January 13, 2013

Few quotes of Swami Vivekanand, useful for PWS


World is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand. Few quotes which are relevant to TISA as well as PWS from his book-Practical Vedanda ( http://www.vivekananda.net/PDFBooks/PracticalVedanta.pdf  ) :

Let a man go down as low as possible; there must come a time when out of sheer desperation he will take an upward curve and will learn to have faith in himself. But it is better for us that we should know it from the very first. Why should we have all these bitter experiences in order to gain faith in ourselves? The ideal of faith in ourselves is of the greatest help to us. Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves. Born with the consciousness that they were to be great, they became great. We can see that all the difference between man and man is owing to the existence or non-existence of faith in himself. Faith in ourselves will do everything.He is an atheist who does not believe in himself. The old religions said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is the atheist who does not believe in himself. He is the highest man who can say with truth, "I know all about myself." Do you know how much energy, how many powers, how many forces are still lurking behind that frame of yours? What scientist has known all that is in man? Millions of years have passed since man first came here, and yet but one infinitesimal part of his powers has been manifested. Therefore, you must not say that you are weak. How do you know what possibilities lie behind that degradation on the surface? You know but little of that which is within you. For behind you is the ocean of infinite power and blessedness.
“Fear is death, fear is sin, fear is hell, fear is unrighteousness. All the negative thoughts and ideas that are in this world have proceeded from this evil spirit of fear. The moment you fear, you are nobody. It is fear that is the greatest cause of misery in the world. It is fear that is the greatest of all superstitions. It is fear that is the cause of our woes, and it is fearlessness that brings heaven in a moment. And at the root of all fear is lack of clarity of thought which in most cases comes from simply not knowing!

5 comments:

Satyendra said...

Very relevant for us!
Thanks Hemant..

GORAV DATTA - I am Learning said...

Thanks for sharing . Really he was a Great Man , inspiration n guide for millions

GORAV DATTA - I am Learning said...

Thanks for sharing . Really he was a Great Man , inspiration n guide for millions

lalit said...

nice post.....thanks for sharing

Manimaran said...

Great post.Swami Vivekanada books are really inspirational for youths.