"How much am I ready to give for the country?"; "How much of my time, money and energy is for my people?" To the people who dwell on the impossibility of the task or constantly criticise how hopeless the situation or the people are, Swami Vivekananda wrote passionately,
Yet it is only through the present state of things that it is possible to proceed to work. There is no other way. Every one has the power to judge of good and evil, but he is the hero who is undaunted by the waves of Samsara —which is full of errors, delusions, and miseries —with one hand wipes the tears, and with the other, unshaken, shows the path of deliverance. …I heard in Japan that it was the belief of the girls of that country that their dolls would be animated if they were loved with all their heart. The Japanese girl never breaks her doll. O you of great fortune! I too believe that India will awake again if anyone could love with all his heart the people of the country —bereft of the grace of affluence, of blasted fortune, their discretion totally lost, downtrodden, everstarved, quarrelsome, and envious. Then only will India awake, when hundreds of large - hearted men and women, giving up all desires of enjoying the luxuries of life, will long and exert themselves to their utmost for the well - being of the millions of their countrymen who are gradually sinking lower and lower in the vortex of destitution and ignorance. I have experienced even in my insignificant life that good motives, sincerity, and infinite love can conquer the world. One single soul possessed of these virtues can destroy the dark designs of millions of hypocrites and brutes. (CWSV -V-127)
Yet it is only through the present state of things that it is possible to proceed to work. There is no other way. Every one has the power to judge of good and evil, but he is the hero who is undaunted by the waves of Samsara —which is full of errors, delusions, and miseries —with one hand wipes the tears, and with the other, unshaken, shows the path of deliverance. …I heard in Japan that it was the belief of the girls of that country that their dolls would be animated if they were loved with all their heart. The Japanese girl never breaks her doll. O you of great fortune! I too believe that India will awake again if anyone could love with all his heart the people of the country —bereft of the grace of affluence, of blasted fortune, their discretion totally lost, downtrodden, everstarved, quarrelsome, and envious. Then only will India awake, when hundreds of large - hearted men and women, giving up all desires of enjoying the luxuries of life, will long and exert themselves to their utmost for the well - being of the millions of their countrymen who are gradually sinking lower and lower in the vortex of destitution and ignorance. I have experienced even in my insignificant life that good motives, sincerity, and infinite love can conquer the world. One single soul possessed of these virtues can destroy the dark designs of millions of hypocrites and brutes. (CWSV -V-127)
No comments:
Post a Comment