To be spiritual is not an easy thing. Unless one gets purified through the fire of struggle, he is not fit for spiritual progress. So such struggles will come – we need not be at all afraid for that. You are a child of Ramakrishna. Be always conscious of it and brave the struggle. Through His grace I am sure you shall succeed. You are thinking of Sri Ramakrishna – the personification of purity. All impurities will have no hold on you. May you have peace and happiness, purity, viveka, and vairagyam…
(p.175, Mahapurush Maharaj As We Saw Him, Swami Shivananda’s letter to Swami Ranganathananda on 24th September 1930)
Have the conviction that you are working for the Lord, and then don’t worry anymore. Why do you allow your mind to become disturbed? He is in everything and he is everything – reflecting and meditating thus one attains realization. Imagination will become reality – that is how it happens. At first one has to imagine; afterwards it becomes real.
(p.172, Spiritual Treasures, Swami Turiyananda’s letter to a devotee on 24 September 1916)