Arise, Awake, And Stop Not Till The Goal Is Reached

Go and preach to all,
"Arise, awake, sleep no more;
within each of you there is the power
to remove all wants and all miseries.

—Swami Vivekananda

 Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached is one of the most popular quotations of Swami Vivekananda. If you have gone to Vivekananda Hall of Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata, most probably you have noticed this verse inscribed on the main stage of the auditorium. In Wikipedia (En)  we wrote an article on this verse.  Now in this website too we are going to write an article on the verse.

The verse Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached has its origin in Katha Upanishad. In Katha Upanishad, chapter 1.3.14, we see Yama suggesting Nachiketa—

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत,
क्षुरासन्न धारा निशिता दुरत्यद्दुर्गम पथ: तत् कवयो वदन्ति |

It means—

Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn.
Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path,
so the wise say−hard to tread and difficult to cross.

We find this verse many times in the works and writings of Swami Vivekananda. Now, let's make a collection of Swami Vivekananda's direct quotes on Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.

Swami Vivekananda's quotes

• Advance like a hero. Don't be thwarted by anything. How many days will this body last, with its happiness and misery? When you have got the human body, then rouse the Atman within and say -- i have reached the state of fearlessness! Say -- i am the Atman in which my lower ego has become merged for ever. Be perfect in this idea; and then as long as the body endures, speak unto others this message of fearlessness: "Thou art That", "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached!" If you can achieve this, then shall I know that you are really a tenacious East Bengal man.^[Source]
• Arise and awake, for the time is passing and all our energies will be: frittered away in vain talking. Arise and awake, let minor things, and quarrels over little details and fights over little doctrines be thrown aside, for here is the greatest of all works, here are the sinking millions.^[Source]
• Arise! Arise! A tidal wave is coming! Onward!^[Source]
• "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached"^[Source]
• Arise! Awake! and stop not till the goal is reached." Life is ever expanding, contraction is death. The self-seeking man who is looking after his personal comforts and leading a lazy life — there is no room for him even in hell.^[Source]
• Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are all the world. Who can help you?^[Source]
• Arise, awake; wake up yourselves, and awaken others. Achieve the consummation of human life before you pass off — "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."^[Source]
• Awake, awake, great ones! The world is burning with misery. Can you sleep? Let us call and call till the sleeping gods awake, till the god within answers to the call. What more is in life? What greater work? The details come to me as I go. I never make plans. Plans grow and work themselves. I only say, awake, awake!^[Source]
• Children of the Aryans, do not sit idle; awake, arise, and stop not till the goal is reached.^[Source]
• Go and preach to all, "Arise, awake, sleep no more; within each of you there is the power to remove all wants and all miseries.^[Source]
• Hate not the most abject sinner, fool; not to his exterior. Turn thy gaze inward, where resides the Paramâtman. Proclaim to the whole world with trumpet voice, "There is no sin in thee, there is no misery in thee; thou art the reservoir of omnipotent power. Arise, awake, and manifest the Divinity within!"^[Source]
• I am born to proclaim to them that fearless message --"Arise! Awake!" Be you my helpers in this work!^[Source]
• Let us proclaim to every soul: उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत — Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached. Arise, awake! Awake from this hypnotism of weakness.^[Source]
• Listen to what Yama says in the Katha Upanisad:  उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत । Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached!^[Source]
• Proclaim the glory of the Atman with the roar of a lion, and impart fearlessness unto all beings by saying, "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."^[Source]
• Sacrifice your life for the good of others and go round to the doors of people carrying this message of fearlessness "arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."^[Source]
• Sharp as the blade of a razor, long and difficult and hard to cross, is the way to freedom. The sages have declared this again and again. Yet do not let these weaknesses and failures bind you. The Upanishads have declared, "Arise ! Awake ! and stop not until the goal is reached." We will then certainly cross the path, sharp as it is like the razor, and long and distant and difficult though it be.^[Source]
• Your duty at present is to go from one part of the country to another, from village to village, and make the people understand that mere sitting idly won't do any more. Make them understand their real condition and say, "O ye brothers, arise! Awake! How much longer would you remain asleep!"^[Source]

To young men of Calcutta

In 1897 after returning from the West, in the first lecture at Calcutta, Swamiji told—^[Source]

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत । — Arise, awake and stop not till the desired end is reached. Young men of Calcutta, arise, awake, for the time is propitious. Already everything is opening out before us. Be bold and fear not. It is only in our scriptures that this adjective is given unto the Lord — Abhih, Abhih. We have to become Abhih, fearless, and our task will be done. Arise, awake, for your country needs this tremendous sacrifice. It is the young men that will do it. "The young, the energetic, the strong, the well-built, the intellectual" — for them is the task. And we have hundreds and thousands of such young men in Calcutta. If, as you say, I have done something, remember that I was that good-for-nothing boy playing in the streets of Calcutta. If I have done so much, how much more will you do! Arise and awake, the world is calling upon you. In other parts of India, there is intellect, there is money, but enthusiasm is only in my motherland. That must come out; therefore arise, young men of Calcutta, with enthusiasm in your blood. This not that you are poor, that you have no friends. A who ever saw money make the man? It is man that always makes money. The whole world has been made by the energy of man, by the power of enthusiasm, by the power of faith.
. . .  . . .
Therefore, let me conclude by reminding you once more, "Arise, awake and stop not till the desired end is reached." Be not afraid, for all great power, throughout the history of humanity, has been with he people. From out of their ranks have come all the greatest geniuses of the world, and history can only repeat itself. Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvellous work. The moment you fear, you are nobody. It is fear that is the great 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 even in a moment. Therefore, "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."

