Why Swami Vivekananda wants us to see Shiva in the poor and weak?

“He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary.”

• Swami Vivekananda

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The above quote by Swami Vivekananda is just one sentence long but it says a lot. What he is trying to say is that visiting temples and worshiping the God in it is all fine. Nothing wrong in it. But it is of no use if we don’t see God in the poor, weak, diseases, distressed, helpless, etc. It is our foremost duty to serve them and ensure that their life becomes better.

In other words, he means that there is nothing wrong in building devotional places and going there for pilgrimage. But if you are not moved by the horrible plight of the poor, downtrodden, etc, and are doing nothing for them, your worship is incomplete.

Swami Vivekananda’s sayings are more than a century old, but they are more relevant in today’s era. The same can be said about this quote as well. We see countless number of people visiting places of worship but that is for their own good (including me too), but there is only a small percentage that is actually doing something to better the lives of the unfortunate ones.

Also read: When Swami Vivekananda faced his fears and emerged victorious

Swami Vivekananda’s quote on being in a cave is more relevant in today’s urban life

“How to attain purity living this life? Shall we all go to the forest caves? What good would it do? If the mind is not under control, it is no use living in a cave because the same mind will bring all disturbances there. We will find twenty devils in the cave because all the devils are in the mind. If the mind is under control, we can have the cave anywhere, wherever we are.”

• Swami Vivekananda

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The above quote by Swami Vivekananda is more relevant in today’s urban life. Life in metro cities is full of stress, mostly born out of our professional lives, which are full of workloads and deadlines. Hence, the mind is hardly at peace during the day. So, in order to get a change of scene, a lot of people, understandably, take a trip to a hill station or any other quiet place in order to achieve peace. However, as per this quote, this is of hardly any use.

When your core life is full of stress and tension, going to a quiet place won’t serve any purpose because the devils are still present in your mind. So, even if you visit a silent cave, your mind won’t be at peace. Until and unless you fix your mind, it is of no use of even visiting a cave to attain peace. In order to achieve that, one should make efforts of being at peace with oneself, either through any practice or going onto the path of spirituality under the guidance of any guru.

Coming to the last part of the quote, if your mind is under control, you will find peace anywhere and won’t need to visit a quiet place or a cave to feel the same. If you are at harmony with yourself, it won’t matter where you are.

This reminds me of the meaning of the word ‘Yudhishthir’, who was one of the five Pandava brothers. ‘Yudh’ means war and ‘sthir’ means still. Hence, the meaning of the word is someone who can be still and unperturbed even while being in the midst of a war. One must aspire to achieve that state.

On a related note, Swami Vivekananda’s 161st Birth Anniversary will take place after five days on January 12, 2024.

Also read: Swami Vivekananda’s “stray dog” anecdote has a profoundly deep meaning

Swami Vivekananda’s “stray dog” anecdote has a profoundly deep meaning

“As long as a stray dog of my country remains without food, my religion will be to feed and take care of him. All else is either non-religion or false religion.”

— Swami Vivekananda

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The above quote by Swami Vivekananda is very deep. It says that there is no point in carrying out religious activities if you can’t help those who are gravely in need of help and are struggling to survive. His example mentions a stray dog but it is applicable to anyone who has no means of survival. He says that even a stray dog shouldn’t be kept hungry. So, it obviously means the same for people from the human race as well.

There are crores of people out there who lack the basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. If you are not moved by their misery, all your religious talk is of no use. You will find plenty of powerful people around us who believe that merely by building new places of worship they are serving God. But the actual service towards God is to serve the needy.

Swami Vivekananda has said the same even through another quote of his that reads:

“This is the gist of all worship — to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Shiva; and if he sees Shiva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary.”

Also read: How Swami Vivekananda attacked communalism, casteism, class division in one go

When Swami Vivekananda quoted the message of the Gita in an indirect manner

“Do not fly away from the wheels of the world-machine, but stand inside it and learn the secret of work. Through proper work done inside, it is also possible to come out.”

