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There is a mystery within all beings bursting to reveal itself, in the ones who become quiet enough to discover it.
You have to become this kind of crazy once in a while,
that you start to behave out of character,
not as a mad person, this is a divine madness,
this is different from the regular madness.
that you start to behave out of character,
not as a mad person, this is a divine madness,
this is different from the regular madness.
Sometimes naked, sometimes crazy,
Now as a scholar, now as a fool:
Thus they appear on Earth ---
The Free Ones.
Now as a scholar, now as a fool:
Thus they appear on Earth ---
The Free Ones.
The Lord of the Universe dwells inside the heart of every being as unmixed presence.
This must be discovered not as mere teaching but as direct and intuitive experience.
This must be discovered not as mere teaching but as direct and intuitive experience.
Don't expect anything from anybody,
this is also a great freedom.
Don't expect things to be different or people to be in service to you or your own life or projections.
Feel gradually that natural feeling of detachment.
Dont watch constantly with the eyes of relationship and past and so on.
Stay faithful to your own discovery,
leave the rest and life will take care of it.
this is also a great freedom.
Don't expect things to be different or people to be in service to you or your own life or projections.
Feel gradually that natural feeling of detachment.
Dont watch constantly with the eyes of relationship and past and so on.
Stay faithful to your own discovery,
leave the rest and life will take care of it.
The results of vichara meditation are will power, developed concentration, control of passions, indifference to the worldly objects, virtue and equality to all.
Hypnotic methods are not advisable to induce yogic samadhi because light-gazing stupefies the mind and produces catalepsy of will temporarily, and it secures no permanent benefit. -Talk 27]
A deity may be used to meditate upon as a mental image until the meditator merges into the Self. Then the image will fall away of its own accord and the deity will vanish as part of the world illusion.
Only the Supreme Self is to be the object of meditation. Truly speaking, meditation is remaining fixed in Self. But when thoughts cross the mind and the effort is made to eliminate them, the effort is termed meditation. Remain as you are. That is the aim. The technique of meditation is negative only inasmuch as thoughts are kept away.
-Talk 294]
- Conscious Immortality
Hypnotic methods are not advisable to induce yogic samadhi because light-gazing stupefies the mind and produces catalepsy of will temporarily, and it secures no permanent benefit. -Talk 27]
A deity may be used to meditate upon as a mental image until the meditator merges into the Self. Then the image will fall away of its own accord and the deity will vanish as part of the world illusion.
Only the Supreme Self is to be the object of meditation. Truly speaking, meditation is remaining fixed in Self. But when thoughts cross the mind and the effort is made to eliminate them, the effort is termed meditation. Remain as you are. That is the aim. The technique of meditation is negative only inasmuch as thoughts are kept away.
-Talk 294]
- Conscious Immortality
If you go on working with the light available,
you will meet your Master,
as he himself will be seeking you.
you will meet your Master,
as he himself will be seeking you.
Without the intrusiveness of the personal mind,
life is observed to be unfolding in a natural
and harmonious way. Do not waste time
merely wishing for things to get better.
The whole world is doing this
and so no one is really happy.
We miss the true life.
In fact, happiness arises
when you stop chasing for something other
than your own pure nature.
And this happiness remains with you.
The universal tendency in human beings
is to seek lasting happiness
in the field of names and forms—a transient field.
This is really a form of avoidance
and a distraction from what is timelessly present
and ever perfect within us—our divine nature and Self.
Ignorance of the Truth is the main cause of misery.
Avoid expectations and especially be aware of
the tendency to wait for 'next' as a promise to happiness
—the next good feeling, the next adventure
or invitation from the mind—in short,
the next experience that, in fact, does quite the contrary:
it pulls your attention away from pure presence,
the seat of joy.
No one has ever experienced 'the future'.
Reflect. It is all imagination.
How to transform these tendencies?
Simply, begin by paying attention to the natural
thought-free state, the pure sense of existence,
the feeling ‘I Am’ that is naturally present in you.
Shift the attention away from the mind-traffic
and let it rest in impersonal awareness.
Keep doing this each time the attention goes out towards
sense objects or obsessive self-interest.
Self-attention is the beginning of real Self-discovery.
It returns the attention time and again
to its source—the one Self.
Get used to staying in your natural
and neutral state of being.
It is a state of emptiness. Do not be afraid of this.
In fact, get increasingly used to being empty.
This emptiness and joy are synonymous. They are one.
This is really what is meant by the saying,
‘to enjoy one’s Self. It is a state of unfading contentment,
wisdom, love and happiness.
life is observed to be unfolding in a natural
and harmonious way. Do not waste time
merely wishing for things to get better.
The whole world is doing this
and so no one is really happy.
We miss the true life.
In fact, happiness arises
when you stop chasing for something other
than your own pure nature.
And this happiness remains with you.
The universal tendency in human beings
is to seek lasting happiness
in the field of names and forms—a transient field.
This is really a form of avoidance
and a distraction from what is timelessly present
and ever perfect within us—our divine nature and Self.
Ignorance of the Truth is the main cause of misery.
Avoid expectations and especially be aware of
the tendency to wait for 'next' as a promise to happiness
—the next good feeling, the next adventure
or invitation from the mind—in short,
the next experience that, in fact, does quite the contrary:
it pulls your attention away from pure presence,
the seat of joy.
No one has ever experienced 'the future'.
Reflect. It is all imagination.
How to transform these tendencies?
Simply, begin by paying attention to the natural
thought-free state, the pure sense of existence,
the feeling ‘I Am’ that is naturally present in you.
Shift the attention away from the mind-traffic
and let it rest in impersonal awareness.
Keep doing this each time the attention goes out towards
sense objects or obsessive self-interest.