To young men of Lahore

From a lecture delivered at Lahore on 12 November 1897—^[Source]

Young men of Lahore, raise once more that mighty banner of Advaita, for on no other ground can you have that wonderful love until you see that the same Lord is present everywhere. Unfurl that banner of love! "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached." Arise, arise once more, for nothing can be done without renunciation. If you want to help others, your little self must go. In the words of the Christians — you cannot serve God and Mammon at the same time. Have Vairagya. Your ancestors gave up the world for doing great things. At the present time there are men who give up the world to help their own salvation. Throw away everything, even your own salvation, and go and help others. Ay you are always talking bold words, but here is practical Vedanta before you. Give up this little life of yours. What matters it if you die of starvation — you and I and thousands like us — so long as this nation lives? The nation is sinking, the curse of unnumbered millions is on our heads — those to whom we have been giving ditch-water to drink when they have been dying of thirst and while the perennial river of water was flowing past, the unnumbered millions whom we have allowed to starve in sight of plenty, the unnumbered millions to whom we have talked of Advaita and whom we have hated with all our strength, the unnumbered millions for whom we have invented the doctrine of Lokâchâra (usage), to whom we have talked theoretically that we are all the same and all are one with the same Lord, without even an ounce of practice. "Yet, my friends, it must be only in the mind and never in practice!" Wipe off this blot. "Arise and awake." What matters it if this little life goes? Everyone has to die, the saint or the sinner, the rich or the poor. The body never remains for anyone. Arise and awake and be perfectly sincere. Our insincerity in India is awful; what we want is character, that steadiness and character that make a man cling on to a thing like grim death.

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Health

Build up your health.
Do not dwell in silence upon your sorrows.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

In this article we'll make a collection of Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comment on health. Related articles are listed at the bottom of the page.

• Build up your health. Do not dwell in silence upon your sorrows.^[Source]
• Consciously or unconsciously, health can be transmitted. A very strong man, living with a weak man, will make him a little stronger, whether he knows it or not.^[Source]
• He who wants to become a Bhakta must be strong, must be healthy.^[Source]
• How to transcend the senses without disturbing the health is what we want to learn.^[Source]
• No negative, all positive, affirmative. I am, God is, everything is in me. I will manifest health, purity, knowledge, whatever I want.^[Source]
• Pay particular attention to your health, but too much coddling of the body will, on the contrary, also spoil the health.^[Source]
• Real love is love for love's sake. I do not ask health or money or life or salvation.^[Source]
• The one who actually succeeds in making himself believe that he is having a good time is the man of splendid physical health.^[Source]
• The sign of vigour, the sign of life, the sign of hope, the sign of health, the sign of everything that is good, is strength. As long as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in the mind, [and strength] in the hand.^[Source]
• This craving for health, wealth, long life, and the like -- the so - called good -- is nothing but an illusion.^[Source]
• We must not forget that health is only a means to an end. If health were the end, we would be like animals; animals rarely become unhealthy.^[Source]
• We never want Him. We say, "Lord, give me a fine house." We want the house, not Him. "Give me health! Save me from this difficulty!" When a man wants nothing but Him, [he gets Him].^[Source]
• When the body is still healthy and diseaseless, When old age has not yet attacked it,
  When the organs have not yet lost their power,
  And life is still full and undiminished,
  Now, now, struggle on, rendering great help to yourself! My friend, it is useless to try to dig a well
  In a house that is already on fire! (translation of Bhatrihari's verses on renunciation)^[Source]
• You must all pay attention to your health first.^[Source]
• You must keep a strict eye on your health; let everything else be subordinated to that.^[Source]

Yoga and health

From Complete Works, Volume V—^[Source]

Q. — Does Yoga serve to keep the body in its full health and vitality?
A. — It does. It staves off disease. As objectification of one's own body is difficult, it is very effective in regard to others. Fruit and milk are the best food for Yogis.

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Cause And Effect

What is meant by cause?
Cause is the fine state of the manifested state.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

In this article you'll find Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on cause and effect.

• All is bound by the law of causation.^[Source]
• All law has its essence in causation.^[Source]
• As the cause is, so the effect will be.^[Source]
• Cause is never different from effect, the effect is but the cause reproduced in another form.^[Source]
• Everything, both mental and physical, is rigidly bound by the law of causation.^[Source]
• Everything has a cause.^[Source]
• Everything is present in its cause, in its fine form.^[Source]
• Everything that we know is within our universe, and everything within our universe is moulded by the conditions of space, time, and causation.^[Source]
• Internal and external nature, mind and matter, are in time and space, and are bound by the law of causation.^[Source]
• No effect of work can be eternal.^[Source]
• Nothing can be produced without a cause, and the effect is but the cause reproduced.^[Source]
• One link in a chain explains the infinite chain.^[Source]
• Something cannot be made out of nothing. Nor can something be made to go back to nothing.^[Source]
• The cause being finite, the effect must be finite. If the cause is eternal the effect can be eternal, but all these causes, doing good work, and all other things, are only finite causes, and as such cannot produce infinite result.^[Source]
• The cause of today is the effect of the past and the cause for the future.^[Source]
• The effect is delusion, and therefore the cause must be delusion.^[Source]
• The finer is always the cause, the grosser the effect. So the external world is the effect, the internal the cause.^[Source]
• The law of Karma is the law of causation.^[Source]
• The subtle are the causes, the gross the effects.^[Source]
• The wave is the same thing as the water, the effect is the cause in another form.^[Source]
• The whole of nature is bound by the law of causation and is in time and space.^[Source]
• There cannot be a cause without an effect, the present must have had its cause in the past and will have its effect in the future.^[Source]
• We, we, and none else, are responsible for what we suffer. We are the effects, and we are the causes.^[Source]
• What is meant by cause? Cause is the fine state of the manifested state.^[Source]
• Where no bondage is, there is no cause and effect.^[Source]
• You know it already that each one of us is the effect of the infinite past; the child is ushered into the world not as something flashing from the hands of nature, as poets delight so much to depict, but he has the burden of an infinite past; for good or evil he comes to work out his own past deeds.^[Source]

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Astrology Or Jyotisha

All these ideas such as astrology,
although there may be a grain of truth in them,
should be avoided.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

This article is on Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on astrology or jyotisha.

