Sayings of Vivekananda .....

Heaven is a mere superstition arising from desire, and desire is ever a yoke, a degeneration.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. July 5, 1895. Complete Works, 7.34.

Vedanta took this old idea of God, the Governor of the universe, who is external to the universe, and first put him inside the universe. He is not a God outside, but he is inside. From there Vedanta took him in our own hearts. Here he is in the human heart, the Soul of our souls, the Reality in us.

From a lecture on "Vedic Religious Ideals," given in London, probably on Oct 13, 1896. Complete Works, 1.355-56.

According to Raja Yoga, the external world is but the gross form of the internal, or the subtle. The finer is always the cause, the grosser the effect. So the external world is the effect, the internal the cause. ... Those who have discovered and learned how to manipulate the internal forces will get the whole of nature under their control.

From Swamiji's book "Raja Yoga," Chapter One, "Introductory." Complete Works, 1.132.

God exists, not birth nor death, not pain nor misery, nor murder, nor change, nor good nor evil; all is Brahman. We take the "rope for the serpent," the error is ours.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. July 5, 1895. Complete Works, 7.34.

The Atman has no caste, and to think it has is a delusion.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. July 5, 1895. Complete Works, 7.34.

The truth is not in any religion, it is here in the human soul, the miracle of all miracles--in the human soul, the emporium of all knowledge, the mine of all existence. Seek for it here in the soul. What is not here cannot be there. That which is external is but a dull reflection at best of that which is inside.

From a lecture on "Vedic Religious Ideals," given in London, probably on Oct 13, 1896. Complete Works, 1. 355.

Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.

Sayings and utterances. Complete Works, 5:410.

We can only do good when we love God and he reflects our love.

Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. July 5, 1895. Complete Works, 7.34.

Sayings of Vivekananda ...