Swami Vivekananda: The Maker Of Lions!
A REALIZED SOUL
It really fills my heart with bliss that this part of the world originally hailed as Aryavrata, now known as Bharat (India), has always produced evolved souls, having the capacity to delve deep into the world of mysticism in effortless manner- a reason why this part of the land is viewed with great wonder by people living in the other part of the hemisphere. I often meet yogis/saints, witnessing many such mysterious phenomenon related with world of Yoga, but this feeling saddens me that, back in past, when great saints and spiritually advanced yogis, roamed on this land quite frequently, I wasn’t fortunate enough to be the part of that era! It’s interesting to note that these great souls played different roles as per need of the society. Some roamed in jungles, some lived in caves, some lived as householder, and some became part of mainstream affairs, even as they retained their ascetic robes, to shape the destiny of Bharat-the land of divine principles.
True, many fake Gurus, have turned religion into a most lucrative affair, but it remains ultimate truth that India is intrinsically wedded to yogic principles. This land, in absence of spiritual values, would not be able to survive. May be currents of time sometimes lead to clash of values, but this nation has the capacity to absorb contradictions and conflicts in easygoing way. Like myself, others too, would have not believed the glory of Indian spiritual world, had saints like Swami Vivekananda not appeared in the modern phase of civilization. His presence was certain sign of the fact that supreme consciousness was still in operation. Swami Vivekananda removed my doubt that great yogis were mainly confined to storybooks; that great tales of yogic feats were exaggerated description of imaginative minds. However, after reading life-sketch of, Sri Aurobindo, I became truly confirmed that people in league with extraordinary psychic powers, were not only part of ancient India but they were very much part of modern India as well.
However, today I wish to remain confined to world of Swami Vivekananda, since on this very day, 12 January, 1863, this Avatara of Lord Shiva, manifested on earthly plane. He was an extraordinary person in his lifetime but one who had normal childhood. He involved in naughty pranks like any other child of that age. However, the thing that separated him from others was that he frequently got absorbed in higher form of consciousness. As he grew up and took admission in college life, he was the one who loved to read various philosophies, roped in by great teachers in past. In other words, he remained hooked to intellectual plane alone! That was not the final destination of a great mind like him placed on route to realization. The Updesha Vakyas (Directive Statements) found in Upanishads were yet to culminate into Anubhuti Vakyas or Anubhava Vakyas ( realized truths).
A great truth of the world of spirituality is that a willing seeker or a qualified seeker soon comes to find a Guru (The Master). The same thing happened with Swami Vivekananda, when he met with Sri Ramakrishna. Naturally, that turned out to be life-defining moment for Swami Vivekananda. He soon emerged as a realized soul. In fact, he was always a realized soul and able Guru like Sri Ramakrishna merely ensured that ignorance inside him which made him see himself as ordinary mortal get vanished for forever. It’s interesting to note that in pre-Independence era, we had host of great spiritual souls, who ensured that India’s journey in future as independent nation takes place amid certain special values. The Western world, and we Indians too, remember him mainly because of his great speech at Parliament of the World’s Religions, delivered on 11 September 1893, in Chicago. Not many are aware of the fact that it wasn’t a smooth journey and there was lack of funds to sponsor this visit, and surprisingly, he was not allowed to participate in the conference because of lack of endorsement from a well known organisation. It was only after the intervention of Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University he got the chance to participate in this conference. Wright was so taken aback that he had to say: “To ask for your credentials is like asking the sun to state its right to shine in the heavens.”
Anyway, a soul of his stature, does not appear on earth for attainment of petty goals. He arrived to make supreme consciousness part of this land, which appears to be heart of the universe. If it stops functioning, the other civilizations are bound to collapse one after another. Although if one has a close look at the life of Swami Vivekananda, one would notice that he suffered life-long at the hands of mediocre minds but today when he is now no more in physical form, his own words have come true that real significance of his achievements would manifest after many years of his death. I must say that now when India is struggling hard to keep its ancient identity- the land of spirituality- intact, the words of Swami Vivekananda offer great solace, great strength. In other words, his thoughts and thoughts of other great minds are keeping at bay values antithetical to its spiritual essence. These great souls have now become active at subtle level, considering the way we have begun to realize that their thoughts alone could brighten our lives marred by ills of materialism.
