Page 315 - Hinduism

Swami Vivekananda
• It is Raja Yoga alone that can successfully lead a man up to the highest level of approach - Swami Vivekananda (SS 134)
• “Religion is not in books, nor in theories, nor in dogmas, nor in talking, not even in reasoning. It is being and becoming."
• "I do not believe in a God or religion which cannot wipe the widow's tears or bring a piece of bread to the orphan's mouth."
• "Infinite power and existence and blessedness are ours, and we have not to acquire them; they are our own, and we have only to manifest them."
• "He who has no faith in himself can never have faith in God."
• "Be an atheist if you want, but do not believe in anything unquestioningly."
• "The living God is within you."
• "He alone is worshiping God who serves all
beings."
• To study the origin of the Vedanta movement in
America is to study Swami Vivekananda and his travels across the US. We like to put the spotlight on him since his message about self-effort, strength, and freedom of the soul is especially favored by the Western mind. But who was he? What was the magic in his message that made him so popular in America and his homeland of India? We shall only attempt a brief sketch here.
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