By : Kishin Samtani

Once a Professor of Sociology took his students to Baltimore Slums to get case histories of 200 young boys. The students were asked to write an evaluation of each boy’s future. In each case, he student wrote: "He hasn’t got a chance."

Twenty-five years later, another Professor of Sociology came across the earlier record on the study of the slum children. He had his students follow up the project to find out what had happened to those slum boys. With the exception of 20, who had either moved away or died, the students found that 176 of the remaining boys had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors, and businessmen.

The Professor was astonished and pursued the matter further. Fortunately, all of the boys were in the area and he asked each one of them, "How do you account for your success?" In each case, came an emotional reply, "There was a teacher."

Fortunately, the teacher was still alive. So the Professor sought her out and asked the old but alert lady what ‘magic formula’ she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievements. The teacher'’ eyes sparkled and her face wore a gentle smile. "It is really very simple." She said, "I loved these boys." The above is a story by Eric Butterworth whose underlying message is "Love is a creative force."

Mother Teressa, one of the most dedicated missionaries, has said in her inspiring words:

Spread loves everywhere you go. First of all in your own home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbour. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greetings."

Today the world is moving at a jet-speed. No one wishes to spare time to lend a patient ear to share the feelings of others or to cater to the needs of others. So much so, that in certain cases, even the children are neglected by their own parents who, in a mad rush, are either busy making their own careers or building beautiful houses but not strong and secure homes. Consequently, what do we see around us? Moving Human Robots, who appear physically strong but lacking confidence, security, tolerance, large heartedness, etc. What then should be done to revive and reap he harvest of human values like love, honour, service, compassion, and optimism? As said by Lord Krishna:

Divine love is a flower which in its early bud is happiness and in the full bloom, heaven.

Regular saintly congregation helps to prepare the human minds (soil) for developing an urge for God-realisation (seed). It is only the True Master, who like a dedicated farmer, sows this seed of God-knowledge in the human beings and continuously nourishes, nurtures and irrigates it with he water of love and affection in order that the world may enjoy its fragrance and fruit.

We must remember that none of us lives alone, nor for ourselves alone. Each of us is a part of the Universe, and one with it. Just as oil pored from one vessel into another falls in an unbroken stream, so are we an unbroken part of the society. We live in and are with it. As such m we should be aware of the fact that hatred and violence are a great hazard to happy human relationship. If we hurt others, we hurt ourselves too. On the other hand, if we affectionately help others, we reap a rich reward for ourselves too. If we lovingly work for humanity, if we make it our aim in life to improve the condition of others, we benefit ourselves in more ways than one. First of all, we gain inner satisfaction from the good deeds. Secondly, we know the well-know saying, ’Love Begets Love.’ Love brings its own reward, especially, if it is only for the sake of love and demands no returns. In the words of Swami Vivekananda:

It is Love that gives you the supernatural power,

Love that gives you Bhakti (Devotion), Love that

gives illumination and Love again, that leads to

emancipation.

Lastly, we benefit, too, in that the society of which we are members is improved for ourselves as well as for others and this, in turn, will produce healthy beings, who will strive for the welfare of humanity.

Luckily, amidst us is Baba Hardev Singh Ji, who spreads his ancient and true message that Love is the base of all virtues and imbibing it is the only way to achieve salvation.