Swami Vivekananda Quotes on: Religion, Hinduism, The Indian Nation, Bhagvad Gita, Religious Conversions and Ramakrishna Paramhansa

Enclosed here are Quotes that are  extracts and excerpts from the speeches and lectures of Swami Vivekananda. These quotes from Swami Vivekananda's works cover the subject of the Indian Nation and its principal characteristics, the subject of Hinduism, what is religion? The Quotes also tell us his thoughts on the subject and issue of religious conversion of the poor , the art of giving, and finally end with a comment on HIS MASTER- Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and his message to the world.

Swami Vivekananda Quotes:

On India and Hinduism:

"I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. 

I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. 

I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: 

“As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

Source: Response to Welcome at Parliament of World Religions, 1893.

http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_1/vol_1_frame.htm. 

Why people from different religions DISAGREE:

That has been the difficulty all the while.I am a Hindu. I am sitting in my own little well and thinking that the whole world is my little well. The Christian sits in his little well and thinks the whole world is his well. The Mohammedan sits in his little well and thinks that is the whole world. I have to thank you of America for the great attempt you are making to break down the barriers of this little world of ours, and hope that, in the future, the Lord will help you to accomplish your purpose.

Source: http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/volume_1/vol_1_frame.htm 

Quotes from Shriram Sharma Acharya's book "My Life its Legacy and Message"

Following are some great quotes on Spirituality ranging from How to become Spiritual? Does God have Form? The rewards of Public Service -what are they?  

These short quotes and excerpts are from the book "My Life Its Legacy and Message" by Shriram Sharma Acharya. This autobiographical book describes the spiritual journey of Yugrishi Shiram Sharma Acharya under the guidance of his own Guru from the Himalayas . 
Acharya Shriram Sharma was born to a noble, landed  and wealthy family, and yet under the guidance of his Guru he renounced his wealth and  instead poured his belongings and wealth into spreading Knowledge for greater public good. 
He describes in detail the instructions given to him by the Parliament of Divine Rishis living in their astral formats in the  Himalayas and how he was sent here by them  be an instrument of change and to revive the concepts of Vedanta and incorporate them into practical daily lives of people.

We can take inspiration from his Life and several others like him,  to share l  a component our time, resources and labour for common public good, so that in the future our  society is more  even and well balanced in its growth and believes in righteous living.

Quoted Text:

Does God have a FORM ? If  not -What is the purpose of Imagining him as having FORM?

"God is conceived as "sakar' ( with form) for the purpose of meditation according to one's liking and belief and resembles a human figure. This conception is definitely essential and useful, but it has to be borne in mind that its imaginary and not real. God is one and cannot have so many forms as has been visualised by various religions and sects. The utility of form should be kept confined to practicising concentration of mind. The principle of underlying Idol worship is that effort should be made to understand, visualise, assimilate the Invisible God through the medium of a visible symbol."