– Swami Vivekananda (from the book ‘Vivekananda: His Call To The Nation’)

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The sayings of great individuals are like pearls of wisdom. They provide light to their followers even centuries later. This enables the followers to apply the sayings by the great individuals to solve the problems or issues they are facing in their lives. The same is the case with Swami Vivekananda’s words. They continue to guide and motivate his followers even after more than a century.

But the sayings by great people like Swami Vivekananda are often quite deep and one is needed to put in efforts to kind of decode them. These sayings are often symbolic and they carry a meaning which is way deeper than the saying itself. The same is the case with the aforementioned quote of Swami Vivekananda.

What I can make out from the quote is that he is referring to the lesson of the Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna urges Arjun to not run away from the battlefield and face the enemies (Kauravas). For the unversed, despite being the greatest warrior, Arjun decided not to fight the crucial battle of Kurukshetra as he was overwhelmed to see his own family members, gurus and well-wishers on the opposite site.

When Swami Vivekananda says, “Do not fly away from the wheels of world-machine, but stand inside and learn the secret of work” he means that one shouldn’t avoid facing problems and difficulties of life as they would lead one nowhere. Instead, one should go through the struggle, work out the solution to the problem fearlessly and solve it.

When he says, “Through proper work done inside, it is also possible to come out,” he means that if one carries out his or her duties well and comes out as a winner, there is a chance of him or her attaining Moksha or liberation.

All in all, Swami Vivekananda has once again indirectly repeated his favourite teaching that you shouldn’t be a coward and face whatever problem is in front of you.  

Also Read: Kalki Avatar temple built in Jaipur much before the avatar’s arrival on earth

Vivekananda’s encounter with a singing-dancing girl

One evening the Raja of Khetri wished to hear songs sung by a professional dancing girl, as was the custom in those days. At that time, Swami Vivekananda was staying as Ajit Singhji’s guest at the Khetri palace. The Raja invited Swamiji to join him but Swamiji refused and sent a message that as a sanyasi it was against his principles to attend such a party.

The singer was deeply grieved when she heard this and started to sing, as it were in reply, a song of Surdas, a Vaishnava saint. Through the quiet evening air, the girl’s sweet, plaintive voice reached the sensitive ears of Swamiji. The message of the song was – O Lord, look not upon my evil qualities. Thy name, O Lord, is same-sighted. One piece of iron is in the image in the temple, and another in the butcher’s hand, but when they touch the philosopher’s stone, both alike turn into gold. So, Lord, look not upon my evil qualities.’

The whole song expressing the truth that God dwells in everyone and everything touched Swamiji deeply. He soon reproached himself, muttering, “What sort of a sanyasi are you that you still distinguish a singing-dancing woman from yourself?”

The song taught him a great lesson. Swamiji realized he could not reject anymore, for in all lies the same Self. He then rushed to the music room and listened to the song. It is said that Swamiji addressed the woman as “Mother” and begged her pardon for his discourteous behaviour.

• From the book ‘Swami Vivekananda: The Friend Of All’

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This incident teaches us that one should not judge others based on their profession and that one should look at everyone with an equal eye. But deep inside, it also points out that we shouldn’t feel any shame in admitting our mistakes or wrongful thinking. You won’t become lesser if you do that. If someone as great as Swami Vivekananda sees no hesitation in admitting it, who are we?

Also read: When Swami Vivekananda didn’t reveal that he wasn’t a negro

Why Vivekananda believed in patriotism first, universalism later

Once someone told Swami Vivekananda that a monk should have no particular attachment to his country. Instead, he should view all countries as his own. At this, Swamiji replied, “He who fails to love and support his mother, how can he provide sustenance for another’s mother?” What Swamiji meant was that even the sanyasis should love their motherland. How can he who cannot love his own country, embrace the world? Patriotism first, then universalism.

