The Saga of A Great Soul - Life and Work of Swami Shivananda
Swami Vividishananda
Swami Shivananda was a monk of such sublime spiritual realizations that Swami Vivekananda called him Mahapurush, a Great Soul. He was the second President of the Ramakrishna Order. Many observations and reminiscences by Swami Shivananda himself are included in this biography written by one who was long associated with him. Foreword by Christopher Isherwood.
That which is nearest is least observed. The Atman is the nearest of the near, therefore a careless and unsteady mind gets no clue to the Atman. But one who is alert, calm, self-restrained, and discriminating, ignores the external world and, diving more and more into the inner world, realizes the glory of the Atman and becomes great.
-Swami Vivekananda