- Swami Vivekananda

“In our country there is only religion of Vedanta.  Compared with the Western civilization, it may be said, we have hardly got anything else.  But by the preaching of this universal religion of Vedanta, a religion which gives equal rights to acquire spirituality to men of all creeds and all paths of religious practice, the civilized West would come to know what a wonderful degree of spirituality once developed in India and how that is still existing.

By the study of this religion, the Western nations will  have increasing regard and sympathy for us.  Already these have grown to some extent.  In this way, if we have their real sympathy and regard, we would learn from them the sciences bearing on our material life, thereby qualifying ourselves better for the struggle for existence.  On the other hand, by learning this Vedanta from us, they will be enabled to secure their own spiritual welfare.”

“They (the Westerners) are the children of the great hero Virochana!  Their power makes the five elements play like puppets in their hands.  If you people believe that we shall in case of conflict with them gain freedom by applying those material forces, you are profoundly mistaken. Just as a little peace of stone figures before the Himalayas, so we differ from them in point of skill in the use of those forces.

Do you know what my idea is?  By preaching the profound secrets of the Vedanta religion in the Western world, we shall attract the sympathy and regard of those mighty nations, maintaining for ever the position of their teacher in spiritual matters, and they will remain our teachers in all material concerns. The day when, surrendering the spiritual into their hands our countrymen would sit at the feet of the West to learn religion, that day indeed the nationality of this fallen nation will be dead and gone for good. Nothing will come of crying day and night before them, ‘Give me this or give me that.’ When there will grow a link of sympathy and regard between both nations by this give-and-take intercourse, there will be then no need for these noisy cries. They will do everything of their own accord.

I believe that by this cultivation of religion and the wider diffusion of Vedanta, both this country and the West will gain enormously. To me the pursuit of politics is a secondary means in comparison with this. I will lay down my life to carry out this belief practically. If you believe in any other way of accomplishing the good of India, well, you may go on working your own way.”