The Path of Pathlessness

The Divine Journey of Life

An Existence in Complete Surrender to Supreme Consciousness...

A baby is born. A beautiful Baby. Everyone is happy. Joyous atmosphere in the house. It overflows into the neighborhood. Visitors come to see the newborn. They congratulate its parents, bring them gifts. A new journey of a soul in a new body began there!!!

A small body was carefully created inside the womb of the mother. All organs were assembled properly. Nerves, muscles and veins were attached properly. The Spine was created first and then the other organs. Brain, heart, lungs and intestines were put in their proper place. The parents who took all the credit for the beautiful baby, had nothing to do with any of these. Divinity made everything. Divinity put everything in its place to accomplish a pre-determined journey and make sure it can withstand the wear and tear of the total journey till its karmic end. The product was also packaged well and everyone agreed that it is indeed attractive!!! What a brilliant craftsmanship!!! Everything in proper order!!! This is human life. Extremely perishable, but brilliantly beautiful.

The Beautiful Mind of the Creator and Perfection in Creation...

Each entity has its own beauty. Even a tiny ANT is specific. All are “hand-made”, with extreme care. There are no two products alike!!! Every package comes with a specific duration or, in commercial terms, Shelf-Life. Birth and Death are simultaneously decided. There are no surprises, no accidents. Karma is the contract, the shopping list. Body, mind and intellect must exist together as long as the specified Karma is accomplished. When karma is finished, the body is terminated. There is no tragedy attached to it. There is no belongingness to earth. There is nothing to cry for. There is nothing we can own. We are just like tourists here.

The child’s parents had nothing to do with the child’s karma, or the shopping list. They had no clue. They never decided their child. Assuming ownership, they started taking decisions on the life of the child after it was born. They refused to accept that they have no role to play in the child’s life, except to provide an environment for it to grow and express itself. That is it! Nothing more. They could not control its thought pattern or the usual minor illnesses that it contracted from time to time from the earth. They had no clue about its natural tastes and inclinations. They did not know anything about the child, even what it will become when he/she grows up. They did not even know if their pretty child will behave in the standards of an angel or a devil upon growing up.  They tried their best to cram the child with various kinds of conditionings - social, family, community, religious, etc, etc. Child accepted some, discarded some. Sometimes it rebelled. Sometimes it surrendered. Thus, the child expressed its own conditionings that it brought forward from past lives and fine tuned them with some of the newly acquired ones. Parents foolishly attributed its qualities and characteristics to themselves and their ancestors.  Nobody knew the real truth, the third dimension of the entity at hand!!!

Every soul that walks the earth must pay a rent. Same way, when we rent any space, we must pay for it. We are renting the space on earth, quite temporarily, to exhaust our karmas. We must pay for the space that we use. This is the debt that we owe to the Mother Earth!!! We walk on the earth as if we own it. We do not. Nobody does. We are only temporary custodians. We will pass on and someone else will walk over the same space on earth. While living, we must pay the debt in order to exit smoothly. If we do not pay our house rent, the landlord will get us arrested. Likewise, until we pay the rent that we owe to the Mother Earth, we will keep coming back. Earth will arrest you and bring you back. Debt usually breeds more debt, sometimes with compound interest. So, each visit will cost us more.

The only way to pay our debts towards the Mother Earth is to serve its children selflessly. Social service or self-less action of any kind, will relieve you from the accumulating dues. We must remember this always. This is why some religions insist on regular, compulsory social service and paying a portion of their subjects’ income for the welfare of the poor. Compassion and sincere expressions of kindness will help clear the dues for sure. Talking and sharing opinions will not help. This is also for sure. Hands that help unconditionally are much holier than the lips that pray.

God needs nothing from you. God is self-sufficient. Do not try to bribe God either. He needs none of your rituals too. You have formed the rituals only for yourself. This was your effort in identifying the God aspect within yourself. All the rituals and spiritual practices including Yoga, Pranayam and meditation are your attempt to reach God. He is not outside of you. God is within you. If your spiritual practices cannot take you inside yourself, discard them. They are only another burden for you. And remember the golden rule of travel – less the baggage, more is the comfort in your journey.

 

Ripples in the sand are as impermanent as time

 The Precious Time

Destiny is equal to the original shopping list, the agenda for existence. Time is precious. Time is specified. Agenda is specified. Where is the time to rest and procrastinate? Karma is exhausted in three states - the waking, dream and deep sleep state. Where the waking state cannot reach, the dream does. Deep sleep state reminds man of his real home, beyond his currently acquired identities.

Every pain and pleasure is part of the shopping list. The list that we have carefully or absentmindedly prepared during our past lives. God never interfered, just as your soul never interferes in your current life. It just provides the fuel. It is neutral and unconditional. Your soul and God are one. Both are unconditional. Body is like a rented house, rented for a period. Mind and Intellect are its operating tools, such as electricity and water. Time is precious. Postponement is a waste of time. Escapism is also a waste of time. Equanimity in pain and pleasure will ensure a smooth sailing. Acceptance and Adaptability are the key. Non-resistance is the method, because the shopping list is yours. You made it. You own it. You enjoy it. It is your life.

The Food of the Mind

The food of the mind are the sense objects. Mind’s sensors or sensory buds are our actual five senses. Minus the sense objects, the mind dissolves. Without food, the food sheath or the body cannot exist. Without procreation, earthly species cannot exist. Likewise, when the senses are in control, when sense objects do not lure us anymore, the mind dissolves. A mindless state is also a karma-less state. Mind is the operating tool of Karma. Our existence shifts to the dharmic mode, when mind dissolves and karmas vanish. We exist purely for the sake of Dharma. Duty towards existence.

 

The Liberated One Lives On Beyond Time and Space

 

The Secret to Liberation

Liberation is a state. By liberation we mean the end to the birth-death cycle. Liberation is a process. Entanglement is easy. It needs no deliberation. It happens by itself. Staying liberated requires extreme awareness, caution and equanimity over pain and pleasure, which includes physical and mental diseases. Liberation is the path of pathlessness. Anything regular binds us as the mind easily feeds on it. Any ritual is a binding. Any habit is a binding. Any relationship, with the associated expectations, is also a binding. Living it staying detached or unattached is the key. This means perfect witness-hood in all three states - waking, dream and deep sleep state. Detachment is not aversion. It is also not under-performance or escapism. It is a perfect action with 100% application without attachment to the results of the action. The essential agenda points for liberation are as follows:

A. Accept your life as it is, because you created it. Act out your karma, without resistance. What ever you are experiencing now, was your choice, consciously or un-consciously, probably the same way you are handling your life now. That means, a life of partial consciousness and partial unconsciousness. Luckily, all our vital functions are handled by our active sub-conscious mind, otherwise, we will forget to breathe or pump our heart; or will create a heart-attack out of stress due to these matters!!!!

Karma is happening, whether you like it or not. Each situation, event and experience of your life is formed out of it. Every thought, word and action, along with the glue of emotion, created your life, and is continuously creating further lives, right now, while you are at it. You have only your present to handle your karma. You can only do something now - tomorrow never exists in the now, and past is history and non-existent in the present. So, karma will happen whether you like it or not, the way it will happen in your present life, as per your individual experience level. It is up to you to accept it gracefully as a child of your own, or resist it and suffer the pains of resistance. Resistance also leads to further involvement, postponement and maybe an intensified experience too. So, might as well act it out now, in its intended intensity, without resisting. Who knows what is in store for you tomorrow, and who cares?

B. The Immediate Dharma. Along with your karma, which is the purpose of your existence, is the dharma, which are your inherent duties. They are often inter-linked and difficult to segregate. Dharma of a mother is to take care of the children that are born through her. The first is the dharma towards own family members, such as a husband towards his wife and the wife towards her husband. Likewise, father, mother, husband, wife, children, brother, sister, grandparents, so on and so forth. One should handle one’s dharma with utmost care and application. When each operates with kindness and compassion, we see happy families and happy families make happy society. For this, we should completely discard pretension and our expressions should become sincere and honest. When we do something, it should be with 100% application, devotion and sincerity. Dharma liberates man. Performing dharma to the best of one’s capacity certainly liberates the man and makes his life worthwhile. Regrets will vanish and guilt will not bind his feet like chains tied to the earth. Performing dharma in the unit level is essential for liberation.

C. Dharma towards the society. This is the third and final. When we also take care of the social needs within the best of our ability, we become completely liberated. This means, taking care of the poor and the needy, birds and animals, and the old and sick. Protecting the environment around our house, our street, the way we can. We are only temporary custodians of our property. We will leave it all here and go. We will carry nothing abroad, when we die. So, handle them carefully and return it to the landlord in good condition, so that your dues are in control. You will have to pay for all your indiscriminate thoughts, words and action. Remember this well.

When we are comfortable with our own existence and when we operate comfortably in all the three capacities, such as individual karma, individual dharma and the social dharma, without expectations or emotions of ownership, we will stay liberated while living.

 

From Gross to Subtle - choose your operating level

 

Operating Levels

The simplest operating levels are purity and faith. Purity in thoughts, words and actions. This also means self-less-ness in thoughts, words and actions. Faith in oneself and existence, and non-resistance, irrespective of our existing realities. This will make your mind like a shining mirror, without any dust or finger prints. The more shining the mirror is, the better is the image. No image stays in a mirror permenantly. It vanishes when the object departs. Mirror remains objective always. Mirror never follows the object, nor does it capture and store an image, even if the image in front is celestial. It stays neutral all the time. Likewise, if our mind stays completely unattached to any sense object, it stays liberated all the time. Senses will not be bound to any sense object either. They will enjoy and detach, continuously and consistently. Images will come and go, people and situations will come and go. We will be firmly rooted in our own existence and liberation.

