Swami Vivekananda
The hymn of creation
Existence was not then, nor non-existence, The world was not, the sky beyond was neither. What covered the mist? Of whom was that? What was in the depths of darkness thick?
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
One Mass, devoid of form, name, and colour, Timeless, devoid of time past and future, Spaceless, voiceless, boundless, devoid of all-- Where rests hushed even speech of negation.
The Great Benediction After Mourning
(The Swami rendered this fragment of the Hindu sacrament on June 12, 1898)
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
This is your cup -- the cup assigned to you from the beginning. Nay, My child, I know how much of that dark drink is your own brew Of fault and passion, ages long ago, In the deep years of yesterday, I know.
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
Wake up the note! The song that had its birth Far off, where worldly taint could never reach; In mountain caves, and glades of forest deep, Whose calm no sigh for lust or wealth or fame Could ever dare to break; where rolled the stream Of knowledge, truth, and bliss that follows both. Sing hig
Soor Das' Song
(The Swami rendered this song of Soor Das on June 12, 1898)
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
I am neither the mind, nor the intellect, nor the ego, nor the mind-stuff; I am neither the body, nor the changes of the body; I am neither the senses of hearing, taste, smell, or sight, Nor am I the ether, the earth, the fire, the air; I am Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute--
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
One day in June 1898, shortly after Swami Vivekananda's disciple J. J. Goodwin died, the Swami carried off a few lines of Sister Nivedita's writing, and brought back this poem, which was sent to the widowed mother, as his memorial of her son.
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
O'ver hill and dale and mountain range, In temple, church, and mosque, In Vedas, Bible, Al Koran I had searched for Thee in vain.
Poems to Mary Hale and her responses
Subsequent to a disagreement (by correspondence) between Swami Vivekananda and his friend, Mary Hale regarding the Swami's attitude toward his detractors (See letter to Mary Hale , February 1, 1895) the Swami mailed the following poem to her on February 15, 1895).
Poems written by Swami Vivekananda
Composed at Ridgely Manor, New York, 1899. Dedicated to Mrs. Ole Bull "with eternal love."
One Circle More
Swamiji wrote the poem "One Circle More" on Ridgely Manor stationery. The original was sent to Swami Prabhavananda by Frances H. Leggett in 1962 It would appear that the three lines Swamiji wrote on the left-hand side of the sheet, which was actually the back of the folded letter paper consti