Inspiring Quotes from Swami Vivekananda
The Path to Enlightenment
Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was a Hindu monk and spiritual leader from India who played a key role in introducing the teachings of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world. He was a disciple of the 19th century Indian mystic Ramakrishna and is considered as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the modern era.
Vivekananda traveled to the United States in 1893, where he represented India at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. His speeches at the event, particularly his opening address, were well received and helped to introduce Hindu philosophy and spiritualism to a Western audience. He subsequently traveled to several other countries, including England and the Netherlands, to spread his message of spiritual harmony and universal brotherhood.
Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the unity of all religions, the potential for spiritual growth through meditation and self-discipline, and the importance of serving others as a means of realizing one’s own spiritual potential. He is also credited with helping to revive interest in India’s spiritual heritage and promoting the country’s cultural identity.
His impact can be seen in the widespread popularity of Yoga and Meditation in the west today. His ideas and teachings continue to inspire people across the globe and he is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Indian spirituality and philosophy.
50 Inspiring Quotes from Swami Vivekananda
- “All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.”
- “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached.”
- “Be a hero. Always say, I have no fear.”
- “Be blessed and be a blessing to others”
- “Be true to yourself, and you will be true to the world.”
- “Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet”
- “Chant the name of God, sing the glory of God, and serve humanity.”
- “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man.”
- “In a conflict between the heart and the brain, follow your heart.”
- “Self-reliance is the key to success.”
- “Stand up, be bold, be strong. Take the whole responsibility on your own shoulders, and know that you are the creator of your own destiny.”
- “The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire.”
- “The goal of humanity is knowledge and self-realization”
- “The greatest duty is to speak the truth, without fear.”
- “The greatest gift in life is freedom, and the greatest freedom is to be free of the past”
- “The greatest mistake is to think that we are weak, helpless, and incompetent.”
- “The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.”
- “The greatest sin is to think yourself weak.”
- “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence”
- “The mind is the cause of bondage and the mind is the cause of liberation.”
- “The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.”
- “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
- “The only way to achieve success is through hard work and perseverance.”
- “The only way to be free is to be true to oneself.”
- “The only way to be happy is to make others happy.”
- “The only way to find God is to lose oneself in the service of others”
- “The only way to know God is to serve man, to love man, to identify ourselves with man.”
- “The whole of humanity is one undivided and indivisible family, and each one of us is responsible for the misdeeds of all the others.”
- “The whole secret of existence is to have no fear. Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one. Only the moment you reject all help are you freed.”
- “The world is the great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.”
- “To be free is to be true to oneself”
- “Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.”
- “You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.”
- 3 Golden rules!! Who is helping you, don’t forget them. Who is loving you, don’t hate them. Who is trusting you, don’t cheat them.
- All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.
- All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. Stand up and express the divinity within you.
- Always try to represent yourself as happy. Initially, it becomes your look, gradually it becomes your habit and finally it becomes your personality.
- Anything that makes you weak – physically, intellectually, and spiritually, reject it as poison.
- Come out of your narrow holes and have a look abroad.
- Condemn none: if you can stretch out a helping hand, do so. If you cannot, fold your hands, bless your brothers, and let them go their own way.
- Desire, ignorance, and inequality – this is the trinity of bondage
- Do one thing at a Time, and while doing it put your whole soul into it to the exclusion of all else.
- Each work has to pass through these stages – ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.
- Have faith in yourself – all power is in you. Even the poison of a snake is powerless, if you can firmly deny it.
- I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world tolerance & universal acceptance. we believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true.
- If I love myself despite my infinite faults, how can I hate anyone at the glimpse of a few faults?
- Take risks in your life, If you win, you can lead! If you lose, you can guide!
- 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.
- The fire that warms us can also consume us; it is not the fault of the fire.
- Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings emphasized the unity of all religions, the potential for spiritual growth through meditation and self-discipline, and the importance of serving others as a means of realizing one’s own spiritual potential. He believed that the ultimate goal of life is self-realization and knowledge, and that this can be achieved through devotion to God, selfless service to humanity, and the practice of meditation and yoga. He also emphasized the importance of self-empowerment and self-reliance, encouraging individuals to believe in themselves and to take responsibility for their own destiny.
Vivekananda’s teachings continue to be relevant in modern times. His emphasis on the unity of all religions and the importance of service and compassion align with many contemporary ideas about spirituality and social responsibility. His emphasis on self-empowerment and self-reliance also resonates with many people today, who are looking for ways to overcome personal challenges and to live more fulfilling lives. Additionally, the popularity of Yoga and Meditation in the west is due to his teachings.
Vivekananda’s ideas and teachings continue to inspire people across the globe and he is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Indian spirituality and philosophy. His message of spiritual harmony and universal brotherhood remains as relevant today as it was in the 19th century, and his legacy continues to shape the way we think about religion, spirituality, and personal development.
There are several resources available online to learn more about Swami Vivekananda and his teachings:
The official website of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda: https://www.ramakrishna.org/vivekananda/
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, an online collection of all of Vivekananda’s writings and speeches: https://www.advaitasharada.org/index.php
The Vivekananda Kendra, an organization that works to promote the teachings of Vivekananda: https://www.vivekanandakendra.org/
The Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, a research institute in Bengaluru, India, dedicated to the study and promotion of Vivekananda’s ideas on yoga: http://www.svyasa.org/
The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, an organization established by the Indian government to promote the teachings of Vivekananda: https://www.svcc.gov.in/
The Swami Vivekananda Chicago Speech, a transcript of the famous speech Vivekananda delivered at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893: https://www.ramakrishna.org/vivekananda/chicago_speech.htm
These resources offer a wide range of information on Swami Vivekananda, including his biography, teachings, writings, and speeches, as well as information on organizations and institutions that continue to promote his ideas and legacy.
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