In plain words
Though one puts on the ochre robe, though the necklace itself is whirled round and round as a rosary, in the end one must come to You, Bābā; by Grace one must be blessed! However great one may be, by Grace one must be blessed.
What use is it? We are doing japa and dhyāna in a worldly way, but are we able to reach the state of drawing near to Grace? Are we seeking the path by which we become worthy of God's Prema? When we inquire well into this truth for ourselves, the truth comes out for us at once.
God Alone Is the True Friend
People today are all doing sādhanas of many kinds. For this, first of all, there must be friendship. Friendship with whom? Friendship with the One who does not change. That is the very Divinity, the embodiment of immortality. See, you have heard many a time about the nine kinds of path.
Hearing, singing, remembering Viṣṇu, serving His feet, worship, salutation, service, friendship and the offering of the self.
Only after friendship comes the offering of the self. First of all, there must be friendship with God. Those who are in this world are not true friends at all. Hello, how are you, how are you, good bye, good bye: that is all! This is not friendship. So long as the tank holds water, there will be frogs. After that, not a single frog remains. So long as the money in your pocket and your father's position are strong, there will be friends. After that, no one will say even good bye. In London there was a great political leader called Cromwell. In the end some fault or other came about in him. He was sentenced to be hanged.