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Published by ISHA. All rights reserved. This English transcript of a YouTube talk by Ishwar C. Puri is published under a CC BY-NC-SA license, which means that you can copy, redistribute, remix, and freely distribute sections
of the transcript, provided that any derivative works or new resulting creations are not used for any commercial purpose and as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. License details: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Copyright 2019.
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PowerofConcentrationofAttentionChicago,Illinois—June22,2012
Friends,inoneofmytalksImentionedtheneedforestablishingyourselfimaginativelybehindtheeyesbeforedoinganymeditation,thatifyoustartmeditationwithoutfirstfeelingthatyouaresittinginyourheadittakesverylongtogetanyeffect,andsometimesthemeditationdoesn’tworkatall.So,itisimportantthatyoufeelthatyouareactuallysittinginthehead,thatthisbodyisahousewhichhasmanyfloors—sixfloorsdependingonthedifferentchakrasbelow—thatthesearedifferentfloors,thatyouaresittingonthesixthfloorbehindtheeyesandfeelyouareintheheadinthisbuildingcalledyourbody.Thenmeditationissuccessfulandgood.AndIalsoexplainedinthattalktheimportanceofyourfeelingyouarethereandnotmakinganimage,alittleimageofyourself.Becauseifyoumakeanimageofyourselfwithyoureyesclosed,thatisnotyou.Youaretheonewatchingthatimageandthatonewhoiswatchingshouldbeinthehead.
Somebodyheardthattalkofmine,andthatisonminute53tominute57ofthetalk,andwrotetomeanemail,“Canyoupleaseexplainwhatyousaidinminute53tominute57inHindi.”IamgoingtoexplainittoyouinHindisothisitcaneventuallygoovertothegentlemanwhoaskedforit.SohavepatienceforafewminuteswhileIspeakinHindi.
Jabbhajansimrankartehain,tobahutavashkyakhaikeapkadhyanankhkepeechheyho.Aurankhkepeechheykamatlabyenahinhaikisirfankhbandkarloaursamjhokeaappeechheybaitheyho.Nahiiskayematlabhaikeaapapnitasveerbanake,chhotisimurtibanaloauruskodekho.Agarmurtikodekhogeankhbandkarkey,toaapvomurtimeinnahinho,aapvahanhojahanseaapmurtikodekhraheyho.Isliyezaruriyehaikeaapsamjhokeaapapnesirkeandarbaitheyhuayho.Auryesamjhokeaapsabkuchdekhraheyhoapneysamney.Jokuchhtasveereinsamneyaatihain,koirangaateinhain,koitasveereinaatihain,unkodekhobaithkey.Lekinsamjhokiyeshareeraapkaekmakaanhai.Aapuskichhathimanzilpebaitheyhuayho.Auruschhathimanzilseaapdramadekhraheyho.Jaiseytelevisionkiscreenkodekhteyhain,vaiseysamjhosamneykiscreentelevisionkihai.Aapuskeysamneybaithkayuskodekhraheyho.Jabtakaapapneyaapkoyenahinsamjhogeyke
aapsirkeandarbaithkaytasveerdekhraheyho,bhajansimranitnakamyabnahinhota.Isliyemeriyesalahhaikiaapjabbhajanshurukaro,topehleyapneaapkoapniankhkepeechheysirkeandarbithaloaursamjhoaapbaitheyhuayhoaurdekhraheyho.YehbaatmainaapkoHindimeinkehrahahunkyunkekisineyerequestkihaikeyehissajomaineapnayEnglishketalkmeinkahatha,minute53tominute58,uskomaineHindimeinbolkebatladiyahai.Dhanyavad.Thankyou.
ThatwassampleofmyoldHindilanguage.KabirsaysinHindi,“Malatokarmeinphiray,malatokarmeinphiray,jeebhphiraymukhmahein;manuatochahundishphiray,yetosimrannahin.”
Kabirsays,“Ifthebeadsareinyourhandandyouaremovingthemandyourtongueisrepeatingthewords,yourmindisroamingaroundtheworld,don’tcallitsimrananymore.”
Thisisnotsimranatall,becausesimranistobedonewiththemind,andifyourmindisnotevenattendingtothewordsthatyouarerepeating,it’snouse.Then,themindisrunningallovertheworldandyouaretryingtorepeatthewordswithyourtongueandpartofthemindandpartofthetongue,that’snotgoingtobeeffectiveatall.Buttorepeatthesamepointagainthatthemeditationtechniquesareactuallyverysimple.Thoseofyouwhoareinitiatedandarepracticingitalready,it’sagoodreminderforthem,andthosewhoarenotinitiatedandarelookingforwardtoinitiationandareseekers,forthemitisimportanttoknowthattheprocessofwithdrawingourattentionbehindtheeyesrequiresthatweidentifyourselvesasconsciousness,asabeingsittingbehindtheeyes.It’salwaysagoodideatothinkofyourbodyasahouseinthatcase,asamansioninwhichyouaresittingasithasmanyfloors,andthefloorscanbedesignatedbecauseofthedifferentorgansyouhaveinsidewhichalsodesignatethedifferentchakraswetalkof.Thesixenergycenters,theyreallydelineatethesixfloors.Youcanimaginethatyouarereallyinabuildingonthesixthfloor,andbehindtheeyesthereisafloor,andyoucanmakethefloorveryhardbecauseit’simagination.Youcanmakethefloorconcrete.Youcanmakeitsteel,andonceyoumakethatfloorit’simportantnottogobelowthat.Becauseinmeditationthetendencytogobelowthatisverystrong,becausetheprocessofwithdrawingattentionissimilartotheprocessofgoingtosleepatnight.Becauseinbothcasesyoubecomeunawareofyourbody.Sothatiswhyinthecaseofmeditation,youdon’twanttogotosleep.Lotofpeopledogotosleepinmeditation.Infact,GreatMasterusedtosay,“Areyousufferingfrominsomnia?Trymeditation.”
Youwillfindthatthetendencytosleepisstrong,soinordertoavoidthat,westayattheeyecenter.Wedonotgobelowtheeyecenter.Whenwetalkoftheeyecenter,wetalkofthepointbehindtheeyes.Wedon’thavetolookforit.Itisnaturalpointfromwhereweareautomaticallyoperatinginourwakefulstate.Butinordertounderstandwhereexactlyitis,andifyouthinkthebodyisahouse,tobeabletolocateyourselfwellit’sgoodtoremember
thattheeyesareinfrontofyou.Thethirdeyeisbehindtheseeyesandnotinthemiddleoftheseeyes.Andtheearsarevirtuallyoneithersideofhere.Sothatiswhyyouarereallycenteringyourself.Veryoftenwhenwecloseoureyesandwethinkweareinthecenteroftheheadweareactuallyinthefrontofthehead.Andwethinkitiscenterbecausewecloseoureyesandit’sdark.Andyoucancheckitoutbecauseifyouwereinthecenterofthehead,youcouldn’ttouchyourselfbytouchingtheeyes.Butifyoubringyourhandsupwhileyouaretryingtomeditateandyoutouchyoureyes,youwillfindthatyoualreadycrossedthepointwhereyouthinkyouareinthecenter.Soactually,thedarknessinfrontofyou,youbegintothinkit’sinsideyourhead.Sotherefore,itrequirespractice.Thislittletechniqueisveryimportantforsuccessfulmeditation,thatyouactuallybegintobelievethebodyandyourheadisataplaceinwhichyouare.Andthen,onceyoubegintofeelyouarethere,youwilllosethesenseofitbeingthehead,whichwillhappen.Itdoesnotmeanyouhavetogobackagainandagaintothinkofthebody.Onceyouarethereandyoudon’thaveasenseofthebody,it’sallright.Thendon’tgobacktoagaindeterminingwhereyouare.Somepeoplekeepongoingbackagainandagain.Andthenthetensionremainsinthebody.So,onceyoufeelyouareinthemiddleofthehead,thespaceexpands.It’saslargeasyourimaginationcanmakeit.So,onceyouareinthecenterofthehead,youcangrowagardenthere.Youcanhaveabiggardenofflowers,andthereisenoughspaceforthat.It’snotassmallastheheadis.Youcanhaveanythinghappeningthere,oryoucanmakeaclosedroomtherewithwalls.Youcandecoratethewalls,andit’snotnecessarythatwallswillbeofthesizeofthehead.You’llseethattheyareaslargeasyouwanttomakeit.So,consciousnessoperateslikethis,thatwhenyoufeelyouareinthecenteroftheheadandthatisthespacewhereyouare,thentheattentionfromthebodyispickedupmuchfaster.
Andyoubegintoknow…youdon’tknowafterawhilewhereyourhandsare,whereyourfeetare.Graduallywithpracticeyoudon’tknowwheretherestofthebodyis,andthenyoustepintoadifferentlevelofexperience.Sothat’swhyItriedtosayinHindialsotheimportanceoffixingyourselftherebeforestartingmeditation.GreatMasterusedtoemphasize:Don’tevenstart.It’snot,it’snotaritual,thatyoucloseyoureyes,dosimran,keeponrepeating.That’srepeatinglikeaparrot.Peoplecankeeponrepeatingwordsandtheirmindisrunningallover,itdoesn’tmeananything.So,inordertomakethemindactive,thebestwayistomaketheminddothesimranandnotyourtongue.Lettheprocessthatthinks,letthethoughtsbeconvertedintothewords.Insteadofthinkinganyotherthought,thewordsshouldbethethought.Thenit’sgoodsimran.Ifyoucannotdothat,ortillyoureachthatpoint,makethemindlistentothewordsyouarerepeating.Putyourattentiononthewords,whichmeansrepeatthewordsslowly,verydeliberatelyandlistentothem.Becausewhenyoulistentoit,themindgetsattachedtothisandthereforethemindremainswithin.Itistobepracticedinawaythatyouunderstandwhywearedoingit.Don’tjustdoitasit’saprayeroraritualtaughtbyaguruandthereforeyoudoiteveryday,andonedayyou’llgotoheaven.That’swhatreligionteachesus.Areligionhasmisledallof
usbynotlettingusdotherealmeditationandputtingusintorituals.So,thisbecomesaritual.Peopleconvertevengoodmeditationintoaritualbydoingitinaritualisticway.Doitinascientificway.Doitlikeanexperimentandyouareexperimentingwithconsciousnessandunderstandingwhattheselfis.Andtherefore,it’simportantthatyouareabletostartyourmeditationafteryouestablishthereandmakesurethatyourmindisinvolved,thethinkingmindwhichisdistractingyouallthetime.Afterall,whatispreventingusfromknowingwhoweare?
