THE REAL NATURE OF MAN

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Posted by: " Uttishthata " uttishthata

Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:13 am (PST)

 

THE REAL NATURE OF MAN - Swami Vivekananda

 

What is the utility, the effect, the result, of this knowledge? In

these days, we have to measure everything by utility -- by how many

pounds, shillings, and pence it represents. What right has a person

to ask that truth should be judged by the standard of utility or

money? Suppose there is no utility, will it be less true? Utility is

not the test of truth. Nevertheless, there is the highest utility in

this. Happiness, we see, is what everyone is seeking for, but the

majority seek it in things which are evanescent and not real. No

happiness was ever found in the senses. There never was a person who

found happiness in the senses or in the enjoyment of the senses.

Happiness is only found in the Spirit. Therefore the highest utility

for mankind is to find this happiness in the Spirit.

 

The next point is that ignorance is the great mother of all misery,

and the fundamental ignorance is to think that the Infinite weeps

and cries, that He is finite. This is the basis of all ignorance

that we, the immortal, the ever pure, the perfect Spirit, think that

we are little minds, that we are little bodies; it is the mother of

all selfishness. As soon as I think that I am a little body, I want

to preserve it, to protect it, to keep it nice, at the expense of

other bodies; then you and I become separate. As soon as this idea

of separation comes, it opens the door to all mischief and leads to

all misery. This is the utility that if a very small fractional part

of human beings living today can put aside the idea of selfishness,

narrowness, and littleness, this earth will become a paradise

tomorrow; but with machines and improvements of material knowledge

only, it will never be. These only increase misery, as oil poured on

fire increase the flame all the more. Without the knowledge of the

Spirit, all material knowledge is only adding fuel to fire, only

giving into the hands of selfish man one more instrument to take

what belongs to others, to live upon the life of others, instead of

giving up his life for them.

 

To be continued..

 

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 2 [ Page : 83 ]

(Delivered in London)

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and

on our own feet.

- Swami Vivekananda