You must strive to diagnose your own character and discover the faults that are infesting it; do not try to analyse the character of others and seek to spot their defects. Life is a campaign against foes; it is a battle with obstacles, temptations, hardships and hesitations. These forces are within every individual and so the battle has to be incessant and perpetual. Like the virus that thrives in the bloodstream, the vices of lust, greed, hate, malice, pride and envy sap the energy and faith, and lead one to untimely fall. Ravana had great scholarship, wealth, power, authority, even the Grace of God – but the viruses of lust and pride lodged in his mind brought about his complete destruction. He could not dwell in peace and joy, even for a moment, after these viruses began their job. Remember, virtue is strength and vice is weakness.
- Divine Discourse, Mar 16, 1966. |
