The foremost and highest object in life is personally serving a Sadguru and complete surrenderance to him. There is nothing like it for one's divine upliftment! The second is constant meditation on the divine name. The third is selfless service, and the fourth is the offering of worship [prayer].
Serving a Sadguru and following his orders to the letter in all matters is like taking a course for a master's degree.
The constant repetition of the Almighty's name, done with love, is like studying for a bachelor's degree. Once one attains the bachelor's degree, it does not take much time to attain the master's degree.
Performing selfless service to humanity without the least selfish motive is like obtaining a high school diploma.
And offering prayers, observing rituals and ceremonies — the dry drills of religious injunctions or shariat — is like learning the alphabet.
On the 22nd, Baba also explained to the mandali:
For those who have a Sadguru or guru — they have only to surrender to him heart and soul, and to obey and carry out his orders to the letter! That's all for them. Although that, too, is difficult, because such people are generally in a very awkward situation. On the one hand, worldly, material attachments attract them, and on the other, the guru draws them towards himself. Their state is like that of the man who has two wives. Of course, eventually it is the Sadguru who prevails, who pulls them out of the clutches of maya, and who frees them.
In spite of that, the powers of maya are no less formidable. Indeed, her allurements are tremendous and very hard to overcome. Despite all my explanations and warnings, if a beautiful lady happens to come here suddenly and stands at the door, you all will surely gape at her. This is forgivable at present because you are under maya's control. You all have bodies and are attracted by maya ... But I tell you, try your best to get free of the bindings and clutches of maya.
Suppose there is a person without any teeth. If sweet sugar cane is brought to him, what would he do? Although he cannot enjoy the pleasure of chewing and eating the sugar cane, he would at least wish to taste it, and would say with all sincerity in his heart, "Would to God I had teeth!" In just the same way, an old man, though unable to enjoy, would at least be attracted by a beauty standing near him, and would say, "Would to God I were young!"