All are individuals, sometimes operating on a collective level. This is situational. People come together for a purpose and depart when the project is completed. Emotions based on relationships make it painful to part. They also chain the feet of the being to the realms of earth and similar situations eternally. We keep coming back. Emotions are anti-liberation. We should feel, because we have the faculties to feel. We should act dutifully, but, we should never be “emotional” in a way that leads to procrastination and eventual depression.

Liberation is Bliss. Liberation is Unity, Spontaneity and Unconditionality...

Be aware of a fundamental truth. When a soul assumes a body, it operates within the characteristics of the body that it has assumed. When a soul operates in a lion’s body, it operates or behaves as a lion, fully. Every entity in the whole universe expresses such characteristics. A man is a man. An angel is an angel. None comparable to another. Within the commonness, there is diversity. There is unity as well as diversity. So, when an entity expresses itself in a human body, it expresses the general nature of humans including decay and death. It will express all the strengths and weaknesses of humans. None can be immune to the basic nature attached to a particular specie. When an entity, using the assumed body, evolves beyond the needs of the assumed body, it liberates itself. Still, it is a continuous process of constant vigilant attention, rooting firmly in one’s soul.

The mind-intellect-body will always lure the consciousness. When a man shifts from mind, intellect and body to his consciousness, depending on his levels of consistency, liberation happens. So, each entity has a common behavioral pattern of its own. Its  needs or requirements are also the same. A cow needs grass. It does not need meat. A tiger needs meat to survive. Grass will not suit its need. An angel operates in a plane in which it is supposed to operate. Its powers of operation are purpose-bound. Everyone’s operating levels are purpose bound. So, let us shed the idea that some humans of higher evolution are immune to the nature of humans. There could be a degree of variation. Basic nature of species cannot be changed. If nature need to be changed, the body and species should be changed too. When a tiger takes birth as a man, it will look and feel like a man, even though it may behave like a tiger at times. Yet, all the attached strengths and weaknesses attached to humans will be definitely displayed. Assuming any body will also mean assuming its nature and characteristics. Every body is bound by the usual processes of Mother Nature, such as wear and tear and eventual annihilation.

The Path is So Simple - If You Follow These Footsteps...

A Few Roadsigns on the Path of Pathlessness

• There are no do’s or don’ts. Just live a selfless life, without resisting, judging or criticizing oneself and others.
• There are no binding expectations, including expectation for a specific result for one’s word or action.
• Always operate rooted in the spine. Do not sway with fleeting emotions.
• Complete Non-Violence – in thought, word, action, food, as well as in all your other expressions.
• Respect and perform the individual karma as well as dharma (duty) towards own family and dharma towards the society, with perfect equanimity and zero expectation.
• Purity in thought, word and action. This also means perfect self-less-ness and equanimity in pleasure and pain. Serve selflessly. No discrimination at all, on any basis.
• Divinity is Simplicity. Lead a simple life full of love and benevolence. Always feed the hungry with what you have. Always protect the helpless, old and abandoned with what you have. See the spark of God in every being.
• Do not worry about what you do not have. Rejoice at what you have. Never compare yourself with another.
• Avoid anything that binds you, irrespective of whether the habit is positive or negative. If you cannot live without something, it is definitely a binding for you. This could be even a bed tea or a particular person. It could even be your Guru. It could be an alcohol addiction or even meditation.
• Live in the present. Act in the present. Keep time. Do not waste even a moment, because, time in existence is specified, measured and un-extendable. Do what ever your current tasks are – right now – never postpone or procrastinate.
• Understand all individuals as karmic beings. Everyone lives their karma. Each pattern is unique. Respect it.
• Never censor your thoughts. You are what you are. Accept yourself with all your strengths, weaknesses or “imperfections” that you think you have. In absolute sense, there are no imperfections.
• Observe. Be a witness to your own thoughts, words and actions at all times. You will stay liberated from all of it. Objective observation is liberating. Involvement is binding. Remember this always.
• Every being on earth has a definite purpose. No creation is by accident. Respect every being, animate and inanimate. Never disturb or destroy. Live and let live.
• Emotions, guilt and regrets are ropes that bind us to earth. Have nothing to do with it.
• Love is the most beautiful of all feelings. Express it unconditionally.
• Do everything with full application, sincerity and objective commitment. Never do anything absent mindedly or half-heartedly. Avoid all such actions. You will always be true to yourself and life will be regret free, ego free and fulfilling.
• In our path, Gurus are just roadsigns. Gurus are perfectly unconditional. They never bind a seeker to themselves. They never interfere in your experience or your journey. They never criticize, judge or censor. They are objective and truthful. Gurus never display their powers to attract and control. Gurus never demand anything from any seeker. Gurus lead a liberated existence and they lead the seeker to liberation as well.

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu...

Wish You a Liberated Existence.

Love All – Serve All

M

In Search of the Precious – 1

The NEST – A True Story

God Created Space. Man Created The Nest

Brian belonged to a Middle Class family. This also means that he inherited much more “DO’s” and “DON’T's” from his family and the society than his rich and poor friends. Richness, or higher purchasing power, and poverty, or no purchasing power, have one thing in common -  FREEDOM. The middle class does not have this luxury, so they cover themselves with a cloth of convenience called morality. When walls of the society prevent their mobility, they hide behind the veil of morality. This is the truth of the middle class life.

Brian was a rather shy and introverted boy, who avoided all kinds of confrontations, but strongly objected to various forms of injustice that he encountered each day, in his daily life. He was also sensitive and carried many complexes up his sleeve. This often prevented him from shining bright or utilizing each opportunity to excel in his class.

Brian, with his parents and younger sister, lived in the suburbs of Mumbai. After his 12th class, he started travelling to the city central for further education. There he met Miranda, an intelligent girl with a no-nonsense attitude. She seemed to know what she wanted and how to get it. Initially, it was admiration that Brian felt, which later became obsession. Miranda’s absence made him depressed and low. Even though he was not sure if she ever noticed him or noticed him enough, he was happy to be around her. He was also impressed by the way she could see through her wooers and put them in their place. High level of maturity for a girl in her teens!!! She had the poise and style and, in a way, most boys were afraid of her. They left her alone, to a great extent. This increased Brian’s admiration towards her. He greatly admired elegance.

Elections brought them together. Elections gave them the proximity and time to develop an affair. Without their knowledge, they fell in love. Even though it happened by itself, for Brian, it was a dream come true. They became closer and closer. They eventually became inseparable.

Mind is the seat of emotions. Mind started the process of owning each other, more so with Brian. Even if he sees Miranda having a coffee with her male friends, let alone crack a joke and laugh aloud, he started becoming jealous. Slowly, difference in opinions started and it matured into heated arguments. There was no spate for jealousy. Mind gave various dimensions to Brian’s imagination. He had no idea how he could protect Miranda from other boys. Even though it was quite a tedious and time-consuming matter to take such detours, Brian picked up Miranda everyday from her house and dropped her back after the classes. Miranda was not too happy about Brian’s over-possessiveness. But, since she appreciated his honesty, sincerity and good heart, she swallowed his sundry objections without much resistance.

Jealousy Brings out the Devil in Men

Miranda was quite pretty and intelligent. She was the topper of her class. She always shone bright in all competitions and was also kind and considerate to others. Attitude of charity was inherent in her. She used to help the poor and needy when ever she could, and that too spontaneously, without waiting for others’ support. She would easily pick up the wounded dog in the street and take it home and nurse it back to health. She would feed birds everyday. She always carried some food with her for poor old lying neglected in the busy streets of Mumbai. Brian also loved this aspect of Miranda and he used to volunteer his support all the time. This was one aspect which kept Brian close to Miranda.

Greed has no respite. TRUE Happiness is in GIVING...

Time flew, classes ended, both Brian and Miranda got employed in good institutions and they decided to get married. It was a small and tidy function. Their relatives and a few friends participated. After marriage, they moved from their parents’ house into a rented apartment, which they later bought on hire purchase. A new life began. Miranda beautified their home within their resources and called it  “The NEST”.  Their marriage produced three children, within six years. After a boy and a girl, the youngest was Anna. A pretty and cute child. Miranda managed her family life and career efficiently. Brian was often amazed at her energy, as he used to be so tired by the time he returned back from his office. Miranda would still do cooking, taking care of children and Brian, and even prepare food for the next day, without any complaints. She hardly scolded her children or expressed discontentment about anything. Even when the children fell ill, she took them to hospital, brought them medicines, administered the medicines on time, yet, managed her office work and domestic chores. There was a part-time, old housemaid to help her. Even the finance management was her responsibility. Brian often felt like a demanding tourist in his own house, as his responsibility was quite limited to his office and his own affairs. He willingly allowed Miranda to run the house, i.e. the lethargic  nature of Brian automatically shifted all the regular responsibilities of the family to Miranda. Life continued thus.

Each Moment is a Gift to be Cherished. Love is the true energy of life.

