Earn. Work. Be with your family. Do charity in some way, may be sharing your knowledge, serving others, do anything you can. This will help your sojourn in the other world. Give without hoarding. Knowledge is the greatest legacy you can pass on to your children. (Saanron aakkuthal thanthaikku kadane!). Your children will not know the pleasure of hard work if you bequeath them wealth. Guide them on the path of devotion; teach them good manners. Let them grow up on the strengths of the virtues you impart to them. Meanwhile, do charity and you will have a smooth passage to the other world. But beware. In the name of charity, do not give away your wealth to undeserving persons. Donate to worthy persons. 'Paathiramarindhu pichai idu'. You will get good harvest, only when you sow your seeds on fertile soil. (Thaalaatri thandha porul ellam thakkaarkku velaanmai seidharporuttu).

Charity is not restricted to wealth alone. Charity can be rendered through any means; it can be the sharing of knowledge or medical services, distribution of food. In ancient days, generous persons constructed 'chowltries' (chathirams; rest houses) to shelter and feed weary and hungry pilgrims. It was considered a blessing to be able to distribute food to yatris (pilgrims)

Kalamega pulavar, on one of his pilgrimages, knocked at the doors of Kaathan Chathiram , near Nagapattinam. The caretaker was a lazy and cunning fellow who did not understand the noble purpose of the rest-house. The poet-pilgrim never got food on time; if he asked for supper, what he got was breakfast the next day morning. Frustrated, the poet wrote on the walls with charcoal
'Katthukkadal soozh Naagai
Kaathan than chatthirathil
Asthamikkum podhil arisi varum
Kuthhi ulaiyilida oor adangum
Oragappai annam ilaiyilida Velli ezhum'.

'In the Kaathan Chathiram at Nagapattinam that is cradled by the waves, grains are available for cooking at sunset, the town would have slept by the time it is placed on the oven and the morning star would have risen by the time it is placed on the plate'.

This can also be interpreted thus: 'Food is available even at night-time; the food offered fills your empty stomach, and whatever be the time you visit, you will be served food hot from the oven'. This is the mark of a good rest-house; food is available anytime and available hot, and is served with affection.

Wealth, if not used for good purposes, is equivalent to a toxic tree that poisons air. (Nachappadaathavan selvam naduvooril nachumaram pazhuthatru). When a noble person gains some wealth, he immediately uses it to uplift the needy, like a well that gives water to everyone (Ooruni neer niraindhatre ulagavaam Perarivalan Thirupayanthookkar seidha nanmai, nayanthookkin nanmai kadalinum peridhu). And it must be rendered on time. Water quenches thirst, but what is the use of fetching water after someone collapses from thirst? (Kaalathinaar seidha nanri siridheninum Gnalathin maanaperidhu). Service rendered in time, is much more valuable than the Earth itself.

So, the first step to realizing oneself is: understanding that worldly possessions are false. Next is: knowing that God is the only immutable power and He is our only refuge. And subsequently embark on the voyage towards the Ocean of Bliss called God. Do charity while you are prosperous. Perform poojas and sing the Lord's praises.

You maintain a separate travel kit containing your toiletries:- maybe a toothpaste sachet, sample soap, a small comb and so on -- to use during your travel, don't you? You have made ready everything that is required for your short-distance travels in this world. Have you prepared yourself for the long-distance travel beyond? When you start thinking thus, you will realize that nothing belongs to you, and start scoring victories in your quest, victory in terms of knowledge of Truth. Then you will be able to distinguish Truth from deception. When the Lord of Death comes to take possession of you, none gives you company (Velai namanum varuvaanil thambi thanaiyar thunaiyaamo?'). But the world does not understand this Truth.

On one of his visits to Vishnu loka, Narada found Vishnu (Lord Narayana) in solitude. He asked the Lord, 'I thought you would be very busy; but you seem to be relaxing', to which Narayana laughed in jest, 'Well, no one seems to have time for me in this Kali yuga; people are engrossed in the luxuries of the world'. Narada refused to believe this. So Narayana said that if Narada could find a person willing to come to Deva loka, He would permit such a person without any test.

Narada apprised every person who seemed a devotee of the good news that the Lord had consented to grant free entry. But to his amazement, he did not find any single mortal prepared to accept his invitation. Narada finally located one person who was prepared to accompany him, but only after his son got married. Narada went to him again after the marriage was over, and the old man wanted to play with his grandchildren before departing from Earth. This went on, till the day came for the person's natural death. The man's attachment towards his family caused him to take birth as a dog in the same house. Narada told the person, 'If you had heeded my words, you would have been blessed by Narayana's company. Now you have taken birth as a dog ('Nai', in Tamil). To which the man replied, ' I am guarding my son's house'. The grandchild pelted a stone at the dog but the grandfather tolerated this, saying, 'after all, it was my grandson who hit me'. Narada decided that his wait for the man was fruitless. Meanwhile the man's wife also took birth as a dog in the same house. Narada approached her and asked her if she was ready to come with him to heaven. Before she could say 'yes', a few dogs chased her and she seemed to relish the chase much better than Heaven!!

This is the state of affairs in society today. People pursue perishable commodities. Just like the dog gnaws at a bone, unaware that the taste is caused by its bleeding jaws, so too, people do not realize that what they think as the pleasures of this world, are, in fact, pain.

Pattinathar laments
'Thai thadai enren. Thaaram thadai enren. Thanayan thadai enren. Ini en seigein, en seigeine?' That is why Arunagirinathar says, 'Never again will I lose myself in the pleasures of accumulating property, women and gold'. 'Agam, maadu, madanthai enra mooavasaiyil mayangi thiriveno'

A snake swallowed a frog. Not realizing that it was imprisoned in a serpent's jaws, the frog was trying to trap a fly. Similarly, not knowing that our end is near, we try hard to hoard material possessions, and fritter away our precious lives.

If God seals you with your expiry date, like the medicines have their expiry date marked on them, you will not get caught in illusions, will you? (Laughs). Persons imagine that they are destined to live for 100 years and that early death is only for others. Death can occur at any second. That is why wise men declare, 'I wasted my life in worldly pursuits, and did not make a single garland for the Lord of Thirutthani, the Lord of Wisdom.' ('Umbar paravum Thirutthanigai malaimel Irupparkku thumbakkudalai edukkaamal avala vayitrai valarpatharke allum pagalum alaikinravathallal Sivakkaniyai sera karuthuginren!')

He who knows the world is illusion, seeks the 'Maamaayan' who is beyond illusion. 'Maamaayan' means the one beyond everything. Till you realize this, you will continue hankering after status and wealth. You are prepared to fall at the feet of politicians for your material elevation, but you consider it below your dignity to prostrate in front of the Lord! This is the sad state of the present day society.