A renowned social reformer and world leader, Swami Vivekananda, is often credited with countless praises. But perhaps, the most fitting would be the title ‘messiah’. Swami Vivekananda was responsible for introducing the Indian philosophies of Vedanta to the western world. With the power of words and his impressive oratory skills, he managed to put the Indian religion on the world map with other religions.
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings were a culmination of both science and religion. Science gave him answers to how things work, and spirituality taught him about all the ‘why’s’ of the world. His out-worldly knowledge of life gave him an in-depth understanding of stuff beyond human comprehension.
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863, in an aristocratic Bengali Kayastha family of Calcutta. During his lifetime, he fought against the social evils of Indian society, which were plaguing during the 19th and 20th centuries. He even founded the Ramakrishna mission, which focused on serving the distressed population of India.
Today, Swami Vivekananda has become an influential figure with thousands of followers across the globe. His teachings and principles are something to be cherished and followed every step of the way.
Table of Contents
Famous Astro strategist- Hirav Shah brings you 3-life-changing principles that we must adopt from the teachings of Swami Vivekananda:
Navigate life with humility
I remember hearing about an incident during his brief visit to England. While conversing, Swami corrected his friend’s English. That deeply offended his friend’s sensibilities, and he argued that he was correct just because he was a native English speaker.
To which, Swami Vivekananda smiled and humbly responded, “I know the use of language because I have learned the language while you have picked the language.” There will be times when we will have differences in opinions.
A situation may take a turn for the worse, and we may suffer the consequences of our actions. At times like these, it’s okay to take a step back and practice humility. Humility won’t make us smaller. In the hindsight, it may save us from unfavorable circumstances.
Have courage
Vivekananda had once said, “If you ever feel afraid of anything, always turn around and face it. Never think of running away.” There are two sides to life, the good side, and the bad side. We need to be strong enough to face them both. For this, acceptance is the key. Know that with good days, bad days will also come. We need to keep a straight face and accept hardships.
Show compassion
One day, Vivekananda’s mother asked him to get a knife from the kitchen. As an obedient child, he did what he was told. However, while handing the knife, he kept the pointed end towards himself and the blunt side towards his mother so she won’t get hurt. When his mother saw this, she was overwhelmed and declared that he was prepared to serve people.
We are born to this world to help others in need. Service to others is service to god.When you help someone, you are not only helping them but the society as a whole. These small act of kindness is something that makes us human.
Conclusion
When I was a child, I was in awe of the aura and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. The line ‘if you wish to change the world, you need to believe in yourself first’ always stayed with me wherever I went.
Swami Vivekananda was a pioneer for his humanitarian works and social service. His philosophies on life are something that should be widely acknowledged and remembered for a better tomorrow- concludes India’s favorite Astro Strategist™ Hirav Shah.