• All these ideas such as astrology, although there may be a grain of truth in them, should be avoided.^[Source]
• Every Hindu knows that astrologers try to fix the caste of every boy or girl as soon as he or she is born. That is the real caste — the individuality, and Jyotisha (astrology) recognises that. And we can only rise by giving it full sway again. This variety does not mean inequality, nor any special privilege.^[Source]
• Excessive attention to the minutiae of astrology is one of the superstitions which has hurt the Hindus very much.^[Source]
• I have seen some astrologers who predicted wonderful things; but I have no reason to believe they predicted them only from the stars, or anything of the sort. In many cases it is simply mind-reading. Sometimes wonderful predictions are made, but in many cases it is arrant trash.^[Source]
• I think the Greeks first took astrology to India and took from the Hindus the science of astronomy and carried it back with them from Europe. Because in India you will find old altars made according to a certain geometrical plan, and certain things had to be done when the stars were in certain positions, therefore I think the Greeks gave the Hindus astrology, and the Hindus gave them astronomy.^[Source]
• Man has wanted to look beyond, wanted to expand himself; and all that we call progress, evolution, has been always measured by that one search, the search for human destiny, the search for God.^[Source]
• No study has taken so much of human energy, whether in times past or present, as the study of the soul, of God, and of human destiny.^[Source]
• The present is determined by our past actions, and the future by the present.^[Source]
• The Vedas give information on various subjects. They have come together and form one book. And in later times, when other subjects were separated from religion — when astronomy and astrology were taken out of religion — these subjects, being connected with the Vedas and being ancient, were considered very holy.^[Source]
• There was a very powerful dynasty in Southern India. They made it a rule to take the horoscope of all the prominent men living from time to time, calculated from the time of their birth. In this way they got a record of leading facts predicted, and compared them afterwards with events as they happened. This was done for a thousand years, until they found certain agreements; these were generalised and recorded and made into a huge book. The dynasty died out, but the family of astrologers lived and had the book in their possession. It seems possible that this is how astrology came into existence.^[Source]

An old story

From Complete Works, Volume: VIII—^[Source]

There is an old story of an astrologer who came to a king and said, "You are going to die in six months." The king was frightened out of his wits and was almost about to die then and there from fear. But his minister was a clever man, and this man told the king that these astrologers were fools. The king would not believe him. So the minister saw no other way to make the king see that they were fools but to invite the astrologer to the palace again. There he asked him if his calculations were correct. The astrologer said that there could not be a mistake, but to satisfy him he went through the whole of the calculations again and then said that they were perfectly correct. The king's face became livid. The minister said to the astrologer, "And when do you think that you will die?" "In twelve years", was the reply. The minister quickly drew his sword and separated the astrologer's head from the body and said to the king, "Do you see this liar? He is dead this moment."

Related articles

1. Swami Vivekananda's quotes on destiny

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Hanuman

His devotion to Rama was so great that he is still worshipped
by the Hindus as the ideal of a true servant of the Lord

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

We know about Hanuman, one of the main characters of Ramayana and an ardent devotee of Rama Channdra. We have already written articles on Swami Vivekananda's quotes on Rama, Swami Vivekananda's quotes on Sita. Now we are going to write on Swami Vivekananda's quotes on Hanuman.

• A great Bhakta (Hanuman) once said when asked what day of the month it was, "God is my eternal date, no other date I care for."^[Source]
• As on the one hand Hanuman represent the ideal of service, so on the other hand he represents leonine courage, striking the whole world with awe. He has not the least hesitation in sacrificing his life for the good of Rama. A supreme indifference to everything except the service of Rama, even to the attainment of the status of Brahma and Shiva, the great World - gods! Only the carrying out of Shri Rama's best is the one vow of this life! Such whole - hearted devotion is wanted.^[Source]
• Eka-Nishtha or devotion to one ideal is absolutely necessary for the beginner in the practice of religious devotion. He must say with Hanuman in the Râmâyana, "Though I know that the Lord of Shri and the Lord of Jânaki are both manifestations of the same Supreme Being, yet my all in all is the lotus-eyed Râma."^[Source]
• Hanuman, the best of the monkeys, became the most faithful servant of Rama and helped him in rescuing Sita.^[Source]
• Hanuman, the devotee of Rama, summed up his philosophy in these words: When I identify myself with the body, O Lord, I am Thy creature, eternally separate from Thee. When I identify myself with the soul, I am a spark of that Divine Fire which Thou art. But when I identify myself with the Atman, I and Thou art one.^[Source]
• His devotion to Rama was so great that he is still worshipped by the Hindus as the ideal of a true servant of the Lord.^[Source]
• If you be very generous, you may think that like the great devotee, Hanuman.^[Source]
• Raganuga Bhakti is of five kinds: (1) Shanta as illustrated by the religion of Christ; (2) Dasya as illustrated by that of Hanuman to Rama; (3) Sakhya as illustrated by that of Arjuna to Shri Krishna; (4) Vatsalya as illustrated by that of Vasudeva to Shri Krishna; (5) Madhura (that of the husband and wife) in the lives of Shri Krishna and the Gopikas.^[Source]

A story of Hanuman

From Complete Works, I, Volume: IX—^[Source]

There is a story of Hanumân, who was a great worshipper of Râma. Just as the Christians worship Christ as the incarnation of God, so the Hindus worship many incarnations of God. According to them, God came nine times in India and will come once more. When he came as Rama, this Hanuman was his great worshipper. Hanuman lived very long and was a great Yogi.
During his lifetime, Rama came again as Krishna; and Hanuman, being a great Yogi, knew that the same God had come back again as Krishna. He came and served Krishna, but he said to him, "I want to see that Rama form of yours". Krishna said, "Is not this form enough? I am this Krishna; I am this Rama. All these forms are mine". Hanuman said, "I know that, but the Rama form is for me. The Lord of Jânaki (Janaki is a name of Sitâ.) and the Lord of Shri ( Shri is a name of Laksmi.) are the same. They are both the incarnations of the Supreme Self. Yet the lotus-eyed Rama is my all in all". This is Nishtha — knowing that all these different forms of worship are right, yet sticking to one and rejecting the others. We must not worship the others at all; we must not hate or criticize them, but respect them.

