You have to Give first

Great personalities always appeal and motivate people in their contact to give something for noble causes. They themselves sacrifice everything they had. This is what makes them great. Through pondering over this fact has taught me that there is no religious duty greater than giving or sacrificing (for others welfare), which we can do any time (provided we have the will and attitude). There is no better mode than renunciation (of selfish possessions and attachments) for elimination of evil tendencies and untoward accumulation in the mind.

If you want to acquire precious knowledge, attain people's respect, achieve something great, and then first learn to give what best you can for the society, for altruistic service. Donate your talents, intellect, time, labor, wealth, whatever potentials or resources you have for the betterment of the world …; You will bet manifold of that in return ….. Gautam Buddha had renounced the royal throne; Gandhi had left the brilliant career, wealth, comforts….. As the world has witnessed, what they were rewarded in return was indeed immeasurable, immortal….

It is worth recalling the beautiful verse of renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore her, which says - He spread his hands open an asked for something …. I took out a tiny piece of grain from my bag and kept on His palm. At the end of the day, I found a golden piece of same size in my bag. I cried - why didn't empty my bag for Him, which would have transformed me, the poor man into a King of Wealth?

Think High, Aim High

You may get clay toys with ease. But it's not so easy to find gold. The tendencies of mind are often downwards and naturally drag it towards harmful actions and sins. However, it requires substantial efforts and zeal to carry out something worth, auspicious and beneficial. For example, the natural flow of water is from higher to lower levels, but the use of powerful pumps etc is required to take it upwards.

Sensual passions, ignorance-driven ambitions, untoward thoughts are hidden enemies that delude the mind of giving pleasure' but enslave it in a vicious trap. Likewise the gravitational force of the earth, they also have some kind of power of attraction, which pulls more and more tendencies and thoughts of similar kind.

But, the same is true of positive sane thoughts, aspirations and determination as well; they also attract the likes and create more powerful field of attraction. Once we awaken the will and vigilance to think wisely and practice restraining the accumulated passions, we will begin to experience the transforming effects. Unchecked accumulation of negative thoughts and vices sooner or later leads to decline, anxiety, despair and sinful sufferings. We should therefore be careful and watch and control our thoughts fro this very moment.