Self Oblivion

This is a collection of letters Swamiji wrote to his disciples in India and his peers in the United States. These letters reveal his struggles, frustrations, and unshakable determination as he tried to spread his teachings in a foreign land. While this volume focuses on his letters rather than direct teachings, the core ideas shine through in every line. "Be moral. Be brave. Be a heart-whole man. Cowards only sin, brave men never, no, not even in mind. Try to love anybody and everybody.  No cowardice, no sin, no crime, no weakness — the rest will come of itself.  Ours not to reason why, ours but to do and die "Be of good cheer and believe that we are selected by the Lord to do great things, and we will do them. Hold yourself in readiness, be pure and holy, and love for love's sake.  Great things can be done by great sacrifices only.  No selfishness, no name, no fame, Work, work the idea, the plan, my boys, my brave, noble, good souls — to the wheel, to the wheel p...

For most of my life, I have tried to become “ spiritual .” I read books, listened to discourses, watched countless videos, and made sincere efforts to think and act in a higher way. Sometimes, I felt I had understood something deeply. But the very next moment, my mind would fall back into old habits— desires, distractions, and restlessness . That left me with a troubling question:  Which part of this is really me? - The one that feels clarity for a moment, or the one that keeps slipping back? No matter how many scriptures I read or how many spiritual talks I listen to, the mind seems to return to its old patterns. Over time, this left me discouraging. What if life itself is already teaching us everything we need to learn? If we observe closely, there is not a single meaningful moment in life that does not carry a lesson . Sometimes the lessons come through joy , sometimes through pain , and sometimes through situations that simply repeat themselves. When the same kind of problem k...

“Be Good. Do Good.” – What Does It Really Mean? From childhood, almost every one of us has heard this advice: “Be good. Do good.” But what does it truly mean in real life? Does it mean we should remain good even when others hurt us? Should we respond with kindness even when someone treats us badly? And if we do so, why does it sometimes make us feel weak, helpless, or dissatisfied with ourselves? Non-Violence: Strength or Weakness? Great teachers across history have praised non-violence and non-resistance as the highest moral ideals.  Yet, if everyone practiced non-resistance without inner strength, society itself would collapse. The wicked would dominate, and the innocent would suffer. The truth is simple but uncomfortable: Most people practice non-resistance not because they choose to, but because they cannot resist . That is not virtue—it is helplessness. True Non-Resistance Comes from Power There is a world of difference between choosing not to strike and being unable t...

The Inner Obstacles on the Path of Yoga Every spiritual journey begins within—and so do its challenges. Yoga identifies four powerful forces that disturb inner peace: Desire – the endless wanting that keeps the mind restless Anger – the fire that clouds clarity Greed – the hunger that is never satisfied Fear – the shadow that limits growth These obstacles are not defeated by force, but by wisdom. Anger dissolves in calmness . Desire fades when we release excessive expectations . Self-control and patient endurance help us discipline our impulses, especially those tied to indulgence. Fear disappears through awareness and mindfulness . When we treat all beings with equality and learn to be content with what comes naturally, life unfolds with ease. In this state, our goals align, and the deepest reward arises— Self-knowledge . The Eight Limbs of Meditation: A Path to Inner Freedom Yoga offers a complete roadmap for inner transformation, known as the Eight Limbs o...

The Four Gatekeepers to True Freedom Every human being longs for a deeper kind of freedom — freedom from stress , fear, confusion, and constant desires. Ancient sages say that four gatekeepers stand at the entrance to this inner freedom . Make friends with even one, and your life begins to transform. The Four Gatekeepers 1. Shanti — Calmness & Self-Control 2. Vichara — The Spirit of Inquiry 3. Santosha — Contentment 4. Satsanga — Good Company

Karma : What It Really Means and How It Shapes Our Life Everyone talks about Karma today. But what does it actually mean? Is it fate ? Luck ? Cosmic punishment ? Let us break it down simply and clearly. What is Karma? Karma = Any action or thought that creates an effect. Whatever we do, think, or intend sets off a chain reaction. This is the Law of Cause and Effect :  Every cause must produce a result. This cycle continues endlessly—action → reaction → action. Why is it a Universal Law? We live in a universe ruled by space, time, and cause-effect. Everything your senses experience works within these limits. But our deeper nature—the real “Self”—is actually free. When it enters this conditioned world, it feels limited.When it goes beyond these limits, it becomes free again Why Do We Feel Bound or Stuck? Because we cling to: Success and failure |  Pleasure and pain |  Praise and blame |  People and objects Attachment creates bondage. Freedom...