Thinkofit.Today,whatispreventing…?Ifweareinsideourhead,wearewhoweare.Whatispreventingusfromknowingwhoweare?Thinkcarefully.It’syourmind.Themindthinksofeverythingelseexceptyourself.Therefore,themindisrunningaroundallovertheworldandnotlettingusknowwhoweare.So,thewholecontrolinmeditationisofthemind,thatthemindanditsthoughtshavetobroughtbackintothelocationwhereweare.Andthatiswhythemeditationdonewiththemindisthebest,andtherepetitiondonewiththemind…Thereisonebetterwayofdoing,evenbetterthanthemind,andthatisifyouareinitiatedbyaPerfectLivingMaster,andthemaster’simageremainsinsideyouandyouareabletoseeitandtalktothemasterinyourimaginationandhaveconversationwiththemasterandthemasterspeakstoyou.Ifyouhavereachedthatpoint,thendon’tevendotherepetition.Tellthemastertodoit.That’stheeasiestway.Youcloseyoureyes.Sitintheheadandsay,“Master,startoff,”andheshouldgoanddothemediationforyou.
PerfectLivingMasterstellusthattheycandoanythingforus.Wedon’tbelievethem.Therefore,theysay,“Okay,youkeepondoingwhatyouaredoing.”Ifyoubelievethem,theywoulddoeverythingforus.Wedon’thavethatkindoffaiththatthemasterscanreallydoeverythingforus.Butwhentheysayeverythingforus,itincludesmeditationalso.So,masterscandomeditationforusprovidedwehaveestablishedthatimageofthemasterinsideus,wetalktothemasteronadailybasisandthenthemastercandotherepetition,drawourattentionandthenwefeelsogoodaboutit.Becauseourwholeattentionisnotonlyontherepetitionofwordswhichismerelydesignedtodrawourattentionin,butalsooffocusingonthedhyanorthecontemplationofthefaceofthemasterwhichhelpsalotinreachingthepointofthirdeyeandconsciousness.So,therearemanystagesoflearninghowtodosimplethinglikerepetitionofamantra.Thisrepetitionofsimranalsotakessomanystagesoflearning.Ultimately,welearnthebestwayofdoingitistositinthehead,lettheminddoitorthemasterdoit.Wejustarelistenersandjustenjoyingthejoyofbeinginthecompanyofourbeloved.That’saverygoodsensationandaverygoodfeeling.Andnotonlyagoodfeeling,ithelpsdrawtheattentionfasterintoourownconsciousness,andweseeallthebeautifulresultsthatIwastalkingtoyouearlier.
IwillnowopenupthismeetingtoquestionsandanswersbecausemanyofyoumayhavequestionsonwhatIhavesaidearlier,ormanyofyoumayhavequestionsonwhatIdidnot
say.So,youhaveopportunitynowtoaskanyquestion.Ifyoudon’thaveaquestion,youcanalsogiveananswer,oryoucanmakeacommentonanything.It’sopen.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.No.No,webecomehuman.Thediskonlyprovidesforhuman,butthekarmaoflifeprovidesforallotherformsoflife.Transmigrationtakesplacebecauseofthekarmathat’sfittedintoonelifetime.Itcankeeponregeneratingdifferentlifeforms.Wedonotpickupthoselifeforms.Wecanbe.Weneverwere,butwecanbe.Buthowdoweknowwhenwepickedupthetape.Wemighthavepickedupthetapeseverallifetimesearlier,andwearegoingthroughthekarmanowandthinkingit’sallhappeningtousnow.So,wehavemademanyoflifetimesreal.Inthepastlives,therecanbelivesthatyouneverlivedbutyourememberthembecausetheybecomeyourlives,pastlives.Inthefuture,youcanhaveactuallythoselives.Theyarealsothekarma.
Attachmentsarethemaindistractioninourspiritualquestalways.AndBuddhasaid,theonlyreasonwhywearehereisbecauseofdesireandattachment.Thatdesireandattachmenthasfixedushereandwecan’tgetoutofit.Thedifficultywithattachmentsisthatonceyouhavealreadyestablishedtheattachments,it’sverydifficulttobreakthem.Themoreyoutrytobreakthem,themoreyoutrytodetach,thestrongertheattachmentbecomes.Isometimeshavegivenmyownexample.IusedtoloveShakey’sPizza.WhenIfirstcametothiscountry,andIsaid,“Idon’tlikeIamattachedtoShakey’sPizza.”Isaid,“NoShakey’sPizza!NoShakey’s!”ThemoreIsaid,themoreitwouldcomeinfrontofme.Sometimeswhenwetrytopushfordetachment,wecan’tbecausethepushingofadetachment,pushingattachmentsawayiskeepingyourmindontheattachment.Howcanyoudetach?Nobodyinmyknowledgehaseverbeenabletopracticedetachment.Theyhavenotbeenabletosay,“Ihadthisattachment.Ihavegivenitup.”Whenyousay,“Givenitup,”it’sstillthere,becauseyoustillrememberwhatyougaveup.That’sequallyanattachment.
Therefore,theonlywaymasterstellustodetachyourselffromanattachmentistohaveanotherattachment.Abetterattachment.TherearelittlegirlsinIndia.Beforetheyaremarried,theyaregivenlittledollstoplaywith.Andtheysay,“Oh,thisismylittledoll,mychild,mysoandso,”andthedollbecomesveryrealforthem,sorealthattheycryifyoutakethedollawayfromthem.Theyaresoattachedtothedolls.Whentheygrowupandgetmarriedandhavetheirreallifeandrealkids,theyforgetthedolls.Andthisisanexamplegiventhatwhensomethingmorerealandsomethingbettercomesup,thentheattachmentautomaticallyfadesaway.Sotherefore,theanswertoattachmentisnotdetachmentbutmoreattachmentsomewhereelse.
Sotherefore,there’sanotherreasonforhavingaPerfectLivingMasterforwhomyoucanhaveloveanddevotion.IfyouhaveaPerfectLivingMasterwhocanmanifesthimselfinyou
inmeditation,thentheattachmenttothatmasterinsidegraduallydetachesyoufromeverythingelse.Sothat’sthesecret,thatyouattachyourselftosomethingmoreattachable,moreattractivethantheotherattachments.Automaticallythey’llbecomeless.
Q.[Questionaboutparentingnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Thebestwaytoparentchildrenandgivethemanexposuretospiritualityistopracticespiritualityyourself.Ifyouteachthemsomething,theydon’tlearn.Ifyoupracticeyourself,theylearn.Thebestwayistobeanexampleforthem,andifyouareagoodexample,theyareaffectedbyit.Ifindthatparentswhotrytoteachtoomuch,thechildrenrebelagainsttoomuchteaching.Secondly,everychildisbornwithhisorherownkarma.Andtheyhavetheirlifeset,destinyset.Theyalllookalikewhentheyarelittlebabies.Whentheygrowup,theyallbecomedifferent.Andtheyallactdifferentlythanwe…Suchcutelittlebabiesbecomesuchnaughtykidswhentheygrowup.So,allcarrytheirowndestinieswiththem.Wehavetodoourbestdutytotakecareofthem,protectthem,seethattheydon’tfacedanger,educatethemwithourresources,bringthemupasbestaswecantilltheygrowup.Andthenleavethemtotheirdestiny,becausetheirdestinyistheirdestiny.Andforspiritualexperiences,there’snothingbetterthananexample.
Q.Aretheresoulswhoneverhavegonetolowercreation?
A.Yes.Lotsofthem.Manymorethanhavecomeintothecreation.Whenthedivisionofconsciousnessintoindividuatedconsciousness—whichwecallsoul—tookplace,thedistinctionbetweentheindividuatedsoulswas,theadventurousonesandthenon-adventurousones.Onlyabouttenpercentwereadventurousenoughlikeuswhocameout.Therestwerecontenttobeinstateofbliss.Nowwhathappens?Wegointoallthismiseryofdifferentlevelsofcreation,alsohavesomegoodmomentsandsomebadmomentsandeventuallyfindourwaybackandmergewiththeothersoulswhohaveneverlefttheirhomes.Andthosesoulsareinbliss,dancingandsinging.Butwedancebetterthanthemandtheysay,“What’ssospecialwithyou?”Andwetellthem,“Youdon’tknowwhatyouaremissing.”Becausetheyneversawtheotherside.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.AttentiondescendsfromSachKhand,fromourtotalityandcontinuestopercolateintoeverylevelandcomesrightuptothislevel.Thedifferencebetweenthesedifferentconsciousness,awarenessandattentionisthatconsciousnessisanabilitytobeaware.Itdoesnotalwaysmeanwhatyouareawareof.Forexample,youareconsciousthatthereisaplacefromwhereyoucamebutyouarenotawareofitrightnow.Youcanrecallandyoubeawareofit.So,consciousnessisatotalabilitytobeawareofanything.So,it’saverygenericterm.Awarenessiswhatyouareawareofnow,atpresent.Attentionistheprobethatyouareputtingintothatpartofawarenesswhereyoulike.Consciousnessyouhavenocontrol
over.Awarenessyouhavesomecontrolover.Attentionyouhavefullcontrolover.Attentionyoucanfocuswhereyoulike.So,thewholesecretofmeditationliesinourabilitytouseattention.Andwecanputourattentionbehindtheeyes.Wecanputourattentiononthingsoutside.Ifyougotoseeanorchestrawithseveralmusicalinstrumentsplayingandyoulikethedrumsbetter.Youtryitout,youputyourattentiononthedrums,drumsbecomelouder.Allotherinstrumentsbecomeweaker.Therehasbeennochangeintheactualvolume,butyourattentioncanpickuponeandbecomeunawareoftheothers.Thisabilityofattentionevenatthephysicalleveltoconcentrateononething,therebybecomingunawareofotherthings,isthesecretofmeditation.Sothatyoucanputyourattentionthereandbecomeunawareofyourbodyitselfandbecomeunawareofthewholeworld.Sothatiswhyattentionistheinstrumentweuseformeditation.It’sjustaprobethatcanmovearoundinawareness.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Thereisanarea…Wearemakinggranddivisionsofcreation.Thesearegranddivisionsofcreation.Thephysicalplaneinwhichwearenowsittingandtalkingtoeachother,thephysicalplaneinmyviewisthebest.Withallitshardshipsandallitsproblems,becauseithasauniqueexperiencewhichisveryraretofindanywhereelse.Andthatexperienceiscalledtheexperienceoffreewill.Wefeelwecanmakechoiceshere.It’sonlyahumanbeingwhohasthefeelingthattheycanmakechoicesandthereisonlyoneother—God—whocanmakechoices.Inbetweeneverybodyknowswhat’shappeningsothereisnochoice.Sonexttothecreator,humanbeingcomesnext.Sometimepeoplesaywearemadeintheimageofthecreator.AndmanismadeinimageofGod.Whatdoesitmean?Itdoesn’tmeanlookslikehim.Hehasnoform.Thisisexactlythesimilarity,thatGodhasrealfreewillandwehavetheexperienceoffreewill.It’snotrealfreewill.It’sexperienceoffreewill.Butthereisastageintheastralstagewhereallknowledgebecomesavailabletous.Andinthephysicalplanewehavepartialknowledgeandthereforeweusefreewill.There’sanoverlapbetweenthetwo.Andtheoverlapisveryinteresting,becauseintheoverlapwecanseewhatcanbeseenhereandwecanseewhatistheunseenhere.
