Buddha

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Let me tell you in conclusion a few words about one man who actually carried this teaching of Karma-yoga into practice. That man is Buddha. He is the one man who ever carried this into perfect practice. All the prophets of the world, except Buddha, had ex­ternal motives to move them to unsel­fish action. The prophets of the world, with this single exception, may be di­vided into two sets, one set holding that they are incarnations of God the other set holding that they are only messengers from God; and both draw their impetus for work from outside, expect reward from outside, however highly spiritual may be the language they use. But Buddha is the only prophet who said, ‘I do not care to know your various theories about God. What is the use of discussing all the subtle doctrines about the soul? Do good and be good. And this will take you to freedom and to whatever truth there is.’

He was, in the conduct of his life, absolutely without personal motives; and what man worked more than he? Show me in history one character who has soared so high above all. The whole human race has produced but one such character, such high philoso­phy, preaching the highest philosophy, yet had the deepest sympathy for the lowest of animals, and never put forth any claims for himself. He is the ideal Karma-Yogi, acting entirely without motive, and the history of humanity shows him to have been the greatest man ever born; beyond compare the greatest combination of heart and brain that ever existed, the greatest soul-power that has ever been mani­fested.”

He is the first great reformer the world has seen. He was the first who dared to say, ‘Believe not because some old manuscripts are produced, believe not because it is your national belief, because you have been made to believe it from your childhood; but reason it all out, and after you have analysed it, then, if you find that it will do good to one and all, believe it, live up to it, and help others to live up to it.’ He works best who works without any motive, neither for money, nor for fame, nor for anything else; and when a man can do that, he will be a Bud­dha, and out of him will come the power to work in such a manner as will transform the world. This man represents the very highest ideal of Karma-yoga.

(The Complete Works of Vivekananda, Vol. I Eleventh Edition, pp. 116-18)