Passage 8

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

That vapour itself takes shape as clouds, called Satya. From these clouds called Satya it rains in drops called Prema. These drops of Prema join one another and flow as a stream called Ānanda. The drops of Prema alone are the source of this stream called Ānanda. The source of these drops of Prema is the clouds called Satya alone. For these clouds called Satya, the feeling called the attraction of our intellect is itself their vapour. The source of this vapour is the ocean alone; setting out in this way from the ocean called grace, it merges back into the ocean in the form of Ānanda. But the ocean's water is salty. The river's water is sweet. Where did this difference come from? When we fetch this ocean water and drink it, it is salty. This itself they called knowledge of the śāstras. But the state in which it comes as a river, changes its form and its taste, and gives Ānanda to living beings: this itself they called the Jñāna of experience. So the Jñāna of experience is more essential than knowledge of the śāstras. When we turn this knowledge of the śāstras into experience, practise it to some extent in our daily life, carry it out in observance, and through that bring it to the seat of our heart, it takes shape in us as Ānanda. This bookish knowledge turns into an allergy for us. But the Jñāna of experience turns into energy. Today, only because there is no practice, what you young people have is mostly allergy, and no energy. Truly, if you strike a stone, the stone should break; you should not be hurt. Such a hardy state used to be there at this age. Compared with such a state, how weak you are is beyond telling. For this weakness too I am giving you an example.

Strength without Mastery of the Senses Is No More Than Brute Strength

A man looks like a fine strong fellow. But if a little mosquito settles on his nose, the first time he swats it like that. If it comes back and settles a second time, the second time he swats very hard. The third time he will fight in earnest. The young man of today becomes such a weakling that he cannot bear a little mosquito settling on his nose. Such bodily strength of ours, such strength of our senses, can never be true strength. Strength of mind alone is the chief strength. To build up strength of mind, the strength of God is most essential.