What is the purpose of this human birth? Bhagawan lovingly implores us today to take advantage of this precious birth and the gift of knowing God.

Ratnakara, the robber, waylaid travellers and pilgrims and robbed them of their belongings. When some sages, whom he attacked reacted with loving kindness, warned him and revealed to him the sacred path of devotion and dedication, he gave up his cruel profession and plunged into severe spiritual exercises which transformed him into a great poet-saint, Valmiki.  There is the example of the highway robber who collected the fingers of those whom he robbed and strung them into a garland around his neck. He was so proud of this horrid achievement that he named himself Angulimala.  But, when he encountered the Buddha and listened to His compassionate counsel, his mind was cleansed and he became a faithful follower of Buddha. Man can be educated or nurtured into higher levels of consciousness.  The scriptures offer the means of purifying the mind. Other living beings have no such help or encouragement offered to them; they have to plod on as of old. This is the reason why life as a human being is a unique gift.