It is through sankalpa (thoughts and ideas) the entire creation manifests. As is the sankalpa, so is the human life. Life itself is an interplay of sankalpa; it has life and is powerful. There are two types of sankalpas - polluted and the pure. Thoughts and feelings associated with sacred activities, helping the needy, contemplation of spiritual truths and the divine nature of God are examples of pure sankalpas. The thoughts that lead one to take up service without selfishness, without considering one’s personal gains, and considering the welfare of the nation as one’s own, are all noble sankalpas. Jealousy that arises in seeing others prosper, and doing such things that could impede their happiness, focussing on the bad in others and resorting to criticising them - these are polluted sankalpas. Sages of yore, though they were ordinary people in the beginning, were transformed into great sages through their sacred sankalpa. It is such sankalpa that transformed Ratnakara, who lived as a thief into Maharishi Valmiki.

- Divine Discourse, Oct 2, 1987