In plain words
The lighter it is, the higher it goes. It rises upward. As desires grow, it sinks little by little to the very bottom. You have seen the ocean that is never content. However many rivers flow into it, it knows no contentment at all. ‘Let more come, let more come,’ it keeps hoping. Where is the ocean that is full of longing? It has sunk to the very bottom. The clouds of water, turned to vapour by the sun's rays, rise up and thunder. Because it has become light, it looks at the ocean and thunders. O ocean! Because you have grown heavy, your lot is like this; because I have become light, I rise up and rejoice. The lighter I become, the higher I rise. Students certainly must study. But they must cut down their hopes to some extent. Give real attention to your studies. But you must give attention to sharing what you have learnt with others. You must not live your daily life for show. A small example. You all know it. A scientist, a son. The son of a mother called Neel. One day, when he was a little boy, he came running. ‘Mother, all my friends come to school wearing fine clothes, with rings on their fingers. Have a fine dress stitched for me. Put fine rings on me,’ he cried. ‘My dear! First of all, understand the state of our home. Understand what I can manage. After that, ask for the things you should ask for. What is my situation? I sew clothes for people outside, and I live this life on the money they give me. In a situation like this, if you want fashionable clothes and rings, where am I to bring them from? Live a natural life. To some extent, live a simple life.’ So she explained her situation to him well. Those words took root in the son's heart. Never again did he ask his mother in that way to have clothes stitched or to give him rings. He went on as far as school final. From there, by his own effort, he went to London and enrolled. There in college he passed well. There he wrote a test. The lecturers in the college praised the test he wrote. After he passed, they asked him to stay on as a professor in that very college. My mother has grown old. My mother herself is the root cause of my coming to such a position.