In plain words
It does us no good at all. In the ‘present’ we must develop our life in every way. Think over what a great word this ‘present’ is. What does ‘present’ mean? It means ‘He is in the class’. One who is not in the class is ‘absent’. That brings down the value. In each and every matter, ‘present’ is good. So all of you, keep the ‘present’ in view. The elders of today: ‘Alas, our olden days were so good. Now everything has gone bad,’ they keep saying. True! In those days children respected elders. They behaved towards them with great courtesy. They received good counsel from them. There was really no need to go to the teachers. At home itself the ‘grandmothers’ taught the children very good things. Everyone was very happy. As the saying ‘Old is gold’ goes, the people of old are truly like gold. They taught a most excellent path. Today we must take care not to spoil such a sacred path.
People like Subhas Chandra Bose are much needed by the country
First of all, we must put away bad qualities such as anger, envy and pomp. Only then can we achieve a great deal through ‘unity’. Now, wherever you look in the world, there are quarrels and nothing else! Whomever you look at, there is only anger! Whomever you talk with, there is only opposition! Wherever you look: ‘No unity!’ ‘No purity!’ All ‘enmity!’ That is why, back then, Subhas Chandra Bose was compelled to leave the country and go away. When does ‘enmity’ come? ‘Enmity’ comes only when selfishness comes. But wherever he went, he kept doing the service he had to do for the people, well and fearlessly. Our country greatly needs such good people. Our teachers came to me: “Swami, there are very good students in our University. There are students who get good marks in class. Their parents are sending such gifted children abroad!” they lamented. Why should they send them? They could keep them in our own country and shape the people of the country rightly, could they not!