“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.”
– Swami Vivekananda
On January 12, we celebrate Vivekananda Jayanti, commonly referred to as National Youth Day. National Youth Day, observed on the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s birth, is all about remembering Vivekananda’s writings and incorporating his principles into our everyday lives. On this day, we honour the nation’s youth and exhort them to adopt Vivekananda’s principles and ideologies.
The government of India proclaimed January 12th as National Youth Day in 1984, and since then, the holiday has been observed annually in India to honour Swami Vivekananda’s birth date. One of India’s most influential social reformers, Vivekananda was adored by the populace. National Youth Day acknowledges Vivekananda’s significant intellectual and religious beliefs and recognises his accomplishments. Vivekananda’s life and mission served as an example for all.
Many Indians, especially young people, still hold Swami Vivekananda (1863 –1902) in high regard. He is one of history’s most inspirational figures. Swami Vivekananda, an activist for social change, struggled against numerous societal ills that plagued Indian civilization in the 19th and 20th centuries. He promoted a form of Hinduism for this reason, one that doesn’t make distinctions based on caste or gender but rather promotes principles for living a purposeful life. He established the Ramakrishna Mission, an organization devoted to promoting Vedanta philosophy and the yogic ideals of Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, and Raja Yoga, to spread the spirit of Hinduism throughout the world. As a result, Swami Vivekananda in a sense dedicated his life to first comprehending the world around him through the prism of Hinduism and then disseminating that knowledge for the benefit of humanity as a whole. Because of this, it’s critical to study and comprehend Swami Vivekananda’s teachings to gain a deeper understanding of the world and people.
Our aspirations for achievement and a more fulfilling existence are encouraged by Swami Vivekananda’s teachings. The life goals set forth by Swami Vivekananda for people across generations and beyond the globe are still relevant today. By adopting the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, as well as by imitating his struggles and successes, we can gain a lot of insight.
Some anecdotes from Swami Vivekananda’s life are shared with you. They will inspire you to aim higher and live fearlessly through the lessons drawn from the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
1. Keeping the end in mind
Success depends on having the ability to concentrate on a task. Teach your youngster to put his/her mind to do anything, no matter how difficult a task may seem, he/she will succeed in finishing it. According to Vivekananda, “Pick one to pursue. Think about it, dream about it, and make that one notion the centre of your existence. Leave all other ideas alone and let one concept fill every part of your body—the muscles, nerves, and brain. This is the path to achievement.”
2. When faced with challenges, have courage.
Accepting that life contains both good and terrible is among Vivekananda’s most important teachings. And to get through the difficult times and into the good ones, one must be resilient. When you realize this, you’ll not only have the courage to confront the world, but you’ll also be more upbeat in the face of challenges and trials. Vivekananda concurred that facing your challenges head-on rather than running away from them is the only way to enjoy life to the fullest. Isn’t this a crucial lesson that we all need to put into practice right now if we want to make a genuine impact in this situation?
3. Having Persistence Is Important
How frequently do we lose heart when faced with challenges and abandon our objectives? But Swami Vivekananda thought highly of people and thought that if people are persistent enough, they had the power to overcome any obstacle. According to Swami Vivekananda, if you are persistent enough in your efforts to achieve your goals, you will succeed. This is another one of his timeless teachings. Because of this, it doesn’t matter whether you keep trying despite failing repeatedly; eventually, you will succeed.
4. Having faith in oneself
According to Swami Vivekananda, you must first believe in yourself if you want to change the world. Every person should be empowered by Vivekananda’s teachings to realize their potential. Furthermore, just because you are different doesn’t necessarily make you right. Therefore, you must have confidence in yourself and persist in following the route that you believe is best for you, refusing to listen to others’ advice or compromise your convictions.
5. To advance, you must struggle
Swami Vivekananda also imparted wisdom on the idea that if everything comes naturally to you, you would never realize your full potential. This mantra is the most effective Swami Vivekananda teaching for assisting you in realizing the actual meaning of life and your potential. To become the most authentic and ideal version of yourself, you must continually push yourself and your limits. So keep this in mind and attempt to get past a dead end the next time you encounter one.
6. The ideal policy is one of honesty
The maxim “honesty is the best policy” is one that cannot be emphasized enough. This viewpoint was supported even by Swami Vivekananda. He asserted that regardless of the situation, we all need to be honest. It goes without saying that your actions will always have some repercussions, but you cannot embellish the truth or tell lies to make your life easier. The best way to live your life is to follow a road built on honesty, which is another important lesson that Swami Vivekananda taught.
7. Make no caste or religious-based distinctions
In contrast to caste, religion, or economic standing, a person’s activities establish his character. “True to your own nature is the greatest religion,” according to Vivekananda. To prevent discrimination based on background or caste, educate your child about this. She has to have the ability to appreciate and respect individuals based on their deeds and beliefs.
8. Put the truth first
Vivekananda persevered to defend the truth while being punished. He carried on doing this all his life. Tell your youngster that when he tells the truth, sometimes people won’t want to hear him or agree with him. In these situations, it’s critical to stand by one’s principles.
9. Life requires curiosity
To satisfy our curiosity about life, we must make an effort to obtain the greatest, most comprehensive solutions. A lot of lives have been changed by a curiosity about higher life realities. Keeping this in mind, appearances can be deceptive.
We should all aspire to live our lives in accordance with the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. You should always be at peace with who you are, and whatever you do in life. You must take time to reflect on yourself to understand what it is that you truly desire from life as well as to examine who you are and discover areas of potential. Since only you have the power to change yourself, according to Vivekananda, you must maintain self-control and continue to comprehend your deepest impulses.
Article by Sujata Bayan