THE REAL NATURE OF MAN

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Posted by: " Uttishthata " uttishthata

Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:00 pm (PST)

 

THE REAL NATURE OF MAN - Swami Vivekananda

 

Continued from the pervious posting: http://groups. /

group/Uttishthat a/message/ 1995

 

Is it practical?-- is another question. Can it be practised in

modern society? Truth does not pay homage to any society, ancient or

modern. Society has to pay homage to Truth or die. Societies should

be moulded upon truth, and truth has not to adjust itself to

society. If such a noble truth as unselfishness cannot be practised

in society, it is better for man to give up society and go into the

forest. That is the daring man. There are two sorts of courage. One

is the courage of facing the cannon. And the other is the courage of

spiritual conviction. An Emperor who invaded India was told by his

teacher to go and see some of the sages there. After a long search

for one, he found a very old man sitting on a block of stone. The

Emperor talked with him a little and became very impressed by his

wisdom. He asked the sage to go to his country with him. " No, " said

the sage, " I am quite satisfied with my forest here. " Said the

Emperor, " I will give you money, position, wealth. I am the Emperor

of the world. " " No, " replied the man. " I don't care for those

things. " The Emperor replied, " If you do not go, I will kill you. "

The man smiled serenely and said, " That is the most foolish thing

you have ever said, Emperor. You cannot kill me. Me the sun cannot

dry, fire cannot burn, sword cannot kill, for I am the birthless,

the deathless, the ever-living omnipotent, omnipresent Spirit. " This

is spiritual boldness, while the other is the courage of a lion or a

tiger. In the Mutiny of 1857 there was a Swami, a very great soul,

whom a Mohammedan mutineer stabbed severely. The Hindu mutineers

caught and brought the man to the Swami, offering to kill him. But

the Swami looked up calmly and said, " My brother, thou art He, thou

art He! " and expired. This is another instance. What good is it to

talk of the strength of your muscles, of the superiority of your

Western institutions, if you cannot make Truth square with your

society, if you cannot build up a society into which the highest

Truth will fit? What is the good of this boastful talk about your

grandeur and greatness, if you stand up and say, " This courage is

not practical. " Is nothing practical but pounds, shillings, and

pence? If so, why boast of your society? That society is the

greatest, where the highest truths become practical. That is my

opinion; and if society is not fit for the highest truths, make it

so; and the sooner, the better. Stand up, men and women, in this

spirit, dare to believe in the Truth, dare to practise the Truth!

The world requires a few hundred bold men and women. Practise that

boldness which dares know the Truth, which dares show the Truth in

life, which does not quake before death, nay, welcomes death, makes

a man know that he is the Spirit, that, in the whole universe,

nothing can kill him. Then you will be free. Then you will know your

real Soul. " This Atman is first to be heard, then thought about and

then meditated upon. "

 

To be continued..

 

The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda Volume 2 [ Page : 84 ]

(Delivered in London)

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QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Have faith in Guru, in his teachings, and in the surety that you can

get free. Think day and night that this universe is zero, only God

is. Have intense desire to get free.

- Swami Vivekananda