Swami Sivananda
Moderation
Eat a little, drink a little Talk a little, sleep a little Mix a little, move a little Serve a little, rest a little
Essence of Vedantha
Be still, be quiet, know thy “self”. Find the hearer, find the seer, find the knower. You are not this body, not this mind, Immortal “self “you are.
Ethics
Be bold, be pure, be wise, be virtuous, be honest, be sincere, be truthful, be patient, be tolerant, be obedient be simple, be humble, be noble, be gentle.
Essential “ITs” you cannot acquire in the university
Serenity, regularity, absence of vanity sincerity, simplicity, veracity equanimity, fixity, non-irritability adaptability, humility, tenacity, integrity, nobility, magnanimity, charity, generosity, purity.
On self-inquiry
Develop patience, tolerance, mercy and love. Inquire, "Who am I?"
On mind
The nature of the mind is to create distinctions and differences. It separates, divides, and limits. It is a storehouse of errors, cravings, doubts, delusions and the primordial ignorance
There is a lesson in everything
This world is your best teacher. There is a lesson in everything. There is a lesson in each experience. Learn it and become wise. Every failure is a stepping stone to success. Every difficulty or disappointment is a trial of your faith. Every unpleasant incident or temptation is a test of your inner strength. March forward hero!
On Supreme Reality
Names and forms-all these are very superficial, external things; all these are ephemeral – they last for just a little while. All this is vain. One has to go beyond name and form, one has to attain that highest Bliss, to realize the soul which is the supreme Reality.
Good and Evil
Evil exists to glorify good. Evil is destructive force. Good is constructive force. There is neither absolute good nor absolute evil in this universe. Evil has no independent existence apart from good. Wherever there is evil, there is good; wherever there is good, there is evil. You can not expect absolute good in this relative world. You can find absolute good in Brahman alone.