HINTS ON PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY.20 - Swami Vivekananda.

-


12/11/2017.
(Delivered at the Home of Truth, Los Angeles, California )

The great error in all ethical systems, without exception, has been the failure of teaching the means by which man could refrain from doing evil. All the systems of ethics teach, "Do not steal!" Very good; but why does a man steal? Because all stealing, robbing, and other evil actions, as a rule, have become automatic.

The systematic robber, thief, liar, unjust man and woman, are all these in spite of themselves! It is really a tremendous psychological problem. We should look upon man in the most charitable light. It is not so easy to be good. What are you but mere machines until you are free?

Should you be proud because you are good? Certainly not. You are good because you cannot help it. Another is bad because he cannot help it. If you were in his position, who knows what you would have been? The woman in the street, or the thief in the jail, is the Christ that is being sacrificed that you may be a good man. Such is the law of balance.

All the thieves and the murderers, all the unjust, the weakest, the wickedest, the devils, they all are my Christ! I owe a worship to the God Christ and to the demon Christ! That is my doctrine, I cannot help it. My salutation goes to the feet of the good, the saintly, and to the feet of the wicked and the devilish!

They are all my teachers, all are my spiritual fathers, all are my Saviours. I may curse one and yet benefit by his failings; I may bless another and benefit by his good

This is as true as that I stand here. I have to sneer at the woman walking in the street, because society wants it! She, my Saviour, she, whose street-walking is the cause of the chastity of other women! Think of that.

Think, men and women, of this question in your mind. It is a truth — a bare, bold truth! As I see more of the world, see more of men and women, this conviction grows stronger. Whom shall I blame? Whom shall I praise? Both sides of the shield must be seen.

To be continued ...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sri Sarada Devi Stotram : ~ Prakritim Paramam ~

-
Image
Few days back:-observed the Jayanthi of Swami Abhedanandaji, one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Prakritim paramam abhayam varadam, Nararupa-dharam janatapa-haram, Sharana-gata sevaka-toshakarim, Pranamami param jananim jagatam ||1|| Gunahina-sutanaparadha-yutan, Kripayadya samuddhara moha-gatan, Taranim bhava-sagara parakarim, Pranamami param jananim jagatam ||2|| Vishayam kusumam parihritya sada, Charanam buruhamrita shanti-sudham, Piba bhringa-mano bhavaroga-haram, Pranamami param jananim jagatam ||3|| Kripam kuru mahadevi suteshu pranateshu cha Charana-shraya danena kripa-mayi namo'stu te. Lajja-patavrite nityam sarade jnana-dayike Papebhyo nah sada raksha kripa-mayi namo'stu te ||4|| Ramakrishna-gata pranam tannama-shravana-priyam Tadbhava-ranjita-karam pranamami muhurmuhuh Pavitram charitam yasyah pavitram jivanam tatha Pavitrata-svarupinyai tasyai kurmo namo namah ||5|| Devim prasannam pranatarti-hantrim, Yo...
Read more

Dr. S. RADHAKRISHNAN’S EDUCATIONAL IDEAS :

-
Image
1. INTRODUCTION :             Education is a special discipline and theory and practice of education deserves to receive a special attention. According to Sathya Sai Baba, “An education system in country is a bank on which the people can draw a cheque for the upliftment of the society”. The organization of such a bank needs to be solemnised and progressive. It is only the contribution of great thinkers in the field of education can guide the planners to have this organization on sound footings. We in India have an ideal educational system in ancient time. It worked well for the society of that time. In such a system there were some basic principles and postulates some ideals, rules and regulations which we have implemented in the right earnest in ideal educational situations.             Great thinkers of contemporary India have given their verdict on the basic principles as well as needed reflections. One of the m...
Read more

AWAKENED CITIZEN PROGRAM :

-
Image
A New Approach to Value Education :- “We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one’s own feet." - Swami Vivekananda Vision : A Nation Filled with Awakened Citizens Our vision is of a nation where every school is a centre for awakening the future citizens of India who will take up the massive work of nation building and channelizing the human potential for the welfare of all. These citizens will be awake to: 1. their infinite potential 2. the intrinsic oneness and equality among all human beings 3. their expanded and enriched role in the world around them A. Framework Underlying the Program : Each one of us, carries within, an infinite source of power, strength and goodness. This power and strength can be felt, every time we say "I can". This infinite power gets manifested as various possibilities. The more we consciously develop or manif...
Read more