Rama and the Dawn of Dispassion At fifteen, Prince Rama—heir of Ayodhya and beloved son of King Dasaratha —set out on a journey that few undertake so young. His heart burned with a yearning to understand life beyond the palace walls, so he travelled across India , visiting sacred rivers, timeless shrines, and ancient pilgrimage routes. But the journey did not return him with the joy and inspiration his family had expected. When Rama came back to Ayodhya, his body looked frail, and his eyes carried a depth far beyond his age. What he had witnessed in the world had shaken him. The apparent glitter of life—its pleasures, pursuits, and promises—seemed hollow. Rama had tasted the world, and instead of delight, he found profound disillusionment. King Dasaratha grew deeply troubled. This was not the vibrant prince he had sent on pilgrimage. When Sage Vasistha arrived at court, the king expressed his fear. The sage, serene and insightful, reassured him: “Do not worry, O King. Rama’s ...

When Swami  Vivekananda Met Nikola  Tesla : Science Meets Spirituality Swami Vivekananda once met Nikola Tesla , the famous inventor known for electricity and modern power systems . During their conversation, Vivekananda explained the Vedantic ideas of: Prāṇa – the energy behind all movement Ākāsha – the basic substance  (everything we can touch & feel) of the universe Mahat – the cosmic mind from which everything comes Tesla was amazed. He said that modern science could also accept these ideas and believed he could even prove that everything—force and matter—comes from one single source of potential energy

 Lately, a thought has been gripping me — not fading away with time, but growing stronger, demanding to be understood. What do the  higher worlds  really look like? How many such levels could possibly exist beyond the one we live in? We inhabit an imperfect world — one where most people chase money, power, and pleasure. A world where identity is tightly bound to flesh and bone. We believe  this  is who we are — this physical body, this face in the mirror. Yet, deep within, there’s a faint whisper reminding us that we are something far greater. If you pause for a moment and look inward, you realize that it isn’t the body driving the  mind  — it’s the  mind  steering the body. But what is this “mind”? No one has truly figured that out. It’s not something we can see or touch, yet it governs everything we do. Have you ever tried to  shut it down ? Not just quiet it for a second, but truly stop the endless stream of thoughts. For most of us, ...

2400 years ago, there lived a being with an intellect of a thousand men , who believed failure is not even an option. The name of the 'legend' is Kautilya or Chanakya ' Arthashastra ' - As the name indicates, is the science of accumulating wealth. Kautilya strongly believed that wealth is the primary objective of statecraft. Accumulation of wealth without deviation from dharma is the crux of arthashastra . It is said that Kautilya refrained Chandragupta Maurya from conquering beyond India because he considered it as deviation from dharma. All the strategies are derived by listing down all possible combinations of scenarios - let it be war based or others. Despite being the owner of a very sharp mind, he himself stands on the shoulder of giants. He learns the works of 6-8 prominent teachers / schools in each field, assesses each of them in granular detail and derives his own conclusion after a series of debates with his fellow ministers. That makes him and his strategies...

There was this great sage called Nârada. He was a great Yogi even among the gods. He travelled everywhere.  One day he was passing through a forest and saw a man who had been meditating until the white ants had built a huge mound round his body — so long had he been sitting in that position . He asked Narada, " Where are you going? " Narada replied, " I am going to meet God ". The man continued " Then ask God when He will be merciful to me; when I shall attain freedom " Further on Narada saw another man. He was jumping about, singing, dancing, and asked Narada, " Oh, Narada, where are you going? " His voice and his gestures were wild. Narada said, " I am going to meet God ". He said, " Oh is it? Then, ask when I shall be free ." Narada went on. In the course of time Narada came again by the same road and there was this man who had been meditating with the ant-hill round him. He : " Narada, did you ask the Lord about me?  ...

There was a great sage in India called Vyâsa. He was a holy man. Himself, his father, grandfather, great-grandfather - all of them tried to lead a life of highest perfection. But all of them failed . Vyasa's son - Shuka, was born perfect . He taught his son all wisdom and knowledge and finally sent him to the court of King Janaka, who was considered as a perfected being. Shuka was sent to be taught by king Janaka. The king knew that Vyasa's son was coming to him to learn wisdom; so he made certain arrangements beforehand. When the boy presented himself at the gates of the palace, the guards simply ignored him. They just gave him a seat and he sat there for three days and nights . Nobody even spoke to him or even asked who he was. He was the son of a very great sage who was honoured by the whole country and Shuka himself was a highly respectable person. Despite all this, the guards of the palace didn't even notice him. After three days, suddenly the ministers of the king and...

Every thought projected from every brain goes on until it meets a fit object that will receive it . Any mind which is open to receive some of these will take them immediately. Suppose I am doing a good act, my mind is in a certain state of vibration and all minds which are in a similar state, have the possibility of being affected by the vibration of my mind. Same is the case with evil act. So we should be very careful with our thoughts . An action once done cannot be destroyed until it has borne its fruit. No power in nature can stop it from yielding its results . If I do an evil action, I must suffer for it; there is no power in this universe to stop or stay it. Similarly, if I do a good action, there is no power in the universe which can stop it from bearing good results Then there is this problem. We cannot breathe or live without injuring others. If you think deeper, you'll understand that every bit of the food we eat is taken away from someone's mouth . We may work throug...