Despite having limited responsibilities, Brian always complained, shouted and abused Miranda and their children. He continued to be jealous and suspicious about Miranda and her interaction with her colleagues and clients. He even spied on her when his suspicion got the better of him. Fortunately, Miranda was ignorant about the growing intensity of his suspicion and the pace with which this cancer of jealousy was spreading in Brian.

Brian was having sleepless nights. He also started resorting to alcohol to cool his suspicious mind. He wandered into unholy company of gamblers and alcoholics. Miranda was helpless. Her advice always ended up in bitter fights and, for the sake of children, she kept quiet. Brian’s lifestyle started affecting his work and he was warned for negligence, many times, until one day he finally got sacked. He even lost initiative to hunt for another job. He started sitting at home and it affected his morale. Miranda tried her best and got him another job. The new company of Brian’s was a client of Miranda’s company and she knew the boss very well. Brian swallowed his pride and joined the company, more because of his wounded ego for being a parasite of his own wife. But, he also suspected a relationship between his wife and his new boss. This started eating on his mind. He picked up silly fights with Miranda, which the matured Miranda ignored. She had many other important things to remember and perform concerning her family and her children. Children grew up well and excelled in their education. This gave inspiration and hope to Miranda, she was proud of them.

Jealousy is a serious cancer which destroys oneself and others too...

Arguments lead to severe conflicts, and even reached a point of divorce. They stopped speaking to each other and started communicating through the children. Children also became gloomy and silent. The Nest became a deserted ghost house when both Brian and Miranda were at home together. This continued until one day Anna fell sick and had to be admitted in the hospital. By the time the doctors diagnosed blood cancer, it was too late to save the child. Anna died in the hospital. Miranda loved Anna a lot and Brian also loved her in his own way. Her loss brought them together, at least temporarily. They forgot their differences and shared their grief. After a few months, Brian drifted back to his old ways. The NEST, once again, became a war zone.

One evening, due to heavy rains in Mumbai, Miranda called Brian to pick her up from her office, which was close to hers. He picked her up and while driving home, they had an argument over some silly reason. While they were shouting at each other, through the mist obscured window, Brian failed to see a parked trailer without any lights and rammed his car into it. Brian survived the accident, with broken bones while Miranda left her body, on the spot, at the age of 42 years and three months.

Brian spent three months in the hospital while the children were looked after by his mother (his father had passed away a few years before). Without Miranda, life became impossible for Brian. He had no clue how to move on. He started realizing the value and worth that Miranda added to his life. When he returned back home from hospital, he realized that he should quickly get back to work or else he won’t be able to run his family. It was taxing for him to manage everything with his salary. Also, he did not know what were the priorities at home and in his own life. He even thought that his children were too demanding. He started drinking alcohol again. His mother could not stand his indifference and took the children to her house. He became alone in his own house.

Every moment reminded him of Miranda. He started feeling that her ghost is haunting him. He developed many fears including the fear of darkness and death. He started feeling that he will go mad. Regret stabbed him each moment. All these years that they lived together, he had done nothing for Miranda. He had never expressed love, kindness or compassion towards her. He never bought for her even one piece of jewelery or a good dress, except in the initial days of togetherness. He was only expecting more and more from her and criticizing her for everything. He never even hugged her, kissed or made love to her since their last child was born. He never appreciated her. He was only possessive and jealous about her. He could not even buy any gifts or toys for his children, apart from their regular books and necessities.

When loneliness and guilt became overbearing, he left “The Nest” and went to a monastery.  He fell at the feet of the chief saint of the monastery and requested  for peace and solace. The saint said: “Just be silent.” When ever he asked a question, the answer was “just be silent.” Initially, it irked him. Later on, he accepted it. Days went by, his questions started vanishing. After 10 days, there were no more questions. Only silence. At that point, the only answer possible was “silence”. All ghosts vanished from him and he started seeing the naked truth.

Without anyone telling him anything, through silence, he saw his own life as if he was watching a movie. A beautiful life, completely uprooted and destroyed by his own mind and its expressions. Nobody else was wrong here, except his own mind. Mind created all the agonies. Mind created doubts. Mind created suspicion, jealousy. Mind created ghosts. Mind created everything. They were all so far from reality and it abruptly took away the life of a beautiful person, to say the least about the agony of others. It denied peace at home. With each new thought, each new revelation, Brian started crying more and more. He sat and cried for almost two days, without food or sleep. Nobody disturbed him. Nobody bothered him in the monastery. For once, he was thankful. He experienced the expansion happening in his own heart when gratefulness blossomed there. He liked that feeling.

Mind Spoils Moments. Mind Creates and Destroys Happiness. Mind creates the veils of dissatisfaction. Watch your mind...

He saw the whole fabric of his own life. He saw the moments at which he missed to express love, express care, express compassion, kindness, beauty, energy, even to hug and feel the warmth and heartbeat of his own wife and children;  just because of the overpowering devils called Jealousy and Suspicion that ruled his mind. These devils were constantly destroying his each moment. They prevented him from enjoying any moment and also destroyed the bliss of his home. He realized “We must cherish each moment with love and gratitude. Moments never return back. We are growing old each day. Children become adults. We grow old. Childhood is lost, youth is lost, death comes closer. We cannot go back and love our children when they were young. We cannot go back to the past. We cannot rewind and replay. We cannot go back and love our husband or wife. If a moment is lost, it is lost for ever. We can handle our life either with love or with restlessness. When we handle our life with love, it gives us peace and contentment. When we handle all our relationships with love, it all gives us fulfillment. When restlessness is our expression, destruction is the result. Even if others treat us with contempt or hatred, if our heart is filled with love, our heart will be full. Nothing will affect us. Trust and Faith are essential in all relationships. Every moment of existence should be approached with love and gratitude. We own nobody. Nobody owns us. We are born alone and will die alone. BEWARE – Death is always around the corner. Live each moment, Love each moment. Never hurt anyone through thoughts, words or action. NON VIOLENCE in its perfection.” Brian got up and walked up and down, digesting his revelation.

When this revelation settled in him deeply, he was a changed man. He went to the Chief of the Monastery. He bowed to the saint and said “Thank You for the message. Through silence, you gave me the most valuable message of my life. I will use the rest of my life to express what I could not express in my whole life. Thank You.” The saint said: “In the stillness of your own mind, like the still water, you saw your own reflection. Your answer lies within your question. Nothing lies outside of you. The key to unlock the answer is silence, stillness. You have found the key. Now, go and live in peace.”

Brian went to his mother’s house, hugged his mother and children and cried. He went back to the city, took another rented house, found a job and brought his children and mother to the new house. His life changed for good, but Miranda was not alive to see this change. He regretted deeply. He placed the pictures of Miranda and Anna in the altar, along with the pictures of the saints and deities that he worshiped. He kept a lamp burning in his altar all the time. He did his best to take care of his mother and children. He never married again. He lived the rest of his life like a saint, spreading the wisdom that he “owned”, the hard way.

We are Unique Beings in the Garden of God. Express abundance of Love.

This story may sound too ordinary compared to the previous posts. I have a reason to put it here. The need of the moment is LOVE. The world needs it all the more. In-sensitiveness is destroying our lives and our mother earth. Lives are getting torn apart because of restlessness, ego, hatred, jealousy, anger and such baser emotions. What is the benefit of “being spiritual” and practicing many paths to liberation according to one’s personal liking, if we cannot express love and compassion? If our inner space is full of calamities, nothing can take you forward in spirituality; all practices will only amount to escapism. True liberation is in our capacity to express love unconditionally, at all times. Without having kindness, compassion, love, and all such higher qualities, over flowing from the heart, there can be no liberation. God does not need your money nor your reverence. God is within you, not outside of you. If you cannot see God in all beings and learn to respect that God, what is your worship for? God is not sitting in temples, mosques or Churches. God lives in human hearts. If we cannot see the God within us and in the hearts of others, no amount of worship will get us salvation. Noting will take us to liberation. Meditation, satsangs, yoga or praanayams are all absolutely useless, unless its core essence, which is unconditional love, cannot be expressed whole heartedly. Otherwise, this life is wasted.

If we cannot see God in everyone, How can we SEE GOD at all???

Almost the whole of our life, most of us live in the cage of our own conditioning. This state refuses us any happiness. We fail to see the beauty and inherent happiness of our current moment and hope for happiness in the future. We lose the precious moment called NOW. When mind is set on future or past, we do not enjoy our present. Thus when we miss all opportunities, regrets eat our conscience. How many quarrels!!! How many fights!!! How many disappointments!!! Because of our conditioning and mental blocks, how many people have we alienated from ourselves!!! Because of our limitedness, how much of love did we discard, block, burn!!! Have we ever thought how many people became sad because of our thoughts, words and action? What did we gain from this? Are we better off because others are unhappy? Dissatisfaction is the nature of our mind. Allow it to be dissatisfied. Yet, appreciate the current moment without resistance. The more we resist, the more we suffer. The more we accept, the more we will be peaceful. There cannot be a bright future for the one who lives based on emotions which are always temporary. Negative emotions unleashed through its uncontrollable expressions will only bring forth regrets, guilt, shame and sadness in the future. Emotional outbursts are like bullets - once fired, they cannot be re-called. They must kill. The more stronger the cage of your conditioning is, liberation becomes all the more impossible, unless a real shake up happens in life, such as the death of a dear one, to make your eyes open. Postponing any expression is foolishness. What if tomorrow never happens!!! If you cannot express love today, how can we be sure that there will be a tomorrow to express it? The same is with gratitude, compassion and kindness. Everything should be spontaneous. Everything should be from the heart. Your heart should be spontaneous with these expressions. Life will give you wonderful moments. Otherwise, sorrow after sorrow will haunt you. Regrets will destroy you. Guilt will imprison you. There is no tomorrow. Do it NOW. ACT NOW.

