Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to

The words of Swami Vivekananda—“Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.”—resound like the voice of a sage speaking across the ages. They remind us that life is not only a personal journey but also a sacred responsibility toward others. Each soul is engaged in its own battle, striving to rise beyond weakness and confusion, seeking to embody its highest idea of life. Our task is not to hinder, not to scorn, but to encourage, to uplift, and to walk as companions in that struggle.

The ancients themselves revered this truth. In the teachings of the Upanishads, the teacher was not a master who forced doctrine upon the student, but a guide who helped the seeker uncover the light already dwelling within. So too does Vivekananda remind us that every man and woman carries within them the seed of greatness, a vision of what they might become. It is our duty to water that seed, to strengthen that vision, and to help it grow until it stands firm. For in doing so, we honor the divinity within each person.

But Vivekananda adds a second charge: that we must also strive to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth. Here lies the balance of compassion and wisdom. Encouragement without truth becomes flattery, and ideals without reality become delusion. Thus, we are called not merely to affirm others in their journey, but to guide them gently toward what is real, what is noble, what aligns with the eternal. In this way, both the heart and the mind are nurtured, and the seeker’s vision grows not only brighter but truer.

History offers us radiant examples of this principle. Consider the life of Mahatma Gandhi. He did not scorn the poor or the uneducated, nor did he demand that they immediately rise to his level of discipline. Instead, he encouraged them in their own struggles for dignity, while pointing them always toward the higher truth of nonviolence and justice. His life became a beacon that helped ordinary men and women align their ideals with the eternal principles of compassion and truth. Without such encouragement, their courage might have faltered; without such truth, their ideals might have wandered astray.

The same spirit can be seen in the life of Socrates, who walked the streets of Athens questioning, provoking, and uplifting. He did not impose answers but invited others to seek their own highest idea of virtue. And yet, he never let them rest in comfortable falsehoods; he pressed them closer to truth, even when it hurt. In him, as in Vivekananda, we see the marriage of encouragement and truth, of love and wisdom, of patience and challenge.

Beloved listener, the lesson is clear: we are not only responsible for our own growth but also for the growth of those around us. Every word of encouragement may be the spark that keeps another soul moving forward in its struggle. And every gentle correction toward truth may save a life from wandering into error. To fulfill our duty, we must learn to be both compassionate and discerning, both supportive and honest.

Practical wisdom demands this: when you encounter another’s struggle, do not dismiss it, for their battle may be greater than you know. Offer encouragement, remind them of their strength, and help them believe in their highest idea. But also, in love, guide them toward truth—whether by example, by gentle words, or by steadfast living. In this balance, you honor both their humanity and their divinity.

So let the words of Vivekananda echo through your days: “Encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth.” In this lies the path of service, the path of wisdom, and the path of love. To walk it is to become not only a seeker of truth for yourself, but a light-bearer for others—one who lifts, who guides, and who helps all souls grow into their happiest, strongest, and truest selves.