Death stalks its prey everywhere, at all times with relentless determination. It pursues its victims into hospitals, hill-stations, theaters, aeroplanes, submarines, in fact, no one can escape it or take refuge from its grasp. God alone is the giver of life, the guardian of life and the goal of life. Do not contemplate on Death; it is just an incident in life; contemplate on God, who is the master of all life---God who is the In-dweller in this physical frame. (SSS Vol.8, p. 101)
Those who claim to be Sadhakas (spiritual aspirants) are really striving for selfish ends. The Divine is omnipresent. To experience the Divine, you have to undertake an enquiry with a steady mind. People today pursue studies all their life, but hardly practise what they have learnt. Practice is more essential than the mere acquisition of knowledge. It is not accumulation of information that is important, but the transformation of himself. Of what use is all the information you have gathered? How much of it have you put to practical use? The answer will be: a hero in gathering information; a zero in putting it into practice. In this way, life is being wasted rather than being purposeful.
The first step is for each one to comprehend his true Self. In many cases, as they grow in years and study more and more books, they develop doubts. Apart from filling their minds with bookish lumber, of what use is all their studies? There is no difference between books without consciousness and minds filled with bookish knowledge. Both are equally sterile. It is a case of ‘living death’ for both. Book knowledge without practice may be useful for teaching others, but is of no value to the man himself. A man who does not practise what he preaches is wasting other people’s time. To begin with, make right use of your time. In this context, I repeatedly advise students and others to reduce their talk. Engage yourselves in spiritual enquiry and practise at least a fraction of what you learn. (SSS Vol.26, pp. 116-117)