Self-attention is the beginning of real Self-discovery.
It returns the attention time and again
to its source—the one Self.
Get used to staying in your natural
and neutral state of being.
It is a state of emptiness. Do not be afraid of this.
In fact, get increasingly used to being empty.
This emptiness and joy are synonymous. They are one.
This is really what is meant by the saying,
‘to enjoy one’s Self. It is a state of unfading contentment,
wisdom, love and happiness.
Remaining as awareness,
delusions fall away and mind returns to
its natural abode, the Heart.
Do not fight any tendency.
Simply stay as the detached witness
who is ever present and without name or form.
It has no story.
Follow this advice. It works.
delusions fall away and mind returns to
its natural abode, the Heart.
Do not fight any tendency.
Simply stay as the detached witness
who is ever present and without name or form.
It has no story.
Follow this advice. It works.
The direct rays of the sun on the naked body supply the electricity, energy and vitality to the human storage battery, renewing it in vigor, strength and virility.
Source: Mucusless Diet Healing System
Source: Mucusless Diet Healing System
There is no one on this earth who does anything. The whole universe is a puppet show. We're dancing the dance of Shiva. We think we're something important. But we're really nothing as we appear. Your job is to observe, to watch, to see what's going on and not to react to anything that is happening but to stay separate from the happenings. To separate yourself from what is happening. What's happening is happening to the 'I', to the ego, not to you. Nothing can ever happen to you. For your true nature is Brahman, absolute reality, pure awareness.
The ultimate Truth is beyond words. Doctrines are words. They're not the Way. The Way is wordless. Words are illusions. They're no different from things that appear in your dreams at night, be they palaces or carriages, forested parks or lakeside dandelions. Don't conceive any delight for such things. They're all cradles of rebirth. Keep this in mind when you approach death.
Don't cling to appearances, and you'll break through all barriers. A moment's hesitation and you'll be under the spell of devils. Your real body is pure and impervious. But because of delusions you're unaware of it. And because of this you suffer karma in vain. Wherever you find delight, you find bondage. But once you awaken to your original body and mind, you're no longer bound by attachments.
[an excerpt from The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, translated by Red Pine]
Don't cling to appearances, and you'll break through all barriers. A moment's hesitation and you'll be under the spell of devils. Your real body is pure and impervious. But because of delusions you're unaware of it. And because of this you suffer karma in vain. Wherever you find delight, you find bondage. But once you awaken to your original body and mind, you're no longer bound by attachments.
[an excerpt from The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, translated by Red Pine]
There was once a holy man who died and went up to heaven. He came to the pearly gates and banged on the gate. And God came out and said, "What do you want?" And the holy man said, "I am your servant. I have come." And God came said, "Sorry, there's no room for you here. Goodbye," and left. The holy man was perplexed. He sat down in front of the gate and started to ponder. "Why didn't God let me in?" And he sat for two years thinking, "Why couldn't I get into heaven?" And finally it came to him. So he banged on the gate again and God came and said, "Who are you? What do you want?" The holy man said, "I am your servant. I have converted thousands of people on your behalf. I have preached the bible to millions. I have done good deeds. Let me in." And God said, "Sorry, I don't care what you've done, there's no room in here for you," and went away.
This time the holy man was really disturbed. He couldn't understand this. "Why won't God let me in?" he said. So he sat down in front of the gate again. Centuries passed. Remember he was dead anyway so it didn't matter. He was pondering why God didn't let him in. Then it came to him. So again he got up and he banged on the door, on the pearly gates. God came out and said, "Who are you? What do you want?" And he said, "Lord, I am your humble servant, but I must confess my sins. I have had sexual affairs with my female devotees. I have eaten meat and told people I was a vegetarian. But I confess everything to you. Can I come in now?" So God looked at him and said, "I don't care what you do, there's no room for you here." And went away.
Again the holy man said, "What is this? I've done everything I can. I'm going to sit at this gate if I have to sit here for all eternity, until I find out what the problem is." So he sat for years and century after century, pondering. "I confessed my sins to God. I confessed my good deeds to God. I want to get into heaven. Wait a minute, who is this I? Who is the I that committed sins? Who is the I that committed good deeds? Who is the I that wants to get into heaven? Who am I?" And all of a sudden he started laughing. It came to him. He rolled over in laughter and he got up and banged on the gate. And God came and said, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am yourself." And God opened the gate and said, "Come in. There never was a room here for me and you."
Source: https://lifeherenow.com/robert-adams-on-divinity/
This time the holy man was really disturbed. He couldn't understand this. "Why won't God let me in?" he said. So he sat down in front of the gate again. Centuries passed. Remember he was dead anyway so it didn't matter. He was pondering why God didn't let him in. Then it came to him. So again he got up and he banged on the door, on the pearly gates. God came out and said, "Who are you? What do you want?" And he said, "Lord, I am your humble servant, but I must confess my sins. I have had sexual affairs with my female devotees. I have eaten meat and told people I was a vegetarian. But I confess everything to you. Can I come in now?" So God looked at him and said, "I don't care what you do, there's no room for you here." And went away.
Again the holy man said, "What is this? I've done everything I can. I'm going to sit at this gate if I have to sit here for all eternity, until I find out what the problem is." So he sat for years and century after century, pondering. "I confessed my sins to God. I confessed my good deeds to God. I want to get into heaven. Wait a minute, who is this I? Who is the I that committed sins? Who is the I that committed good deeds? Who is the I that wants to get into heaven? Who am I?" And all of a sudden he started laughing. It came to him. He rolled over in laughter and he got up and banged on the gate. And God came and said, "Who are you?" And he said, "I am yourself." And God opened the gate and said, "Come in. There never was a room here for me and you."
