VIVA-RKMM - Inspired Living #QuizVIVA-RKMM - Inspired Living #Quizhttps://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/tag/quizThu, 09 Apr 2026 06:50:10 +0530http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Worshipping the Divine Mother of the Universe]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/oct2025The blog centres on the theme of the Divine Mother. It features a video message from Swami Shantatmananda, a Hindi poem, a short history of mother worship in Bengal and a reflection. It also highlights inspiring women saints from India through a short quiz.]]>

The blog centres on the theme of the Divine Mother. It features a video message from Swami Shantatmananda, a Hindi poem, a short history of mother worship in Bengal and a reflection. It also highlights inspiring women saints from India through a short quiz.

Swami Shantatmananda reveals the significance of Divine Mother worship

The Origins of Mother Worship in Bengal 
​Written and illustrated by Saswati Ghosh from Delhi

In Bengal, the worship of the Mother, is not a ritual alone - it is a heartbeat that echoes through eternity. From the earliest days, when farmers bowed before Dharti Ma for harvest, and boatmen sought the blessings of Ganga Ma before their journeys, the Divine Feminine was seen as the giver of life, the one who nurtures and protects. Village goddesses like Chandi, Manasa, and Shitala held the people close, assuring them that the Mother never abandons her children.


With the rise of Tantra in Bengal between the 6th and 10th centuries, these folk beliefs intertwined with the spiritual philosophy of Shakti. The Goddess was no longer only the village guardian; she became eternal Adi Shakti, the primordial energy of the universe. Temples like Kalighat in Kolkata, Tarapith in Birbhum and Kamakhya in Assam became famous centres of Shakta worship, where the Mother was adored in her fierce and compassionate forms.


Durga Pujo, as Bengal knows it today, blossomed in the medieval era. Historical accounts mention the first grand household pujo organized by Raja Kangshanarayan of Taherpur and Bhabananda Majumdar of Nabaddeep in the 16th century. By the 18th century, wealthy zamindars of Calcutta- such as the Sabarna Roy Choudhury family- made Durga Pujo a festival of both devotion and social gathering. Over time, the ‘baroari pujo’ (community worship) emerged, making the celebration accessible to all.

What makes Bengal’s mother worship unique is its intimacy. The Goddess is both Mahishasura Mardini, fierce and victorious, and Uma, the tender daughter returning home. This dual vision is Bengal’s gift to the world: the Mother as cosmic power, yet also as a beloved family member whose arrival brings tears of joy. 

Even today, when the conch blows and the dhak beats, Bengalis feel more than seasonal festivity; they feel eternity descending into the present. In the clay idol that dissolves back into the river, they see the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Mother worship in Bengal is thus not history alone; it is the timeless recognition that the Divine Feminine is both our origin and our destiny. 

या देवी सर्वभूतेषु मातृरूपेण संस्थिता ।

नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः ॥

To that Goddess who dwells in all beings as the eternal Mother

Salutations to Her, salutations to Her, again and again, forever.

Thoughts on the Condition of Women in Society and the Prevalence of ‘Devi’ Worship in India
by Sobha Menon from Delhi

It’s the season of Devi worship in all her different forms – as Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali. A time when both women and men, with equal gusto, participate in rituals and festivities to celebrate the Divine Feminine in a manner unseen in any other religion. It draws the attention of people around the world – sometimes with delight, sometimes with scepticism and derision at the contradictions between the fervour and enthusiasm for such worship and the unceasing incidents of gender abuse in our society.


So, how has the tradition of Devi or Shakti worship endured for centuries despite such contradictions? We find that every time the message behind important traditions weakens, our spiritual leaders rise to re-emphasise their significance. More than a hundred years ago, Swami Vivekananda had said: “Without Shakti...there is no regeneration for the world.” Was he talking about Shakti in just the divine form? No.

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Swami Vivekananda asserted, “Why is it that our country is the weakest and the most backward of all countries? Because Shakti is held in dishonour there.” In this context, Sri Ramakrishna’s ritual worship of his wife and spiritual consort Sarada Devi as the Goddess Shodashi, on June 5, 1872— two decades prior to the Swamiji’s statements – holds special significance. That worship had not just awakened Sarada Devi’s own divinity, but also prepared her for the important role she was to play in the worldwide spiritual movement of the Ramakrishna Mission – a movement that helped shape minds and, in turn, the slow but sure resurgence of women in all walks of life, including the Independence struggle.


Sarada Devi’s immediate reaction to Sri Ramakrishna’s mention of the spiritual partnership he expected from her was: “What can I do? I’m merely an uneducated woman?” But, we see, that later, even while in the middle of her domestic chores, Sarada Devi would be sought by Swami Vivekananda and his brother monks for her opinion on important matters, especially if there was a conflict of ideas – and Sarada Devi’s word was final for one and all among the monks and devotees. In a letter to Swami Shivananda, Swami Vivekananda writes: “You have not yet understood the wonderful significance of Mother’s life. None of you. But gradually you will know.”


The spiritual movement that started with the worship of the Goddess Kali by Sri Ramakrishna, evolved into the awakening of the divinity in the living form of Sarada Devi – but it didn’t end there. It emphasised the divinity in all women.


Today women in India are surging ahead in all spheres of public activity – even in physically challenging areas. But crimes against women persist. The concept of Shakti, too, will surge ahead, bringing back concepts which were already in Hinduism and re-emphasising those best suited for our times.

शुभागमन
​by Shilpi Sharma from Gurugram

शरद आगमन,

 है अब आंगन ,

ग्रीष्म थोड़ी अलसाई है ।

शुभता आलता,

 रंगे चरण कमल,

 देहरी पावनता पाई है ।


थके मेघ है, तृप्त है धरती,

चहुं ओर छटा हरियाई है ।

मन हर्षित है, तन उर्जित है,

शीतल बयार इठलाई है ।


भानु स्वयं मां मार्ग बुहारे,

उषा वंदन में चरण पखारे।

मधुर मारुत के स्वरों ने मिलकर ,

मंगला आरती गाई है ।

संध्या का धैर्य पूर्ण हुआ ,

मां ने चन्द्र का शीश छूआ ।

जगमग तारों की जोत जलाकर ,

सप्त ऋषियों ने पूजा थाल सजाई है ।


पर्वत वासिनी धरा पर उतरी ,
गंगा यमुना से मिलन हुआ ।
महामाई दक्षिणेश्वर पहुंची ,
परमहंस ने चरण छुआ ।
काश फूल करबद्ध है आतुर ,
भाव माला पहनाई है ।

तू जननी, तू पालक है मां ,

भूल क्षमा कर, हम बालक है मां ।

मैं तुमको पूजूं , तुम मुझे दुलारो, 

मंगल बेला आई है ।

Quiz on Women Saints of India

I am an ancient Vedic philosopher with an unparalleled intellect and fearless participation in philosophical debates dominated by men. I am one of the Protagonists of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Who am I?

Gargi Vachaknavi

Gargi was also known as Brahmavadini, a person with the knowledge of Brahma Vidya.

“It is not a man we need but a woman; a real lioness, to work for the Indians, women especially;” expounded thus by Swami Vivekananda, I, an Irish woman dedicated her life to India in the field of women’s education, plague relief work, helping Indian scientists secure funding for research, titled ‘Lokmata’ by Rabindranath Tagore, and more…Who am I?

Sister Nivedita

She was an inspiration to the Indian nationalist spirit, even designing a prototype of the first Indian national flag

My legacy has been that of a ‘philosopher queen,’ as I united my spirit of piety and military skills restoring the glories of my national land. Reconstructing pilgrimage sites, free kitchens, unfailing justice, compassion and fair governance, respectful to all faiths…How do you remember me?

Rani Ahilyabai Holkar

She took up the task in restoring Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi and the Vishnupad Temple in Gaya destroyed by invaders.

I am a Hindu mystic poet who displayed unwavering devotion to the Supreme Lord. With royalty in blood, I defied patriarchal norms, social expectations and family persecution to live an independent, spiritual life centered in divine love. Who am I?

Meerabai

She famously disappeared at the Krishna temple in Dwarka, believed to have merged with her beloved deity. 

Share your thoughts in the comments box below

The Divine Mother and You

What does the idea of the Divine Mother mean to you personally?

The Ideal and Practice

Do you think our worship of Devi matches how women are treated today? Why or why not?

Your Role Model

Is there an inspiring woman who reminds you of Shakti? Share her story with us!

]]>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 10:36:00 +0530<![CDATA[The Secret of Work]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/sept2025In this blog, we deal with the theme ‘secret of work’. Let’s discover, what, after all, is the ‘secret of work’.]]>

It is said that that Tansen (the great musician and a ‘navratna’ in Emperor Akbar’s court) once said to Akbar that his Guru was an even better musician than him. Intrigued Akbar went to hear Swami Haridas sing. Akbar was indeed impressed but couldn’t understand why Swami Haridas was better than Tansen. Tansen then explained that it was because his guru sang only for God, his work was his way of worship, as service to the Lord, the fruits of his labour were an offering to the Lord. His work became a medium to attain the highest in life. In this blog, we deal with the theme ‘secret of work’. Let’s discover, what, after all, is the ‘secret of work’. 

Drops of Wisdom... 
Swami Vivekananda on ​'The Secret of Work'


"By work alone men may get to where Buddha got largely by meditation or Christ by prayer.”

“Liberation means entire freedom — freedom from the bondage of good, as well as from the bondage of evil. A golden chain is as much a chain as an iron one.”

