talking about embracing plurality and all the other faiths, asking people to believe not in faiths, but in people themselves. people are to be judged on the basis of qualities, not their birth rights and priveleges. As much as many people would agree, there is still a vast difference between agreement and practice.

come, be men! see how nations are on the march. let us struggle for higher and better things! look not back, not even if you see the dearest cry!

inspiration for all the generations to come, some of his speeches are bound with undecipherable strength and support, which can spur us to something when we are dismally down and looking for support. personally, subramanya bharati and swami vivekananda are the two brightest gems that the younger generation of the country should listen to, for inspiration.

a very intriguing question posed by the saint in one of his letters to his guru: 'if everything in this life be as per karma, what is the point of worshipping durga?'

i would like to venture a guess: to lessen the suffering, to see the emptiness of the cycle, and to live life in peace, at peace with ourselves. He was always interested in truly inspiring other people, a quality which is rarely observed in leaders these days. His philosophy to march ahead, and to not look behind, to think of the future, of the people, of service are indeed qualities of a great spiritual leader, but he shies away from calling himself a leader, but refers to himself as an humble servant of god.

'life is nothing, death is nothing, hunger nothing, cold nothing...march ahead'

when the swami was in america for the conference, he had to put up with so many things, and one among them was the jeering catcalls from the onlookers because of his attire. and thus the swami reacts-

starvation, cold, hooting in the streets on account of my quaint dress, these are what i have to fight against. but no great thing is achieved without great labour...

In all his letters, he refers to his despondency in not being able to let go of the worldly desires and how his love for his brother, his mother or for his guru is something that should be cast away...At the very end, he will be a man not remembered for his failures, but for his charm and imposing speeches, that would take the collective breath of the millions who would understand...