In the midst of God's Abundance, We chose poverty.Poverty of the heart...

LOVE YOU – DEEPLY

M

Jealousy The Eternal Disease that KILLS...

The Velocity of Emotions

Deep in Delusion, We often miss the Beauty of Life and we forget to LOVE.

This is a work of FICTION. Any resemblance to those alive or dead is a sheer co-incidence.

Emotions are always temporary. When we live unconsciously, life glides from one emotion to another. A man who exists based on emotions, will experience extreme turbulences in life. A man who uses his intellect more than emotions, will experience a life of relative calm and poise. Emotions lead to calamities. Emotions flow out of ego. When emotion flows, it locks up the intellect. When intellect is unavailable, if unchecked, it kills people and their personal environments.

Man Walks the Path of Emotions and Attachments. Karmic entanglement ensures Re-birth

Agony and Ecstasy

In Bengal, in early 1900s lived a Yogi called Liladhar. He was quite introverted and unassuming. He used to give lectures on Bhagawad Gita and other scriptures to the villagers. He used to teach students and thus earn his livelihood. He led a very humble life. He cooked his own food, washed his own clothes, cleaned the house himself, and he shared his food with anyone who came hungry while he prepared his food. His needs were very limited. He lived in a single room near the river. People revered him and respected him. Thus, he lived a quiet life, till about 40 years of age.

Frustration Leads to Crime. Suppression leads to erratic actions. Society is a cluster of multiple expressions.

There was a brothel about 500 meters away from his house, in the same street where he lived, which used to be visited by many people from the village as well as from the neighboring villages. One day, people saw, with great surprise, Liladhar visiting this brothel. All were surprised as well as shocked. Yet, nobody dared to ask him anything. They were even more shocked when they saw him visiting the brothel again, the next day, after sun set. This went on, day after day - every night he visited the brothel and spent the whole night there, with one particular young woman, who had just been brought into this brothel. This seeming weakness of his, steadily tarnished his image. He fell in the eyes of the villagers. They stopped attending his classes. They refused to send their children to him. He became jobless and penniless. For a few days, he did some odd jobs in the locality. Soon, people stopped giving him any job. He went around begging, and somehow, everyday, he made just enough money to spend the night at the brothel with this woman. Even if he could not buy food, he religiously visited this woman. He did not forfeit his habit at any cost. Finally, when nobody even gave him alms in his village, he went to the neighboring town every morning, earned his money through odd jobs or begging in the streets, and came back in the evening to visit this particular woman at the brothel. Some youngsters even beat him, destroyed his one-room house, and even threatened to kill him, because they decided that he was not doing something that befitted a spiritual man. They decided that he was violating the moral consciousness of the society. Some people of the village tried to expel him from the village by force. But, it was effectively aborted by some elderly villagers who explained to them that “his karma will take care of him”.

Everyone Contributes to Existence. None High or none Low. Everything just is!!!

Some others who used to frequent this brothel became curious about this woman. Nobody ever saw her, because Liladhar used to occupy her room, before others arrive. They even bribed the woman who was running the brothel and offered her much higher pay, for one night with this mystery woman. Each time someone tried this, the brothel woman blackmailed Liladhar and extracted higher pay for the prescribed night with this woman. He toiled more and more for this extra money which the owner woman increasingly extorted day by day.

When Sex becomes Lust, Men Fall.

Still, he did not change his ways and this practice went on for about five or six years until one day, the woman whom he used to visit fell sick, vomited blood, and was hospitalized. On the same evening, she passed away. There was no one to claim her body. No one wanted to claim the body of a prostitute. The wise, morality conscious society was very clear about that!!!. Liladhar received her body, found enough money and arranged a proper funeral for her.

After the funeral, on the same night, he prepared to leave the place. He gave his house, even though partially damaged by the morality conscious society, to an old woman who was homeless, abandoned and lonely. Any shelter was better than no shelter for that old woman. She was well pleased. She blessed him for his kindness. While he was leaving, the old woman asked: “My son, you are a kind man, but you have suffered a lot in silence – without complaining, because of your weakness for one woman. She is dead now. Tell me, what made a balanced person like you, to undergo so much pain and trouble for the sake of a prostitute?”

Liladhar smiled and said: “That was my wife from my last life. She craved for physical relationship with many men in her last life, and she became a prostitute in this life. But, she never wanted to prostitute in this life. She was forcefully sold to this brothel by her relatives, because her destiny was such. She wanted to escape from there, but was quite helpless. Since she did not have enough money to buy freedom, nor did I have sufficient money to rescue her, I gave her company every night till she died. The whole night, I taught her various scriptures and words from the divine Masters. We never slept. She slept in the morning while I worked to earn money, to meet her in the evening. Day by day, she became spiritually evolved and attained liberation at death. I sacrificed my sleep and reputation for a noble cause. It was more important to serve a helpless woman than a thankless society reeling in inhibitions and non-understanding. I never even touched her once. This helped her to remain chaste and get liberation in this life. Because she served me sincerely in her last life as my wife, I returned the service and thus equalized the karmic debt. This will help my liberation too.  Now, I have nothing more to do here.  So, I am leaving for Himalayas. The time for my final liberation is at hands reach.”

He walked away, without looking back. After he left, this story started spreading from mouth to mouth and the villagers started feeling guilty for torturing a noble man. Some even went searching for him in the neighboring places to bring him back. It was too late. He never left any address behind for anybody to find him.

Life is not what we see or understand through our social eyes. It is much beyond. We cannot judge anyone’s actions using our limited intellect or levels of understanding, especially if the subject is a true liberated saint. We have the history of torturing and killing all the liberated saints, especially if they become rich or popular. Gross cannot understand subtle. Subtle can understand gross, but usually never interferes, just like our soul does not interfere in our waking life, except aiding it. The subtler we become, the more connected we will be to our soul. Our life may not be in line with social norms anymore. It will become more in line with the larger dharma which will be intangible and incomprehensible to the average general consciousness.

Pearls at the bottom of the Sea

The Journey is Tough, Especially When the Destination is Unclear. Tenacity of Conviction is the Key for Success

Ahmed was born in an orthodox middle class Indian family. His elders were all religion-bound. His mother, whom he loved a lot, was open and warm towards all cultures and religions. He grew up with the same mentality – under his mother’s loving guidance and protection, despite his getting officiated into his religion by birth, at the appropriate age. Soon after his birth, his father expired leaving him and his mother alone. Life became tough for him and his mother. He had to leave his education half way because of poverty. His mother tried her best to get him across the 10th class. And soon afterwards, he migrated to the Arab world, looking for survival. He was too young and inexperienced. He could only find odd jobs, which did not pay him well. He spent ten years in an Arab country and came back to look after his ailing mother. He found a steady job in the local market, loading and offloading food stuff into local warehouses. He earned his daily bread without complaints. Soon, he got married to a woman whom he knew since childhood. She was from a conservative as well as orthodox family and was quite rigid in her views. They also had two children in the course of time.

Ahmed was quite a spiritual man. He was quite liberal in his views and strongly believed in the necessity for co-existence of various paths of spirituality. He was always filled with compassion for the poor and needy, irrespective of their religion. Ahmed easily became an odd man out in a society segregated by religion. The usual question to him was – “why do you have to help those who are outside our religion, when there are many poor people within our community?” Ahmed just smiled and brushed away such remarks, because his vision was very clear and unbiased.

He continued his usual religious practices regularly, at the same time, he tried his best to help the poor, sick and helpless of the society. Even though he earned just about enough money to run his family, he shared his income with the sick and the abandoned, by visiting the local government hospital when ever he got time, many times a week. He expressed abundance within his limited income.

He was quickly evolving in spirituality through his genuine selfless acts or karma yoga. He was leading a satisfactory existence – both spiritually and charity wise. At the same time, he thirsted for more. He did not know what he was looking for, but, he felt that there is a mighty ocean of existence within himself, that he must taste and explore. He did not know how to reach that abundant world of peace within. And yet, somehow, he was always aware of that world, its proximity and existence within.

He started attending classes of other religions in his pursuit to find answers to his deepest questions. He belonged to an orthodox community. They did everything to prevent a young lamb from straying into unknown terrains. He was warned by elders time and again, not to attend other religious lectures and stick to his own. Still, he continued his pursuit. He became an odd man in his own house as well as the society. His mother understood him well. His wife, who hailed from a conservative family, did not. She argued with him many times, even threatened to leave him, if he brought disgrace to their family because of his strange habits. He subtly escaped such situations in the house. Even though he searched for truth through many teachers of his religion of birth and others, nothing helped him ultimately, to progress further. Something was missing and it remained as a nagging pain, within. He knew that he was in search of something much higher, greater and deeper than what he has experienced in life so far. A pleasure beyond imagination. There was definitely discontentment and disappointment with his lack of progress. But, he immersed himself in social work and thus lived a relatively peaceful life. The elders of his religion did not bother him much because of his inclination for social service and his willingness to help everyone. Many of them were receivers of his assistance at various points of time. Their thankfulness indirectly saved him from troubles, as they chose to keep a blind eye towards his wanderings.

