Shivbhave Jeevaseva

 Swami Vivekananda says true religion requires the transformation of one's entire life and that does not come without hard struggle and complete dedication. One can struggle against overwhelming difficulties if one has the confidence that ultimately one will succeed. Swami Vivekananda placed emphasis also upon physical strength. Many a noble idea bears no fruit because the vehicle is poor in health. With a weak body one easily develops morbid despondency which is a great obstacle to religious life. So he loudly declared that one will reach God more easily or quickly with strong muscles and nerves developed by playing football than through the study of the Gita.

One revolutionary deduction from the spiritual truth of the Divinity in man was that one could equally realize God through service to humanity as through prayer, meditation and temple worship. If God could be worshipped in a temple built of brick and mortar, God would be found much more in human forms. 'More minute than the minutest particle, infinitely bigger than the biggest thing, the Self is hidden in the cavity of man's heart.' says the Upanisad. So Swami Vivekananda said: Serve the poor, nurse the sick, give education to the uneducated that will be a better form of worship in the modern age.

Swami Vivekananda's this idea of religion mixed up with patriotism appealed the young generation.  Many young men were fired with this idea of serving the country. Many organized and joined even revolutionary movements to achieve political independence. It is interesting to note that several of the young men who joined the political movements at first, afterwards dedicated their lives completely to spiritual pursuits when their spiritual interests became deeper. This is a glaring example of how service to man leads to the service to God. Swami Vivekananda's love for India was a part of his religion, a phase of his love for humanity and according to his own words, the definition of God was the sum total of all beings.