Teachings of Swami Vivekananda - Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga is a method of purifying the mind through work. ... All fear and all desire to enjoy here or hereafter must be banished for ever by the Karma Yogi. The karma without desire of return will destroy the selfishness, which is the root of all bondage. The watchword of the Karma Yogi is "not I, but Thou," and no amount of self-sacrifice is too much for such a person.

Written during Swamiji's first visit to America, in response to questions put by a Western disciple. Complete Works, 8:152-53.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

Oh, if only you knew yourselves! You are souls; you are divine beings. If ever I feel like blaspheming, it is when I call you human beings.
Sayings and Utterances. Complete Works, 5:417.

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"How does One realize the Atman?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "You asked me about Self-realization. Longing is the means of realizing Atman. A man must strive to attain God with all his body, with all his mind, and with all his speech. Because of an excess of bile one gets jaundice. Then one sees everything as yellow; one perceives no colour but yellow. Among you actors, those who take only the roles of women acquire the nature of a woman; by thinking of woman your ways and thoughts become womanly. Just so, by thinking day and night of God one acquires the nature of God. P. 429 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramana Sayings

In the vast ocean of cause and effect, actions happen and impermanent results follow. If one takes them as 'my' actions the idea of having a free will gets stronger. This sense of personal doership gives rise to a feeling of guilt or pride and effectively blocks the spiritual understanding that everything happens according to the will of God.

When there is total acceptance that all actions happen purely by the will of God, and if the fruits and the consequences are accepted as His grace, the mind gets purified and attains freedom from expectations.

Accepting and understanding that God has created the world for His sport and God is playing the lila through billions of body-mind organisms, is better than chanting the sacred names of the Lord, which in turn is superior to worshipping the image of the Lord with body, mind and speech.

When there is an understanding that God himself has become the manifestation; when, by His grace, one feels His presence in the phenomenal existence one obtains the blessings of worshipping the Lord of eight-fold forms without neglecting one's responsibilities.

Understanding that nothing happens according to 'my' will and merely witnessing the billions of body-mind organisms act under God's will is excellent. It is superior to singing the glories of the Lord or reciting His sacred names.

When there is an understanding that God's will prevails all the time and witnessing happens without any 'one' to witness, it is like the stream of ghee (clairified butter) or the flow of a river. This is true meditation. It is much better than meditating with an assumption that one has free will.

The nondualistic approach of understanding that 'I AM' is God is far more purifying and superior than the dualistic approach of assuming the difference between God and the 'me' and struggling to be one with Him.

By the grace of God or the Master when one is firmly established in the 'I AM,' devoid of the thinking mind, with an impersonal knowing that there is no 'me' to get involved, that is Supreme Devotion.

The dissolving of the thinking mind in the Heart, purely by the grace of God or the Master, is true devotion, Yoga and understanding.

Through the act of regulating breath the mind is subdued, just as a bird is restrained when caught in a net. This helps in checking the involvement of the thinking mind at that moment.

Thought and breath have their origin in Consciousness.

When the mind is absorbed, in work or otherwise, and the thinking mind is not active it may be said that the mind is in control temporarily, only to become active again. When, through the deep understanding that "God is the doer and no 'one' has any control over thoughts and actions" the thinking mind is totally annihilated, then it can be said that the thinking mind in that body-mind organism is dead and only the working mind remains.

The thinking mind can be temporarily suspended through the control of breath. It can be annihilated only when there is total understanding that God's will prevails all the time and the different forms are only puppets having no free will of their own. With this understanding three beautiful things happen: there is no 'one' to feel guilty or proud, to get frustrated or to have a sense of enmity. Life becomes simple.

The Sage, whose thinking mind has been destroyed by the total acceptance of the fact that nothing happens unless it is the will of God, and Who rests in the 'I AM' does all the actions with the knowledge that Consciousness alone functions through the billions of body-mind organisms.

When the enquiry, "What is the thinking mind?" occurs, the thinking mind understands intuitively that it has no free will and stops thinking itself to be the doer and gives way to the feeling of 'I AM.' This is the Direct path.

In the ordinary man when a thought occurs the ego takes delivery of it as 'my thought' and gets involved. The thinking mind is nothing but the ego identifying with a thought and getting involved. In the enlightened Sage, when a thought arises, witnessing happens and involvement with the thought does not take place. Ramana Maharshi says, "The Sage has no thinking mind and therefore there are no 'others' for him."

When one enquires, "Where has the 'me' come from?" it will vanish into Consciousness revealing the truth that the 'me' has really come from Totality as part of the Divine Hypnosis. Consciousness has created the ego and Consciousness will annihilate the ego by initiating the process of Self-enquiry.

When we accept that God's will prevails all the time and not the individual will, the 'me' as the doer gets smaller and smaller till it gets completely merged in Consciousness.

When the sense of personal doership disappears with the total acceptance that "All there is, is Consciousness," the thinking mind ceases to exist during the waking hours as in deep sleep. What remains is the light of pure Consciousness, the indestructible 'I AM.'

Glory of the Sadguru

Kuresh Bhatt was a highly learned, a good quality ascetic and a famous
intellectual. The sharpness of his arguments, the flow of his learned
utterings were capable of shattering the ego of all other learneds. He
had cultivated great respect among all intellectuals. He possessed
many 'Siddhis' in Yoga and Tantra, but his heart was longing for the
real spiritual bliss. This tormented him for many days. But
along with that he also had somewhere in some corner, the ego of
being such a learned and respectful "pandit".

To seek spiritual bliss, on one hand, and the ego of being a learned,
on other hand, created a dilemma within himself. He was not
able to decide whom to make his Master for such a path.
Finally, after pondering patiently on the topic, he decided to go and
seek refuge under the guidance of Acharya Ramanuja. Acharyaji, in
those days, was one of the prominent learned sage and saint, and was
recognised for his wisdom in all directions.

He went to Acharyaji along with his curiosity, but, unfortunately,
Acharyaji
rejected him because of his ego. He tried many times only for being
rejected every time by the Acharya.
One day he was sitting besides Acharyaji, when one of the Acharya's
so-
called sister "Atula" approached him and asked,
"Brother (Acharya ji), I struggle a lot while cooking in my in-law's
home. If you
have any suitable cook, do lend me one, so that I would be freed from
this trouble."
Pondering for a while, Acharyaji's gaze struck Kuresh bhatt. He
said,
"Kuresh, I cannot make you my disciple, but yes, if you wish you can
go and become a cook for my (this) sister."

The wealthiest of all, intellectual of all, ascetic of all, possessor
of many 'siddhis' as Kuresh was, people sitting around were greatly
struck at such a proposal for him.
Although Kuresh was egoistic, yet he was aware of the essense of
the 'Shastras'. He knew the secret of the blissful eye of the
SADGURU. Without wasting a second, Kuresh accepted the proposal and
said,
"Prabhu..! if not a disciple, you are atleast providing with an
opportunity of becoming your servant. This is much for me."

From that very second and for many years he cooked 'chappatis' for
Atula
and his other in-laws' home members. With his love and affection, he
cooked food for everyone; side by side in his mind, he used to remain
engross in meditation of the SADGURU. The continuity of his such
prayers, washed of all the ego making his spirit one with the
SADGURU. His heart was, then, filled with ATMAGYAN and BRAHMAGYAN.

Day came when Acharyaji, himself, approached to Kuresh and said,
" 'Vatsa', now you have become my disciple without any efforts."

Kuresh's life was filled with the blissful nectar of SADGURU's
blessings.

Really is the blessing of the SADGURU such, that it makes the life of
a disciple purest of pure.

Jai Gurudev.
(Ref..'Akhand Jyoti'-2004 'Patrika' from Gayatri Parivar)

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"Why do we not feel intense restlessness to realize Him?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "A man does not feel restless for God until all his worldly desires are satisfied. He does not remember the Mother of the Universe until his share of the enjoyment of 'woman and gold' is completed. A child absorbed in play does not seek his mother. But after his play is over, he says, 'Mother! I must go to my mother.' Hriday's son was playing with the pigeons, calling to them, 'Come! Ti, ti!' When he had had enough of play he began to cry. Then a stranger came and said: 'Come with me. I will take you to your mother.' Unhesitatingly he climbed on the man's shoulders and was off. Those who are eternally free do not have to enter worldly life. Their desire for enjoyment has been satisfied with their very birth." P. 385-386 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother

The effect of Karma can be counteracted to a great extent by Japa and austerities.
C111 & TN321 In the Company of the Holy Mother. By Her Direct Disciples. Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980 & Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

Good and evil have an equal share in molding character, and in some instances misery is a greater teacher than happiness.
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume I p.27

Teachings of Holy Mother

Do you know the significance of Japa and other spiritual practices?
By these, the power of the sense-organs is subdued.

