Virtue and Sin - Swami Vivekananda's definition

If we read carefully Swamiji, we'll realize that he has infinite compassion for all, even the worst sinner. The reason being, he says, sin is nothing but a covering of the soul owing to ignorance. However he also says the same thing about virtue, though one is an iron chain while the other is a golden chain. There are two coverings on soul - Thin blanket like covering through ages of bad work which had brought miseries and sufferings in its wake, and a thick veil like covering which had been made through ages of good work which brought joy and happiness. To uncover the soul, we need to transcend both coverings. Its not enough to remove the thick blanket as the thin veil will also hide the Atman, although its glow is probably faintly visible, and the uncovering of the thick one enables us to know that something is hidden there. Once we remove the thin veil the Self becomes visible in its full glory. The thin covering is the covering of ego of goodness. As Gita says, Sattva binds a person to happiness and joy. An aspirant cannot easily get out of that state and hence cannot see the Self in its full glory, although  she is very near. As Sri Ramakrishna pointed out, it is like picking up one thorn with another thorn and then getting rid of both.