Readings and Quotes
We present here a collection of quotes on spiritual life, mainly from the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda. See the whole list here.
A Song on Samadhi
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda composed this hymn in an attempt to express the inexpressible experience of nirvikalpa samadhi. An English Translation (from the Complete Works) Lo! The sun is not, nor the comely moon, All light extinct; in the great void of space Floats shadow-like the image-universe. In the void of mind involute, there floats The fleeting universe, rises and floats, Sinks again, ceaseless, in the current “I”. Slowly, slowly, the Read more »
Teachings of Sri Ramakrishna in Eight Aphorisms
Swami Harshananda
Swami Harshananda composed eight sutras embodying the essence of Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings. They are presented herewith. (From the Vedanta Kesari, December 2011) Swami Brahmarupananda has been giving a series of talks on this subject: listen here. ईश्वरोऽस्त्येवः स एव सत्यम्॥१॥ तं द्रष्टुं ज्ञातुं तेन सह आलापं कर्तुं च Read more »
Ramakrishna, Christ, and the Incarnation
From The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
M: “How amazing! A similar thing happened with two women at the time of Jesus. They too were sisters, and devoted to Christ. Martha and Mary.” MASTER (eagerly): “Tell me the story.” M: “Jesus Christ, like you, went to their house with his devotees. At the sight of him one of the sisters was filled with ecstatic happiness. It reminds me of a song about Gauranga: My two eyes sank in the sea of Gora’s heavenly beauty And did not Read more »
Are Christ and Buddha Identical?
Swami Vivekananda
It is my particular fancy that the same Buddha became Christ. Buddha prophesied, “I will come again in five hundred years”, and Christ came here in five hundred years. These are the two Lights of the whole human nature. Two men have been produced, Buddha and Christ; these are the two giants, huge gigantic personalities, two Gods. Between them they divide the whole world. Wherever there is the least knowledge in the world, people bow down either Read more »
Sri Sarada Devi on Fault-finding
I tell you one thing—if you want peace, do not find fault with others. Rather see your own faults. Learn to make the world your own. No one is a stranger, my child; the whole world is your own. To err is human. One must not take that into account. It is harmful for oneself. One gets into the habit of finding fault. … Do not look for faults in others, or your own eyes will become faulty. I cannot see others’ faults. I am simply not made Read more »
What is Dharma?
Sister Nivedita
Like the delicate charm that is common to honourable women; like the distinctive greatness of saints and heroes; like the intellectual breadth of a university city; like all the finest things in the world in fact, Indian thought had remained till the year 1893 without a definition, and without a name. For the word dharma can in no sense be taken as the name of a religion. It is the essential quality, the permanent, unfluctuating core, of substance,—the Read more »
The Real Temple of the Lord
Swami Premananda
We should never forget that our real object is to enshrine the Lord in the heart of every man in the world, for the real temple of the Lord is the human heart. There within the heart of every man the ground has to be consecrated, for it has been defiled by the profanity of worldly desires and pleasures. There on that consecrated ground let the temple of Divine Communion be raised and the overflowing bliss of the Supreme Good reign. Infinite Bliss Read more »
Responsibility of Students of Vedanta
Swami Ashokananda
Do the students of Vedanta realize that they have great responsibility on their shoulders? None can deny that humanity is just now passing through a period of great storm and stress, when every ideal is being remodeled, old ideas are being challenged and accustomed ways of doing things are being questioned. Economically, politically, culturally, spiritually, in every respect, the human mind and affairs are undergoing great changes. We are finding Read more »
On the Four Yogas:
A poem by Abir Muhuri
(Based upon the book The Teachings of Swami Vivekananda) To nurture and blossom the divine within That is the sole goal of one’s religion To unite with God and join in his grace Is up to our own experimentation The ways to divinity stretch to infinity As each person is a wave among the oceans The mindsets and roles, the moods and souls Are so colorful in this vast creation As many as the ways are, there are a few to be named That Read more »
To the Fourth of July
On the 4th of July, 1898, Swami Vivekananda was travelling with some American disciples in Kashmir, and as part of a domestic conspiracy for the celebration of the day—the anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence—he prepared the following poem, to be read aloud at the early breakfast. Behold, the dark clouds melt away, That gathered thick at night, and hung So like a gloomy pall above the earth! Before thy magic touch, Read more »
Swami Vivekananda on the Upanishads
The Upanishads have this one theme before them: “What is that knowing which we know everything else?” In modern language, the theme of the Upanishads is to find an ultimate unity of things. Knowledge is nothing but finding unity in the midst of diversity. Every science is based upon this; all human knowledge is based upon the finding of unity in the midst of diversity; and if it is the task of small fragments of human knowledge, which we call Read more »
Swami Vivekananda on Buddha and Shankara
Buddha brought the Vedanta to light, gave it to the people, and saved India. A thousand years after his death … Shankaracharya arose and once more revived the Vedanta philosophy. He made it a rationalistic philosophy. In the Upanishads the arguments are often very obscure. By Buddha the moral side of the philosophy was laid stress upon, and by Shankaracharya, the intellectual side. He worked out, rationalised, and placed before men the wonderful Read more »
Swami Brahmananda on Meditation
Practice japa and meditation regularly. Do not miss even one day. The mind is like a spoiled child—always restless. Try repeatedly to steady it by fixing it on the Chosen Ideal, and at last you will become absorbed in him. If you continue your practice for two or three years, you will begin to feel an unspeakable joy and the mind will become steady. In the beginning the practice of japa and meditation seems dry. It is like taking bitter medicine. Read more »
Spiritual Teachings of Swami Brahmananda
Just as the Ganges has its ebb and flow, so is there an ebb and flow in spiritual moods at the beginning. But later, as you continue, there will come an even flow of the mind toward God. Try diligently to check this mad outward rush of your mind. You can do this successfully if you do not try to meditate as soon as you sit down. First draw the mind back from its external pursuits by means of discrimination, and lock it up inside, at the sacred Read more »
Swami Vivekananda on Sri Ramakrishna
Sri Ramakrishna never spoke a harsh word against anyone. So beautifully tolerant was he that every sect thought that he belonged to them. He loved everyone. To him all religions were true. He found a place for each one. He was free, but free in love, not in “thunder.” * * * * This is the message of Sri Ramakrishna to the modern world. Care not for doctrines or for dogmas, for sects or for churches. All these count for but little, Read more »
Teachings of Holy Mother
You may say that you have done so much of japa or so much of work; but nothing will avail. Nobody can achieve anything unless Mahamaya clears the way. Oh, my children, take refuge, just take refuge. Then alone she will clear the way out of her mercy. … Once in summer at Kamarpukur, a heavy shower had filled up the fields, and water overflowed from the ponds. The Master was wading through water when proceeding by the side of the sweeper colony. As Read more »
Swami Vivekananda on Kali
How I used to hate Kali … and all Her ways! That was the ground of my six years’ fight—that I would not accept Her. But I had to accept Her at last! Ramakrishna Paramahamsa dedicated me to Her, and now I believe that She guides me in everything I do, and does with me what She will. … Yet I fought so long! I loved him, you see, and that was what held me. I saw his marvellous purity. … I felt his wonderful love. … His greatness had not dawned Read more »
Swami Vivekananda on the Mother
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 Read more »
Sri Ramakrishna on the Path of Devotion
Bhaktiyoga is the religion for this age. But that does not mean that the lover of God will reach one goal and the philosopher and worker another. It means that if a person seeks the Knowledge of Brahman he can attain It by following the path of bhakti, too. God, who loves His devotee, can give him the Knowledge of Brahman if He so desires. … By realizing the Divine Mother of the Universe, you will get Knowledge as well as Devotion. You will Read more »
Sri Ramakrishna on the Knowledge of the Absolute
The attainment of the Absolute is called the Knowledge of Brahman. But it is extremely difficult to acquire. One cannot acquire the Knowledge of Brahman unless he completely rids himself of his attachment to the world. When the Divine Mother was born as the daughter of King Himalaya, she showed her various forms to her father. The king said, “I want to see Brahman.” Thereupon the Divine Mother said: “Father, if that is your desire, then you Read more »