Today is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda

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Today is the birthday of Swami Vivekananda as per Gregorian calendar. Swami

Vivekananda

 

was born on January 12, 1863.

 

 

He who gives man spiritual knowledge is the greatest benefactor of mankind and

as such we

 

always find that those were the most powerful of men who helped man in his

spiritual needs,

 

because spirituality is the true basis of all our activities in life. . .

 

 

Next to spiritual comes intellectual help. The gift of knowledge is a far higher

gift than that of

 

food and clothes; it is even higher than giving life to a man, because the real

life of man

 

consists of knowledge. Ignorance is death, knowledge is life. Life is of very

little value, if it is a

 

life in the dark, groping through ignorance and misery.

 

 

Next in order comes, of course, helping a man physically. Therefore, in

considering the question

 

of helping others, we must always strive not to commit the mistake of thinking

that physical

 

help is the only help that can be given. It is not only the last but the least,

because it cannot bring about permanent satisfaction.

 

The misery that I feel when I am hungry is satisfied by eating, but hunger

returns; my misery

 

can cease only when I am satisfied beyond all want. Then hunger will not make me

miserable;

 

no distress, no sorrow will be able to move me. So, that help which tends to

make us strong spiritually is the highest, next to it comes intellectual help,

and after that physical help.

 

~Swami Vivekananda

 

Swami Vivekananda Inspirational Quotes and Teachings

 

We should cultivate the optimistic temperament, and endeavor to see the good

that dwells in

 

everything. If we sit down and lament over the imperfection of our bodies and

minds, we profit nothing; it is the heroic endeavor to subdue adverse

circumstances that carries our spirit upwards. The object of life is to learn

the laws of spiritual progress.

 

As the tortoise tucks its feet and head inside the shell, and you may kill it

and break it in pieces, and yet it will not come out, even so the character of

that man who has control over his

motives and organs is unchangeably established. He controls his own inner

forces, and nothing can draw them out against his will. . . Such a man is safe

forever; he cannot do any evil. You may place him in any company, there will be

no danger for him.

~Swami Vivekananda

 

Numerous programs are organized in India and in several countries around the

world on the day. Majority of the programs in India is conducted by the Sri

Ramakrishna Mission.

Saints of Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) never sought blind followers. Their sole

aim was to initiate a discussion on a particular topic. They wanted each

individual to arrive at a conclusion through a healthy debate. They wanted each

individual to realize his/her potential. Swami Vivekananda was one such modern

saint who kindled the passion of enquiry in the mind of people.