In English
Many years ago, I went to (now ), during which time (popularly known as Rajaji) was the Chief Minister of . The Assembly was in session. At the end of the session, performed to Lord which gave him great joy. A member of a political party raised serious objection to this, saying, “This is Assembly Hall. If you are fond of , why don’t you resign and take up the job of a (priest) in a temple”? Another member raised the issue of equality, saying, “Sir, where is equality? The secretary who sits in the air-conditioned room and appends a few signatures on papers is getting a fat salary of 5,000 , whereas a peon who works hard from morning till evening is paid a meagre salary of 500 . Is this not injustice? The peon should get a salary equal to that of the secretary”. Rajaji decided to teach them a practical lesson. He looked out through the window and spotted a (renunciant) on the road. He then called a watchman and asked him to check up where the was going. The watchman went, came back and told Rajaji the place where the was heading. Rajaji then asked him to go and find where the resided. The watchman went, returned and came with the answer from the . Rajaji again asked him to go and find whether the would mind if he paid a visit to his place. The watchman went, returned and told Rajaji that the agreed to his visit. Rajaji then called an IAS officer and asked him to find who the was. The officer went, came back and told every detail about the . There was no need for Rajaji to send him again and again. Rajaji was thus able to convince the Member of the Assembly, who was watching this drama all along. Rajaji said that salaries were fixed on the basis of talents and abilities. People with fundamental discrimination were far superior to those having individual discrimination. Suppose you have all groceries and vegetables in the kitchen, as also an expert chef to cook food. But if the food is cooked in a untinned vessel, the food gets poisoned. Similarly, all spiritual practices such as become useless when love is lacking. Love is the prerequisite for all types of spiritual practices. Where there is love, there is no chance for hatred. Friendship flourishes in the ambience of love. Therefore, develop love more and more. This is the sign of divinity. Love is God. Live in Love.