TN290 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

Volume 5/Notes from Lectures and Discourses/Evolution

Patanjali says that these struggles remain only through our ignorance, and are not necessary, and are not part of the evolution of man. It is just our impatience which creates them. We have not the patience to go and work our way out. For instance, there is a fire in a theatre, and only a few escape. The rest in trying to rush out crush one another down. That crush was not necessary for the salvation of the building nor of the two or three who escaped. If all had gone out slowly, not one would have been hurt. That is the case in life. The doors are open for us, and we can all get out without the competition and struggle; and yet we struggle. The struggle we create through our own ignorance, through impatience; we are in too great a hurry. The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet.

Teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi

You make some progress in this life, a little more in the next, and so on.
It is the body alone that changes ; the Atman remains the same.

TN330 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

It is good to love God for hope of reward in this or the next world, but it is better to love God for love's sake.
Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume I p.12

Teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi

Whenever people discuss good or evil, all those who are present have to take a little share of the good or evil.
In the Company of the Holy Mother.  By Her Direct Disciples.   Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"Yes, sir. The disease has indeed become chronic"[Then what is the, way?]

Sri Ramakrishna: "Give God the power of attorney. Let Him do whatever He wants. Be like a kitten and cry to Him with a fervent heart. The mother cat puts the kitten wherever she wants to. The kitten doesn't know anything. It is left sometimes on the bed and sometimes near the hearth." P. 344 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi

It is a complex always to be suspecting impurities.
The more you emphasize your obsession, the more obsessed you become.
It is true of all things.

C153 & TN336 C & TN- In the Company of the Holy Mother.  By Her Direct Disciples.   Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980 & Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi

Does one achieve everything by practising Japa and meditation for a few days? Nothing whatever is achieved
unless Mahamaya clears the path.

TN350-51 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother;
Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Holy Mother Sarada Devi

The intelligence of a man is very precarious. It is like the thread of a screw. If one thread is loosened, then he goes crazy. Or he becomes entangled  in the trap of Mahamaya and thinks himself to be very intelligent.
TN350-51 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda ~ Volume 5 ~ Notes from Lectures and Discourses ~ The Evils of Adhikarivada

This attempt at compromise proceeds from arrant downright cowardice. Be bold! My children should be brave, above all. Not the least compromise on any account. Preach the highest truths broadcast. Do not fear losing your respect or causing unhappy friction. Rest assured that if you serve truth in spite of temptations to forsake it, you will attain a heavenly strength in the face of which men will quail to speak before you things which you do not believe to be true. People will be convinced of what you will say to them if you can strictly serve truth for fourteen years continually, without swerving from it. Thus you will confer the greatest blessing on the masses, unshackle their bandages, and uplift the whole nation.

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

Everything depends on one's mind.  Nothing can be achieved without purity of mind.
TN282 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

There is not other refuge but that great Teacher, Satchidananda. -
P. 168 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda - Cheerfullness

By the practice of cleanliness, the Sattva material prevails, and the mind becomes concentrated and cheerful. The first sign that you are becoming religious is that you are becoming cheerful. When a man is gloomy, that may be dyspepsia, but it is not religion. A pleasurable feeling is the nature of the Sattva. Everything is pleasurable to the Sattvika man, and when this comes, know that you are progressing in Yoga.  CW Vol. 1 P. 264

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

He who has realized God does not look upon a woman with the eye of lust.
P. 168 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

These earthly ties are transitory.
Today they seem to be
the be-all and end-all of life,
and tomorrow they vanish.
Your real tie is with God.

TS74 Thus Spake the Holy Mother. Madras:  Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1971.

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"Besides, the children may be disobedient. There is no end of difficulties. Now, sir, what is the way?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "It is extremely difficult to practice spiritual discipline and at the same time lead a householder's life. There are many handicaps: disease, grief, poverty, misunderstanding with one's wife, and disobedient, stupid, and stubborn children. I don't have to give you a list of them. But still there is a way out. One should pray to God, going now and then into solitude, and make efforts to realize Him." P. 326 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

The happiness of the world is transitory.
The less you become attached to the world, the more you enjoy peace of mind.

TN226 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

The whole world is a dream; even this (the waking state) is a dream ... What you dreamt last night does not exist now.

TN302 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda.
Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations.
Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"But still there are the eight bonds."

Sri Ramakrishna: "They are not eight bonds, but eight fetters. But what if they are? These fetters fall off in a moment, by the grace of God. Do you know what it is like? Suppose a room has been kept dark a thousand years. The moment a man brings a light into it, the darkness vanishes. Not little by little. Haven't you seen the magician's feat? He takes string with many knots, and ties one end to something, keeping the other in his hand. Then he shakes the string once or twice, and immediately all the knots come undone. But another man cannot untie the knots however he may try. All the knots of ignorance come undone in the twinkling of an eye, through the guru's grace."
P. 298 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

In one word, one should desire of God desirelessness.
For desire alone is at the root of all suffering. It is the cause of repeated births and deaths.
It is the obstacle in the way of liberation.

TN369 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother;
Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

A true Christian is a true Hindu, and a true Hindu is a true Christian.

Sayings and utterances. Complete Works, 5:415.

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

However strong or beautiful this body may be, its culmination is in those three pounds of ashes. And still people are so attached to it.
Glory be to God.

TN261 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

Even while one is performing one's duties, the mind should be left with God.

P. 162 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

By the grace of the Guru, a disciple becomes a pandit even without reading books.

Sayings and utterances. Complete Works, 5:414.

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"Can one ever bring God under control through wealth?"
Sri Ramakrishna: "He can be tamed only through love. What does He want? certainly not wealth! He wants from His devotees love, devotion, feeling, discrimination, and renunciation." P. 322 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

You must remember that nothing can be achieved except, in its proper time. P. 162 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

The difference between a great soul and an ordinary man is this: the latter weeps while leaving this body, whereas the former laughs.
Death seems to him a mere play.

TN253 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

However spiritual a man may be, he must pay the tax for the use of the body to the last farthing
(i.e. undergo suffering and death incidental to the embodied state).

TN253 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Holy Mother - Sarada Devi

Do you notice this human body?
Today it is and tomorrow it is not.
And the world is full of misery and pain.
Why should one be eager
to have another birth?
The body is never free
from its attendant troubles.

N204 Swami Nikhilananda. Holy Mother. New York: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center, 1982.

15 laws of Life - Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

1. Love Is The Law Of Life: All love is expansion, all selfishness is contraction. Love is therefore the only law of life. He who loves lives, he who is selfish is dying. Therefore, love for love's sake, because it is law of life, just as you breathe to live.

2. It's Your Outlook That Matters: It is our own mental attitude, which makes the world what it is for us. Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly. The whole world is in our own minds. Learn to see things in the proper light.

3. Life is Beautiful: First, believe in this world - that there is meaning behind everything. Everything in the world is good, is holy and beautiful. If you see something evil, think that you do not understand it in the right light. Throw the burden on yourselves!

4. It's The Way You Feel: Feel like Christ and you will be a Christ; feel like Buddha and you will be a Buddha. It is feeling that is the life, the strength, the vitality, without which no amount of intellectual activity can reach God.

5. Set Yourself Free: The moment I have realised God sitting in the temple of every human body, the moment I stand in reverence before every human being and see God in him - that moment I am free from bondage, everything that binds vanishes, and I am free.

6. Don't Play The Blame Game: 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.

7. Help Others: If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.

8. Uphold Your Ideals: Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.

9. Listen To Your Soul: You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.

10. Be Yourself: The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves!

11. Nothing Is Impossible: Never think there is anything impossible for the soul. It is the greatest heresy to think so. If there is sin, this is the only sin - to say that you are weak, or others are weak.

