In plain words
If there is righteousness in the heart there is beauty in the character If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home If there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. If there is order in the nation there will be peace in the world.
So if this peace is to come to us, we must cultivate right conduct. Right action. That is what they called Dharma. When we want this right action, we must come by Right thoughts, right thoughts. First of all we must foster Śānti within the home. Before fostering Śānti in the home, we must foster Śānti in our own body. If there is no Śānti in your own body, how will you bring Śānti to the home? When there is no Śānti in the home, how will you bring Śānti to the village? Everyone keeps saying, after bhajan or after meditation, 'Śānti Śānti Śāntiḥ.' Do we gain Śānti just because it comes out of the mouth? We must recognise the secret of this Śānti too. Ādibhautika Śānti, ādhyātmika Śānti, ādidaivika Śānti. Ādibhautika means that first of all we must attain Śānti in the body. Daivika means what is gained only through the grace of God. There is no effort of mine at all. It is just to surrender to God. Just to be offered to Him: this is ādidaivika. But if you take refuge in God, will God take everything as offered to Him? You must do the duty you have to do. That is why: kartavyaṃ yogam ucyate. We must carry out our duty. To say, without carrying out our duty, 'God alone will look after it', is mere laziness. If the food in the plate is to reach the stomach, need you not set the mouth and the hand to work? However many times you say of the food in the plate, 'Potato, chapāti', will the stomach be filled? You have that strength. When you do not have this strength, it is all right to take refuge in God. Whether you have strength or not, do everything in the feeling that all is for the pleasure of God.
Students! If we want saṅkalpas to arise in us rightly, we must enter the spiritual path, and that alone. Without that, true saṅkalpas will not arise in us in any way. We must join satsaṅga. Only when we join this good company will good saṅkalpas come.