So,whenwedieinthephysicalbody,weareinthatoverlap.It’sintheoverlapthatwehavealltheotherexperiences.Wetalkofghostsandspiritsmovingaround.InIndiatheybelievetherearetwokindsofghosts.Wecallthem“bhoot”and“prait.”Youhaveheardofthem—bhootandprait?Bhootisaghostoradisembodiedspiritthatmovesaroundfromplacetoplace,roamingaroundaimlesslyorroamingaroundwithsomeattachmentsofthepast.Praitisonethatisstucktooneplacebecauseofaneventthathappenedwhichcausedittoleaveitsbody,likeanaccident,likeamurder,likeasomeunnaturaldeath.Andthenthepraitisthespiritthatremainsthere.Nowwhoarethesedisembodiedspirits?Theyareastralbodiesbutcaughtupintheoverlapofthephysicalandtheastral.Theycanseethephysicalworld,andwetrytocontactthem.Theycanmaketheirpresencefeltsometimes
andwecallithauntedplace,thatsomebodyhasdiedbutisstillhauntingme,andcomesandIcansee,feelthepresenceofpeople.”Sothoseareintheoverlapofthephysicalandtheastralandimmediatelyafterthat.Butonceyouwithdrawyourattentionfromthisareaandgointothepureastral,thenyourcontactislost.Thislookslikeadreamworldthen.Itbecomeslikeadreamworld.Tillthenbothworldslookveryreal.Thesearethedifferencesbetweentheastral.Intheastralyouremembereverything.Youcanrememberpastlives.Youcanrememberoldevents.Intheoverlapyoucannotdothat.Butinthephysicalyoucan’tdomuchatall,excepthavesomestrangekindofdéjàvuswhenyougosomewhereandsay,“IthinkI’vebeenhere.”Right?
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Ithinkdozingoffisalwaysgood.Somebody,somebodyaskedmeaquestionaboutsomeproblem.Isaid,“Doyousleepenough?”So,thethingisthatdozingdoestakeplace.Butthere’sacertainthingthatishelpfulindozing.Andthatisthepracticeofsimran.Becausesimranisawayofkeepingthemindbusy.SimrandoesnottakeustoSachKhand.Simrandoesnottakeustohigherlevels.Themaximumsimrancantakeyouistotheastralplane.Itcan’teventakeyoutocausalplane.Simranisaverytemporarydeviceatthephysicallevelandthewholeideaofrepeatingthosewords,howevermagicaltheymightbe,howeverwonderfultheymightbe,istopreventthemindfromthinkingotherthings.Youwantthemindtothinkofthosewords,andifthewordsarecharged,astheyaregivenininitiation,theadvantageofthosewordsisthatanassociationiscreatedwiththosewordswithinnerexperiences.Letusnotforgetalllanguage,allwords,aremerelyphoneticsymbols.Theyaresounds.Howdotheyhavemeaning?Byassociationofideas.Theyassociateacertainsoundinaparticularcultureinparticularlanguage,andwebegintothinkthat’sthemeaningofit.IfIhave…Asachildgrownupandwhentheliquidisgiventometoquenchmythirstandeverybodycallsitwater,Iwilllearnthewordwater.AndeverytimeIwillthinkofwater,waterwillmeanthatwhichislearnt.Everywordthatwespeakhasgotitsconnotationormeaningonassociationofideas.Sotherefore,whenwespeakinlanguage,wethinkwearetellingthesamethingtoeverybody,thattheyarelistening,buttheyarenot.Andnobodyrealizesthatweallspeakadifferentlanguage.WesayI’mspeakinginEnglish.EverybodyspeaksEnglish,butthemeaningsofeachwordareslightlydifferentforeachone.Becauseyourownassociationofideasisbaseduponyourexperiencewiththosewords.It’sneveridentical.That’swhytheysaylanguageisaverypoorcommunicationtool.Loveisabettercommunicationtool.
Sounspokenlanguageissometimesbetterthanthespokenlanguage.Spokenlanguagesometimescausemisunderstandings.Butonceweunderstandthatthespokenwordshaveameaningwhichisattachedtothingsoutside—that’showthewordshavebeencreated—evenabstractwordshaveallbeenassociatedwithoutsidemeanings.Themastersgiveuswordswhichtheyknowhaveaninnerassociationwithexperiencesthatwearestillto
have.So,whenwerepeatthosewords,wedon’tknowwhattheymean.We’rejustusingitasamechanicaldevice.Butwhentheexperiencescomeinside,werealizetheimportanceofthesewords,andwecallthemchargedwordsandthewordsbecomemoreeffectivethanordinarywords.Butthisisnotknowntoustillwegowithin.Meanwhiletherepetitionisgood,andifyoucanhabituatethemindtorepeatthewords,simranbecomesveryeasy.Therefore,themindisusedtohabitforming.So,thesimranortherepetitionofwordsshouldbedonetoformahabit.Nowwhenahabitisformed,thehabitisnotlosteveninsleep.So,supposingyouarehabituatedtodoingsimranandyougotosleep,eveninthesleepyoursubconsciouskeepsondoingthesimran.Thatiswhydozingoffisnotthatbadaspeoplemightthink.Infact,itispracticedthatbeforeyougotosleepatnight,doyoursimransothatthemindkeepsondoingsimranallnightlong.Ifyouhavethehabit,havebeendoingitregularly,youcanwakeupinthemiddleofthenightandyouwillknowyouaredoingsimran.Thatmeansthatitactuallyhaspickedup,andit’suseful.Itisusefulasadeviceinturningawayotherthoughtsawaywhileyouaredoingmeditation.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.You,now,wemakestorieslikethese,pickinguptapesandall.Justtodescribeheretheactualtruthisthatpickingupthetapeisactuallylivingthattape.Itdoesnotmeanthatwefirstpickupandthencomeandlive.Pickingupthetapetheremeansstartingoffallthedestiny.Sotherefore,thedestinystartsfromthereandwhatlookslikehavingcomefromthereoverhereisallwithinthattape.Withinthetapewehavetheexperiencethatwearedescendedfromthecausallevelintoastralintophysical.That’spartofthetape.Soasapartofthetape,whenwegoback,youcanchangethetapeifyouwant,ifyou’restillinterested.Youcanthrowawaythetape.Say,“Idon’tlike.I’mbackhome.Idon’tlikethisadventure,hadenoughofit.”Oryoucansay,“Oh,myGod,Ididn’trealizethatwasjustadream-likestateandItookitsoreal.Iwanttohaveitagain.”Andthenyoucangobackandcreate.Thenyougettrappedagainandyouforgetitwasnotreal.Thenyoucryandyoufindamaster.Hetakesyouback.Yousay,“OhIpickeditupmyself,thistape,”whichisveryinterestingstoryofhowwehandlethistape,pickingup.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Idon’tinitiateanybody.IseemasterbecauseMasterSawanSinghdiedinhisphysicalbody.Hecan’tbeseen.Icanseehim.Andthat’sthebeautyofinitiationbyamasterthatyouseehimallthetime.Andevenafterhediesyouseehim.Infact,youseehimmoreafterhediesthanyouseehimwhenheisalive.So,sinceIcanseehim,Icanseehisinitiation.PeoplethinkIaminitiating,butIknow.That’swhyIcallitGreatMaster’sinitiationandnotmyinitiation.Iamveryhappytobeawitness.It’sasecretstoryhewantsmetosharewithyou.Doyouknowhowtokeepasecret?Okay,thosewhocankeepasecret,raiseyour
