Just as you prescribe minimum qualifications for every profession, the minimum qualification for grace is surrender of egoism, control over senses and regulated food and recreation (ahara and vihara). A person is made or marred by the company kept. A bad person who falls into good company is able to shed their evil quickly and shine forth in virtue. A good person falling into evil company is overcome by the subtle influence and slides down into evil. The lesser is overpowered by the greater. A drop of sour curd transforms milk, curdling it, separating the butter and turning it into whey. Sacred books are also equally valuable for this transmuting process, but they have to be read and pondered upon, and their lessons have to be put into daily practice. The Gayatri Mantra is a Vedic prayer to the Supreme Intelligence that is immanent in the Universe to kindle the intelligence of the supplicant.

- Divine Discourse, Sep 27, 1965.