This is a selection from the writings and addresses of Swami Vireswarananda, the 10th President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Though the lectures and essays comprising this book belong to different years and contexts, all of them deal with the burning problem of the modern age � the quest for an ideal that can guide us through the stormy sea of life. They contain many illuminating insights into spiritual matters and also provide practical hints to live a spiritual life in today's modern world.
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