Materialism

The jnani lets go of his identification with worldly things, distinguishing 'not this, not this'.

You are my father, you are my mother, you are my kinsman, and you are my divinity. Salutations to the Guru who awakens the soul to the true nature of this world.

Without giving up worldly attachments, one can never achieve true happiness. Without renunciation, one can never attain their highest good or find peace.

You cannot realize God if you have even the slightest bit of egoism, attachment to name and form, or worldly desires in your mind.

The heart that has been consumed by worldly desires cannot be influenced by higher feelings and cannot be shaped into a beautiful form.

How can I call out to you, Lord, with a mind that's so worldly and stained? Can a straw survive unharmed when thrown into a pit of fiery coals?

While enjoying material comforts, we should be thankful to the provider.

Bound by hundreds of ropes of hope, driven by desire and anger, they strive to amass wealth by unjust means for the sake of sensual pleasure.

They say the world is without truth, without foundation, without a ruling Lord — born of mutual union, caused by nothing but desire.

The water that has washed the Guru's feet dries up the swamp of sin, kindles the radiance of wisdom, and carries one fully across the ocean of worldly existence.

Unbridled material progress is leading towards destruction. It is essential to have a check of spirituality on it.

Maitreyi said: "Sir, if indeed this whole earth full of wealth were mine, would I become immortal through it?" "No," said Yajnavalkya, "your life would be just like the life of people who have abundant means; but of immortality there is no hope through wealth."

Watching them go, Prajapati said: 'They are going away without having grasped, without having found the Self. Whichever side holds to this doctrine, be they gods or demons, shall perish.' Virochana, satisfied in heart, went to the demons and proclaimed this doctrine to them: 'It is the self (the body) alone that is to be made happy here, the self alone that is to be served. Making the body happy here and serving it, one obtains both worlds, this and the next.'

The hereafter does not shine before the childish one, deluded by wealth and carelessness. Thinking 'this world alone exists and no other,' he falls again and again under my power.

This I have gained today; this wish I shall yet fulfil; this wealth is mine — and more will come to me again.

Beset by immeasurable anxieties that end only at death, holding the gratification of desire as the supreme aim, convinced that this is all there is —

Even a single tiny particle of dust from the Guru's feet serves as a bridge across the vast ocean of worldly existence. That supreme Guru, our Lord and Teacher, we worship and revere.

Satsanga or association with the Guru is an armour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavourable forces of the material world.

Man searches for tranquillity in the worldly materials which in fact cannot produce it. Wherever the lust for worldly materials has the upper hand, there is distress, there is misery. Desires produce unhappiness whether man lives in a small hut, a big bungalow or a palace.

Therefore even today people here say of one who gives no gifts, has no faith, and offers no sacrifice, 'Ah, how demonic!' — for this is the doctrine of the demons. They adorn the body of the dead with things begged, with clothes and ornaments, thinking that thereby they will win the other world.