What is life, my dear brothers? Is it merely the act of breathing or respiration or digestion or excretion, or the acts of metabolism, anabolism, or katabolism, the constructive or destructive changes that ever go on in the physical organism or human body or economy of nature? Is it mere thinking or planning or scheming to earn money, name and fame? Is it the act of procreation to keep up the line? Is it the sum total of all these processes? Or is it the movement of the protoplasm in the unicellular organism, amoebae, with its single nucleus? Scientists and biologists have a very different conception of life. Philosophers like Sankara have quite a different conception of life.

Life is of two kinds, viz., life in matter, and life in Atma or spirit or pure consciousness. Biologists and physiologists hold that life consists of thinking, feeling, knowing, willing, digestion, excretion, circulation, respiration, etc. This kind of life is not everlasting. This is attended with dangers, pain, fear, cares and anxieties, worries, exertion, sin, birth and death with their concomitant evils, viz., old age, disease, etc. Therefore, sages, seers, Rishis, prophets and saints who have realised their inner Self by discipline of the mind and the organs, by Tyaga and Tapas, by Vairagya and Abhyasa, by leading a life of self-denial, self-sacrifice and self-abnegation have emphatically, without a shadow of doubt— like Amalaka fruit in the hands—declared that a life in the Atma or the Pure Spirit alone can bring everlasting peace, infinite bliss, supreme joy, eternal satisfaction and immortality. They have prescribed various definite methods for SeIf-realisation according to diverse temperaments, capacities and tastes of individuals. Those who have implicit faith in their teachings, in the Vedas and in the words of the Guru (spiritual preceptor), march fearlessly on the field of spirituality or Truth, and obtain freedom or perfection or salvation. They do not come back to this Mrityu Loka. They rest in Sat-Chit-Ananda Brahman or their own Swaroopa. This is the goal of human life. This is the highest aim or purpose of life. This is the final destination which bears various names as Nirvana, Parama Gati, Param Dhama, Brahmi-Sthiti. Self-realisation is your highest duty.

This does not mean, however, that we should ignore the life in the physical plane of matter. Matter is expression of God (Brahman) for His own Lila. Matter and spirit are inseparable like heat and fire, cold and ice, flower and fragrance. Shakti and Shakta (power and he who possesses power) are one. Brahman and Maya are inseperable and one. A life in the physical plane is a definite preparation for the eternal life in Brahman. World is your best teacher; the five elements are your Gurus. Nature is your mother and director. Prakriti is your silent Master. World is the best training ground for the development of various divine virtues, such as, mercy, forgiveness, tolerance, universal love, generosity, nobility, courage, magnanimity, patience, strong will, etc. World is an arena for fighting with the diabolical nature and for expressing divinity from within. The central teaching of the Gita and Yoga Vasishtha is that one should realise his Self by remaining in the world. "Be in the world, but be out of the world. Behave like the water on the lotus-leaf. Give up the lower Asuric nature which consists of selfishness, lust, anger, greed, hatred and jealousy: assert the divine nature—a life of mental renunciation and self-sacrifice".

Science and religion, politics and religion, are inseparable. They obviously go hand in hand. Politics prepares the ground for the reception of the spiritual seeds. If there is no economical independence, if there is no freedom and peace in the country, how can the spiritual seed be thrown in the land? How can the spiritual teachers disseminate their spiritual knowledge to the children of the soil? How can the prophets bring home the subtle philosophical truths and facts to the minds of the people when there is chaos in the country, when their minds are perturbed, and when they have not got sufficient food, clothing and other auxiliaries of life? The mind can receive the teachings of the sages only when it is beyond cares and anxieties and when everything for spiritual Sadhana is already fixed up. Rajas like Janaka were looking after Sadhus and Sannyasins in days of yore very carefully. Rishis had plenty of cows and fruits in their Ashrams and they were nicely carrying on with their Sadhana. Nowadays, there is great difficulty for those who lead the life of absolute renunciation—the Nivritti Marga - and even Sannyasins have to keep money for the very maintenance of Sannyasa itself. Most of the Rajas and landlords in India have become fossilised materialists. They do not care for higher spiritual things. They are immersed in Samsara (worldliness). This is a great pity, indeed! It is high time for them to open their eyes and to adopt the ideal of Raja Janaka, or the late Maharaja of Udaipur, or the late Maharaja Pratap Singh of Kashmir. Otherwise, they will have to pay a heavy penalty before God. They cannot escape from the inexorable and immutable Law of God. Scriptures speak that a Raja is an Amsa of Vishnu. He is the real protector of people. He is an embodiment of Vishnu. A portion of the Tapas of religious people who live in his territory goes to him if he administers true justice and if he looks after the spiritual people carefully. He can gain great spiritual strength and peace if he has good Sadhus and Mahatmas in his land taking recourse to their Satsanga. Here are the immortal springs and divine health resorts. Here lies the great elixir of immortality and panacea for a divine life. If a beautiful ideal Ashram for Brahmacharins, Vanaprasthas and Sannyasins, with isolated Kutirs in a solitary place with all the requisite conveniences and a good library is established in every state, it will be a blessing for the state and the world at large. This is a dire need of the hour. Where is the necessity for going to the Alpine tracts and continental springs and baths? It is all waste of money, time and energy. As this cannot give real bliss and peace, it is mere ignorance to visit foreign countries on a pleasure trip and waste money. It has become a mere fantastic whim for rich people nowadays to visit foreign lands every year. This has become a habit.

