Swami Vivekananda is India’s one of the greatest spiritual gurus. He is famous for spreading Hindu philosophy all over the world.
Narendra Nath Datta was born on 12 January 1863, in Kolkata to an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family, and he was a student of Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansa, the reputed saint of Dakshineshwar. He renounced all worldly enjoyment and turned a sanyasi, not to roam aimlessly, but to serve humanity. Swami Vivekanada was an important figure in bringing Indian Vendanta and Yoga into the world’s worldview, putting India on the spiritual map. His wonderful speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893 permanently changed the world’s view of India.
Quotes by Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda’s inspiring personality was very well known in both India and America during the last decade of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth. An unknown Indian monk became a superstar at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, as he presented Hinduism. His keen knowledge of eastern and western civilization, sublime spiritual insight, eloquent speech, witty discussion, wide human sympathy, vivid personality, and charming beauty made him a great favorite among a large number of Americans. Those who heard or saw Vivekananda even once loved his memory even after more than five decades. 1. “The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.”.
Swami Vivekananda says that religion is not the Gods we worship or the spiritual customs we follow; rather, it is the truth, how pure, clean, and honest we are from our heart inside. The ideal man is that one who lives life in moral values and principles.
- “Strength is Life, Weakness is Death. Expansion is Life, Contraction is Death. Love is Life, Hatred is Death.”
We must always think positive, develop and bring up self-respect and practice good virtues. Good human beings usually possess qualities of strength, truth, honesty, ambition, love, cooperation, brotherhood, kindness, and sympathy.
- “Talk to yourself once in a day, otherwise you may miss meeting an intelligent person in this world.”
Swami Vivekananda has said that self-talk is one of the vital activities of daily life since the listener of the words is oneself. Through self-talk, one can recognize his thoughts, emotions, and further upgrade them. The practice of positive affirmations will help create a strong mind and hence guide subconscious towards the fulfillment of aspired objectives.
- “Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.”
- “The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.”
- “In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are travelling in a wrong path”
- “In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart. “
- “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced.”
- “Be the servant while leading. Be unselfish. Have infinite patience, and success is yours.” Swami Vivekananda explains the approach of self-less work and service without expectations. Work teaches many aspects of the life, enriches the mind with the knowledge and builds valuable self-confidence.
- “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”
Timeless Wisdom Guiding all Generations
Reflecting his profound knowledge and deep understanding of the Sanatan religion, Swami Vivekananda opened the simplified dimensions of Hinduism supported with logic that could be easily understood by common people.
His very patient and comprehensive approach made him acceptable and respected as focused on the point of the conversation and not the person. He showed renewed hope to millions of people to become aware of their lives, set goals and work in a focused manner. Swami Vivekananda always encouraged inclusion, togetherness and self-less service. He used to believe that people should make their lives worthy to such high levels that enriched and enhanced the society in a true sense. Swami Vivekananda has written many books on Bhagavad Gita that offer a different dimension of wisdom and a purpose to our lives. In his own motherland, Vivekananda is considered as the patriot saint of modern India, inspiring her dormant national consciousness.
He spread the religion ideology which enables and activates the men for the Hindus. He had a specific recommendation of worship to man as the human form of Godhead to the Indians, who intensely clung to the rituals and mythologies of the old religion. Official gratifications in appreciation of Swami Vivekananda have been pronounced by many Indian political leaders.
Founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, Vivekananda not only revived the ‘historic’ history of us, but also enlightened and awoke the religious consciousness and worked towards uplifting the oppressed. He also finds recognition with growing interfaith consciousness, reviving Hinduism, and contributing towards the concept of nationalism within India during the nineteenth century. To commemorate the birthday of the great saint Swami Vivekananda on this day, we have collected some of his timeless words that are relevant today.