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Practice

A child begins to play on the piano.
At first she must pay attention to every key
she is fingering, and as she goes on and on
for months and years, the playing becomes
almost involuntary, instinctive.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

This article is on Swami Vivekananda's quotes on practice or abhyasa (Devanagari: अभ्यास, Bengali: অভ্যাস).

• All practice or worship is only for taking off this veil. When that will go, you will find that the Sun of Absolute Knowledge is shining in Its own lustre.^[Source]
• By practice men can bring even the heart under control, until it will just beat at will, slowly, or quickly, or almost stop. Nearly every part of the body can be brought under control.^[Source]
• Eka-Nishtha or devotion to one ideal is absolutely necessary for the beginner in the practice of religious devotion.^[Source]
• External practices have value only as helps to develop internal purity.^[Source]
• Here lies the secret. Says Patanjali, the father of Yoga, "When a man rejects all the superhuman powers, then he attains to the cloud of virtue." He sees God. He becomes God and helps others to become the same. This is all I have to preach. Doctrines have been expounded enough. There are books by the million. Oh, for an ounce of practice!^[Source]
• I am teaching you now about it, but how many of you will practice it?^[Source]
• If you intend to study the mind, you must have systematic training; you must practice to bring the mind under your control.
• It is practice first, and knowledge afterwards.^[Source]
• Move onward and carry into practice.^[Source]
• My children, the secret of religion lies not in theories but in practice.^[Source]
• One ounce of practice is worth a thousand pounds of theory.^[Source]
• One ounce of practice is worth twenty thousand tons of big talk.^[Source]
• One ounce of the practice of righteousness and of spiritual Self-realisation outweighs tons and tons of frothy talk and nonsensical sentiments.^[Source]
• Only by practice and non-attachment can we conquer mind.^[Source]
• Perfection must come through the practice of holiness and love.^[Source]
• Practice is absolutely necessary. You may sit down and listen to me by the hour every day, but if you do not practice, you will not get one step further. It all depends on practice.^[Source]
• Practice makes us what we shall be.^[Source]
• The chief helps in this liberation are Abhyasa and Vairagya. Vairagya is non - attachment to life, because it is the will to enjoy that brings all this bondage in its train; and Abhyasa is constant practice of any one of the Yogas.^[Source]
• The real work is in the practice.^[Source]
• The Yogi must always practice.^[Source]
• Through faithful practice, layer after layer of the mind opens before us, and each reveals new facts to us.^[Source]
• To get any reason out of the mass of incongruity we call human life, we have to transcend our reason, but we must do it scientifically, slowly, by regular practice, and we must cast off all superstition.^[Source]
• Through practice comes Yoga, through Yoga comes knowledge, through knowledge love, and through love bliss.^[Source]
• Unselfishness is more paying, only people have not the patience to practice it.^[Source]
• We have to practice to become perfect.^[Source]
• We must patiently practice every day.^[Source]
• You know your real nature [to be divine]. You are the king and play you are a beggar. . . . It is all fun. Know it and play. That is all there is to it. Then practice it. The whole universe is a vast play.^[Source]

Practice makes things easier: example: Piano learning

This illustration of piano learning is found in Swamiji's three lectures/writings.

I

Excerpt from a lecture delivered in New York, 26 January 1896—^[Source]

A child begins to play on the piano. At first she must pay attention to every key she is fingering, and as she goes on and on for months and years, the playing becomes almost involuntary, instinctive. What was first done with conscious will does not require later on an effort of the will

II

Excerpt from Complete Works, Volume I, Chapter: Soul, God and Religion—^[Source]

For illustration: A man plays a tune on a piano, he places each finger on each key consciously. He repeats this process till the movement of the fingers becomes a habit. He then plays a tune without having to pay special attention to each particular key. Similarly, we find in regard to ourselves that our tendencies are the result of past conscious actions.

III

Excerpt from Complete Works, Volume I, Chapter: Patanjali's Yoga Aphormisms—^[Source]

For instance, most of you ladies play the piano, and remember, when you first learned, how carefully you had to put your fingers on the black and white keys, one after the other, but now, after long years of practice, you can talk with your friends while your fingers play mechanically. It has become instinct. So with every work we do; by practice it becomes instinct, it becomes automatic

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Power

What we call powers, secrets of nature,
and force, are all within.
In the external world are only a series of changes.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

This article is on Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on power. Related articles are listed at the bottom of this page.

• Accumulate power in silence and become a dynamo of spirituality.^[Source]
• Accumulation of power is as necessary as its diffusion, or rather more so.^[Source]
• All power is His and within His command.^[Source]
• All want power, but few will wait to gain it for themselves.^[Source]
• Brave, bold men, these are what we want. What we want is vigour in the blood, strength in the nerves, iron muscles and nerves of steel, not softening namby-pamby ideas.^[Source]
• Even the least work done for others awakens the power within.^[Source]
• From the highest god to the meanest grass, the same power is present in all — whether manifested or not. We shall have to call forth that power by going from door to door.^[Source]
• Good and evil thoughts are each a potent power, and they fill the universe.^[Source]
• If one has got power, one must manifest it in action.^[Source]
• It is the greatest manifestation of power to be calm.^[Source]
• Know for certain that there is no power in the universe to injure us unless we first injure ourselves.^[Source]
• Prana is the driving power of the world, and can be seen in every manifestation of life.^[Source]
• Superhuman power is not strong enough.^[Source]
• The finer the instrument, the greater the power. The mind is much finer and more powerful than the body.^[Source]
• The more power there is, the more bondage, the more fear.^[Source]
• The same power is in every man, the one manifesting more, the other less; the same potentiality is in everyone.^[Source]
• There is no power on earth which can be kept long confined within a narrow limit. It cannot be kept compressed too long to allow of expansion at a subsequent period.^[Source]
• This is the one great idea to understand that our power is already ours.^[Source]
• Thought is like a bubble rising to the surface. When thought is joined to will, we call it power. That which strikes the sick person whom you are trying to help is not thought, but power.^[Source]
• To see God is the one goal. Power is not the goal.^[Source]
• What power is higher than the power of purity?^[Source]
• What we call powers, secrets of nature, and force, are all within. In the external world are only a series of changes.^[Source]
• Whenever power is used for evil, it becomes diabolical; it must be used for good only.^[Source]

Related articles

1. Swami Vivekananda's quotes on strength

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On King Janaka

King Janaka (Devanagari: जनक) was the foster-father of Sita. He was called "Videhi Janaka" or "Vaidehi Janaka". (for not identifying himself as a body (Swami Vivekananda described "Videha" as "without a body"^[Source]) and for his non-attachment towards worldly things). Although Janaka is  not one of the most prominent characters of Ramayana, he has been mentioned many times in the discourses of Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
In this article, we'll make a collection of Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on Janaka.

