Vyasa taught the essence of the Vedas in just two sentences: Paropakaraya Punyaya, Papaya Para Peedanam – Helping others is meritorious. Hurting others is sin. The word Paropakara consists of three syllables – Para, Upa and Kara. Para means the Supreme or the Highest Abode; Upa means nearness, and Kara means to do or to go. Paropakara, therefore, means that one should do good and help others in order to go near God. This is the proper spiritual path, the essence of Upanishads! The significance of the word Upanishad is that a disciple must sit down at the Feet of God (Guru), who is on a higher level. All the spiritual texts teach how to go near God. Just as one goes near an air conditioner to get coolness and comfort when it is hot, similarly, when one goes near God, one develops Divine qualities. This is Sadhana. What is papam (sin)? Harming others is sin; classifying and diversifying and forgetting unity is a sin. Names and forms may vary, but the Spirit is only one. God and Nature are in union where God is the cause and Nature is the effect. There cannot be an effect without a cause. To consider unity as diversity is a sin.
– Divine Discourse, Apr 08, 1996