Never become impatient in the spiritual path.  Be patient.  Be calm.  Strive, Strive, Strive.
- Sri Swami Sivananda

Not through matted locks, not through fiery lectures and erudition, not through exhibition of miracles does one attain perfection or Knowledge of the Self.

He, in whom the two currents of Raga-dvesha, ignorance of all kinds, egoism, lust and anger are destroyed in toto, is ever happy and he is Brahman, or the liberated Sage or Jivanmukta.

Mark the influence of a highly developed mind over a less developed mind! It is not possible to describe what it is like to be in the presence of a Master or a developed adept. To sit in his presence, though he hardly speaks a word, is to feel a thrilling sensation so much as to feel new inspirations touching one mentally. Mind has got aura (mental aura or psychic aura). Aura is tejas, brilliance or halo that emanates from the mind. The aura of those who have developed their minds is extremely effulgent. It can travel long distance and affect in a beneficial manner a large number of persons who come under its influence. The spiritual aura is more powerful than either the psychic or pranic aura.

Let not appearances deceive you. There goes the devotee, chanting the sacred name of Narayana. He sings in ecstasy and dances in rapture for an hour or two. He is vehement in asserting that all indeed is Narayana. Here is a great monist who would not stop repeating: ‘I am God’, ‘I am God’, ‘I am God’. Profound is his learning and mighty his swordsmanship in argument. Tarry a while, friend.

Watch them under three conditions: when desperately hungry, when bitterly provoked and insulted, and when another man is pathetically distressed.

Now if they fulfil their former assertions, all hail to them, veritable God on earth are they; if they do not, keep yourself aloof from them lest you should be infected.

~ Swami Sivananda

QUESTION: Difficulties and anxieties upset me in every way. Failure and troubles face me on every side. Domestic duties trouble my Sadhana. What shall I do, my Lord?

Swami Sivananda: Don't be afraid.

Remember the saying, "Even this will pass away". Write this on a piece of paper in bold types and fix it on the wall in your room. Difficulties and troubles are Agamapaya. They come and go.

Read Verse 14 in Chapter 2 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Become a hero. Stand firm as a rock. Live in the Centre. Live in Om. Live in Truth or Atma. Nothing can shake you. Difficulties will make you more strong and endow you with more endurance. Mysterious are His ways. Say, "Thy will be done".

Kindle the power of resistance. Keep up the positive ideal of active service of humanity and pure love. Generate the positive Sattvic counter-currents of energy to combat the downward negative currents of Vasanas. Keep yourself always in a positive state.

Overcome negative thoughts by entertaining positive divine thoughts. Rise from impurity, impotence and faintness of heart. Be bold, be cheerful always. Cultivate Daivi Sampat such as mercy, peace, forgiveness, tolerance, etc. Destroy Asuric Sampat such as arrogance, egoism, pride, anger, lust, etc. You are bound to attain the highest bliss and knowledge.

~ Swami Sivananda

A foolish devotee had a golden image of Buddha, which she took with her wherever she went. In the course of her wanderings, she came to a monastery where hundreds of images of Buddha were present.
She did not like the other Buddhas, she liked only her own. Whenever she burnt incense before her Buddha, she never liked that the fumes should go to the others. She drew a curtain round the image.
In a few months her Buddha became dark and grim, while the others were shining brighter, still.
Similar is the case with the narrow-hearted persons. They do not honor others’ faith. But as a river without tributaries suffers dearth, their faith too lacks firmness and dies immature death.
One should develop the heart to embrace the other faiths, also. The religion that embraces all and fights with none is the real religion. Such a religion alone will endure, while others will vanish like bubbles. Such an enduring religion is the religion of truth, purity, non-violence and love.

~ Swami Sivananda