hands.Okay,pleasekeepitasecretandifyoutellsomebodyelse,tellthemalsotokeepitasecret.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.ThebeautyofhavingaPerfectLivingMasterinyourlifeisyouhaveaperfectfriendinyourlife.IhavesaidmorethanoncethatinthisspiritualpathIrealizedthatfriendshipisevenmoreimportantthanspirituality.Wereallyneedfriend.Weneedarealfriend.Weneedafriendwhoisalwayswithus.Weneedafriendwithwhomwecanhaveunconditionallove.Thereisnothinglikeit.InthiswholeworldIdon’tfindanythingbetterthanthat,havingafriendwithunconditionallove.Butwhenyouhaveafriendwithunconditionallove,it’snotfriendshipthathe’steachingmehowtogotoSachKhand.Weenjoydailylife.Ateverylevel.IfyouhavePerfectLivingMasterinyourlife,itdoesnotbecomethatyouarenowaseriousmonkonyourwaytospiritualhome.Youareonadailyadventureexaminingthisworld,otherworldsandgoingtogetherwiththemasterwhereveryoulike.Andyouhavealtercationswiththemaster.Youcancrywiththemaster,youcanlaughwiththemaster.It’slikearealfriend.It’saveryunusualrelationshipbutthebestrelationshipthatyoucanhave.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.So,Isometimeshavestrangeexperiences.NowwhatDavidistellingmetorelateisanexperienceIhadinDetroit,Michigan,in1962or1963.ThatisaboutthetimeIfirstcametothiscountrytostudy.IwasadmittedtoHarvardUniversityforacourseandthemoneyformycoursewaspaidbyFordFoundation.FordMotorCompanyhadabigplantinDetroit,Michigan,makingmotorcars.Theywantedmetoseetheplantalso.So,IwasinBoston,inCambridgeactually,Massachusetts,studyingthere.ButIwouldlike…IhadtocometoDetroitforseeingthemotorcarplant.Andthereweresomesatsangistherefrommasters,fromIndia.AndIheardthattheywerehavingsatsangs.Isaiditwillbeagoodideatohearthesatsangalso.So,Iwasayoungstudentandstudyingincollegethere.IwrotetothatgentlemanwhowasinchargeofthesatsanginDetroitthatIhavetocometoDetroitforvisitingFordMotorCompanyandcanIalsoattendsatsang.Icantieupthetwodatestogether.Andhesaid,“Oh,thesefellows.Youknow,theseIndianstudentscomehere.Theybotherussomuchandtheyjustwanttohavefreebiesfromus,”andhewasveryangry.Hesaid,“No,no,weareverybusy,allofus.Wedon’thavetime.”So,Isaid,“Okay,thenI’lljustgototheFordMotorCompany.”So,Icalledthemandmadeanappointmenttovisitthemonaweekend.WhichwasalreadythesameweekendthattheyweregoingtohaveasatsangonaSunday.So,whenIcamethereIgotoutoftheplaneandwalkedoutandaman,anelderly,bulkylittlemanIhadneverseenbeforestandsthere,says,“AreyouIshwarPuri?”Isaid,“Yes,Iam.”Hesaid,“Iamsoandso.IamrepresentativeofthesatsangandIhavecometotakeyouhomeandyouwillbegivingsatsangheretomorrow.”Isaid,
“Howdidthathappen?Aren’tyoutheguywhowrotetomethatyouareverybusy,youhavenotimeforme?”Hesaid,“Somethingverystrangehappened.TheusualguywhogivessatsanghasfallensickandhisalternatehasgoneawaytoIndia,andthethirdpersondisappeared.Wecan’tfindhim.So,thecommitteemetyesterday,andtheysaid,“WhataboutthatguywhowrotetoyouthathehascomefromIndia?Maybehecantellyousomestories.So,theysentmetotheairporttopickyouup.TheycalledyourhouseandyourwifetoldustheflightnumberandbythetimeIcamehere,halfthepassengersoftheflighthadalreadygoneout.So,Isaid,‘Ihaveneverseenyou.Idon’tknowifyouwearaturban,ifyouareoldoryoung.IhadnoideawhoIshwarPuriis.’So,whatIdidwasIcame,Iclosedmyeyes”thatmantoldme,“Iclosedmyeyesandsaid,“Master,Idon’tknowwhoisIshwarPuri.Tellmewhoheis.”WhenIopenedmyeyes,youwerethefirstperson.Isaid,“AreyouIshwarPuri?””
Isaid,“IamshockedatyouAmericans.Youdothesekindoftrickswiththemaster?Ihaveneverheardofit,thatanythingyouwanttodo,justcloseyoureyesandaskthemaster?IneverdidthisinIndia.Thisissomethingnewforme.”Anyway,thenwehadasatsanginVeteransMemorialHallnextday,andhesatinfrontrowandIwassittinginfrontwithhim.ThenheannouncedthatthisguyfromIndiahascomeandhewillspeaktoday.So,hemademestandonthestage.AndI…little,youknow,stagenervous,speakingfirsttimetoAmericanaudience.So,ImusthaveclosedmyeyesandthenIspokewhateverIcouldspeak.Attheendofthistalk,hecameuptome.Hesaid,“Thatwasbrilliant.Iknowwhatyoudid.”Isaid,“WhatdidIdo?”Hesaid,“IsawyoucloseyoureyesandyouaskedMaster,‘WhatshouldIsay?’andwhateverthemastertoldyou,thatyousaid.Isn’tthatright?”Isaid,“No,youarenotright.”Isaid,“IdidclosemyeyesandIsaid,‘Master,whatshallIsay?’AndMastersaid,‘Whohasmadeyoumyspokesman?Whydoyouhavetosay?’Isaid,‘Why?’Hesaid,‘Icansayitmyself.’Isaid,‘Goahead.’So,Iwentbackandsatwithyouonthechairnexttoyouandheardmyownimagespeakingtoyou.Iheardasmuchofmyselfasyoudid.”
That’sthestoryheistelling,David.ThisisoneoftheearlyexperienceswiththeAmericanseekers.Theyareverysharp,Imustsay.TheAmericansknowtricksofthespiritualtradeIdidn’tknow.So,Ilearntthat.Thetruthisifyouletthemasterdothings,hewilldoeverythingforyou.Hewillmakeitappearasifyouaredoingit.Butyouwillknowyouarenotdoingit.Themastermakesyoudo.Hedoesn’tactually,doesn’ttellyouwhattodo.Hedoesit.So,thisissucharemarkablerelationship.It’sverydifficulttodescribebecauseit’sverypersonal.Firstofall,it’sverypersonal.Nowhehasmademesharethissecret.So,I’vesharedthesecretwithyou.Iwouldnormallysay…Isaid,“Yes,Imadeagoodspeech.Andjusttakeunduecreditforthespeech.Creditbelongstothemasteralways.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.DidyoufindmeorIfoundyou?Bigquestionmark,right?Yes.Thereisalwaysaquestionmark.Itellthestoryofafewblindpeopleandtheyarelockedupinaroom.Theroomhaswallsandthedoor,there’sonlyonedoorintheroomandthat’sflushwiththewall.Youcan’tseewherethedooris.So,theblindpeoplearetryingtofindawayoutandtheyaregropingwiththeirhands.Andtheyaretryingtofindhowtogetout.Sincetheyareblindtheycan’tseethedoorandtheycan’tevenknowwhereitis.So,theygoroundandroundandsay,“Wedon’tknow.Thereisadoor,weknow.Wedon’tknowwhereitis.”Thenamanwhoiswitheyeswalksinandclosesthedoorandlooksatthesepeopleallrunningaroundtryingtofindthedoor.So,hefindsoneguy—he’sreallyrunningtoomuch,heistooearnestaboutthisdoor—andhestandsinfrontofhimandholdshishand.Hesays,“Icanshowthedoor.”“Ifoundhim!”themansays.“Ifoundhim.”
Hestillbelieveshefoundhim.Hecannotevenrealizethatonlytheguywhohadtheeyescouldfindhim.Justbecausehewasabletoholdhishands,hehadnotfoundhim—hewasfound.Thesituationwithusisidenticalwiththat,thatwethinkwehavefound.Wethinkwehavedonesomething,butactuallyitistheotherwayaround.Wegetfound.Thestrangestpartisthatwegetfoundbystrangecoincidences.Ithinkveryhighofcoincidencesnow.IusedtothinktheyarejustaccidentsbutnowIknowcoincidencehasdeepmeaninginit.Ifindthattherearetwofunctionsweareperforminginourmindandinourconsciousness.Oneisamentalfunctionofreasoning.Wereasonoutthingsanduselogicandtakedecisions.Theotherfunctionisintuitive.Weuseourintuition,gutfeeling.Justahunch.Wefeelthisisit.Withoutknowingwhatthereasonis.Thesetwofeelingsareactuallycomingbecauseofthetwodifferentfunctionsofthemindandthesoul.Onlythemindreasons,andthesoulhasintuition.Theconsciousnesswithoutthemindfunctionsasintuitiveagency.Itdoesn’trequirethemindforintuition.Sotherefore,intuitiveknowledgethatcomestouscomesinaverystrangewaybecausewesuddenlyhaveagutfeeling.Sometimesitdoesn’tmakeanysense.Westillknow,“Ifeellikethat,”andyouask,“Howdoyoufeel?”“Idon’tknow,butIknowit.”Thatkindofintuitivefeelingcomesfromthesoul.NowwhatI’venoticediswhenyouhaveanintuitivefeeling,acoincidencehappensoutsidetomatchthatfeeling.Youhaveaparticularfeelingandyougoanddriveontheroadandthereisaposterandsaysonewordthatresembleswhatyougotintuitively.It’sjustacoincidence.Asmoreintuitiveknowledgecomestoyou,moreofthesecoincidencesstarthappening.Sotherefore,Ihavefoundthatpeoplewhoareonthespiritualpath,themoretheyadvanceonthespiritualpaththenumberofcoincidencesintheirlifeincrease.
Sothatmeanscoincidenceisnotanaccident.Itismorethanthat.Soveryoftencoincidenceisagoodvehiclethatthemastersusetofindtheirmarkedsheep.So,wecoincidentallyfind,andwesay,“Howdidthathappen?”Wearelookingforsomethingelseandthiscameuporsomebodyjustmentions,“Howdidithappen?”or“Ireadabooktenyearsago,didn’thaveanyeffectonme.NowIturnedthepage,suddenlyithaseffectonme.”
