In plain words
Shapes differ; the principle of the Ātma is one
The God who stands as the Sākṣī of all is one alone. Each one worships with a different form and name, but all forms and all names are God's alone. “A salutation to all beings goes to Keśava.” So we must respect everyone and love everyone. Only then shall we too receive respect. We must make our Prema broad. A narrow outlook is not good. “God in human form.” So every person is an embodiment of God. Man is endowed with all power. Man himself is the embodiment of God. Look anywhere: they give God a human shape and worship Him. You must not give room to differences on account of shapes. For us, shape is not the main thing. A small example: in the market, to attract little children, they make figures of various animals, dog, hen, deer and so on, out of sugar syrup and put them up for sale. ‘Take any figure: only two annas,’ they keep calling. Your child says, ‘I want the deer.’ You pay two annas and buy the deer. Again he says, ‘I want the hen.’ You pay two annas and buy the hen. They may differ in shape, but the sugar in them is one and the same. The two annas you give are for the sugar, not for the shape. You put no value on the shape. The one drawn by the shape is the child. In the same way, the one deluded by forms and names is the ignorant man; the one who keeps his aim on the fundamental principle alone is the true sādhaka, the devotee. So we must not be deluded by the shape. We must nourish the feeling of the Ātma. We must love the Ātma. Then man himself becomes God.
The mind is like a thief
The Upaniṣads gave the Ātma the name ‘Hṛdayam’. That which is filled with compassion is the Hṛdayam. That which is filled with mercy is the Hṛdayam. When that principle of Prema and that merciful heart are in everyone, how can there be any unrest or hatred left in the world?!