“The very reason of nature’s existence is for the education of the soul; it has no other meaning; it is there because the soul must have knowledge, and through knowledge free itself.”

“The whole gist of this teaching is that you should work like a master and not as a slave; work incessantly, but do not do slave’s work.”

“If you can invariably take the position of a giver, in which everything given by you is a free offering to the world, without any thought of return, then will your work bring you no attachment.”

“Now you see what Karma-Yoga means; even at the point of death to help anyone, without asking questions. Be cheated millions of times and never ask a question, and never think of what you are doing. Never vaunt of your gifts to the poor or expect their gratitude, but rather be grateful to them for giving you the occasion of practicing charity to them. Thus, it is plain that to be an ideal householder is a much more difficult task than to be an ideal Sannyasin; the true life of work is indeed as hard as, if not harder than, the equally true life of renunciation.”

Click the link below to read 'The Secret of Work' from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda

The Secret of Work 
​- Dr. Shyamolima Ghosh Choudhury (New Delhi)

Work is ordinarily expected to lead to some sense of fulfillment. However, many times work leaves us feeling rushed, exhausted, dissatisfied. Despite the emptiness that work sometimes creates, it is also difficult to not-work. This conundrum arises because of incorrect identification of the self with the mind-body complex and what are known as upadhis. According to Swami Vivekananda the objective of Karma is not to do good to the world or to the Self but the attainment of moksha. True work is the process of uncovering the soul so that naiskarma or worklessness may be attained. Transformation of consciousness from the gross to subtle to causal is the secret of skillful work. According to Indian psychology the inner instrument or antahkarana comprises the manas, buddhi, chitta and ahamkara. Regular practice of work, through successes and failures, allows the inner faculties to disidentify with the thoughts, feelings, sensations that arise in the mind-body complex, to loosen the grip of the small ego, and to rise up to the subtle level of ahamkara. Vedanta prescribes the practice of three types of detachment - karma anasakti, karmaphal anasakti, and detachment from karma abhimaan. When the will/ego is detached, the mind can turn inwards and an interiority is born which further leads to the twin development of deep concentration and development of universal love/compassion. The aspirant moves from subtle to an expanded cosmic level of consciousness. The realization that the ultimate source of all work energy is the divine allows the “doer” to be relaxed, to step back and allow life to operate through one’s being. This is known as ‘dexterity in work’ and is characterized by self-remembrance. Aspirants can also surrender all their work to the Divine. Thus, constant self-remembrance or remembrance of the Divine is the secret of skillful work and marks the beginning of spiritual life.


Benefits of practising Karma Yoga – Personal Takeaways 
​- Sunanda Ganguli (Delhi)

In one of lectures on Karma Yoga Swami Vivekananda dealt with the science of work. For him work alone reaches its highest when it is done absolutely without hope of reward – work for work's sake. For him Karma yoga is one of the paths in which a man realises his own divinity through work and duty. According to this view, through selfless action the mind becomes tranquil and free from the disturbances caused by desire and attachment. Karma Yoga is one of the roads leading to the same center – God. He wrote, "I shall not cease to work; I shall inspire men everywhere, until the world shall know that it is one with God." But Swamiji is Swamiji. How can I, an ordinary mortal, think like him?

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I have read and can academically connect with Lord Buddha's idea that Buddha can be attained through practice of selfless service. All thinkers and seers have suggested doing one's best to be the key to service and devotion. 


It was evening and Tagore's song ‘Jodi tor dak shune keu’ was being played. Every time I hear it play, it has a new meaning for me. How it reveals the meaning of our journey of life and at the same time suggesting the option of walking alone igniting our heart with the "thunder flame of pain", with unwavering resolve. But it's not that it talks about isolation or disharmony but says that if the need arises then one can engage, work selflessly without ego and in the process unite with the universal spirit and attain realization in action. It is truth and truth only that resonates with everyone. It is Karma that unites all, Yoga means to join or connect.


I remember my mother working tirelessly to cater to the needs of each member of the joint family with a smile. She focussed on her duty with love but without any expectations. But she never thought herself to be a Karmayogi. She connected with others, no doubt, was able to relate i.e., yoga with others through her non-attached work. No higher purpose in view, it was just doing the work to help other members of the family. And she was at peace with herself and with others.


As an ordinary person, I am like a little squirrel putting in grains of sand when a bridge is being constructed and at the same time trying to change my mindset and get inner peace as I grow within. It's a journey where I sing to myself, ‘ekla cholo re’.

Karma Yoga in Modern Times
​- Chhandita Sensharma (Gurugram)

Working towards one’s goals, which define our roles and responsibilities in society, is significant for the well-being of individuals. When work is only driven by a sense of duty, we often feel burdened and dissatisfied. In such cases, one can work towards reframing roles as opportunities to serve and finding work we are passionate about, thus interacting positively with our work.

Often, one’s work also becomes their primary source of identity wherein aspects of life like relationships, hobbies, and health take a backseat. While this provides a strong sense of purpose, meaning, and self-esteem, failures can cause identity crises and also loss of self-confidence. Focusing on work-life balance and fulfilling the needs of others are important aspects of our lives in achieving internal and external harmony.

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Imagine a family where all members are driven only by materialistic pleasures. All family members are chasing a fat pay check, lavish cars, bigger houses, international holidays. While their lives might seem very happy, are they truly ever content? Mindset shifts wherein there is a focus on other aspects like shared quality time, finding joy in the process of work are key for greater happiness.

Ideally, we can all follow Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on ‘karma yoga’: be unattached to the fruits of your work. Work with dedication and sincerity to reach our goals and improve from our mistakes. Other aspects like respect, recognition, financial stability and social status come easily to those who emphasize on continuous improvement. Practicing the ideas suggested by Swamiji on ‘The Secret of Work’ can help each one of us live a meaningful life, rediscover our identity, and strengthen self-belief.

A nature centric quiz on Karma Yoga 

Can you guess how nature shows us to be Karma yogis?

I float on water, remaining clean and unaffected by it. Just as a Karma Yogi engages in actions while remaining free from attachment to fruits of the actions or the impact of the world. Who/what am I?

Lotus

Lotus is a symbol of Karma Yoga that nature exhibits; performing one’s duties without attachment of results

We thrive in an interconnected network of actions (providing oxygen, dispersing seeds, nourishment for growth), diverse species, each performing their role without specific expectations. What am I?

A forest ecosystem

In a forest ecosystem all involved trees, animals and soil contribute to a greater whole without attachment to outcome or one’s ego, thus being another display of Karma yoga in nature

I collect diligently from one, bring to another. I am not attached to the sweet outcomes that are the results of my actions. What would you call me?

A bee

A bee diligently collects nectar and pollinates flowers, playing its vital role in ecology without being attached to the honey or fruits. A bee could be a true karma yogi

I don’t discriminate on who to shine on. My light and warmth is available to one and all, without expectations. Who am I?

The Sun

The sun shines on all equally, doing its duty, without any expectation of anything in return, like a staunch karma yogi does. 

Share your thoughts in the comments box below

Can we find joy in working without thinking of results?

Can we work devotedly and serve selflessly?

Can we practice karma yoga little by little?


]]>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 16:59:47 +0530<![CDATA[Finding Joy in our Friendships - मित्रता में आनंद  ]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/aug2025Friends can enter our lives in unexpected ways and at different times. There are friends who listen patiently, friends who comfort us in distress, friends who hold up the mirror, friends who partner with us in our goals and friends whose very presence delights our soul.]]>

Friends enter our lives in unexpected ways and at different times. There are friends who listen patiently, friends who comfort us in distress, friends who hold up the mirror, friends who partner with us in our goals and friends whose very presence delights our soul. This blog speaks of friendships and its unique role in our lives.

Working up a Friendship

Dr. Anuradha Balaram (Gurugram)

I asked my domestic help to take the day off the other day. Her answer was immediate. “I’d rather come to work – I get to walk and talk to my friends – giggle and push my anxieties from my mind”. I remember a friend telling me a few years ago, “I wonder what I’d do if I could not get away to work. I just can’t stand being around my in-laws all the time. At work, I can chat with friends who understand my point of view.” During the Covid pandemic, mental health issues became pronounced for many as they could not really meet their friends at work over a leisurely cup of tea and some taaza gossip. Work from home is a real drag and can virtually send you into a downward spiral of isolation and depression.

Yes, work brings with it friendships – some of which last long after we retire. There is a common context which brings people together at work and here and there, we find a soul-mate, who is willing to listen and understand what we are going through.

In our younger days, complaining about a common boss, grumbling about dead-lines, gossiping about so and so – all this can weave a friendship that relieves the mind of day-to-day struggles that we all have to endure.


As we mature, colleagues of our age can act as a mirror, reflecting clearly when our face is dirty and can even offer us the much–wanted warm water and soap to cleanse ourselves. 


I have made some of my best friends at work – both male and female. Even today, four decades after we first met, we enjoy sharing our trials and our triumphs. We know each other’s follies and can laugh at them. We can discuss family matters with abandon and maintain confidentiality where needed. Give me a work environment and an opportunity to make a friend and I will consider myself blessed.

A Companion for Good Times and Bad

Aman Rana (Gurugram)

25,000 years ago, in the Chauvet cave, a young boy sharpened his spear by rubbing it against a stone. He replaced the worn grip of his atlatl with fresh leather. Full of energy but clouded by anxiety, he paused—and looked into the eyes of his trusting (mystical) companion. Not a single word passed between them, but their eyes glittered. Doubt faded, replaced by confidence. Together, they set out— started their expedition and ended up hunting a big deer, enough for the entire family for a few days. That night, he slept in peace.