So,thingslikethathappen,andweareledonthespiritualpath.So,Ithinkcoincidencesareveryimportantfactor.Mastersfinduslikethat,butit’sverydifficulttorecognizeamaster,verydifficulttorecognizeamaster,becauseaPerfectLivingMasterwillnotsayhe’samasterfirstofall.Hedoesn’tneedto.Hisworkisdonewithoutsayinganything.Secondly,hewillnotdemonstrate,becausehewantstobejustlikeanordinaryperson.Whydoeshewanttobelikeanordinaryperson?Becausefriendshipisaveryessentialpartofthespiritualrelationshipwiththemaster.Youcannotbefriendswithsomebodywhoistotallydifferentfromyou.Supposingamasterfliesintothisroomrightnowwhilewearesittinghere,andhefliesthroughthedoorandfliesrightup.Wealllookathim,say,“Wow,that’sgreat.”Someofuswillsay,“Mustbesomestringsattachedsomewhere.”Somewillsay,“Thisissomekindofmagic.What’shappening?”Somemightevenfainttoseethat.Butnoneofuswillbefriendofthatguy.Wemayevenworshiphim.Wemaybeaweinspiredbyhim.Notfriendsofhim.Ifhehappenstofalldown,we’llruntohimandsay,“Areyouhurt?”There’sachanceofafriendshipwiththatguy.Therefore,it’samazinghowordinarinessofamasterisessentialfortheexperienceoffriendshipwiththemaster.Notonlythat,alsothemasterhastocometothelevelofhisdiscipleandifthediscipleisatalevelofarichness,hehastogothatrichnesslevel.Heisapoorman,he’llbepoorforthedisciple.He’llbeexactlysothatthedisciplecanrelateasafriend.Friendshipcomesaspartofthedealwiththespiritualrelationshipwithamaster.
Eventuallyyoufindthatitisevenmorevaluableinthisphysicalworld,itisevenmorevaluable,thefriendship.Therestofitisactually,fromthepointofyourmaster,agiven.Amasterisneverworriedaboutourspiritualprogress.Whenheinitiatesus,he’sdone.Fromhispointofview,itisalldone.Therestofitisjustalittletime.Ifwehavebeenhereforamillionlifetimes,thenit’sjustamatterofalittletimetogo.Forhim,itisdone.He’snotbothered.He’sjustseeinghowtherestofthelifeisplayedout.Fromourpointofviewwethink,“Oh,wearemakingslowprogress.Wenotdoingenoughmeditation.Wehavetoworkhardnow.”That’sourpointofview.Themasterisnotworriedaboutit.Heknowshehastakencare.He’sboundtotakeustohomewhichhe’smadeacommitment.Sothatiswhythepointsofviewofthemasterisdifferent.
Whilethisisgoingon,friendshipstillprevails.That’saverygoodthingintherelationshipwithamaster.Youknow,thereis…Inmeditation,wegothroughperiodswhenitbecomestotallydark,whichisgood.Thereisaperiodwhenitbecomeslightedup.Itshowstheduality.Therelationshipbetweenlightanddarknessisverybeautiful.Notonlyaretheyopposites,lightiswhatexists.Darknessdoesnotexist.It’stheabsenceoflight.See,wethinkbothareexisting.Thedualityhasnotbeencreatedbycreatingtwoexistences.Onlyoneexists.Theabsenceofthatbecomestheother.Thewholeofthecomputertechnologytodayisbasedononeandzero.Thewholeelectriccircuitrythatgoesintoacomputerchipisnotbasedupononepositiveandnegativegoingthroughit.Itgoesanddoesn’tgo.That’s
theotherone.So,thedarknessandthelightthatcomeonlyshowthepresenceoflight.Andthedarknessistheoppositeofthatwhichisabsenceoflight.So,bothofthemcomeinmeditationintheearlystagesandthenyoutranscendbecausethewholescreenbecomingwhiteorlightisgoodindication.Mostpeopleseelittlespecsofwhiteandtheygraduallybecomeenlargedandbecomewhite.Youarelucky.Congratulations.Butdon’ttellanybody.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Thesearetwodifferenttypesofpractices.ThepranayamorthebreathingexerciseshavebeenpracticedbytheyogisinIndia.Manydifferentdisciplines.Andthepranayamtheydobecausethetranslationofthewordpran,whichmeansthelifeforce,breathoflife.Pranliterallymeansthebreathoflife,wastakendifferentlybysomepeopleasphysicalbreathing.Sometookbreathoflifeasconsciousness.Therefore,thepracticeofpranayamstartedwithsomegoingintothedifferentcentersinthebody,thebreathingbecameverysignificanttogointothesedifferentchakras.Theotherstookupaspranayam,whichmeansthelifeforcewhichisconsciousness,andtheywentbehindtheeyesandabove.Theeyesbecamethedividingpoint.Thepranyamwithbreathingtakesourattentiontothecentersbelowandthelifeforce—puttingyourattentiononconsciousnessandnotonbreathing—takesyoubehindtheeyesandabovethat.Thedifferenceisbelowtheeyesareenergycenters.Theycontrolalltheenergiesthatwelivewithinthisphysicalworldandtherearealsosimilarcentersintheastralbody,andtheylivetheastralwaythesameway.Infact,theyarereversedintheastralbody,butthat’sadifferentsubjectI’mnottalkingnow.Butpranayam,thebreathingcancalmyoubutit’sanexerciseoftheenergycenters.ThespiritualdisciplinethatI’mtalkingofwhichgivesyoutheexperienceItalkareconnectedwiththelifeforceandthebreathingdoesnotcontributetothat.
Thereisa…thereisapsychologistprofessorinCalifornia,whohasdesignedasystemcombiningpsychologicalmethodsofinductionintootherexperiencesandbreathingexercises,pranayamfromIndia,andputthemandwehaveinourmidstateacherofthatsystemcalledHolotropicBreathwork.Haveyouheardofthat?HolotropicBreathwork.Theteacher,examinersittingrighthereinouraudience.Andifyouwantmoreinformation,hecangiveyou.Ithinkheissittingrightinthecornerattheback.Thereheis.Heisapractitioner,andheisalsoanexaminerwhogoestodifferentcountriestoexaminepeoplewhoqualifyinHolotropicBreathwork.
Q.[Questionaboutseparationfromthephysicalbody.]
A.No,youcanbeseparatedandstillbewalking.Infact,youneednotbespirituallyexperiencingaseparation.Peopledosleepwalking.Afriendofmineissittinginthisaudiencewhosleepwalksanddoesthingsanddoesn’tknowhehasdoneanythingatall.AndIsometimesee,Ihaveseenafewthingshappenandhehadnoknowledgeofallthathedidit.So,therewasaauntofminewhousedtosleepwalk.Shewasveryafraidofheights.
Shecouldnevergouponaterrace.Insleepwalksshewouldstandontheedgeoftheterraceandwalkthere.Inwakefulstateshecouldneverdoit.AndtherewasafriendofmineinDetroitwhowaswalkingonastreetonceandsuddenlyallthestreetlitupandeverythinggotlightedup.Itwasverystrange.Houseswithalllightsonit,brilliant.Theroadsbegantoshineonwhichhewaswalking.Itlastedjustforafewsecondsandthenherealizedwhathappened.So,hecalledme,andIsaidastralexperiencesneednothappenwhenyoucloseyoureyes.Theycanhappenwhileyouarewalking.So,youneednotalwayshavethisseparation,oryoucanhaveseparationandstillhavethebodywalking.Theotherthingisthatsometimeswetalkofthewordseparationasanegativething.
AndItellyounoexperienceispossiblewithoutseparation.Ifwewerenotseparate,youwouldhavenoneofthisworld.Weareseparatedfromourselves.Weareseparatedfromourowntotality.It’sonlyseparatenessthatcreateseverything.Ifyouseethenegativeandpositive,theywerenotseparated,theydisappear.Ifthepositiveandnegativemerge,itdisappearscompletely.It’sonlysustainedbyseparation.Eventhoughwefeelwehaveloveforsomebody,it’sseparationthatmakesthelove.Ifyouarenotseparated,youneverhavelove.Onaveryminorscale,peoplewhodateeachotherseparatelyreallyareveryfondofeachother.Whentheymarry,somethinghappens.IhadafriendinNevada.IhadafriendinNevada.AgirlwhocameandmetmeinIndiaandshefellinlovewithamanandwassohappy.Theydatedandtheysaidtheyaresoulmatesandinbliss.Thentheymarried.Thentheybegantofightlikecatsanddogs.Theirlifewasterrible.So,theydivorced.Whentheydivorced,theyfellinloveagain.Theysaid,“Oh,wedidsomethingwrong.Webelongtoeachother.”Andtheymarriedagain.Oncetheymarried,theywerefightingonceagain.Theyseparatedagain.Theymarriedagain—threetimes—tothesamepeople.Thosetwopeoplemarriedeachotherthreetimesandtheyrelatedtheirexperiencesthatsomethinghappensinmarriage.So,theyaskedme,“Whatisit?Howcomewelovesomebody,andwefeelsogoodwhilewearedatingandwhenwemarry,somethinghappensandwecan’thavethatsamefeelingagain.”Isaidtherealthingisthattheseparation.Asyougetachancetomeet,that’sdifferentthanbeingtogetherandtakingeachotherforgrantedallthetime.So,livesaredifferent.Marriedlifeisdifferentfromthelifeofaseparationanddating.So,I’mnotrecommendingdon’tgetmarried.Becauseontheotherhand,Ialsotoldthemthatmarriageisthefastestwaytopayoffyourkarma.So,youhavetogetmarriedtogetridofitquickly.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.ThesoulsthathavebeeninitiatedbyaPerfectLivingMaster,whentheydietheyseethePerfectLivingMasterwhotakescareofthem.Andheplacesthemeitherinanotherlife.Iftheyhavenotbeenabletodotheirspiritualexercisesorworkandcompleteitinthenextlifeormakesthemdoworkintheastralplaneandtakethemgraduallyup.Theynevergetrebornagain.Thosewhoarenotinitiated,theynormallyseeatthetimeofdeathawholesynopsisoftheirlifeandwhereitisleadingthem,andtheycanseethatthekarmaofthis
lifewhichisjustendediscreatingeventsforthemforthefuture.Theycanseethoseeventsastheydie.Andatthetimeofdeaththeycaneitherbeinahold-upstateintheoverlap(asIwasmentioning,astrophysicaloverlap)andifthedeathisunnaturaltheyaregenerallyintheoverlapforquiteawhileasadisembodiedspiritortheytakebirthonceagaininadifferentform.Butthefamiliesofthosewhoareinitiated,theyareduly,theyareinitiatedinduecourse.It’sabigadvantagetothefamilies.Notonlythefamilies,uptosevengenerations,theysay,benefitfromoneinitiate.IfonepersongetsinitiatedbyaPerfectLivingMaster,sevengenerationsareaffectedbythat.NowsomebodyaskedGreatMaster,“Whenyousaysevengenerations,isitthepastsevengenerationsorthefuture?”Hesaid,“What’sthedifference?Samepeoplerecirculate.”Thesamesoulsareborninthesamelocation,sameareas,samepeople,justforthesakeofkarma.
