Some people when faced with difficulties think that God is punishing them. It is a mistake to think so. God never punishes anybody. It is only the king who gives punishment, not God. God is love; He always gives only love. The punishment you suffer is the result of your own actions. God neither punishes you nor protects you. You are punished by your own sins and protected by your own good deeds. You may utilise light for writing inappropriate accounts or for reading the holy Ramayana. But light is not affected by what you do. Similarly God is the eternal witness. He is like the light, unaffected by your actions, good or bad. Be it pleasant or unpleasant, you have to face the consequences of your actions. So, do not indulge in bad actions. Always do good, be good, and see good. This is the way to God. Do not say, “I will try”; you must do it.

- Divine Discourse, Apr 14, 1999.