Swami Vivekananda - London Photo series

On November 19, 1895, the Westminster Gazette ran an article on Swamiji entitled: “An Indian Yogi in London.” The following is an excerpt from that article: The Swami Vivekananda is a striking figure with his turban (or mitreshaped black cloth cap) and his calm but kindly features. On my inquiring as to the significance, if any, of his name, the swami said: “Of the name by which I am now known (Swami Vivekananda), the first word is descriptive of a sannyasin, or one who formally renounces the world, and the second is the title I assumed—as is customary with all sannyasins—on my renunciation of the world; it signifies, literally, the bliss of discrimination.” 36 ❊ ❊ ❊ Deepen your own power of thought and love. Bring your own lotus to blossom: the bees will come of themselves. Believe first in yourself, then in God. A handful of strong men will move the world. We need a heart to feel, a brain to conceive, and a strong arm to do the work. Buddha gave himself for the animals. Make yourself a fit agent to work. But it is God who works, not you. One man contains the whole universe. One particle of matter has all the energy of the universe at its back. In a conflict between the heart and the brain follow the heart. (CW [1977] 8:223)