In plain words
This power of consciousness is in every living being. That is why it has been said, “Īśvarassarva bhūtānāṃ.” Merely worldly studies do not nourish humanness. Only when he gives others help in a spirit of sacrifice does man become a true human being. Cattle, birds and wild beasts cannot grasp the principle of the Ātma within them and show a selfless spirit. That is possible for man alone. Only by the wealth of character does a man gain worth. One who lacks the wealth of character is no man at all; he may indeed be called a beast. Beasts are better than such a one. They at least have a reason and a season. But this man has ‘no reason’, ‘no season’! Study is not merely for filling pockets. We must pursue the studies fit to guard our Character. With money you can have mansions built and win a great name. But without the wealth of character, what use is earning any amount of money? Unfortunately, today the world too honours just such people. Satya and Dharma alone are the basis of the wealth of character. There is no Dharma higher than Satya: on the foundation called Satya stands the mansion called Dharma. Only when Satya and Dharma both come together does Prema arise. A man without Satya, Dharma and Prema has no Śānti at all.
The root of unrest is infatuation with the world
Ask any rich man you like. “I have everything, but no peace of mind,” he will say. Only the one without Śānti suffers so many kinds of trouble! In truth, man is a soul of great merit. Only as the fruit of the merit of many births is a human birth gained. What, after all, does ‘mānava’ mean? ‘Mā’ means infatuation with the world. ‘Na’ means without. ‘Va’ means conducting oneself. Only one who lives without ‘attachment’ is a true human being. Marrying, bearing children, raising a family... Through just such ‘attachment’ man falls into unrest. Man has no lack of food. There is no shortage of comforts. He can go anywhere. He can acquire anything. But Śānti he cannot fetch from somewhere.