Source: https://lifeherenow.com/robert-adams-on-divinity/
Papaji: The last net [of bondage] is scriptures; God is the last hurdle. When you renounce everything, then you are free. Free of God, free of scriptures, free of samsara.
What you have studied must be forgotten. Then you can leap forward. You cannot leap forward if you cling to the understanding of the scriptures. Then you discover that you are not to try to understand. This is leaping forward beyond scriptures. No difference in holding scriptural concepts than in holding worldly knowledge.
~ from the book "Wake Up and Roar"
What you have studied must be forgotten. Then you can leap forward. You cannot leap forward if you cling to the understanding of the scriptures. Then you discover that you are not to try to understand. This is leaping forward beyond scriptures. No difference in holding scriptural concepts than in holding worldly knowledge.
~ from the book "Wake Up and Roar"
Don't be so weak...don't give in to fickle tendancies...hold your ground...there is no need to try and measure yourself or your progress...simply carry on being here, being present, being open...not everything rests upon your intellect, or your intellectual capacity...for some of you perhaps it may be a struggle to investigate...your not on your own...when I say your not on your own, I mean that whatever brought you here...inspired you...encouraged your being and your body to be here, will continue doing its work...it's important to trust!!...in my heart I have not left one single one out...I've ruled no one out...no one is exempt from this opportunity...
The light of one human being who discovers the Truth has been lighting the human kingdom for thousands of years.
Such is the power of a human being who realizes the Truth of who they are.
The whole human specie is in a difficulty because of ignorance and arrogance.
Who is responsible for it?
Consciousness is playing this game.
Human beings are the expression of Consciousness, the effects of Consciousness.
When you know who you are, you know that all is That...when you know that all is That, your actions come from your heart.
All these efforts cannot change the world, because the human ego is arrogant and selfish, what is great about the human being is their Spirit....is that we are the Timeless portraying itself as time and change.
The world is not a dark painting, it's still a beautiful painting, and the picture changes according to your present light.
As you grow more aware of the Truth, you will see the glory of the universe and of God inside everything you see.
Such is the power of a human being who realizes the Truth of who they are.
The whole human specie is in a difficulty because of ignorance and arrogance.
Who is responsible for it?
Consciousness is playing this game.
Human beings are the ex
When you know who you are, you know that all is That...when you know that all is That, your actions come from your heart.
All these efforts cannot change the world, because the human ego is arrogant and selfish, what is great about the human being is their Spirit....is that we are the Timeless portraying itself as time and change.
The world is not a dark painting, it's still a beautiful painting, and the picture changes according to your present light.
As you grow more aware of the Truth, you will see the glory of the universe and of God inside everything you see.
Love has no traps.
If you are happy all will be happy,
if you suffer, all will suffer,
if your mind smells bad
others will be affected.
Keep yourself happy in peace,
Light, Wisdom, Consciousness
This is your responsibility.
Be happy and have compassion
and live hand and hand with nature.
This makes birth worthwhile.
Start from Heart and see
that all arises from Heart.
Always do this,
Always be This.
If you are happy all will be happy,
if you suffer, all will suffer,
if your mind smells bad
others will be affected.
Keep yourself happy in peace,
Light, Wisdom, Consciousness
This is your responsibility.
Be happy and have compassion
and live hand and hand with nature.
This makes birth worthwhile.
Start from Heart and see
that all arises from Heart.
Always do this,
Always be This.
Let the world call you lazy for not running about like a frightened ghost. Just be quiet inside yourself. Don't bother about knowing how things should be and simply begin observing without prejudice, projections or desires. Notice how life flows of its own accord. Nothing here is a chaos, but a harmony. You are already inside this flow.
'AHAM SPHURANA' (the light of 'I-I')
~ Sri Ramana Maharshi.
'I' is not known in sleep. On waking 'I' is perceived associated with the body, the world and non-self in general. Such associated 'I' is 'Aham vritti'. When 'Aham' represents the Self only it is 'Aham Sphurana'. This is natural to the 'jnani' and is itself called 'jnana' by 'jnanis', or 'bhakti' by 'bhaktas'. Though ever present, including in sleep, it is not perceived. It cannot be known in sleep all at once. It must first be realised in the waking state, for it is our true nature underlying all the three states. Efforts must be made only in the 'jagrat' state and the Self realised here and now. It will afterwards be understood and realised to be continuous Self, uninterrupted by 'jagrat, svapna, and sushupti. Thus it is 'Akhandakara vritti' (unbroken experience). 'Vritti' is used for lack of a better expression. It should not be understood to be literally a 'vritti'. In that case, 'vritti' will resemble an 'ocean-like river', which is absurd. 'Vritti' is of short duration, it is qualified, directed consciousness; or absolute consciousness broken up by cognition of thoughts, senses, etc. 'Vritti' is the function of the mind, whereas the continuous consciousness transcends the mind. This is the natural, primal state of the 'jnani' or the liberated being. That is unbroken experience. It asserts itself when relative consciousness subsides. 'Aham vritti' ('I-thought') is broken, 'Aham sphurana' (the light of 'I-I') is unbroken, continuous. After the thoughts subside, the light shines forth.
- 'Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi' (Talk-307)
~ Sri Ramana Maharshi.
'I' is not known in sleep. On waking 'I' is perceived associated with the body, the world and non-self in general. Such associated 'I' is 'Aham vritti'. When 'Aham' represents the Self only it is 'Aham Sphurana'. This is natural to the 'jnani' and is itself called 'jnana' by 'jnanis', or 'bhakti' by 'bhaktas'. Though ever present, including in sleep, it is not perceived. It cannot be known in sleep all at once. It must first be realised in the waking state, for it is our true nature underlying all the three states. Efforts must be made only in the 'jagrat' state and the Self realised here and now. It will afterwards be understood and realised to be continuous Self, uninterrupted by 'jagrat, svapna, and sushupti. Thus it is 'Akhandakara vritti' (unbroken experience). 'Vritti' is used for lack of a better ex
- 'Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi' (Talk-307)
Q.: Why does an Upanishad say, “He whom the Atman chooses, to him alone does It reveal Itself, not to others”. Does not this seem arbitrary?
