Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta) was a revered Indian monk, a philosopher and a patriot. The teachings of Swami Vivekananda spread like a wild-fire through his phenomenal oratory and eclectic quotes. Moreover, his philosophy, ideals, courage, perseverance and dedication to the cause of India personifed the eternal energy of the youth. And hence the Indian Government declared his birthday 12th January (Vivekananda Jayanti) as the National Youth Day.
A disciple of the mystic Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Swamiji took the world by storm 150 years ago. As a result, he is regarded as the foremost champion of Indian sensibilities and spiritual traditions. Above all, he simplified and popularized the esoteric teachings of Vedanta and Yoga (Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali’s Yoga aphorisms) for the world.
Greats like Gandhiji, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore, Sri Aurobindo, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bipin Chandra Pal, Nehru, Vinoba Bhave revered him for his contributions to the Hindu reform movement. Further, powerful western luminaries like Nikola Tesla, Max Mueller, Romain Rolland, Lord Kelvin and more recently Barack Obama were heavily influenced by him.
So, on this National Youth Day, let’s relearn Swami Vivekananda’s teachings that can timelessly inspire, the Gen X to the Gen Alpha! Likewise, lets explore his books, check out his discourses at the Vedanta center, Ramakrishna Math and Mission centers.
Similarly, lets spread his message and illumine people through essays, speeches, seminars, youth conventions held in schools and cities for Vivekananda Jayanti/ National Youth Day. Also, let’s lend a helping hand to Swamiji’s youth organizations, study circles and service activities
Here are the Timeless, Inspirational teachings of Swami Vivekananda (Source: Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on the Atman/the Self
That is to say, what we seek outside in temples, churches and mosques is right within us, the powerfully effulgent Atman (Soul)! Here, Swamiji reiterated the Upanishad truth of ‘Soham- asmi‘ , ‘Aham Brahman Asi’ ‘ Tat Tvam Asi’ .
Further, he also taught that each Soul is a Star and that each Soul Divine. Instead of arguing over this, we must make efforts to listen to the sound of the Soul. Once we have heard it then we must meditate upon it. This Vivekananda Jayanti, let us resolve not to stop till we have satisfied ourselves that each us is the Infinite Spirit.
Swamiji’s quotes on Atman
- ‘There is a Lion (within),the eternally pure, illumined, free Atman. And directly one realizes it through meditation and concentration.’
- ‘Know then that, Thou art He, and model your while life accordingly. He who know this and models his life, will no more grovel in darkness.‘
Perspective on Bhakti or Love of God
Swami Vivekananda taught that in the quest for finding the Divine Spirit inside, Bhakti is the most natural and pleasant way.
When we treat God as a separate being and fall deeply in love with him, we move closer to the Divine. With unconditional devotion, prayers and repetition of his name, finally we merge into Divinity and realize the splendor of the Indestructible Soul.
Swamiji’s quotes on Bhakti
‘Bhakti is intense love to God. The easiest and most natural way to reach the great Divine. One way is by repeating the name of God a number of times . Mantras have effect…’
Concentration quotes on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda taught that the world’s secrets can be unraveled if we learnt to open its vault with the key of concentration. Moreover, he felt that the difference between animals and humans or the lowest and the highest man is simply in the degrees of their concentration.
Likewise, he taught that concentration is the essence of all knowledge. But the average man wastes over 90% of his thought force on frivolous things. Therefore, the teachings of Swami Vivekananda propose Raja Yoga as a technique of concentrating the mind and reaching its innermost recesses.
Swamiji’s quotes on Mind
- ‘There is no limit to the power of the human mind.’
- ‘The more concentrated it is, the more power is brought to one point.’
- ‘We know that the mind has become concentrated when the idea of time vanishes.‘
- ‘The concentrated mind is like a lamp that shows us every corner of the soul.’
Swami’s quotes on Duty
This Vivekananda Jayanti, let us remember that Swamiji taught that only an action that makes us go Godward is a good action and hence qualifies as a duty. Similarly, an evil action cannot be a righteous duty. Here, his drift was towards the wrong practices prevailing in the pre-independence era, performed in the name of duty.
Swamiji’s quotes on Duty
‘Every duty is holy. Devotion to duty is the highest form of worship.’
‘When you are doing any work, do not think of anything beyond. Do it as the highest worship and devote your whole life to it for the time being.’