It’s upon us that we either follow their way and emerge as an evolved being or ignore their wisdom to emerge as “dirty picture” of crass values. “All the powers in universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.” (Swami Vivekananda). Isn’t it the right thing to live life in light of these great values? Is there any merit in dying like a retarded lamb when you could have always roared like a lion? Let’s attempt for such huge transformation from this very moment.
Lion or Lamb? Choice is yours!
Pics Credit:
Remembering The True Representatives Of Youths: Swami Vivekananda, R D Burman And Neeraj
January is associated with this nation in a youthful way. On January 4, 1924 famous Hindi poet Gopal Das Neeraj was born. A wonderful Hindi poet who wrote in simple style soul stirring verses, which made him darling of the masses. On January 4, 1994 India’s one of the most talented music composers R D Burman left this planet earth to merge in supreme consciousness for forever.
Apart from these two great souls, I also wish to talk about Swami Vivekananda whose birth anniversary falls on January 12. That’s because there is a striking similarity between R D Burman and Swami Vivekananda. These both exceptional souls cared a lot for youths. Their vision and creative outburst were primarily aimed at changing the perceptions of Indian youths.
Swami Vivekananda used spirituality as medium to shape the lives of youth, to carve for them a balanced approach to deal with the complexities of life. He was a spiritual dynamo who surcharged the lives of youths with spiritual waves by introducing them to Vedantic concepts which until now were confined to the pages of scriptures.
R D Burman, on the other hands, explored Indian film music from newer angles. An original composer in the truest sense whose consciousness kept looking for unheard beats and sounds. He mixed the various shades of Indian music with the Western shades to prepare an amalgam that became hot favourite compositions for not only youths of his times but even youths of coming generations. Just visit any music shop you would definitely come to listen one of his compositions in a remixed form. In nutshell, these both gigantic souls turned out to a be big source of inspiration for youth world.
Even Gopal Das Neeraj’s poetry is full of symbols that are fresh, inspirational and unique from many angles. One of the reasons why his poetry struck a chord with the readers is that his verses came straight from the heart, which though used sensuality as a tool were aimed at creating a better space within an individual. Fortunately, he managed to makes his presence felt in Indian movie world which allowed him to unleash his creative energy for a wider circle of admirers.
Neeraj was also lucky in finding the company of greats like S D Burman ( father of R D Burman), Roshan and Shankar Jaikishan who prepared immortal tunes for verses flowing out of his pen. In nutshell, his simple verses which combined metaphysical elements and intimacy existing between man and woman in a lyrical form became part and parcel of ordinary masses.
Excerpts From Messages Of Swami Vivekananda Meant For Youths:
1.Rouse yourselves, therefore, or life is short. There are greater works to be done than aspiring to become lawyers and picking quarrels and such things. A far greater work is this sacrifice of yourselves for the benefit of your race, for the welfare of humanity.
2.Man is like an infinite spring, coiled up in a small box, and that spring is trying to unfold itself; and all the social phenomena that we see are the result of this trying to unfold.
3. Give up that awful disease that is creeping into our national blood , that idea of ridiculing everything, that loss of seriousness. Give that up. Be strong and have Shraddha (faith), and everything else is bound to follow.
4. Inspiration is not filtered out to the world through one channel, however great. Each generation should be inspired afresh.
5. Make your nerves strong. What we want is muscles of iron and nerves of steel. We have wept long enough. No more weeping, but stand on your feet and be men.
