This book is a broad and brief outline of a vast subject. The main object behind the expositions made in it is to place and elucidate some of the basic thoughts of India and to bring them in focus to show their relevance and practicality for the personal and social life of the day. It is a small attempt to give an elementary general idea of the vast knowledge treasured in our age-old spiritual heritage in order to introduce the subject to those to whom it may not be known and, if possible, awakening in them some measure of interest which it rightly deserves.
This book containing mostly excerpts from the speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda is being presented to you with the fervent hope that it will prompt people to lead a life of fervour and self-belief, dedication and self-sacrifice. It is a strident call to the people to shake off their lethargy, mood of escapism and defeatism and rise like the phoenix from the ashes of morbid despair to an enthusiasm based on the healthy spirit of the divine soul. We have to awake and arise and stop not till the goal is reached.