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Vol. 119, No. 3 ` 10.00
March 2014 A monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order started by Swami Vivekananda in 1896
9 770032 617002 ISSN 0032-6178
R.N. 2585/57 REGISTERED Postal Registration No. Kol.RMS/096/2013–16 Published on 1 March 2014
PB
or Awakened India
rabuddha harata THE ROAD TO WISDOM Swami Vivekananda on
I and You
W
ithout the “I” there can be no “you” outside. From this some philosophers came to the conclusion that the external world did not exist save in the subject; that the “you” existed only in the “I”. Others have argued that the “I” can only be known through the “you” and with equal logic. These two views are partial truths, each wrong in part and each right in part. Thought is as much material and as much in nature as body is. Both matter and mind exist in a third, a unity which divides itself into the two. This unity is the Atman, the real Self. There is being, “x”, which is manifesting itself as both mind and matter. Its movements in the seen are along certain fixed lines called law. As a unity, it is free; as many, it is bound by law. Still, with all this bondage, an idea of freedom is ever present, and this is Nivritti, or the “dragging from attachment”. The materialising forces which through desire lead us to take an active part in worldly affairs are called Pravritti. That action is moral which frees us from the bondage of matter and vice versa. This world appears infinite, because everything is in a circle; it returns to whence it came. The circle meets, so there is no rest or peace here in any place. We must get out. Mukti is the one end to be attained. Evil changes in form but remains the same in quality. In ancient times force ruled, today it is cunning. Misery in India is not so
bad as in America, because the poor man here sees the greater contrast to his own bad condition. God is the abstract compound of all that is merciful and good and helpful; that should be the sole idea. As Atman, we have no body; so to say, “I am God, and poison does not hurt me”, is an absurdity. While there is a body and we see it, we have not realised God. Can the little whirlpool remain after the river vanishes? Cry for help, and you will get it; and at last you will find that the one crying for help has vanished, and so has the Helper, and the play is over; only the Self remains.
From The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, (Kolkata: Advaita Ashrama, 2013),
7.104–107. Managing Editor: Swami Tattwavidananda. Editor: Swami Satyamayananda. Printed by: Swami Atmalokananda at Gipidi Box Co., Kolkata 700 014 and published by him for Advaita Ashrama (Mayavati) from Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Kolkata 700 014, on 1 March 2014.