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Neeraj’s Great Inspirational Poem Dedicated To Youths And People Having Lost All Hopes:
This Hindi poem written by Hindi poet Neeraj has the capacity to instill confidence even in the most depressed souls. It’s must read for any youth who feels life’s game is now over. The youths are the one prone to losing all hopes all of a sudden. The moment examinations results are declared the sad news of bright and young souls committing suicide gets reported from across the nation. Career related disappointments or failure in love have also become frequent in our times.
The youths who are quick to fall in love are often unable to bear the jolts they receive in such mercurial relationships. Anyway, even a casual glance at this poem is enough to make any youth regain hopes in sustaining human life instead of extinguishing it in one go!!
छिप-छिप अश्रु बहाने वालो
मोती व्यर्थ लुटाने वालो
कुछ सपनों के मर जाने से
जीवन नहीं मरा करता है।
सपना क्या है, नयन सेज पर
सोया हुआ आंख का पानी
और टूटना है उसका ज्यों
जागे कच्ची नींद जवानी
गीली उमर बनाने वालो
डूबे बिना नहाने वालो
कुछ पानी के बह जाने से
सावन नहीं मरा करता है।
माला बिखर गयी तो क्या है
खुद ही हल हो गयी समस्या
आंसू गर नीलाम हुए तो
समझो पूरी हुई तपस्या
रुठे दिवस मनाने वालो
फटी कमीज सिलाने वालो
कुछ दीयों के बुझ जाने से
आंगन नहीं मरा करता है।
खोता कुछ भी नहीं यहां पर
केवल जिल्द बदलती पोथी
जैसे रात उतार चांदनी
पहने सुबह धूप की धोती
वस्त्र बदलकर आने वालो
चाल बदलकर जाने वालो
चंद खिलौनों के खोने से
बचपन नहीं मरा करता है।
कितनी बार गगरियाँ फूटीं
शिकन न आई पनघट पर
कितनी बार कश्तियाँ डूबीं
चहल-पहल वो ही है तट पर
तम की उमर बढ़ाने वालो! लौ की आयु घटाने वालो!
लाख करे पतझर कोशिश, पर उपवन नहीं मरा करता है।
लूट लिया माली ने उपवन
लुटी न लेकिन गंध फूल की
तूफ़ानों तक ने छेड़ा, पर
खिड़की बन्द न हुई धूल की
नफ़रत गले लगाने वालो! सब पर धूल उड़ाने वालो!
कुछ मुखड़ों की नाराजी से दर्पण नहीं मरा करता है॥
Translated Version:
To those who shed tears in hiding
Shedding tears in hiding,
Throwing away your gems,
Your life does not come to an end,
When unfulfilled remain some dreams.
What’s a dream? Water
Of sleeping eyes on lashes.
It breaks loose like
Rising from sleep of naive youths.
Passing your life in tears, taking your baths not drowning,
If some water flows out, monsoons do not come to an end.
So what if the garland’s beads got loose?
The problems get solved themselves.
When tears get to an auction,
Know that that your travails are over.
Passing your days in sorrows, getting your torn shirts stitched,
If some lamps die out, the terraces do not die out.
Nothing is lost here.
Only the book changes its covers.
Like the night shedding off moonlight,
Wears in the morning a skirt of sunlight.
Wearing different clothes, walking in different gaits,
If some toys are lost, childhood is not lost.
