“But there is yet time to change our ways. Give up all those old discussions, old fights about things which are meaningless, which are nonsensical in their very nature. Think of the last six hundred or seven hundred years of degradation when grown-up men by hundreds have been discussing for years whether we should drink a glass of water with the right hand or the left, whether the hand should be washed three times or four times, whether we should gargle five or six times. What can you expect from men who pass their lives in discussing such momentous questions as these and writing most learned philosophies on them! There is a danger of our religion getting into the kitchen. We are neither Vedantists, most of us now, nor Pauranics, nor Tantrics. We are just "Don't-touchists". Our religion is in the kitchen. Our God is the cooking-pot, and our religion is, "Don't touch me, I am holy". If this goes on for another century, every one of us will be in a lunatic asylum. It is a sure sign of softening of the brain when the mind cannot grasp the higher problems of life; all originality is lost, the mind has lost all its strength, its activity, and its power of thought, and just tries to go round and round the smallest curve it can find.”
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by Swami Vivekananda, he criticizes the trivial debates and discussions that have consumed society, leading to a stagnation of growth and progress. Vivekananda highlights the absurdity of debating insignificant matters such as how to wash one's hands or the number of times to gargle, emphasizing that this type of intellectual pursuit is a waste of time and energy. He warns that if this trend continues, it will result in a decline of mental faculties and will ultimately lead to insanity. Vivekananda calls for a shift in focus towards higher, more meaningful endeavors and away from the trivialities that currently occupy people's minds.
Modern Relevance
In this passage, Swami Vivekananda criticizes the trivial nature of religious debates and rituals that have consumed people's attention for centuries. He highlights the danger of becoming overly focused on minor details, which can hinder intellectual growth and original thought. This message is still relevant today, as we are often caught up in petty arguments and distractions that prevent us from addressing more significant issues and developing our minds. It serves as a reminder to prioritize substance over trivialities in our personal and societal pursuits.
Usage Examples:
- Swami Vivekananda used the example of men debating over trivial matters to illustrate the dangers of getting caught up in meaningless discussions.
- The quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on higher problems of life rather than getting lost in unimportant debates and rituals.
Reflection Questions
Swami Vivekananda's words urge us to reflect on the importance of focusing on meaningful discussions and actions rather than getting caught up in trivial matters. Reflect on the following questions:
Are there any discussions or debates in my life that are not serving any meaningful purpose? How can I redirect my focus towards more important matters?
How can I ensure that my actions and beliefs are aligned with deeper philosophical and spiritual principles, rather than getting caught up in superficial rituals or customs?
In what ways can I cultivate a deeper understanding of life's higher problems and challenges, and avoid getting trapped in the mundane and trivial aspects of everyday life?
How can I ensure that my mind remains active, strong, and open to new ideas, rather than becoming stagnant and limited in its thinking?
Similar quotes
“Yes," Bitterblue said. "I suppose you could convert everything into minutes. Twelve times sixty is seven hundred twenty, and fifteen times fifty is seven hundred fifty. So our seven-hundred-twenty-minute half day equals its seven-hundred-fifty-minute half day. Let's see...Right now, the watch reads a time of nearly twenty-five past two. That's one hundred twenty-five total minutes, which, divided by seven hundred fifty, should equal our time in minutes divided by seven hundred twenty...so, seven hundred twenty times one hundred twenty-five is...give me a moment...ninety thousand...divided by seven hundred fifty...is one hundred twenty...which means...well! The numbers are quite neat, aren't they? It's just about two o'clock. I should go home.”
“Still men be clever and in an hundred centuries or more, perchance will have found a way to journey thither; when that they have discovered and understood all things on the earth. What will a man be like in the xxvii century, or even the xx? Very like unto us, I do expect; I do not think that man’s nature shall change; nor do I anticipate that he will be the wiser than we, for all his learning, for ‘tis a part of that nature which is ours that we do not heed the lessons of history: neither our own, nor the world’s.”
“To give you an idea of my state of mind I can not do better than compare it to one of those rooms we see nowadays in which are collected and mingled the furniture of all times and countries. Our age has no impress of its own. We have impressed the seal of our time neither on our houses nor our gardens, nor on anything that is ours. On the street may be seen men who have their beards trimmed as in the time of Henry III, others who are clean-shaven, others who have their hair arranged as in the time of Raphael, others as in the time of Christ. So the homes of the rich are cabinets of curiosities: the antique, the gothic, the style of the Renaissance, that of Louis XIII, all pell-mell. In short, we have every century except our own—a thing which has never been seen at any other epoch: eclecticism is our taste; we take everything we find, this for beauty, that for utility, another for antiquity, still another for its ugliness even, so that we live surrounded by debris, as if the end of the world were at hand.”
“Our name is Equality 7-2521, as it is written on the iron bracelet which all men wear on their left wrists with their names upon it. We are twenty-one years old. We are six feet tall, and this is a burden, for there are not many men who are six feet tall. Ever have the Teachers and the Leaders pointed to us and frowned and said: "There is evil in your bones, Equality 7-2521, for your body has grown beyond the bodies of your brothers." But we cannot change our bones nor our body.”
“It's lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened.”