12. You Have The Power: 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.

13. Learn Everyday: The goal of mankind is knowledge... now this knowledge is inherent in man. No knowledge comes from outside: it is all inside. What we say a man 'knows', should, in strict psychological language, be what he 'discovers' or 'unveils'; what man 'learns' is really what he discovers by taking the cover off his own soul, which is a mine of infinite knowledge.

14. Be Truthful: Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.

15. Think Different: All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.

Conversations with Sri Ramakrishna - Knowing God

Can anyone ever know God?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "Who can ever know God? I don't even try. I only call on Him as Mother. Let Mother do whatever She likes. I shall know Her if it is Her will; but I shall be happy to remain ignorant if She wills otherwise. My nature is that of a kitten. It only cries, 'Mew, mew!' The rest it leaves to its mother. The mother cat puts the kitten sometimes in the kitchen and sometimes on the Master's bed. The young child wants only his mother. He doesn't know how wealthy his mother is, and he doesn't even want to know. He knows only, 'I have a mother; why should I worry?' Even the child of the maidservant knows that he has a mother. If he quarrels with the son of the Master, he says: 'I shall tell my mother. I have a mother.' My attitude, too, is that of a child." P. 299 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother

Sri Sarada Devi, the holy mother, says: Don't be afraid my child, these earthly ties are transitory. Today they seem to be the be-all and end-all of life, and tomorrow they vanish. Your real tie is with God. God is one's very own. It is the eternal relationship. He is ever looking after you. Call on the Lord who pervades the entire universe. He will shower His blessings upon you.

Teachings of Ramakrishna

A man becomes liberated even in this life when he knows that God is the Doer of all things. -  P. 159 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

"What is this maya?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "Whatever you see, think, or hear is maya. In a word, 'woman and gold' is the covering of maya. There is no harm in chewing betel-leaf, eating fish, smoking, or rubbing the body with oil. What will one achieve by renouncing only these things? The one thing needful is the renunciation of 'woman and gold'. That renunciation is the real and supreme renunciation. Householders should go into solitude now and then, to practice spiritual discipline in order to cultivate devotion to God; they should renounce mentally. But the sannyasi should renounce both mentally and physically." P. 291 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

By repeating a hundred times, 'I am a sinner', one verily becomes a sinner.
P. 159 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Teachings of Holy Mother

The body means the existence of desire, otherwise it would not have existed. It all ends when one no longer has any desires. C84 In the Company of the Holy Mother.  By Her Direct Disciples.   Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980

Teachings of Holy Mother

Rebirth is inevitable so long as one has desires. It is like taking the soul from one pillow-case and putting it into another. Only one or two out of many men can be found who are free from all desires. TN292 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Holy Mother

Desire may be compared to a minute seed. It is like a big banyan tree growing out of a seed, which is no bigger than a dot. TN292 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda

There is a thorn in my finger and I use another to take the first one out, and when I have taken it out, I throw both of them aside. I have no necessity of keeping the second thorn, because both are thorns after all. So the bad tendencies are to be counteracted by the good ones, and the bad impressions on the mind should be removed by the fresh waves of good ones, until all that is evil almost disappears, or is subdued and held in control in a corner of the mind. But after that, the good tendencies have also to be conquered. Thus the 'attached' becomes the 'unattached.'

Class on Karma Yoga. New York, December 20, 1895. Complete Works, 1:55-56.

Teachings of Holy Mother

As long as a man has desires there is no end to his transmigration. It is the desires alone that make him take one body after another. There will be rebirth for a man if he has even the desire to eat a piece of candy. TN292 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

I am the Witness....

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda ~ Volume 5 ~ Notes from Lectures and Discourses ~ Sadhanas or Preparations for Higher Life

No breathing, no physical training of Yoga, nothing is of any use until you reach to the idea, "I am the Witness." Say, when the tyrant hand is on your neck, "I am the Witness! I am the Witness!" Say, "I am the Spirit! Nothing external can touch me." When evil thoughts arise, repeat that, give that sledge-hammer blow on their heads, "I am the Spirit! I am the Witness, the Ever-Blessed! I have no reason to do, no reason to suffer, I have finished with everything, I am the Witness. I am in my picture gallery — this universe is my museum, I am looking at these successive paintings. They are all beautiful. Whether good or evil. I see the marvellous skill, but it is all one. Infinite flames of the Great Painter!" Really speaking, there is naught — neither volition, nor desire. He is all. He — She — the Mother, is playing, and we are like dolls, Her helpers in this play. Here, She puts one now in the garb of a beggar, another moment in the garb of a king, the next moment in the garb of a saint, and again in the garb of a devil. We are putting on different garbs to help the Mother Spirit in Her play.

When the baby is at play, she will not come even if called by her mother. But when she finishes her play, she will rush to her mother, and will have no play. So there come moments in our life, when we feel our play is finished, and we want to rush to the Mother. Then all our toil here will be of no value; men, women, and children — wealth, name, and fame, joys and glories of life — punishments and successes — will be no more, and the whole life will seem like a show. We shall see only the infinite rhythm going on, endless and purposeless, going we do not know where. Only this much shall we say; our play is done.

Excerpts from Complete Works

Volume 5 ~ Notes from Lectures and Discourses ~ Sadhanas or Preparations for Higher Life

.......tremendous determination to struggle a hundredfold more determination than that which you put forth to gain anything which belongs to this life, is the first great preparation.

And then along with it, there must be meditation. Meditation is the one thing. Meditate! The greatest thing is meditation. It is the nearest approach to spiritual life — the mind meditating. It is the one moment in our daily life that we are not at all material — the Soul thinking of Itself, free from all matter — this marvellous touch of the Soul!

There are no problems....

"I want to let you in on a little secret. There are no problems. There are no problems. There never were any problems, there are no problems today, and there never will be any problems. Problems just mean the world isn't turning the way you want it to. But in truth, there are no problems. Everything is unfolding as it should. Everything is right. You have to forget about yourself and expand your consciousness until you become the whole universe. The Reality in back of the universe is Pure Awareness. It has no problems. And you are That."

~ Robert Adams, Silence of the Heart

Excerpts from Complete Works - Karma Yoga

By the continuous reflex of good thoughts, good impressions moving over the surface of the mind, the tendency for doing good becomes strong, and as a result we are able to control the sense-organs. Thus alone is character established, then alone do we get to truth.

Class on Karma Yoga. New York, December 20, 1895. Complete Works, 1:55.

Holy Mother's Teachings

The grace of God is the thing that is needful. One should pray for the grace of God. TN301 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Tremendous Power in Practice - Swami Virajanandaji

There is a Bengali saying: "Bring the food to my mouth; it is too much for me to move!  Bless your fathers and their meritorious acts!"  Nowadays, most people belong to that category.  Nobody wants to exert himself; everybody wants to gain his ends gratuitously or by some crafty trick.  Especially in regard to things spiritual people seek to avoid all effort and toil, which they dislike, and have everything done for them by others.  After sitting with closed eyes for an hour or so, for a few days or a few months, thy grumble and complain, "Alas! I am achieving nothing, I can't collect my mind; I don't feel I am making any progress." And so on.  Swamiji used to say, "Is god a vegetable, a bunch of spinach, or a fish, that you throw down a few coins and buy Him?"  Why be so impatient for immediate results?  Go On striving, and your effort will bear fruit of itself in the fullness of time.  Men of the world pay wages if you work for them; and will not God do so if you work for Him?  Faith, steadfastness, sincere love, patience and perseverance are needed.  Does a seed sprout up into a tree and bear fruit as soon as it is planted?  One has to bestow much toil and attention and continue to do this for a long while before one can reap the fruits in due season.

 
The Reality cannot be attained if one is impatient.  The supreme Self-alone is the only reality, essence and Truth; and everything else – the manifested universe – is unreal, no essence and deceptive, and therefore fit only to be rejected.  Great patience and perseverance are needed for the knowledge of this fact to become established.
 

Even if there are not many good past impressions, favorable ones can be created by virtue of constant effort, earnestness and practice.  There is tremendous power in practice.  Practice becomes firm and abiding if continued long and uninterruptedly with faith and devotion.  Whatever you practice becomes in course of time your second nature.  Then it is no longer necessary to exert yourself to accomplish a desired thing, for it is automatically done.  If you continually practice the remembrance of God, prayer, Japa and meditation, they then come out from the heart, without the exercise of any conscious will or effort, even while you are engaged in other work.  The mind remains pointed that way like the needle of a compass.  Hence attachment to worldly objects disappears and dangers and calamities cannot ruffle the mind of such a person.  Even at the moment of death the mind remains calm and absorbed in God.  Such a one has not to be born and to die again and again, as he becomes merged in the supreme state of Beatitude.

