Swami Vivekananda was probably the most renowned philosopher, activist, and yogi of his times. His efforts to take Vendanta philosophy to the West and spread it widely in India, the late 1800s, is unparalleled. He influenced not only the likes of Rabindranath Tagore, but also philosophers and scientist such as Max Mueller and Nicola Tesla.
In the pantheon of dharmic sages, Vivekananda is the most recognizable, especially by the youth. He especially urged the youth of India to build a character rooted in morality, truth, and unselfishness.
Swami Vivekananda inspired his generation to reclaim the heritage of India. He wanted the Upanishads and Vendanta to be the underpinnings of India. He wanted Indians to be strong, and have the “pluck and scientific genius”. He talked about infinite energy, infinite zeal, infinite courage, and infinite patience to achieve great things for India. He wanted every Indian to have muscles of iron and nerves of steel, and be like a rock.
Vivekananda spoke about a lot of things – Vedas, Upanishads, Gita, Yoga, India, varna system, etc. But most of all he wanted each individual to leave some mark behind in this world. For that he had a message to the children of India, of today as much as of then:
- Be strong. Get rid of physical weakness. Do as you speak, do what you speak of. Getting rid of physical weakness is the way to getting rid of mental weakness. Vivekananda says, “You will be nearer to Heaven through football than through a study of Gita. You will understand Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger.”
- Be bold. Love anybody and everybody. Be moral and be a whole-hearted man.
- Be truthful. Swami Vivekananda says, “Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject as poison; there is no life in it, it cannot be true. Truth is strengthening, must be enlightening, must be invigorating.”
- Have faith in yourself. Don’t ever look up to the rich and the “successful”. It is the poor of the world who have done all the great and the gigantic work of the world. Be steady, pure, and sincere. We are the sparks of the infinite, divine fire. We are everything. That is the Doctrine of Shraddha (genuine faith).
- Learn to serve. This world doesn’t need your help. You cannot help. You can only serve. “Do you think even an ant will die for want of your help? Most arrogant blasphemy! The world doesn’t need you at all. Cut out the word help from you mind.” When you serve somebody, feel blessed to have the privilege of being able to do so, for it is not available to many others.
- Learn to work unitedly for others.
Vivekananda said, “Truth, purity, and unselfishness – wherever these are present, there is no power below or above the sun to crush the possessor thereof. Equipped with these, one individual is able to face the whole universe in opposition.”
While Savarkar, Bose, and Patel are considered to be the iron men of India, Vivekananda can be called the iron monk of India.
धार्मिक छवियाँ 