“All the scriptures tell us one thing: ‘Know thyself.’ If you have known yourself, you have known everything else. Know That, by knowing which, you will know everything else. The Bible says, ‘Seek that kingdom within you.’ It is not outside. Seek That within you. Once you have found That, then everything else will be automatically added unto you; you don’t have to go looking for outside things, they will all come to you. So learn that first. “
– Swami Satchidananda
“Keep this in mind: ‘I am here to serve; I am doing everything to serve others.’
Why are you eating? Not to develop the biceps and triceps; you are eating to gain enough energy to serve others. Why are you going to sleep? You are tired, you can’t serve, you have to go and rest well, then get up fresh to serve others. The goal is, ‘I am preparing myself to serve others.’ Then you are not preparing for yourself, you are preparing for others. So, your service to yourself becomes others’ service. Whatever you do, that should be your ultimate goal, then it is a service always.”
– Swami Satchidananda
“Whatever you do, let it be a perfect act. What is a perfect act? It harms nobody, it brings at least some benefit to somebody. If you have control, you can use anything and everything to achieve some good purpose. Keep that in mind as your goal. Whatever you think, whatever you say or do, ask yourself: ‘Will it harm anybody?’ The answer should be, ‘Absolutely no.’ The next point is, ‘Will it at least benefit somebody.’ The answer should be ‘Yes.’ If it is not benefiting anybody, it is a wastage. So, no harm to anybody, at least some benefit to somebody. “
– Swami Satchidananda
“Meditation is to calm the mind, bring the mind together. If you are already restful, peaceful, why do you need meditation? Meditation is a sort of medication. The same way, when you feel the disturbance in the mind, then you try to calm down the mind, and that’s why you practice meditation. So don’t get disappointed that you couldn’t meditate right away. Nothing is achieved overnight. When did you learn to walk or run? From the beginning? No. When you were a baby, you couldn’t even stand up, you couldn’t even crawl. Then you gradually learned to crawl, and walk, and run. Meditation is also like that. “
– Swami Satchidananda
“This is a time for us to remember that in the name of religion more people have died than in all the wars and natural calamities put together. Now more than ever we must understand that the purpose of religion is not to separate us. True faiths don’t preach hatred and killing, nor did any of the prophets. It is the people who interpret the scriptures who create the divisions. Division comes if we put our ego into the teachings of these religions. Let us strive to be free of that kind of egoism”
– Swami Satchidananda
“Our own true nature is Infinite Joy!
Always happy, Always peaceful, Always free.”
– Swami Satchidananda
Further Resources on Swami Satchidananda.