Ramana: No. It is correct. It chooses those only who devote themselves to It, who become Its devotees. Such It draws them inwards to Itself. One must turn inward to find the Atman. He who thinks of It, It will draw to Itself. All such thoughts as ‘Attainment is hard’ or ‘Self realisation is far from me’, or ‘I have got many difficulties to overcome to know the Reality’, should be given up, as they are obstacles; they are created by this false self, ego. They are untrue.
Do not doubt that you are the Reality; live in that understanding. Never question it by referring your realisation of it to some future time. It is because people are victimized and hypnotised by such false thoughts that the Gita says
that few out of millions realise the Self. The order of asramas [four stages of life] was established as a general principle, i.e. to regulate the gradual development of the ordinary run of humanity. But in the case of one highly mature and fully ripe for Atma vichara there is no graduated development. In this case jnana vichara, i.e. the Self enquiry and the blooming of jnana, are immediate and quick.
Ramana: No. It is correct. It chooses those only who devote themselves to It, who become Its devotees. Such It draws them inwards to Itself. One must turn inward to find the Atman. He who thinks of It, It will draw to Itself. All such thoughts as ‘Attainment is hard’ or ‘Self realisation is far from me’, or ‘I have got many difficulties to overcome to know the Reality’, should be given up, as they are obstacles; they are created by this false self, ego. They are untrue.
Do not doubt that you are the Reality; live in that understanding. Never question it by referring your realisation of it to some future time. It is because people are victimized and hypnotised by such false thoughts that the Gita says
that few out of millions realise the Self. The order of asramas [four stages of life] was established as a general principle, i.e. to regulate the gradual development of the ordinary run of humanity. But in the case of one highly mature and fully ripe for Atma vichara there is no graduated development. In this case jnana vichara, i.e. the Self enquiry and the blooming of jnana, are immediate and quick.
"Pythagoras, an immortal mathematical genius, vegetarian and founder of a high-standing school of philosophy, went to Egypt to learn more about the "secret sciences" of that country. Before he was allowed to enter into the school of the learned, called High Priests at this time, he had to undergo a fast of forty days, under supervision, outside of the city. Believing that this was a test of his willpower and energy, he was told this: 'Forty days' fast is necessary in order that you may grasp what we will teach you.'"
Source: Arnold Ehret in "Physical Fitness Thru a Superior Diet"
Source: Arnold Ehret in "Physical Fitness Thru a Superior Diet"
There was once a young girl who was brought up in a house of prostitution. This was her destiny, at the time. She couldn't get away from it. But she used to pray to Ramana Maharshi, "Oh Lord, if I must go this route, be with me. I'm not praying to change my life, if this is my destiny. But I'm praying that your strength and your love will always be with me."
Now across the street, there was a so called jnani, and he used to stand in front of the market place, telling everybody they're consciousness and absolute reality, preaching and screaming. This went on for years.
Finally the time came when they both died and they went before God. And God told the girl, "You have to go back to the earth, and you have to be a jnani." And he told the so called aspiring jnani," You have to go back to the earth as a snake." And the man said, "How come Lord? I extolled your virtues to everyone. I told all the people they were consciousness and they were absolute reality, and you send me back as a snake. What did I do?" And God said, "You have no heart. You come from the talking school. All you did with your life was to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. But this girl gave me her heart. She surrendered to me. She didn't bemoan her fate. She just wanted me to be with her during her trials and tribulations. And I gave her the strength to carry on, so now she is free. But you still have a lot to learn. So you have to go back as a snake."
This makes us think. What are we really doing with our lives? We read lots of books, see lots of teachers, have a lot of head knowledge, but how many of us have given our hearts to God? And God is not far away. God is really the self. But in order to contact that self you have to have a lot of humility. To feel God’s grace means you have to surrender completely, have a lot of humility. You have to have the attitude, "I know nothing, you are everything." This kind of an attitude will set you free.
And yet, how many of us have an attitude like this? Many of us think to become a jnani, to become self-realized, we become proud, and you actually become more egotistical than you ever were before. We have a holier than thou attitude. This will never do it.
There is really no difference between a bhakta and a jnani. One surrenders to God, and they have no other life. They realize that whatever they do, it is God doing it. Therefore it’s good. They never complain. They never think of their problems. They think of others and their problems, rather than their own.
Now across the street, there was a so called jnani, and he used to stand in front of the market place, telling everybody they're consciousness and absolute reality, preaching and screaming. This went on for years.
Finally the time came when they both died and they went before God. And God told the girl, "You have to go back to the earth, and you have to be a jnani." And he told the so called aspiring jnani," You have to go back to the earth as a snake." And the man said, "How come Lord? I extolled your virtues to everyone. I told all the people they were consciousness and they were absolute reality, and you send me back as a snake. What did I do?" And God said, "You have no heart. You come from the talking school. All you did with your life was to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. But this girl gave me her heart. She surrendered to me. She didn't bemoan her fate. She just wanted me to be with her during her trials and tribulations. And I gave her the strength to carry on, so now she is free. But you still have a lot to learn. So you have to go back as a snake."
This makes us think. What are we really doing with our lives? We read lots of books, see lots of teachers, have a lot of head knowledge, but how many of us have given our hearts to God? And God is not far away. God is really the self. But in order to contact that self you have to have a lot of humility. To feel God’s grace means you have to surrender completely, have a lot of humility. You have to have the attitude, "I know nothing, you are everything." This kind of an attitude will set you free.