 

Practice japa and austerities with all your heart as much as you can.  You should, however, have it firmly fixed in your mind that God can be realized solely through His grace, and not as a result of your practicing so much Japa and austerities.  Spiritual practices are meant merely for tiring the wings, so to speak.  A bird wants to rest as soon as its wings are tired.  After flying far out over the sea, the bird discovers that there is no other resting place except the mast of a ship, as it perches there.  But unless the feeling tat God is the only refuge grows into an unshakable conviction, no one can take shelter completely in Him and know Him to be his all-in-all.

 

Onward! Onward! Do not look this way or that.  Do not pay the slightest heed to psychic phenomena like the seeing of light or visions, etc.  As you continue practicing meditation, varieties of such occult experiences may come of themselves, and you may see all manner of supernatural things and also derive some joy from them.  But do not stick there; for in that case you will never be able to progress much further.  Always keep your whole attention fixed on the Ideal; and let your whole desire and aim be how to increase your devotion and love for God, how to merge your mind in Him and how to gain direct realization of Him in this life.

 

Go on practicing Japa and meditation with great devotion, perseverance and patience.  Gradually the mind will become tranquil and meditation will deepen.  You will feel a craving for your meditation, so that if you fail to do it any day, everything will taste insipid and you will feel out of joint and extremely uneasy, like and addict mission his drug at the accustomed hour.  You will long to remain immersed in meditation, alone.

Source : Toward the Goal Supreme; Swami Virajananda

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

 "Sir, is it necessary to have a guru?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "Yes, many need a guru. But a man must have faith in the guru's words. He succeeds in spiritual life by looking on his guru as God Himself. Therefore the Vaishnavas speak of Guru, Krishna, and Vaishnava*. P. 241 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
 

Holy Mother's Teachings

Is faith so cheap, my child? Faith is the last word. If one has faith, the goal is practically reached. TD10 The Temple Dedication Souvenir, 1981. Dakshineswar: Sri Sarada Math, 1981.

Aratis and Bhajans

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

Nobody will come to help you if you put yourself forward
as a leader. ... Kill the ego first if you want to succeed.

Letter to Alasinga Perumal. From USA: May 6, 1895.
Complete Works, 5.83.

Holy Mother's Teachings

Certainly you will have doubts. There will be questionings and faith will return again. That is how faith is established. C305 In the Company of the Holy Mother.  By Her Direct Disciples.   Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980

Holy Mother's Teachings

My child, I bless you from my heart that you live long, attain devotion, and enjoy peace. Peace is the principal thing. One needs peace alone. TN315 Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Holy Mother's Teachings

One who makes a habit of prayer will easily overcome all difficulties and remain calm and unruffled in the midst of the trials of life. A43 Swami Aseshananda. Glimpses of a Great Soul; a Portrait of Swami Saradananda. Hollywood: Vedanta Press, 1982.

Holy Mother's Teachings

Open your grief-stricken heart to the Lord. Weep and sincerely pray, 'O Lord, draw me towards You; give me peace of mind.' By doing so constantly you, will gradually attain peace of mind. TS78 Thus Spake the Holy Mother. Madras:  Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1971.

Edgar Cayce Reading - Contentment

. . that contentment that can only come with the knowledge of His peace abiding ever with thee; for with His peace there comes contentment, no matter what may be the vicissitudes of life, whether in trials as of the mental surroundings, whether in the trials as of material conditions or positions, there can come--with that peace--that contentment of heart and mind, that He is in His holy temple and all is well with those who have made Him the ideal . . .

Edgar Cayce Reading 451-2

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda - Divine Mother

The Divine Mother is the power of all causation. She energizes every cause unmistakably to produce the effect. Her will is the only law, and as She cannot make a mistake, nature's laws--Her will--can never be changed. She is the life of the law of karma, or causation. She is the fructifier of every action. Under Her guidance we are manufacturing our lives through our deeds or karma.

From notes discovered among Swami Vivekananda's papers. He evidently intended to write a book and jotted down these points for the work. Complete Works, 5:434.

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

Do you feel for others? If you do, you are growing in oneness. If you do not feel for others, you may be the most intellectual giant ever born, but you will be nothing; you are but dry intellect, and you will remain so. And if you feel, even if you cannot read any book and do not know any language, you are in the right way. The Lord is yours. Complete Works Vol. 2 p.307

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda ~ Volume 5 ~ Epistles - First Series ~ LXI Dr. Nanjunda Rao

Go on bravely. Do not expect success in a day or a year. Always hold on to the highest. Be steady. Avoid jealousy and selfishness. Be obedient and eternally faithful to the cause of truth, humanity, and your country, and you will move the world. Remember it is the person, the life, which is the secret of power — nothing else. Keep this letter and read the last lines whenever you feel worried or jealous. Jealousy is the bane of all slaves. It is the bane of our nation. Avoid that always.

Excerpts from The Gospel of Holy Mother - Grief

People complain about their griefs and sorrows and how they pray to God but find no relief from pain. But grief itself is a gift from God. It is the symbol of His compassion. C220-2l & TN249 In the Company of the Holy Mother. By Her Direct Disciples. Calcutta : Advaita Ashrama, 1980 & Swami Tapasyananda and Swami Nikhilananda. Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother; Life and Conversations. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math, 1977.

Poverty, Wealth... (Excerpt from a article from RKM)

Poverty is a curse. It saps all energy, enthusiasm and higher aspirations of human beings. If a man is worried about his daily bread he cannot do any good to others. Material prosperity is only a means and not an end. It sets free people from the constant struggle for survival. But if it becomes an end then it becomes a curse. It unleashes all the animal instincts in man. Eat, drink and enjoy only such hedonistic ideas will prevail. Satisfaction of the physical cravings and no other higher ideal will dictate life. The purpose of evolution is to lift animal to man and man to divine. Here spiritual wisdom steps in. Secular life without spirituality is blind and spirituality without secular life is lame. Therefore the emphasis of the Vedas on both – from the stage of an active life one must move onto the life of spirituality. Our eternal soul is encased in an impermanent physical body. This covering of matter or the body is not everything. It has to be well looked after, taken care of but it should not become an object of worship. It should help us to discover the immortal soul inside.

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/Steps To Realisation

All the misery we have is of our own choosing; such is our nature

In some oil mills in India, bullocks are used that go round and round to grind the oil-seed. There is a yoke on the bullock's neck. They have a piece of wood protruding from the yoke, and on that is fastened a wisp of straw. The bullock is blindfolded in such a way that it can only look forward, and so it stretches its neck to get at the straw; and in doing so, it pushes the piece of wood out a little further; and it makes another attempt with the same result, and yet another, and so on. It never catches the straw, but goes round and round in the hope of getting it, and in so doing, grinds out the oil. In the same way you and I who are born slaves to nature, money and wealth, wives and children, are always chasing a wisp of straw, a mere chimera, and are going through an innumerable round of lives without obtaining what we seek.
...Study your own lives, and find how little of happiness there is in them, and how little in truth you have gained in the course of this wild-goose chase of the world.

...We may study all the books that are in the world, yet we may not understand a word of religion or of God. We may talk all our lives and yet may not be the better for it; we may be the most intellectual people the world ever saw, and yet we may not come to God at all. On the other hand, have you not seen what irreligious men have been produced from the most intellectual training?

...If you are pure, you will reach God. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." If you are not pure, and you know all the sciences in the world, that will not help you at all; you may be buried in all the books you read, but that will not be of much use. It is the heart that reaches the goal. Follow the heart. A pure heart sees beyond the intellect; it gets inspired; it knows things that reason can never know, and whenever there is conflict between the pure heart and the intellect, always side with the pure heart, even if you think what your heart is doing is unreasonable. When it is desirous of doing good to others, your brain may tell you that it is not politic to do so, but follow your heart, and you will find that you make less mistakes than by following your intellect. The pure heart is the best mirror for the reflection of truth, so all these disciplines are for the purification of the heart. And as soon as it is pure, all truths flash upon it in a minute; all truth in the universe will manifest in your heart, if you are sufficiently pure.

