"All Power Is Within You" -- Swami Vivekananda

In the illustration, the monosyllable (OM) superimposed on the bosom of the person symbolizes our inherent, true nature, which is Pure Awareness Absolute. The prayer: ‘tamaso maa jyotirgamaya’ – ‘Lead me from darkness to Light’, quoted in the inner orb, is indicative of the human quest – an intense aspiration to discover, realize and manifest our true nature which is Divine (sat-chit-ananda). The meditative posture, the brilliant sun, the lotus, and the waves beneath – are symbolic of mystic communion, pursuit of knowledge, devotional absorption and selfless service, respectively. The illustration thus reminds us the need to discover, realize and manifest our true nature, by cultivating an integrated life, with due emphasis on pursuit of knowledge, devotional absorption, mystic communion and selfless service. ‘Be and Make’ is Swami Vivekananda’s exhortation to us to unfold our true nature through the cultivation of an integrated life, even as we help others march towards that glorious consummation.

“Work out the salvation of this land and of the whole world, each of you thinking that the entire burden is on your shoulders. Carry the light and the life of the Vedanta to every door, and rouse up the divinity that is hidden within every soul. Then, whatever may be the measure of your success, you will have this satisfaction that you have lived, worked, and died for a great cause. In the success of this cause, howsoever brought about, is centered the salvation of humanity here and hereafter.”

- Swami Vivekananda