Swami vivekananda on King Janaka

Our King Janaka tilled the soil with his own hands,
and he was also the greatest of the knowers of Truth, of his time.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

Swami Vivekananda told—

• At all times and in every country, the priests gird up their loins and try their best to preserve the ancient customs and usages, while on the other side stand in opposition kings like Janaka, backed by Kshatriya prowess as well as spiritual power. We have dealt at length already on this bitter antagonism between the two parties.^[Source]
• Charity never faileth; devotion to an ideal never fails in sympathy, never becomes weary of sympathising with others. Love to enemies is not possible for ordinary men: they drive out others in order to live themselves. Only a very few men lived in the world who practised both. King Janaka was one of them. Such a man is superior even to Sannyasins. Shukadeva, who was purity and renunciation embodied, made Janaka his Guru; and Janaka said to him, "You are a born Siddha; whatever you know and your father taught you, is true. I assure you of this."^[Source]
• Do not pretend to be like Janaka when you are only the "progenitor" of delusions. (The name Janaka means "progenitor" and belonged to a king who, although he still held his kingdom for the sake of his people, had given up everything mentally.) Be honest and say, "I see the ideal but I cannot yet approach it"; but do not pretend to give up when you do not. If you give up, stand fast.^[Source]
• "Give up," says the Veda, "give up." That is the one way, "Give up".न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैकेऽमृतत्वमानशुः — "Neither through wealth, nor through progeny, but by giving up alone that immortality is to be reached." That is the dictate of the Indian books. Of course, there have been great givers-up of the world, even sitting on thrones. But even (King) Janaka himself had to renounce; who was a greater renouncer than he? But in modern times we all want to be called Janakas! They are all Janakas (lit. fathers) of children — unclad, ill-fed, miserable children. The word Janaka can be applied to them in that sense only; they have none of the shining, Godlike thoughts as the old Janaka had. These are our modern Janakas! A little less of this Janakism now, and come straight to the mark!^[Source]
• Is it so easy to be Janaka -- to sit on a throne absolutely unattached, caring nothing for wealth or fame, for wife or child? One after another in the West has told me that he has reached this. But I could only say, 'Such great men are not born in India!^[Source]
• Nishkâma Karma, or work without desire or attachment. People nowadays understand what is meant by this in various ways. Some say what is implied by being unattached is to become purposeless. If that were its real meaning, then heartless brutes and the walls would be the best exponents of the performance of Nishkama Karma. Many others, again, give the example of Janaka, and wish themselves to be equally recognised as past masters in the practice of Nishkama Karma! Janaka (lit. father) did not acquire that distinction by bringing forth children, but these people all want to be Janakas, with the sole qualification of being the fathers of a brood of children! No! The true Nishkama Karmi (performer of work without desire) is neither to be like a brute, nor to be inert, nor heartless. He is not Tâmasika but of pure Sattva. His heart is so full of love and sympathy that he can embrace the whole world with his love. The world at large cannot generally comprehend his all-embracing love and sympathy.^[Source]
• Our King Janaka tilled the soil with his own hands, and he was also the greatest of the knowers of Truth, of his time.^[Source]
• Strictly speaking it is almost impossible to work like that for the good of the world from the householder's position. In the whole of Hindu scriptures there is the single instance of King Janaka in this respect. But you nowadays want to pose as Janakas (lit. fathers) in every home by begetting children year after year, while he was without the body - consciousness!^[Source]

Teaching of Janaka

✔ This is an interesting story. From Swami Vivekananda's book Karma Yoga—^[Source]

There was a great sage in India called Vyâsa. This Vyâsa is known as the author of the Vedanta aphorisms, and was a holy man. His father had tried to become a very perfect man and had failed. His grandfather had also tried and failed. His great-grandfather had similarly tried and failed. He himself did not succeed perfectly, but his son, Shuka, was born perfect. Vyasa taught his son wisdom; and after teaching him the knowledge of truth himself, he sent him to the court of King Janaka. He was a great king and was called Janaka Videha. Videha means "without a body". Although a king, he had entirely forgotten that he was a body; he felt that he was a spirit all the time. This boy Shuka was sent to be taught by him. The king knew that Vyasa's son was coming to him to learn wisdom: so he made certain arrangements beforehand. And when the boy presented himself at the gates of the palace, the guards took no notice of him whatsoever. They only gave him a seat, and he sat there for three days and nights, nobody speaking to him, nobody asking him who he was or whence he was. He was the son of a very great sage, his father was honoured by the whole country, and he himself was a most respectable person; yet the low, vulgar guards of the palace would take no notice of him. After that, suddenly, the ministers of the king and all the big officials came there and received him with the greatest honours. They conducted him in and showed him into splendid rooms, gave him the most fragrant baths and wonderful dresses, and for eight days they kept him there in all kinds of luxury. That solemnly serene face of Shuka did not change even to the smallest extent by the change in the treatment accorded to him; he was the same in the midst of this luxury as when waiting at the door. Then he was brought before the king. The king was on his throne, music was playing, and dancing and other amusements were going on. The king then gave him a cup of milk, full to the brim, and asked him to go seven times round the hall without spilling even a drop. The boy took the cup and proceeded in the midst of the music and the attraction of the beautiful faces. As desired by the king, seven times did he go round, and not a drop of the milk was spilt. The boy's mind could not be attracted by anything in the world, unless he allowed it to affect him. And when he brought the cup to the king, the king said to him, "What your father has taught you, and what you have learned yourself, I can only repeat. You have known the Truth; go home."