Excerpts from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

'Aami Baddha Noi, Aami Mukta'

Eai Katha-ti Rokh Kore Bolte Bolte Tai Hoye Jay. Mukta-i Hoye Jay.

A man is free if he constantly thinks:

'I am a free soul'.

P. 138 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Excerpts from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Bhakti-Yoga/Qualifications of the Aspirant and the Teacher

Bhagavân Ramakrishna used to tell a story of some men who went into a mango orchard and busied themselves in counting the leaves, the twigs, and the branches, examining their colour, comparing their size, and noting down everything most carefully, and then got up a learned discussion on each of these topics, which were undoubtedly highly interesting to them. But one of them, more sensible than the others, did not care for all these things. and instead thereof, began to eat the mango fruit. And was he not wise? So leave this counting of leaves and twigs and note-taking to others. This kind of work has its proper place, but not here in the spiritual domain. You never see a strong spiritual man among these "leaf counters". Religion, the highest aim, the highest glory of man, does not require so much labour. If you want to be a Bhakta, it is not at all necessary for you to know whether Krishna was born in Mathurâ or in Vraja, what he was doing, or just the exact date on which he pronounced the teachings of the Gitâ. You only require to feel the craving for the beautiful lessons of duty and love in the Gita. All the other particulars about it and its author are for the enjoyment of the learned. Let them have what they desire. Say "Shântih, Shântih" to their learned controversies, and let us "eat the mangoes".

Religion, which is the highest knowledge and the highest wisdom, cannot be bought, nor can it be acquired from books. You may thrust your head into all the corners of the world, you may explore the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Caucasus, you may sound the bottom of the sea and pry into every nook of Tibet and the desert of Gobi, you will not find it anywhere until your heart is ready for receiving it and your teacher has come. And when that divinely appointed teacher comes, serve him with childlike confidence and simplicity, freely open your heart to his influence, and see in him God manifested. Those who come to seek truth with such a spirit of love and veneration, to them the Lord of Truth reveals the most wonderful things regarding truth, goodness, and beauty.

Excerpts from Complete Works

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/V Alasinga

On the morning of the opening of the Parliament, we all assembled in a building called the Art Palace, where one huge and other smaller temporary halls were erected for the sittings of the Parliament. Men from all nations were there. From India were Mazoomdar of the Brâhmo Samâj, and Nagarkar of Bombay, Mr. Gandhi representing the Jains, and Mr. Chakravarti representing Theosophy with Mrs. Annie Besant. Of these, Mazoomdar and I were, of course, old friends, and Chakravarti knew me by name. There was a grand procession, and we were all marshalled on to the platform. Imagine a hall below and a huge gallery above, packed with six or seven thousand men and women representing the best culture of the country, and on the platform learned men of all the nations of the earth. And I, who never spoke in public in my life, to address this august assemblage!! It was opened in great form with music and ceremony and speeches; then the delegates were introduced one by one, and they stepped up and spoke. Of course my heart was fluttering, and my tongue nearly dried up; I was so nervous and could not venture to speak in the morning. Mazoomdar made a nice speech, Chakravarti a nicer one, and they were much applauded. They were all prepared and came with ready-made speeches. I was a fool and had none, but bowed down to Devi Sarasvati and stepped up, and Dr. Barrows introduced me. I made a short speech. I addressed the assembly as "Sisters and Brothers of America", a deafening applause of two minutes followed, and then I proceeded; and when it was finished, I sat down, almost exhausted with emotion. The next day all the papers announced that my speech was the hit of the day, and I became known to the whole of America. Truly has it been said by the great commentator Shridhara— "मूकं करोति वाचालं —Who maketh the dumb a fluent speaker." His name be praised!

Excerpts from Complete Works

So you have made up your mind to renounce the world. I have sympathy
with your desire. There is nothing so high as renunciation of self.
But you must not forget that to forgo your own favorite desire for the
welfare of those that depend on you is no small sacrifice. Follow the
spotless life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and look after the
comforts of your family. You do your own duty, and leave the rest to
Him.

Letter from USA: May 2, 1895. Complete Works, 5.78.

Excerpts from Complete Works

Reply to Calcutta Address

Ours is to work. The results will take care of themselves.

Let us calmly and in a manly fashion go to work, instead of dissipating our energy in unnecessary frettings and fumings. I, for one, thoroughly believe that no power in the universe can withhold from anyone anything he really deserves.

Excerpts from Complete Works - Hope for all ....

There is hope for all. None can die; none can be degraded forever.
Life is but a playground, however gross the play may be. However we
may receive blows, and however knocked about we may be, the Atman is
there and is never injured. We are that Infinite.

Complete Works, 2: 402

Edgar Cayce Reading 1402-1

Thus no wonder confusion comes, unless there is held to the one mighty
purpose--Love Divine that so overshadows all else as to be that alone
that makes an experience in the earth worth while . . .

Edgar Cayce Reading 1402-1

Edgar Cayce Reading 254-87

Be not overcome with those things that make for discouragements, for
He will supply the strength. Lean upon the arm of the Divine within
thee, giving not place to thoughts of vengeance or discouragements.
Give not vent to those things that create prejudice. And, most of all,
be unselfish! For selfishness is sin, before first thine self, then
thine neighbor and thy God.

Edgar Cayce Reading 254-87

Excerpts from CW.

Volume 4/Translation: Prose/Our Present Social Problems

Mother, be not anxious. It is against the big tree that the great wind strikes. "Poking a fire makes it burn better"; "A snake struck on the head raises its hood" — and so on. When there comes affliction in the heart, when the storm of sorrow blows all around, and it seems light will be seen no more, when hope and courage are almost gone, it is then, in the midst of this great spiritual tempest, that the light of Brahman within gleams. Brought up in the lap of luxury, lying on a bed of roses and never shedding a tear, who has ever become great, who has ever unfolded the Brahman within? Why do you fear to weep? Weep! Weeping dears the eyes and brings about intuition. Then the vision of diversity — man, animal, tree — slowly melting away, makes room for the infinite realisation of Brahman everywhere and in everything.

Excerpts from CW.

Know that every time you feel weak, you not only hurt yourself but
also the Cause. Infinite faith and strength are the only conditions of
success.

Letter to Alasinga Perumal. From USA: April 4, 1895. Complete Works, 5.77-78.

Excerpts from Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Lajja, Ghrina, Bhoy -- Tin Thakte Noy.

One does not succeed so long as one has these three: shame, hatred and fear.

P. 131 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Excerpts from CW.

Volume 4/Translation: Prose/Knowledge: Its Source and Acquirement

True, that spiritual illumination shines of itself in a pure heart, and, as
such, it is not something acquired from without; but to attain this purity
of heart means long struggle and constant practice.

What we call extraordinary, superconscious inspiration is only the result of
a higher development of ordinary consciousness, gained by long and continued
effort. The difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary is merely
one  of  degree  in  manifestation.  Conscious efforts lead the way to
superconscious illumination.


Infinite perfection is in every man, though unmanifested. Every man has in
him the potentiality of attaining to perfect saintliness, Rishihood, or to
the most exalted position of an Avatâra, or to the greatness of a hero in
material discoveries. It is only a question of time and adequate well-guided
investigation, etc., to have this perfection manifested.

Excerpts from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

"Why doesn't God free us from the world? " Sri Ramakrishna: "Ah, He
will free us when the disease is cured. He will liberate us from the
world when we are through with the enjoyment of 'woman and gold'. Once
a man registers his name in the hospital, he cannot run away. The
doctor will not let him go away unless his illness is completely
cured." P. 185 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Excerpts from The Gospel of Holy Mother - Broom

Even the broom has to be replaced respectfully. An ordinary work too
must be done with care and attention.
P. 402 The Gospel of The Holy Mother

What is Meditation? - Swami Vivekanada

What is meditation? Meditation is the power which enables us to resist all this. Nature may call us, "Look there is a beautiful thing!" I do not look. Now she says, "There is a beautiful smell; smell it! " I say to my nose, "Do not smell it", and the nose doesn't. "Eyes, do not see!" Nature does such an awful thing - kills one of my children, and says, "Now, rascal, sit down and weep! Go to the depths!" I say, "I don't have to." I jump up. I must be free. Try it sometimes. ... [In meditation], for a moment, you can change this nature. Now, if you had that power in yourself, would not that be heaven, freedom? That is the power of meditation.

