I.

To ingrain in seekers after Truth

(a) The true values of life-the everlasting and unchanging nature of the soul in the continually changing panorama of life, which may be compared to the "still-point" on the ever-revolving wheel, at once fixed and yet in seeming motion. "Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance". (T. S. Eliot) One learns the true meaning of:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; That which is born of the spirit is spirit.

John 3:16

Life is more than meat and the body is more than raiment. 

Luke 12:23

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 8:36-37

(b) The higher values of life-the greatness of God and the need for humility, leading to a pure and honest life of truth, chastity, abstinence, and a loving selfless service of humanity. The practice of moral virtues has always been enjoined alike by all spiritual teachers, as only an ethical life can pave the way for a spiritual life. Christ promised the kingdom of heaven to the poor in spirit; the kingdom of earth to the meek; mercy to the merciful and the vision of God to the pure in heart. Before Christ, Moses gave his Decalogue or Ten Commandments to the Israelites. Buddha, the Enlightened One, taught the noble Eightfold Path of Righteousness to those who took to the order of the yellow robe. Zoroaster, Kabir, Nanak and the Rishis of old said the same things in their own words. So it is necessary for the aspirants to gradually weed out moral lapses, one by one, and to cultivate in their place moral virtues, for which the maintenance of a self-introspection diary is a necessity. It is the knowledge of our faults and failings that will make us strive to correct them. This in turn leads to true spirituality.


(c) The expansion of the self. In this connection, we have in the Gospels:

Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Matthew 5:44


Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 22:37-39


It is therefore necessary that we must learn to love all living creatures, and more so our fellow man, as all are the children of the same Supreme Father. Thereby, we are not only true to ourselves, but true to the community. to the nation or country to which we belong and, above all, to humanity at large. This leads to the progressive expansion of the self until it embraces the entire universe and makes one a world citizen, with a cosmopolitan outlook in its truest sense, deserving of God's grace. Further, what is the nature of love? It should be an unselfish love, a love which workers no ill to anyone, a love which fulfills the law of God, which enjoins loving service with a pure heart. Such a love is the means to Self and God realization:


He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1-John 4:8


Hear ye all. I tell you the truth-only those who love can know God.

Guru Gobind Singh


Do thou love God for without love thou canst not have peace here or hereafter.

Kabir


So love God and love all his creation, man, beast, birds and reptiles, for they are all members of the family of God.