In plain words
But by teaching alone his conduct cannot be changed. So along with practice there must certainly be some publicity too. For some illnesses we must take the medicine inside. For some illnesses we need only rub it on the outside. But spirituality: for the illness called the illness of worldly existence, we must take the medicine inside. Suppose some wound has been struck on the outside. If we pay no heed to this wound once it has struck, it turns septic. On the outside we must apply ointment to that sore. For the inside, … septic, we must take some pills. So what has seized us is the illness of worldly existence. For this we must take inside … . On the outside we must bring about some change in our conduct. Only by the path of these two can we cure our illnesses of worldly existence.
Your experiences may be different, each of you. But between the Sathya Sai organisations and Sathya Sai there is no connection whatever. It is only because you asked that I set about giving you some guidance; but the differences of feeling among the devotees of the Sathya Sai Organisation, the devotees' progress, the devotees' zeal, the devotees' encouragement; for your progress, for the influence of satsaṅga, for your … unity, you are taking up such spirited works. These are the very reflections of your Bhakti. These are the very echoes of your Bhakti. But we must set about keeping that Bhakti in the right way. We must set about practising that Bhakti and spreading it among many. If you enter publicity without it in you, then instead of being an ideal it may well take many kinds of wrong turnings. The world watches with outward eyes. The world observes whether or not you do what you say. … when you do it, even if you do not say so, others will set about doing it.
So today it is very good that you, who are ideal people, should practise and try to teach others. In this, both self and help are joined: one's own good and the good of others. First of all, self. We must take this as the base. This itself is the foundation. And all this is for what? Do you lay a foundation and then sit down! Then you must build the mansion on top. Otherwise there is no use in laying a foundation. Here your own good too rests on the mansion called the good of others. That is, the services done for those outside, the things said to those outside, the teachings taught to those outside also rest on your own good. So all your welfare, too, rests on what is outside. But because this is the principle of spirituality, it is not for pleasing the people. We must take up the aim of pleasing the Lord. If you set about pleasing your Lord, the people and the whole world too will be pleased.