The secret of concentration and success by Swami Vivekananda
Concentration is the essence of all Knowledge; nothing can be done without it. Ninety percent of thought force is wasted by the ordinary human being and therefore he is constantly committing blunders; the trained man or mind never makes a mistake.
Since my school days, I’ve been fascinated by Swami Vivekananda- his works, and his abilities.
His remarkable ability to grasp topics at a pace I have never seen, his thoughts on meditation.
Over the years, I have read a lot that is said by him and taken notes, here are a few of them.
Secret of Concentration
1. Take up one idea, make that one idea your life; think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced. Others are mere talking machines.
2. This is the difference between man and the animals — the man has the greater power of Concentration. The difference in their power of Concentration also constitutes the difference between man and man. Compare the lowest with the highest man. The difference is in the degree of Concentration.
3. Simply by the observance of strict Bramacharya all learning can be mastered in a very short time — one has an unfailing memory of what one hears or knows but once. It is owing to this want of continence that everything is on the brink of ruin in our country.
4. The very essence of education is the concentration of mind, not the collecting of facts. We should develop the power of concentration and detachment, and then with a perfect instrument, we can collect facts at will.
5. The knowledge in the world is gained by Concentration of the powers of the mind. The strength and force of the blow come through concentration. There is no limit to the power of the human mind. The more concentrated he is, the more power is brought to bear on one point; that is the secret.
Success in life mostly depends on the power of Concentration. Clear thinking and intellectual understanding are very easy for a concentrated mind. Arjun could shoot at the target with his tremendous Power of Concentration.
