Invoking the famous ‘sloka’ from Katha Upanishad that was popularised by Swami Vivekananda ‘Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached’, Gautamananda, president of Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, urged students to develop an ideal and follow it sincerely for their betterment. He was delivering the keynote address at a packed Kalabharathi Hall during the inaugural function of the three-day youth convention and Akhilandhra Bhakta Sammelan, organised on the occasion of the platinum jubilee celebration of Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
He advised the young minds to set a goal and work towards self-perfection, self-realisation and selfless service to society. “View society as your family and the service will automatically fall in its place,” he advised.
The monk also urged students to be fearless and bold and reject corruption in all its form.
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Swami Bodhamayananda, Director of Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence, Hyderabad, advised students not to appreciate Swami Vivekananda, but apply his principles in life.
Swami Nikhileswarananda, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Vadodara, stressed on a disciplined lifestyle and pointed out that good intake, be it food or knowledge, is the way to cleanse one’s mind and body.
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He also pointed out that peer influence plays a vital role in one’s development and urged students to choose good peers. He pointed out that the infinite power dwells in every individual, and it was the matter of recognising, unleashing and manifesting that power, which makes one stand apart.
B. Subrahmanyam, former principal of Vivekananda College, Tiruvedam, said that the challenge for the modern youth was that they have high ambition and lesser ability in achieving them. He exhorted the youth not to let go any opportunity.
Earlier, Swami Atmavidananda, secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Visakhapatnam, delivered the welcome address and spoke about the three-day celebrations.