One night, he had sufficient work which kept him busy till late evening. While coming home through an alley, close to a

Extreme Penance is a test of Endurance as well as the depth of conviction. It is not easy. It is not for everyone. Everyone need not travel this path too.

river, he saw one man with his head and face covered moving alone towards the river. There was no light anywhere and it was difficult to recognize him. He thought it would be a thief and without his knowledge, Ahmed followed him. This man walked up to the river and stood there for sometime, observing the surroundings. There was a thin light illumining the sky and the earth from the waning moon, when they came to the river bank. Ahmed hid behind a tree and watched. The other man removed his clothes, made a bundle of them, tied it to his back, and swam across the river. There was not much water because it was summer time. Most part of the river was dry and he could easily swim across. When he reached the other shore, he wiped himself, wore his clothes again and walked towards the trees. Ahmed, did the same and followed him. He went into a dark alley and further deeper into the trees. He reached a cave which was invisible from any road, and was almost hidden by creepers. The man ahead entered the cave, spread a thick cloth which was already existing there, prayed quietly for a few minutes in silence, removed all his clothes except the loin cloth, and stood upside down with his legs in lotus posture above and his head below, supported by his hands. Ahmed waited for a few hours, hiding himself behind a tree. That area was almost like a forest, with trees and bushes. He became conscious and worried that snakes or wild animals could be roaming free there, deep in night, looking for prey.

The man did not change his posture for hours. Ahmed felt tired and  slept, leaning his back against a tree. Even though he was determined to see to the end of this unusual sight, he fell asleep. By 4AM, a slight sound from inside the cave woke him up. The man inside was now sitting in erect posture and doing hyper ventillation or praanayaam. Soon, he completed his chores, got up, wore his clothes and started his journey back, the same way he came there. Ahmed followed him. After they crossed the river, through the dark alley, to his biggest surprise, this man entered the quarters of priests of his religion, through a back door. Even though he could not see the man’s face fully, he recognized his regular priest. He was determined to know more. He decided to wait the next day and see if the same saga will take place. It did. Every night, this happened. He recognized the priest who is practicing deep penance, alone and in wilderness. Finally, one day, he decided to confront this priest. After the prayers, when everyone left the premises, Ahmed went to the priest and requested his audience. The young priest, almost the same age of Ahmed, readily agreed. He explained everything that he has been witnessing each night, to the priest. At first, the priest had an expression of surprise and a tinge of fear on his face. What if his orthodox community finds out what is happening with him, after people go to bed!!! Soon, he reconciled with the situation and smiled. He asked Ahmed. “What do you want from me?” Ahmed said, “Please teach me what you are doing. I want to experience higher spirituality”. The priest agreed, under one condition – that Ahmed will never tell this to another soul in this life time.

Extreme Conviction and Persistence Leads us to the Ultimate Liberation

Thus, he started travelling with the priest to the cave at the other side of the river every night. The priest taught him how to stand upside down for a long time and learn concentration and later, real meditation. One more youngster found their secret out and he also joined them. He was trustworthy and without any fear, their spiritual practice continued without any interruption, safely away from the eye of the public.

However, terrible interruption happened in Ahmed’s household sector. His wife started suspecting him to having another girlfriend, a second wife or at least a regular romance. She was convinced that the prompt exit of her husband, every night, has the lure of some woman behind it. She asked him many times and he could never give her any satisfactory answer. He trusted his mother and told her everything and she agreed with her son that this should remain extremely confidential because of many reasons. But, day by day, his wife began to create more and more tantrums. She told her father that her husband has found another woman and goes to her, every night after 10PM and comes back before dawn. Ahmed’s father in law called him and counseled him. In their religion, it is allowed to marry more than one wife, but, he should have the capacity to look after each wife in the same manner by providing the same facilities. Ahmed is relatively a poor man. So, taking that into consideration, Ahmed’s father in law tried his best to make Ahmed understand that what he is currently doing is against the will of God, community as well as the society.

Despite all these troubles, Ahmed continued his spiritual practice which gave him immense satisfaction. His energy level was very high. He involved himself in more social service than before. As he evolved in spirituality, his wife’s frustration also evolved to a stage of intolerance. Finally, frustrated and angry, she took her children and left for her parents house with a vow never to return back until her husband ends his relationship with the other woman. Even though she tried to trace the other woman in Ahmed’s life or at least find out who that could be, she was not successful in that attempt too. Completely frustrated and helpless, she even blamed Ahmed’s mother for supporting her son in all his weaknesses.

Even though his wife left him with their children, Ahmed still did not change his ways. Ahmed did miss his children when ever he came home. Yet, did not do much to bring them back, because he knew that he could explain nothing to his wife and knew very well that she will never understand him. He tried to visit his children at her parents house and gift them some sweets that they loved, he was not allowed entry into the house or access to his children. He had created so much anger and hatred in his wife.

Months passed by. Some people of his community decided that he is not conforming to the norms of their religion, because he is also visiting the places of worship of other religions. They joined together and excommunicated him from his religion. Against all odds, Ahmed continued his spiritual journey. He even visited the central place of his religion in the Arab land, the very seat of his religion twice and offered his prayers there. This surprised the elders. They thought “Some of us who are more punctual in our prayers could not visit the holy city. A non-believer like Ahmed was able to. Without the call of the Supreme Almighty, nobody can go to the Holy city. This means Ahmed has the grace of the Almighty. We should bring him back to our community.” Thus, eventually, without any effort from his side for that, Ahmed was re-instated in his community.

Conviction is the rope that holds the man against all odds of life

Ahmed never changed his ways. He progressed a lot spiritually through his rigorous practice and found that all religions are the same and that God is One. Soon, he stopped his nocturnal travel and started practicing within closed doors of his own room. This news reached his wife’s ears and she returned back with their children. She came to know that her husband was only doing some strange spiritual practices and it had nothing to do with sex or women. She was happy, even though she tried to convince Ahmed to walk the beaten track. Ahmed, without confrontation, continued his pursuit. Thus, the family was finally re-united and Ahmed and his family still exist, quite peacefully, in a corner of this vast world.

Most of us fail because of our lack of conviction. If there is purity and selflessness in thoughts, words and action, this truth itself will strengthen us against all the odds.

The Velocity of Emotions

Mother and Son - A Sacred Relationship

Victoria’s husband died when their son Adam was only two years old. It was indeed a tough task for Victoria to bring up a toddler into a healthy man. She worked hard to make both ends meet. They lived in a town close to the sea at the cape. The place was peaceful in the day time, but, quite dangerous, after dark. Gentlemen and ladies never ventured out after sunset. Adam grew up rapidly into a strong and handsome man. Victoria was a bit over protective about Adam and she did everything to keep Adam from any complications of the city. She even made sure that he mingles with the “right” type of people. She hovered over him all the time. When Adam found Diana, he tried his best to gain privacy for both of them, from his over zealous mother. Diana had two brothers and she was living in the outskirts of the city. As their love progressed, Adam stayed away from home more and more, to be with Diana. This created more agony for Victoria.

Adam was 21 and he won a job in a company as an apprentice. He had his work and his girl friend. He was happy and contended. But, time spent with his mother became lesser and lesser. Victoria had nothing else in her world except Adam. She started feeling lonely and abandoned.

One evening, while coming back home from dropping Diana to her home after sunset, Adam saw one of Diana’s brother named Sam lying in a pool of blood on the road. He promptly took him to the hospital and the boy survived. Police got involved and the boy named the guys who did this to him. They were arrested. Since they were below the age of recognized adulthood, they were warned, fined and left free. This was Adam’s first experience of anything as ugly as that. He decided not to tell his mother. Why make her worry further?

Two months later, Diana’s brother Sam, now reasonably recovered, invited Adam for a drink after work. Adam agreed. Adam thought that Sam wants to express his gratitude for saving his life, in this way. They met at the appointed place and had a few drinks. Adam told Sam about his intention to marry Diana. Thus, the pleasant evening went by and their bonding strengthened. Adam offered to drop Sam on his motor cycle as Sam had not started to ride a bike as yet, after his injury. It was almost 10 PM. As they reached the alley where Sam was attacked earlier, something hit the bike and both of them fell down from the bike. Before Adam could understand what was happening, he saw three boys dragging Sam to the side of the road. Adam rushed towards Sam to rescue him. The bigger of the three turned towards Adam and shouted “Run, if you want to be alive”. Adam ignored his words and tried to grab Sam. Suddenly, he felt a severe pain in his lower back. He could not get up. Again he felt something sharp piercing his body many more times. He fell unconscious. His soul left his injured body, immediately.

Victoria woke up with the rude shock of  the terrible news. Adam is NO MORE. Police had arrested the murderer, also a youngster, maybe a few years older than Adam. Victoria was completely shattered. She did not know what to do next. How to survive alone till death? Her whole life lay shattered. She was shivering with helplessness.

Since this was a murder, a criminal offence, Victoria had to attend the court. She saw her son’s murderer. His name was Nick. He was being convicted for murder. She screamed at him “The law may not kill you, but I will. I will wait till you come back. I will stay alive, just to kill you. You killed an innocent man. You really need to be punished.” The murderer was given imprisonment  for 10 years as the punishment for the murder that he seem to have committed, as there was no witness and only circumstantial evidence. But, Victoria was sure that he killed Adam. A mother’s instinct. Victoria thought it is too short a term for such a henious crime.

