The government of India proclaimed January 12th as the National Youth Day in 1984, and since then, the holiday has been observed annually in India to honour Swami Vivekananda’s birthday. One of India’s most influential social reformers, Swami Vivekananda was adored by the people. National Youth Day acknowledges Vivekananda’s significant intellectual and religious beliefs and recognises his accomplishments.

Who was Swami Vivekananda?

The modern society often discusses its strengths and shortcomings, yet in the 19th century, a young Bengali kid from a middle-class family in Kolkata who had spiritual views and a simple outlook on life attained a divine stature early in life. Can you already identify the boy? Yes, we are referring to Narendra Nath Dutta, who eventually earned the monastic title of Swami Vivekananda. A student entirely changed himself into a person of outstanding spirituality. During his college years, he enjoyed music and athletics like other young lads his age. Both of his books, “Modern Vedanta” and “Raj Yoga,” are highly regarded even today.

Swami Vivekananda was one of the most influential young leaders and followers in India. He was a devoted follower of Sri Rama Krishna Paramahansa and an important force in the revival of Hinduism in India. He founded the Ramakrishna Mission to teach the Vedic philosophy and the yogic values of Jnana, Bhakti, Karma, and Raja Yoga in order to capture the essence of Hinduism and spread it throughout the world. Swami Vivekananda, in a way, committed his life to first studying the world around him through the prism of Hinduism and then spreading that knowledge for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

National Youth Day 2023

National Youth Day, which is observed on the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s birth, encourages us to remember his writings and incorporate his principles into our own lives. On National Youth Day, Vivekananda’s ideals are shared and discussed. His life and mission served as an example for everyone.

The goal of celebrating National Youth Day on such a grand scale is intended to inspire young people, build a better future for the nation, and preach Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy. National Youth Day is also known as Yuva Diwas. In order to inspire young people with Swami Vivekananda’s ideology and style of life, the government’s principal objective is to provide the nation a better future.

The philosophy of Vivekananda:

•         He laid a lot of emphasis on mind control in his ideology.
•         According to his philosophy, mental control and morality are deeply linked.
•         He encourages his followers to put others before themselves and to constantly support righteous causes.
•         He prioritises qualities like sincerity, selflessness, and purity.
•         He also firmly believed in Brahmacharya, citing it as a source of strength and mental health.

10 Inspirational Teachings by Swami Vivekananda

Here are Swami Vivekananda’s ten most important teachings to help you learn more about the life lessons he taught:

• Face Trouble with Courage

“If you ever feel afraid of anything, always turn around and face it. Never think of running away.”

The understanding that life encompasses both good and bad is one of Vivekananda’s core teachings. And for the good days to occur, one must be strong enough to go through the bad ones. On the day you embrace this, you will not only have the courage to confront the world, but you will also be more optimistic in the wake of difficulties and hardships. According to Vivekananda, if you want to experience life to the fullest, you must meet every challenge head-on rather than trying to avoid it.

• Persistence is Essential

“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.”

How frequently do we give up when faced with difficulties and give up on our goals? However, Swami Vivekananda believed in the magnificence of humanity and that if people are persistent enough, they have the capacity to overcome any obstacles. Swami Vivekananda also believed that if we are patient enough in our efforts to achieve our goals, we will succeed. This is yet another one of his timeless teachings. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if you keep trying despite failing repeatedly because you will eventually succeed in achieving your goal.

• Believing in Yourself is Important

“All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark.”

If you want to change the world, you must first believe in yourself, according to Swami Vivekananda. The goal of Vivekananda’s teaching is to enable every person to realise their own potential. Additionally, just because you are unique does not necessarily imply that you are incorrect. Therefore, you must have confidence in yourself and persevere on the road you believe is best for you, defying the advice of others and holding fast to your beliefs.

• Struggle is the Key to Growth

“In a day, when you don’t come across any problems – you can be sure that you are travelling on the wrong path.”

Swami Vivekananda also imparted wisdom on the idea that if everything comes naturally to you, you would never realise your full potential. This mantra is the most effective teaching of Swami Vivekananda for assisting you in realising the actual meaning of life and your own potential. In order to become the most authentic and ideal version of yourself, you must continually push yourself and your limits. Therefore, keep this in mind and make an effort to conquer it the next time you find yourself at a dead end.

• Being Selfless Brings True Happiness

“The great secret of true success, of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.”

People prioritise their own interests over all other values in the world we live in. Therefore, this message of Swami Vivekananda must be incorporated into such a world. He held the opinion that if you have the means, you should be willing to use them for the benefit of others around you. You will experience an incredible level of delight if you engage in selfless deeds of compassion.

• Become the Best Version of Yourself

“Learn everything that is good from others, but bring it in, and in your own way absorb it; do not become others.”

Swami Vivekananda emphasised the idea of uniqueness. He held that while there are some moral principles that everyone should follow, this does not mean that everyone should commit to them without question. You should consider what you hear, analyse it, and then apply it to your own life. He promoted the idea that because we are all unique and have unique viewpoints, he was utterly opposed to any type of blind adherence.

• Self-introspection Is Important

“Talk to yourself once in a day, otherwise you may miss meeting an intelligent person in this world.”

We should all adhere to Swami Vivekananda’s teachings throughout our entire lives. You should always be at peace with yourself, no matter what you do in life. You must focus on yourself in order to understand what you truly want out of life as well as to examine yourself and discover areas for improvement. Vivekananda held that you alone have the power to change yourself, thus you must remain in control of yourself and continue to discover your deepest wishes.

• Honesty is the Best Policy

“Everything can be sacrificed for truth, but truth cannot be sacrificed for anything.”

The notion that integrity is the best policy cannot be preached enough. Swami Vivekananda himself embraced this notion. Irrespective of the situation we are in, he stated that we all need to be honest. Your choices will undoubtedly have an impact, but you shouldn’t embellish the truth or tell lies to make your life simpler. Therefore, another essential lesson of Swami Vivekananda is that the only way to live is to follow a path based on honesty.

• Every Creation of God is Equal

“Soul has no sex; it is neither male nor female. It is only in the body that sex exists, and the man who desires to reach the spirit cannot at the same time hold sex distinctions.”

We consider this to be one of Swami Vivekananda’s most significant teachings, and we feel that if everyone could comprehend it, the world would be a much better place. He held the belief that since God created all people equally, we do not have the right to discriminate against one another on the grounds of caste, religion, or gender. That’s why, in his capacity as a social reformer, he fought tenaciously for the status of lower castes and women in society.

• Importance of Empathy towards People

“So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them.”

According to Swami Vivekananda, those who live in the world determine its nature. Therefore, the world would be kinder to us if everyone is compassionate toward one another and believes in working for the welfare of others. This is a significant message from Swami Vivekananda because it encourages us to be kind and considerate of others and to assist those who are truly in need.

The spirit to fight till the very end because the goal must be accomplished is something Swamiji taught us. The two most important lessons he imparted up till the end of his life were non-duality and unconditional love. Swamiji breathed his last at Belur Math, West Bengal on the 4th of July, 1902.

Also published on Medium.