While Swami Premananda was lecturing, a gentleman asked him to speak about love and devotion; but Premananda ignored him. But when the man repeated himself, Premananda said: “Who will listen to love and devotion? I don’t find anybody here who is fit to listen to it.” Then the swami continued: “Sir, listen to a story. Once a street hawker was calling out, ‘Who wants to buy love? Who wants to buy love?’ People opened their front doors and inquired about the price. The hawker said: ‘Price? It is priceless! But I can sell this invaluable love in exchange for a head. Are you ready to give up your heads?’ People immediately shut their doors.” Then pointing to the audience, Premananda said, “Is there anybody here ready to give up his head [the ego]?” Everyone kept quiet. (Source: God Lived with Them)
An occasion came, when this call was uttered with great force. Some dispute occurred in the course of a question–class. “What the world wants to–day”, said the Swami, – the determination to “throw a bomb,” as he called it, evidently taking sudden possession of him, –“What the world wants to–day, is twenty men and women who can dare to stand in the street yonder, and say that they possess nothing but God. Who will go?” He had risen to his feet by this time, and stood looking round his audience as if begging some of them to join him, “Why should one fear?” And then, in tones of which, even now, I can hear again the thunderous conviction, “If this is true, what else could matter? If it is not true, what do our lives matter?” (Source: The Master as I Saw Him)
There are two sorts of persons in the world. The one—strong-nerved, quiet, yielding to nature, not given to much imagination, yet good, kind, sweet, etc.—for such is this world—they alone are born to be happy. There are others again with high-strung nerves, tremendously imaginative, with intense feeling, always going high [one moment] and coming down the next—for them there is no happiness. The first class will have almost an even tenor of happiness. The last, will have to run between ecstasy and misery—but of these alone what we call geniuses are made. There is some truth in the recent theory that “genius is a sort of madness.”
Now, persons of this class, if they want to be great, must fight to finish—clear out the deck for battle. No encumbrance—no marriage, no children, no undue attachment to anything except the one idea, and live and die for that—I am a person of this sort. I have taken up the one idea of “Vedanta” and I have “cleared the deck for action.”
You and Isabelle are made of this metal—but let me tell you, though it is hard—you are spoiling your lives in vain. Either take up one idea, clear the deck, and to it dedicate the life—or be contented and practical, lower the ideal, marry, and have a happy life. Either “Bhoga” or “Yoga”—Either enjoy this life or give up and be a yogi—None can have both in one. Now or never—select quick—“He who is very particular gets nothing,” says the proverb. Now sincerely and really and forever determine to “clear the deck for fight,” take up anything, philosophy or science, or religion or literature, and let that be your God for the rest of your life. Achieve happiness or achieve greatness.
I have no sympathy with you and Isabelle—you are neither for this nor for that. I wish to see you happy, as Harriet has well chosen, or great. Eating, drinking, dressing, and society nonsense are not things to throw a life upon—especially you, Mary. You are rusting away a splendid brain and abilities, for which there is not the least excuse. You must have ambition to be great. I know you will take these rather harsh remarks from me in the right spirit, knowing I like you really as much or more than what I call you, my sisters. I had long had a mind to tell you this, and as experience is gathering I feel like telling you. (Source: Swami Vivekananda in a Letter to Mary Hale)
In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna uttered similar words to Arjuna.
- (O Arjuna!) Know that Atma by which the whole universe is pervaded is indestructible. No one can cause the destruction of the imperishable. (BG 2.17)
- These bodies which belong to the real imperishable, unknowable Atma are said to be subject to an end; therefore fight, O Arjuna! (BG 2.18)
- O mighty-armed Arjuna! Even if you think that Self is constantly born and dies, you should not grieve in this way. (BG 2.26)
- For to that which is born, death is certain, and to that which is dead, birth is certain. Therefore you should not grieve over the unavoidable. (BG 2.27)
On 25 June 1884, Ramakrishna advised his disciples to dive deep in God-consciousness, and then sang a song: “Dive deep, O mind, dive deep in the Ocean of God’s beauty. If you descend to the uttermost depths, there you will find the gem of love.” Then he continued: “One does not die if one sinks in this Ocean. This is the Ocean of Immortality.” Once he said to Narendra: “God is the Ocean of Bliss. Tell me if you want to plunge into It. Just imagine there is some syrup in a cup and that you have become a fly. Now tell me where you will sit to sip the syrup.” Narendra answered: “I will sit on the edge of the cup and stretch out my neck to drink, because I am sure to die if I go far into the cup.” Then Ramakrishna said to him: “But my child, this is the Ocean of Satchidananda. There is no fear of death in It. This is the Ocean of Immortality.” (Source: God Lived with Them)