What must a person rid themselves of to become acceptable to God and experience divine bliss? Bhagawan lovingly reminds us today with a powerful example.

People in the world attach value to all kinds of objects, ideals and personalities. God, however, is not attracted by external appearances but values only the inner spiritual urges. Parvati was the most beautiful woman in the world. Conscious of her charms, she wished to wed the Lord Himself. But the Lord does not succumb to external attraction. Disappointed by her failures, Parvati embarked on a very severe penance. Indifferent to sun and rain, wind and weather, Parvati concentrated her thoughts on the Lord, wearing out her body in her tapas. Because of the penance, she lost all her beauty. All her physical powers were gone. At that moment, the Lord accepted her as one half of His body. What is the inner meaning of this episode? Prakriti (Nature) is Parvati. This Prakriti is filled with various kinds of pride: the pride of wealth, strength, beauty, knowledge, virtues, power and penance. It is only when man gets rid of these eight categories of pride will he become acceptable to God. So long as ego prevails, the power of the Spirit will not be cognised. Without realising the power of the Spirit, man cannot experience the bliss of the Divine.