In plain words
Man today has every good fortune. He has every kind of learning. He has every strength and ability. But what is the use? When greed alone enters a man, he becomes good for nothing, for all that he has. Under the sway of this Kali, greed in man has grown beyond measure in the modern age. He does not eat himself, he does not give to others. Even if he does not give, never mind. He cannot bear to see others happy. Can we call such a human life a human life today? Or should we call it animal nature! Even animals do not have the fault of hoarding, the folly of making it grow. Today the folly of hoarding and the cruelty of plundering have gone beyond all bounds in men.
However many sādhanas we do, however many japas we do, all of them are taking on an artificial form. Worship without Prema and adoration without faith are futile. We may study no learning, we may hear no Śāstras, we may not grasp the inner meaning in any book; it is enough to have the two, Prema and faith. When we leave the body, what do we take with us? In this body we do so many tasks. For the upkeep of the body we go through so many troubles. To keep ourselves and our families safe and well, we bear many toils.
It brings his wealth to ruin, it burns up the honour he has, it parts him from his own people: through greed, everything goes to ruin for men.
This is the great glory in the Kali of today. This greed is a great fashion in Kali. In man, sacrifice does not arise in any single thing. But in our Bhāratīya tradition: ‘Not by karma, not by offspring, not by wealth; by sacrifice have some attained immortality.’
On the day he has riches, the Lord of Kailāsa Himself the sinner defies as he goes about; the moment riches leave him, the world comes into view.
Only when it leaves does the world come into view. As long as it is there, even the world is not seen. What is this world? What is this life? How long is this life? What is it that we achieve in this life? You can achieve nothing. All are only clouds drifting past.