— The above incident is taken from the book ‘Swami Vivekananda: The Friend Of All’

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Those who have read and followed Swami Vivekananda’s teachings would be aware about his deep love for his motherland India. Although Hinduism follows the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ [The world is my family], he was strictly of the view that we should love our own country first, as is seen in the above incident.

Photo source: theseer.in

But for him, loving India didn’t mean looking down upon other countries and hiding the flaws in his own country. We all know how much respect he gave to America when he had gone there to speak at the conference, Parliament of Religions. His very start of the speech with the words, “Sister and brothers of America,” was enough for him to get a rousing reception from the houseful crowd.

Similarly, Vivekananda never shied away from speaking against the evils of sati and caste in his own country. He not only accepted that India is reeling under these practices but also wholeheartedly opposed them.  

Also read: 5 inspiring incidents from Swami Vivekananda’s life

What Vivekananda felt after experiencing the ‘luxurious’ west

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The following incident is narrated by Swami Vivekananda himself in ‘The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda’:

I was asked by an English friend on the eve of my departure [from England], “Swami, how do you like now your motherland after four years’ experience of the luxurious, glorious, powerful West?” I could only answer, “India I loved before I came away. Now the very dust of India has become holy to me, the very air is now to me holy; it is now the holy land, the place of pilgrimage, the Tirtha.”

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The above incident says a lot without saying much. If a person dearly loves his home, he or she would always love returning back to it even after spending a good amount of time in someone else’s home, which might be much more luxurious.

Swami Vivekananda [Photo source: Exchange4media.com]

The same goes for the country as well. Even if you spend a large amount of time in a country that is far more developed and much more luxurious than yours, you would still have a great and emotional feeling after returning back to your own country. It is like meeting your lover after being away from him or her for long.

I have also experienced the same on numerous occasions, although I have never been outside India. I stay in a polluted and crowded city like Mumbai. There are times when I have visited some peaceful and beautiful locations during a trip, mostly hill stations. But despite staying at such glorious places, I feel a sense of satisfaction when I return back to the same polluted and crowded Mumbai. As they say, home is where the heart is.

In the case of Swami Vivekananda or any spiritual Indian, the country is a headquarter for spirituality, with its thousands of years’ old glorious history in the same domain. Hence, the positive vibe and energy a spiritual Indian finds here is unparalleled. In fact, more and more foreigners have started staying in India after finding their spiritual calling.

By advocating football over Gita, what Vivekananda actually meant?

One of the most famous and most misunderstood sayings of Swami Vivekananda is as follows:

“First of all, our young men must be strong. Religion will come afterwards. Be strong my young friends; that is my advice to you. You will be nearer to heaven through football, than through the study of the Gita. These are bold words; but I have to say them for I love you. I know where the shoe pinches. I have gained a little experience. You will understand the Gita better with your biceps, your muscles, a little stronger. You will understand the mighty genius and the mighty strength of Krishna better with a little strong blood in you. You will understand the Upanishads better and the glory of the Atma when your body stands firm upon your feet, and you feel like men. Thus we have to apply these to our needs.”

The above quote by Vivekananda is much deeper. There has been a lot of confusion over him advocating the sport of football over the reading of the Bhagavad Gita and that isn’t surprising.

But what he actually meant was that one must give utmost importance to his or her physical fitness. The example of football refers to getting into a physical activity to keep ourselves physically strong. The example of football can be replaced by any physical sport or activity for that matter.

Vivekananda is just stressing over the fact that it is of no use to keep reading the Gita religiously without bothering about your physical health. By not being concerned over his or her health, a person is bound to fall sick and suffer from conditions like diabetes and heart disease. What is the use of all the scriptural knowledge when you are struggling to even walk briskly for a few minutes?

Also read: Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on fearlessness

This is more relevant in today’s times than ever when people, especially youngsters, are giving physical activities a miss by being addicted to their phones and laptops for various reasons. It also makes us think that even if a person earns mammoth amount of wealth, it is of no use if his or her health is going down the drain.

