Quotes of Swami Vivekananda that proponents of Hindutva don't want you to read

(1/n)

"I am a socialist not because I think it is a perfect system, but half a loaf is better than no bread (...) A redistribution of pain and pleasure is better than always the same persons having pains and pleasures."

(2/n)

"The idea that one man is born superior to another has no meaning in the Vedanta; that between two nations one is superior and the other inferior has no meaning whatsoever."

(3/n)

"Two forces, as it were, are constantly at work, one making caste, and the other breaking caste; in other words, the one making for privilege, the other breaking down privilege. And whenever privilege is broken down, more and more light and progress come to a race."

(4/n)

"Our motherland is a glowing example of the results and consequence of the eternal subjection of the individual to society and forced self-sacrifice by dint of institution and discipline."

(5/n)

"She takes it as her own duty, and performs her own part in it. Think of the terrible injustice of her being exiled to the forest! But Sita knows no bitterness. That is, again, the Indian ideal."

(6/n)

"Says the ancient Buddha, "When a man hurts you, and you turn back to hurt him, that would not cure the first injury; it would only create in the world one more wickedness." Sita was a true Indian by nature; she never returned injury."

(7/n)

"we will and must go on building churches for the Christians and mosques for the Mohammedans until we conquer through love, until we have demonstrated to the world that love alone is the fittest thing to survive and not hatred"

(8/n)

"it is gentleness that has the strength to live on and to fructify, and not mere brutality and physical force."

(9/n)

"All hatred is killing the "Self by the self", therefore love is the law of life."

Here, Self means soul and self means ego.

(10/n)

"fortunately for me I studied the Christian religion, the Mohammedan, the Buddhistic, and others, and what was my surprise to find that the same foundation principles taught by my religion were also taught by all religions."

(11/n)

"I accept all religions that were in the past, and worship with them all; I worship God with every one of them, in whatever form they worship Him. I shall go to the mosque of the Mohammedan; I shall enter the Christian's church and kneel before the crucifix"

(12/n)

"Had I lived in Palestine, in the days of Jesus of Nazareth, I would have washed his feet, not with my tears, but with my heart's blood!"

(13/n)

"Says the Vedanta, we must give up the idea of privilege, then will religion come. Before that there is no religion at all."

(14/n)

"How can there be difference? It is all one. Every being is the temple of the Most High; if you can see that, good, if not, spirituality has yet to come to you."

(15/n)

Swami Vivekananda believed in Advaita Vedanta. Not only did He believe. He lived it. He saw it.

Advaita was also the basis behind the actions of Mahatma Gandhi. It's the basis of true love for all, including your enemies.

(16/n)

I am a staunch Congressi but this is my personal opinion. I won't bring Swamiji here because Swamiji had nothing to do with politics. He said God and truth are real politics.

Being apolitical doesn't mean not having a vision for the country. He had a vision for India.

(17/n)

From the above quotes, it's clear what his vision was.

His Guru Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa followed Hinduism, Christianity and Islam and realized God through all these religions. He also followed different schools of Hinduism.

He proved that all religions are true.

(18/n)

"Ramakrishna's life enables us to see God face to face. He was a living embodiment of godliness." - Mahatma Gandhi

(19/n)

I have been inspired by Swamiji since the age of 10 when my Maths teacher told us stories of him and my father purchased his biography.

I am a devotee of Bhagavan Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

It hurts me deeply when hate-mongers spread hatred in Swamiji's name.

(20/n)

Swamiji is a symbol of spirituality, love, fraternity, humanity, inclusiveness, pluralism, tolerance and acceptance.

He can NEVER be a symbol of hatred or fascism.

He was against everything that BJP and RSS stand for.

(21/n)