Water vessels broke a million times
But no sorrows prevail at shores
Boats drowned a million times
But same festivities go on at shores
Lengthening your happiness, shortening your grief,
If fall comes a million times, spring still does not die
Translation Source: EduAsharm4
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R D Burman’s Lesser Heard Compositions Which Are Still Hot-Favourite Among The Youths:
1. Mere sanam Tera Khat Mila Khat Me Tune Khat Likhne Ko Kaha
Movie: Palay Khan( 1986) ; Lyrics: Anand Bakshi; Singers: Lata and Suresh Wadekar
2. Aye Sagar Ki Laheron Hum Bhi Aate Hai Thehron
Movie: Samundar (1986); Lyrics: Anand Bakshi ; Singers: Kishore and Lata
3. Tu Chand Nagar Ki Shehzadi Mai Is Dharti Ka Banjaara
Movie: Duniya ( 1984) ; Singer: Kishore
4. Maine Tujhe Kabhi Kuch Keha Tha Jo Bhi Kaha Wo Kiya
Movie :Yeh Wada Raha ( 1982) ; Singers: Kishore and Asha
5. Roz Roz Aankhon Tale Ek Hi Sapna Chale
Movie: Jeeva ( 1986) ; Lyrics: Gulzar ; Singers: Amit Kumar and Asha Bhosle
References:
Quotes of Vivekananda Have Been Borrowed From “Great Sayings” Published By The Ramakrishna Mission Institute Of Culture, Calcutta.
“Thoughts Of Power” Published By Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta.
English Translation Of Neeraj’s Poem
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Sri Ramakrishna: A Real Master Who Can See God With Naked Eyes !
It’s beyond human intellect to comprehend in totality the attributes of a real Master. Why? Because to know Lord you have to become Lord. Sri Ramakrishna could undoubtedly be hailed as supreme incarnation of the Parabrahman. He is the perfect role model for the enthusiastic seekers who wish to merge their identity in Lord. Ramakrishna is regarded as the real Master by their disciples. While laying down the characteristic of qualified teacher Sri Aurbindo stated “The master is one who has risen to a higher consciousness and being and he is often regarded as its manifestation or representative. He not only helps by his teaching and still more by his influence and example, but by a power to communicate his own experience to others”
Sri Ramakrishna graced this divine land on February 18,1836 in a village named Kamarupkar. Ironically, the decent representatives of Lord always appear at times when the atmosphere is laden with confusion and chaos. As a matter of fact they are like gentle wind amidst the fury of demoniacal interests. Other than human garb, which they use as a mean to wonder among us like an ordinary soul, there is no other point of similarity, which allows to strike a bond with these rare souls.
Ramakrishna had a unique childhood. Even then he was in league with his “sublimity of his aim and the one-pointedness of his application to them”. Once the person who was chosen to play the part of Shiva in a play, named “Conversation between Shiva and Parvati”, was forced by the circumstance to withdraw his name at the last moment. Ramakrishna got the chance to provide colour to the role of Shiva on the stage. No need to mention that he transcended the human consciousness while playing the part and for next few hours remain lost in that particular mood. His childhood provides a glimpse into his bent of mind stuffed with extraordinary perceptions. Ideally, it allowed him to gain insight, which invariably shattered the illusions of this dreamy would.
In his village school, when others were busy in parroting the sterile instructions of the teacher, he toyed with ideal which was not normal by any standard in that age. “What purpose will it all serve-this hard study, this sitting up late at right, this rumination of the glosses and commentaries? Will this help me in attaining the truth? “Obviously, he did not wish to end up as ‘finished product’ much like his school teacher. He rebelled against this sort of teaching system which enabled man to sail in the ocean of materialism with ease. But in the process extracting a heavy price for teaching this art of deception. We are unconsciously turned into monsters that trample other human beings without any trace of remorse. It wouldn’t be out of place to observe that in our times the realistic education has come to mean the ability to laugh at the miseries of fellow beings and name it pragmatism.
One of the commonplace assumptions regarding the bent of mind of Indian saints is that they lack scientific temper. In other words, they just swallow the facts owing to their inability to discern them in rational ways. The reality is otherwise. Ramakrishna passionately followed all through life that “He shall accept anything as true only after having subjected it to close scrutiny. If it stands the test, I will reduce it to practice. And I shall not look down upon anything of the world if it is not demonstrably untrue”. This may be the reason why apparently antagonistic soul like Narendra could hardly resist from surrendering his dreams at his feet. This curious mixture of both these worlds-the earthly and the heavenly-created deep impression on Vivekananda’s mind who didn’t take much time to be the vehicle of his purpose. So much that he openly confessed that “Ever since our first meeting, it was the Master alone, and no one else, not even my own mother and brothers, who had uniform faith in me. That faith and that love of his have bound me to him forever. It was the master alone who knew how to love. He did love, while others only feign to love for the sake of their self-interest”.
