Swami Sivananda: Quotes about life

“I consider that goodness of being and doing constitute the rock-bottom of one’s life.”

Swami Sivananda

"What Life Has Taught Me"
Autobiography of Swami Sivananda
Context: I consider that goodness of being and doing constitute the rock-bottom of one’s life. By goodness I mean the capacity to feel with others and to live and feel as others do, and be in a position to act so that no one is hurt by the act. Goodness is the face of Godliness. I think that to be good in reality, in the innermost recesses of one’s heart, is not easy, though it may appear to be simple as a teaching. It is one of the hardest things on earth, if only one would be honest with oneself.
There is no physical world for me. What I see I see as the glorious manifestation of the Almighty.

Life

“The life of a mendicant during pilgrimages helped me to develop in a great measure forbearance, equal vision and a balanced mind in pleasure and pain.”

Swami Sivananda

As quoted by Swami Sadananda Saraswati in his Introduction to Autobiography of Swami Sivananda (2000 web edition) http://www.dlshq.org/download/autobio.htm
Context: The life of a mendicant during pilgrimages helped me to develop in a great measure forbearance, equal vision and a balanced mind in pleasure and pain. I met many Mahatmas and learnt wonderful lessons. On some days I had to go without food and walk mile after mile. With a smile I faced all hardships.

Life , Pain , Pleasure , Help

“The life of a mendicant during pilgrimages helped me to develop in a great measure forbearance, equal vision and a balanced mind in pleasure and pain. I met many Mahatmas and learnt wonderful lessons. On some days I had to go without food and walk mile after mile. With a smile I faced all hardships.”

Swami Sivananda

Introduction
Autobiography of Swami Sivananda

Pain , Food , Smile , Help

“The diseases we suffer from the births we get here on earth are all products of actions done by us in previous times. Every action has its reaction and no action goes unrewarded in a suitable manner. Evil actions do not go without their bitter effects upon the doer. Here are given some of the many pitiable conditions of life which man has to live in due to his careless sinful deeds.”

Swami Sivananda

Karmas and Diseases, Divine Life Society, http://dlshq.org/download/karmadisease.htm (1959)

Time , Suffering , Life , Birth

“The misery and suffering that abound everywhere, reveal clearly that you have wantonly rejected the lessons of life. Foolish man! Your repeated, wanton neglect to learn the lessons of centuries has wrecked your boasted civilisation upon the rocks of hatred and greed.”

Swami Sivananda

Sayings of Swami Sivanada (1947)