Meditation And Its Methods: Swami Vivekananda Guides on the Practice of Meditation by Swami Vivekananda

by Vivekananda

It is better to be an outspoken atheist than a hypocrite.

Whether you live or die does not matter. You have to plunge in and work, without thinking of the result.

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.

The bottom of the lake is our own true Self; the lake is the Chitta and the waves the Vrittis.

First hear, then understand, and then, leaving all distractions, shut your minds to outside influences, and devote yourselves to developing the truth within you.

The greatest help to spiritual life is meditation (Dhyana).

The touch of the soul can paint the brightest colour even in the dingiest places; it can cast a fragrance over the vilest thing; it can make the wicked divine-and all enmity, all selfishness is effaced.

The less the thought of the body, the better. For it is the body that drags us down. It is attachment, identification, which makes us miserable.

Be grateful to him who curses you, for he gives you a mirror to show what cursing is, also a chance to practise self-restraint; so bless him and be glad.

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.

Arise, awake, stop not till the goal is reached.