Trivia: Swami Vivekananda played quite a few sports. In fact, he once picked up 7 WICKETS in a cricket match at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. Read more about this fascinating incident by clicking HERE.

When Vivekananda couldn’t hear a word against a Muslim

At Mount Abu Swami Vivekananda stayed with a Muslim lawyer who had invited him saying, “If you would condescend to live with me, I shall feel myself greatly blessed. But I am a Musalman. I shall, of course, make separate arrangements for your food.” Swamiji didn’t hear a word of that and ate with him without discrimination. Later, a visitor asked him, “Well, Swamiji, you are a Hindu monk. How is it that you are living with a Muslim? Your food might, now and then, be touched by him.”

Swamiji, who couldn’t stand any differentiation on the basis of religion and caste, sternly replied, “Sir, what do you mean? I am a Sanyasin. I am above all your social conventions. I can dine even with a ‘lower caste’. I am not afraid of God because He sanctions it. I am not afraid of the scriptures for they allow it. But I am afraid of you people and your society. You know nothing of God and scriptures. I see Brahman everywhere, manifested even through the meanest of creature. For me, there is nothing high or low. Shiva Shiva!”

— The following incident is taken from the book, ‘Vivekananda, The Friend of All.’

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All those who have read and studied Swami Vivekananda would know that he was firmly against all types of division between humans, including caste. The above incident gives a shining example of that. Although he says he says this as a sanyasin, his fierce statement proves that he wants every human to follow this.

Also read: Swami Vivekananda’s quotes on fearlessness

It is sad that in today’s times various divisive political leaders from few divisive political parties are using Vivekananda’s name to spread their dangerous agenda. They are making it feel that Vivekananda’s teachings are in line with their communal agenda, whereas it is completely the opposite of the ideologies of these so-called leaders.

Also read: How Swami Vivekananda attacked communalism, casteism, class division in one go

Swami Vivekananda’s power of concentration stunned these youngsters

Once during His visit to Chicago, USA, Swami Vivekananda was taking a stroll on the banks of a river. There he saw some young boys with an air gun trying to shoot at eggshells floating in the river. As the shells rolled up and down on the choppy water, the boys could not hit them. None of the boys hit an eggshell, despite trying many times.

Swami Vivekananda was watching their game with keen interest. Seeing this, the boys called out to Him, “Sir, you have been watching us all this time. Would you like to give it a try?” Swami Vivekananda smiled and said that he would like to try. Taking the air gun in his hand, he aimed at the eggshells and concentrated on the target for some time. Then he fired the gun twelve times and hit an eggshell each time!

The boys were awestruck on seeing Swamiji’s skill and asked, “Well, Sir, how could you do this? Have you had a lot of shooting practice?” Swamiji laughed and said, “No, I have never practiced shooting.” The boys were confused, “Then how is it that you shot so well?”

Swami Vivekananda replied, “Well, let me tell you a secret. Whatever you do, concentrate all your attention on it. Think of nothing else. If you are shooting, keep your mind only on the target. Your aim will not fail. Concentration can work wonders. Even when you are studying, think only of the lesson at hand. Then you will easily remember what you study.”

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What Swami Vivekananda displayed here is that power of concentration can help you succeed in any task. As he said, he had never even tried rifle shooting, but he was a master at meditation. And with years and years of meditation, you develop the power of concentration at such a level that you can even excel at a task you have never tried before.

Also read: 10 Swami Vivekananda quotes for youngsters

Mind you, such enormous level of concentration is possible only when you give your whole and soul into it, just like Swami Vivekananda. One can argue that Swamiji was a monk and had all the time in the world to carry out meditation.

Also read: When Swami Vivekananda didn’t reveal he wasn’t a negro

That’s quite true. The life in urban cities is such that it’s almost impossible to get a lengthy period for meditation. But one can surely take out 15-20 minutes in the morning for his or her well-being.

If you still feel there is no time for it, just try waking up 15 minutes early than your normal schedule.

Additional reading:

How Swami Vivekananda attacked communalism, casteism, class division in one go