Cut to today. A young lady working in an MNC in Gurugram came home, frustrated, after the boss said all her ideas were useless and the project which she was leading was given to her colleague. Now she just needs to follow her orders. The thought of rejection and being trashed, even after putting a lot of effort into the project, was buzzing in her mind. Even after struggling to get out of this vicious circle of negative thoughts, a direct loop from hell, she could not come out. She tried many techniques like watching movies etc., but nothing worked. She tried to sleep but could not.  Finally, she went to the patio where she saw her friend lying on his back with legs in the air like he was holding up the sky. She burst into laughter. He came running towards her convulsed with joy.  He had killed the buzzing thought. Again, not even a single word was spoken by either of them but both their eyes were glittering. Suddenly happiness had taken the place of sadness and frustration.


If we go by the proverb, a friend in need is a friend indeed, this friend has helped us from prehistoric times to modern times. While bullock carts have lost their importance to motor vehicles, stone weapons to fire arms, and paper to digital docs with even the institution of marriage being in a vulnerable state, this friend enjoys ever-increasing importance. 

Can you guess who this friend is?

You must have guessed who this friend is. For some it is just a dog; for me this friend is the epitome of loyalty and unconditional love.


As human beings, very proud of our achievements, we often think that we are the most civilized and enlightened species on earth, and need not learn anything from other species. However, in this case none of us can deny that we need to learn a lot from this friend what true friendship is and what values are required to sustain it.

Let’s see what this friend can teach us
Thor

Loyalty

This friend never took any oath of allegiance, like the vassals of a lord, but is always ready to share the fate of the master, ready to get slain before the master.  Have you ever heard any other Julius Caesar saying "Et tu, Brute?" (You too, Brutus?)  to his dog named Brutus. 

Sacrifice

Not all sacrifices were sung enough? Kalpana Chawla we all know, but how many of us have heard about Laika, a Soviet space dog who was the first animal in space, the first to orbit the Earth and to die for it? Are dogs not protecting our houses and fields much better than a medieval Knight protected the castle? 

Selflessness

Despite being very attentive to human feelings and needs, dogs have never asked anything in return for the work they have done and the love they have shown, just a pat on the head. They are doing the duty for the sake of duty, and showing love for the sake of love. From the last few decades, defense forces are rewarding military dogs for the medical help and other signaling work they have done at the war front.  But this selfless soldier never had any such aspirations or expectations. Have you seen any dog asking for the Nobel Peace prize for having resolved a conflict between two sworn enemies?

Here the intention is not to glorify what our selfless friends have done and are still doing; they don’t care about being glorified; they are already very satisfied with chew toys and some affection. The point is to reflect:

Do these values still matter to us? Do we even consider friendship important anymore?

As humans we can control and launch a mission to Mars, can easily control a Supersonic aircraft but cannot control our own heart, throbbing with anger and despair. A real friend can easily calm down your racing heart; this is the power of friendship. 

For me, friendship is important and to develop a strong friendship I need some deeper values. You may choose to search for your own values. But while you're searching, look down. That wagging tail beside you may already have them.

Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal

वो पुरानी बातें
​Nidhi Agarwal (Gurugram)

सुकून के कुछ पलों में , पुराना कुछ याद आया ख्यालों में 

वह दोस्ती मासूमियत भरी, वह दोस्ती विश्वास से बनी 

वह आपस में मिलना मिलना, वह दुख में अपनी तकलीफ बताना 

पर अब कहां मिलती है ऐसी दोस्ती, नहीं रही अब दोस्तों में पहली सी संगति

जिसे देखो सोशल मीडिया में व्यस्त है,

चैटिंग और इमोजी भेजना कनेक्ट रहने का नया मंत्र है 

ऑनलाइन के जमाने में स्क्रीन और नेट से है बंधे हम

 नहीं रहा वह अपनों में, अपना सा अपनापन

पास बैठ के अब गुफ्तगू नहीं होती,

अपना अनमोल समय दे इसकी जरूरत महसूस नहीं होती 

100 लोगो की फ्रेंड लिस्ट पाकर भी खुद को अकेला पाया 

आत्मीयता का यह नया अंदाज अब सभी ने अपनाया

इस सोशल मीडिया के युग में आज फिर ख्याल आया

हर दिन फ्रेंडशिप डे बनाते थे, हम

साधन थे कम पर साथियों के साथ खूब खिल खिलाते थे हम

काश दुनिया कुछ बदल जाए, वो पुराना वक़्त वापस लौट आए।

ऑनलाइन मैसेज न हों, बस आमने-सामने बातें हों।

फ़ॉलोअर्स का नहीं, बस सच्चे दोस्तों का साथ हो।

Friendship Quiz

He was Sri Krishna's childhood friend. He met him years later, when Sri Krishna was the King of Dwaraka. This story is remembered for the depth of their friendship, despite the difference in status. Who is he?

Sudama

Inseparable during their childhood, Krishna and Sudama’s story emphasizes – that friendship surpasses economic status, that true wealth lies in richness of relationships and how to genuinely be affectionate and accepting of each other.

Who among the following considered Swami Vivekananda as their friend: (i) Margaret Noble (ii) Josephine MacLeod (iii) J.J. Goodwin (iv) John D. Rockefeller

Josephine MacLeod (1858 – 1949)

Wealthy American lady of high society, the closest of all his American devotees and perhaps the greatest benefactress of the Order. Called herself “Friend of Swami Vivekananda”.

Who suggested the name 'Vivekananda' to Narendranath Dutta?

Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri (1861-1901)

Ruler of the small state of Khetri in Rajasthan. Swami Vivekananda considered Raja Ajit Singh to be one of his closest friends. It was Raja Ajit Singh who suggested the name ‘Vivekananda’ to Narendranath Dutta before his journey to the Parliament of Religions, a name that would endure through eternity. 



They were friends. They were cousins. They fought a war together. Their dialogue forms the heart of a timeless spiritual text. Who are they?

Krishna and Arjuna

Krishna was Arjuna's friend, philosopher, guide and mentor. Their dialogue on the battlefield of Kurukshetra is immortalized in the Bhagavad Gita.

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Do you believe that friendship is at the heart of any good relationship?

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How do you deal with the silence when friends don't reach out to you?

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Who is your constant companion in life, your eternal friend? Have you ever thought of that?

]]>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:26:41 +0530<![CDATA[Self-Belief/आत्मश्रद्धा]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/july2025This blogpost contains articles on self-belief where contributors have expressed what they mean when they speak of this belief in themselves and how it has expressed itself in their lives whether as confidence to do something, respect to take an action for oneself or simply love of this existence.]]>

Self-respect, self confidence, self-esteem - so many interchangeable words but the core idea underlying each of them remains the same, that of an undying belief in our real self, the core of our being that is capable of "anything and everything", the source of our existence and the reason for our happiness, that which we call self-belief or atmashraddha (आत्मश्रद्धा). This blogpost contains articles on self-belief where contributors have expressed what they mean when they speak of this belief in themselves and how it has expressed itself in their lives whether as confidence to do something, respect to take an action for oneself or simply love of this existence. 

Vanity is Fair
- Ujay (Delhi/Mumbai)

Professional Fashion Model. This is my job title. My job is to look for jobs every single day. Attend five to ten fittings/auditions in a week and I might crack one or two. As a model already in his 30's and up against hundreds of other candidates, usually a decade younger, mostly of Russian, European descent, the competition is tough and rejection hurtful. Especially when it is your bread and butter. Negative criticism from photographers and directors about how you look during shoots is another story. To be employable, I have to ask myself certain questions daily. Do I look lean and muscular enough? Is my skin glowing enough? Is my hair shiny enough? Are my teeth white enough? And believe me, it is never enough. Given that there is no employment in the business of fashion modelling in the absence of an affirmative to the above, in my profession, vanity is fair! 


Cut to me at a beautiful beach in the picturesque Seychelles, Africa a few weeks ago with a friend from a corporate background. He asks me to click a picture as he poses on a rock in his fancy beachwear. I click, he checks. He is not pleased. He then asks me to click another five to six. Except he doesn’t move at all. Maybe a few micro-millimeters. I click another six, inspite of my irritation levels rising. Sire checks. Not pleased. “Click a couple more”, he says. Now he makes an effort to do a half smile, exhale every ounce of air from his lungs till his tummy looks, well, strangely flat. He flexes his biceps. He growls under his breath for me to “quickly click!”. He’s holding his breath after all. End result? He is not pleased. And I walk off. 


To look physically beautiful in a picture is great. But, is that your goal? Instead of trying to look like that influencer, finding and portraying your own Self would create a much stronger connection with a viewer, than the connection created with mere vanity as its foundation. 

Self-Belief - The journey continues…
​- Govind Bisht (Faridabad)

It all began when I started reading about Swami Vivekananda.

It took me six months to complete his biography. The beginning felt distant, but the last 50 pages stirred something deep within me. It felt like Swami-ji was speaking directly to the youth—to me—asking, “What are you doing with your life?”

I joined Ramakrishna Mission, Gurugram (then the Delhi Centre), in January 2020, just before the COVID wave. On my very first day, the Revered Secretary Maharaj entrusted me with responsibilities in the Northeast—and that’s when the real journey began. Since then, I’ve walked through the floods of Assam, the humidity of Barak Valley, the rains of Meghalaya, and the heat of Uttar Pradesh. I’ve missed meals, waited for buses that never came, shared cabs, faced landslides, and dealt with tough living conditions. Many times, it felt like nature was testing me, asking, “Will you give up now?”

