Familiarity with books is not knowledge. One’s entire life is a continuous process of learning.
Man learns through experience, and the spiritual path is full of different kinds of experiences. He will encounter many difficulties and obstacles, and they are the very experiences he needs to encourage and complete the cleansing process.
As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.
Those who read books cannot understand the teachings and, what’s more, may even go astray. But those who try to observe the things going on in the mind, and always take that which is true in their own minds as their standard; never get muddled.
A pure devotee’s heart is always filled with ideas about executing the Lord’s service, which is bestowed upon the pure devotee through the transparent medium of the spiritual master.
