Swami Sivananda on Jesus

Swami Sivananda was a great saint of the twentieth century who founded the Divine
Life Society on the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. He wrote over two hundred
books and performed many great works.

"Jesus welcomed and embraced the sinners, the despised and the harlots and purified
them. He comforted them and gave them solace and peace. He raised the fallen. He
brought relief and rest to the broken-hearted.

Jesus said: "Unless you become as little children, you shall in no wise enter the
Kingdom of God". To Jesus, God was a loving Father. Jesus' watchword was love for
God and fellowmen.

"Have faith in God. The Lord is our God. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart
and all thy soul, and all thy mind, and all thy strength. Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. The love of God manifests in the love of man." This is the central teaching
of Jesus.

Jesus was a world teacher, a prophet and Messiah. His Sermon on the Mount is nothing
but the practice of Sadachara or right conduct. It corresponds to the practice of
Yama-Niyama of Raja-Yoga, the Eightfold Path of Lord Buddha. It is marvellous, inspiring
and soul-stirring.

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. How humble he was! He
said, "Blessed are the meek, for they shalt inherit the earth".

Lord Krishna washed the feet of the guests in the Rajasuya yagna performed by King
Yudhishthira. Avataras or mighty souls perform such actions. Should you not learn
lessons from those great persons ? Lord Krishna, the mighty Lord of the three worlds,
took delight in washing the feet of the guests. Should you not learn to be humble
? How haughty and proud you have become ! You are puffed with vanity and intoxicated
with pride when you possess a little money, a small car and a small estate. You
think you are a mighty emperor and walk with arrogant steps and treat others with
contempt. You think too much of yourself and your position in life. In reality,
your officeship has created in you a slave mentality and a fear of losing your position.

Christ's message has always been: "Love thy neighbour as thyself". He said: "The
Kingdom of Heaven is within thee. His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Be not anxious. Seek ye first His Kingdom. Everything will be added unto thee".
He was the way, the truth and the light, for all men to follow.

Jesus Christ laid stress on love of God and love of fellowmen, and the need for
repentance or a change of heart, for entry into the Kingdom of God. He instructed
people to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. He said that a contrite heart was
necessary in order to receive God's forgiveness.

"The Kingdom of God is within thee. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door shall
be opened unto thee." This is the foundation upon which the ethics of Jesus has
been built. "