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Vivekananda Writes to You
This book contains some gems from letters of Swami Vivekananda collected mainly from the voluminous book 'Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'
48 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2010
30 people want to read
About the author
Vivekananda
1,667 books1,586 followers"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)
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)
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August 21, 2025
I got this book when I was visiting Belur Math and Dakshineswar; two places deeply connected with Swami Vivekananda’s life and teachings. Holding it in my hands already felt special, but reading it was like sitting with a mentor who speaks directly to you. Every line felt personal as if he already knew my struggles and was gently reminding me of the path I should be on. Everything he told, I knew deep inside. Yet, hearing it again was like a much-needed nudge to stay aligned with the values that truly matter.
Sometimes we grow tired of trying to be a good person all the time. At those moments, books like this become healers to the soul, reminding us that goodness is not just a choice, it’s the base of humanity.
The book is filled with powerful reminders such as:
🎇 I am a socialist, not because I think it is a perfect system, but half a loaf is better than no bread.
🎇 Work, work, work—I care for nothing else. Work, work, work, even unto death.
🎇 Expansion is the sign of life and we must spread over the world with our spiritual ideas.
🎇 Some people do the best work when led.
Not every one is born to lead. The best leader, however, is one who leads like the baby. The baby, though apparently depending on every one, is the king of the household.
A leader must be impersonal.
🎇 Both attachment and detachment perfectly developed make a man great and happy.
🎇 Whatever is truth will remain for ever; whatever not, none can preserve.
🎇 Do not be anxious, do not be in a hurry. Slow, persistent and silent work does everything.
🎇 Perfect life is a contradiction in terms.
🎇 No need of looking behind, FORWARD! We want infinite energy, infinite zeal, infinite courage and infinite patience; then only will great things be achieved.”
Its tone is firm yet kind, urging us to keep moving forward no matter how hard life gets. It’s not just a book you read ; it’s a conversation, a quiet push, and a reaffirmation of why being good matters.
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