How intimate was their relationship could be gauged from this hilarious incident. Once Ramakrishna offered the Hookah to Narendra. Perplexed looking Narendra could not turn down this strange offer. He stopped smoking after two or three puffs. The Master then took that Hookah and as he was about to smoke Narendra, stopped him to remind that he should first wash his hands and then carry out the smoking business. This infuriated Ramakrishna and what followed was display of ecstatic mood mired in uncontrollable anger-a familiar sight for Narendra having spent a long time with him. “You rascal, you are awfully conscious of differences” uttered Ramakrishna before gaining normalcy. The smoking session moved ahead with that very Hookah which Narendra had sealed with impunity with his lips.
In earlier year of Sadhana, the group comprising of Narendra, Kesava and others was greatly influenced by Western Philosophy. Narendra however, tried to counteract the charm of alien literature. Something so evident when he quotes Hamilton who felt that “where philosophy ends there religion begins.” It wasn’t easy for the Master to de-construct these minds shaped in convictions gathered from here and there. Even Master was bit worried about their flirtations with bogus reading material. “I hope he did not do so because some Western scholars had expressed that opinion.”
Under the influence of Western Philosophy Vevekanand held the opinion that God unknown and unknowable. Ramakrishna came to intuitively apprehend his dilemma regarding the true nature of Lord. He advised Narendra to seek the Lord’s grace which he said could result from sincere prayer offered from heart aching for Lord’s darshana. Such feelings when condensed in form of words may read like this “O God, I don’t know Thy nature, do Thou manifest Thyself to me as Thou really art”. Vivekananda, who earlier medicated on formless Brahman with attributes, decided to anticipate Lord in its real form. So he started praying “O Lord make me fit to see your real nature”.
What the Master wanted to convey through this episode was that the Lord couldn’t be governed by any particular belief. He has form and lo and behold formless as well. And thus Narendra bid adieu to doubts in this regard. Being now aware of His glory Swami Vivekananda suggests seekers to unite their heart and mind with the fountain of all bliss.” Seek for the Highest, aim at that Highest, and you shall reach the Highest.”
Sri Saradadevi, the divine consort of Sri Ramakrishna, also considered the Master ‘embodiment of bliss itself’. That is why she advised seekers to rely on Ramakrishna in order to remain above the pangs of worldliness. Vindicating the fact that Ramakrishna was not an ordinary soul she said, “Really and truly Sri Ramakrishna was God himself. He assumed this human body to remove the sorrows and sufferings of others”. According to the holy mother Ramakrishna played the part of both Maheswara and Maheswari. All through her life she translated into action the will of Master. Perhaps, she has known too well that Lord alone is the real and the world illusionary. It’s really hard nut to crack to cross the ocean of desires partially owning to seeker’s bent of mind but more largely because of Mahamaya’s mysterious designs. “A person may have no relative anywhere but Mahamaya may cause him to keep a cat and thus make him worldly. Such is her play”, observed mother in lighter vein. Unmistakably it may sound pessimistic had not she sent supreme souls to show us the way amidst drama of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. The moral of this whole story is that a soul must take refuge in these Mahatmas (super souls) if he truly wishes to strike an eternal bond with Lord. Such souls alone provide security blanket from the onslaught of worldly desires.
A man who is in sync with sincerity of his purpose finds himself sooner or later in company of the Lord. Let us never forget that real aim of the individual wondering on this planet is realization. Other than this all other concerns are bound to open the floodgate of misery. In this journey towards the Lord the company of godly souls acts as a catalyst. Our intrinsic nature compels us to return back to our source. It’s only matter of time when the restlessness to attain the Highest germinates in our heart. Indeed, the life goes in waste if it is not used as an instrument to establish perfect communion with the Lord. Finally, I would like to refer to statement of the Master, one surcharged with mystical undertone, which establishes his tie-up with the Lord – “All those who are living their final lives in the world will come here, and all those who have, even once, truly called on God cannot but come here.” Yes, it’s imperative for the seekers to honour those who share the platform with Lord.
