Guarding speech, controlling mind, not doing wrong with the body, a man keeps the three avenues to action clear and thus finds the Path shown by the Wise.

—The Dhammapada

The above quotation advises the aspirant to keep clear the three avenues of speech, mind and body so that the immortal soul of man may have proper instruments, proper channels to carry on its physical, mental and spiritual work and find the Path shown by the Wise. It is the inner Path of wisdom and compassion, of purity and peace, of service and sacrifice, of harmony and happiness. It has been not only indicated by the Wise but actually trodden by them. Thus we can see the need to do the same if we are in earnest.

These three avenues or channels are not separate from one another but are closely linked, though not understood as such by many, and hence the chaotic condition of the world. There must be perfect harmony between thoughts, words and deeds. It is usually considered that actions are performed only on the physical plane by one or another organ of action. From the Theosophical point of view thoughts are the seeds of action. These seeds are sown in our minds, and words and deeds are but their visible effects. Thought-power is the greatest force for good or evil, and if speech and action depend on it, how much more important to begin with the purification of the mind! It is stated in The Voice of the Silence: "Strive with thy thoughts unclean before they overpower thee"—a very strong warning to indicate how thoughts can drag the soul down. Only soul-wisdom can purify the mind and set it right. Hence the necessity to practise daily the purification of the mind. A pure and well-directed mind is a precious possession of the soul, and it can render greater service than even a mother or father can; so also a wrongly directed mind can do us greater harm than anyone else. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that we are duty-bound not to corrupt the mind but always to elevate it in the service of the soul.

H.P.B. states in The Secret Doctrine (I, 280):

Man ought to be ever striving to help the divine evolution of Ideas, by becoming to the best of his ability a co-worker with nature in the cyclic task.

Plato said that Ideas rule the world. Noble and high ideas and ideals bring about noble and loving deeds that would help the world. Speech is closely connected with mind. When man had not acquired the light of self-consciousness he could only utter sounds, not articulate speech. It was only after the divine intelligences lit up the mind of man that he developed speech. Untruthful speech, evil speech, ugly speech, scandal, gossip, etc., are the result of a corrupt mind. "Truth is the speech of inward purity." Whether the speech is deliberate or impulsive, pure or impure, it is the result of the mental attitude.

Hence the need to strive to help the "divine evolution of Ideas" and to become a co-worker with Nature. The sun and the moon and the stars, the seasons, the trees and the plants, the brooks, the rivers and the oceans, all perform their tasks cyclically, harmoniously, in an orderly, methodical way. Cannot we also become co-workers with Nature? We have our days and nights, sleeping and waking, working and resting; if in the performance of all our duties, high or low, we follow the beautiful pattern of Mother Nature, and observe the great law of cycles and the law of cause and effect, we too can become co-workers with Nature, and help the divine evolution of Ideas through example and precept. It is a great task, but a very important one, and the sooner we begin it the better for the world. "Causes sown each hour bear each its harvest of effects, for rigid Justice rules the World." The world is in need of great ideas which would change the minds and hearts of people and bring about that real unity for which all the great Teachers have come, giving the selfsame teachings, but human nature does not seem to change! It is the duty of students of Theosophy to keep on circulating the divine ideas of the mighty philosophy, so that they may touch a soul here and there and awaken him to his responsibility.

Next, we are asked to do no wrong with the body. The body has to be used as a living temple of a living god. It has to be a proper channel for the work of helping our fellow beings, for lifting them up to a higher level of consciousness and real life. Everything has to be achieved while in the body. The seven principles in man are combined while in the body. The human soul has to acquire immortality while in the body. The after-death state is but a period of assimilation; therefore all our efforts in the right direction, on all planes, must be deliberately put forth while in the body. Thus it can be understood why we are instructed to do no wrong with the body. Neither self-indulgence nor undue self-mortification, but moderation in all things is prescribed by all the great Teachers, as by Sri Krishna in the Sixth Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. The body has to be active and alert, the mind tranquil, the soul as a firm and flaming diamond. Then only can the soul reflect the light of the Divine Parent and find the Path.

"The Path is one for all, the means to reach the goal must vary with the Pilgrims," says The Voice of the Silence. One may prefer a steeper climb, another may choose winding ways and go slower. One may find the path of knowledge more suitable to him; another, the path of action; and a third, the path of devotion. Ultimately, they will all lead to the destined goal and merge into one path, the path of royal knowledge and of royal mystery. The important point to remember is to continue with the triple discipline with patience and perseverance, till one beholds the glorious light Nirvanic. Then comes the final choice, whether to enjoy the rest and bliss of Nirvana, or to return to earth to help suffering humanity, to point out the path to other souls, to teach them the meaning and purpose and goal of life, and bring them out from darkness to light, from ignorance to wisdom, and from death to immortality.

Enter the Path! There spring the healing streams
Quenching all thirst! there bloom th' immortal flowers
Carpeting all the way with joy! there throng
Swiftest and sweetest hours!