I notice that while your feet are taking you round by force of habit, your tongues blabber about the faults of others, or the price of vegetables, or the dishes you propose to cook for lunch. Before you start on your rounds, which you call pradakshina, give your mind as dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Resident of the temple, the Lord. That is the first thing to do, and perhaps, the only thing to do. Pradakshina is not to be taken as prescribed, for loosening the limbs or giving them some exercise.
This Nilayam should not be treated with scant reverence. Make the best use of your stay here. Do not treat this chance lightly. You come spending much money, and put yourselves to much trouble to reach here; but, you do not bloom as fragrant offerings at the Lord's feet by learning the sadhana path. The senses have to be curbed into obedient servants of the spirit, For example, I insist on silence. Talk less, talk low when you must talk.
Do not thrust your sorrows, your needs, your problems into the ears of those who have come here with their own bundle of such things. They are not interested in adding to their troubles. I am here to listen to you, to console you. Do not by loudness of voice disturb those who are meditating or reading or writing the name of God.
All ills are traceable to faulty living:
Meditate if possible, yourselves, alone; read spiritual books if you can; write the name of the Lord in the quiet of your corner; if you cannot do these, at least do not disturb others who are doing these. Encourage one another to march along the path to God.
Become entitled to the honoured title of Bhaktha. My glory is spread daily through those who call themselves My bhakthas. Your virtue, your self-control, your detachment, your faith, your steadfastness - these are the signs by which people read of My glory. Not that I want any such propaganda.
But, it just happens so, in this world, where men estimate others indirectly, rather than directly. Let Me tell you, such bhakthas are very rare. That is the reason why I do not address your gathering as, "Bhakthulaara" You can lay claim to that name only when you have placed yourself in My hands, fully, completely, with no trace of ego kept back to cater to your vanity. All ills are traceable to faulty living. And what is that traceable to? To ignorance of one's real Nature, ignorance so deep rooted that it affects thoughts, words and deeds. The drug that can cure it is patented under different names: jnaana, karma, upaasana (contemplation), bhakthi. They are all the same in potency, and curative power. The difference lies only in the method of administration either as mixture or as tablet or injection.
Be confident that you will be liberated; Know that you are saved. Go and tell all that you had gone to Puttaparthi and that you got there the secret of liberation.
