In plain words
Today, wherever you look, there is nothing but hatred! Within a single party ten parties appear. In such a situation, how can we find happiness? First of all we must foster love of our country. We must keep the welfare of the country as our goal. The sacredness there is in Bhārata is in no other country. That is why many Avatāras have arisen in Bhārata. “When we have the gold called Bhārata, why the clay that lies in other lands?” Bhārata is like the mother of all countries. Rāma said, “Jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasī.” Many people remember Rāma, but how many practise Rāma's words? Heroes in remembering, zeros in practising!
The Ānanda of the Devotees Is My Ānanda
Embodiments of Prema! Today they are saying it is this body's 75th birthday. But I have nothing to do with this age. I have never had any wish to celebrate these birthdays. But because the devotees all gathered and asked, I agreed to celebrate this festival. I have no desire of any kind. The Ānanda of the devotees is My Ānanda. The welfare of the world is what matters most to Me. To cherish those who toil in hardship and to remove their hardships is My chief duty. Whatever anyone may proclaim, My resolve does not change. You too must take up such a firm resolve.
The hold you have taken, whatever it is, you have truly taken; stay just so until your hold prevails; whatever you have longed for, you have truly longed for; keep worshipping until the longing is fulfilled; whatever you have asked for, you have truly asked; do not let go until what you asked is given; whatever you have set your thought on, you have truly set it; do not move until the thought is fulfilled; either He, unable to bear the pleading, must come to save, or you, forgetting the body, must go on asking; that and nothing else; to stop in the middle and turn back is not the devotee's resolve.
Such resolve is true tapas. Tapas does not mean going off to the forest, putting your head down and your feet up, and meditating. You must keep your word. You must safeguard truth. You must show gratitude. You must hold on to self-confidence. These are the qualities devotees must have. Whatever difficulty comes, you must live without minding it, taking the Ātma as your support. You must safeguard your self-respect. You must set about sacrificing selfishness.
The ‘I’ Itself Is Divinity
People today are becoming blind, without the two eyes called faith. Do not trust anyone. But you must trust yourselves, must you not! Faith in yourself and faith in God is the secret of greatness.