Use at least these precious years for the contemplation of the glory of the Lord, for fixing your mind on His Lotus Feet ever firmly, and for thus transporting yourself across the vast ocean of birth and death.
Therefore, practise at all times and under all conditions the remembrance with love and devotion, of the name of the Lord. (P.Vah, p. 61)
Human life is not being depleted even though millions die and, in addition, there is a constant transition from humanity to the Divine. Instead of depletion, that human population is growing and this new supply comes from the rock, the insect, the animal. Even science testifies that rock decomposes and becomes the tree; the vegetation is eaten and becomes the animal; and the animal in its various aspects is consumed and becomes the human. It is a constant process of passing from one grade to another. The Human birth is the final birth and, dependent on the virtue of the life. It ends in the Divine, or is reborn again. (MBI, p. 199)
Action, Being and Knowing are the three basic aspects of human life. (SS Sept 88 , p. 229)
When sandalwood is rubbed repeatedly, the fragrance from it increases;
When the sugarcane is chewed again and again, the juice gets sweeter,
When gold is heated in the crucible repeatedly; it becomes pure and brighter,
The noble ones adhere to righteousness through all the vicissitudes of life.
Human life is supremely precious in this world.
But not all are alive to this truth.
Wherein lies this preciousness? Humanness does not consist merely in the physical and the mundane. ‘Sariram madhyam khalu dharma sadhanam’ (Verily, the body is the primary requisite for the realisation of Dharma). It is for the pursuit of Righteousness that this body has been given to man. (SS May 92, p. 87)
Sadayam Hrudayam Yasya Bhashitam Satya bhushitam |
Kayam Parahitam Yasya Kalistasya Karoti Kim
A pure, unsullied selfless heart, speech full of truth and a body which is prepared to render service to fellowmen are noble divine qualities. This is the true meaning of human life. The proper study of mankind is man. The human values lie in the harmony between thought, word and deed.’ (DTB Vol.6, p. 1)
Human life is a long garland. One end of the garland is birth and the other end is death. In between these ends are the flowers of clashes, agitations, doubts, lack of self-confidence and other such qualities, which are threaded together. The effect of these flowers in between is predominant. People look at and believe only in these negative qualities of restiveness, lawlessness and atrocities, but do not recognise the underlying truth: Without the thread, these flowers cannot be strung together. That thread is the ‘Brahma sutra’ - the law of Brahman. It is the very thread of Brahma sutra. Woven about this thread are the flowers called obstacles, pleasures, sorrows, abuses, accusations, gains and the like.
Why have so many types and colours of flowers been strung together? It is only when the flowers are of various hues and types that the garland becomes beautiful. What is it that lends beauty to life? Difficulties lend one kind of charm; sorrows lend another kind of attractiveness. Obstacles add their own beauty to life. Joy is another source of beauty for life. All these can be compared to the flowers that lend beauty to the garland. When man develops this kind of equanimity, he can be said to have assimilated the essence of education. However, today man does not spot the defects within himself, but he is eager to spot the faults in others. (SSB 1996, p. 117)
Human Life is one of compassion, time is sacred: the heart is pure; and the mind is nectarous. Human life is based on Samata (equality), Samaikyata (Unity), Saubhratrutvam (fraternity) and Saujanyam (nobility). They constitute the very foundation of the mansion of life. Life will be meaningless even if one of them is absent. Everyone must cultivate and safeguard these four virtues. First of all, man should recognise the meaning of humanness. Truth fosters Neeti (Morality); Righteousness confers Khyati (reputation); Tyaga (sacrifice) is the Jyoti of life; Manava Jati (human race) is the combination of these three – Neeti, Khyati and Jyoti. But man today is neglecting the principles of truth, righteousness and sacrifice. He has to adhere to the principles not for the sake of society but for his own redemption. If you expect to be respected by all, you have to develop self-respect, which is the basis of human life. One who lacks self- respect cannot command respect from others. First and foremost, man should respect others and share his love with others wholeheartedly. This is the primary duty of man. Man is not merely Vyasti Jiva (individual); he is Samasti Jiva (part and parcel of society). Vyasti relates to Jiva (individual), Samasti relates to Devudu (God). Man has to travel from the level of individual to the level of society. What is the path prescribed for this? Firstly, man has to recognise the common principle of Jivan jyoti (light of life) that is present in all. The principle of Samatvam (equality) can be experienced and practised only when man understands the principle of Ekatvam (unity). The service activities that we undertake are meant to experience unity in society. You are serving others. In fact you should not consider anybody as ‘other’, for all are embodiments of divinity. But man is not making efforts to realise this truth. Hence, he is subjected to difficulties, once man realise that god is all-pervasive, he will be free from suffering. In order to get rid of suffering, man has to practise the principle of unity in society. Once he understands the principle of unity, he can attain the Cosmic principle. (SSS Vol.35, pp. 148-149)
You spend the whole day in hectic activity.
Do you call this living?
You eat three times a day
Does this constitute living?
Do you think that living consists
In sleeping comfortably?
Do you regard indulgence in
Gossip as the aim of life?
Did God give you life for these purposes?
Knowing what is merit and what is sin,
You are indifferent to them.
Is this the way you spend your life-time
At least from now on,
Learn to lead a truly human life.
(SSS Vol.28, pp. 224-225)
What the country needs today is not wealth and prosperity. Human life is sacred, valuable and worth living. Without human values, spirituality will reach abysmal depths; morality, integrity and peace will become extinct; practice of right conduct that leads to experience of sweetness within oneself will be destroyed and all idealism will vanish. Keeping the welfare of society as the goal, lead your lives with the faith that you are born to uphold and foster human values and sanctify your time. (SSSm Vol.7, pp. 327-328)