Nag Mahasaya (Durga Charan Nag)

From Complete Works, Volume VII—^[Source]

Then the conversation drifted to the subject of Nag Mahashaya. Swamiji said, "One does not find a second devoted Bhakta like him -- oh, when shall I see him again!"
Disciple: He will soon come to Calcutta to meet you, so mother (Nag Mahashaya's wife) has written to me.
Swamiji: Shri Ramakrishna used to compare him to King Janaka. A man with such control over all the senses one does not hear of even, much less come across. You must associate with him as much as you can. He is one of Shri Ramakrishna's nearest disciples.

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Charity

Charity opens the heart.

—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

This article is on Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on charity. Related articles are listed at the bottom of this page.

• An atheist can be charitable but not religious. But the religious man must be charitable.^[Source]
• Buddha taught kindness towards lower beings; and since then there has not been a sect in India that has not taught charity to all beings, even to animals. This kindness, this mercy, this charity -- greater than any doctrine -- are what Buddhism left to us.^[Source]
• Charity never faileth.^[Source]
• Charity opens the heart.^[Source]
• Dâna, charity. There is no higher virtue than charity. The lowest man is he whose hand draws in, in receiving; and he is the highest man whose hand goes out in giving. The hand was made to give always. Give the last bit of bread you have even if you are starving. You will be free in a moment if you starve yourself to death by giving to another. Immediately you will be perfect, you will become God.^[Source]
• Every act of charity, every thought of sympathy, every action of help, every good deed, is taking so much of self-importance away from our little selves and making us think of ourselves as the lowest and the least, and, therefore, it is all good. Here we find that Jnâna, Bhakti, and Karma — all come to one point.^[Source]
• Every time you think of doing some charity, you think there is some beggar to take your charity. If you say, "O Lord, let the world be full of charitable people!" — you mean, let the world be full of beggars also. Let the world be full of good works - let the world be full of misery. This is out-and-out slavishness!^[Source]
• Have charity towards all beings. Pity those who are in distress. Love all creatures. Do not be jealous of anyone. Look not to the faults of others.^[Source]
• Love and charity for the whole human race, that is the test of true religiousness.^[Source]
• Mark, therefore, the ordinary theory of practical religion, what it leads to. Charity is great, but the moment you say it is all, you run the risk of running into materialism. It is not religion. It is no better than atheism - a little less.^[Source]
• No civilisation can grow unless fanatics, bloodshed, and brutality stop. No civilisation can begin to lift up its head until we look charitably upon one another; and the first step towards that much-needed charity is to look charitably and kindly upon the religious convictions of others. Nay more, to understand that not only should we be charitable, but positively helpful to each other, however different our religious ideas and convictions may be.^[Source]
• Religion has become to many merely a means of doing a little charity work, just to amuse them after a hard day's labour — they get five minutes religion to amuse them. This is the danger with the liberal thought.^[Source]
• Seek no praise, no reward, for anything you do. No sooner do we perform a good action than we begin to desire credit for it. No sooner do we give money to some charity than we want to see our names blazoned in the papers. Misery must come as the result of such desires.^[Source]
• Test everything, try everything, and then believe it, and if you find it for the good of many, give it to all.^[Source]
• The guiding motive of mankind should be charity towards men, charity towards all animals.^[Source]
• The Jivanmukta ('the living free' or one who knows) alone is able to give real love, real charity, real truth, and it is truth alone that makes us free.^[Source]
• There is another way in which this idea of mercy and selfless charity can be put into practice; that is, by looking upon work as "worship" in case we believe in a Personal God. Here we give up all the fruits our work unto the Lord, and worshipping Him thus, we have no right to expect anything from man kind for the work we do.^[Source]
• This idea of charity is going out of India; great men are becoming fewer and fewer. When I was first learning English, I read an English story book in which there was a story about a dutiful boy who had gone out to work and had given some of his money to his old mother, and this was praised in three or four pages. What was that? No Hindu boy can ever understand the moral of that story. Now I understand it when I hear the Western idea — every man for himself. And some men take everything for themselves, and fathers and mothers and wives and children go to the wall. That should never and nowhere be the ideal of the householder.^[Source]
• Those who are acquainted with the literature of India will remember a beautiful old story about this extreme charity, how a whole family, as related in the Mahâbhârata, starved themselves to death and gave their last meal to a beggar. This is not an exaggeration, for such things still happen.^[Source]
• We have all been hearing from childhood of such things as love, peace, charity, equality, and universal brotherhood; but they have become to us mere words without meaning, words which we repeat like parrots, and it has become quite natural for us to do so. We cannot help it.^[Source]
• We hear all around us about practical religion, and analysing all that, we find that it can be brought down to one conception — charity to our fellow beings.^[Source]
• We may convert every house in the country into a charity asylum, we may fill the land with hospitals, but the misery of man will still continue to exist until man's character changes.
• We must inform our minds that no one in this universe depends upon us; not one beggar depends on our charity; not one soul on our kindness; not one living thing on our help. All are helped on by nature, and will be so helped even though millions of us were not here. The course of nature will not stop for such as you and me; it is, as already pointed out, only a blessed privilege to you and to me that we are allowed, in the way of helping others, to educate ourselves. This is a great lesson to learn in life, and when we have learned it fully, we shall never be unhappy; we can go and mix without harm in society anywhere and everywhere.^[Source]
• We see many persons talking the most wonderfully fine things about charity and about equality and the rights of other people and all that, but it is only in theory. I was so fortunate as to find one who was able to carry theory into practice. He had the most wonderful faculty of carrying everything into practice which he thought was right. (on Ramakrishna)^[Source]
• What good being object of charity?
  Give away, ne'er turn to ask in return,
  Should there be the wealth treasured in thy heart.^[Source]
• What is meant by charity? Charity is not fundamental. It is really helping on the misery of the world, not eradicating it. One looks for name and fame and covers his efforts to obtain them with the enamel of charity and good works. He is working for himself under the pretext of working for others. Every so-called charity is an encouragement of the very evil it claims to operate against.^[Source]
• You must also remember that the world has God to govern it, and He has not left it to our charity. The Lord God is its Governor and Maintainer, and in spite of these wine fanatics and cigar fanatics, and all sorts of marriage fanatics, it would go on. If all these persons were to die, it would go on none the worse.^[Source]

