QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 30

No force can be created; it can only be directed. Therefore, we must learn to control the grand powers that are already in our hands, and by will power make them spiritual, instead of animal. Thus it is clearly seen that chastity is the cornerstone of all morality and of all religions.

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 29

How has all the knowledge in the world been gained but the concentration of the powers of mind? The world is ready to give its secrets, if we only know how to knock, how to give it the necessary blow. The strength and force of the blow come through concentration. There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentration it is, the more power is brought to bean on one point; that is the secret.

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 28

The more this power of concentration, the more knowledge is acquired, because this is the one and only method of acquiring knowledge. Even the lowest shoeblack, if he gives more concentration, will black shoes better; the cook with concentration will cook a meal all the better. In making money, or in worshipping God, or in doing anything, the better
the power of concentration, the better will that thing be done. This is the one call, the one knock, which opens the gates of nature, and lets out the floods of light.

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 27

All the great prophets, saints, and the seers of the world – what did they do? In one span of life, they lived the whole life of humanity, traversed the whole length of time that it takes the ordinary humanity to come to perfection. In one life, they perfect themselves; they have no thought for anything else, never live a moment for any other idea, and thus the way is shortened for them. This is what is meant by concentration, intensifying the power of assimilation, thus shortening the time.

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 26

Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea alone. This is the way to success. ….. If we really want to be blessed, and make others blessed, we must go deeper.

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 25

Stand up and fight! Not one step, back, that is the idea. Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the spheres! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all Gods in the world. Has miseries ceased? ….The Gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight!

QUOTES FROM SWAMI VIVEKANANDA 24

Once when I was in Varanasi, I was passing through a place where there was a large tank of water on one side and high wall on the other. It was in the grounds where there were many monkeys. The monkeys of Varanasi are huge brutes and sometimes surly. They now took it into their heads not to allow me to pass through their street, so they howled and shrieked and clutched at my feet as I passed. As they pressed closer, I began to run, but the faster I ran, the faster came the monkeys, and they began to bite at me. It seemed impossible to escape, but just then I met a stranger who called to me, „Face the brutes‟. I turned and faced the monkeys, and they fell back and finally fled. That is the lesson for all life – face the terrible, face it boldly.