In plain words
All these are gifts that God has given to humanness. How much we misuse God's gift! It is a great sin.
Sin is not in some foreign land apart; it clings to the deeds one does. Merit is not in some foreign land apart; it clings to the deeds one does.
Everything lies in our action alone. If you do good, a good result comes. If you do bad, a bad result comes. We must make good use of this body God has given, this Buddhi, the mind, this prāṇa.
What Is Sādhana?
What is sādhana? Service itself is sādhana. We must set ourselves to the service of society. We must serve our fellow men who are brothers, and our sisters. Only when you take part in such service does your birth become fulfilled. Even if you cannot do any sādhanas, do service. Whomever you serve, regard it as service to God; but today, wherever people serve, the greed for money, ‘How much will come, how much will come?’, has grown very great.
When wealth grows, pride grows; when pride grows, bad qualities grow without ceasing; when wealth wanes, pride hides away; when pride wanes, bad qualities cease, O Vema.
As wealth grows, bad qualities keep growing. As desires grow, sorrows grow. But man does not understand. He thinks, ‘I am wishing for my wishes.’ The more desires grow, the more sorrow grows too. All desires, every one, are born of sorrow. Sorrow itself is the womb of desire. What is born of that sorrow gives only sorrow; will it give Ānanda?