'Our love for India came to birth,I think, when we first heard him (Swami Vivekananda) say the word,"India", in that marvellous voice of his. It seems incredible that so much could have been put into one small word of five letters. There was love, passion, pride, longing, adoration,tragedy,chivalry,heimweh, and again love. Whole volumes could not have produced such a feeling in others. It had the magic power of creating love in those who heard it. Even after, India became the land of heart's desire. Everything concerning her became if interest-- became living--her people, her history,architecture,her manners and customs,her rivers, mountains, plains, her culture, her great spiritual concepts, her scriptures. And so culture, her great spiritual concepts, her scriptures. And so began a new life, a life of study,of meditation. The centre of interest was shifted.'
"Arise Awake and Stop not til the goal is reached"
Vivekananda left a body of philosophical works (see Vivekananda's complete works). His books (compiled from lectures given around the world) on the four Yogas (Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga) are very influential and still seen as fundamental texts for anyone interested in the Hindu practice of Yoga. His letters are of great literary and spiritual value. He was also considered a very good singer and a poet.By the time of his death, He had composed many songs including his favorite Kali the Mother. He used humor for his teachings and was also an excellent cook. His language is very free flowing. His own Bengali writings stand testimony to the fact that he believed that words - spoken or written - should be for making things easier to understand rather than show off the speaker or writer's knowledge.
Swami Vivekananda [ স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ ] (1863 – 1902), born Narendranath Datta, was an Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, author, religious teacher, and the chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna. He was a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, and bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion.
Born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)
The best thing ever happened to me is reading this book!!
As the very first line said about Swami Vivekananda,"young in years but eternal in wisdom" shows his nature and India is the queen of his adoration, shows his love to his motherland!! His philosophy is as deep as an ocean and as bright as the sun!!
The book tells us what happened in the past, what is happening in present and what swami wishes/visions to happen in future. It also shows the duty of the younger citizens and the path to be followed.
I recommend to everyone,not only for indians, but also for all who wants to see their country's glory
" The infinite library of the universe is in your mind"
This is my first ever book on Swami Vivekananda. I knew him as a great man only by the name until I read this book. This book can be divided into three major parts. First, where Swami Ji gave his views on self-development or rather 'Man-Making'. He said to put our ideals high and work hard to achieve the goal with emphasis on not to leave morals and compassion behind. He discussed how education should be to achieve the goal of man-making.
" We want the education by which character is formed, the strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and by which one stands on one's own feet."
Secondly, he discussed India. As reading through his views, Rabindranath Tagore had views similar to his. They both wanted to combine material prosperity of West with deep moral sensitivity of East. They did not shy away from criticizing India, where India is wrong as a society. Swami Ji's understanding and views on various subjects is ahead of its time and still hold relevance today. The one particular view which stuck with me most is the 'empowerment of the masses'. He considered "neglect of masses as national sin". If he criticized something, he provided solutions for a way out too.
Lastly, the book had some life events of Swami Vivekananda's life. Through these short biographies, one can observe he 'preached what he practiced'. This book is worth many read!
ധീരവും ധൈഷണികവുമായാ നിലപാടുകളും ആശയങ്ങളുമാണ് പുതിയ ഇന്ത്യയുടെ അസ്ഥിവാരമെന്ന് സ്വാമിവിവേകാനന്ദൻ പറയുന്നു. ഇന്ത്യയുടെ നല്ല വശങ്ങൾ ഏതൊക്കെയാണെന്നും എവിടെയൊക്കെ ഇനി നമ്മൾ മുന്നോട്ടു പോകാനുണ്ടെന്നും വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു. മതത്തിനു കൂടുതൽ ഊന്നൽ കൊടുത്തിട്ടുള്ള രചന ആയതുകൊണ്ട് വായനാ സുഖം അല്പം കുറവാണ്.
"My India: The India Eternal" is a powerful and thought-provoking book written by the renowned spiritual leader, Swami Vivekananda. In this book, the author delves deep into the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India, and presents a compelling argument for why India's ancient wisdom and traditions are still relevant today!
The book begins by providing a historical overview of India, highlighting the various invasions, colonizations, and other challenges that the country has faced over the centuries. Despite these challenges, the author argues, India has managed to maintain its unique spiritual identity, which is deeply rooted in its ancient traditions and customs.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is the way in which the author presents India's spiritual and philosophical traditions. He explains how these traditions have shaped the Indian worldview, and how they continue to inform the lives of millions of Indians today. For example, he explains how the principles of karma, dharma, and moksha have influenced the way in which Indians understand the world around them, and how these principles continue to shape their actions and decisions.
Another key theme that the author explores is the importance of tolerance and acceptance in Indian society. He argues that India's ability to accept and embrace different cultures and religions has been one of its greatest strengths, and has helped to create a society that is rich and diverse. He also touches on the topic of caste system and how it is not in line with the true teachings of ancient Indian philosophy.
Throughout the book, the author provides many examples and anecdotes that help to illustrate his points, making the book an engaging and easy read. He also draws upon a wide range of sources, including the ancient texts, the epics, and the writings of other spiritual leaders and thinkers, which lends credibility to his arguments.
One of the most compelling arguments that the author makes is that India's spiritual heritage is not only relevant for Indians, but for people all over the world. He argues that the wisdom and teachings of India's ancient traditions can help to guide people in their search for meaning and purpose in life, and can help to create a more harmonious and peaceful world.
Overall, "My India: The India Eternal" is a deeply insightful and thought-provoking book that provides a powerful and compelling argument for why India's ancient spiritual traditions are still relevant today. It is a must-read for anyone interested in India's culture, history, and spiritual heritage. The book is a great reminder of the deep wisdom and insight that can be found in India's ancient traditions and it also highlights the need for India to move beyond its caste system and embrace true spiritual teachings. Swami Vivekananda's writing is simple yet profound and the book is a great addition to any spiritual or philosophical library!
My broad view of India was very much limited to knowing its history most of which I read in schools. But a view from the eyes of a warrior monk did guided the soul for a view of real India. That morality, that courage, that burning desire to serve India and humanity as a whole can only be derived from the works of Swami Vivekananda. This is the book which must be made compulsory in all the curriculums of every school system in India. Part by part, so that everyone respite belonging to any class of society will learn to respect and value our motherland before anything else. This book is a vision of immortal and eternal greatness of India, a must read for everyone who ever writes Indian in their nationality.
Very seldom do you cross stuff that makes you contemplate deep on every line that is written. A great starting book if you wish to explore the Vedanta school of thought. Hits you with a tide of positive thoughts. However, the editing and compilation is a bit off track. Some paragraphs are repeated under different headers.
Timeless wisdom from one of the makers of modern India. This is one of the most inspiring spiritual books one will ever read! Swami Vivekananda's comments on Education and Religion, inter- alia, are soul stirring. A must- read!