In plain words
Some mothers worry, “If my son is on the spiritual path, what will become of him, what will become of him?” By the merit of who knows how many births, that good fortune comes to them. We should rejoice at it, not grieve. Many parents: once the studies are over, the marriage must be done. They must take up jobs; they must become great. Parents, out of Prema, want them to become great. But Swami's Prema is not like that. Not great. They must become good. What is the difference between great and good? The good see God even in man. The great keep seeing humanness even in God. Rāvaṇa was great, certainly. A great tapasvī. A man of mighty power, certainly. But seeing humanness in Rāma, he kept thinking, “This one is a man.” Rāma was not like that. He went on showing the Divinity in all beings. That is goodness. Īśvara ssarvabhūtānāṃ, īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ. That is all the difference between greatness and goodness. There is no gain merely in holding great jobs, pursuing great studies and earning a great deal. You may get the name of being great. But you must earn the name ‘good person’: good man. Not great man. What comes of being great? Nothing but selfishness, all of it: selfishness, selfishness. In the good man there is selflessness alone, selflessness. So, every boy, become good. Honour your parents. Give them joy. You must show them gratitude. This is what I keep telling them. They agree to it. But at times they too have some selfishness, don't they? Just as parents have selfishness, the son too has some selfishness. All of you know: “My parents want me to be like this. I do not like it. I must stay right by Swami. I must do Swami's service,” Satyajit told all the boys who came to Kodaikanal, right there in public. His parents too were right there. “I am telling you the doubt I have. Do not take it as some other criticism; may all forgive me,” he prayed, first of all.