Honestly, I almost did—more than once. There were moments when I doubted everything, thinking my efforts weren’t showing any results. But each time I paused to reflect, something within reminded me to keep going. As Steve Jobs once said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” And looking back today, the picture slowly begins to make sense. From Resource Person to Zonal Lead to Program Implementation Lead—what matters most isn’t the title, but the inner transformation. I’ve become more grounded, more patient, more human.

I now realise this journey is far from over. There are still many more layers of life to explore. And for that, I need faith in the process, patience in the everyday, perseverance in my actions, purity in thought—and the freedom to just be. Swami Vivekananda believed in the infinite potential within each of us. Gradually, step by step, I am also learning to trust in that inner strength.

Deep gratitude to Revered Swami Shantatmananda Ji, to my patient and wonderful mentors at VIVA and all my teammates who’ve walked this path with me.

आत्मविश्वास
 - Shilpi Sharma (Gurugram)

आत्मविश्वास होना चाहिए ,

आत्मविश्वास से सब संभव है ,
यही बचपन से सुना था ।
मां बाबा गुरुजी भैया,
सभी बड़ों ने यही कहा था ।
लगभग सभी महान पुस्तकों में ,
मोटे-मोटे अक्षरों में लिखा था ।
 संपूर्ण जीवन का सार ,
इसी शब्द पर आकर रुका था ।
पर जब भी कुछ नया करना चाहा, 
छोटे-छोटे सपनों का
आसमान नया घड़ना चाहा ।
मां बाबा गुरुजी पुस्तक ,
सब की तरफ हाथ बढ़ाया ,
थी जरूरत सबसे ज्यादा 
पास सभी के अभाव पाया।
कभी डर से मन घबराया ,
कभी हिम्मत ने साथ निभाया, 
कांपे कदम, बढ़ीं ,गति सांसों की ,
फिर समान गति से कदम मिलाया।
कभी कर मेहनत पैर जमाया ,
तूफानों ने उसे, हिलाया।
धीरे-धीरे खड़ा होना ,
गिरना ,संभलना, चलना, दौड़ना ,
दौड़ते - दौड़ते पुनः गिरना, 
यह खेल सदियों चलता रहा,
चल रहा है, यूं ही आगे चलता रहेगा, 
यह आत्मविश्वास कोई वस्तु नहीं, 
जो बाजारों में बिकता रहेगा ।
उठो जागो ,चलते रहो ,बढ़ते रहो 
यह अनंत स्त्रोत का कूप है ,
तुम्हारे ही भीतर खुदा हुआ।
इच्छा शक्ति की रस्सी बनाओ,
संकल्पों के बल लगाओ,
साहस की घिरनी पर चढ़ाओ ,
कर्म शक्ति का कलश गिराओ।
मजबूत हाथ से रस्सी खींचो ,
जब चाहे जितनी मर्जी खींचों ,
उतना भर -भर कलश मिलेगा।
यह आत्म, अमृत अनंत समाया, 
विश्वास जल अनवरत मिलेगा ।

आत्मविश्वास बनाम अहंकार
- Dharmendra Pandey (Delhi)

आत्मविश्वास का अर्थ है स्वयं पर विश्वास।  अंग्रेजी में इसे बताने के लिए हम   सेल्फ बिलीफ, सेल्फ रेस्पेक्ट, सेल्फ एस्टीम जैसे कई शब्दों का प्रयोग करते हैं।  इन सभी शब्दों को हिंदी भाषा में यदि एक ही शब्द से अभिव्यक्ति देनी हो तो हम इसे आत्मश्रद्धा कह सकते हैं। 

स्वामी विवेकानंद ने कहा कि हर मनुष्य संभावित रूप से दिव्य है और जीवन का लक्ष्य है इसी दिव्यता को प्रकट करना अगर सरल शब्दों में कहा जाए तो आत्मविश्वास स्वयं के प्रति एक आश्वस्तता  है कि हम जीवन की किसी भी चुनौती का सामना कर सकते हैं, या हम जो भी करते हैं उसे और बेहतर  बना सकते हैं,, जो भी हम ठान लें उसे पूरा कर सकते हैं ।  पर यह मात्र आश्वासन ही रह जाएगा यदि हम इस आत्मविश्वास को मूर्त रूप देने के लिए कुछ न करें।  जैसे घर में बिजली है या नहीं ये पता लगाने के लिए हमें  बत्ती या पंखे का बटन दबाना पड़ता है वैसे ही  जब तक हम किसी काम को करने के लिए उठेंगे नहीं, कैसे पता चलेगा कि हम उस कार्य  को कर भी सकते हैं या नहीं। एक बात  और।  जब हम स्वयं पर श्रद्धा रखते हैं तभी  हम दूसरों पर भी उतनी ही श्रद्धा रखेंगे जितनी कि स्वयं पर। 

पर हम आत्मश्रद्धा को अहंकार समझने की भूल नहीं कर सकते। अहंकार का अर्थ है अहम् + कार = स्वयं को ही कर्ता मानाने वाला,  स्वयं को महत्व देने वाला, स्वयं को बलशाली व औरों को हीन मानने वाला। अहंकारी व्यक्ति अपनी पहचान 'मैं क्या हूँ' से नहीं बल्कि 'मेरे पास क्या है से बनाता है' और दुर्भाग्यवश स्वयं को नहीं जान पाता ।

Moments in Life I have shown Self-Respect

Shobha Menon from Ernakulam says,

I have memories of a feeling of self-respect from the time I was a child whenever I achieved something. And this is the way I defined “self-respect” throughout most of my life. But something changed after I began visiting Ramakrishna Mission, started reading the books published by the Mission, joined the Awakened Citizenship Program and perhaps even because I’m much older now. For me, I feel my self-respect growing when I’m able to do something for others – and I also see that the self-respect I feel for myself is also there in so many other people I meet from all walks of life.


Indrani from Varanasi says,

I was staying in the college hostel during a group project. The project had to be submitted the next day, so we all planned to work on it together that night. But when the time came, everyone went to sleep, thinking I would do everything. I was left alone to finish the entire project. I stayed up till midnight, tired and stressed, but I kept working because I cared about the team and our marks. The next morning, no one asked how I felt or offered any help. They just praised the work and gave me the next task. Slowly, this became a pattern. I was no longer treated like a teammate, but like someone who would always say yes.

One day, I decided to say no. It was difficult, but I knew it was right. That day, I learned some important values. I learned that teamwork means sharing both effort and responsibility. I understood that helping others is good, but not at the cost of your own respect. I realised that setting boundaries is not selfish—it is necessary. And most of all, I learned that self-respect is the foundation of true confidence. Since then, I remind myself: saying “no” doesn’t make me rude. It means I value myself. And that is a value I will never forget.

Bharani from Hyderabad says,

There was a time when my character and integrity were questioned based on hearsay, not truth. What hurt most was that it came from someone I held in a high esteem. It shook me deeply. But I chose not to respond in anger or self-defence. Instead, I stood by my truth, with quiet strength and dignity. That experience taught me that self-respect sometimes means walking through pain without losing yourself—and believing in who you are, even when others don’t.

One message woven in the fabric of time – Self-esteem!
​- Neha Phull (Bangalore)

Swami Vivekananda, after his return from America, said to a large gathering on the occasion of his visit to Kumbakonam, ‘Have faith in yourselves, and stand up on that faith and be strong; that is what we need.’ And that is what we need to rouse our innate potential, our families, our community, our nation and the entire humanity itself! These pristine words of Swamiji on having faith in oneself and holding up our self-esteem, he expounded again and again while addressing his nation. He lived the experience of what healthy self-esteem could do for an individual and his country.  These ideas of Swamiji are not that different from the positive psychologists of the modern world. Dr. Nathaniel Brandon, a Canadian-American psychotherapist, spent a lifetime of clinical practice and research on this one idea of Self-esteem. Nathaniel Branden describes his book ‘The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem’ as “the definitive work on self-esteem.” Through a few examples mentioned in this writeup, we will try to draw parallels between this modern psychologist’s understanding of self-esteem, with that of the philosopher, author and world teacher Swami Vivekananda. 

Both the personalities directly or indirectly expound the significance of a healthy self-esteem in the context of our existence and also in adapting to the volatile changing environment of the world. They state that a healthy self-esteem could culminate in the ultimate fulfilment of a life lived.

Please see below a few similarities in their thoughts:

Swami Vivekananda proclaimed, “All search is vain, until we begin to perceive that knowledge is within ourselves, that no one can help us, that we must help ourselves.” - CWSV Vol 1 p.258


Nathaniel Brandon introduces self-esteem to the readers thus: “The stability we cannot find in the world we must create within our own persons.” – Pg-XI


Swami Vivekananda: “The glory of man is that he is a thinking being.”- CWSV Vol 2 p.336


Nathaniel Brandon: “If I trust my mind and judgement, I am more likely to operate as a thinking being.” Pg – 4


Swami Vivekananda: “Whatever you believe, that you will be.”- CWSV Vol 3 p.284


Nathaniel Brandon; “Of all the judgements we pass in life, none is as important as the one we pass on ourselves.” Pg-XV And, “the belief that they are powerless becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Pg-XVII


Swami Vivekananda: “Without expression, how can we live?” - CWSV Vol 3 p.441


Nathaniel Brandon: “Our purpose is self-expression…not to prove, ...but to live our possibilities.”