Ten years passed by. Victoria remembered the exact date and time of Nick’s release. She waited outside the prison. She saw Nick coming out of the gates of the prison. She went to him. He looked at her without any expressions of fear or anger. He looked resigned to his fate. She asked: “Where are you going?” He said “I do not know. I am homeless.” She said, “Come with me”. She took Nick in her car to her home. She gave him a room and asked him to take bath. She also gave him fresh clothes, that her son used to wear. Fortunately, Nick was of the same size as of Adam.Afterwards, she gave him soup, salad and bread. After food, she escorted him to a bedroom, which her son used to use, and allowed him to sleep peacefully. All the walls of that room had many pictures of Adam at various age of his life, till death. Nick could not sleep. His mind was full of repentance. He could sleep better in the jail with lesser facilities. He could not sleep in that room filled with the vibrations of the person whom he had killed.

In the next morning, Victoria saw Nick sleeping on the sofa in the living room and woke him up. After he brushed and bathed, Victoria gave him a healthy break fast. After break fast, Nick prepared to leave. Victoria asked “Where will you go? Do you have a house?” He said “No”. I have nobody. I am an orphan. Victoria said “I am alone here. This house is big. You can stay here as long as you want.”

Nick looked at her in disbelief. He looked into her eyes and asked in a low voice:. “When I was going to the prison, I heard your screams all the way until the door closed. You were shouting ‘I will kill you. I will wait till you come out. I will kill you.’ Now, tell me, when will you kill me? Are you doing all this to kill me in the end?”

Victoria looked straight into his eyes. Without blinking, she said “I have already killed the man who killed my son. You are not the same. You are just an orphan who is homeless. How can I kill you?”

Nick burst out into tears. Victoria put his head on her shoulder and allowed him to rain his emotions.

Forgiveness is one of the highest of virtues. Love converts criminals. Punishment reinforces crimes and the guilt attached.

In Search of a Guru

The Eternal Search of Life. Search for Oneself.

David decided to leave his home at the age of 23. This was a major decision of his life. He was quite disillusioned with the way his life was going, especially with the competition in the world and the associated rat-race. He was not cut out to weather such competition which existed throughout his school days and through university days as well. All the students seemed pretty preoccupied or obsessed with making it big in the material world, which felt too shallow for David. There has to be something much more meaningful in life. Finally, he achieved post graduation in English Language and Literature. Even though everyone thought that he would end up in an educational institution teaching children, he decided to walk out into the much wider world, avoiding identities. He was in search of a spiritual Guru.

He went to the North of India, the foot hills of Himalayas. At some point of time, Himalayas call all spiritual seekers, one way or the other. He went up and down the mighty mountain many times, by foot and in vehicles. He practiced various methods and techniques to connect with God, but internally, the search for his Guru continued. He spent almost four years this way. Many times, he thought that he found him. And each time disappointment happened, one way or the other. Thus, one evening, as he was sitting in disillusionment and sadness, looking at the flow of River Ganga, a young man with bright eyes came to him. David noticed the sparkle in his eyes and somehow felt attracted by it instantly. The young man just introduced himself just as Govind and did not explain further about himself. He was quite abrupt in his communication. He said “I was sent by Siddha Baba, to tell you that your Guru lives in the south of India and not here. You must search for him there.” David was so surprised with this unexpected revelation, he could not speak for some time. ” How did this man know who I am and what I am looking for?” While David was in that state, the young man asked David to write down the details of the location where his Guru existed. David noted everything down, drew a map, and before he could ask further about Siddha Baba and his messenger, the young man disappeared, without even waiting for an expression of gratitude from David. He realized: ” When disciple is ready, the Guru appears.” The next day, David packed his bag and left for the southern Indian state that the young man had described. He reached there in a week. The young man had described the looks of his Guru. David already had made an image of his Guru in his mind and started searching for him. But, even though he searched for days in all the ashrams in the neighborhood, he could not trace this Guru. Days went by. He checked with all who looked like a Swami or saint or at least a spiritual person. He went to temples and monasteries. Nobody could guide him to his Guru. The young man sent by Siddha Baba had only told him the location or the city where he could find him, not the exact house. This made things worse.

Day by day David started getting depressed more and more. One night, he had a dream in which the same young man who guided him to this place came again. In the dream, he told David the exact name of the village, right at the outskirts of the city where his Guru lived. Still he did not give the address of his Guru’s house!!!

He got up from his sleep, refreshed himself before the sunrise and took the first bus to this village. There were no monasteries and hermitages in that village. This made him angry. David scolded himself for believing in a dream. After making sure that there are no Gurus or Acharyas in this village, he walked back to the bus stop, in disappointment, and waited for the bus. While sitting at the bus stop, his eyes went to a vegetable vendor opposite to where he was sitting. There he saw a man with bare chest, wearing a single piece cloth around his waist, buying vegetables and putting them in bags made of thick cloth. For a moment, David’s eyes got locked with his. Suddenly, he turned and immersed himself back into his purchase. Then it clicked. David knew that was his Guru. He went to him and offered his greetings to the other man. He just looked and nodded his head, without any expressions. And abruptly, he paid for the vegetables that he had bought from the shop and started walking away with his two bags, without even looking at David once again. David stood still for a few seconds, not knowing what to do next. He realized ” I have searched for a Guru since years and now I have found him. Even though he does not look like a spiritual Guru, he could be an enlightened soul, capable of being a Guru.”  What confused David was his costume. He looked like a domestic servant. No shirt and only a white cloth around his waist. Quickly he gathered himself and ran after this man, who seemed to be in his fifty’s. David tried to ask many questions and the man answered in a word or two, obviously not interested in that conversation. Finally, he stopped. Looked into the eyes of David and said ” I am a poor man. A domestic servant, serving a rich farmer in the village. What do you want from me?”

David explained everything to him. He listened to David’s story patiently, both standing under a tree. Then he said “I appreciate your sincerity and steadfastness. Many seekers have no conviction and no faith. That is why they do not progress. They always doubt in themselves, their path and also their Guru. They reach nowhere. You have come all the way, searching for me. I have no disciples. But, I have to accept you. However, do remember, I am working here as a domestic servant. I can teach you only after I complete the household chores, in the night. You should not disturb me in the morning, till night.” He started walking. ” It is time for my master to have his lunch. I must hurry. He should not be waiting for me.” He started running home.

Guru Appears at the right time in disciples life. Recognizing him is the most difficult thing.

David agreed to his Guru’s demands and his spiritual journey took a different turn. For once, his faith got re-instated in his dream as well as the guidance. He and His Guru met at 10 PM that night. Even though he has been working the whole day, his Guru seemed to be fresh and had no sign of fatigue on his face. he also seem to be happy and liking his work or what he was doing for a living. David asked ” Guruji, I realize that you are a great Siddha. Only a true siddha can be so unassuming like you and stay away from public eye so effectively. Why are you involved in such a job, instead of pursuing your spirituality through other means? Why are you not teaching students? Why don’t you have your own hermitage? I am sure the whole world would be benefited. We have a society in which pretensions sell well and genuine material remains unrecognized or unwanted.”

David’s Guru started laughing. He said “You are the first disciple that ever came my way. First of all, I am not concerned about my status. How does that matter to me? What ever my spiritual status is, it just is. It cannot be another. I have to move on from where I stand, establish in the consciousness that I am in. It does not matter and it is not a subject for comparisons. Comparison means ego, as we will be comparing ourselves with another person. Secondly, our own establishment also adds to ego, as “me and mine” becomes predominant. Competition is not my path. Nullification is. I have effectively nullified my identity. I have no address of my own except a care of address and just have a name for identification’s sake. I do not own any property or possessions. All that I use is my master’s. Everything belongs to him. I do not earn enough to pay taxes. I do not have to vote in this place, as I came from else where, hence no politician is interested in me. I do not have a passport. I am a non-entity. My master gives me a place to sleep. He provides me with food, clothes and shelter. I have no more needs. I am well protected and I have the whole night to myself to do my spiritual practices. I am living in the present. I have no anxieties or fears. Now, existence has sent you. I was told that you will come. But, still I tested you. I like your tenacity and conviction. So, I accepted you as my disciple. Our path is that of simplicity and purity. We have nothing to prove. Hope you understand this well.”

Thus, David found his Guru in a very ordinary man. David also found his path. He was deeply contented and his search for a Guru ended there.

All that glitters is not Gold. God often comes to our doorstep in the guise of a beggar. Identify God in everything. You will remain in bliss and peace.

Love YOU

M

All our identities are temporary. When we wake up to this reality, peace descends in our hearts. There is nothing to prove anymore.

Diamonds and Stones

Life is Precious...Cherish it

Q: Life is Precious

A: Indeed. Life is precious. Every moment is precious. We have already missed many diamonds while we were busy collecting stones.

Life of Bondage is not LIFE at all

Q: Life is about Liberation

A: Indeed. But it is not about escapism. It is not about discontentment with what we have and lust after what we do not have. It is not about comparisons. It is not about sadness over inequalities. It is not about resistance and turmoils inside. Liberation is about LIBERATION - an existence in which you have everything, but need absolutely nothing. Whether a material is available or not, there is no agony or ecstasy. Nothing is essential. True liberation  is lack of dependancy on anything and being grateful about everything.

