Swami Vivekananda says we need to possess three things if we wish to be a true reformer

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If you wish to be a true reformer, you must possess three things.

 

The first is to feel. Do you really feel for your brothers? Do you really feel

that there is so much misery in the world, so much ignorance and superstition?

Do you really feel that all men are your brothers? Does this idea permeate your

whole being? Does it run in your blood? Does it tingle in your veins? Does it

course through every nerve and filament of your body? Are you full of that idea

of sympathy? If you are, that is only the first step.

 

Next you must ask yourself if you have found any remedy. The old ideas may be

all superstition, but in and around these masses of superstition are nuggets of

truth. Have you discovered means by which to keep that truth alone, without any

of the dross? If you have done that, that is only the second step; one more

thing is necessary. What is your motive? Are you sure that you are not actuated

by greed for gold, by thirst for fame or power? Are you really sure that you can

stand for your ideals and work on, even if the whole world wants to crush you

down?Are you sure that you know what you want and will

perform your duty, and that alone, even if your life is at stake? Are you sure

that you will persevere so long as life endures, so long as there is one

pulsation left in the heart?

 

Then you are a real reformer, you are a teacher, a master, a blessing to

mankind.

 

But man is so impatient, so shortsighted! He has not the patience to wait, he

has not the power to see. He wants to rule, he wants results immediately. Why?

He wants to reap the fruits himself and does not really care for others. Duty

for duty’s sake is not what he wants. “To work you have the right, but not to

the fruits thereof,” says Krishna. Why cling to results? Ours is to do our

duties. Let the fruits take care of themselves. But man has no patience; he

takes up any scheme that will produce quick results; and the majority of

reformers all over the world can be classed under this heading.

 

Source: http://www.ramakrishna.org/activities/message/weekly_message14.htm

 

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Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya

Prasanth Jalasutram

 

Love And Love Alone