This idea of body is a simple superstition. It is superstition that makes us happy or unhappy. It is superstition caused by ignorance that makes us feel heat and cold, pain and pleasure.
We have to keep the body in good health; we have to take care of what we eat and drink, and what we do.
When the forces that hold it together go away, the body must fall.
Cut the bondage of all worldly affections; go beyond laziness and all care as to what becomes of you.
Do not desire, for what you desire you get, and with it comes terrible bondage. It is nothing but bringing “noses on us,” as in the case of the man who had three boons to ask. We never get freedom until we are self-contained. “Self is the Saviour of self, none else.”
Every one is as much bound in thought, word, deed, and mind, as a piece of stone or this table. That I talk to you now is as rigorous in causation as that you listen to me. There is no freedom until you go beyond Maya. That is the real freedom of the soul.
He who asserts he is free, shall be free. He who says he is bound, bound he shall remain.
He who is alone is happy. Do good to all, like everyone, but do not love anyone. It is a bondage, and bondage brings only misery. Live alone in your mind – that is happiness. To have nobody to care for and never minding who cares for one is the way to be free.
Slavery is slavery. The chain of gold is quite as bad as the chain of iron. Is there a way out?
The moment you think creed and form and ceremony the “be-all” and “end-all”, then you are in bondage. Take part in them to help others, but take care they do not become a bondage.
To weep is a sign of weakness, of bondage.
We are bound to earth by desire and also to God, heaven, and the angels. A slave is a slave whether to man, to God, or to angels.
We must become free. We are free; the work is to know it. We must give up all slavery, all bondage of whatever kind. We must not only give up our bondage to earth and everything and everybody on earth, but also to all ideas of heaven and happiness.
Work done for the Self gives no bondage. Neither desire pleasure nor fear pain from work. It is the mind and body that work, not I. Tell yourself this unceasingly and realise it. Try not to know that you work.
Books are only made so that they may point the way to a higher life; but no good results unless the path is trodden with unflinching steps!
Books cannot teach God, but they can destroy ignorance; their action is negative.
We read many books, but that does not bring us knowledge. We may read all the Bibles in the world, but that will not give us religion. Theoretical religion is easy enough to get, any one may get that. What we want is practical religion.
Business is business, no child’s play.
Business is business, that is, you must do everything promptly; delay and shuffling won’t do.
In the English character, the “give and take” policy, the business principle of the trader, is principally inherent.