COMPLETE WORKS | VOLUME 2 | SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

|| SECTION 1 | JNANA YOGA | CHAPTER 11 | THE COSMOS : THE MACROCOSM ||

|| < : WHY DO YOU USE THAT OLD WORD , GOD ? : > ||

I have been asked many times , " Why do you use that old word , GOD ? "

Because it is the best word for our purpose ; you cannot find a better word than that , because all the hopes , aspirations , and happiness of humanity have been centered in that word .

It is impossible now to change the word . Words like these were first coined by great saints who realized their import and understood their meaning .

But as they become current in society , ignorant people take these words , and the result is that they lose their spirit and glory .

The word GOD has been used from time immemorial , and the idea of this cosmic intelligence , and all that is great and holy , is associated with it .

Do you mean to say that because some fool says it is not all right , we should throw it away ?

Another person may come and say , " Take my word ", and another again, " Take my word ". So there will be no end to foolish words .

Use the old word , only use it in the true spirit , cleanse it of superstition , and realize fully what this great ancient word means .

If you understand the power of the laws of association , you will know that these words are associated with innumerable majestic and powerful ideas ; they have been used and worshipped by millions of human souls and associated by them with all that is highest and best , all that is rational , all that is lovable , and all that is great and grand in human nature .

And they come as suggestions of these associations and cannot be given up . If I tried to express all these by only telling you that GOD created the universe , it would have conveyed no meaning to you .

Yet , after all this struggle , we have come back to the Ancient and Supreme One .

SOURCE | SATYAVEDISM.ORG