Swami Vivekanand, the great soul, spiritual master, philosopher, and youth icon, wished and blessed youth to focus on Dharma (righteous duty) rather than animalistic life and leave the world with an everlasting strongest positive impression on the society, nation, and environment, that will further help, inspire and enable future generations to come forward, and adopt and nurture the fundamental foundation of Sanatan Dharma principles.
आहारनिद्राभयमैथुनं च
समानमेतत् पशुभिर्नराणाम्।
धर्मो हि तेषामधिको विशेषो,
धर्मेण हीना: पशुभि: समाना:।।
Eating, sleeping, wasting their energies in ever merry making, scaring the weak, and sexual desire are all common human and animal behaviours. Dharma is only characteristic which distinguishes men from animals. As a result, Dharma (righteous duty) must be practised in order to fulfil the obligations assigned and bestowed by God on all human beings.
Notwithstanding, how can youth recognise Swami Vivekananda’s relevance in these exciting and challenging times? On the one hand, people and nation are engaged in the noble task of developing personalities and leadership qualities of the youth through various nation-building activities and through new Education Policy, while on the other hand there are challenges of poverty, unemployment, corruption, terrorism, religious conversion, lack of entrepreneurship and drug abuse.
Swami Vivekanand was a keen observer of the human mind and society in general. As a result, he proposed a scientific method for achieving these goals through these quests
Swami Vivekananda advocated and propagated education as the primary means of empowering the people among the various facets and ways that he nurtured to rebuild Indian society. “Is education worth its name if it does not enable the common mass of people and equip them for the struggle for life, if it does not bring out strength of character, philanthropy, and the courage of a lion?” he once lectured. True education is the ability to stand on one’s own two feet. For him, education meant learning through Smruti and Shruti that shaped students’ personalities and instilled human values and character–building in them. The same concept and philosophy are being considered in the New Education Policy developed and documented by ex-ISRO chief K Kasturirangan and his team of experts. The real challenge is the implementation part, which many political parties and universities are vaguely opposing and vociferously forgetting that it is purely based on Swami Vivekananda’s vision of building a great nation through development of youths in all aspects and vital characteristics of life and career.
Emphasis on Education
Swami Vivekananda believed strongly in the power of youth to change the world. He urged Indian youth to educate themselves and emphasised the importance of service to the nation and the society in their lives. “It is a privilege to serve mankind, for this is God’s worship,” he once said. God exists in all human souls. “He is a man’s soul.” Swamiji firmly suggested and propagated that while youth could learn a lot from the West, they should also have faith in their own spiritual heritage. Today, when our youth are gripped by increasing isolation, purposelessness, depression, and mental fatigue, despite material success, they must embark on a spiritual journey to achieve higher goals. Swami Vivekanand encouraged youngsters to participate in social and welfare activities not only for the benefit of society, but also for their own personal evolution and growth.
“It is the young, the strong, and the healthy, with a sharp intellect, who will reach the Lord,” he said. He was an advocate for intellectual pursuit, such as running schools, colleges, and awareness and empowerment programmes. The goal is to raise one’s intellectual level, gain knowledge, and spread and share it with society and implement in one’s life and career.
Swami Vivekanand is more relevant today because of the ideals and goals that he devised and advocated for youth. He was a keen observer of the human mind and society in general. As a result, he proposed a scientific method for achieving these goals through these quests.
Youth can choose from one of four options (physical, social, intellectual and spiritual). The freedom to choose, regardless of gender, birth, caste, or other identifiers, is what makes this path so appealing today. Each individual can begin by preparing himself for the larger cause.
Relevant in Modern Times
Swami Vivekanand once preached about caste discrimination “The solution to India’s caste problem is not to degrade the higher castes, but to raise the lower up to the level of the higher,” he said.
Understanding Swami Vivekananda and his message and communicating it to our youth may be the simplest way to address many of India’s current problems and prevailing evils. It is the right time for the youth to wake up, take a decisive call, muster their entire strength – both bodily and intellect and take up the mantle of shaping Bharat.
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