Butforaninitiate,deathisnotthekindofexperiencethatwethinkitis.Weareafraidofdeath,butifyoudoyourmeditationandwithdrawyourattention,it’slikedeath.Thereisnodifferenceinthetotalwithdrawalofattentionfromthebody—andwhatyouexperience—thanwhatyouwillexperiencewhenyouphysicallydieinthebody.Andthisiswhysometimesit’scalleddyingwhileliving.
Andyouheardthatstoryofthatparrot?TherewasabusinessmaninIndia.(Thisisjustforrelief,comicrelief.I’mtellingstoriesinthemiddleofaheavydiscourse.)TherewasabusinessmaninIndia;heusedtogotoAfricatodoimportandexportbusiness.HewouldcarrysomeIndiansilksandsoonandbringsomecashewnutsandthingsfromAfrica.Everyyearhewouldgo.InhistriptoAfrica,heusedtopassthroughanAfricanjunglewheretherewerebeautifulparrots,andhesaid,“Whynottakeoneoftheseparrotshome,andIcanhaveapetinthehouse.”So,hecapturedoneparrot,tookacageandbroughthimtoIndia.Everyday,hewouldfeedthatparrotwiththefinestkindoffoodthattheparrotslike.Idon’tknowifyouhaveparrotsaspets,buttheyloveredandgreenchili.Andtheyloveamixtureofwheatandwithlittlebrownsugarandyoumixitup.Theylovethat.That’scalled“churi.”So“mirch”ischiliandchuriisthatconcoctionandhewouldfeedhimmirchandchurieveryday.Andtheparrotwoulddanceandlaughandlearnanylanguagesinthatcage.
OncewhenhewasgoingbacktoAfrica,heaskedhisparrot,“Youhavebeenawayfromhomeforalongtime.Doyouhaveanymessagetogivetoyourfolks?”Hesaid,“TellthemIamenjoyingmymirchandmychuriandIamenjoyinglivinginthiscageanddancing.”Hesaid,“Okay,I’lltellthem.”So,hewenttoAfricaafterfinishingabusiness.Hewenttothatforestandcalledalltheparrots.“Comealonghere,folks.YourememberItookoneofyoutoIndia?Hehassentyouamessage.Themessageisheisenjoyinghislifeinthecage.Heeatschuriandmirchanddancesandsingseveryday.”Onhearingthis,oneelderlyparrotsittingonabranchofatreehadtearsinhiseyesandhefelldowndead.
Hefeltverysad.“Thisguymusthavebeenveryclosetomyparrotthathecouldnotstandmymessage.”Anyway,feelingsad,hewentbackhomeandtoldtheparrotthat“Iconveyedyourmessagetotheparrotsinthejungle,butoneparrotmusthavebeenveryclosetoyou.BecausewhenItoldhimthatyouareenjoyingyourlifeinthecageeatingchuriandmirchanddancingandsinging,hehadtearsinhiseyes,andhedied.”Onhearingthis,theparrotinthecagehadtearsinhiseyesandhedied.Hesaid,“WhatafoolishmanIam!IfIknewitwassuchaseriousmessageforthatparrot,Ishouldn’thavetoldhim.”Butanyway,thebirdisdead,sohetookthedeadbirdoutandthrewitoutofthecage.Andassoonashethrewthebirdout,thebirdflewandsatontopofatree.Hesaid,“Youaren’tdeadafterall?”Hesaid,“No,noristheotherparrotdead.Hejustsentmeamessagethroughyou.Hesaidifyouwanttogetoutofthecage,diewhileliving.”So,themeditationalpracticeisdyingwhileliving,andonceyouhavedoneityouareneverafraidofdeath.
Q.[Questionnotpickedupinthevideo.]
A.Whenheaskedmethequestionaboutsoulsthatarealreadythere,whohavenotleftthehomeandinastateofconstantbliss,wecallthembans,inHindiwecallthembans.Andthosewhohavecomehereandhavegoneback,wecallthemhans.Hansaretheoneswhohavebeentransformedbytheexperiencehere.So,thedifferenceisthattheseadventurousoneswhocamehereare…Notallthosewhocamehereandallwillgoback,becausethereisadifferenceinthose…whenhecame…I’mmakingastory.I’mnottheonemakingastory,butothermysticshavemadestories.I’mrepeatingthemtojustexplainapointthatwhenthesesoulsinlargebulkdecidedtocomeforadventure,notallofthemthoughtthattheadventurecouldbeamisadventureandwemayliketocomeback.Justlikehardlytenpercentofthetotalcreatedconsciousnessofsoulswhoaretherewhichcameforadventure,onlyonepercent…thatmeans10percentofthoseturnedbackandsaidtothecreator,“Whatifwedon’tlikeitthere?Whatifitturnsouttobemisadventureandthecreatorsaid,“Don’tworry,I’llcomeandbringyouback.”Andthetheoryisthatthemarkedsoulsarethosewhogotthatpromise.Sooutofallthesoulsinalllifeformsthatexistincreation,onlyabout10percentaremarked.So,themarkedsoulsaretheoneswhoarefoundbymasterfromtimetotimewherevertheyexistandinthestateofconsciousness,inthestateofkarmawherevertheyare.Whentheyareready,theyarepickedupbyamasterandtakenback.Therestgoaroundhereandcirculatinginwhatiscalled8.4millionlifeforms.ThelistoflifeformsisrecordedinoneoftheseIndianscriptures.Outofthatabout5.4millionisintheplantkingdomonlyandthensomeareinsects,someareotherformsandtheygoonandthenthereisahumanform,thenthereareangelsandthentherearegodsandgoddesseswhorundifferentregionsandsooninhellsandheavens.So,allthosearerecordedinthatlistandthesearealldifferentlifeformsofsouls.Thesoulcangointoanyoneofthoselifeforms,andtheykeeponcirculatingheretillaneventtakesplacecalledthedissolutionwhichwecallpralay,orgranddissolutionwhichisamahapralay.Inthe
pralay,thedissolution,thewholeofthiscreationhasoutliveditselfdissolvedandthesoulswhoarenotmarked,theygouptoalevelabovethedissolution.Theygotocausalstageinthedissolution,andtheygotoParBrahmabovethecausalstageingranddissolutionandstayinadormantstatetillanewwaveofcreationtakesplaceandtheyreappearandtheyrecirculatehere.
Thedifficultyofexplainingthisisthat:Canwesaythattheyarehereforever?That’sa…Theword“forever,”asIsaid,isaconcept.Becausewhatisforever?Inaplacethereisnotime,whatisforever?Foreveriscreated.Foreveriscreatedinthethreeworlds.Itdoesnotexistwherethesoulsbelong.Sothatiswhy,althoughwecantellitlikeastory,thatthesemarkedsoulsgo,theothersstayhereforever,butthetruthisthattheforeverisnotinatime,notatimeframe.Andso,thosesoulsareinadifferentstate,andthesesoulswhoareindormancyincreationandrecreationbetweendissolutionsarealsointhestateofdormancybutnotinastateofforever.It’sverydifficulttoexplainthatstatebecausenotintime.Butthemarkedsoulsparticularlyarethose10percentwhoturnaroundanddidn’twanttostayhereincaseitwasnotaveryhabitableplace.Wearethoseguyssittinghere.Otherwisewewouldn’tbesittinghere.So,thefactwearesittinghereandfeelthatweneedtogosomewhere,thatthisisnotitforus—sure,wearethose.Andthenwearepickedupgraduallyandhowthemarked…Whydoyoucallthemmarkedsouls?Isnotamarkingforthesoul.ItismarkinginthelistofthePerfectLivingMasters’manual.Theyreadtheirownmanual,andtheyseewhatismarked.
ThereisanothersecretwhichIdon’twanttorevealbutIwillbecauseofyourquestion.Thesecretisthatalthoughwesay,“markedsouls,”ifperfectlivingmastersarerightattheoriginalstatewheremarkingtookplaceandtheyaresittinghere,whenaretheymarking?Soinsteadofsayingthattheycometopickupmarkedsouls,youmightaswelltheysay,theymarkthesoultheypickup.Ireadverybeautifulsayingoncethat“hedoesnotcallthequalified,hequalifiestheoneshecalls.”So,thereisasubtledifference.Sotherefore,thepowerisinthehandsofthecreatorwhohappenstobeinconsciousnessintheformofahumanbeingamongstus.It’saremarkablestory.Heisnotfunctioningindependentlyofthat.Heisfunctioningrightnowinthemarkingalso.Thankyouforaskingthisquestion.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Youcanshareinformationwithoutpressuringanybody.Itis…Youcan’ttrytoconvincesomebodyofanything.LikepoetAlexanderPopesays,“Amanconvincedagainsthiswillisofthesameopinionstill.”Youcan’tconvincepeopleagainsttheirwill.Butyoucanshareinformation.Whentheyareready,theyimmediatelypickitup.Andthereforeyoucanshareinformationtothebestyoucando.Itellmyfriendsthatthisisaverypersonalthing—spiritualprogress,spiritualthingisverypersonal.Makebestuseofit.Iknowyoulikeyourfriends,familyalsotoalsobenefit.Sharetheinformationthatyoucan,butdon’ttrytoforce
anybodyintoitbecausewhentheirtimeisright,theywillpickuptheslightestthingthatyougivethem.Andwhenthetimeisnotright,youcantryashardasyoulike,buttheywillnotbeaffectedbyit.
