He who sees the world as world sees wrong. He who sees it as Paramatma sees right. The world is the effect. It has a cause. It cannot be different from the cause. It is just a mutation of Brahman, which constitutes it. The millions of beings are the branches, twigs and leaves. The seed is Brahman, in which all the tree is subsumed and summarised. He who knows this, knows
the Vedas. (GV, p. 230)
Take the world as it is, never expect it to conform to your needs or standards. Wisdom lies in accepting the world as it is. Win the battle of life, being in the world but away from its tentacles. That is the victory for which you deserve congratulations. (GA, p. 113)
India stands forth among the nations of the world as Dharmaja, with her loyalty and steady faith in peace and mutual co-operation for noble ends. America is the Arjuna, ready with her weapons of incalculable destructive power. Russia is the Bhima, with her formidable might. India’s strength lies in her adherence to Dharma. All other countries whose strength lies only in their firepower can earn victory only when they surrender ultimately to the force of Righteousness. If we safeguard Dharma, Dharma in its turn will safe guard us. Dharma is the life-blood of Prema, where there is peace, there will be divinity. And, where there is divinity, there will be bliss.
The world is a nest of crows; some caw in praise; some caw in derision. But man should be above the reach of praise and blame. Make light of praise; treat it as something spat out by others. (DhyV, p. 59)
The world is full of sorrow and the human body is full of disease. Our life is full of turbulent thoughts and is like a dilapidated house. Under these conditions, according to Sankara, it is possible to live in a peaceful manner, only by following the divine path and getting over all our worldly attachments. The world is one vast society. Every individual in it is a part of this society, bound to it by the love that draws man to man, to be kith and kin. This love is there, deep in the heart of man, only it is unrecognised, ignored, doubted, denied, argued away. It is the secret source of all sympathy and service; it creates the urge to live in and for society. It is the Vishva-Prema that flows from one spark of divine to all sparks. (SSS Vol.8, p. 152)
The World is the best school and Nature is the best teacher. (Saiclopedia, p. Inside cover)
The World can be saved only by the power of the self, inherent in everyone; this has to be tapped by individual spiritual discipline and by the Grace of God, which can be won only through Love, Purity and Service. If these two are absent, devastation is certain, it is inevitable. (GICS, p. 236)
The world is based on Truth and Righteousness. These two maintain the world. If they are protected, the world will be happy and prosperous. Victory will come in the wake of truth and righteousness. No other form of strength, including armed might, will ensure success. What the world needs is a spiritual transformation. It is the absence of spirituality that accounts for all the chaos, conflict and disorder in the world. (SV90, p. 100)
Before I was born, where was this world? Every person who is born has to die. After one’s death, where does the world exist? The world comes in between birth and death. Why should one aspire to have so many things in a world so transitory as that? The world is to be compared to a mirror. Your image is seen so long as you are before the mirror. You remove the mirror; your image and reflection will disappear. (AV, p. 145)
Use the world as a training ground for sacrifice, service, expansion of the heart, cleansing of the emotions. That is the only value it has. (SSS Vol.7, p. 39)
In this world life is transient;
Wealth and youth are not permanent;
Equally impermanent are wife and children;
Only Truth and Reputation are lasting.
Concerned only with one’s good and teaching the truth,
The preceptor may chastise or beat one,
Like the mother who administers unpalatable medicine
For the good of her child.
Do not forget this truth.
What greater gift is there than the gift of food?
What greater deity is there than one’s parents?
What greater morality is there than promoting the public good?
What righteousness can excel than compassion?
Is there any gain superior to the company of the good?
Is there any disability worse than enmity?
Is there any death on earth worse than infamy?
Is there anything more valuable than lasting fame?
Can anything be more sustaining than remembrance of the Lord?
Is there a heaven higher than inner joy?
(SSS Vol.25, pp. 117-118)
The whole world is one. We should not hate any religion. Our life will be good if all the religions are on the right path. The listeners will forget themselves listening to the music from the strings of the instrument Veena. If one string is broken, naturally the tune will be wrong. The whole country is Veena. Each religion is string on that. The whole world is a Veena and all religions are the strings. The country will be good if all the strings are in perfect order. All religions are the strings. The country will be good if all the strings are in perfect order. All religions should be happy and good. All religions should take us to perfection. We should not hate each other. We should not make fun of each other. We should not hurt anybody. All should be like brothers and sisters because the whole world is one. (DTB Vol.6, pp. 15-16)
The world is a Kreeda (Sport), not a Peeda (bugbear). (NNSG Vol.5, p. 231)
The whole world, nay, even every individual is permeated by the Pancha bhutas (five elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether). What is Prapancha (world)? ‘Pra’ means vast and ‘Panchamu’ means permeated by the five elements. Whenever you see, you will find the effulgence of the five elements enveloping the vast world.(DD on 17.10.04 , p. 2)
You should not be ever entangled in the meshes of this world and its problems. Try to escape into the purer air of the spirit as often as you can, taking the name of the Lord on your tongue. Of the 24 hours of the day, have 6 hours for your individual needs, 6 hours for the service of others, 6 hours for sleep and 6 for dwelling in the Presence of the Lord. Those six hours will endow you with the strength of steel. (SSS Vol.4)