Education quotes on teachings of Swami Vivekananda
On the National Youth Day, the young in the country must remember that Swamiji denounced rote-learning. Further, his idea of education was that a faculty be rigorously developed in the young whereby they could will themselves to choose right. Likewise, he felt that the future of India would be safe in the hands of a generation that was educated to choose the right course of action.
Swamiji’s quotes on Education
- ‘Education is the training by which the current and expression of will are brought under control and become fruitful is education.’
- ‘The very essence of education is concentration of mind and not collecting of facts… develop the power of concentration and detachment.’
- ‘We must have life-building, man-making, character-making, assimilation of ideas..’
- ‘The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle of life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy and the courage of a lion – is it worth the name?‘
Swami Vivekananda quotes on Ethics
Swamiji’s appeal to stand up, dare to believe in the truth and dare to practice it, ought to be the Vivekananda Jayanti’s motto for everyone. In other words, he advised us to discard our vain ideas of individualism and materialistic/sensual pleasures. Further, he felt that we must immerse ourselves into the selfless service of others and that would be the highest ideal, the highest code of ethics.
Swamiji’s quotes on Ethics
- ‘That society is the greatest, where the highest truths become practical.’
- ‘The senses say, ‘Myself first’ … Ethics says “I must hold myself last’. Thus all codes of ethics are based upon this renunciation , destruction and not construction of the individual on the material plane‘
Teachings of Swami Vivekananda on Faith
A key takeaway for the young on the event of National Youth Day, is that Swamiji insisted that lack of faith in oneself is an all-consuming disease. That is to say, he exhorted people to make faith in oneself a habit. Further, he said this can be achieved with a simple mental re-assertion of, ‘I am I am I am’. But he warns that carelessly internalizing toxic thoughts like ‘I am not’ or ‘I cannot’ ‘I am nothing’ will become a self-fulfilling prophecy!
So, watch your words and watch your thoughts.
Swamiji’s quotes on Faith
- ‘All such ideas as we can do this or cannot do that are superstitious.‘
- ‘We can do everything. Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first.’
- ‘Not believing in the glory of your own soul is what Vedanta calls atheism.’
- ‘Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in all great men/women, it is the faith in themselves. Born with the consciousness that they were to be great; they became great.‘
- ‘Do you know how much energy, how many powers, how many forces, are still lurking behind that frame of yours? You know but little of that which is within you. For behind you is the ocean of infinite power and blessedness.‘
Swami Vivekananda on Fear (Confidence)
Swamiji’s quotes on Fear
- ‘Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work.‘
- ‘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.‘
- ‘We are children of Almighty, we are sparks of the infinite, divine fire. We are everything, ready to do everything, we can do everything.’
Freedom quotes of Swami Vivekananda
This point, of finding happiness within, if internalized on the National Youth Day, can help the next gen stay rooted on right values. Also, Swami Vivekananda said that the worship of God, worship of the holy ones, concentration and meditation and unselfish work are the ways to break away from Maya.
Swamiji’s quotes on Freedom
- ‘As long as we require someone else to make us happy we are slaves. When the Purusha finds that it is free and does not require anything to complete itself, then freedom (Kaivalya) is attained.‘
- ‘This freedom comes by the threefold means of work, worship and knowledge
- Work: constant unceasing effort to help others and love others
- Worship: Prayer, praise and meditation
- Knowledge: that follows meditation‘
Swami Vivekananda teachings on Gita
This Vivekananda Jayanti, let us fix in our hearts on the true meaning of Karma in Bhagavad Gita as defined by Swami Vivekananda. Firstly he defined Karma Yoga as working incessantly, working without motive and working unattached. Next, he says that when one works selflessly like this, giving up thoughts of rewards and simply pouring in his best into the current moment, then he achieves the highest bliss and freedom.
Swamiji’s Quotes on Work as per the Bhagavad Gita
- ‘Work constantly, work but be not attached, be not caught. Reserve unto yourself the power of detaching yourself from everything.’
- ‘When one works with concentration, losing all consciousness of oneself, the work that is done will be infinitely better.’
- ‘He who is one with the Lord through Yoga performs all his works by becoming immersed in concentration and does not seek any personal benefit.’
- ‘Instead of the sacrifice of pouring oblations into the fire, perform this one great sacrifice day and night- the sacrifice of your little self.‘
- ‘True power comes with Tapasya (austerity) but again working for the sake of others itself constitutes Tapasya.’
Happiness quotes by Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda taught that happiness and misery are two sides of the same coin. Hence one cannot avoid it. So, a pragmatic view of this profound truth, can be taught to millions of young struggling with failure and disappointment.