And yet, how many of us have an attitude like this? Many of us think to become a jnani, to become self-realized, we become proud, and you actually become more egotistical than you ever were before. We have a holier than thou attitude. This will never do it.
There is really no difference between a bhakta and a jnani. One surrenders to God, and they have no other life. They realize that whatever they do, it is God doing it. Therefore it’s good. They never complain. They never think of their problems. They think of others and their problems, rather than their own.
One of the great Sufi Masters, Junaid, was asked this when he was dying. His chief disciple came close to him and asked, Master, you are leaving us. One question has always been in our minds but
we could never gather courage enough to ask you. Who was your Master? This has been a great curiosity among your disciples because we have never heard you talk about your Master.?
Junaid opened his eyes and said, It will be very difficult for me to answer because I have learned from almost everybody. The whole existence has been my Master. I have learned from every event that has happened in my life. And I am grateful to all that has happened, because out of all that learning I have arrived.
Junaid said, Just to satisfy your curiosity I will give you three instances.
Dog and the Begging Bowl
Once, I was very thirsty and I was going towards the river carrying my begging bowl, the only possession I had. When I reached the river a dog rushed, jumped into the river, started drinking.
I watched for a moment and threw away my begging bowl, because it is useless. A dog can do without it. I also jumped into the river, drank as much water as I wanted. My whole body was cool because I had jumped into the river. I sat in the river for a few moments, thanked the dog, touched his feet with deep reverence because he had taught me a lesson.
I had dropped everything, all possessions, but there was a certain clinging to my begging bowl. It was a beautiful bowl, very beautifully carved, and I was always aware that somebody might steal it. Even in the night I used to put it under my head as a pillow so nobody could snatch it away. That was my last clinging-the dog helped. It was so clear: if a dog can manage without a begging bowl, I am a man, why can't I manage? That dog was one of my Masters.”
The Patient Thief
Secondly, he continued, I lost my way in a forest and by the time I reached the nearest village that I could find, it was midnight. Everybody was fast asleep. I wandered all over the town to see if I could find somebody awake to give me shelter for the night, until finally I found one man. I asked him, It seems only two persons are awake in the town, you and I. Can you give me shelter for the night?
The man said, I can see from your gown that you are a Sufi monk…
The word Sufi comes from the word ‘suf’ which means wool, a woolen garment. The Sufis have used the woolen garment for centuries; hence they are called Sufis because of their garment. The man said, I can see you are a Sufi and I feel a little embarrassed to take you to my home. I am perfectly willing, but I must tell you who I am. I am a thief. Would you like to be a guest of a thief?
For a moment, I hesitated. The thief said, Look, it is better I told you. You seem hesitant. The thief is willing but the mystic seems to be hesitant to enter into the house of a thief, as if the mystic is weaker than the thief. In fact, I should be afraid of you. You may change me, You may transform my whole life! Inviting you means danger, but I am not afraid. You are welcome. Come to my home. Eat, drink, go to sleep, and stay as long as you want, because I live alone and my earning is enough. I can manage for two persons. And it will be really beautiful to chit-chat with you of great things. But you seem to be hesitant?
And then I became aware that it was true. He asked to be forgiven. He touched the feet of the thief and he said, Yes, my rootedness in my own being is yet very weak. You are really a strong man and I would like to come to your home. And I would like to stay a little longer, not only for this night. I want to be stronger myself!
The thief said, Come on! He fed the Sufi, gave him something to drink, helped him to prepare for sleep and he said, Now I will go. I have to do my own thing. I will come back early in the morning. Early in the morning the thief came back. Junnaid asked, Have you been successful?
The thief said, No, not today, but I will see tomorrow.
And this happened continuously, for thirty days: every night the thief went out, and every morning he came back empty-handed. But he was never sad, never frustrated–no sign of failure on his face, always happy –and he would say, It doesn't matter. I tried my best. I could not find anything today again, but tomorrow I will try. And, God willing, it can happen tomorrow if it has not happened today.
After one month I left, and for years I tried to realize the ultimate, and it was always a failure. But each time I decided to drop the whole project I remembered the thief, his smiling face and his saying, God willing, what has not happened today may happen tomorrow.
Junnaid said, I remembered the thief as one of my greatest Masters. Without him I would not be what I am.
The Lit Candle
And third, he said, I entered into a small village. A little boy was carrying a lit candle, obviously going to the small temple of the town to put the candle there for the night.
And Junaid asked, Can you tell me from where the light comes? You have lighted the candle yourself so you must have seen. What is the source of light?
The boy laughed and he said, Wait! And he blew out the candle in front of Junaid. And he said, You have seen the light go. Can you tell me where it has gone? If you can tell me where it has gone I will tell you from where it has come, because it has gone to the same place. It has returned to the source.
And Junaid said, I had met great philosophers but nobody had made such a beautiful statement: It has gone to its very source. Everything returns to its source finally. Moreover, the child made me aware of my own ignorance. I was trying to joke with the child, but the joke was on me. He showed me that asking foolish questions. From where has the light come is not intelligent. It comes from nowhere, from nothingness, and it goes back to nowhere, to nothingness.
Junaid said, I touched the feet of the child. The child was puzzled. He said, Why you are touching my feet? And I told him, You are my Master–you have shown me something. You have given me a great lesson, a great insight.
Since that time, Junnaid said, I have been meditating on nothingness and slowly, slowly I have entered into nothingness. And now the final moment has come when the candle will go out, the light will go out. And I know where I am going to the same source. I remember that child with gratefulness. I can still see him standing before me, blowing out the candle.
