The ACT Mission Statement:

The ACT group is composed of Vivekananda Vidyapith Alumni, College Students, and Twelfth Graders. It is dedicated to understanding and practicing the ideas of Swami Vivekananda and to continuing the education of the Vidyapith—of sincere moral and spiritual character building—by way of prayer, study and service.

Religion is not in books, nor in theories, nor in dogmas, nor in talking, not even in reasoning. It is being and becoming. –Swami Vivekananda, The Sages of India

ACT’s approach to moral and spiritual character building is practical and realistic. Our goal is to make learning and education part of our individual lives. The key is maintaining consistency between thoughts, words, and actions in the practice of building one’s character. This is possible through sincerity, questioning, and the commitment to work at it. As Swami Vivekananda said, “Wondering is thus the first step in the acquisition of wisdom” (Karma Yoga). We believe that the process of improvement, however, shouldn’t be destructive, painful, or depressing. The end result of our practice should be knowledge, truth, and happiness.

Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or psychic control, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all of these—and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details. – Swami Vivekananda

At our meetings, usually held on the last Saturday of every month, we discuss Swami Vivekananda’s ideas and how we may integrate them into our daily actions, whether we are at college, the workplace, home, or with family. Our meetings start with prayer, and include the reading of a text and discussion. We are beginning our service projects soon.

It will not do merely to listen to great principles. You must apply them in the practical field, turn them into constant practice. –Swami Vivekananda, Talks with Swami Vivekananda

If you are an alumni of the Vidyapith and wish to be added to the ACT list server, please email webmaster@vidyapith.org  including your name, email address, and year of graduation from the Vidyapith.

“We have to take care of ourselves—that much we can do—and give up minding others for a time. Let us perfect the means; the ends will take care of itself. For the world can be good and pure only if our lives are good and pure. It is an effect, and we are the means. Therefore, let us purify ourselves. Let us make ourselves perfect.” –Swami Vivekananda, Work and Its Secret