Let them close their eyes, withdraw their Indriyas and mind, and plunge deep in the perennial Atmic (divine) springs within. Let them tap the foundation of bliss in the Atma within and do Atma Kreeda. Here lies the eternal bliss and unalloyed felicity. Then alone supreme satisfaction will come.

Why there are so many Sannyasins in these days? Because, the householders are not properly discharging their duties in accordance with the injunction of the Shastras or the ‘Code of Manu’. There is no necessity for Sannyasa and a life in the cave or retreat in the Himalayas, if the householders observe the rules that are laid down in the scriptures. There are many blunders in the daily conduct of householders. They do not observe Brahmacharya and right conduct. They do not speak the truth. They hurt the feelings of others. They are greedy, dishonest and passionate. They do not discharge their daily duties, such as, Sandhya, Agnihotra, service of guests, Swadhyaya, charity, etc. They lead a very materialistic life. Hence they do not grow spiritually. They renounce the world when they experience difficulties. They have no ethical training. They eat, drink and amuse themselves. They are the followers of Epicurean philosophy.

I shall now speak a word on science. Scientists are also Adwaita-Vadins or non-dualist. They say: "There is only one substance in this world. That is electron. The whole world is a mass of energy". Energy is the God of scientists. Energy is the God of Shaktas also. Scientists have explored the physical world. They have found out methods to control the physical forces of nature. Psychologists are experimenting on the mental plane. They are trying to control the mental forces. Psychology is a branch of Raja Yoga which deals with the control of mind. A close study of the observations and revelations of science brings a man nearer to God. Who gave power to electrons? What is at the bottom of these electrons? What is that power that has combined four parts of nitrogen and one part of oxygen? Who has framed the laws of nature? Nature is blind. What is that intelligence which moves nature? Who is the primum mabile? A study of the physical forces and physical laws, an understanding of the mental forces and the mental laws, are not sufficient to make us perfect. We should have a thorough knowledge and realisation of the substratum that lies hidden behind these names and forms and physical and mental phenomena. Then only we will become perfect masters or full-blown adepts or Arhatas or Buddhas. Can scientific inventions make us really happy? That is the question of questions now. What has science done to us? No doubt, it has added a fund of knowledge on the physical plane. But, this knowledge is mere husk when compared with the knowledge of the Self, Brahma-Vidya or Para-Vidya. All sciences are founded on the knowledge of Atma. Are you really happy now? Can the electric fan or the aeroplane or the radio talkie give us real peace which the mind is thirsting for? Thanks to science and scientists who work whole-heartedly for years together in closed rooms for inventions and discoveries. They are giving comforts. Electricity does all sorts of work. It pumps water. It lifts us to the top story. It cooks food. It carries us to London and Paris. Science has made our travel and communications easy and quick. There are some advantages. But the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. It has made living very costly and luxurious. Man is more restless now. A luxury of today becomes a want of tomorrow. Every man and woman wants a pocket radio, a torch, a wrist-watch, a car, a household cinema, etc. The standard of living has become very high. Clerks and officers do not hesitate to tell lies and take bribes to make both ends meet. The cinema and fashion are devouring all their earnings. People have lost their senses and walk self-deluded in this sense-universe. Sense-gratification has become the goal of life. Even the so-called English-educated people are not exceptions. They are the most ignorant people. Intelligent people devise intelligent methods to take bribes and earn money by various dishonest means. There is corruption everywhere. Honesty and candidness have taken to their heels. Double-dealing, crookedness, cheating and chicanery have taken possession of all. All these are the products of luxurious living consequent upon scientific inventions and Western civilisation. It has brought restlessness everywhere. Physical degeneration has set in. A man cannot walk even a furlong now. He wants a push-push or a car. A doctor or pleader, even if he is starving, must maintain a car. Otherwise, he cannot get patients or clients. His wife wants silk Saris, face-powder, rouge, lip-stick and scents. Seats have to be reserved for picture houses. Where to go for money? He has to tap the poor people. He fills up a bottle with water and coloured tinctures and charges heavily. He extorts money by charging too much for injections and visits. He has to do it. Mercy, sympathy and honesty have fled away from his heart. When the mind is filled with greed, passion and dishonesty, conscience is destroyed. The doctor will say: "What is to be done, sir? These days are hard. Living has become costly. Education of children is costly. I have to do it. I know I am in the wrong path. I have to tell lies and earn money by dishonest means". In days of yore, our parents were washing their own clothes. They could walk forty miles daily. They were strong and sinewy. They were living on simple fare. Even now, look at the Gurkha and Maharashtra labourers. They live on ordinary bread, salt and two chilies. Look at the tremendous work turned out by them! Look at their health and marvellous strength! Now, everyone of you wants Ovaltine, Vitamin extracts, Allenbury rusks and oat-meal. The wife wants an exclusive servant and a cook. You want a servant to put on your shoes. The child wants an Ayah.

