Learn not the truth of the Self save from one who has realized it; in all others it is mere talk.  Realization is beyond virtue and vice, beyond future and past, beyond all the pairs of opposites.  “The stainless one sees the Self, and an eternal calm comes to his soul.”  Talking, arguing, and reading books, the highest flights of intellect, the Vedas themselves – all these cannot give the Knowledge of the Self.

Swami Vivekananda

The first thing needed to be spiritual is truthfulness.  Never forsake truth, even for all life.  God is truth itself, and is at the command of one who is devoted to truth.  Spirituality is impossible to him who does not cherish truthfulness in thought, word, and deed; without this, all attempt is in vain.  So, first of all, try to be unflinchingly truthful with all heart and soul.  Truth is ever victorious in all times – past, present, and future…

If you have truthfulness, every other virtue is sure to come in its wake – even self-control.

Swami Premananda

The malady of our age, as indeed of every age, is spiritual.  The cause of humanity’s sickness is attachment to lust and greed, or, to use Sri Ramakrishna’s expressive words, “woman” and “gold”. The undisciplined ego has aggravated this illness.  The remedy lies in its control.  Sri Ramakrishna’s life is a demonstration of the triumph of spirit over matter.  He reached a depth in spiritual consciousness which transcends time and space and has a universal appeal.  His life and teachings attract all sincere souls, no matter what their faith or creed.

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

John 11:25, 26

 Let every man and woman count himself immortal.  Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection.  Let him say not merely, "Christ is risen" but "I shall rise."

Phillips Brooks (Episcopal Bishop)

 The joyful news that He is risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline, and make the sacrifice.

Henry Knox Sherrill (National Counsel of Churches)

O brother, my heart yearns for the true Guru, who fills the cup of true love, and drinks of it himself, and offers it then to me.

He removes the veil from the eyes, and gives the true vision of Brahma;

He reveals the worlds in him, and makes me hear the Unstruck Music;

He shows joy and sorrow to be one;

He fills all utterance with love.

Kabir says: ‘ Verily he has no fear, who has such a Guru to lead him to the shelter of safety.

 Kabir

This Atman, resplendent and pure, whom the sinless sanyasins behold residing within the body, is attained by unceasing practice of truthfulness, austerity, right knowledge, and continence.

Mundaka Upanishad

O Mother!  Thou art present in every form;

Thou art in the entire universe and in the tiniest and most trifling things.

Wherever I go and wherever I look,

I see Thee, Mother, present in thy cosmic form.

The whole world – earth, water, fire and air –

Are all thy forms, O Mother, the whole earth of birth and death.

“Mountains, plants, animals living on land and in water,

All moving and unmoving beings in this beautiful world”,

Says Prasada, “are full of Divine Will.”

Ramprasada

The traits of a solitary bird are five:  First, it seeks the highest place; Second, it withstands no company; Third, it holds its beak in the air; Fourth, it has no definite color; Fifth, it sings sweetly.  These traits must be possessed by the contemplative soul.  It must rise above passing things; paying no more heed to them than if they did not exist.  It must likewise be so fond of silence and solitude that it does not tolerate the company of another creature.  It must hold its beak in the air of the Holy Spirit, responding to His inspirations, that by so doing it may become worthy of His company.  It must have no definite color, desiring to do nothing definite other than the will of God.  It must sing sweetly in the contemplation and love of its Beloved.