Of the four important landmarks of history, Brindavan is one, perhaps the most delightful. To those who consider it the poet's fancy, Sri Aurobindo says He is thankful to their fancifulness. Radha dwells at the climax of the Krishnalila at Brindavan. Radha is pure devotion personified. We often err, taking our desire for devotion. One mark of devotion is it can only give, not seek recompense, whereas desire is aggressive and possessive.

At the age of 19, Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice, a novel where the Pride of a wealthy aristocrat clashes with the Prejudice of young Elizabeth whose fine eyes he was unable to resist. The original was written before the dawn of the 19^th century, though it was published in the early years of that century. Some ten years ago, BBC presented that story as a TV serial and the public still received it very well. The producer of that film said that she had read the book several times, but each time the turn of events held her attention with eager suspense.

Life is not two clearly divided camps of Truth and Falsehood for man to choose. They are always mixed in a variety of ways. One is at a loss to know what to choose at critical moments. Every important moment is thus a critical moment. These situations often arise in a family of considerable property, in the partnership of companies, in the higher echelons of power, at election times in the political parties.  An excellent occasion is when a political party splits.

A contract is legally binding on the parties. To break a contract is to break the law. The British courts had granted the right to labour to break any contract! If this was 200 years ago, when Times were said to be good, what about the present? Man is part of the society, an inseparable part of the society which functions by LAW. It is lawful life that makes us civilised. Without law in the country, it is jungle life where the strong rule by a strong arm. We call it jungle life.

Computer is the newest addition to modern office life. It works wonders. We welcome it, use it well, but never stop to think how it is made or how it was discovered, because it is not necessary for us. It is our custom to receive into our lives every new discovery and put it to the best possible use. We pay a serious attention to one such discovery as we are attached to it emotionally and we want to possess it, little realising that we are possessed by Money in that process.

The free market is the surest mechanism to ensure economic democracy. USSR tried command economy administered by the State. It only stifled growth. The rules of the market are a powerful antidote to the greed of men. Before the private phone companies entered the market in India, phone calls were costly and service was poor. One paid Rs. 24/- for a three minute call to Madras from Pondicherry. Phone repairs had to wait for days and demanded several reminders. Still the workmen had to be paid extra.

A nation is led by its politicians, not by its scientists or professors. Not even the sages of a nation can rule a nation. It is common sense that the wisest should rule a nation. In reality, it is not so. Athens where democratic culture was born was not ruled by her wise men, but those who ruled her were called wise men. They killed the only wise man of Athens, Socrates. Often we find the politician is not informed. Even when he is informed rightly, he chooses to speak what is convenient to him, not what is right.

Man loves himself, only himself. His love of the family, though selfless to that extent, is also basically love of his own self. It further extends to his community, and his country. His love of his country and the courage he exhibits in sacrificing for her is termed as patriotism. Gandhiji is a soul great in itself because he aroused in the Indians the emotion of patriotism while they were in love with the culture of the British and were ashamed of themselves. In those days, it was known as Anglo-phobia.

Customs vary with culture. We evaluate a man by his customs and culture. We think high of an institution where people are polite, and low where people are impolite and rude. We value a foreign nation by seeing the behaviour of that national in our own country. Our estimate is based on our customs. To value another's customs by the standards of our culture is not rational. We do it all the time.

‘Personal Agenda' is a phrase of the present time. Vested interests, wheels within wheels, axe to grin are earlier versions of the same idea. Language changes for the better, becomes picturesque, captivating, but MAN remains the same in essentials. Friendship was valued as a cherished possession. The selfish human nature sets limits to it. A Frenchman had a very beautiful wife. He was intimate with a friend of his and wanted him to visit often. The friend was unwilling to oblige. On being pressed, the friend said, "I am sorry. Your wife is too beautiful.