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From the moment we are born and begin to grow, two paths lie before us. One is the path of achievement and development; this is called utthāna. The other is the path of destruction and downfall; this is called patan. The roots of both paths lie in one place: saṅgha—society, or the companions with whom you spend most of your time. In the Hindi language, we add another word to it: sapta. Sapta means truth; saṅgha is society. If you are in a good society, you learn good things and will achieve everything. Conversely, we have another word placed before saṅgha: ku. Ku saṅgha is a bad society, where you learn to take drugs, smuggle, steal, and all such things. Some say it is easy to get rid of an enemy, but it is very hard to become free from bad habits. These habits trouble us, and we learn them from bad society. Blessed, lucky, and fortunate are those who can have a good society, a good companion. Even one friend you are with already constitutes a society for you. In our thinking, too, we must change our thoughts in a positive way. How do we develop the qualities that make us human? Through proper education. And finally, what is the aim of human life? If human life is merely about eating, sleeping, and procreating—other creatures are also expert at this, oh man—then where is the difference? The mission of human life has two aspects. First, God has created us, or placed us in this world, to protect and to discern. It is human intellect, human consciousness, that determines what to protect and what to discard. Humans are protectors of everything: for animals, for the environment, for lakes, for rivers, for other humans, for all. Ultimately, the mission is God-realization, self-realization—to know the ultimate truth and to become one with God. This is the purpose of the mission of human life. It is not merely to earn money, build buildings, or have children; that is different. For this purpose, sages have also thought about human well-being, not only that of other creatures. They say this human life is very rare. It is not certain that you will get it again in the next life; you do not know where you will go. When you leave this one, you cannot take anyone with you. No one can go with you. The most we can do is hold your hand and sit beside you at the very end. But did you reserve your hotel there? Can you send an SMS that you are coming? Do you know the address? What will happen? It is a big question. Do not take it lightly; these are very serious matters. It is like jumping into the dark. Your destiny will take you, like the wind takes a boat in a direction. Destiny is individual; each one of us has a different destiny. Understand that destiny is a product of our deeds, our karmas. It has a reflection and will come back to you. In this country, you have the boomerang. If an expert throws it, it comes back. Similarly, your actions, your karma—what you speak, what you think, and what you do—these three kinds of karma will come back to you. A thought you think today will one day come and touch you. Therefore, destiny is the product of "do good, get good; do bad, get bad." We cannot run away from destiny. Destiny is like the shadow of your body; you cannot run away from the shadow of your own body. Recording location: Australia, Adelaide, Australian tour