In plain words
Because of this, the giver of ślokas was able to reach a place equal to the giver of the worlds. What was the cause of his reaching such a holy and high place? His resolve was the root cause. When our willing is holy, every good fortune comes to us. When these willings are wicked, every ill fortune follows us. So, when the time is right, clay becomes gold. When karma falls short, a stick becomes a snake and creeps. Good and ill fortune keep following us through our own willing and doubting alone. The senses are the root cause of all these. If we want to bring the senses under control, we must rein in the mind, which is their Master. We must make the mind our friend.
What is Śivarātri?
The boys and girls sang all through last night with the greatest Bhakti and śraddhā. Keep evenness in the name of God, take up Divinity and reach God. Today is a most holy day. The night of the full moon is called “pūrṇimā”. What is night? Night means that which is full of darkness. What, then, is Śivarātri? An auspicious night. Because all last night was made holy by remembering the name of God, it has been called an auspicious night. The purer the heart and the holier the feeling with which you say the name of God, the more holiness and merit come to us. When we gain that holiness, everything in life becomes holy. If we win in one thing, we can win in everything.
Follow the name of God, whoever sings it
Today we need no new kinds of learning in the world. Nor do we need to found a new society. If we set right the qualities we have, the country itself will be well. The young must drive away pride, bad habits and bad thoughts. A beggar in the bazaar sings the name of God beautifully and happily. He is a Beggar, but “the name of God” is no Beggar. Whoever sings that name, whenever they sing it, you can listen with joy. Do not look at the vessel. Look at what is in it. We need not ask who is singing. In the same way, whoever sings it, follow that divine name. Not only while you are here: “whether you are in the forest, in the sky, on the hill, in the village, in the town, in mid-stream, in the temple, in the monastery, wherever you are”, keep evenness in thinking of the name. When we keep evenness in remembering the name, we can gain evenness in every way and grow.
Youth is a passing cloud
Embodiments of Prema! In old age the body wastes away. The mind wanders. At that time we cannot think of anything. We cannot gain any power of restraint. It is impossible. Many elders put it off, thinking they can take part in God's work and think of God after they retire. Only if we strive for it today can we achieve it after we retire.