TheotherthingIwantedtomentionsinceyouhavementionedloveanddevotionandthepracticeofthispath.Thereisanotherelementcalledgrace.Graceisaverypowerfulfactorhere,butwedon’tseemuchofit.Wedon’tknowwhenitflows.Graceflowsallthetime.Andgracecomesinverylargeabundancetousandsometimesourcupisnotturnedinthatdirection.Raining.Gracerainslikerain.It’srainingallthetime.Ifyouputacupupsidedown,nothinggoesintoit.Youturnthecupslightly,afewdropsgointoit.Youturnitfully,notinthefirstshower,secondshowergetsfilledup.Graceislikethat.Andwhatisthecup?Thecupisthecupofattention.Ifourattentionisontheworldandintoattachmentsoftheworld,thecupisturnedinadifferentdirection.
Graceisflowingbehindit.Ifyouturnthecuparound,itwillgetfilledupwithgrace.Ifyouwanttoexperiencegrace,turnyourattentiontowardsitandyouwillexperienceit.So,it’sagameofattention.LikeGeorgeaskedme,“Whatisthisattention?”Attentionisthemostmarvelousthingthatwascreatedinthewholeofcreation.Becauseit’sattentionthatcantakeusbackhome.It’sattentionthatcanmakeusachieveanythingintheworld.Itisattentionthatcreatesallsuccessinanyendeavor.It’sourabilitytoconcentrateattention,thesecretofeverything.Ifattentionwasjustlikeawareness,wecoulddonothing.Attentionallowsustofocusitonsomethingandthereforeit’sthesecretweaponforeverything.So,attentionisaveryvaluablething.
Q.[Questionnotpickeduponthevideo.]
A.Yeah,butwedon’tseeitlikethateverytime.Davidsays:“Doeseverythingcometousforourbenefit?”Isaid,“Itdoes,butwedon’tseeitlikethat.”Whenyougivea…Whenthedoctorgivesaninjectiontoachild,thechildthinksthedoctoristheenemy.Butheisgivingitforhisbenefit.Actually,itistruethateverythingcomesforourbenefiteventhoughwecannotunderstanditatthattime.Ifyouareaspiritualpractitioner,thatmeansyoupracticemeditationandyourawarenessisgrowing,induecourse,sometimesveryquickly,youcometoknowwhatyouthoughtwasnotgoodwasbeneficialforyoulateron,latertime.Soactually,everythinghasaplaceandwhenweareinitiatedbyamaster,hemakessureeverythingissoplacedinourlife,evenwhatwethinkareadversities,wethinktheyarebadpartsofsome.Fromhispointofviewtogetthroughkarmaquicklyortogothroughacertainphasequicklyisnotabadthingatall.Heislookingatthebigpictureandwesay,“Whatgoodisit?IwenttoGreatMaster’sbhandaraandwhenIcameback,Ihadthebiggestproblems.Iwantedtogotoaspiritualmeeting,andIhadahardtimeontheway.”Whenyoupreparedyourself,onedoesn’tseeitlikethatatthattime.Butlateronweare
abletorealize,whenyouseethebigpicture,youareabletoseetheadvantageofeverylittlethingthathappenedinourlife.
Whenyouacceptthat,alongwithgracecomes…theseareverycommonwordsinreligionsalso.Peopleteachthembutwedon’tpracticethem.Acceptance.Ifyouacceptthingsastheyare,lifebecomeseasier.Whenwefightagainsteverythingthat’scoming,lifebecomesharder.Therewasaguyin,Ithink,anAmericanguywhostartedamovementcalledEST.YourememberEST?HisnamewasErhard.ErhardSeminarTraining.EST.HecametoIndiaalsoandhegave.Iattendedtwoofhiscoursestounderstandwhatheissaying.WhathemeantwasESTor“est”inFrenchwhichmeanswhatisis.It’saverysimplephilosophy.Acceptwhatis,itis,whatoughttobeisyourmind’swork.Forgetthat.Don’tdwellonwhatoughttobe,whatshouldhavebeen,orthis.Acceptwhatis.Hemadeitverysimple,butofcoursehemadeithardfortheexercisesthathemadeusdo.Hesaid,“Ifyouareattendinghisparticularcourse,you,forexample,cannotgotothebathroom.Ifyouwanttodonumber1,doitinyourpants.”Ididn’tlikethatpart,andhewouldn’tletanybodygetout.Theycouldn’trunoutofthecourseonceyouwerein.So,hemadeitlittledifficultbutthen,histheorywasthattogetsomethingvaluable,youpayaprice.And,ofcourse,inAmericaIbelievehechargedforthat,butinIndiatherewasnochargeforthat.
Whenpeoplestartaskingmoneyforspirituality,Irunawayfromthem.BecauseIknowthatthePerfectLivingMastershavealwaysgiventheirworkfree.Neverchargedforspiritualteachingsorspiritualpracticesatall.So,it’soneofthesignsthatifyoumakeabusinessofit,thenyouarerighthere.Ifyouaremakingspiritualteachingawayofmakingyoumoney,youarerighthereinthisworld.Whereareyougoing?Masterscomeasgivers.Theydon’tcomeastakers.Ofcourse,theylivetheirlife.Theyearntheirliving.Theydoworklikeanybodyelse.Buttheydon’t.Theymakeanexampleofit,thateveniftheyhavetodoajob[and]itdoesnotgivethemenoughmoney,they’llworkpoor.Butthey’lldotheworkfree.Historicallyweknowthatthereweremasters.TherewasoneKabir.Hewasaweaver.Hehadveryrichclientsofhis.Buthekeptonweavingallhislifewhilehewasteaching.Therewasanother—cobbler.Heusedtomendshoes.Andthatcobbler,namewasRavidas,andthecobblermendingshoesofpeople.HisdisciplesincludedthekingoftherulerofthatstateatthattimeinIndia.Andtherulerwouldcometohimandsay,“Youmovetothepalaceandcome,andI’lltakecareofyou.Hesaid,“No.Mydestinyisacobbler.WhatIdoisaspiritualwork,isGod’swork.Idoitnotchangingmydestinyhere.Iamacobbler.”
Thenoneday,thekingsaid,“Ishouldgetsomethingspecialfromthismystic.”So,inthemiddleofthenight,withouttellinganybody,heleftthepalaceandwenttothecobblerwhowasworking,repairingshoesinmiddleofthenight.Andhesaid,“Majesty,whatmakesyou,bringsyouhereinthemiddleofthenight?Hesaid,“Ihavecomeforspecialgrace.”Hesays,“Youhaveleftyourthronetocomeforspecialgrace?I’llgiveyoureallysomegoodgrace.”
Andhewasworkingwiththeleatherinthatwater,alittledirtywaterwithwhichhewasdippingtheleather.Tookalittlebitofthewater,hesaid,“Drinkthis.”Thekingsaid,“Icameforgrace.Ididn’texpectdirtywater,”buthecouldn’tsayno.Heputhishandsinfrontandinsteadofdrinkingthewater,heallowedthewatertogodownhisarmsintothesleeveofhisshirt.Andhefeltveryembarrassed.“Thankyou.Thankyou.”Ranaway.Hesaid,“Thatwasabigdisappointment.Ithoughthe’llgivemesomegrace,openmyinnereyeorsomething.Hegavemesomedirtywater.”Andhedidn’tlikethattherewasstainontheshirtandpeoplewillaskwheredidthestaincomefrom.Earlymorningtherewasawashermanonthecampus,onthispalacecompound.Hecalledhimimmediately.Hesays,“Please,don’ttellanybody.Getmyshirtwashed,launderedimmediatelyandbringitback.”So,thewashermantooktheshirtandhislittledaughter,thisgirl,hesaid,“Lookatthestain.Canyoutakecareofit?”Shesaid,“Yes.”Shebegantochewonthestain,justtotakeitoff.Andasshechewedonit,shebegantogiveadiscoursetoherfather.Hesays,“What’shappenedtoyou?”Shesaid,“IcanseethelightandIcanseethis.”Shegaveabigdiscourse.Induecourse,shewasgivingdiscourses.Peoplecametothewasherman’shouse.
Thekingheardthatsuddenlythedaughterofthewashermangotenlightened.Hesaid,“Ishouldgoandalsogetenlightenedfromthiswoman.”Thecobblercouldn’tgivememuch.So,hewenttothegirlandthegirlgotupandsaluted.Hesaid,“Don’tdothat.Ihavenotcomeasaking.I’vecomeasabeggartoyou.Iwantenlightenmentthatyouhave.”Shesays,“Iamnotsalutingyouasaking.IamsalutingyoubecausealltheenlightenmentIgotfromyou.”Hesays,“Fromme?Howisthat?”“Intheshirt,yousenttheshirt.”Hedidn’trealizewhatwasintheshirt.Thenthekingrealized,“Ohboy,Ididn’trealizethesemysticsplaythesetricksalso.”Buttheydo.So,thenherealizedthatthesepeoplecandolotofthesethings.Hewentbacktothecobbler.Hesaid,“Iwantthatlittlewaterthatyougavethatday.”Hesaid,“Thatwaterhadnothing.Itwasthatmomentthatyoucame,andIsawandthespecialgracewasgiventoyouatthattime.Nowyoucangetthesamegracebutmeditateforabout20yearsmore.”So,theonemomentofthatspecialgracecanbeequalto20yearsofmeditation.Ithappenedinnumberofcasesthatwehearofinstories.
AndI’lltellyouthisfinalstory—manyofyouhaveheardit.Anotherkingwhowasaseekerhimselflikethisking,thiskingPipawhosestoryIjusttoldyou.TheotheriskingJanakandhewasaveryearnestseekerandwantedtogetenlightened.So,heaskedhisministersandadvisors,“CanIfindsomebody,somelearnedperson,somebodyenlightenedwhocansharelighttomeandmakemeenlightened.Andhesaid,“Yes,yourmajesty,youarelivinginacountrywhichisfulloftheseyogis,swamis,gurusandanynumberofthemcangiveyouenlightenment.Allyouhavetodoistohaveanicefeastandthey’llcomeupandthey’llenjoythefeastandthey’llgiveyouenlightenment.”