Moreover, let us spread the message of spiritual strength, purity and rootedness amongst the young on the National Youth day. Well imbibed, these values can cease the miseries of mis-managed mental health issues amongst the impressionable young.
Swamiji’s quotes on happiness
- ‘Man thinks foolishly that he can make himself happy, and after years of struggle finds out at last that true happiness consists in killing selfishness and that no one can make him happy except himself.’
- ‘The miseries of the world cannot be cured by physical help only.‘
- ‘Ignorance is the mother of all evil and all misery.‘
- ‘Let men have light, let them be pure and spiritually strong and educated, then alone will misery cease in the world. ‘
Teachings of Swami Vivekananda on India and her regeneration
Swami Vivekananda was strongly against Hindu priest-craft which was in its most corrupt avatar in his era. Also, he felt that if the misused authority of the priests was uprooted, the religion would become beautifully spotless.
On the National Youth Day, we must resolve to patriotically act on his appeal to ‘Arise, Awake and Stop not until the goal is reached.’ He felt that if hundreds of large-hearted Indians gave up their desires for luxuries and instead exerted themselves for the country, then India will be truly awakened. Thus there will be more bread, more opportunities for everybody.
Swamiji’s quotes on India
- Your duty at present is to go from one part of the country to another, from village to village…
- Go and advise them how to improve their condition, make them comprehend the sublime truths of the Scriptures, by presenting them in a lucid way.
- Instruct in simple words about the necessities of life, and in trade, commerce, agriculture etc
- Only intense Karma Yoga with unbounded courage and indomitable strength in the heart will rouse the people of the country.
- Sympathy for the poor, the downtrodden, even unto death – this is our motto.
- Be patriots, love the race which has done such great things in the past
Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on Man, Mind and Thought
Further, the best way to rein in the mind is by controlling its thought force. So, fill the mind with the highest thoughts and hear them day after day, he said.
Swamiji’s quotes on Work, thought
- No great work can be achieved by humbug. It is through Love, a passion for Truth and tremendous energy, that all undertakings are accomplished.
- Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; think of it; dream of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea. Just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced.
- It is the thought which is the propelling force in us. Fill the mind with the highest thoughts, hear them day after day, think them month after month. Never mind failures, they are quite natural, they are the beauty of life, these failures.
- We are what out thoughts have made us so take care of what you think.
Swami Vivekananda on Service
Swami Vivekananda taught that the gist of all worship is to be pure and do good to others. Also, only this attitude of selfless service towards the weak, poor and the downtrodden, will make one the real devotee of God.
So, lets become more mindfully aware of this aspect of worship, through community service, this National Youth Day.
Swamiji’s quotes on Service
- Self- sacrifice not self-assertion, is the highest law of the universe… Religion comes with intense self-sacrifice.
- Desire nothing for yourself. Do all for others. This is to live and move and have your being in God.
Swami Vivekananda quotes on Strength
This Vivekananda Jayanti let us remember that Swamiji said strength is life and weakness is death. Also that strength is felicity, life eternal, immortal
Further, Swamiji says that truth and walking towards reality gives strength. In times of weakness, he advises soul-searching with a reassertion that we alone are responsible for our fate.
Swamiji’s quotes on Strength
- All the strength and succor you want is within yourselves. Therefore, make your own future.
- Just as bad thoughts and bad works are ready to spring upon you like tigers, so also there are good thoughts and good deeds with the power of a thousand angels to defend you always. (II 225)
Teachings of Swami Vivekananda on Yoga
Participate in the yoga conventions happening in your city and school as a part of Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations. Also, understand the potency of the Yogic philosophy formulated by our ancestors.
Swami Vivekananda says that Yoga is a fool-proof way of reaching the divinity with us. ‘Yoke’ the Sankrit root of Yoga means to join, join us to our reality i.e God
Swamiji’s quotes on Yoga
- Each Soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling Nature, external and internal. Do this by work, worship, psychic control or philosophy- by one or more or all and be free.
- Different roads lead to the same center- God (Realizing one’s divinity within…)
- Karma Yoga: is through works and duty
- Bhakti Yoga: is through devotion to, and love of a Personal God.
- Raja Yoga: is through the control of mind
- Jnana Yoga: is through knowledge.
That was it!
So without much ado, plants these seeds of long-term wisdom in the minds of the young at home. Use the occasion of Vivekananda Jayanti/National Youth day to share these simple but life-changing teachings of Swamiji to turbo- charge their value system!
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