Never say “No.” Never say, “I cannot.” For you are infinite. All the power is within you. You can do anything. You are incarnations of God — all of you... You are incarnations of the almighty, omnipresent divine principle. You may laugh at me now, but the time will come when you will understand. You must. Nobody will be left behind.
You are strong: omnipotent and omniscient. No matter that you have not expressed it yet, it is in you — all knowledge is in you, all power, all purity, and all freedom. Why cannot you express this knowledge? Because you do not believe in it. Believe in it, and it must, and will, come out.
Do not lower your goals to the level of your abilities. Instead, raise your abilities to the height of your goals. Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead. If you lose, you can guide.
Whatever you think: that, you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be. If you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.
The help which tends to make us spiritually strong is the highest help. Next to it comes intellectual help, and after that comes physical help.
Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life. Think of it. Dream of it. Live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves — every part of your body — be full of that idea. And just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Your success is not measured in terms of what you obtain, but in terms of what you become. How you live, and what actions you do. Upon this point, reflect well and attain great happiness.
Do one thing at a time, and while doing it, put your whole soul into it — to the exclusion of all else. One who has infinite patience, and infinite energy, will alone succeed.
The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women. Can you better the condition of your women? Then there will be hope for your wellbeing. Otherwise you will remain as backward as you are now.
Is there any sex distinction in the Atman? Out with the differentiation between Man and Woman — all is Atman! Is there any sex distinction in The Self? Out with the differentiation between Man and Woman — all is Self! The great Aryans — The Buddha, among the rest — have always put woman in an equal position with men. For them, sex in religion did not exist. In the Vedas and The Upanishads, women taught the highest truths, and received the same veneration as men.
Women will work out their own destinities much better too than men can ever do for them… All the mischief to women has come because men undertook to shape the destiny of women. There is no chance for the welfare of the world, unless the condition of woman is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing.
Woman has suffered for eons; and that has given her infinite patience, and infinite perseverance…
True religion is not talk, or doctrines, or theories… nor is it sectarianism. It is the relation between soul and God. Religion does not consist in erecting temples, or building churches, or attending public worship. It is not to be found in books, or in words, or in lectures, or in an organization. Religion consists in realization. We must realize God, feel God, see God, talk to God… that is religion.