Now then, is there any remedy for improving this present deplorable state of affairs? Yes, there is. What is that? We will have to get back to nature and natural living. We will have to adopt the simple living and high thinking of our forefathers.

Lead a simple, natural life. Wear simple clothing. Walk daily. Give up cinemas and novel-reading. Eat simple food. Lead a hard, laborious life. Be self-reliant. Do not engage servants. Reduce your wants. Be honest in your dealings. Earn at the sweat of your brow. Control the Indriyas and the mind. Develop noble qualities. Take recourse to the company of wise men. Remember God. Sing His Name. Feel His presence. Think aright. Speak truth and act righteously. Learn to discriminate. Learn how to lead a divine life while remaining in the world. Serve society with Atma-Bhava. Then the whole question is solved. You have regained your Godhead. You have regained your lost paradise. All miseries will come to an end. You will have success in every walk of life and undertaking. Keep this master-key with you and open the chambers of Elysian Bliss.

This is not a digression, my dear friends. I want to place before you solid truths and facts. I want you to understand things aright. Truth cannot give pain to any one. Truth alone can triumph. Truth alone can bring real happiness. God is Truth. We will have to realise Truth by speaking truth and doing Satya-Vyavahara. We should live in Truth. Thou art an embodiment of Truth. Truth is your real name. You have come from Truth. You live and have your very being in Truth. You dissolve this body and mind in Truth. Therefore realise Truth, O dear brothers, Nectar’s sons, Children of Light!

What is success? Is it material prosperity and thriving on well in this world with plenty of money and children, or something else? Success is of two kinds viz., worldly success and spiritual success. If you are in good, affluent circumstances, if you have everything that this world can give you, this is worldly success. This alone will not suffice. Because, world is imperfect. You must have success in the spiritual world also. You must have success in the path of realisation as well. Then only you will have complete or perfect success.

I shall now describe in a nutshell the ways to achieve success in both worlds, material and spiritual. Hear them with rapt attention and follow them. Put them in actual practice. Then alone you can achieve greatness and everlasting peace. It is easier to preach twenty than to become one of the twenty in following the dictates. An ounce of practice is thousand times better than tons of theories. You have had enough of theories. Now come to the solid field of practice. Become a practical Yogi of this world and the world beyond. Let success attend on thee!

In conclusion, I will suggest in the pages of this book, definite lines or ways for attaining success in this life here for obtaining worldly prosperity, for getting plenty of food and cattle, for getting healthy and spiritually inclined progeny, for rolling in Rolls Royce, for getting money in abundance, for getting success in every undertaking, for influencing others in various ways, for leading a happy and contented life, for wielding power, name and fame, for having unique health, strength, vigour and vitality, for having a smooth, unruffled daily life and for eventually attaining that eternal life of undecaying joy and unfading divine splendour and glory. My earnest and fervent prayer with folded hands is that, you must sincerely attempt with care, diligence, patience and perseverance in the realisation of the truths that are inculcated here by regular daily practice. Time is most precious. Time is fleeting. You are growing old every second. When the bell rings, one hour is cut off from your life. The moment you are born, death exists side by side with birth. Cells grow and cells decay. You cannot get once again this human birth. Become a successful man in your life’s career and become a God-man, right now, this very second. This is the fervent prayer of your intimate brother Siva. Glory, splendour and joy be unto thee! Rest in thine own Sat-Chit-Ananda Swaroopa.