Swami Akhandananda took to heart the message of Swami Vivekananda that all souls are potentially divine and we must worship God by serving the needy. The book contains an absorbing account of the Swami?s adventurous wanderings in the holy Himalayas and pioneering relief work in famine-gripped villages. He set the pattern for all the relief and rehabilitation services rendered by the Ramakrishna Mission in later years.
After every happiness comes misery; they may be far apart or near. The more advanced the soul, the more quickly does one follow the other. What we want is neither happiness nor misery. Both make us forget our true nature; both are chains--one iron, one gold; behind both is the Atman, who knows neither happiness nor misery. These are states, and states must ever change; but the nature of the Atman is bliss, peace, unchanging. We have not to get it, we have it; only wash away the dross and see it.
-Swami Vivekananda
Empty