... And this is maya

Excerpts from Jnana Yoga :

Then, there is the tremendous fact of death. The whole world is going towards death; everything dies. All our progress, our vanities, our reforms, our luxuries, our wealth, our knowledge, have that one end — death. That is all that is certain. Cities come and go, empires rise and fall, planets break into pieces and crumble into dust, to be blown about by the atmospheres of other planets. Thus it has been going on from time without beginning. Death is the end of everything. Death is the end of life, of beauty, of wealth, of power, of virtue too. Saints die and sinners die, kings die and beggars die. They are all going to death, and yet this tremendous clinging on to life exists. Somehow, we do not know why, we cling to life; we cannot give it up. And this is Maya.

We are all after the Golden Fleece. Every one of us thinks that this will be his. Every reasonable man sees that his chance is, perhaps, one in twenty millions, yet everyone struggles for it. And this is Maya.

Death is stalking day and night over this earth of ours, but at the same time we think we shall live eternally. A question was once asked of King Yudhishthira, "What is the most wonderful thing on this earth?" And the king replied, "Every day people are dying around us, and yet men think they will never die." And this is Maya.

As we increase our power to be happy, we also increase our power to suffer, and sometimes I am inclined to think that if we increase our power to become happy in arithmetical progression, we shall increase, on the other hand, our power to become miserable in geometrical progression. We who are progressing know that the more we progress, the more avenues are opened to pain as well as to pleasure. And this is Maya.

"Trailing clouds of glory we come," says the poet. Not all of us come as trailing clouds of glory however; some of us come as trailing black fogs; there can be no question about that. But every one of us comes into this world to fight, as on a battlefield. We come here weeping to fight our way, as well as we can, and to make a path for ourselves through this infinite ocean of life; forward we go, having long ages behind us and an immense expanse beyond. So on we go, till death comes and takes us off the field — victorious or defeated, we do not know. And this is Mâyâ.

The senses drag the human soul out. Man is seeking for pleasure and for happiness where it can never be found. For countless ages we are all taught that this is futile and vain, there is no happiness here. But we cannot learn; it is impossible for us to do so, except through our own experiences. We try them, and a blow comes. Do we learn then? Not even then. Like moths hurling themselves against the flame, we are hurling ourselves again and again into sense-pleasures, hoping to find satisfaction there. We return again and again with freshened energy; thus we go on, till crippled and cheated we die. And this is Maya.

So with our intellect. In our desire to solve the mysteries of the universe, we cannot stop our questioning, we feel we must know and cannot believe that no knowledge is to be gained. A few steps, and there arises the wall of beginningless and endless time which we cannot surmount. A few steps, and there appears a wall of boundless space which cannot be surmounted, and the whole is irrevocably bound in by the walls of cause and effect. We cannot go beyond them. Yet we struggle, and still have to struggle. And this is Maya.

With every breath, with every pulsation of the heart with every one of our movements, we think we are free, and the very same moment we are shown that we are not. Bound slaves, nature's bond-slaves, in body, in mind, in all our thoughts, in all our feelings. And this is Maya.

We are all like this in the world. A legend tells how once Nârada said to Krishna, "Lord, show me Maya." A few days passed away, and Krishna asked Narada to make a trip with him towards a desert, and after walking for several miles, Krishna said, "Narada, I am thirsty; can you fetch some water for me?" "I will go at once, sir, and get you water." So Narada went. At a little distance there was a village; he entered the village in search of water and knocked at a door, which was opened by a most beautiful young girl. At the sight of her he immediately forgot that his Master was waiting for water, perhaps dying for the want of it. He forgot everything and began to talk with the girl. All that day he did not return to his Master. The next day, he was again at the house, talking to the girl. That talk ripened into love; he asked the father for the daughter, and they were married and lived there and had children. Thus twelve years passed. His father-in-law died, he inherited his property. He lived, as he seemed to think, a very happy life with his wife and children, his fields and his cattle and so forth. Then came a flood. One night the river rose until it overflowed its banks and flooded the whole village. Houses fell, men and animals were swept away and drowned, and everything was floating in the rush of the stream. Narada had to escape. With one hand be held his wife, and with the other two of his children; another child was on his shoulders, and he was trying to ford this tremendous flood. After a few steps he found the current was too strong, and the child on his shoulders fell and was borne away. A cry of despair came from Narada. In trying to save that child, he lost his grasp upon one of the others, and it also was lost. At last his wife, whom he clasped with all his might, was torn away by the current, and he was thrown on the bank, weeping and wailing in bitter lamentation. Behind him there came a gentle voice, "My child, where is the water? You went to fetch a pitcher of water, and I am waiting for you; you have been gone for quite half an hour." "Half an hour! " Narada exclaimed. Twelve whole years had passed through his mind, and all these scenes had happened in half an hour! And this is Maya.

Meditation and Soul of Man - Swamiji

Meditation has been laid stress upon by all religions. The meditative
state of mind is declared by the Yogis to be the highest state in
which the mind exists. When the mind is studying the external object,
it gets identified with it, loses itself. To use the simile of the old
Indian philosopher: the soul of man is like a piece of crystal, but it
takes the colour of whatever is near it. Whatever the soul touches ...
it has to take its colour. That is the difficulty. That constitutes
the bondage. The colour is so strong, the crystal forgets itself and
identifies itself with the colour. Suppose a red flower is near the
crystal and the crystal takes the colour and forgets itself, thinks it
is red. We have taken the colour of the body and have forgotten what
we are. All the difficulties that follow come from that one dead body.
All our fears, all worries, anxieties, troubles, mistakes, weakness,
evil, are front that one great blunder — that we are bodies. This is
the ordinary person. It is the person taking the colour of the flower
near to it. We are no more bodies than the crystal is the red flower.

The practice of meditation is pursued. The crystal knows what it is,
takes its own colour.

Excerpt from CW. Vol 4

What good is it, if we acknowledge in our prayers that God is the
Father of us all, and in our daily lives do not treat every man as our
brother? Books are only made so that they may point the way to a
higher life; but no good results unless the path is trodden with
unflinching steps! Every human personality may be compared to a glass
globe. There is the same pure white light — an emission of the divine
Being — in the centre of each, but the glass being of different
colours and thickness, the rays assume diverse aspects in the
transmission. The equality and beauty of each central flame is the
same, and the apparent inequality is only in the imperfection of the
temporal instrument of its expression. As we rise higher and higher in
the scale of being, the medium becomes more and more translucent.

Swamiji on Non Attachment

You who have read the Gitâ see all through the book that the one
idea is non-attachment. Remain unattached. The heart's love is due to only
One. To whom? To Him who never changeth. Who is that One? It is God. Do not
make the mistake of giving the heart to anything that is changing, because
that is misery. You may give it to a man; but if he dies, misery is the
result. You may give it to a friend, but he may tomorrow become your enemy.
If you give it to your husband, he may one day quarrel with you. You may
give it to your wife, and she may die the day after tomorrow. Now, this is
the way the world is going on. So says Krishna in the Gita: The Lord is the
only One who never changes. His love never fails. Wherever we are and
whatever we do, He is ever and ever the same merciful, the same loving
heart. He never changes, He is never angry, whatever we do. How can God be
angry with us? Your babe does many mischievous things: are you angry with
that babe? Does not God know what we are going to be? He knows we are all
going to be perfect, sooner or later. He has patience, infinite patience. We
must love Him, and everyone that lives — only in and through Him. This is
the keynote. You must love the wife, but not for the wife's sake. "Never, O
Beloved, is the husband loved on account of the husband, but because the
Lord is in the husband."

- Volume 4/Lectures and Discourses/The Great Teachers of the World

Swami Vivekananda on Divine Mother

The Divine Mother is the power of all causation. She energizes every
cause unmistakably to produce the effect. Her will is the only law,
and as She cannot make a mistake, nature's laws--Her will--can never
be changed. She is the life of the law of karma, or causation. She is
the fructifier of every action. Under Her guidance we are
manufacturing our lives through our deeds or karma.

From notes discovered among Swami Vivekananda's papers. He evidently
intended to write a book and jotted down these points for the work.
Complete Works, 5:434.

