Selections From The Complete Works Of Swami Vivekananda

Preface The published writings and speeches of Swami Vivekananda cover nearly four thousand pages. Many do not have access to them, and others have not the time or patience to go through them all. The need for a selection from the Swamiji's writings and speeches has therefore long been felt. But to make a selection was not an easy task.

For Swami Vivekananda was an inspired Seer, born with a mission. As such, everything that issued from his lips or pen has deep significance, and it is difficult to decide which to choose and which to leave out, particularly when the space at one's disposal is limited. And there will always be difference of opinion as to which writing or speech is more important and which less.

With these handicaps, we have ventured to bring out this volume of selections. We have tried to make them as representative as possible. Thus we have culled some of his Lectures, Discourses, Interviews, Answers to Questions, Inspired Talks, Conversations, Writings, Letters, Poems, and have also included translation' of some Bengali writings and utterances. These selections may not be universally accepted to be the best of what the Swami wrote and said, in spite of bur earnest attempt to make them- so, but they will at least give a glimpse of what a versatile genius Vivekananda was and how far-reaching and profound was his message. And we hope they will rouse a desire in some readers to study the Swami's thought more thoroughly.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages