20 June 2026
Saturday
The natural colour of this kerchief is white. As you use it, it becomes dirty and stained. Its colour also changes because of the dirt accumulated on it. Similarly, when a child is born, its heart will be pure, unsullied, as clear as crystal and as pure as glittering gold. But when metals like silver, copper and brass are added to pure gold, it loses its lustre and value. It becomes impure. The true nature of man is immortal, eternal, peaceful and blissful. Such a nature of man gets polluted by worldly desires, by his activities and by his attachment to kith and kin. He himself is responsible for the erosion of values in his life. Today, we don’t find any trace of human values in human beings. Human values do not come from outside. They cannot be acquired. They are already there in every person. Man is not able to recognise this. He speaks untruth, undertakes wrong activities, looks at forbidden things and entertains wrong thoughts. He has lost his purity. How can we call a person a human being if they lack human values?
From Swami’s discourse of 5 October 2000
The natural colour of this kerchief is white. As you use it, it becomes dirty and stained. Its colour also changes because of the dirt accumulated on it. Similarly, when a child is born, its heart will be pure, unsullied, as clear as crystal and as pure as glittering gold. But when metals like silver, copper and brass are added to pure gold, it loses its lustre and value. It becomes impure. The true nature of man is immortal, eternal, peaceful and blissful. Such a nature of man gets polluted by worldly desires, by his activities and by his attachment to kith and kin. He himself is responsible for the erosion of values in his life. Today, we don’t find any trace of human values in human beings. Human values do not come from outside. They cannot be acquired. They are already there in every person. Man is not able to recognise this. He speaks untruth, undertakes wrong activities, looks at forbidden things and entertains wrong thoughts. He has lost his purity. How can we call a person a human being if they lack human values?