So,thekingheldabigfeastandtherewascertainkindoffoodthattheseyogisandswamisparticularlylikeandIcantellyoustoriesaboutthosefoodslateronwhenweinaculinary
discussion,andkheerandhalwaandthingslikethat.I’lltalktoyouagain.Buthemadeallthosenicefoodsandinvitedaboutahundreddifferentyogis,swamiscameandsatinhiscamp,andthekingdisguisedhimselfasanordinarypersonandwentaroundfromcamptocamp,fromswamitoswami,yogitoyogiandhefoundtheywereverylearnedpeople.Theyquotedfromthetextallthetime,fromthescriptures,buttheydisputedandarguedwitheachothersomuch.Theygotangrywitheachother.Theyarefighting,someofthem.Hesaid,“Thesepeoplearelearnedbutnoneofthemareenlightened.TheyarenotthepeopleIwaslookingfor.”Verydisappointedhecamebacktothepalaceandtoldhisministersandadvisorsthat“Iwasdisappointedwiththesepeople.”Theysaid,“Majesty,itwasaverysmallfeastyouhad.Thebigonesarenothere.Youhavetohaveabignationwidefeast.Callthemfromalloverthecountryandwewilladvisethembybeatofdrum.”Therewerenotelevisions,nocommunication,noiPhonesinthosedays.Sonaturallytheyhadtospreadthewordbybeatofdrum.
Kingiscallingafeastforallholymentocomeandallswamis,yogis,mahatmastocomeandhewantstohaveafeast.So,theyallassembledinthepalace.Hesetupbigtentsforthemtocome,stayandthefeastwasheldforaweeksothathecouldbesurehe’llgettherightpeopletogivehimenlightenment.Thekingagaindisguisedhimselfandincognitowalkedamongstthemandhefoundthesamestoryrepeatedseventimesover.Theywerealllearned.Theyallhadcertainpractices.Theywerefullofego,fullofsaying,Iknowthis,Iknowthis.Kingsaid,“Whatkindofenlightenmentisthis?”Andverydisappointedhecamebacktothepalace,toldtheministersandadvisors,“ThesearenotthepeopleIwaslookingfor.”Hesaid,“King,whatyouarelookingfor,youwillnotfindatafeastthen.Thereisamanwhocangiveyouenlightenment,butheisahunchback,andhesitsonthebankoftheriver,quietmanandyouhavetogotohim.Invitehimandhewillnotcomeonaninvitationforafeast.”Kingsaid,“Iwillgopersonallyandinvitehim.”So,hewentandinvitedthisoldhunchbackman,whosenamewasAshtavakar.Ashtavakarmeanseightfolds.Ashtavakarmeanseightbecausehewashunchbackwitheightfoldsonhisback.Hisbodywasdeformed,buthiseyeswereverybright.So,whenheinvitedhim,hesaid,“Cometomypalaceandgivemeenlightenment.”Hesaid,“King,youhaveaskedme,Iwillcertainlycome.”
So,hecame,andthekingarrangedallthenobility,nobles,neighboringkings,allprincelypeople,hisfamilymemberstoassembleinthegreatauditoriumofthepalace.AndAshtavakarcomesalongwithhis5or6disciples.Aswasthecustom,theytookofftheirshoeswhentheyenteredthehall.Andashewalkedup,Ashtavakarwalkedup,thekinghadplacedtwochairsonthestage.Oneforhimselfandoneforthemaster.Andasthemasterwalkedup,peoplelookedathisbodyandtheysaid,“Thisdeformedpersoniscomingtoteachusenlightenment?Whatisthekingdoing?”So,theyaremockingathim.Andso,themastersatonthechairandhesaid,“KingJanak,whatisthepriceofleathertoday?”Hesaid,
“Master,whatisthisquestion?Ithoughtyoucametogiveenlightenmenttome.”Hesays,“No,Iwantedtoknowthepriceofleather.Aretheynotleathermerchantssittinghere?”
Hesaid,“No,Mastertheseareroyalty,nobility.Theyaremyrelatives.Theyareneighboringkings,princes,princessesaresittinghere.”Hesaid,“Oh,theywerelookingatmyskinliketheywereinterestedinit,soIthoughttheymightbeleathermerchants.”So,thepeoplesawhehasasenseofhumor.So,theykeptquiettolistentohim.Hesaid,“KingJanak,whatkindofenlightenmentdoyouwant?”Hesaid,“Iwantinstantenlightenment.”MusthavebeenanAmericaninpastlife.Allwantinstantthings,yousee.Kingsaid,“Iwantinstantenlightenment.”Themastersaid,“Eveninstantisatime.Howmuchtimeisaninstant?”Hesaid,“Master,whenIgoouthorseriding,bythetimeIputmyfootinthestirrupandjumponthesaddleisaninstant.”Hesaid,“Okay,youhavetopayapriceifyouwantinstantknowledge.”Hesaid,“Master,I’llgiveanyprice.Allmycoffers,allmywealthisopentoyou.Takewhateveryouwant.”Themastersaid,“Iwantthreethings.”Thekingsaid,“Mastertaketen.Nolimit.”“No,Ionlywantthreethings.”Hesays,“Yesmaster.”“Iwantyoutogivemeyourbody,Iwantyoutogivemeyourwealth,andIwantyoutogivemeyourmind.Whenyouhavedonethat,I’llgiveyouinstantknowledge.”
It’saverystrangepricetag,ofcoursebutthekingwasarealseeker,realearnestseeker.Hesaid,“Iwouldbewillingtopayanyprice.“Yes,”hesaid,“Master,Iagree.Allmywealth,allmypalaceseverythingbelongstoyou.Mybodybelongstoyouandmymindalsobelongstoyou.”Hesaid,“Areyousure?Areyousureyourbodynowbelongstome?”Hesaid,“Yes,master.”“Okay,takethisbodythatbelongstomenowandputitonmyshoesthatItookoffattheentrance.”
So,thekinggetsupandwalks.Wholeaudienceisupset.“Thekinghasgotacrazymanoverhere.Insteadofgivinganicelecturetous,heistellingthekingtowalktoshoes.Whatkindofenlightenmentisthis?”So,thekingsays,“Thesepeopledon’tknowanything.TheyknowIamarichking.Ihaveallthewealthandthereforetheyarethinkingofthat.”Whenthisthoughtcametohim,Ashtavakarshoutedfromthestage,“King,youhavenobusinesstothinkofyourwealth.Youhavealreadygivenittome.”Says,“Oh,mygod,IforgotthatIhavealreadygivenittohim.That’snotmineanymore.”
AndAshtavakarshouted,“Kingyoucan’teventhinkwhatyouhavedoneornotdone.Yourmindhasbeengiventome.Thoughtsbelongtome.”Andheputhishandsonhisheadandsaid,“Ican’teventhink.”Andwhenhedidthat,Ashtavakarwithhisgracegavehimthelightandhegotenlightenedandhesaid,“King,don’tgototheshoes.Comeback.”KingJanakcameback.Onthestagehesays,“KingJanak,didyougetenlightened?”Says,“Yesmaster.”“Wasitinaninstant?”“Master,itwaslessthananinstant.”“Anyquestions?”“Noquestions.”Hesaid,“Thiswasjustasampleofwhatyoucanget.Now,togetthesamethingagain,meditatefor20yearsmore.You’llgetitagain.”
So,thesearestorieswetellaboutthevalueofgraceandaboutthevalueofblessingsfrommasters.So,whenwegetthatgrace,somethingwecannotevenunderstandsometimes.So,Iknowyouallcame,andIamveryhappythatyousharedyourtimewithmeandIwasabletosharemystorieswithyou.Ididn’tshareallthestories.
Onefortheroad.JusttolightentheburdenoftheheavytalkIhavegiven.It’sastoryaboutamanwhousedtogotochurchandwasveryfondofthatchurch.Hewantedtopraylikeeverybodyprayedallthetime.Thepastorofthechurchhadtwoparrots.Wasittwo?Okay.Mypromptisattheback,prompterisattheback.Thepastorhadtwoparrotswhohadbeadsintheirhands.Hehadtrainedthemtorepeatalltheprayers.So,theparrotswererepeatingalltheprayers,andthisguywasveryimpressed.“IfIcouldhavetwoparrotslikethis,Iwouldbeinspiredallthetimeinmylife.”So,hewenttotheparrotstoreandheboughttwoparrots.Broughtthemhometotrainthemlikethepastorhaddone.Whenheopenedthecage,tooktheparrotsout,theywerefemaleparrotsandtheybothsaid,“Wearehookers.Wouldyouliketohaveagoodtime?”Hewasshocked.“WhathaveIdone?Ididn’twantthesekindofparrots.”
Hewenttothepastor.Hesaid,“Imadeabigmistake.Ibroughttwoparrots.Ithoughttheywillhavebeadsintheirhands,andtheywillpraylikeyourparrotsdo.Myparrotsareveryfunny.Theyarefemaleswhosay,“Wearehookers.Wouldyouliketohaveagoodtime?””Thepastorsaid,“Don’tworry,parrotsarealwaystrained.So,youcantrainyourparrotsandchangethem.Iwillgiveyoumytwoparrotswhoareprayingallthetime.Intheircompany,yourparrotswilllearnhowto…Buyapairofbeadsandkeepthemreadyandwhenmyparrotscrow,yourparrotswilllearnhowtopray.So,hebroughtthepastor’stwoparrotswiththeirbeadsandtheywereprayingandthenwhentheymet,thetwoparrotswhowereinthe,inhishouse,thefemaleparrotssaid,“Wearehookers.Wouldyouliketohaveagoodtime?”Andoneoftheotherparrotssaid,“Throwawayyourbeads.Ourprayershavebeenanswered.”
ImusttellyoueverymasterImet,PerfectLivingMaster,hadagreatsenseofhumor.TheGreatMasterhadthegreatestsenseofhumor.So,Ialwaysenjoyedhisfriendship.Thankyouverymuchforcoming.Godblessyou.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93sMSgXQM1c
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