Three kinds of charity according to Bhagavad Gita

Excerpt from Complete Works, Volume: IX—^[Source]

The Gitâ says that there are three kinds of charity: the Tâmasic, the Râjasic and the Sâttvic. Tamasic charity is performed on an impulse. It is always making mistakes. The doer thinks of nothing but his own impulse to be kind. Rajasic charity is what a man does for his own glory. And Sattvic charity is that which is given to the right person, in the right way, and at the proper time.

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Jayalalithaa On Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda popularised the pride of Hinduism
around the world. He taught self-respect and equality.

—Jayalalithaa

 Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Jayalalithaa or Kumari Jayalalithaa or Jayalalithaa Jayaram (born 24 February 1948) is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She considered Swami Vivekananda as a "big inspiration" in her life and political career. In this article we are going to make a collection of Jayalalithaa's quotes and comments on Swami Vivekananda.

October 2012, Extension of Vivekananda House's lease by 99 years

In October 2012, the state government of Tamil Nadu, lead by Jayalalitha, announced that they were going to extend the lease of Vivekananda House Marina by 99 years. It was considered as a "gift" from Jayalaitha government to Ramakrishna Mission, Chennai.^[Ref]

 

February 2013, "Vivekananda was a great inspiration. . ."

In February 2013, during the inauguration ceremony of Vivekananda's 150^th birth anniversary celebration in Chennai, Jayalalithaa told—^[Ref]

There are some people who made public life a profession. The profession can be transformed into service, but service cannot be turned into a profession. As far as I am concerned, Swami Vivekananda was a great inspiration for me to enter politics.
When I took the first step into politics in 1982, I mentioned Swami Vivekananda in an interview. Swami Vivekananda served the people as a monk. Following his path, I have been serving the people with a sense of detachment. I don’t have any selfish motive since I don’t have any needs. The people of Tamil Nadu are everything to me. I am here because of the people of TN and will work for them.

February 2013, "Swami Vivekananda popularised the pride of Hinduism around the world. . ."

In February 2013, Jayalaithaa also told—^[Ref]

Swami Vivekananda popularised the pride of Hinduism around the world. He taught self-respect and equality. Possessing extreme knowledge and will power, he was an example of leadership and charity.

Swami Vivekananda did public service as an ascetic. On his footsteps, I have taken political renunciation to serve the people. I have no selfishness and I need nothing. I have no one. People of Tamil Nadu mean everything to me.

December 2013, Vivekananda cultural centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu

According to a news article published in The Hindu on 30 December 2013, a cultural centre dedicated to Swami Vivekananda would be opened in Triplicane, Chennai, in the beginning of 2014. The centre will be named "Vivekananda cultural centre". The centre will offer courses on meditation, yoga, Vedanta, Swami Vivekananda's teachings. The foundation stone of the centre was laid by the state's chief minister Jayalalitha.^[Ref]

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Swami Vivekananda's Quotes On Marriage

This article is on Swami Vivekananda's quotes and comments on marriage. Related articles are listed at the bottom of this page.

• A monk is not forbidden to marry, but if he takes a wife she becomes a monk with the same powers and privileges and occupies the same social position as her husband.^[Source]



According to the Hindu way of thinking,
marriage is rather a duty than a privilege.


—Swami Vivekananda

Image source: Wikimedia Commons 

• According to the Hindu way of thinking, marriage is rather a duty than a privilege.^[Source]
• Forget not that thy marriage, thy wealth, thy life are not for sense-pleasure, are not for thy individual personal happiness.^[Source]
• In countries where there is no marriage, there is no duty between husband and wife; when marriage comes, husband and wife live together on account of attachment; and that kind of living together becomes settled after generations; and when it becomes so settled, it becomes a duty.^[Source]
• In Tibet there is no marriage, and there is no jealousy, yet we know that marriage is a much higher state. The Tibetans have not known the wonderful enjoyment, the blessing of chastity, the happiness of having a chaste, virtuous wife, or a chaste, virtuous husband. These people cannot feel that. And similarly they do not feel the intense jealousy of the chaste wife or husband, or the misery caused by unfaithfulness on either side, with all the heart-burnings and sorrows which believers in chastity experience. On one side, the latter gain happiness, but on the other, they suffer misery too.^[Source]
• Just as man must have liberty to think and speak, so he must have liberty in food, dress, and marriage, and in every other thing, so long as he does not injure others.^[Source]
• Marriage and sex and money the only living devils.^[Source]
• Marriage is an institution very safely guarded.^[Source]
• Marriage is not for individual happiness, but for the welfare of the nation and the caste.^[Source]
• Marriage is the truest goal for ninety-nine per cent of the human race, and they will live the happiest life as soon as they have learnt and are ready to abide by the eternal lesson — that we are bound to bear and forbear and that life to every one must be a compromise.^[Source]
• Marriage or non-marriage, good or evil, learning or ignorance, any of these is justified, if it leads to the goal.^[Source]
• The West regards marriage as consisting in all that lies beyond the legal tie, while in India it is thought of as a bond thrown by society round two people to unite them together for all eternity. Those two must wed each other, whether they will or not, in life after life. Each acquires half of the merit of the other. And if one seems in this life to have fallen hopelessly behind, it is for the other only to wait and beat time, till he or she catches up again!^[Source]
• The natural ambition of woman is through marriage to climb up, leaning upon a man; but those days are gone. You shall be great without the help of any man, just as you are.^[Source]
• This doctrine of prenatal influence is now slowly being recognized, and science as well as religion calls out: 'Keep yourself holy, and pure.' So deeply has this been recognized in India, that there we even speak of adultery in marriage, except when marriage is consummated in prayer.^[Source]
• What is marriage but the renunciation of unchastity? The savage does not marry. Man marries because he renounces.^[Source]

