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Of all the forces that have worked and are still working to mould the destinies of the human race, none, certainly, is more potent than that the manifestation of which we call religion.
The exact definition of the Sanskrit word Rishi is a seer of Mantras – of the thoughts conveyed in the Vedic hymns.
Man is man, so long as he is strolling to rise above Nature, and this Nature is both internal and external.
The mainspring of the strength of every race lies in its spirituality and the death of that race begins the day that spirituality wanes and materialism gains ground.
Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth, or die.
In Buddha we had the great, universal heart, and infinite patience making religion practical and bringing it to everyone’s door. In Sankaracharya we saw tremendous intellectual power throwing the scorching light of reason upon everything. We want today that bright sun of intellectuality joined with the heart of Buddha, the wonderful infinite heart of love and mercy. This union will give us the highest philosophy. Science and religion will meet and shake hands. Poetry and philosophy will become friends. This will be the religion of the future, and if we can work it out, we may be sure that it will be for all times and peoples.
Who enjoys the pictures, the seller or the seer? The seller is busy with his accounts, computing what his gain will be, how much profit he will realize on the picture. His brain is full of that. He is looking at the hammer and watching the bids. He is intent on hearing how fast the bids are rising. That man is enjoying the picture, who has gone there without any intention of buying or selling. He looks at the picture and enjoys it.
I never read of any more beautiful conception of God than the following: ‘He is the Great Poet, the Ancient Poet; the whole universe is His Poem, coming in verses and rhymes and rhythms, written in infinite bliss.’
I have been asked many times, ‘Why do you use that old word, God?’ Because it is the best word for our purpose; you cannot find a better word than that, because all the hopes, aspirations and happiness of humanity have been centered in that word. It is impossible now to change the word.
Man according to the Vedanta philosophy is the greatest being that is in the universe and this world of work the best place in it, because only herein is the greatest and the best chance for him to become perfect. Angels or gods, whatever you may call them, have all to become men, if they want to become perfect. This is the great centre, the wonderful opportunity – this human life.
The doctrine which stands out luminously in every page of the Gita is intense activity, but in the midst of it, eternal calmness.
The Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first. The Vedanta says, a man who does not believe in himself is an atheist. Not believing in the glory of our own soul is what the Vedanta calls atheism…..It recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error; and the greatest error, says the Vedanta is to say that you are weak, that you have no power, and you cannot do this and that.
If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have would have vanished. Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves.
The old religions said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is the atheist who does not believe in himself.
Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. I accept all religions that were in the past and worship with them all. I worship God with every one of them in whatever form they worship Him. I shall go to the mosque of the Mohammedan; I shall enter the Christian’s church and kneel before the crucifix; I shall enter the Buddhistic temple, where I shall take refuge in Buddha and in his law. I shall go to the forest and sit down in meditation with the Hindu, who is trying to see the light which enlightens the heart of everyone. Not only shall I do all these, but I shall keep my heart open for all that may come in the future. Is God’s book finished? Or is it still a continuous revelation, going on? It is a marvelous book – these spiritual revelations of the world. The Bible, the Vedas, the Koran and all other sacred books are but so many pages, and an infinite number of pages remain yet to be unfolded.
What is my plan? In the first place I would ask mankind to recognize this maxim – ‘Do not destroy.’ Iconoclastic reformers do no good to the world. Break not, pull not anything down, but build Help, if you can; if you cannot, fold your hands and stand by and see things go on. Do not injure, if you cannot render help. Say not a word against any man’s convictions so far as they are sincere. Secondly, take man where he stands and from there give him a lift.
Do you think you can teach even a child? You cannot. The child teaches himself. Your duty is to afford opportunities and to remove obstacles.
Swami Vivekananda
The above is the last portion of the God's Poem by Swami Vivekananda. Like me, I hope you'll find the answers to the questions that you have had all this while in your heart. I have found some of the answers and am still in search for the rest....I pray that, I not only find the answers, but also realize and practice them in my daily life.
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Of all the forces that have worked and are still working to mould the destinies of the human race, none, certainly, is more potent than that the manifestation of which we call religion.
