In plain words
We must earn wealth with one hand and give it up with the other. Long ago there lived an old woman in Paris. Though she was a very poor woman, with the money she earned she would buy two or three blankets and go and cover those sleeping in the cold at night. Little by little, through her spirit of sacrifice, God's grace on her grew too. As God's grace grew, her sacrifice too kept growing; she would put some blankets in a cart and, after all had fallen asleep, go and cover those sleeping in the cold. She told no one of this. But all the people came to recognise her sacrifice. Yet she always walked with her head bowed down. So everyone would ask her, “Granny! You make such a sacrifice! Why are you so shy? Could you not go about with your head held high?” they said. Then this old woman gave her answer in this way: “My dears! For me to go about with my head held high is very shameful, because while God gives to me with a thousand hands, I give in charity with only one hand. When God gives to me with endless hands, for me to give to others with just one hand is very shameful.”
Today if anyone gives to a few people, he hopes that the news will be printed first in the paper in letters as big as his head. She never hoped for any such publicity at all. This is what is called “secret charity”. In Bhārata there are crores of people who give in this way. “If there were no virtuous people in the world, how would the worlds shine?” So we must give the wealth we have earned to others and enter on good works. Enter into dedicated work. Make social service grow day by day. “Regard service of people itself as service of Janārdana. Believe that service of others itself is service of the Paramātma.” This is the sādhana you must do. Through this sādhana you can experience any measure of Ānanda. Experience our five elements in a holy way. Then alone does human birth find its fulfilment. This is the great distinction that lies in humanness. Along with this, remember the Name of God.
Today's “Swami's Birthday celebration” passed off pleasantly and coolly. This cool weather became an “air-conditioning” for all the devotees. With the hope and the blessing that your hearts and feelings, too, will be cool, that the actions joined with these feelings, too, will be cool, and that all of you will try to cool the country, I bring My discourse to a close.