In plain words
“Our daughter has done an M.A. What has your son studied?” they ask. If a girl who has done her postgraduation must get only a boy who has done postgraduation, how is he to be found? “Our girl is very beautiful. Your son must be handsome too,” they say. What beauty is that? The beauty of character alone is what counts. Only good qualities nourish true beauty. Without good qualities, however many adornments you put on, they cannot draw the heart.
Good qualities are themselves the true gurus
Students! Only your good qualities will protect you. Keep your eyes under control. Keep your tongue in check. If you keep these two under control, all the other senses will come under your control. The Buddha practised many sādhanas to master the senses. He realised that if we use the senses as we please, nothing comes of reading however many good books. We must see good, hear good, and put good into practice. We must live on the good path. For this very purpose God has bestowed the senses. The Buddha recognised this Satya and put the books aside. He took the inner voice itself as His guru. He brought His senses under control. Leaving His sleeping wife and son, He went off to the forest that very night. But I am not telling you to abandon the wife you married and the son you fathered. Looking after them well and teaching them right qualities, you too must nurture right qualities and come up in life. In that way the Buddha attained very great qualities. There are no gurus greater than good qualities, none at all. Good qualities are themselves the true gurus. Only when you trust the words of these gurus can you make good progress. It is the senses that spoil good qualities! If you master your sight, all creation comes under your control.
Do you know why you were given eyes? Is it to look at everything? No, no. The God of gods, the One who dwells on Kailāsa: it is to see Him! Do you know why you were given ears? Is it to hear the village gossip? No, no. It is to hear the songs in praise of the Lord. Why were you given shapely feet? Is it to roam the lanes and alleys? No, no. The One who rides on Nandi: it is to walk about His shrine!