These are just a few statements that show the alignment in the message of self-esteem, self-belief, and self-expression that comes out of their work in the world. Dr. Brandon goes on to list down what he believes, through his experience, are the six fundamental practices of self-esteem:

‘Practice of living consciously, Practice of self-acceptance, Practice of self-responsibility, Practice of self-assertiveness, Practice of living purposefully & Practice of personal integrity.’


He discusses in detail in his book how these practices build the self-esteem of a person, the significance of the practices with examples and the ways of adopting each practice, depicting the interconnectedness of them all. 


The point to note here is this: these sayings, teachings, practices, etc., are of no avail if they do not become a manifested reality for us. We can be inspired by these voices around us, however, the assimilation of these ideas and making an effort to manifest these in our lives is left to us. Self-esteem is not a ‘good to have’ lofty principle that we can think about at our time of leisure. It is the very soul of our being woven into the fabric of our lives. A healthy self-esteem is the very inheritance of man, waiting to be claimed.

Quiz on self-respect. Tell us whether the person in the situation shows self-respect

Someone tells you that you did something wrong. You do not agree as you feel you had your reasons so you argued vehemently. You are not willing to listen.

True self-respect accepts a wrong doing without judgments and makes place for a change

You decide to stop speaking to someone since they never invited you to the big party they hosted.

It does hurt to be left out but real self-respect doesn’t make us change our behaviour towards others or our values according to the behaviour of someone else towards us

No one in your family agrees with the volunteering service you have joined. They dismiss it as a timepass fancy and sometimes get upset. You decide to sulk whenever this topic is brought up.

Real self-respect makes a person believe in himself/herself.  They are convinced about the steps they take in their life. They can laugh off other’s opinions about them and are not overtly bothered with it

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Do you find it challenging to accept yourself?

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Does the concept of self-respect sound daunting?

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Whose responsibility is it to raise your self-belief? 
]]>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:15:10 +0530<![CDATA[Silence Speaks - ख़ामोशी कुछ कहती है...]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/may2025In this blogpost, you can discover the power of silence. Can Silence speak? We explore this idea through a range of articles, poems, illustrations and quotes. Have you experienced a spoken silence? Your comments are welcome!]]>

Can Silence speak? We explore this idea through a range of articles, poems, illustrations and quotes. Have you experienced a spoken silence? Your comments are welcome!

How does Silence Speak in Meditation?

By Bornali Ghosh from Kolkata

Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram

What do we understand by the term Meditation? It is a tool which helps in focusing or clearing the Mind to bring calmness & awareness and helps us to look outward and inward!

Most of the time, our mind continues to chatter and run here and there, as our focus is on people, situation and environment which is not congenial or not as per our liking. This chattering is almost like an addiction, and it goes on and on. We are used to it so much, that we do not even bother to think that mind chatter is actually not natural! At times when we realize that the mind chatter has to be stopped, we try to control the ‘outside reasons’ which is causing the chatter! Ironically, all that is outside can never be controlled! So, what next? Should we understand calmness of mind instead?

Why is calmness of Mind necessary? Imagine you are sitting with a group of friends who are speaking loudly. Faintly, you hear your favourite song being played far off. What will you do to hear it clearly? Remove yourself from the gathering and go to a place which is quiet, to hear the song. Isn’t it? Basically what you are doing is, improving your concentration to enjoy the song and for that you move to a quiet place.

We have experienced quietness several times in life, with someone whom we love, to get away from the hustle and bustle and be with self, to look back on what has been done so far, to peek into the future or understand what the present demands from us. In all such times our mind is one pointed. In all the above mentioned conditions we speak to ourselves silently! In such silence, we find ourselves to be alone but not lonely!

Meanness of the outside world and inability to satisfy others, inflicts pain. Then, at times we decide to be quiet, calm and reflect. Eventually, we realize how fruitless are the material pursuits for which we succumb to lust, anger, greed, attachments, ego or jealousy. Such realisation happens when our mind silently speaks! 

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At time we just lose our sanity. Due to some inference from the past or may be just like that, we are not good to others. Then our conscience silently speaks! Tells us, stop, check, rectify and move on. 

When our creative instinct does not allow us to sit quiet, and is demanding manifestation, disturbance is something we avoid. We are by ourselves, giving vent to our creativity. How much we enjoy the moment when in a minute way we also experience how the creator feels and relates with his creation. At such times we are calm and quiet, silently talking to our creative self.

When our loved one leaves us behind and embarks on a different journey, there is a void which quietens us. The connection that we were so much used to is suddenly not there! There is silence inside and out. We realise that the connection is still there beyond the physical realm. Then the silence speaks between us!

When we are into so many things at a time and share mind space with family, friends, colleagues, strangers, we experience a sheer need to be with our self. What do we call it? Me Time? This is when silence speaks.

All such instances mentioned above are times when we willingly focus on our selves. We ponder, we connect, we meditate on different aspects to get answers, and we do get them! This experience is common to all, be an atheist or a believer! We allow silence to speak through the tool- meditation. Most of the time we don’t even realise it. We only find ourselves engrossed in a one-pointed thought which has consumed a lot of time! The experience is ‘living in the moment’ which gives us a feeling of connection to the idea we are nurturing. This feeling is gratifying but temporary! What can we do to feel it always? 

That is when we feel the need to meditate upon the Supreme in any form? When we do so, we connect to the eternal source of Purity, Peace, Love, Knowledge and Power. This enables us to realise what we are and experience the happiness which seems to be so elusive. A meaningful and purposeful life is what we always crave for. Understanding our true divine nature fills us with love and gratitude for our creator. This happens only when Silence Speaks!

The methods and techniques of meditation are various but the crux of it all is the willingness to listen when SILENCE SPEAKS!!

Ecstatic Silence of Sri Ramakrishna

By Karthik Shankar from Bangalore

Perfect yet playful,
Eternal yet evolving,
In You is all in all,
Through Your serene face,
Silence speaks

One who took mighty vows,
Poverty, chastity, obedience and service,
Your blessings fill one with knowledge,
To overcome Kamini-Kanchan, 
In Your loving voice,
Silence speaks

In every movement You exist,
Even a leaf is carried by Your grace,
Your touch moulded lives of perfection,
By Your benign glance, 
Silence speaks

Your presence spells freedom,
A powerful force art Thou
For liberation in a moment even,
Of Your holy name,
Silence speaks

खामोशी की गूँज

By Hariom from Lucknow

खामोशी से मेरा हृदय धड़कता है 
खामोशी से प्रतिदिन सूरज उगता है 
खामोशी में ही मुझमें विचार आते
खामोशी से ही फूल खिलता है 

भाग दौड़ के इस जीवन में 
असफलता के आँगन में 
उतार चढ़ाव के जीवन में 
खामोशी से लड़े जंग हमनें 

पुरखों के अनुपम अनुभवों में 
स्वयं की जीवन यात्रा में 
सिर्फ मैंने यही है जाना 
खामोशी से सफलता सजाना 

बड़े से बड़े धुरंधर भी 
बड़बोलेपन में सब खो देते 
खुशियों के संसार में 
स्वयं अन्धकार कर देते 

जीना है तो कोशिश करो 
ओस के जैसी खामोशी से 
स्वयं की जीवन यात्रा में 
सफलता का संसार रचो
Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram
Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram

मौन वाणी

By Shilpi Sharma from Gurugram

मौन में शक्ति समाहित,


मौन में सामर्थ्य है ।


पढ़ ना पाए मौन आखर,


ज्ञान फिर सब व्यर्थ है। 


मौन के ही रंग सारे,


मौन के ही भाव है ।


मौन गहरा शांत समुद्र,


शब्द नाव पतवार है ।


मौन जब शिव ने धरा तो,


आदियोगी बह्मांड बनाए ।


मौन ओम, मौन नमः,


मौन ही कहलाए शिवाय।


देख देश का दुख दर्दशा,


दिन तीन शिला पर मौन बिताए ।


स्वामी तप से जागे ऐसे,


विश्व चेतन जागृति जगाए ।


मौन की भाषा अलग है,


मौन की गति न्यारी है ।


मौन आत्म निरीक्षण अवसर है,


मौन अंतरमन की तैयारी है ।

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Guess who said this?

“The nearer you approach to God, the less you reason and argue. When you attain Him, then all sounds—all reasoning and disputing—come to an end. Then you go into samādhi, into communion with God in silence.”

Sri Ramakrishna

“Accumulate power in silence and become a dynamo of spirituality.” 

Swami Vivekananda

“Silence is truth. Silence is bliss. Silence is peace. And hence silence is the self.”

Ramana Maharishi

“Serenity of mind, kindliness, silence, self-control, honesty of motive – this is called the mental austerity”

Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita (17:16)

"A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence."

Pythagoras

Experiencing Silence

By Sunanda Ganguli from New Delhi

It was so crowded and noisy in the evening during aarti. Now the pilgrims have returned to the inns and the shops have downed the shutters. It's quiet, only the sound of water from the Mandakini River and of the bells swaying gently by the wind can be heard. 

I was standing by Holy Shankaracharya’s samadhi near Kedarnath temple. It was a full moon night – the samadhi, the Kedarnath temple, the snowcapped mountains, the moon's soft glow, everything around was unworldly. The night sky had come alive with silver light – the Master Painter had cast a magical spell over everything, all around. Is He happy with all that He has created? I had goosebumps all over. It's a moment of breathtaking wonder, perfect for contemplation, reflection, or simply basking in nature's splendor. The Holy Bull was sitting quietly in front of the Kedarnath temple and I whispered my wishes in its ear. It will definitely convey it to Kedarnathji. I will forever cherish those moments of silence and peace.

