GURU PURNIMA.

THE DAY DEVOTEDLY FULLY OFFERED IN THE FEET OF SPIRITUAL TEACHER_THE GURU.

               

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA__OUR LORD GURU__GREAT GURU OF MY GURU.                

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA __ AN YODDHA SANYASI                    A WARRIOR MONK.

"Our love for India came to birth, I think when we first heard him_ Swami vivekanandaji, say the word, 'India/Bharat', in that marvelous 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 has the magic power of creating love in those who heard it. Ever after, India became the land of heart's desire. Everything concerning her became of interest_ became loving_ her people, her history, architecture, her manners and custom, her rivers, mountains, plains, her culture, her great spiritual concept, her scriptures. And so began a new, a life of study, of meditation. The center of interest was shifted.

                                                                    --------  SISRTER CHIRISTINE.

"SWAMI VIVEKANANDA saved hinduism and saved India, But for him we would lost our religion and would not have gained our freedom. We therefore owe everything to Swami Vivekananda.May his faith , his courage and his wisdom ever inspire us so that we may keep safe the treasure we have recieved from him".

                                                                    ---------  C. RAJGOPALACHARI.

"We are today at a critical period not merely in the history of our country but in the history of the world. There are many people who think we are in the edge of an abyss. There is distortion of values, there is a lowering of standards, there is a widespread escapism, a good deal of mass hysteria, and people think of it and collapse in despair, frustration, hopelessness. There are the only thing which are open to us. Such a kind of lack of faith in the spirit of man is a treason to the dignity of man. It is an insult to human nature. It is human nature that has brought about all the great changes that have taken place in this world. And if there is any call which Vivekananda made to us, it is to rely on our own spiritual resources.... Man has inexhaustible spiritual resources. His spirit is supreme, man is unique. There is nothing inevitable in this world and we can ward off the worst dangers and worst disabilities by which we are faced. Only we should not lose hope. He gave us fortitude in suffering, he gave us hope in distress, he gave us courage in despair. He told us : ' Do not be led away by the appearances. Deep down there is a providential will, there is a purpose in this universe. You must try to cooperate with that purpose and try to achieve it."

                                                                    _________ S.RADHAKRISHNAN.

"Vivekananda not only made us conscious of our strength, he also pointed out our defects and drawbacks... India was then steeped in tamas (ignorance and unwisdom) and mistook weakness for non-attachment and peace. That is why Vivekanada went so far as to say that criminality was preferable to lethargy and indolence. He made people conscious of the tamasika state they were in, of the need to break out of it and stand erect so that they might realize in their own lives the power of the Vedanta. Speaking of those who enjoyed the luxury of studying philosophy and the scriptures in the smugness of their retired life, he said football-playing was better than that type of indulgence. Through a series of obiter dicta, he rehabilitated the prestige of India's soul force and pointed out to the tamoguna(unwisdom) that had eclipsed her. He taught us : ' The same soul resides in each and all. If you are convinced of this, it is your duty to treat all as brothers and serve mankind.' People were inclined to hold that, though all had equal right to the tattvajnana (Knowledge of the spirit), the difference of high and low should be maintained in the day-to-day dealings and relations. Swamiji made us to see the truth that tattvajnana, which had no place in our everyday relationship  with our fellow beings, and in our activities was useless and inane. He, therefore, advised us to dedicate ourselves to the service of daridranarayana (God manifested in the hungry, destitute millions) to their uplift and edification. The word daridranarayana was coined by Vivekananda and popularized by Gandhiji."

                                                                   -------    VINOBA BHAVE