Swami Vivekananda to

Youth
Supreme value of youth period is incalculable and indescribable. Youth life is the
most precious life. Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilize this
period will decide the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you. Your
happiness, your success, your honor and your good name all depend upon the way
in which you live now, in this present period. Remember this. This wonderful
period of the first state of your life is related to you as the soft wet clay in the
hands of the potter. Skillfully the potter gives it the right and correct shapes and
forms, which he intends to give. Even so, you can wisely mould your life, your
character, your physical health and strength, in short your entire nature in any way
in which you make up your mind to do. And you must do this now.
O fortunate youth, recognize this great duty. Feel this wonderful privilege. Take
up this adventure. God watches you graciously, ever ready to help and guide. I
wish you to be great. The world has put its faith in you. Your elders keep their
hopes in you. Now youth means to place your firm confidence in yourself and
exercise your hopeful determination and resolution and willing good intentions in
this beautiful task of self-culture. This will truly bring supreme satisfaction and
fulfillment not only to you, but also to all concerned. The shaping of your life is
indeed in your own hands.
Practise virtue, persevere in virtue. Become established in virtue. Shine as an
embodiment of noblest virtue and heroic adherence to goodness. Youth is meant
for this grand process. Youth life is the active development and fulfillment of these

processes. This period of your time provides the suitable and favourable fields for
the working out of this extremely important and most indispensable process in
life. This is the special significance, the great importance and supreme value of
youth life. It signifies the creation of noble personality. It is atma-Viakasa. It
is Atma Nirmana. Please try to understand the correct implication of the term
successful life. When you talk of success with reference to life, it does not merely
mean succeeding in everything that you undertake or do; it does not merely mean
succeeding in fulfilling all wants or getting whatever you desire; it does not just
mean acquiring a name or attaining a position or imitating fashionable ways
appearing modern or up-to-date. The essence of true success is what you make of
yourself. It is the conduct of life that you develop, it is the character that you
cultivate and it is the type of person you become. This is the central meaning of
successful living. Therefore, you will see this important matter is not so much a
question of success in life. ( Jivan Me- Safalta) but rather it is success of life.
Such successful life is one that succeeds in producing an ideal individual, a noble
man. Your success is not measured in terms of what all you obtained but in term of
what you become, how you live and what actions you do. Upon this point reflect
well and attain great happiness.
In our grand culture they conceived of life in four stage-preliminary stage,
development stage, flowering or blossoming stage and the culminating fruitful
stage. These can be described as he preparatory period, the practising period for the
satisfactory growth of the latter stage. Yours is the stage of preliminary
preparations for right and successful living. Herein is its supreme value and great
importance. This is like the ploughing and sowing of seeds in the field by a
farmer. Now, you can easily understand, what is the significance and importance
of this in connection with the harvest, which any one would wish to reap later
on. And also, it is like the laying of the foundation for an important building you
wish to construct. If this building is something very important to you, then you
just think how much more important its proper foundation becomes in your
view. The strong and continued existence of the building depends certainly upon
the foundation. This is the stage you are now in. Let your preparations be wise,
correct and of such kind that will lead to your true welfare, supreme good and
lasting satisfaction and happiness. This must engage your active, enthusiastic
attention throughout the period of your youth life. Our culture refers to this stage
as the Brahmacharya Ashram or Vidyarthi Jivan. Here, you acquire knowledge of

not only subjects like History, Geography, Mathematics, etc., but also about human
nature, correct Vyavahara, science of Self- control, art of developing pure mind,
Dharma, the duties of man and the proper relationship between you, your family,
your society and the world.

As we are celebrating the birthday of Sri Swami Vivekanandaji Maharaj; I would

like to narrate one anecdote from vedas.

Once upon a time lord Indra was holding a court; he found a divine person with
radiating light (Embodiment of Spirit) was just walking towards his court; seeing
him Indras arm guards gave up their weapons; they prostrated that Embodiment of
Spirit. Gods and Goddess started to adore him. In the utmost surprise of all even
King Indra also came down from his celestial throne and requested that supreme
personality to come and occupy the throne.
Indra was puzzled. He didnt know, what to do then! He sought the advice of his
guru, the great Prajapati who asked Indra to go back to that Embodiment of Spirit
and serve him.
Indra served sincerely year after year and after a long time one day he enquired,
O Indra, what are you seeking? Indra respectfully replied, Oh Adorable One, I
want to know about the power you possess, because of that without having any
weapon like Astra, Sastra, or Army you are able to control Bhu, Bhuba, Swar,

Gan , Tapa, Satya and so many lokas. Oh Indra its very small matter; Its only
due to my character and virtue! I am very happy with you; I want to give a boon to
you; please ask anything other than Indras kingdom or Indrasan., declared the
Embodiment of Spirit.
Indra humbly requested; If so, please give me your character and all your virtues.
Embodiment of Spirit said, So be it to you! With great sound and shock one
after another, five bright rays of light came out of his body and entered in Indras
Body and with that he (Embodiment of Spirit) was thrown out of the Indrasan. Last
ray declared that you have given your character and virtue to Indra; where there is
character and virtue; lies power, wealth and wisdom!
Swami Vivekananda has lived his life to uplift the mankind; he wanted us to shine
and prosper! What great importance is of the youth years when the foundation is
built for the life! Difficulties will come but so what; Swamiji said, Struggle,
Struggle, Struggle is the Sine Qua Non of life and stagnation is death; Vedas
proclaim this as Charaivaiti, charaivaiti, charaivaiti
May you all shine and prosper! May you all live and lead the life of purity,
character and virtues. Be vigilant and diligent with your actions, sincere in your
efforts and regular in your spiritual practices. May you all achieve this and uplift
the nation, which was the desire of Swami Vivekanandaji. The idea behind the
celebration of Sri Swamiji Maharajs birthday is to fulfill his dream!

Swami Vivekananda: An Inspiration to the

Modern Youth
By SiliconIndia | Friday, 11 January 2013, 17:40 IST
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Bangalore: The youth today celebrates Rose Day, Valentines Day, Friendship Day and much
more but the National Youth Day is barely given notice. Youth life is the most precious life.
Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilize this period will decide the nature of
coming years that lie ahead of you, said the great philosopher Swami Vivekananda. As the
nation celebrates the National Youth Day on 12 January, the birthday of Swami
Vivekananda, its time to draw inspiration and look at what the youth around the world can
learn
from
his
teachings.

icon

What the youth can learn from youth

Swami
Vivekananda?

The youth is what a nation has, which will pave its path into the future. But, with the recent
number of cases of crime such as rape, etc coming into light, it has certainly raised an alarm
on what the youth of the nation is heading towards. In a sad state where rape by juveniles
has become a trend, what is it that can draw them back on track? It must be inculcated in
the
people
and
the
youth
that
women
must
be
respected.
Swami Vivekananda said in his biography that Americans look with veneration upon
women, who play a most prominent part in their lives. Here this form of worship has
attained its perfection this is the long and short of it. I am almost at my wit's end to see
the women of this country. They are Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune, in beauty, and
Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, in virtues they are the Divine Mother incarnate. If I
can raise a thousand such Madonnas incarnations of the Divine Mother in our country

before I die, I shall die in peace. Then only will our countrymen become worthy of their
name.