The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Whether a man calls on God or not, if he does not marry, he is
already half liberated. When the mind happens to be a little attracted
to God he will progress by leaps and bounds. P. 400 The Gospel of The
Holy Mother

The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Far better is it to work than to let the mind loose to indulge in riotous thinking. If the mind is allowed a little laxity, it will create such a turmoil. P. 397 The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Excerpt from Bhakti Yoga - Swami Vivekananda

The mind should always go towards God. No
other things have any right to withhold it. It should continuously think of
God, though this is a very hard task; yet it can be done by persistent
practice.  What  we are now is the result of our past practice. Again,
practice makes us what we shall be. So practice the other way; one sort of
turning round has brought us this way, turn the other way and get out of it
as soon as you can. Thinking of the senses has brought us down here — to cry
one moment, to rejoice the next, to be at the mercy of every breeze, slave
to everything. This is shameful, and yet we call ourselves spirits. Go the
other way, think of God; let the mind not think of any physical or mental
enjoyment, but of God alone. When it tries to think of anything else, give
it a good blow, so that it may turn round and think of God. As oil poured
from one vessel to another falls in an unbroken line, as chimes coming from
a distance fall upon the ear as one continuous sound, so should the mind
flow towards God in one continuous stream. We should not only impose this
practice on the mind, but the senses too should be employed. Instead of
hearing foolish things, we must hear about God; instead of talking foolish
words, we must talk of God. Instead of reading foolish books, we must read
good ones which tell of God.

swamiji on Bhakti

Some persons worship God for the sake of obtaining wealth, others
because they want to have a son, and they think themselves Bhâgavatas
(devotees). This is no Bhakti, and they are not true Bhagavatas. When
a Sâdhu comes who professes that he can make gold, they run to him,
and they still consider themselves Bhagavatas. It is not Bhakti if we
worship God with the desire for a son; it is not Bhakti if we worship
with the desire to be rich; it is not Bhakti even if we have a desire
for heaven; it is not Bhakti if a man worships with the desire of
being saved from the tortures of hell. Bhakti is not the outcome of
fear or greediness. He is the true Bhagavata who says, "O God, I do
not want a beautiful wife, I do not want knowledge or salvation. Let
me be born and die hundreds of times. What I want is that I should be
ever engaged in Thy service."

Sayings and utterances. Complete Works, 5:411.

We never die, nor are we ever born. Bodies die, but we never die.

Sayings and utterances. Complete Works, 5:411.

Excerpt from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 3/Lectures from Colombo to Almora/Reply to the Address of Welcome at Paramakudi

The Omnipresent Lord has been hidden through ignorance, and the responsibility is on yourself. You have not to think that you were brought into the world without your choice and left in this most horrible place, but to know that you have yourself manufactured your body bit by bit just as you are doing it this very moment. You yourself eat; nobody eats for you. You assimilate what you eat; no one does it for you. You make blood, and muscles, and body out of the food; nobody does it for you. So you have done all the time. One link in a chain explains the infinite chain. If it is true for one moment that you manufacture your body, it is true for every moment that has been or will come. And all the responsibility of good and evil is on you. This is the great hope. What I have done, that I can undo. And at the same time our religion does not take away from mankind the mercy of the Lord. That is always there. On the other hand, He stands beside this tremendous current of good and evil. He the bondless, the ever-merciful, is always ready to help us to the other shore, for His mercy is great, and it always comes to the pure in heart.

Gospel of Holy Mother

Will they abstain because of my prohibition if their desire for
enjoyment is strong? And to those who have understood by virtue of
great merit that all this is Maya's play, and believe that God alone
is the reality, should I not offer a little help and encouragement?
P. 393 The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Edgar Cayce Reading 3744-5

What one thinks continually, they become; what one cherishes in their heart and mind they make a part of the pulsation of their heart, through their own blood cells, and build in their own physical, that which its spirit and soul must feed upon, and that with which it will be possessed, when it passes into the realm for which the other experiences of what it has gained here in the physical plane, must be used.

Edgar Cayce Reading 3744-5

Swamiji on Ahimsa

The test of Ahimsa is absence of jealousy. Any man may do a good deed or make a good gift on the spur of the moment or under the pressure of some superstition or priestcraft; but the real lover of mankind is he who is jealous of none. The so-called great men of the world may all be seen to become jealous of each other for a small name, for a little fame, and for a few bits of gold. So long as this jealousy exists in a heart, it is far away from the perfection of Ahimsa. The cow does not eat meat, nor does the sheep. Are they great Yogis, great non-injurers (Ahimsakas)? Any fool may abstain from eating this or that; surely that gives him no more distinction than to herbivorous animals. The man who will mercilessly cheat widows and orphans and do the vilest deeds for money is worse than any brute even if he lives entirely on grass. The man whose heart never cherishes even the thought of injury to any one, who rejoices at the prosperity of even his greatest enemy, that man is the Bhakta, he is the Yogi, he is the Guru of all, even though he lives every day of his life on the flesh of swine.

Gospel of Ramakrishna

Je-kota Karma Aachhe,

Se Kota Hoye Gele Nishchinto.

Finish the few duties you have at hand,

and then you will have peace.

P. 114 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Complete works of Swami Vivekananda , Vol I, Page 413

He can be a devil and an intellectual man at the same time; but
the man of heart can never be a devil; no man with emotion was ever a
devil. C W Vol I p 413

The Gospel of The Holy Mother

It all happens according to one's Prarbhdha, the effect of past
deeds. Where a ploughshere has to hit, at least a needle must prick.
P. 391 The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Swami Vivekananda to Alisinga

Do not lose heart,

do not lose faith in your Guru,

do not lose faith in God.

So long as you possess these three,
nothing can harm you, my child.

Letter to Alasinga. From New York, 1895. Complete Works, 5.74.

Swami Vivekananda on Yogi

If you want to be a Yogi, you must be free, and place yourself in circumstances where you are alone and free from all anxiety. He who desires a comfortable and nice life and at the same time wants to realise the Self is like the fool who, wanting to cross the river, caught hold of a crocodile, mistaking it for a log of wood (Vivekachudâmani, 84.). "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you." This is the one great duty, this is renunciation. Live for an ideal, and leave no place in the mind for anything else. Let us put forth all our energies to acquire that, which never fails — our spiritual perfection. If we have true yearning for realisation, we must struggle, and through struggle growth will come. We shall make mistakes, but they may be angels unawares.

Swami Vivekananda on Yogi

If you want to be a Yogi, you must be free, and place yourself in circumstances where you are alone and free from all anxiety. He who desires a comfortable and nice life and at the same time wants to realise the Self is like the fool who, wanting to cross the river, caught hold of a crocodile, mistaking it for a log of wood (Vivekachudâmani, 84.). "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and everything shall be added unto you." This is the one great duty, this is renunciation. Live for an ideal, and leave no place in the mind for anything else. Let us put forth all our energies to acquire that, which never fails — our spiritual perfection. If we have true yearning for realisation, we must struggle, and through struggle growth will come. We shall make mistakes, but they may be angels unawares.

Swami Vivekananda on Yogi

Those who really want to be Yogis must give up, once for all, this nibbling at things. 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, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced. Others are mere talking machines. If we really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper. The first step is not to disturb the mind, not to associate with persons whose ideas are disturbing. All of you know that certain persons, certain places, certain foods, repel you. Avoid them; and those who want to go to the highest, must avoid all company, good or bad. Practise hard; whether you live or die does not matter. You have to plunge in and work, without thinking of the result. If you are brave enough, in six months you will be a perfect Yogi. But those who take up just a bit of it and a little of everything else make no progress. It is of no use simply to take a course of lessons. To those who are full of Tamas, ignorant and dull — those whose minds never get fixed on any idea, who only crave for something to amuse them — religion and philosophy are simply objects of entertainment. These are the unpersevering. They hear a talk, think it very nice, and then go home and forget all about it. To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean," says the persevering soul, "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal.