Reference:
Literature Published By Ramakrishna Mission
Pic Credit:
Swami Vivekananda: A Great Visionary
The present age is passing through an age of confusion and disorder. There is war between various ideas and one is unable to decide what pattern of life one should adopt. When everything has failed to provide solace to our bleeding hearts there still remains a voice which has not lost its power of inspiration and which wakes us up from the deep slumber of ignorance. Though Vivekananda lived for a short period only,his ideas have nevertheless made him immortal.
On his birth anniversary let us attempt to be one with the essence of his ideals by trying to know what he dreamt for this nation. In Swami Vivekanand one finds the balanced proportion of all the traditional four yogas i.e. Karmayoga, Dhyanayoga, Bhaktiyoga and Gyanayoga all mingle to give rise to magnetism which his personality radiated. He was a visionary who laid the foundation of a spiritually vibrant India. Like every true saint he was worried over the neglect of common masses and was highly conscious of surroundings in which he lived.
He always worked for the causes of the poor and silently wept over the pain and trauma suffered by the down-trodden. He would feel deeply pained over the poor state of affairs prevalent in the country. His anguish could be visibly felt when he remarks”,The debt which the world owes to our motherland is immense. Taking country with country, there is not one race on this earth to which the world owes so much as to the patient Hindu, the mild Hindu.”
Today when there are symptoms of cultural and moral breakdown one needs to be in the company of Indian way of living. Vivekananda emphasizing the need of it said, ” To many Indian thought, Indian manners, Indian customs, Indian philosophy, Indian literature are repulsive at the first sight, but let them preserve, let them read, let them become familiar with the great principles underlying these ideas, and it is ninety-nine to one that the charm will come over them, and fascination will be the result. “ The problem which Indian society faces today could easily have been averted if only sincere application of the Indian values taken place. Our education system has given rise to ‘rotten beings’ who are doing more than producing anything of merit.
According to Vivekananda it was merely and entirely negative education being worse than death. The disadvantages in it are are of such a nature that all the good things do not surface up. It is not a man making institution but it merely stuffs the mind with unnecessary details not allowing the germination of the noble ideas and virtues in a man.
Swami Vivekananda had a soft corner for the women. He was of the firm opinion that women should be put in positions of power to solve their own problems in their own way. The welfare of the world is dependent on the improvement of the condition of the women. On this issue he remarked “, It is not possible for the bird to fly on one wing.” He was proud to belong to Hindu culture which had ” reverence for woman that is unmatched on the earth.”
Swami Vivekananda generated lot of dynamism in the youths .
It is a bare fact that it has always been youths who have brought revolutionary changes, leading to new order of things. In today’s scenario we find that they are divided on issues and their participation in national interests is minimal. They have been sidelined in from most of the issues related with interests of nation. We are a nation whose half of the population is comprised of youths but there are hardly strategies to tap their potential in honourable way. Vivekananda sought to prepare youths possessing ” muscles of of iron and nerves of steel”. He believed that hindered young men having strength , vigour and dynamism were capable of revolutionizing the society if they lived up to the truth of the Upanishads.
Vivekananda, believed to be the incarnation of Shiva, was entirely devoted to eternal truth which he finally realized and became one with it. Though he always invented practical rules concerned with phenomenal world yet essence of everything was ” realization of the eternal truth. On this particular issue he never entered into any compromise and was of the opinion that India has been able to retain its identity because it never lost sight of God. He believed that’ God alone lives. The soul alone lives. Spirituality alone lives.’ The nations which believe in it have always survived amid deep crisis. It sounds true when he says that what we need today is to know that there is God and that we can see and feel him here and now.
