In plain words
How must a man strive, if he is to win this Prema? It is not something gained merely through japa, tapas and dhyāna. It is not something had through the Vedas, the śāstras, the Itihāsas and the Purāṇas. God is in the heart itself. We must turn the Manas toward that heart. We must have the mouth shut. We must have the heart opened. Only then does this Ānanda come to us. To win Prema, many people take up dhyāna, japa and yoga. They read many books. They go through pārāyaṇas. All these are only like jewels that are worn; they are not paths that reveal the Ātma-svarūpa. Scholarship is merely a jewel. Reading the Vedas, the śāstras and the Itihāsas is only like an outward decoration! None of these sādhanas brings inner Ānanda. If we are to gain inner Ānanda, Prema alone is the chief path. Today Prema has been rooted out completely. In the place where this Prema should be, hatred has entered. In the place where Satya should be, selfishness has arisen. In the place where compassion should be, a useless envy has begun. Only when each quality is in the place where it should be, whenever and wherever that is, will human life go well.
When we pray to God, we must pray in a spirit of offering all
Embodiments of Prema! We must make human life a life full of Prema. In this life full of Prema there is no happiness at all that man cannot gain. All riches come through Prema alone. All powers are won through Prema alone. All victories are gained through Prema alone. But what is this Prema like? When we pray to God, we must pray in a spirit of offering all. But this spirit of offering is not there today. If you have the longing to have God, if spiritual hunger is in you, if you have the aim of drinking in the Ānanda of God, then truly set this Prema journeying toward God. You do not have this hunger. You do not have this thirst. You do not have this longing.