Adi Shankaracharya placed immense importance on silence as a path to spiritual realization, achieving a state of oneness with Brahman and enlightenment.  He considered silence to be a higher form of teaching than words, capable of conveying truths that words alone cannot. Swami Vivekananda also talked about the power of silence in the life of a seeker.

While climbing a path uphill many a times we feel out of breath, thirsty, unable to take a step when a fellow trekker graciously offers her half-filled bottle of water (not thinking at all what she will drink if the water is finished), nodding encouragingly without any word – both exchange smiles and namaste, the giver and the taker move on silently through the majestic silence. A 'Thank you' that is unspoken yet heard in the silence. 

Illustration by Nidhi Agarwal from Gurugram
]]>Thu, 15 May 2025 19:01:45 +0530<![CDATA[Towards Happiness – प्रसन्नता की ओर]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/mar2025Explore the different facets of happiness, joy and bliss through a range of contributions - poems, quizzes, ideas and an announcement of an upcoming episode of the Inspired Living podcast!]]>

The upcoming episode of the Inspired Living podcast with Revered Swami Shantatmananda is a foray into happiness, its real meaning, the secret of being joyful and practices we can adopt to feel this joy even when circumstances around us may pull us down. Stay tuned.

Poem and artwork (watercolors and pastel colors) by Smt. Saswati Ghosh

Happiness

A fairy danced on moonlit beams,
Weaving joy from whispered dreams.
With stardust hands and laughter light,
She painted hope in darkest night.

The Fairy of Joy twirled high in the air,
Her laughter dancing without a care.
She said—
"Like autumn leaves, that swirl and play,
Happiness shines throughout the day."

The Fairy of Love, with a heart full of grace,
Said softly—
"It’s in a silent glance, a warm embrace,
A whispered word, a hand held tight,
A flicker of hope in the toughest night."

The Fairy of Magic waved her wand so grand,
And said—
"Happiness lies in your own hand!
Not in the stars, not far, not wide,
But in your heart, where dreams reside!"

Then they kissed the petals, spun the air,
Left golden sparks in hearts laid bare.
Their wings held songs of love untold,
A magic touch, so soft, so bold.

Happiness, they sighed—
"Is always free,
Not, in lands, beyond the sea.
It lives in you, it sings, it stays,
An eternal gift in endless ways."

Searching for Happiness 
by Dr. Hema Raghavan

Happiness is intangible and immeasurable. It is easier to cover the blue sky in folds of cloth than to define happiness. Waiting for happiness is like 'Waiting for Godot', a seminal play where two men keep waiting for the titular hero, Godot who never turns up. The dialogue between the two waiting men as given under reveals the emptiness of happiness: 

VLADIMIR: Say, I am happy. 
ESTRAGON: I am happy. 
VLADIMIR: So am I. 
ESTRAGON: So am I. 
VLADIMIR: We are happy. 
ESTRAGON: We are happy.
VLADIMIR: (Silence) What do we do now, now that we are happy.

We are all the time in pursuit of happiness without knowing what that happiness is! Today's trend all over the world is to search for happiness and that too insta happiness. So what is happiness - the hedonism (pursuit of insta pleasure and self-indulgence) of the modern times or the eudaimonism (philosophy of well-being and virtue ethics) of the earlier times?

Lasting happiness rests with peace of mind, with a stress-free life. Modern scientists in particular, quantum computing scientists have found, that those with a spiritual practice or who follow religious beliefs tend to be happier, less depressed and less anxious than those who don’t.

The Bhagavad Gita, speaks of 'ananda' as happiness, engendered by good thoughts and good deeds. One can experience true bliss through evenness of temper and mind. 'Ananda', is not a fleeting emotion or a temporary state of mind as it is the inherent nature of the 'Atman' or the self. It is not dependent on external circumstances. It is the unchanging, eternal bliss that arises from realizing one's true nature as the self that belongs to the eternal Self.

How to cultivate Ananda? It is through introspection and self-inquiry, through meditation, living in harmony with Dharma (ethical conduct) and grateful surrender to the Lord with humility for granting us our life’s blessings. The Gita also says that happiness rests in accepting God’s dispensation- the good and the bad, because He alone is the Do-er. A Tamil saying is no leaf can move without His bidding. Such an acceptance is possible if one gives up the arrogance of do-ership and surrenders to God the Do-er.

Christianity makes a distinction between Joy and happiness. Joy is permanent as it is divinely bestowed on us. God talks about earthly pleasures and tells us that every good and perfect thing is from above. But the Biblical definition of joy is very different from the cultural view of happiness. Joy comes from His presence, His strength, His deliverance of men and women from grief and suffering.

The concept of happiness in Islam is known as 'falah'. 'Falah' is pleasure and peace that can be enjoyed by all individuals in life and after life.

The best way to summarize happiness as gleaned from all religions is to see ‘that everyone is a house with four rooms- the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Most of us tend to live in one room most of the time, but unless we go into every room every day even if only to keep it aired, we are not a complete person.’  These can be best attained through Karma Yoga (selfless service), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Jnana Yoga or Buddhi Yoga(enquiry of what is real and what is unreal) and Raja Yoga (mastery of the mind).

The Happiness Exercise

By Smt. Neha Phull

In the prime of my youth, I feel invincible

The promise of life ahead brings glorious visions in its flair, 

The exuberant options fill joy in the very fabric of my air 

Expecting that peace and playfulness will be my constant companion

The cells of my very being will dance in gleeful union

With youthfulness in decline 
and the appearance of fine lines 
I notice I am merely crawling amongst the crowd
Carrying the burden of survival, 
The years are vanishing like the cloud
The hope of acquiring happiness in the world has dimmed
The joy and playfulness have far been skimmed…

When I looked at the scenes of life through another lens
I found, that my perspective needs a complete cleanse 

Happiness is not the end
You begin with happiness 
The gleeful dance doesn’t come
But it is with the feeling of glee 
I dance to life’s rhythm
It is the exercise of happiness 
Through the ups and downs 
That makes every moment worth living
Not letting disappointment make me drown

It is not over 
There are moments I have yet to see
There are places I am yet to be
With this new learning
Can I now add life to my years?
Can I now begin with happiness?
And also spread the cheer…

वास्तविक आनंद क्या है?

By Smt. Shilpi Sharma

आप एक छोटे बालक के व्यवहार का अवलोकन कीजिए। नवीन व सुंदर खिलौने देखकर वह अति प्रसन्न व जिज्ञासु भाव से खेलने लगता है यह उसका आनंद है, और हम इसे मिथ्या भी नहीं कह सकते। परंतु कुछ देर बाद उसकी दृष्टि माता को ढूंढने लगती हैं और अपने सामने माता को ना पाकर वह व्याकुल हो जाता है। अब उसकी रुचि रंग-बिरंगे, ‌मोहक खिलौनों से हट गई है। संसार की कोई भी वस्तु उसकी व्याकुलता को शांत करने में असमर्थ है। अब वह केवल अपनी माता का सानिध्य व दर्शन चाहता है। हम सांसारिक मनुष्य भी उस बालक की भांती है, भौतिक वस्तुओं का सुख हमें आनंद देता तो है, परंतु क्षण-भंगुर होता है। स्थायित्व का अभाव मिथ्या बोध देता है ।जब हमारी अंतर पुकार के स्वर में भौतिक सुखों के प्रति विरक्ति और परमात्मा  के प्रति समर्पण का प्राकट्य होता है; तब ईश्वर की उपस्थिति का अनुभव हमारे हृदय को वास्तविक आनंद से भर देता है। सेवाकार्य या किसी की सहायता करते हुए संतोष होता है, आनंद नहीं क्योंकि मैं कर्ता नहीं हूं। ईश्वर ने मुझे माध्यम चुना है। परमेश्वर के प्रेम की परिधि में ही आनंद है। हम सभी के जीवन में अनेक बार ऐसे अवसर आते हैं जब हम इस आनंद की अनुभूति करते हैं। एक ऐसे ही अवसर का अनुभव साझा करती हूं।

पिछले वर्ष एक शनिवार की सुबह सालासर बालाजी मंदिर दर्शन की तीव्र इच्छा हुई। करीब 6 घंटे के सफर के लिए हम दोपहर से पहले निकल चुके थे। यात्रा में एक के बाद एक अवरोध आने लगे। कभी सड़क कार्य तो कभी रेलवे फाटक और इस कारण अनुमानित समय बढ़ता ही जा रहा था। रात्रि 9:00 बजे मंदिर का प्रवेश द्वार बंद हो जाता है और इसी वजह से मन अशांत होने लगा। तभी अचानक तेज बारिश होने लगी, अब तो समय पर पहुंचना असंभव प्रतीत हो रहा था। जल भराव और बढ़ते अंधेरे ने कार की गति को धीमा कर दिया। हमने सब प्रभु की इच्छा पर छोड़कर निश्चिंत भाव से नाम संकीर्तन करना शुरू कर दिया। मन हरि भजन में इतना मगन हो गया की लग रह था कि हम मंदिर में ही है। इतने में एक एस यू वी कार हमसे आगे चलने लगी; बड़ी गाड़ी के चलने से सड़क का पानी हटता गया और हमारी गति भी बढ़ती गई। मंदिर से कुछ दूर पहले तक वही गाड़ी हमारा रास्ता बनाते हए चलती रही और  ठीक पहले दूसरी ओर मुड़ गई। अब बारिश भी बंद हो गई थी। प्रवेश द्वार पर सुरक्षा गार्ड्स खड़े थे। हमारे प्रवेश करते ही उन्होंने द्वार बंद कर दिया। मेरी दृष्टि वहां लगी दीवार घड़ी पर गई, जिसमें समय हो रहा था 8:58। बालाजी दर्शन ठीक 9:00 बजे हुए। बारिश रूक चुकी थी परन्तु मन सच्चे आनंद में भीगा हुआ था। व्याकुलता और समर्पण ही सच्चे आनंद की कुंजी है।

Happiness Quiz - Who said this?