On Child-marriage

Main article: Swami Vivekananda's quotes on child-marriage

• I have a strong hatred for child-marriage.^[Source]
• You must abolish child marriage.^[Source]

History of marriage

From Swami Vivekananda's book The East and the West (Bengali: প্রাচ্য ও পাশ্চাত্য, Bengali pronunciation: prachyo o pashchatyo)—^[Source]

In the primitive stage there was no marriage, but gradually matrimonial relations sprang up. At first, the matrimonial relation depended, amongst all communities, on the mother. There was not much fixity about the father, the children were named after the mother: all the wealth was in the hands of the women, for they were to bring up the children. In the course of time, wealth, the women included, passed into the hands of the male members. The male said, "All this wealth and grain are mine; I have grown these in the fields or got them by plunder and other means; and if anyone dispute my claims and want to have a share of them, I will fight him." In the same way he said, "All these women are exclusively mine; if anyone encroach upon my right in them, I will fight him." Thus there originated the modern marriage system. Women became as much the property of man as his slaves and chattels. The ancient marriage custom was that the males of one tribe married the women of another; and even then the women were snatched away by force. In course of time, this business of taking away the bride by violence dropped away, and marriage was contracted with the mutual consent of both parties. But every custom leaves a faint trace of itself behind, and even now we find in every country a mock attack is made on such occasions upon the bridegroom. In Bengal and Europe, handfuls of rice are thrown at the bridegroom, and in Northern India the bride's women friends abuse the bridegroom's party calling them names, anti so on.

Marriage: New India's concept vs Old India's concept

This one  is very interesting.  Excerpt from Swamiji's Modern India (originally published in Bengali as বর্তমান ভারত, Bengali pronunciation: bortoma bharot)—^[Source]

On one side, new India is saying, "We should have full freedom in the selection of husband and wife; because the marriage, in which are involved the happiness and misery of all our future life, we must have the right to determine according to our own free will." On the other, old India is dictating, "Marriage is not for sense-enjoyment, but to perpetuate the race. This is the Indian conception of marriage. By the producing of children, you are contributing to, and are responsible for, the future good or evil of the society. Hence society has the right to dictate whom you shall marry and whom you shall not. That form of marriage obtains in society which is conducive most to its well-being; do you give up your desire of individual pleasure for the good of the many."

Swamiji's opinion

Excerpt from letter written to Mrs.Ole Bull, dated 14 June 1902, from Belur Math, India (note this letter wes written only 18 days before Vivekananda's death)—^[Source]

. . . In my opinion, a race must first cultivate a great respect for motherhood, through the sanctification and inviolability of marriage, before it can attain to the ideal of perfect chastity. The Roman Catholics and the Hindus, holding marriage sacred and inviolate, have produced great chaste men and women of immense power. To the Arab, marriage is a contract or a forceful possession, to be dissolved at will, and we do not find there the development of the idea of the virgin or the Brahmachârin. Modern Buddhism — having fallen among races who had not yet come up to the evolution of marriage — has made a travesty of monasticism. So until there is developed in Japan a great and sacred ideal about marriage (apart from mutual attraction and love), I do not see how there can be great monks and nuns. As you have come to see that the glory of life is chastity, so my eyes also have been opened to the necessity of this great sanctification for the vast majority, in order that a few lifelong chaste powers may be produced. . . .

Is there no happiness in marriage?

A lady named Alberta Sturges asked Vivekananda this question "Is there no happiness in marriage?" And Vivekananda's reply was—^[Source]

Yes, Alberta, if marriage is entered into as a great austerity — and everything is given up — even principle!

Marriage, marriage, marriage. . .

We have not added this quote in the quotes list above, because this quote needs some details. Alasinga Perumal was one of the most prominent disciples of Swamiji. But he was married. Swamiji had his "Madras boys" (a group of young men from Madras including Alasinga who thoroughly helped Swamiji in his mission), but a good number of them were married. Vivekananda wrote in a letter to Alasinga in 1896 from London—

The Madrasis have more of go and steadiness, but every fool is married. Marriage! Marriage! Marriage! . . . Then the way our boys are married nowadays! . . . It is very good to aspire to be a nonattached householder; but what we want in Madras is not that just now — but non-marriage. . . . Our beautiful hopeful boys — they have everything, only if they are not slaughtered by the millions at the altar of this brutality they call marriage.^[Source]

Swami Vivekananda and marriage

Firstly we though to name this section "Swami Vivekananda on his own marriage", but felt that it would sound absurd. We know that Swamiji did not marry. In this section we are going to make a collection of Swamiji's comments on his own life's comments on marriage.

On 30 September 1893, an interview of Swami Vivekananda was published in the Boston Evening Transcript. In that interview he was asked if he had an plan to get married. Vivekananda's prompt reply was—[Source]

"Why should I marry, when I see in every woman only the divine Mother? Why do I make all these sacrifices? To emancipate myself from earthly ties and attachments so that there will be no re-birth for me. When I die I want to become at once absorbed in the divine, one with God. I would be a Buddha."

On another occasion Swamiji wrote to Swami Saradananda (letter dated 20 May 1895, from Chicago)—^[Source]

I hate the very name of marriage, in regard to a boy or a girl. Do you mean to say that I have to help in putting someone into bondage, you fool! If my brother Mohin marries, I will throw him off. I am very decided about that. . . .

Did Swami Vivekananda get married?

✍ Please read the special article here

See also

1. Swami Vivekananda's quotes on householder's life
2. Swami Vivekananda's quotes on love
3. Swami Vivekananda's quotes on sex

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