Life itself is the True Achievement - What ever your path is, what ever you are into.

Q: Life is about achievements

A: Indeed. But, it is not about the cups and trophies  in the wardrobe. It is about the blessings that you rendered to the helpless. It is about our ability to make a positive difference to another being.True achievments cannot be counted in fingers, but can only be measured through one’s spiritual progress, one’s level of liberation. True achievements are the tangible moments that we lived selflessly. This is the only place where everyone wins. All material achievements are gain for some and loss for some.

Individual Thoughts Add to the Collective Destiny

Q: Life is about Thoughts

A: Indeed. What you think, so you become. Thought is the first level of creation where energy is released. Thoughts arise out of an inherent desire existing in the sub conscious in the seed form, blooming in the right environment. Thoughts, if powerful enough, lead to further expressions such as words or images. If the words are powerful enough, they lead to action. Action, combined with emotions, becomes karma. Karma leads to further births. Thus goes the life of a Man. So, every thought is important. Nothing goes wasted in our system. Collective thoughts of a generation create events. Oppression or suppression brings forth an Avatar who will destroy evil and reinstall dharma. A life style based on procrastination and lethargy will provoke wars and change. Thus, at every point in time, all are participating in the creation of a collective destiny, which in turn becomes the individual destiny, in which ever degree it should.

For the Hungry, God is Food. Avoid Wastage of Food

Q: Life is about food.

A: Indeed. Body is a sheath made out of elements. Elements nurture that sheath till death and dis-integration. Body is linked to mind as much as mind is linked to body. Mind keeps emotions, including emotions related to food. Body needs are superseded by mind’s need for satisfaction. Mind rules. Body obeys. Obesity happens. Body does not need as much food as the mind needs. Mind nurtures craving. Body has its own intelligence. Our food habits reflect our character and destiny. Unconscious eating, emotional eating and craving leads to over eating, obesity and sudden deaths. Food that is cooked and stored, food containing dead organisms (which lacks praana) and food that is contaminated, decrease the consumer’s vital energy gradually and makes him vulnerable to many diseases. One who is in control of his consumption can be considered an emperor of his own life. Moderate eating which fills one third of the stomach, while one third remains filled with water and one third with air, is supposed to be the ideal quantity for a healthy living. Moderate eating, moderate sleeping, and moderate excercise along with personal hygiene makes a superb human. Wastage of food is a crime. It should never be entertained. Take only what you can effortlessly consume. Never take food for granted. Our body has consumed tons of food and gallons of water till date. Much more is wasted also. We live in a world where some starve and steal food while some fight obesity. Feeding the hungry is the noblest of all charities. Hungry can be a bird, animal or a human being. Irrespective of the type of body or species, we must educate our children to feed the hungry. This will arrest stress in them and make them higher beings in flesh and blood.

Success is Life. Life is success.

Q: Life is about Success

A: Indeed. True success of life depends on our growth in awareness. Success is in our spiritual evolution. Success is in our kindness expressed. Success is in liberating ourselves from all kinds of dependency. Success is in gaining simplicity. Success is in knowing oneself. Success is in success itself. All material successes are temporary and transitory. They come and go and involve either happiness or sorrow, but not equanimity. And yet, equanimity in happiness and sorrow, is the true success.

Faith Brings Miracles. Faith Moves Mountains

Q: Life is about Faith

A: Indeed. Faith happens, sooner or later. When ego subsides and gets nullified through consistent downfalls, faith happens. Faith leads. Faith soothes. Faith reinforces. Faith nurtures life. Faith elevates life. Faith stabilizes life. Faith Liberates man. Faith increases with experiences. Faith decreases when we disown our own experiences; swapping it for other’s opinions or book knowledge. Faith increases when surrender becomes absolute. Faith decreases when ego becomes predominant. Faith is real, if it is spontaneous. Faith is transitory, if it is induced or inherited. If man’s herd instinct leads to certain faith, it ends when he turns a new corner. Such is the passing faith which has no longevity. Faith based on conviction is more real, if conviction is based on truth.

Great Masters set examples of Selfless existence and unconditional giving.

Q: Life is about giving

A: Indeed. Only when giving becomes unconditional, and absolutely devoid of any expectations. Giving is not about wealth or money. Giving time, energy, knowledge, guidance, information, space, food, water, medicine, clothes, books, healing,  and everything else, done with pure intentions and without expectations indeed transforms a man into a “MAN”.

One who gives glows. One who selflessly moves in the society, radiates positiveness and hope. Even if his life is short, there will be LIFE in each moment. His purposefulness itself will radiate LIFE. Life is not worth it, if lived without any benefit to the world around us. It is nothing superior to the existence of an animal. Life is in Giving. Giving is essential in Life. Giving strenghtens and raises man to the level of God. It liberates him. Unconditional existence always liberates man.

Gratitude Makes hearts RICH

Q: Life is about Gratitude

A: Indeed. Gratitude liberates and positions the mind on the present. Being in the present itself is liberating. Gratitude makes the heart rich. A rich heart is  more precious than a rich wallet. Gratitude invokes child-like wonder in the mind. It makes life worth living. When gratitude becomes the essence of our character, excesses vanish, ego vanishes and anxieties vanish. Gratitude supports faith. Gratitude provides equanimity. Gratitude reinforce unconditional love. If you have to choose one quality in life, choose gratitude. It is worth it. Everything else will fall in place by itself.

Real Power is in Real Control of one's mind and senses

Q: Life is about Power

A: Indeed. The real power lies in the state of control of  intellect over mind. When man becomes emotional, intellect gets shut down. Uncontrolled senses and mind amount to human weakness. Senses in control of the mind and mind in the control of intellect make a man powerful. The real wire puller is the soul, which is the all powerful. But, it does not express its power. It never over rules any decision of the mind or intellect. Having power, but not expressing it, or having to express it, is real power. Power, if used to create harmony and love in the world, is truly noble. Power, if used for conquests and suppression of other being, is demonic. How we wield our power depends on our basic character. Power makes a man naked, as it exposes his true nature. Some use power benevolently and for the benefit of all. They are true expression of the Almighty. They never entertain any barriers within, such as caste, creed, culture, countries, colors, communities etc. They are Universal beings. Their nature of expression is unconditional love. Some use power to control other beings through fear. They are insecure; and those leaders who create fear and control indeed lack character and quality.

An individual or an organisation is the same in this context. Organisation is a body consisting of many individuals. Power should be used for wiping the tears of many. It should be used for protecting rather than destroying. Power should be used with awareness and not emotion.

Power is a double edged sword. It could hurt the one that wields it. History is full of examples. One who has absolute power needs to be absolutely careful. Power should create harmony, love and peace. That is real power. One who has his mind in control, is really powerful too. Nobody can shake him ever. He will never be insecure. He will live a life of equanimity.Thus, the real conquest is the conquest of the mind.

The Power of Purity is incomparable and True

Q: Life is about Purity

A: Indeed. Purity of thought, word and action liberates man from everything. It strengthens his existence. Purity is power. Purity is truth. Truth is pure. All elements resonate with truth. Our whole being resonates with truth and purity. The whole universe resonates with truth and purity. When we live truth, purity happens. When we live a life of purity through consistently expressing purity through every thought, word and action, we elevate ourselves to an existence of supreme consciousness. There are no barriers in the realm of purity. There is supreme strength in the purity. The power of purity is tangible. The power of purity unburdens in various levels. The power of purity liberates. The power of purity immunizes from the rocks and shocks of daily existence. The power of purity radiates. Purity empowers.  Purity strengthens. Purity liberates. It brings gratitude into existence. It quells the wandering mind to a thought-less state. It quenches all questions. It brings contentment. It brings stability. It makes our very existence, a great experience. It fills our existence with Life. It brings purpose. It fills life with faith and hope. It connects us to the highest of consciousness. The Power of Purity is unfathomable. It is the nature of the Supreme.

Questions gets repeated, a 1000 times, until the mind drops dead. Then it is peace. Deep peace. Deep peace of acceptance. Deep peace of living the truth….

God Bless All

LOVE YOU

M

After 1000 questions, the mind drops dead. Liberation begins there.

The Power of Losing

Many Mouths - Same Truth

Over the years, I have had the privilege of witnessing and participating in many communions – physically and metaphysically. Usually, in planes other than earth, the communions are more like a sharing of consciousness or conscious awareness. This means, one’s  thought becomes everyone’s understanding. There are no questions and answers because there is no intellect to question. Silence carries the awareness. Here are some excerpts. There are much more. Some day, I hope to share more.

The Power of LOSING

We sat under the tree in a state of absolute bliss and overwhelming gratefulness. I prostrated at His feet mentally. He acknowledged by clasping his hands and extending pranaams. Whenever our eyes locked, we offered pranaams and Namaskaars to each other. The bliss of being with a complete renunciate!!!

He smiled internally. It is similar to the smile of very small children during sleep. Nobody can understand the reason behind those smiles and the tears of those tiny babies. He smiled and looked into my eyes again. Then looked away. I was just watching and inhaling the overwhelming presence of a Great Master. About eleven of us sat under the tree, on the banks of Ganges, close to the Avadhoota.

He said: “All of  you have come here from afar. Why have you come searching for me? What can I give you which you already do not have? I have nothing to give anyone. All I have, you have too.  Why did you have to come spending so much money and time? To see a naked, mad man?” and he laughed again. This was all in Hindi.

