National Youth Day: Swami Vivekananda Still Influence Our Lives

BENGALURU: If you think Shashi Tharoor’s speech about India and Kohinoor glorified the country to the world, then wrong thoughts. Much before, in fact decades ago, Swami Vivekananda made India, a prominent name to the world with his famous speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago in 1893.

As a tribute to Swamiji, his birthday 12^th January is observed as National Youth Day by the Government of India. Ramakrishna Math, NGOs and several other associations celebrate the day with much enthusiasm.

On the same occasion, here is a special report paying respect to the religious philosopher and also how he remains an icon to the modern generation, reports India Times.

Swamiji on religion

Swamiji believed in power and is also a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, but he was never superstitious. Indeed, a modern outlook in the 19^th century. According to Swamiji, “The greatest religion is to be true to your own nature. Have faith in yourselves.” 
Swamiji’s interpretation about religion being complementary to science and contradictory at the same time is still a matter of concern for modern philosophers.

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Swami-ji on love

Go through a blog, browse the internet or read a book- love quotes are too easy to get. The discussion about love is quite common now. Swamiji did the same at his era. Swamiji considered love is the core of his preaching. He mentioned, “It is love and love alone that I preach, and I base my teaching on the great Vedantic truth of the sameness and omnipresence of the Soul of the Universe.”

Swami-ji on tolerance and feeling

Countries, nations and noted scholars continue debating on tolerance till date. Swami Vivekananda defined tolerance as ‘You may talk doctrines by the millions, you may have sects by the hundreds of millions; but it is nothing, until you have the heart to feel. Feel for them as your Veda teaches you, till you find they are parts of your own bodies, till you realize that you and they, the poor and the rich, the saint and the sinner, are all parts of One Infinite Whole, which you call Brahman.’

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Be not afraid

If looked at Swamiji life and quotes, you will find an inspirational factor at every point. Sometimes you can look upto him as a friend, at times as a mentor or even as father. As father his popular quotes is ‘Be not afraid, my children. Look not up in that attitude of fear towards that infinite starry vault as if it would crush you. Money does not pay, nor name; fame does not pay, nor learning. It is love that pays; it is character that cleaves its way through adamantine walls of difficulties.’

Swami-ji on politics

When the world continues to go gross on politics and fight over it, the Indian monk also played a dominant role as a reformer during the Indian National Movement. Living in an era of British ruled India, he told “India is no longer a political power; it is an enslaved race”.

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