upanishads (1)

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Swami Vivekananda

 


 

The Vedantic message of Fearlessness

The human mind in India needed a new education in fearlessness and strength, and in a cheerful acceptance of life and its responsibilities; it stood in urgent need of education for manliness and true godliness. And it got this from the Upanishads through Swami Vivekananda. This education in fearlessness has the power to awaken the people as a whole to the heaven of freedom and delight. Under its influence the people will see the world, and their own life in it, a new light. Swami Vivekananda says (Complete Works, Vol. III, p. 160) :

If there is one word that you find coming out like a bomb from the Upanishads, bursting like bombshell upon masses of ignorance, it is the word fearlessness. And the only religion that ought to be taught is the religion of fearlessness. Either in this world or in the world of religion, it is true that fear is the sure cause of degradation and sin. It is fear that brings misery, fear that brings death, fear that breeds evil. And what causes fear? Ignorance of our own nature.

And so he exhorted (The Mission of theVedanta, ibid., p.193):

 

[Excerpt taken from http://faculty.ccbcmd.edu/~nghosh/Isha77.htm]

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