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Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism by Swami Vivekananda

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Delivered on 26th September, 1893 I am not a Buddhist, as you have heard, and yet I am. If China, or Japan, or Srilanka follow the teachings of the Great Master, India worships him as God incarnate on earth. You have just now heard that I am going to criticise Buddhism, but by that I wish you to understand only this. Far be it from me to criticise him whom I worship as God incarnate on earth. But our views about Buddha are that he was not understood properly by his disciples. The relation between Hinduism (by Hinduism, I mean … Continue reading Buddhism, the Fulfilment of Hinduism by Swami Vivekananda

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Swami Vivekananda, Christ, The Messenger

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(Delivered at Los Angeles, California, 1900) The wave rises on the ocean, and there is a hollow. Again another wave rises, perhaps bigger than the former, to fall down again, similarly, again to rise — driving onward. In the march of events, we notice the rise and fall, and we generally look towards the rise, forgetting the fall. But both are necessary, and both are great. This is the nature of the universe. Whether in the world of our thoughts, the world of our relations in society, or in our spiritual affairs, the same movement of succession, of rises and … Continue reading Swami Vivekananda, Christ, The Messenger

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Gandhiji, The Perils of Modern Civilization

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Modern civilisation as represented by the West of today, in my opinion, has given Matter a place which by right belongs to Spirit. It has therefore put violence upon the throne of triumph and held under bondage Truth and Innocence. It is this error which enfeebled India is trying to fight, and I have no doubt whatsoever that if those who are engaged in the fight remain true to their pledge God will help them. Mahatma Gandhi, Message To The Readers Of The Survey, New York, March 5, 1922 Continue reading Gandhiji, The Perils of Modern Civilization

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Vivekananda, Letter to Mohammed Sarfaraz Husain of Naini Tal, Almora

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10th June, 1898. MY DEAR FRIEND, I appreciate your letter very much and am extremely happy to learn that the Lord is silently preparing wonderful things for our motherland. Whether we call it Vedantism or any ism, the truth is that Advaitism is the last word of religion and thought and the only position from which one can look upon all religions and sects with love. I believe it is the religion of the future enlightened humanity. The Hindus may get the credit of arriving at it earlier than other races, they being an older race than either the Hebrew … Continue reading Vivekananda, Letter to Mohammed Sarfaraz Husain of Naini Tal, Almora

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Gandhiji on Vivekananda

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“I have come here to pay my homage and respect to the revered memory of Swami Vivekananda, whose birthday is being celebrated today. I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold. I ask you, young men, not to go away empty-handed without imbibing something of the spirit of the place where Swami Vivekananda lived and died. -Mahatma Gandhi Continue reading Gandhiji on Vivekananda

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Satyagraha in Ghana

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“Positive action has already achieved remarkable success in the liberation struggle of our continent and I feel sure that it can further save us from the perils of this atomic arrogance. If the direct action that was carried out by the international protest team were to be repeated on a mass scale, or simultaneously from various parts of Africa, the result could be as powerful and as successful as Gandhi’s historic Salt March. We salute Mahatma Gandhi and we remember, in tribute to him that it was in South Africa that his method of non-violence and non-cooperation was first practiced … Continue reading Satyagraha in Ghana

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Hail Mother – Aurobindo

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Mother, I bow to thee! Rich with thy hurrying streams, bright with orchard gleams, Cool with thy winds of delight, Dark fields waving Mother of might, Mother free.  Glory of moonlight dreams, Over thy branches and lordly streams, Clad in thy blossoming trees, Mother, giver of ease Laughing low and sweet! Mother I kiss thy feet, Speaker sweet and low! Mother, to thee I bow.  Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands And seventy million voices roar Thy dreadful name from shore to shore? With many strengths who art mighty and stored, To thee I call Mother and Lord! Though who savest, arise and save! To her … Continue reading Hail Mother – Aurobindo

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Indira Gandhi on the influence of Sw. Vivekananda

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“I had had the good fortune to know about the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda as well as about the activities of the Ramakrishna Mission. My parents and specially my mother were very close with the Ramakrishna Mission. And I must say that the teachings of Vivekananda had inspired all the members of the Nehru family both in their political activities and day-to-day lives. Swamiji’s teachings, writings and speeches which appear on every page of his works, are indeed stimulant. Swamiji provides us courage, strength, and faith and teaches us how to be self- sufficient. These are the basic … Continue reading Indira Gandhi on the influence of Sw. Vivekananda

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Prabuddha Bharata

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Everything goes to show that Socialism or some form of rule by the people, call it what you will, is coming on the boards. The people will certainly want the satisfaction of their material needs, less work, no oppression, no war, more food. What guarantee have we that this or any civilisation will last, unless it is based on religion, on the goodness of man? Depend on it, religion goes to the root of the matter. If it is right, all is right —Sw. Vivekananda, Indian Missionary’s Mission To England(The Echo, London, 1896) Let New India arise in your place. … Continue reading Prabuddha Bharata

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Kalpataru Day

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It is not good to feel that one’s own religion alone is true and all others are false. God is one only, and not two. Different people call on Him by different names: some as Allah, some as God, and others as Krishna, Siva, and Brahman. It is like the water in a lake. Some drink it at one place and call it ‘jal’, others at another place and call it ‘pani’, and still others at a third place and call it ‘water’. The Hindus call it ‘jal’, the Christians ‘water’, and the Mussalmans ‘pani’. But it is one and … Continue reading Kalpataru Day