24 January :
24 Jan 1897 : Swami Vivekananda in Jaffana, Sri Lanka -
24 Jan 1896 : Swami Vivekananda writes to Swami Yogananda - We would do
nothing ourselves and would scoff at others who try to do something —
this is the bane that has brought about our downfall as a nation. Want
of sympathy and lack of energy are at the root of all misery, and you
must therefore give these two up. Who but the Lord
knows what potentialities there are in particular individuals — let all
have opportunities, and leave the rest to the Lord. It is indeed very
difficult to have an equal love for all, but without it there is no
Mukti.
24 Jan 1894 - Letter to Madras disciples - My idea is to
bring to the door of the meanest, the poorest, the noble ideas that the
human race has developed both in and out of India, and let them think
for themselves. ...My whole ambition in life is to set in motion a
machinery which will bring noble ideas to the door of everybody, and
then let men and women settle their own fate. Let them know what our
forefathers as well as other nations have thought on the most momentous
questions of life. Let them see specially what others are doing now, and
then decide. We are to put the chemicals together, the crystallization
will be done by nature according to her laws. Work hard, be steady, and
have faith in the Lord. Set to work, I am coming sooner or later. Keep
the motto before you — "Elevation of the masses without injuring their
religion". ....Remember that the nation lives in the cottage...Can you
raise them? Can you give them back their lost individuality without
making them lose their innate spiritual nature? Can you become an
occidental of occidentals in your spirit of equality, freedom, work, and
energy, and at the same time a Hindu to the very backbone in religious
culture and instincts? This is to be done and we will do it. You are all
born to do it. Have faith in yourselves, great convictions are the
mothers of great deeds. Onward for ever! Sympathy for the poor, the
downtrodden, even unto death — this is our motto.
Onward, brave lads!
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