Thanks much Aniket :). I hadn’t noticed that, I had written the date inadvertently. I have corrected it now, thanks to you :).

Thank you for such kind words mate. Indeed he was one amazing man, a man of inspiration for generations to come. And he spoke all these at the age of 30 – imagine!! Phew, what does it take for a man to be so influential at such a young age.. Electrifying just to think about it! :)

Thank you Kokila :). I have always been a huge fan of him, right from the time I was about 3-4th std where I had started reading his small books – Thus spake Vivekananda and then it went on to bigger books and now he is a beacon for the thoughts and every time I think of inspiration, it somehow never feels complete without him.

Aahh that is extremely cool! :). Infact awesome it is!!! True isn’t it? Every time I read something about him, there is a surge of energy within and it simply electrifies the body. I think my favourite is his definition of atheist –

“He is an atheist who does not believe in himself. The old religions said that he was an atheist who did not believe in God. The new religion says that he is an atheist who does not believe in himself.”

An amazing man indeed :)

:). Thank you Maniparana! Indeed, I have absolutely loved his work right from the first book I read and even today it manages to inspire in the same powerful way. What a man indeed! :)

Great to know that Vinay… you’ve said it rightly…it’s the best interpretation of The Bhagawadgita… :-)

Hi again, Vinay and Alok :)
Alok has rightly praised you for your post. You deserved even more for sharing some lines and thoughts from him.. He is my childhood ideal and while in college, I had swapped places with a senior, to be in ‘Vivekanand House’ to grab the chance to speak about his any one idea/ philosophy for 2 days.. My fav. line from him is ‘Uttishtha, jagrat, prapya, varannibodhat ‘ which you have also quoted in English as Arise, Awake….. just to read about him is an amazing experience…

Thank you Maniparna, looks like this post is very much on the road to make my day a beautiful one. I have been an absolute fan of that book of his, I must have read his complete works atleast thrice, esp the one where he talks about Karmayoga and Bhagawadgita. I think that is the best interpretation I have read of Bhagawadgita and a very practical one too :).

I am completely with you on this Maniparna, everyone should know about him and read more about him. He will always be one of THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE :)

Thank you Chaitali, I am very happy to know that you enjoyed it. I was quite unsure this post since I did not want to sound very theoretical and wasnt sure if I had done enough justice to it. It is a very nice feeling to see such a lovely response to it :)

Ravish, thank you for the clarification. As for the zen ideas and connecting that to Vivekananda’s view, it is an objective view. I think the beauty of literature or humanities in general is that the way you can tune it to create meaning and idea to improve one’s quality of life. As for remembering someone after they pass on, it was the idea to reemphasize a point made earlier in that part of the passage. The idea was the meaning we would stand for or the ideas and personality essence we evoke which takes a larger stance compared to an individual.

As for the ego and the way it transcends, there is a very thin line which makes that difference,if you are looking at the idea, then the person vanishes but not many would be inclined or motivated to do it for the idea alone which transcends the very motive of ego.

As for the idea of originality of a message Ravish, I reread the phrase and nowhere have I mentioned that it was Vivekananda’s message for us or me, All we are saying here is that these are the top picks from the speech with a reasoning why. It would be wrong for me or anyone to break it out of context and convey it as an original message, I am completely with you on that and it is a very valid concern indeed. Like I said this speech and its interpretation is purely from an individual’s point of view conforming to the theme and idea of inspire99. Sorry if I have conveyed a different message that way, I don’t think I am there yet to reinterpret an original message, I am still trying to offer a very layman perspective to the speech..

Vinay, may be I appear looking at from a singular perspective but I’d love to know other perspectives too.

Exactly, Vivekananda advocated transcending over one’s ego. But there isn’t any difference between abolishment of ego and transcending over one’s ego. According to zen saying, one who longs to be everywhere must not be anywhere. One who wants to be all cannot afford to be anything. There is no congruity between all and something; they don’t go together. So the idea of respecting one’s own self and trying to go beyond that cannot go together. Hence I don’t think the man of that spiritual stature would muddle with basics.

I don’t think the line, “what is it that you would like to be known for when you are no more?” is implying the message of transcending over one’s ego or is it?

Vinay, I absolutely agree that interpretation of any statement or an idea is an individual’s choice. And being not a creative person, I often steal someone’s line and put my own meaning in it. But I always take care that my interpretation would not be considered as the original message of that line. I take extra caution when use lines of great personalities. I ain’t against modifying the advice and use it in own way but concerned about that the modified advice should not be implied as the original one.

Hope you understand my concern :)