We are members of the human family. As human beings, we do not have any more or less right than anyone else. Every one of us has as much right as anyone else in the entire world to express views and ideas, to be heard, and to be agreed or disagreed upon. We are global persons not affected by accidents of history: nationality, race, color, creed, gender, looks, ethnicity, and family. For instance, we did not have any choice about being born in any country, race, and gender or belief system. We should not be affected by racism, castes, and sexism. We should not be tainted by any form of prejudice or pre-conceived ideas. None is royal; yet all are royal as children of God. None has any privilege solely on the basis of birth. Purity of being implies integrity. One continually needs to choose to be human and humane; one needs to continually purify oneself. One is not against anybody; one is for all. One leaves this world not as an Indian or American but as a human being. And the only measure by which one is judged in the words of Christ is: “When you did it to the least of your brothers or sisters, you did it to me” (Mat. 25, 31-45). When we serve someone in true need, we serve God

            Purity of intention and means is the corner stone of spirituality. Spirituality is unthinkable without it. My intention gives meaning to my action. It determines the quality of my deed. One’s duty well done is a reward in itself. Do I do things that I may be noticed, recognized, acknowledged, awarded? Do I do anything to impress others? Looking back at my early years in religious life and community living I am aware that I took great pleasure in being noticed while doing various spiritual exercises. I am also thinking that I either performed spiritual activities or prolonged them so I could be noticed by my superiors or my fellow religious. I wanted to be considered to be holy by others; I wanted to be in their good books. Spiritual masters were very emphatic about the importance of purity of intention. When giving alms, Christ said, let the right hand not know what the left hand gives. It is very difficult to practice purity of intention in the consumer society that we live in where we are required to advertise ourselves, blow our own trumpets, and literally sell ourselves. While esthetic clothing and grooming are important, our preoccupation with dressing and make-up can only have a deleterious effect on our spirit life. The flower in the forest that is not enjoyed or noticed by anyone still blooms.

            Purity of means tells us that end does not justify means. Not even a good end justifies bad means. In the non-violent Quit India Movement started against the British in 1942 by Gandhi, he quit Quit India Movement even against the wishes of some of his close followers when it turned violent. The fact that they tasted some success against the colonizers did not mean that a bad means could justify a good end.