Vedanta Society of Northern California

Proclaim the glory of the Atman with the roar of a lion, and impart fearlessness unto all beings by saying, "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached."

— Swami Vivekananda

5 days ago | [YT] | 75

Vedanta Society of Northern California

Disciple: "Why is it so hard to meditate ?"

Swami: "You must have introspection. You must study your own mind, otherwise how can you remove all impurities from it ? If you find it difficult to meditate, be prayerful. It is not possible at the beginning to have a clear image of the Chosen Deity (Ishta) during meditation."

Swami Shivananda

1 week ago | [YT] | 67

Vedanta Society of Northern California

Can anything be done unless everybody exerts himself to his utmost? 'It is the man of action, the lion-heart, that the goddess of wealth resorts to.' No need of looking behind. FORWARD! We want infinite energy, infinite zeal, infinite courage, and infinite patience, then only will great things be achieved.

— Swami Vivekananda

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 59

Vedanta Society of Northern California

Is life in the world separate from God? He is everywhere... Be content with wherever and in whatever situation He places you. The goal is to call upon Him and to attain to Him. If call you upon Him, He will lead you by the hand. You will have no fear if you can depend on Him.

— Sri Sarada Devi

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 72

Vedanta Society of Northern California

The sun can give heat and light to the whole world, but it can do nothing when the clouds shut out its rays. Similarly, so long as egotism is in the heart, God cannot shine upon it.

— Sri Ramakrishna

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 66

Vedanta Society of Northern California

Be brave and be sincere, then follow any path with devotion, and you must reach the Lord. Lay hold of one link of the chain, and the whole chain must come by degrees. Water the roots of the tree—that is, reach the Lord—and the whole tree is watered. Getting the Lord, we get all.

— Swami Vivekananda

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 61

Vedanta Society of Northern California

If you do a good action, that will counteract your past evil action. Past sins can be counteracted by meditation, japa and spiritual thought.
— Sri Sarada Devi

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 70

Vedanta Society of Northern California

You must be firm in one ideal. Dive deep. Otherwise you cannot get the gems at the bottom of the ocean. You cannot pick up the gems if you only float on the surface.

— Sri Ramakrishna

1 month ago | [YT] | 58

Vedanta Society of Northern California

God is the Kalpataru, the Wish-fulfilling Tree. You will certainly get whatever you ask of Him. But you must pray standing near the Kalpataru. Only then will your prayer be fulfilled. But you must remember another thing. God knows our inner feeling. A man gets the fulfillment of the desire he cherishes while practising sadhana. As one thinks, so one receives.

— Sri Ramakrishna

1 month ago | [YT] | 52

Vedanta Society of Northern California

As soft clay easily takes an impression, but not hard stone, so also Divine wisdom impresses itself on the heart of a devotee, but not on a bound soul.

— Sri Ramakrishna

1 month ago | [YT] | 53