“As long as we require someone else to make us happy, we are slaves.”

Swami Vivekananda

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts."

Marcus Aurelius

“Happy is the house that shelters a friend.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness.”

Viktor Frankl

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”

Socrates

What makes you happy? 
When do you experience joy? 
Can happiness can be pursued? Share your views in the comment box below. We would love to hear from you.

Wishing our Readers a Happy and Joyful Holi
Attribution
]]>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:00:00 +0530<![CDATA[Perspectives - दृष्टिकोण]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/feb2025In this multimedia post, we explore perspectives through two poems, an article in Hindi about acceptance, an article on active listening, a quiz and a short video titled Swami Vivekananda and purposeful inconsistency. There is also a teaser for the launch of the podcast on 1st March 2025!]]>

Podcast with Swami Shantatmanandaji Maharaj premieres on March 1st, 2025! 

Handling Hurt

By Smt. Saswati Ghosh

We stand on two ends of the spectrum wide,
You carry your sorrow, quietly inside.
I let mine erupt, like a storm in the sky,
You smile through the tears, while I let mine fly.

Your silence is poetry, deep and strong,
My voice - a siren warning those who do me wrong. 
You endure the weight with words unspoken,
I shatter the chains before I am broken.

Yet neither is wrong, for pain finds its way,
Through whispers or echoes, someone has to pay
Your calm is a river, my storm is the sea,
Both flowing toward where our souls long to be.

For life is a journey of battles unseen,
Of scars that we carry, both loud and serene.
Both of us look for what we think right,
Through the shadows of day and the trials of night.
In your quiet pain, and my fierce fight,
We both are struggling to find the light







Difficult People
By Smt. Reena Sinha
We’ve all come across them, sometime or the other,
For some, it’s a one-time hassle, for others, a daily bother. 
Difficult people come in all ages and forms,
There’re no clues to help spot them, nor any norms.
How to deal with them, no one can tell,
But they sure make our lives a living hell.
A domineering parent who wouldn’t let go,
A cantankerous boss with a massive ego,
A nagging wife breathing down your neck,
A headstrong child who doesn’t care a heck,
An opportunistic colleague, a troublesome friend, 
A suspicious neighbour, always ready to offend,
I’ve had my share of them too, as all of us do,
Let me share here some of my experiences with you.
A student of mine he was, a little boy of eight,
An innocent face, but a heart full of hate 
For his mother, his teachers, his school and studies,
And, will you believe it, even his buddies?
His teachers complained, his mother was ashamed,
He day-dreamed in class, whether Science or Arts,
His notebooks were empty, his homework undone,
Negatives he had so many, positives not one.
He was often marched down to the Principal’s office,
He was often punished, at times given toffees,
But kindness or sternness, nothing seemed to work,
He’d stare hard at you and stand like a rock.
I prayed hard to God to show him the light,
Years later, suddenly I met him on a flight.
“Hello, young man,” said I, “What a difficult one you were!”
“So I was,” said he, “but then, did you care?”
I was taken aback by his bitter stance,
What had I done to get such a response?
“I was difficult,” he said, “but so were you,
What you did to me, I did unto you.
You never gave me a chance, you always complained,
You never allowed me to express or explain.”
His outburst on me had a sobering effect,
It forced me to sit down and reflect.
Had I known all this, years ago,
I’d handle him differently, without much ado.
My thoughts went back to my former boss,
Who never ever agreed with my views or thoughts.
Undercurrents, bitterness, tension in the air,
Anger, hatred, for she was being unfair,
Fear, that she may cause me some harm,
I always lived in a state of alarm.
Would things have been different, had I understood
That I was the cause of the difficulty too?
My pupil and boss have taught me a lesson,
While judging people, let us not hasten.
Difficult people do not love being so,
More often than not, they just do not know!
Or perhaps, just cannot let go.
Sometimes it’s their egos that come in the way,
At other times, it’s ours that blocks the way.
Here’s what I learnt about dealing with them.
Peep into their minds and try to understand
What makes them act the way they do,
Their ego, a whim, some truth about you?
Then deal with them as the situation demands,
Calmness for anger, obedience for commands,
Compliance for stubbornness, truth for falsehood,
Humility for arrogance, will do a lot of good.
It always pays to bow down for a while,
To help them realize, it wasn’t worth their while.
Be a parent to a mother, who acts like a child,
Be a child to a daughter, who acts very wild,
A boss can be handled with gentle persuasion,
A friend, with a calm and forgiving disposition,
Psychological handling while dealing with them,
Can turn them around and make them your friends.
A positive attitude will also help,
Then negatives will become roads to success!
Let us consider yet another fact,
We haven’t perhaps thought of that:
It’s strange but true that we don’t realize
We are often those difficult people whom we so criticize.
A wonderful father may be a horrendous boss,
An excellent teacher may be at a loss
When it comes to dealing with her children dear,
So, she fills their lives with misery and tears.
It’s therefore odd to put people in slots,
Say who is difficult and who is not.
We are all difficult and easy at times,
Like our lives that are filled with both rain and sunshine.
So, what’s to be done when a difficult one
Walks into my life, removes peace for strife?
Apply understanding, patience, tact and thought,
Try my level best and leave the rest to God. 
Difficult people or people misunderstood?
It’s all the same, it’s just the way you look!

THE END

स्वीकृति - क्यों और कैसे?

By Dr. Nandini Seshadri

जब  बच्चे घर का सुरक्षित माहौल छोड़कर बाहर की दुनिया के साथ बातचीत करना शुरू करते हैं, उनका दृष्टिकोण धीरे-धीरे बदलने लगता है।  ऐसा होना लाजमी है क्योंकि बच्चा साथियों के प्रभाव में आने के साथ-साथ स्वयं अपनी सोच भी विकसित कर रहा है।  इसे अनदेखा नहीं किया जा सकता। मतान्तर, छोटी से छोटी बात  जैसे कि कपड़ों का चुनाव से लेकर इतनी बड़ी बात कि वह  जीवन पर  प्रभाव डाल  सके, कहीं भी हो सकता है।
क्या टकराव के या दबाव में आए बिना इससे निबटने का कोई उपाय है?
हमारे पास उपलब्ध साधनों में से एक है स्वीकृति – अर्थात, यह स्वीकार करना कि बच्चे का दृष्टिकोण हमसे अलग है।
यह महत्वपूर्ण क्यों है?
 जब आप स्वीकार करते हैं तो -
  • स्थिति का नियंत्रण आपके हाथ में होता  है
  • आप भावनात्मक रूप से स्थिर होते  हैं और बेहतर सोच सकते हैं कि आप अपनी बात दूसरे तक कैसे पहुंचाएं या समस्या का समाधान कैसे खोजें। 
उदाहरण के लिए, आपका बेटा मानता है कि सोशल मीडिया उसके लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण है और वह हर समय उसी में व्यस्त रहता है, जबकि आपका मानना ​​है कि यह समय की बर्बादी व हानिकारक है। यह स्वीकार कर पाना कि वह इसका आदी है और उसकी मदद करने का उपाय और साधन ढूंढना ही आगे बढ़ने का बेहतर तरीका होगा.
लेकिन क्या इसे स्वीकार करना आसान है?  नहीं, बिलकुल  नहीं!!
स्वीकारने की  दिशा  में  बढ़ने के  लिए  कुछ  क़दम 
  • स्थिति को बच्चे के दृष्टिकोण से देखें।
  • बिना किसी पूर्वाग्रह के, सकारात्मक होकर उसकी बात सुनें
  • आवेशपूर्ण प्रतिक्रिया देने के बजाय समझ कर प्रतिक्रिया दें
  • उसकी बात सुनने के बाद उसे अपना दृष्टिकोण बताएं 
  • स्वयं  को उसके स्थान पर रखकर देखें कि उस स्थिति में आप कैसा महसूस करेंगे ? 
  • उस पर विश्वास रखें 
  • इस बात पर विचार करें कि आपने उसकी उम्र में ऐसी ही परिस्थिति में क्या किया था?
आपके लिए, मतभेदों को स्वीकार कर इस भिन्न दृष्टिकोण को अपनाना क्यों लाभकर है ?
  • हो सकता है इससे आपको कोई सौहार्दपूर्ण समाधान मिले 
  • हो  सकता है आप बहुत कुछ न बदल पाएं पर आप स्वयं में धैर्य बरतने जैसे गुण विकसित कर सकते हैं

आप बच्चे को गलती करने दें ताकि वह उससे सीखे और मजबूत बने। इसके लिए आंतरिक शक्ति की अत्यावश्यकता होती है जिसका प उपयोग करते हैं। आप जीवन में उन स्थितियों से निपटने के लिए, जिन पर आपका कोई नियंत्रण नहीं है, धीरे-धीरे लचीलापन विकसित करते हैं। 

यह बच्चे की मदद किस प्रकार करता है?
उसके विचार को स्वीकार करते हुए -
  • उसे यह आश्वासन दिया जाता है कि उसे अपने स्वतन्त्र विचार रखने का अधिकार है, भले ही वह आपके विचारों से भिन्न क्यों न हों ।
  • इससे उसमे आत्म-सम्मान विकसित होता है जो उसे जीवन में उत्तरदायित्वपूर्ण विकल्प चुनने में सहायक होगा
  • संभवतः वह भविष्य में अपनी बात सम्मानजनक ढंग  से रखेगा 
यहां तक ​​कि यदि  उसने कोई गलती भी की है तो वह इसे स्वीकार करने से नहीं हिचकिचाएगा क्योंकि उसने आपके साथ एक सुदृढ़ सम्बन्ध स्थापित कर लिया है।

L.I.S.T.E.N

By Dr. Neera Pant

Listening is an essential yet often overlooked skill that plays a significant role in building stronger relationships. Let’s look at the word L.I.S.T.E.N. as an acronym. This provides us with a tool to be an active listener.

