In spite of the greatness of the Upanishads, inspite of the boasted ancestry of sages, compared to many other races, I must tell you that we are weak, very weak. First of all is our physical weakness. That physical weakness is the cause of at least one-third of our miseries. We are lazy, we cannot work; we cannot combine, we do not love each other; we are intensely selfish, not three of us can come together without hating each other, without being jealous of each other. That is the state in which we are - hopelessly disorganized mobs, immensely selfish, fighting each other.

Three men cannot act in concert together in India for five minutes. Each one struggles for power and in the long run, the whole organization comes to grief.

Quarreling and abusing each other are our national traits. Lazy, useless, vulgar, jealous, cowardly, and quarrelsome - that is what we are..... Any one who wants to be my friend must give up these.

Among these Western nations, with such a high spirit of Independence, the spirit of obedience is equally strong. We are all of us selfimporant --- which never produces any work. Great enterprise, boundless courage, tremendous energy, and, above all, perfect obedience -- these are the only traits that lead to individual and national regeneration. These traits are altogether lacking in us.

We are so devoid of strength that our whole energy is exhausted if we undertake to discuss anything; none is left for work.

We would do nothing ourselves and would scoff at others who try to do something - this is the bane that has brought about our downfall as a nation. Want of sympathy and lack of energy are at the root of all misery, and you must therefore, give up these two.

You must not throw cold water on anybody's project. Give up criticism altogether. Help all as long as you find they are doing all right, and in cases where they seem to be going wrong, show them their mistakes gently. It is criticizing each other that is the root of all mischief. That is the chief factor in breaking down organizations......

Know that talking ill of others in private is a sin. You must wholly avoid it. Many things may occur to the mind but it gradually makes a mountain of a molehill if you try to express them. Everything is ended if you forgive and forget.

Let me write down something for you all:

i) Know partiality to be the chief cause of all evil. That is to say, if you show towards any one more love than towards somebody else, rest assured, you will be sowing the seeds of future troubles.

ii) If anybody comes to you to speak ill of any of his brothers, refuse to listen to him in to-to. It is a great sin to listen even. In that lies the germ of future troubles.

iii) Moreover, bear with everyone's shortcomings. Forgive offences by the million. And if you love all unselfishly, all will by degrees come to love one another. As soon as they fully understand that the interests of one depend upon those of others, every one of them will give up jealousy.

You will have to take charge of the whole movement, not as a leader,  but as a servant. Do you know, the least show of leading destroys everything by rousing jealousy.

Do not try to lead your brethren, but serve them. The brutal mania for leading has sunk many a great ship in the waters of life. Take care especially of that, i.e. be unselfish even unto death, and work.

Be the servant of all, and do not try in the least to govern others. That will excite jealousy and destroy everything. Nobody will come to help you if you put yourself forward as a leader..... Kill self first if you want to succeed.