The exact definition of the Sanskrit word Rishi is a seer of Mantras – of the thoughts conveyed in the Vedic hymns.
Man is man, so long as he is strolling to rise above Nature, and this Nature is both internal and external.
The mainspring of the strength of every race lies in its spirituality and the death of that race begins the day that spirituality wanes and materialism gains ground.
Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth, or die.
In Buddha we had the great, universal heart, and infinite patience making religion practical and bringing it to everyone’s door. In Sankaracharya we saw tremendous intellectual power throwing the scorching light of reason upon everything. We want today that bright sun of intellectuality joined with the heart of Buddha, the wonderful infinite heart of love and mercy. This union will give us the highest philosophy. Science and religion will meet and shake hands. Poetry and philosophy will become friends. This will be the religion of the future, and if we can work it out, we may be sure that it will be for all times and peoples.
Who enjoys the pictures, the seller or the seer? The seller is busy with his accounts, computing what his gain will be, how much profit he will realize on the picture. His brain is full of that. He is looking at the hammer and watching the bids. He is intent on hearing how fast the bids are rising. That man is enjoying the picture, who has gone there without any intention of buying or selling. He looks at the picture and enjoys it.
I never read of any more beautiful conception of God than the following: ‘He is the Great Poet, the Ancient Poet; the whole universe is His Poem, coming in verses and rhymes and rhythms, written in infinite bliss.’
I have been asked many times, ‘Why do you use that old word, God?’ Because it is the best word for our purpose; you cannot find a better word than that, because all the hopes, aspirations and happiness of humanity have been centered in that word. It is impossible now to change the word.
Man according to the Vedanta philosophy is the greatest being that is in the universe and this world of work the best place in it, because only herein is the greatest and the best chance for him to become perfect. Angels or gods, whatever you may call them, have all to become men, if they want to become perfect. This is the great centre, the wonderful opportunity – this human life.
The doctrine which stands out luminously in every page of the Gita is intense activity, but in the midst of it, eternal calmness.
The Vedanta teaches men to have faith in themselves first. The Vedanta says, a man who does not believe in himself is an atheist. Not believing in the glory of our own soul is what the Vedanta calls atheism…..It recognizes no sin, it only recognizes error; and the greatest error, says the Vedanta is to say that you are weak, that you have no power, and you cannot do this and that.
If faith in ourselves had been more extensively taught and practiced, I am sure a very large portion of the evils and miseries that we have would have vanished. Throughout the history of mankind, if any motive power has been more potent than another in the lives of all great men and women, it is that of faith in themselves.
The old religions said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is the atheist who does not believe in himself.
Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. I accept all religions that were in the past and worship with them all. I worship God with every one of them in whatever form they worship Him. I shall go to the mosque of the Mohammedan; I shall enter the Christian’s church and kneel before the crucifix; I shall enter the Buddhistic temple, where I shall take refuge in Buddha and in his law. I shall go to the forest and sit down in meditation with the Hindu, who is trying to see the light which enlightens the heart of everyone. Not only shall I do all these, but I shall keep my heart open for all that may come in the future. Is God’s book finished? Or is it still a continuous revelation, going on? It is a marvelous book – these spiritual revelations of the world. The Bible, the Vedas, the Koran and all other sacred books are but so many pages, and an infinite number of pages remain yet to be unfolded.
What is my plan? In the first place I would ask mankind to recognize this maxim – ‘Do not destroy.’ Iconoclastic reformers do no good to the world. Break not, pull not anything down, but build Help, if you can; if you cannot, fold your hands and stand by and see things go on. Do not injure, if you cannot render help. Say not a word against any man’s convictions so far as they are sincere. Secondly, take man where he stands and from there give him a lift.
Do you think you can teach even a child? You cannot. The child teaches himself. Your duty is to afford opportunities and to remove obstacles.
Swami Vivekananda
The above is the last portion of the God's Poem by Swami Vivekananda. Like me, I hope you'll find the answers to the questions that you have had all this while in your heart. I have found some of the answers and am still in search for the rest....I pray that, I not only find the answers, but also realize and practice them in my daily life.