No situation is without a lesson, no situation at all.
we could never gather courage enough to ask you. Who was your Master? This has been a great curiosity among your disciples because we have never heard you talk about your Master.?
Junaid opened his eyes and said, It will be very difficult for me to answer because I have learned from almost everybody. The whole existence has been my Master. I have learned from every event that has happened in my life. And I am grateful to all that has happened, because out of all that learning I have arrived.
Junaid said, Just to satisfy your curiosity I will give you three instances.
Dog and the Begging Bowl
Once, I was very thirsty and I was going towards the river carrying my begging bowl, the only possession I had. When I reached the river a dog rushed, jumped into the river, started drinking.
I watched for a moment and threw away my begging bowl, because it is useless. A dog can do without it. I also jumped into the river, drank as much water as I wanted. My whole body was cool because I had jumped into the river. I sat in the river for a few moments, thanked the dog, touched his feet with deep reverence because he had taught me a lesson.
I had dropped everything, all possessions, but there was a certain clinging to my begging bowl. It was a beautiful bowl, very beautifully carved, and I was always aware that somebody might steal it. Even in the night I used to put it under my head as a pillow so nobody could snatch it away. That was my last clinging-the dog helped. It was so clear: if a dog can manage without a begging bowl, I am a man, why can't I manage? That dog was one of my Masters.”
The Patient Thief
Secondly, he continued, I lost my way in a forest and by the time I reached the nearest village that I could find, it was midnight. Everybody was fast asleep. I wandered all over the town to see if I could find somebody awake to give me shelter for the night, until finally I found one man. I asked him, It seems only two persons are awake in the town, you and I. Can you give me shelter for the night?
The man said, I can see from your gown that you are a Sufi monk…
The word Sufi comes from the word ‘suf’ which means wool, a woolen garment. The Sufis have used the woolen garment for centuries; hence they are called Sufis because of their garment. The man said, I can see you are a Sufi and I feel a little embarrassed to take you to my home. I am perfectly willing, but I must tell you who I am. I am a thief. Would you like to be a guest of a thief?
For a moment, I hesitated. The thief said, Look, it is better I told you. You seem hesitant. The thief is willing but the mystic seems to be hesitant to enter into the house of a thief, as if the mystic is weaker than the thief. In fact, I should be afraid of you. You may change me, You may transform my whole life! Inviting you means danger, but I am not afraid. You are welcome. Come to my home. Eat, drink, go to sleep, and stay as long as you want, because I live alone and my earning is enough. I can manage for two persons. And it will be really beautiful to chit-chat with you of great things. But you seem to be hesitant?
And then I became aware that it was true. He asked to be forgiven. He touched the feet of the thief and he said, Yes, my rootedness in my own being is yet very weak. You are really a strong man and I would like to come to your home. And I would like to stay a little longer, not only for this night. I want to be stronger myself!
The thief said, Come on! He fed the Sufi, gave him something to drink, helped him to prepare for sleep and he said, Now I will go. I have to do my own thing. I will come back early in the morning. Early in the morning the thief came back. Junnaid asked, Have you been successful?
The thief said, No, not today, but I will see tomorrow.
And this happened continuously, for thirty days: every night the thief went out, and every morning he came back empty-handed. But he was never sad, never frustrated–no sign of failure on his face, always happy –and he would say, It doesn't matter. I tried my best. I could not find anything today again, but tomorrow I will try. And, God willing, it can happen tomorrow if it has not happened today.
After one month I left, and for years I tried to realize the ultimate, and it was always a failure. But each time I decided to drop the whole project I remembered the thief, his smiling face and his saying, God willing, what has not happened today may happen tomorrow.
Junnaid said, I remembered the thief as one of my greatest Masters. Without him I would not be what I am.
The Lit Candle
And third, he said, I entered into a small village. A little boy was carrying a lit candle, obviously going to the small temple of the town to put the candle there for the night.
And Junaid asked, Can you tell me from where the light comes? You have lighted the candle yourself so you must have seen. What is the source of light?
The boy laughed and he said, Wait! And he blew out the candle in front of Junaid. And he said, You have seen the light go. Can you tell me where it has gone? If you can tell me where it has gone I will tell you from where it has come, because it has gone to the same place. It has returned to the source.
And Junaid said, I had met great philosophers but nobody had made such a beautiful statement: It has gone to its very source. Everything returns to its source finally. Moreover, the child made me aware of my own ignorance. I was trying to joke with the child, but the joke was on me. He showed me that asking foolish questions. From where has the light come is not intelligent. It comes from nowhere, from nothingness, and it goes back to nowhere, to nothingness.
Junaid said, I touched the feet of the child. The child was puzzled. He said, Why you are touching my feet? And I told him, You are my Master–you have shown me something. You have given me a great lesson, a great insight.
Since that time, Junnaid said, I have been meditating on nothingness and slowly, slowly I have entered into nothingness. And now the final moment has come when the candle will go out, the light will go out. And I know where I am going to the same source. I remember that child with gratefulness. I can still see him standing before me, blowing out the candle.
No situation is without a lesson, no situation at all.
A beautiful story is told about a great mystic, Nagarjuna:
He was a fakir, but he was loved by all real seekers. A queen asked him one day to come to the palace, to be a guest in the palace. Nagarjuna went. The queen asked him a favour.
Nagarjuna said, "What do you want?"
The queen said, "I want your begging bowl."
Nagarjuna gave it -- that was the only thing he had -- his begging bowl. And the queen brought a golden begging bowl, studded with diamonds and gave it to Nagarjuna. She said, "Now you keep this. I will worship the begging bowl that you have carried for years -- it has some of your vibe. It will become my temple. And a man like you should not carry an ordinary wooden begging bowl -- keep this golden one. I have had it made specially for you."