Swami Vivekananda's Quote

"If I think that I am bound, I remain bound. I make my own bondage.  If I know that I am free, I am free from this moment. Call upon that sleeping Soul; then all powers will come; all strength will come; all goodness will come; everything else will come; all superstitions will go; all delusions will go.  I have neither death nor fear.  Pilgrimage, books, rituals, ceremonies, forms and temples can never bind me.  This is the knowledge of the Freedom.  Freedom is the Goal of all Nature.  All power is in you.  Be conscious and bring it out.  You can do anything and everything.  Even the poison of the snake will be powerless, if you can firmly deny it.  Therefore, the idea that you are Mr. So and So can never be True; It is the daydream.  Know this and be free.  No breathing; no physical training of Yoga. Nothing is of any use until you reach the idea " I am the Witness; I am the Spirit; Nothing external can touch me"

Excerpt from Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

"But what about our worldly duties—duties associated with our earning money, and so on?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "Yes, you can perform them too, but only as much as you need for your livelihood. At the same time, you must pray to God in solitude, with tears in your eyes, that you may be able to perform those duties in an unselfish manner. You should say to Him: 'O God, make my worldly duties fewer and fewer; otherwise, O Lord, I find that I forget Thee when I am involved in too many activities. I may think I am doing unselfish work, but it turns out to be selfish.' People, who carry to excess the giving of alms, or the distributing of food among the poor, fall victims to the desire of acquiring name and fame." P. 142 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Story of Shabri from Ramayana

Story of Shabari

In the Ashrama of Sage Matanga, a great devotee of Rama, named SHABARI, used to stay. She used to keep the place clean and tidy, and along with that she also performed her japa -repeating the holy name of GOD, did her ritualistic worship by offering flowers etc., and sang many songs in the glory of the Lord. Her chosen ideal was Rama for whose meeting she was waiting for long time.

Years passed by; Rishi Matang became old. When he was on his death-bed, he called Shabari near him and said, "Look, O devotee of Rama, your tapasya -austerities - and spiritual longing for Rama would not go in vain. Sri Rama is sure to visit this ashrama, this I can say on the basis of my spiritual power. Therefore, after my departure, I plead you to wait for Rama's arrival. Hence take charge of this ashrama and live in peace and as a devotee of Rama. Your efforts would be rewarded in due course of time." So saying the rishi passed away.

Simple hearted, poor, and belonging to lower caste, Shabari did not know much about running the ashrama. Soon everyone left her. The birds, the flowers, the shrubs and occasional domesticated animal became her friends. But she had full faith in the words of her Guru Matang. When he had said Sri Rama would come to that ashrama, she could not disbelieve those words.

Hence Shabari used to clean the place early in the morning, collect fruits, and would wait looking at the distant road for her Rama to come. Every day this was her routine. Every day she thought "Rama would definitely come today!" In these days of eager wait and expectation of seeing her Rama, she forgot all about her rituals, worship, japa or songs! She forgot about day and night, month and year as well as the seasons. Rains were replaced by the winter, winter turned into summer of scorching heat, but Shabari had lost her interest in everything. For her the sun rose with the definite hope that her Rama would come that day and she would be able to serve him.

These long years of wait turned Shabari into an old woman. Her eye sight became dim and the hearing was affected. She had no remorse. She continued to keep her tiring body busy in her routine of cleaning the ashrama and collecting fruits for Rama.

One day, at last, Sri Rama arrived in the ashrama. Pleasure of Shabari knew no bounds. The long awaited desire was fulfilled. Falling at the feet of Rama she said, "O Rama, I cannot describe your kindness in words. When so many great sadhakas (rishis and munis and yogis), cannot seek your Grace even in many births, you have come to me so soon."

So saying she washed the holy feet of her chosen ideal and offered him berries which she had collected from the forest that morning. And the beauty of the relation between the true Bhakta and the Lord was such that Rama was happy in eating the same fruit that had been tasted by Shabari herself, lest the fruit should be bitter!

Laxmana, with tears rolling down his cheeks, was silently observing the pure love between God and the devotee. Until now he used to think that there was nobody on the earth or heaven who loved Rama as dearly as he did. But today Shabari proved him wrong. When tears dried down in the eyes of Shabari, when her voice was not choking, when she lifted her eyes from the holy feet of Rama then Laxmana bowed down at the feet of Shabari and said, "O mother, your love for Rama will be remembered for ever in this world. I bow down in reverence to the great devotee of Sri Rama."

Then Shabari inquires about the purpose of their such hard journey. Rama recounts the sad tell of kidnapping of Sita, etc. Reflecting upon the facts, Shabari directs them to go further southwards to Pampa lake and to Kishkindha where the monkey king Sugreeva and the great Rama-devotee monkey Hanuman would be of great help in their search for Sita.

Excerpt from Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

As desire increases, so increases the power of pleasure, so the power of pain.

From notes discovered among Swami Vivekananda's papers. He evidently intended to write a book
and jotted down these points for the work. Complete Works, 5:429.

Excerpt from Gospel of Ramakrishna

"But, sir, if She (Divine Mother) likes, She can give freedom to all.
Why, then, has She kept us bound to the world?"

Sri Ramakrishna: "That is Her will. She wants to continue playing with
Her created beings. In a game of hide-and-seek the running about soon
stops if in the beginning all the players touch the 'granny'. If all
touch her, then how can the game go on? That displeases her. Her
pleasure is in continuing the game." P. 136 The Gospel of Sri
Ramakrishna

Edgar Cayce Reading 5563-1

Happiness, then, is not a thing set apart from self, but the
conditions with which one approaches that in hand to be done! for when
one considers that the position of self is hard to bear, is not as is
desired, the desire of the heart often maketh one afraid--unless that
desire is ever in that attitude of "Use me, O God, as I am," for the I
AM is ready, willing, to make my will one with Thy will--"Though He
slay me, though He bruise me in mine own selfish or unseen ways; yet
will I trust Him day by day," and He will not forsake thee; neither
will He allow thee to be afraid; for He will raise thee up, and He
understands all the hardships, the little things, the separations, the
variations in the surroundings--but trust Him!

Edgar Cayce Reading 5563-1

Edgar Cayce Reading 2995-3

Thus ye may find in thy mental and spiritual self, ye can make thyself
just as happy or just as miserable as ye like. How miserable do ye
want to be?

Edgar Cayce Reading 2995-3

Gospel of Holy Mother - faith and doubts

Doubts will arise and again faith will come. This way alone faith is
strengthened. Gradually, after many such attempts, firm faith will
come. P. 367 The Gospel of The Holy Mother

Edgar Cayce Reading 1204-3

For, know that each soul constantly meets its own self. No problem may
be run away from. Meet it now!

Edgar Cayce Reading 1204-3

P. 108 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Je-Lok Kamanashunya Hoye Karma Korbe Se Nijer-i Mongol korbe.

The man, who works for others, without any selfish motive, really does
good to himself.
P. 108 The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Be Perfectly Resigned ....

"Be perfectly resigned, perfectly unconcerned; then alone can you do
any true work. No eyes can see the real forces; we can only see the
results. Put out self, forget it; just let God work, it is His
business."

Swami Vivekananda

Edgar Cayce Reading 1792-2

"Hence again might that injunction be given the entity not to be too
easily discouraged. Brace up! Know in what ye have believed and do
believe, but know who is also the author of such. For life is real,
life is earnest, and the grave is not the goal!" Edgar Cayce Reading
1792-2

Edgar Cayce Reading 2811-3

Know ye this, each of you: The law of the Lord is perfect, ye cannot
get around it. Ye may for the moment submerge it, but thy conscience
will smite thee.

Edgar Cayce Reading 2811-3

Edgar Cayce Reading 938-1

For Life and its expressions are one. Each soul or entity will and
does return, or cycle, as does nature in its manifestations about man;
thus leaving, making or presenting--as it were--those infallible,
indelible truths that it--Life--is continuous. And though there may be
a few short years in this or that experience, they are one; the soul,
the inner self being purified, being lifted up, that it may be one
with that first cause, that first purpose for its coming into
existence.

Edgar Cayce Reading 938-1

Edgar Cayce Reading 1224-1

If the experiences are ever used for self-indulgence,
self-aggrandizement, self-exaltation, each entity does so to its own
undoing, or creates for self that as has been termed or called
karma--and must be met. And in meeting every error, in meeting every
trial, in meeting every temptation--whether these be mental or really
physical experiences--the manner and purpose and approach to same
should be ever in that attitude, "Not my will but Thine, O God, be
done in and through me."

Edgar Cayce Reading 1224-1