Formless One

At the head of all these laws, in and through every particle of matter and force, stands One through whose command the wind blows, the fire burns, the clouds rain, and death stalks upon the earth. 

And what is His nature? 

He is everywhere the pure and formless One, the Almighty and the All Merciful. Thou art our Father. Thou art our beloved Friend. 

                    - Swami Vivekananda, 

                       Extract from Prayer offered at 

                        Parliament of Religions, Chicago

De-hypnotise Yourself

Reason

Physics is bounded on both sides by metaphysics. So it is with reason -- it starts from non-reason and ends with non-reason. 

If we push inquiry far enough in the world of perception, we must reach a plane beyond perception. 

Reason is really stored up and classified perception, preserved by memory. We can never imagine or reason beyond our sense-perceptions.  

                 - Swami Vivekananda, 

                    Discourses on Jnana-Yoga, US

Ultimate Unity

Children out of Prayer

But I ask you the question tonight: 

Do you all pray for the children to come? Are you thankful to be mothers, or not? Do you think that you are sanctified by motherhood, or not? 

Ask that of your minds. 

If you do not, your marriage is a lie, your womanhood is false, your education is superstition, and your children, if they come without prayer, will prove a curse to humanity. 

               - Swami Vivekananda, 

                  ‘Women of India’, Talk at 

                  Shakespeare Club House, Pasadena, California 

Time, Space, Causation

Perfect Purity

Knowledge exists eternally. The man who discovers a spiritual truth is what we call "inspired", and what he brings to the world is revelation. But revelation too is eternal and is not to be crystallised as final and then blindly followed. 

Revelation may come to any man who has fitted himself to receive it. Perfect purity is the most essential thing, for only "the pure in heart shall see God". 

             - Swami Vivekananda, 

                Discourses on Jnana-Yoga, US

Philosophy and Religion