Today's Swami Vivekananda QUOTE

Think all of you that you are the infinitely powerful Atman, and see what strength comes out.

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.276.

 A bit of Mother, a drop, was Krishna, another was Buddha, another was Christ. The worship of even one spark of Mother in our earthly mother leads to greatness. Worship the Divine Mother if you want love and wisdom.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 30, 1895. Complete Works, 7.27.

Of what use is self-depreciation? I am the child of the Infinite, the all-powerful Divine Mother. What is disease or fear or want to me? Stamp out the negative spirit as if it were a pestilence, and it will conduce to your welfare in every way.

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.276.

God is still, established upon his own majestic changeless Self. You and I try to be one with him, but we plant ourselves upon nature, upon the trifles of daily life, on money, on fame, on human love, and all these changing forms in nature which make for bondage.

From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.337

 None of us has understood Sri Ramakrishna fully. So I do not venture to speak about him anywhere and everywhere. Only he knows what he himself really was. Only his frame was human, but everything else about him was entirely different from others.

Conversations recorded in Bengali. From the diary of Sarat Chandra Chakravarty. Complete Works, 5.389.

Many religious theories are based on belief. One man says there is a great Being sitting above the clouds and governing the whole universe, and he asks me to believe that solely on the authority of his assertion. In the same way, I may have my own ideas, which I am asking others to believe, and if they ask a reason, I cannot give them any. This is why religion and metaphysical philosophy have a bad name these days. Every educated person seems to say, "Oh, these religions are only bundles of theories without any standard to judge them by, all preaching their own pet ideas."

Nevertheless, there is a basis of universal belief in religion, governing all the different theories and all the varying ideas of different sects in different countries. Going to their basis we find that they also are based upon universal experiences.

From Swamiji's book "Raja Yoga," Chapter One, "Introductory." Complete Works, 1.125-26.

 

Be not negative. You must be all-positive, affirmative. Say, "I am, God is, everything is in me. I will manifest health, purity, knowledge, whatever I want."

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.276.

 When nature shines, upon what depends its shining? Upon God and not upon the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars. Wherever anything shines, whether it is the light in the sun or in our own consciousness, it is God. He shining, all shines after him.

From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.337. Here Swamiji is paraphrasing from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad 2.2.15 and the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 2.2.10.

Atma Gnan To Keval Gnan

(Knowledge of the Self to Absolute Knowledge)

The right vehicle is necessary

Questioner: Now, all I yearn for is liberation.

Dadashri: The desire for total liberation is not necessary now because liberation will come by itself. You only need to sit in this “train” (train of Mokska). For example if you board the train bound for Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad will arrive in time. You do not have to keep wishing for Ahmedabad. Similarly, from now on it is not necessary for you to yearn for liberation. Having sat in this train of liberation, you may continue to do your personal work. This train will take you to Moksha. If you have any problems or obstructions along the way, then all you have to do is earnestly remember Dada Bhagawan (other name for Perfect Soul within) for one hour.

 

Wrong understanding is gone and awareness of right understanding is achieved

Dadashri: When did you receive the right understanding (samkit)?

Questioner: Two months ago.

Dadashri: In the two months the plant of knowledge has thrived well. The second day of the moon will become the third day and it will continue to progress gradually until it reaches the full moon stage. The full moon is equivalent to perfect absolute knowledge (Keval Gnan). After acquiring self-realization, no new karmas are being charged; the charging of all new karmas has stopped. There is no more anger, pride, attachment, and greed.

Questioner: What is the root cause of this wrong understanding?

Dadashri: Are you really Chandulal or the pure soul?

Questioner: Now, I am the pure soul.

Dadashri: “I am really Chandubhai,” is a wrong belief and this wrong belief is now gone. That wrong understanding (Bhranti) is gone. Now you simply have to sincerely follow the Five Agnas (Dada’s five cardinal guidelines that one must abide by for spiritual progress) that I have given you.

Questioner: Is the constant awareness of, ‘I am a pure soul’, the seed of right understanding? Is that called Samkit?

Dadashri: Yes, this can be called samkit, or it can also be called Bodhbeej (seed of right understanding).

Difference between Self and Non-Self
 

There is a line of demarcation within you between, the Self and the non-self. Chandulal and all of his possessions belong to the non-self and your real Self, the soul is your true Self (I=Self and my = non-self). No part of the Self is to be entwined with the non-self, and no part of the non-self is to be entwined with the Self.

You have to understand only this

There is nothing more for you to know. The soul is the only thing you need to know and that, you already know now. If you can completely grasp this understanding in this lifetime, you will achieve victory over everything. You will recover the losses of infinite lifetimes in just this one lifetime.

 

 

JAI SAT CHIT ANAND.

Today's Swami Vivekananda QUOTE

The embodiment of freedom, the Master of nature, is what we call God. You cannot deny God, because you cannot move or live without the idea of freedom.

From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.336.

Have a kind word for all--it spoils work to show temper. Let people say whatever they like, stick to your own convictions, and rest assured, the world will be at your feet.

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.274.

