In plain words
Manassekam, vacassekam, karmaṇyekam mahātmanam. Such an exalted state we shall attain. Manassanyak, vacassanyak, karmaṇō anyak durātmanam. Today, in just such conditions, men are falling prey to some sufferings, in many ways. It is not that there are no good people in this world either. There are. Yet no one tries to recognise how they stand and fare. Were there no good people in this world, this world would not shine as it does; were there no men of merit in the world, the whole world would not be bright as day. Jantūnāṃ narajanma durlabham. If, having taken a human birth, people behave worse than beasts, can they be called human? At all times: the longing for wealth, the longing for a wife, the longing for sons. Bhakti is seen nowhere. Now and then, Part time devotion. Now and then they remember. They take it the way one takes a bite of pickle. As you are, such is the fruit.
As much as each one thinks of You, just so much are You.
So said Annamācārya. As much as each one thinks, just so much comes. In the river there is as much water as anyone needs. Each one can bring back only as much water as the vessel he takes. If you take a small vessel, saying the river is full of water, and want a lot of water, will that be possible? All the Bhakti and surrender of today are in that state. One guise in front, another guise behind. One conduct in front, conduct. Another conduct behind. They behave in a way that deceives God Himself. This is not the right attitude. It is on seeing such conduct that atheists are growing in number. For all atheism, it is the believers who are the cause. Not doing as one says is the root cause of it. The root cause is that some devotees have no conduct to match what they proclaim. So from today at least we must offer up our bad qualities and evil feelings in the homa, and try to make good feelings, good conduct and words of Satya grow in us.
‘We have listened’ is not the answer for Me. ‘The discourses were very good’ is not the answer I seek. The answer must come: ‘We have changed.’ Change must come. That is the true sign of Bhakti. Saying that a downpour is falling, if there is not even a little wetness, what sign is there of the downpour? Saying we are devotees, if we do not show it in our conduct even a little, to match, what sign is there of Bhakti? This is no mark of Bhakti at all. We must try to live well by the words that have been spoken.