Swami Vivekananda (1863 – 1902)
Teacher of the Vedanta philosophy, and one of the most famous and influential spiritual leaders of Hinduism.
Learning and wisdom are superfluities, the surface glitter merely, but it is the heart that is the seat of all power. It is not in the brain but in the heart that the Atman, possessed of knowledge, power, and activity, has its seat.
There is one thing to be remembered: that the assertion—I am God—cannot be made with regard to the sense-world.
Anything that brings spiritual, mental, or physical weakness, touch it not with the toes of your feet.
We must have friendship for all; we must be merciful toward those that are in misery; when people are happy, we ought to be happy; and to the wicked we must be indifferent. These attitudes will make the mind peaceful.
Strength is Life, Weakness is death.
Those who work at a thing heart and soul not only achieve success in it but through their absorption in that they also realize the supreme truth—Brahman. Those who work at a thing with their whole heart receive help from God.
Worship of society and popular opinion is idolatry. The soul has no sex, no country, no place, no time.
All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.
Education is the manifestation of perfection present already in man. Religion is the manifestation of the divinity already in man
The powers of the mind should be concentrated and the mind turned back upon itself; as the darkest places reveal their secrets before the penetrating rays of the sun, so will the concentrated mind penetrate its own innermost secrets.
We want to know in order to make ourselves free. That is our life: one universal cry for freedom.
Work on with the intrepidity of a lion but at the same time with the tenderness of a flower.
Everything must be sacrificed, if necessary, for that one sentiment: universality.
This life is a hard fact; work your way through it boldly, though it may be adamantine; no matter, the soul is stronger.
The power of purity—it is a definite power.
We believe that every being is divine, is God. Every soul is a sun covered over with clouds of ignorance; the difference between soul and soul is owing to the difference in density of these layers of clouds.
Perfection is always infinite. We are the Infinite already.You and I, and all beings, are trying to manifest that infinity.
Pray all the time, read all the scriptures in the world, and worship all the gods there are ...but unless you realize the Truth, there is no freedom.
The varieties of religious belief are an advantage, since all faiths are good, so far as they encourage us to lead a religious life. The more sects there are, the more opportunities there are for making a successful appeal to the divine instinct in all of us.