Any student who wants to practice Raja Yoga is earnestly reminded that yoga can only be safely learnt by direct contact with a teacher.
From Swamiji's preface to his book, Raja Yoga. Complete Works, 1.123.
If you are ready to sacrifice your life for others, God will certainly provide some means for those who depend on you. Haven't you read in the Gita (6.40) the words of Sri Krishna: "Never does a doer of good, O my beloved, come to grief"?
Conversations recorded in Bengali. From the diary of Sarat Chandra Chakravarty. Complete Works, 5.382.
Mother is the first manifestation of power and is considered a higher idea than father. With the name of Mother comes the idea of Śakti, divine energy and omnipotence, just as a baby believes its mother to be all-powerful, able to do anything.
Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 30, 1895. Complete Works, 7.26.
Always remember that Sri Ramakrishna came for the good of the world--not for name or fame. Spread only what he came to teach. Never mind his name--it will spread of itself. Directly you insist on everybody's accepting your Guru, you will be creating a sect, and everything will fall to the ground--so beware!
Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.274.
Freedom, O Freedom! Freedom, O Freedom!" is the song of the soul. Bondage, alas, or to be bound in nature, seems its fate.
From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.335.
Great people are those who build highways for others with their heart's blood. This has been taking place through eternity, that one builds a bridge by laying down his own body, and thousands of others cross the river through its help. Evam astu, evam astu. Shivo'ham! Shivo'ham! "Be it so, be it so! I am Shiva! I am Shiva!"
Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on Sep 25, 1894. CW, 6.273-74.
We have been stifling our inner voice long enough, seeking to follow law and quiet the human nature, but there is the human instinct to rebel against nature's laws. We may not understand what the meaning is, but there is that unconscious struggle of the human with the spiritual, of the lower with the higher mind, and the struggle attempts to preserve one's separate life, what we call our "individuality."
From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.334-35.
All the orthodox systems of Indian philosophy have one goal in view, the liberation of the soul through perfection. The method is by yoga. The word yoga covers an immense ground, but both the Samkhya and Vedanta Schools point to yoga in some form or other.
From Swamiji's preface to his book, Raja Yoga. Complete Works, 1.122.
Even the least work done for others awakens the power within; even thinking the least good of others gradually instills into the heart the strength of a lion. I love you all ever so much, but I wish you all to die working for others--I should rather be glad to see you do that!
Conversations recorded in Bengali. From the diary of Sarat Chandra Chakravarty. Complete Works, 5.382.