 

Without worshiping the Divine Mother, we can never know ourselves. All-merciful, all-powerful, omnipresent are attributes of Divine Mother. She is the sum total of the energy in the universe. Every manifestation of power in the universe is "Mother." She is life, she is intelligence, she is love. She is in the universe yet separate from it. She is a person and can be seen and known (as Sri Ramakrishna saw and knew her). Established in the idea of Mother, we can do anything. She quickly answers prayers.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 30, 1895. Complete Works, 7.26-27.

They say, "Have faith in this fellow or that fellow," but I say, "Have faith in yourself first," that's the way. Have faith in yourself--all power is in you--be conscious and bring it out.

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.274.

The Divine Mother can show herself to us in any form at any moment. She can have form and name, or name without form. As we worship her in these various aspects we can rise to pure Being, having neither form nor name.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 30, 1895. Complete Works, 7.27.

The whole of nature is worship of God. Wherever there is life, there is the search for freedom--and this freedom is the same as God.

From a lecture on "What Is Religion?". Complete Works, 1.337.

Say, "I can do everything." "Even the poison of a snake is powerless if you can firmly deny it." Beware! No saying "nay," no negative thoughts! Say, "Yea, yea," So'ham, So'ham, "I am he! I am he!"

Letter to his brother-disciples. Written in Bengali from New York on September 25, 1894. Complete Works, 6.274.

The scientist does not tell you to believe in anything, but he has certain results which come from his own experiences, and reasoning on them when he asks us to believe in his conclusions, he appeals to some universal experience of humanity. In every exact science there is a basis which is common to all humanity, so that we can at once see the truth or the fallacy of the conclusions drawn therefrom.

From Swamiji's book "Raja Yoga," Chapter One, "Introductory." Complete Works, 1.125.

God is Mother and has two natures, the conditioned and the unconditioned. As the former, she is God, nature and soul. As the latter, she is unknown and unknowable. Out of the unconditioned came the trinity--God, nature and soul, the triangle of existence. This is the Visishtadvaita idea.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 30, 1895. Complete Works, 7.27

On you lie the future hopes of our country. I feel extreme pain to see you leading a life of inaction. Set yourself to work--to work! Do not tarry--the time of death is approaching day by day. Do not sit idle, thinking that everything will be done in time, later on. Mind--nothing will be done that way!

Conversations recorded in Bengali. From the diary of Sarat Chandra Chakravarty. Complete Works, 5.384.



Atma Gnan To Keval Gnan

(Knowledge of the Self to Absolute Knowledge)

Self-realization in one hour

Dadashri: What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up in the middle of the night at two o’clock?

Questioner: That I am a Pure Soul (Shuddhatma)

Dadashri: The first thing that most people tend to remember, are the things most dear to them. One can never discern that which is imperceptible. That is why the soul (Atma) is regarded as mysterious and perfect, free from darkness and ignorance.

Ordinarily, the awareness of, “I am Shuddhatma” is not discerned, but here, within an hour by the grace and divine powers of Akram Gnani and blessings from the higher celestial beings, (Dev Loka), you attain an extraordinarily high level of Spiritual State.

When you meet a Gnani Purush (fully enlightened being), the path of total liberation (Moksh), becomes very simple and easy. It is even easier than cooking rice! Otherwise the path to liberation would take billions of years to reach. Through a Gnani Purush, this path is attained in a very short time by means of a unique short cut. This knowledge that I give you is the knowledge of the Vitraag (one free from all worldly attachments) Lords. However, our method is different. Our method is “Akram” (literally meaning no steps). Your entire perception changes completely. The awareness of the Soul (your real Self) is achieved within one hour. In the traditional path (Kramic Margh- step by step path) of liberation, this realization of “I am the Pure Soul” is not attained until the very end. People have endeavored in many ways, they have put forth tremendous effort (purusharth) and have tried many different ways to achieve Self-Realization. Even for a moment’s glimpse of the Soul, seekers have undertaken all kinds of strenuous efforts and methods to no avail! The Gnanis who progress in the Kramic Margh, do not attain the permanent awareness of “I am Shuddhatma,” until the very end. For you, this stage of awareness is attainted easily and within one hour and what is more this awareness will remain with you forever.

Achievement of Self-Realization

Questioner: After having acquired this Gnan from you, I feel bliss, which is not related to any external objects. Now I only yearn for moksh.

Dadashri: You have taken the Gnan? Now you have acquired the conviction that you are the Pure Soul. Now remain in this conviction all the time. Read the small book – Charan Vidhi” every day. Are you not convinced that you are a pure soul? Are you experiencing the bliss?

Questioner: Yes, very much so.

Dadashri: That is the bliss of soul. The soul within you is now awake. You have been awakened from the darkness of ignorance to the light of Self Knowledge. Many of your karmas have been destroyed in the “fire” of this Knowledge. Do you spontaneously remember that you are a pure soul or do you have to make an effort to do so?

Questioner: I remember it spontaneously and constantly.

Dadashri: It remains with you all day long, does it not? Your work is done!

 

 

JAI SAT CHIT ANAND.