BUDDHA STORY

  VII GURU, AVATARA, YOGA, JAPA, SEVA Q . — How can Vedanta be realised? A . — By "hearing, reflection, and meditation". Hearing must take place from a Sad-guru. Even if one is not a regular disciple, but is a fit aspirant and hears the Sad-guru's words, he is liberated. Q . — Who is a Sad-guru? A . — A Sad-guru is one on whom the spiritual power has descended by Guru-paramparâ, or an unbroken chain of discipleship. To play the role of a spiritual teacher is a very difficult thing. One has to take on oneself the sins of others. There is every chance of a fall in less advanced men. If merely physical pain ensues, then he should consider himself fortunate. Q . — Cannot the spiritual teacher make the aspirant fit? A . — An Avatâra can. Not an ordinary Guru. Q . — Is there no easy way to liberation? A . — "There is no royal road to Geometry" — except for those who have been fortunate enough to come in contact with an Avatara. Paramahamsa Deva used to say, "One ...

  VI IN ANSWER TO NIVEDITA (In answer to a few questions put by Sister Nivedita, Swamiji jotted down the replies on May 24, 1900 at San Francisco.) Q . — I cannot remember what parts Prithvi Rai and Chând disguised themselves to play, when they determined to attend the Svayamvara at Kanauj. A . — Both went as minstrels. Q . — Also did Prithvi Rai determine to marry Samyuktâ partly because she was the daughter of his rival and partly for the fame of her great beauty? Did he then send a woman-servant to obtain the post of her maid? And did this old nurse set herself to make the princess fall in love with Prithvi Rai? A . — They had fallen in love with each other, hearing deeds and beauty and seeing portraits. Falling in love through portraits is an old Indian game. Q . — How did Krishna come to be brought up amongst the shepherds? A . — His father had to flee with the baby to save it from the tyrant Kamsa, who ordered all the babes (male) from that year to be killed, as (through prop...

IV ( Selections from the Math Diary ) ( Translated from  Bengali   ) Q . — Whom can we call a Guru? A . — He who can tell your past and future is your Guru. Q . — How can one have Bhakti? A . — There is Bhakti within you, only a veil of lust-and-wealth covers it, and as soon as that is removed Bhakti will manifest by itself. Q . — What is the true meaning of the assertion that we should depend on ourselves? A . — Here self means the eternal Self. But even dependence on the non-eternal self may lead gradually to the right goal, as the individual self is really the eternal Self under delusion. Q . — If unity is the only reality, how could duality which is perceived by all every moment have arisen? A . — Perception is never dual; it is only the representation of perception that involves duality. If perception were dual, the known could have existed independently of the knower, and vice versa. Q . — How is harmonious development of character to be best effect...

  IV ( Selections from the Math Diary ) ( Translated from  Bengali   ) Q . — Whom can we call a Guru? A . — He who can tell your past and future is your Guru. Q . — How can one have Bhakti? A . — There is Bhakti within you, only a veil of lust-and-wealth covers it, and as soon as that is removed Bhakti will manifest by itself. Q . — What is the true meaning of the assertion that we should depend on ourselves? A . — Here self means the eternal Self. But even dependence on the non-eternal self may lead gradually to the right goal, as the individual self is really the eternal Self under delusion. Q . — If unity is the only reality, how could duality which is perceived by all every moment have arisen? A . — Perception is never dual; it is only the representation of perception that involves duality. If perception were dual, the known could have existed independently of the knower, and vice versa. Q . — How is harmonious development of character to be best effected? A . — By as...

  ON ART IN INDIA "Arts and Sciences in India" was the topic under which the Swami Vivekananda was introduced to the audience at Wendte Hall, San Francisco. The Swami held the attention of his hearers throughout as was demonstrated by the many questions which were put to him after his address. The Swami said in part: In the history of nations, the government at the beginning has always been in the hands of the priests. All the learning also has proceeded from the priests. Then, after the priests, the government changes hands, and the Kshatriya or the kingly power prevails, and the military rule is triumphant. This has always been true. And last comes the grasp of luxury, and the people sink down under it to be dominated by stronger and more barbarous races. Amongst all races of the world, from the earliest time in history, India has been called the land of wisdom. For ages India itself has never gone out to conquer other nations. Its people have never been fighters. Unlike yo...