It was really precious. If Nagarjuna had been an ordinary mystic he would have said, "I cannot touch it. I have renounced the world." But for him it was all the same, so he took the bowl.
When he left the palace, a thief saw him. He could not believe his eyes: "A naked man with such a precious thing! How long can he protect it?" So the thief followed....
Nagarjuna was staying outside the town in a ruined ancient temple -- no doors, no windows. It was just a ruin. The thief was very happy: "Soon Nagarjuna will have to go to sleep and there will be no difficulty -- I will get the bowl."
The thief was hiding behind a wall just outside the door -- Nagarjuna threw the bowl outside the door. The thief could not believe what had happened. Nagarjuna threw it because he had watched the thief coming behind him, and he knew perfectly well that he was not coming for him -- he was coming for the bowl, "So why unnecessarily let him wait? Be finished with it so he can go, and I can also rest."
"Such a precious thing! And Nagarjuna has thrown it so easily." The thief could not go without thanking him. He knew perfectly well that it had been thrown for him. He peeked in and he said, "Sir, accept my thanks. But you are a rare being -- I cannot believe my eyes. And a great desire has arisen in me. I am wasting my life by being a thief -- and there are people like you too? Can I come in and touch your feet?"
Nagarjuna laughed and he said, "Yes, that's why I threw the bowl outside -- so that you could come inside."
The thief was trapped. The thief came in, touched the feet... and at that moment the thief was very open because he had seen that this man was no ordinary man. He was very vulnerable, open, receptive, grateful, mystified, stunned. When he touched the feet, for the first time in his life he felt the presence of the divine.
He asked Nagarjuna, "How many lives will it take for me to become like you?"
Nagarjuna said, "How many lives? -- it can happen today, it can happen now!"
The thief said, "You must be kidding. How can it happen now? I am a thief, a well-known thief The whole town knows me, although they have not yet been able to catch hold of me. Even the king is afraid of me, because thrice I have entered and stolen from the treasury. They know it, but they have no proof. I am a master thief -- you may not know about me because you are a stranger in these parts. How can I be transformed right now?"
And Nagarjuna said, "If in an old house for centuries there has been darkness and you bring a candle, can the darkness say, 'For centuries and centuries I have been here -- I cannot go out just because you have brought a candle in. I have lived so long'? Can the darkness give resistance? Will it make any difference whether the darkness is one day old or millions of years old.
The thief could see the point: darkness cannot resist light; when light comes, darkness disappears. Nagarjuna said, You may have been in darkness for millions of lives -- that doesn't matter -- but I can give you a secret, you can light a candle in your being."
And the thief said, "What about my profession? Have I to leave it?"
Nagarjuna said, "That is for you to decide. I am not concerned with you and your profession I can only give you the secret of how to kindle a light within your being, and then it is up to you."
The thief said, "But whenever I have gone to any saints, they always say, 'First stop stealing -- then only can you be initiated.'"
It is said that Nagarjuna laughed and said, "You must have gone to thieves, not to saints. They know nothing. You just watch your breath -- the ancient method of Buddha -- just watch your breath coming in, going out. Whenever you remember, watch your breath. Even when you go to steal, when you enter into somebody's house in the night, go on watching your breath. When you have opened the treasure and the diamonds are there, go on watching your breath, and do whatsoever you want to do -- but don't forget watching the breath."
The thief said, "This seems to be simple. No morality? No character needed? No other requirement?"
Nagarjuna said, "Absolutely none -- just watch your breath."
And after fifteen days the thief was back, but he was a totally different man. He fell at the feet of Nagarjuna and he said, "You trapped me, and you trapped me so beautifully that I was not even able to suspect. I tried for these fifteen days -- it is impossible. If I watch my breath, I cannot steal. If I steal, I cannot watch my breath. Watching the breath, I become so silent, so alert, so aware, so conscious, that even diamonds look like pebbles. You have created a difficulty for me, a dilemma. Now what am I supposed to do?"
Nagarjuna said, "Get lost! -- whatsoever you want to do. If you want that silence, that peace, that bliss, that arises in you when you watch your breath, then choose that. If you think all those diamonds and gold and silver is more valuable, then choose that. That is for you to choose! Who am I to interfere in your life?"
The man said, "I cannot choose to be unconscious again. I have never known such moments. Accept me as one of your disciples, initiate me."
Nagarjuna said, "I have initiated you already."
Source: Osho
He was a fakir, but he was loved by all real seekers. A queen asked him one day to come to the palace, to be a guest in the palace. Nagarjuna went. The queen asked him a favour.
Nagarjuna said, "What do you want?"
The queen said, "I want your begging bowl."
Nagarjuna gave it -- that was the only thing he had -- his begging bowl. And the queen brought a golden begging bowl, studded with diamonds and gave it to Nagarjuna. She said, "Now you keep this. I will worship the begging bowl that you have carried for years -- it has some of your vibe. It will become my temple. And a man like you should not carry an ordinary wooden begging bowl -- keep this golden one. I have had it made specially for you."
It was really precious. If Nagarjuna had been an ordinary mystic he would have said, "I cannot touch it. I have renounced the world." But for him it was all the same, so he took the bowl.
When he left the palace, a thief saw him. He could not believe his eyes: "A naked man with such a precious thing! How long can he protect it?" So the thief followed....
Nagarjuna was staying outside the town in a ruined ancient temple -- no doors, no windows. It was just a ruin. The thief was very happy: "Soon Nagarjuna will have to go to sleep and there will be no difficulty -- I will get the bowl."
The thief was hiding behind a wall just outside the door -- Nagarjuna threw the bowl outside the door. The thief could not believe what had happened. Nagarjuna threw it because he had watched the thief coming behind him, and he knew perfectly well that he was not coming for him -- he was coming for the bowl, "So why unnecessarily let him wait? Be finished with it so he can go, and I can also rest."