L - Look at the eyes of the listener while speaking

Maintain eye contact

I - Inquire with short questions

Is what is spoken clear?

S - Summarise

Tell the speaker briefly what you have understood of the conversation so far

T - Take part in the interaction

Using non verbal cues like nodding your head, etc.

E - Empathy

Listening with feeling

N - Non-judgemental listening

As a listener you do not respond with advice to a problem unless asked

This is the major difference between listening and active listening.

Weger et al. (2014) defines active listening as focusing on the speaker’s message, offering feedback to show understanding, and avoiding quick judgments or evaluations.

Research highlights that active listening improves empathy, reduces misunderstandings, and boosts problem-solving skills. It creates an atmosphere of trust and respect, which fosters more meaningful interactions. Feeling heard enhances self-worth and reduces stress. In the workplace, strong listening skills are linked to better teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution. Developing active listening skills requires practice. By becoming better listeners, individuals can strengthen relationships and navigate challenges more effectively.

Play a quiz on differing perspectives!

What was the fundamental difference in the approach between Gandhiji and Netaji in India's freedom struggle?

Non-violent civil struggle vs armed struggle 

What did Duryodhana want from Krishna once the war was announced and what did the Pandavas want?

Krishna's army vs Krishna himself 

What is the fundamental difference between the modern education system and the education of the rishis?

Skilling for employment vs Knowledge of Self 

Swami Vivekananda and Purposeful Inconsistency

Attribution
  • Tall lady talking to a small girl by Rajiv Eipe, for KİTAP KURDU LOLİ written by Fatma Günbey under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • different children by Aindri C, for Your Body Is Yours written by Yamini Vijayan, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2020) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Sad man and people by Angie & Upesh, for Annual Haircut Day written by Rohini Nilekani, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2007) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • An angry girl's eyes by Vinayak Varma, for Angry Akku written by Vinayak Varma, supported by Oracle, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2017) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Teacher scolding a student by Priya Kuriyan, for It's All the Cat's Fault! written by Anushka Ravishankar, published by StoryWeaver (© StoryWeaver, 2015) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Angry woman by Rijuta Ghate, for Naughty or Not (Tell me now series) written by Madhav Chavan, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2004) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • An angry girl in the midst of other children playing by Vinayak Varma, for Angry Akku written by Vinayak Varma, supported by Oracle, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2017) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Girl crying to her mother by Jesse Breytenbach , for Abel and his sister's doll written by Eyobi Kitaw, published by African Storybook Initiative (© African Storybook Initiative, 2017) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Diverse people by Gitanjali Iyer, for How I Feel written by Varsha Seshan, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2020) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • different sizes and shapes of human bodies by Aindri C, for Your Body Is Yours written by Yamini Vijayan, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2020) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
]]>Fri, 14 Feb 2025 12:12:09 +0530<![CDATA[Inspired Living - आत्म चिन्तन]]>https://viva.rkmm.org/blogs/post/12-Jan-2025In this multimedia post, there is a rich expression of gratitude to Swami Vivekananda for being inspirational. A video, presentation, three poems, a quiz and a song are included in this bouquet.]]>

Swami Shantatmananda shares why he is inspired by Swami Vivekananda

Dhruv Tara
By Neha Phull from Bangalore
Can you wait, O’ hummingbird before you fly off to yet another branch, 
With wings as the motion of the ticking clock, 
You take flight when the pendulum strikes the hour… The moments are passing; it is time to feed, earn & rest… 
I ask you, O’ hummingbird, can you give me another hour at best… 
 There I see another book lying on my shelf, 
 It has the solemn words, the tales of a Hero, 
The tales that tell me of the Truths, 
Fundamental & profound hidden in plain sight, 
The truths that the heart has been unknowingly seeking all its life… 
 The heart is unfolding and there stands a manly figure, 
 Draped in simplicity, love and a vision that makes it shiver… 
That Hero has unpacked the very fabric of this world, Peeling layer after layer of truths, he has my heart in his fold… 
Introducing one to oneself, exclaiming aloud our divine nature, 
That Role Model is the subject of these books which the heart is yet to nurture… 
The heart’s yearning surges with the ticking clock, 
O’ hummingbird, you are time itself, can you not give me that hour? 
This short life is not enough, to know who that Ideal was, 
Where do I even begin to follow his footprints, 
Whose glories the world sings, still at the shores of this ocean I sprint… 
Dhruv Tara as I call him, 
If it wasn’t for him, I would still be wandering...

विवेक पथ
By Shipi Sharma from Gurugram
माना अंधकार घना गहरा है
भ्रम, माया का भी पहरा है
भय निराशा के बादल हैं 
अवसादों ने तुमको घेरा है 
ध्यान ,ज्ञान, अनुशासन बल से
निर्णय तुमको करना होगा 
विवेक पथ चलना होगा....
सुखद, सहज, सरल ना होगा 
मन इच्छित फल ना होगा 
है आज असंभव, दुष्कर लगता जो 
कार्य कठिन वह कल ना होगा 
त्याग कर निज स्वार्थ हितों को 
परमार्थ रत होना होगा 
विवेक पथ चलना होगा ....
नई चुनौतियां, नई विपत्ति
पल-पल बदले समय, स्थिति
साहस, धैर्य ,विश्वास ना खोना
है शास्त्र सम्मत यही सुनीति
सेवा- धर्म ही शाश्वत सत्य 
इनसें चरित्र घड़ना होगा 
विवेक पथ चलना होगा....

Water colour and charcoal sketch by Saswati Ghosh

Eternal Inspiration: My Ode to Vivekananda


By Saswati Ghosh from Delhi

When I began to teach, unsure and afraid,
Your words lit my path, the doubts allayed.
"Arise, awake," your call to the soul,
Ignited my heart, made my purpose whole.
“Each soul is divine,” you whispered to me,
And unlocked the teacher I was meant to be.
You taught me to serve, to strive, to inspire,
To nurture young minds with a sacred fire.
Today, on your day, I bow with my heart,
For you shaped my journey, gave it a start.
O Swamiji , your wisdom, your vision, your flame,
Forever will guide me to honour your name.
Swami Vivekananda has inspired great thinkers and doers. Can you guess who said this?
​(You can click on the tabs below to reveal the answer!)
"If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative."

Rabindranath Tagore

“Twelve centuries ago Sankaracharya was the only great personality, who not only spoke of the purity of our religion, not only uttered in words that this religion was our strength and wealth, not only said that it was our sacred duty to preach this religion in the length and breadth of the world – but also brought all this into action. Swami Vivekananda is a person of that stature"

Bal Gangadhar Tilak

“I have come here to pay my homage and respect to the revered memory of Swami Vivekananda, whose birthday is being celebrated today. I have gone through his works very thoroughly, and after having gone through them, the love that I had for my country became a thousand-fold. I ask you, young men, not to go away empty-handed without imbibing something of the spirit of the place where Swami Vivekananda lived and died.”

Mahatma Gandhi

Who considered Vivekananda as his spiritual teacher? Who called Vivekananda a "full-blooded masculine personality – and a fighter to the core of being"?

Subhash Chandra Bose

"Vivekananda was a soul of puissance (a person who can jump over obstacles) if ever there was one, a very lion among men, but the definite work he has left behind is quite incommensurate with our impression of his creative might and energy."

Sri Aurobindo

Listen to a soulful rendering of a hymn inspired by Swami Vivekananda

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  • AUDIO-2025-01-08-10-53-33.aac
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This song 'Vande Vivekanandam' is sung by Sritama Roy from Ranchi. Sritama writes, "This song has been composed by Pr. Satyabrataprana Mataji, Headmistress of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Girl's School Secondary (5-12) section. The school is in Bagbazar, Kolkata, which was inaugurated by Shree Shree Maa in 1898, 13th Nov, in the presence of Sister Nivedita and Swamiji Vivekananda."

Attributions
  • Hummingbird flying towards a flower in search of nectar by Rohan Dahotre, for All About Beaks written by Rohan Dahotre, supported by Sofina Covid Solidarity Fund, published by Pratham Books (© Pratham Books, 2021) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Walking by Maithili Joshi, for অতিথি written by Rabindranath Tagore, published by StoryWeaver (© StoryWeaver, 2020) under a CC BY 4.0 license on StoryWeaver. Read, create and translate stories for free on www.storyweaver.org.in
  • Rabindranath Tagore - Cherishsantosh, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Bal Gangadhar Tilak - Paper Jewels, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Mahatma Gandhi - google, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Subhash Chandra Bose - 2130779joshitha.n, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Sri Aurobindo - Rudolf 1922, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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