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Today is a gathering of the Saṅgha; one group arrives as another departs. It is both a welcome and a farewell. The manner of greeting and parting varies with the situation, occasion, and aim. Yet the message I wish to share today is unusual. You may think, "Swāmījī is speaking for me," but you will find it is not merely unusual—it is something great. Today, the greatest powers in the world are the media, then politics, then money. Now, everyone who enters politics strives intensely to win, to attain a high position. This is ambition, a longing. Yet there have been people who refused such titles and high office. People would approach them with folded hands, requesting, "Please take this position." Such a person might reply, "Why do you separate me from my family's happiness? For then I cannot be tied to one family; the whole country becomes my family. The time I give to my family, I must now share with all. For me it is acceptable, but perhaps for my family it is not." We admire such a person. That individual would be the right one to lead an organization. Politics, too, is an organization. But today, we try our hardest to win elections, using every trick, money, and connection. There is a very simple man, poor—not rich as we think—who tries to enter politics and win. Within five years, that person becomes the richest in the area. This means his ambition was to attain a high position and amass wealth. Unfortunately, such people exist now. Consider one of the world's first universities, Nālandā University in Bihar, India. There was a great and wise man named Chāṇakya. At that time, he was a leader—a minister or politician—when Ālakchandak came to fight a war with India. One evening, a personal friend came to visit Chāṇakya for casual conversation. Chāṇakya was working at his table by an oil lamp, as there was no electricity. What did he do? He blew out that lamp's flame and lit another one before beginning to talk. His friend asked, "I do not understand. Why did you blow out that flame and light this one?" Chāṇakya replied, "Yes, my dear friend. The oil in that lamp is public property. Since you are here and we are speaking as friends, we are not conducting public business. The oil in this lamp is from my own earnings." Such leaders transform a nation and remain eternal examples. They are very hard to find. Perhaps they start well, but slowly, when money arrives, their entire vision changes. The reflection of money is blinding; it blinds you. Certain things blind a person. It is always said, even now—you know the website 'www'—but in India they used to say, "Be careful with these three W's: wife and whiskey." That is a ... In the last five years, India had its president, Mr. Abdul Kalām. He was by birth a Muslim, very close to Gandhījī, and a scientist, not a politician. He is a man of great vision, simple living, and higher thinking. Upon entering the President's Office and House, he changed many things. For instance, the daily expenditure for the President's dining, eating, and drinking was approximately 150,000 rupees per day for previous presidents—for parties, guests, drinks, and so on. The president needs this. But when this president came, the expenditure became 35 rupees per day. Compare 150,000 to 35 rupees. That is about 40 euro cents, less than a dollar. When asked, "Sir, is that good? Is that too little?" he said, "Yes, I save money for my nation, for my public. In the morning I need only two toasts or a little dāliyā, one fruit, and one tea. In the afternoon, one coffee. In the evening, one glass of milk and a little fruit. I work in the President's Office; everyone there should be vegetarian." Consider that normally Muslims are non-vegetarian. He said, "Those who wish to eat non-vegetarian should go to restaurants. Have a simple diet and do not eat from public money." The President's House had a large garden of perhaps 10-20 hectares with beautiful lawns requiring much water. He removed all the grass and planted special Āyurvedic herbs from across India and the world—the most valuable plants with medicinal worth. People began to steal the plants, so every evening the entire area had to be locked and sealed to prevent theft. The income from this garden amounted to several hundred thousand rupees per month for the Parliament, the President's House, the government, and the public. I also heard that previously, one truck of the finest fruits from around the world would arrive daily for the President's House—very expensive, exclusive. Where it disappeared, nobody knows. He said, "I do not eat one truck of fruit, only one or two. Why do they write all the bills in my name?" He changed many things and created a wholesome atmosphere. Now, there was a new election yesterday, and he is to resign. They asked him to be the next presidential candidate. He said, "Only if all elect me. I am not for election; I am only for selection. I do not wish to fight. Which party should I join and which should I not? I know I am a citizen of India, and all are my people." Such persons still exist. We say Mother Earth has not lost the seeds. Though it may not rain for hundreds of years, the seeds remain. One day the rain will come, and Mother Earth will yield the most precious seeds; they will sprout again. On the 25th, he will bid farewell to the President's House. He will teach at Nālandā University; he is a scientist. I read today in an Indian Hindi newspaper some notes about his thoughts. For example: "What will you take with you from the President's House?" Visitors often bring the president nice and precious gifts, which then belong to him. But in reality, it is said that anything given to the head of state belongs to the state; it is not personal property. It should not be. His answer was: "I will take only two small suitcases containing my clothes and the books I have collected over my 75 years at home—those best-collected books." The article is beautiful, but I have conveyed its essence. He said one thing: "Whatever is given to you with a particular intention or aim, that kind of present or gift, if you keep it only for yourself ... " Here he quotes the Manusmṛti. It is written in the Manusmṛti: "If you keep it for yourself alone, then your spiritual development and spiritual light will diminish." That is why I express my thought clearly before you: whatever is given for a specific purpose, you should not accept for yourself. Do not make the mistake of doing this. If a person takes this, his personality will decline, and it will cause great damage to his personality. Recording location: Hungary, Vep, Summer seminar