A Spiritual Emperor

I said: “You called us. We came. Without your calling, we cannot come here. All we need is your blessings”. He looked into my eyes again. Then looked away, into eternity for sometime. He said: “Do you hear the birds singing? How did you hear that? Your mind went there to the tree along with your ears? Mind should not go away from you. It should stay within you. The birds will sing, but, will be within you. There are no birds, outside of you. Everything is within you. Do you understand me?” I nodded. He was not talking. He was commanding. His words were commands which must work within all listeners. I felt His power and depth. The authority was astounding. A man who remains unclothed and unattached expressed the conviction and authority of an Emperor. That was his stature.

The Sound of Silence

Another person asked: “Swami, the forests are vanishing. Where can a seeker find peace?” He answered: “Who needs forests? Who is making them vanish? If you cannot find peace where ever you are, you cannot find peace in forests too. Peace is always inside the man, not outside. You cannot find peace outside, if your inner space is in chaos. Clean up your inner space with good thoughts, words and residue of actions. You will have peace everywhere else. The world outside is just an expression of yourself. There is no outside world apart from you. You make it. You break it. You make everything within you. You break everything within you. So, there is no point in going to forests to find peace. You will be more restless.

Echoes of One Father - SHIVOHAM

He said: “People are teaching about chakras, naadis, aura. People are so stuck with the thoughts of kosas (sheaths) and its accessories. HA HA HA. What is the use? More ego? When will you stop looking at yourself (your accessories) and look at Your Self? People give elaborate lectures about Kundalini moving through Mooladhara, Swaaadhishtaana, Manipura etc. What is the use of meat to a vegetarian? What is the use of knowledge when it is of no real use, and only creates more chaos within? We have to leave off all such knowledge and move higher. We have to shed names and images and move higher. How long will we hold on to such things? And what for? Eventually, everything must dissolve.

The true happiness is in losing. Losing every thing that added to the weight of your existence. The true happiness is that of someone who has nothing. Nothing to defend. Nothing to fear. Nothing to run away from. Nothing to do. Nothing to prove. Nothing to think. Nothing to achieve. Nothing!!! No needs. No requirements. Lose everything. Name, fame, image, thoughts, knowledge. Lose everything. You will experience the causeless joy and wonder of your eternal spirit. You will experience the true state of liberation – Jeevan Mukta.

Temptations Lure Minds. Wisdom Prevents the Fall.

He then took a glass and said: “Man is holding on to his toys, just like a child who cannot let go of his toys. Man is a child and the only difference is in his size, not in his outlook or attitude. Oh Man!!! When will you let go? When will you let go of your toys? Nature always ends up forcefully removing those toys and dispatching you from existence, time and again. No control on his own life and no control on his death too!!! What a misery!!! Oh Man!!! What can I say? What can I give you?

Go away. You can get nothing from me. Many come here to see if I can reduce their baggage of suffering!!! How can I release you from anything, when you hold them so tight to your chest? What do I have? I have nothing, just this piece of cloth (Loin Cloth). What can I give you?

Established Gratitude is Inherent Blessing

Oh Man!!! You keep creating your sand castles!!! You keep building highly perishable empires, even using treachery and deceit, and cry when they perish. When will you leave the temporary and hold on to the permanent? Remember, you have to hold on to your mother (The Lord Almighty) like a monkey’s baby clings on to its mother, until He (The Almighty) takes over and holds you like a cat handling its kitten. If the baby monkey loosens its grip, it falls to death. Nobody can help that fall. You yourself are responsible. Remember that clearly.You are building and re building perishable empires life after life. Still you cannot understand its futility!!! Alas, Man, get out of here. I can give you nothing. You can take nothing from me.”

He closed his eyes and whispered “All are running. Running for what? Who is waiting for whom? If at all, what are they waiting for? Just to fulfill some selfish ends!!! Every meeting has a selfish purpose. Nobody meets anybody for the sake of unconditional love. Everything is conditional. Who created all these appointments that you are struggling to cope with? YOU. You made everything and now you are suffering. You cannot cope. HA HA HA. Oh MAN!!! RUN RUN….Run as much as you want. One day you have to fall. Fall from your pretensions. Fall into the real truth. When will you realize this? With or without you, the same stars will decorate the sky and the same Ganga will feed the grass. Do you feel that you are so important? Think again. Life was going on before you were born. Life will go on without any problem, even after you leave the earth. What appointment are you going to keep? What are you clinging on to? Be grateful for the present moment. Be Grateful. That’s all you can do.You can gain nothing from me. You are wasting your time here. Go, go to your entertainments and continue the life of pretensions and make-believe. GO AWAY!!! You are wasting your time here. YOU WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND ME!!!

One man said “Swamiji, let me sit close to you and be benefited from your presence. Let me also gain something.” He snapped “You will gain nothing. You come here with a filled up mind. Swollen with ego, calculating your gains. You cannot gain anything. What can you gain permanently when you have to lose everything? All are here to gain something, take something. None can give, until nature forcefully snatches things away. Poor Man!!! How ignorant he is!!! Go, Go to your markets and play your commercial games – the game of gaining and losing. You are wasting your time here. GO”.

Liberation is in Losing

Man is Flesh. From Flesh, more Flesh are produced. Meat based ego. HA HA HA. Man’s ego develops and swells based on this meat. Flesh and Bones. See the flesh and bones of the past terrestrials, all over the earth. Once they were also moving just like you. You will also be that one day. Do not be too proud. Understand your reality. Accept your reality. Be Grateful.

Oh Man!!! Do not be too proud about yourself. When the perfume that you wear fades off, you stink too. You are just flesh and blood. Temporary formation of flesh and bones!!! This structure of yours. Look at the organs of animals that you killed. You have packed them neatly for sale in your super markets. Oh Hygienic flesh eaters, your body contains the same organs too. Minus soul, you and those dead animals are the same. You killed them because you like to eat their carcass. Time likes to eat your carcass too. Time will annihilate you totally and completely. So, while living, live with awareness of these facts. Practice Non-Violence in thought, word and action.

When Will You Know Me? In How Many Life Times?

Life is the difference. For everything that is born, death is an inevitability. One life breeds many lives, just like meat breeds more meat. The first existence was causeless, as a reason, for the demonstration of relativity. The rest are all karmic, until the final unity. Life breeds karma. One karma breeds more karma. The soul suffers births and deaths. Beware Man, you are no better off than those pigs living in filth. Look at your own inner space. What is there? What JUNK have you stored and nurtured there? No. Do not tell me. I do not want to know. Now, you tell me, what am I supposed to do? What will I do with you? Go away. You will gain nothing from me. You will not even understand me.

Look at those covered in saffron and ornaments of power!!! Poor Men. They are hiding inside the saffron. They are hiding their insecurities!!! Poor Men. Leave them alone. They are also like you, calculating gains and losses. Just leave them alone. They are doing all these for the sake of survival. Those priests also are waiting for their preys – insecure victims. Let them also live. Those religious fanatics, going after converting people who are nothing but unsteady minds and meat and bones; are trying to increase the head counts of their community. Ignorant people. Let them also live. Just now you said that there is no jungle anymore. Animals are certainly there. Jungle should be there. The real jungle has shifted to the city now. Your mind itself is an impregnable jungle, Oh Man!!! How many poisonous snakes and dangerous emotions roam there, uncontrolled!!! What can I give you? You created everything. You nurtured everything!!! Thank You. I want nothing from you too.”

Where ever you look, there is only the glory of Brahman (Supreme Soul)

“Foolish man, so concerned about “the right path”, does not even know which is his right path and follows  someone else’s !!! He cannot allow the soul to guide because he is not aware of its existence – even once a day. Then he repeats the same mistakes of life times, again and again. What a pity!!! Man, liberation is in abandonment, not in ownership. Understand this very clearly. What will you gain by seeing me? What you see is just flesh and blood. That’s not me. Then what do you see? Can you see my soul? In order to see my soul, you should see your soul. Thats the right path!”

Anyway, this will not be understood by many. This food will not be enjoyed by many. This is celestial nectar (amrut).Those who could digest this food, will be liberated. This will be heard only by those who are eligible. The rest will continue to intellectually fathom infinity. This is a futile exercise. Eventually, they will drop it and reach the truth. Every path leads to liberation. Time and space are the difference. Good BYE ( God Buy You)

My friends, In 2006, I communicated with an astral master through an old medium. I was asking mundane questions, which the master replied patiently. After an hour or so, the master decided to depart. The master asked me “What can I do for you? “I said “I need to be always connected with Astral Masters like you.” He said “I will arrange that” and left. That experience was beautiful. A part of the above text is taken from our communion with the avadhootha whom we met in Haridwar during Maha Kumbha Mela. The rest are excerpts from my constant astral communions with many Avadhootas or Masters, mostly travelling with them and listening to their communions with others. Many of them do not have physical bodies.  There is no language for thoughts. I am trying to narrate it with the same intensity with which they transfered this to many minds, time after time, which I witnessed. My job as a man of flesh and blood is to convey it sincerely. It is not my job to convert you. I have no agenda. You may have, I believe, at least that of liberation – Jeevan Mukti?. If this suits your agenda, take it. If not, leave it. In any case, I LOVE YOU.

God Bless You

M

KNOW Your SELF You will KNOW ME