The life is short and vanities of the world are transient. So it would be better for us to take up one idea and make it our life in order to climb up the ladder of success. One is not aware of the fact that that it is only in this nation alone men of practical religion have born who successfully worked upon noble ideas. Let ” potentially divine souls” activate their unused energy and work for the betterment of our motherland. The seekers of truth should always remember that ‘love never fails my son ;today or tomorrow or ages after,truth will conquer ! Love shall win the victory.” The greatest tribute to Swami Vivekananda would be to honestly implement his ideals into our daily lives and be always in touch with eternal truth.
Reference: Literature Published By Ramakrishna Mission
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Unfolding The Vision Of Swami Vivekananda
Ours world is playhouse of conflicts in which future course of life is paved with unpredictable dilemmas. While most of us get crushed in the affairs of life some not only manage to save themselves from ironies of life but they also come up to play an active part in shaping the future of society. Swami Vivekananda, a spiritual giant who devoted his life for regeneration of India, explored and interpreted secrets of nature in a remarkable way. He unfolded the glory of Vedanta vis-à-vis efforts aimed at finding solutions of complex problems haunting India.
What a pity that Hinduism which is storehouse of principles formulated by the Rishis for upliftment of human soul has attained a dubious from in the land of its origin. Unlike our pseudo intellectual’s secular interpretation of Hindutva which has done more harm than good, Vivakananda in an unambiguous terms revealed his love for it. “If at present the word Hindu means anything bad, never mind; by out action let us be ready to show that this is the highest word that any language can invent. It has been one of the principles of my life not to be ashamed of my own ancestors.”
There will be few takers of it if I say politics in our county can never be kept away from religion.But Vivekananda feels the same way when he says, “It is not only true that the ideal of religion is the highest ideal; in the case of India it is the only possible means of work; work in any other line, without first strengthening this would be disastrous.” Elaborating it further he says, “But the Hindu can understand even politics when it is given thorough religion; sociology must come through religion, everything must come through religion.For that is the theme, the rest are the variations in the natural life.” I wonder how those will react who believe religion should be confined to private life alone.
Vivekanand was conscious of the potential of youths and its power to change the fate of nation if effectively brought in application. Sadly, an overall picture of today’s youth does not present an appealing image.Although they have made rapid progress in spheres at par with materialistic aspirations their inner beings, however, are ruled by monsters of modernity converting them into cold-blooded heartless souls averse to concerns of those around.George Eliot’s words are fitting remark on their state-of-affairs when he calls them ‘figure led with dull consent into insipid misdoing and shabby achievements.’ Still, thinkers like Vivekananda lay great hopes on them as they know well what wonders can youths create once ‘knowledge of self’ is aroused in them.
To bring transformation in youths it’s necessary that gulf which exists between their inner world and external world gets reduced to maximum.
To make it a reality mind and heart of an youth is to be moulded in ‘life building, man-making, character making ideas’ right from childhood.Massive overhauling of education system is all what is required if we want to see future generation loaded with divine attributes.What are divine attributes? Charity, self-control, fearlessness, freedom from envy and from the passion of honour are some of the few divine qualities mentioned by lord Krishna in chapter sixteen of Bhagavad-Geeta.
But if we observe messy state of education system one gets the feeling it wishes otherwise. Emotionally dead but efficient in articulating perceptions alien to our culture is the picture of present day students.Can you imagine a more grim situation than the above in a nation which boast of a rich cultural heritage?
Even though the situation is alarming pessimism won’t improve it either.Instead, let us restore our faith in our abilities and strengthen it further by pondering over truths of our scriptures.
“
Give up the awful disease that is seeping into our natural blood, that idea of ridiculing everything, that loss of seriousness. Give that up. Be strong and have shraddha (faith), and every thing else is bound to follow.
” Let these words of Vivekananda gets enshrined in our hearts forever.
Reference:
Literature Published By Ramakrishna Mission.
Pic Credit:
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