Same God for All

If you believe there is a God, the animals and the highest creatures must be the same. 

A God who is partial to his children called men, and cruel to his children called brute beasts, is worse than a demon. I would rather die a hundred times than worship such a God. My whole life would be a fight with such a God. 

But there is no difference, and those who say there is, are irresponsible, heartless people who do not know.

- Swami Vivekananda, 

Practical Vedanta I, London

Degrading Man

Practical Ideal

All the powers in the universe are already ours. 

It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark. Know that there is no darkness around us. 

Take the hands away and there is the light which was from the beginning. Darkness never existed, weakness never existed. 

We who are fools cry that we are weak; we who are fools cry that we are impure. 

Thus Vedanta not only insists that the ideal is practical, but that it has been so all the time; and this Ideal, this Reality, is our own nature.

- Swami Vivekananda, 

  Practical Vedanta I, London

We Can Do Everything

Two Forces Side by Side

Two forces have been working side by side in parallel lines. 

The one says "I", the other says "not I". 

Their manifestation is not only in man but in animals, not only in animals but in the smallest worms. … 

… throughout creation these two forces are working side by side; where you find the one, you find the other too. 

The one is selfishness, the other is unselfishness. 

The one is acquisition, the other is renunciation. 

The one takes, the other gives. 

From the lowest to the highest, the whole universe is the playground of these two forces. 

It does not require any demonstration; it is obvious to all.

- Swami Vivekananda, 

Practical Vedanta IV, London

Palpable, Blissful, Living God

Intellect and Heart

Intellect is necessary, for without it we fall into crude errors and make all sorts of mistakes. 
Intellect checks these; but beyond that, do not try to build anything upon it. It is an inactive, secondary help; the real help is feeling, love. 
Do you feel for others? 
If you do, you are growing in oneness. 
If you do not feel for others, you may be the most intellectual giant ever born, but you will be nothing; you are but dry intellect, and you will remain so. 

And if you feel, even if you cannot read any book and do not know any language, you are in the right way. The Lord is yours. 

         - Swami Vivekananda, Practical Vedanta I, London

Realisation and Mere Talking