When a social worker preaches social transformation, the people watch keenly, what he eats, what he drinks, where he stays and how he conducts himself in his personal life. The purer the character of an activist and the more his sacrifices in life, the more is the value in his words.
It is the law of nature, that before we see ripe cobs full of grains in the field, at least one grain accepts to be buried in the earth. We need such sacrificing grains for the bright future of the society and country! that's easier said than done. After all, who would want to get buried and die; rather they create thousands of more grains! The grains that don't choose to be buried on the contrary, are the ones who get ground in the mills and are eaten. So the choice before an activist is whether to get buried or ground.
I choose the first option at the age of 25. That decision has yielded cobs today, albeit small ones and very few. Making sacrifice is not the same as being philanthropic. The sacrifices are to be made not for others, but for the self! Geetha tells us "Tyagat Shanthi Nirantharam" meaning more the sacrifices, more the peace. Enjoyment entails decease.
We see any number of examples in the society, telling us immense wealth doesn't bring immense happiness, or peace. Many wealthy people need to take help of sleeping pill to induce sleep.
-- Anna Hazare in his book........"My Village My Place of Piligrimage"
