Passage 6

Tap any word for its meaning.

In plain words

Birth is a worry, staying on earth a worry, worldly life is a worry, death a worry, the whole of childhood a worry, old age a worry, living is a worry, ruin a worry, all actions are a worry, troubles a worry, even joy is a worry: a strange worry!

But happiness and worries alike depend on your feelings. If you think this body brings worries, then worries are truly what it brings. If you think of it as an instrument that gives happiness, it truly does bring happiness. There is nothing bad in man. Everything in him is sacred. Our body is a magnetic shrine. So it must be set to sacred tasks. When we do actions against Dharma, their fruits too turn out bad. Man practises many kinds of sādhana, such as japa and dhyāna. These give only passing satisfaction; they do not make one recognise the divine power of attraction. “Śravaṇaṃ kīrtanaṃ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṃ pādasevanaṃ vandanaṃ arcanaṃ dāsyaṃ snehaṃ ātmanivedanaṃ”: these are the nine kinds of path. You must seek friendship with God. Only when you strengthen that friendship does ātmanivedana become possible. Until then, Surrender is not possible.

Temples are magnetic shrines. Wherever there are temples, whatever temples they may be, all that is in them is magnetic power. We say there is great power at Tirupati. That is not the power of Lord Veṅkaṭeśvara; devotees carry there the magnetic power called Bhakti and surrender, and leave it behind. There is a power of attraction there, a power that enchants. That is why it takes shape there as a great power. Whatever temple you go to, all the power there is magnetic power. That is the Power of Divinity.