"Such a precious thing! And Nagarjuna has thrown it so easily." The thief could not go without thanking him. He knew perfectly well that it had been thrown for him. He peeked in and he said, "Sir, accept my thanks. But you are a rare being -- I cannot believe my eyes. And a great desire has arisen in me. I am wasting my life by being a thief -- and there are people like you too? Can I come in and touch your feet?"
Nagarjuna laughed and he said, "Yes, that's why I threw the bowl outside -- so that you could come inside."
The thief was trapped. The thief came in, touched the feet... and at that moment the thief was very open because he had seen that this man was no ordinary man. He was very vulnerable, open, receptive, grateful, mystified, stunned. When he touched the feet, for the first time in his life he felt the presence of the divine.
He asked Nagarjuna, "How many lives will it take for me to become like you?"
Nagarjuna said, "How many lives? -- it can happen today, it can happen now!"
The thief said, "You must be kidding. How can it happen now? I am a thief, a well-known thief The whole town knows me, although they have not yet been able to catch hold of me. Even the king is afraid of me, because thrice I have entered and stolen from the treasury. They know it, but they have no proof. I am a master thief -- you may not know about me because you are a stranger in these parts. How can I be transformed right now?"
And Nagarjuna said, "If in an old house for centuries there has been darkness and you bring a candle, can the darkness say, 'For centuries and centuries I have been here -- I cannot go out just because you have brought a candle in. I have lived so long'? Can the darkness give resistance? Will it make any difference whether the darkness is one day old or millions of years old.
The thief could see the point: darkness cannot resist light; when light comes, darkness disappears. Nagarjuna said, You may have been in darkness for millions of lives -- that doesn't matter -- but I can give you a secret, you can light a candle in your being."
And the thief said, "What about my profession? Have I to leave it?"
Nagarjuna said, "That is for you to decide. I am not concerned with you and your profession I can only give you the secret of how to kindle a light within your being, and then it is up to you."
The thief said, "But whenever I have gone to any saints, they always say, 'First stop stealing -- then only can you be initiated.'"
It is said that Nagarjuna laughed and said, "You must have gone to thieves, not to saints. They know nothing. You just watch your breath -- the ancient method of Buddha -- just watch your breath coming in, going out. Whenever you remember, watch your breath. Even when you go to steal, when you enter into somebody's house in the night, go on watching your breath. When you have opened the treasure and the diamonds are there, go on watching your breath, and do whatsoever you want to do -- but don't forget watching the breath."
The thief said, "This seems to be simple. No morality? No character needed? No other requirement?"
Nagarjuna said, "Absolutely none -- just watch your breath."
And after fifteen days the thief was back, but he was a totally different man. He fell at the feet of Nagarjuna and he said, "You trapped me, and you trapped me so beautifully that I was not even able to suspect. I tried for these fifteen days -- it is impossible. If I watch my breath, I cannot steal. If I steal, I cannot watch my breath. Watching the breath, I become so silent, so alert, so aware, so conscious, that even diamonds look like pebbles. You have created a difficulty for me, a dilemma. Now what am I supposed to do?"
Nagarjuna said, "Get lost! -- whatsoever you want to do. If you want that silence, that peace, that bliss, that arises in you when you watch your breath, then choose that. If you think all those diamonds and gold and silver is more valuable, then choose that. That is for you to choose! Who am I to interfere in your life?"
The man said, "I cannot choose to be unconscious again. I have never known such moments. Accept me as one of your disciples, initiate me."
Nagarjuna said, "I have initiated you already."
Source: Osho
Unexplainable knowledge
will take charge for you.
Supreme activity, unheard of,
will take charge for you.
will take charge for you.
Supreme activity, unheard of,
will take charge for you.
CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI
THE IDEA OF PROGRESS
Q. How am I to know if I am making any progress in my meditation?
AS: Those who meditate a lot often develop a subtle form of ego. They become pleased with the idea that they are making some progress; they become pleased with the states of peace and bliss that they enjoy; they become pleased that they have learned to exercise some control over their wayward minds; or they may derive some satisfaction from the fact that they have found a good guru or a good method of meditation.
All these feelings are ego feelings. When ego feelings are present, awareness of the Self is absent. The thought 'I am meditating’ is an ego thought. If real meditation is taking place, this thought cannot arise.
Don't worry about whether you are making progress or not.
Just keep your attention on the Self twenty-four hours a day.
Meditation is not something that should be done in a particular position at a particular time. It is an awareness and an attitude that must persist throughout the day. To be effective, meditation must be continuous.
If you want to water a field you dig a channel to the field and send water continuously along it for a lengthy period of time.
If you send water for only ten seconds and then stop, the water sinks into the ground even before it reaches the field. You will not be able to reach the Self and stay there without a prolonged, continuous effort. Each time you give up trying, or get distracted, some of your previous effort goes to waste.
Continuous inhalation and exhalation are necessary for the continuance of life. Continuous meditation is necessary for all those who want to stay in the Self.
Source: CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI, p. 277
THE IDEA OF PROGRESS
Q. How am I to know if I am making any progress in my meditation?
AS: Those who meditate a lot often develop a subtle form of ego. They become pleased with the idea that they are making some progress; they become pleased with the states of peace and bliss that they enjoy; they become pleased that they have learned to exercise some control over their wayward minds; or they may derive some satisfaction from the fact that they have found a good guru or a good method of meditation.
All these feelings are ego feelings. When ego feelings are present, awareness of the Self is absent. The thought 'I am meditating’ is an ego thought. If real meditation is taking place, this thought cannot arise.
Don't worry about whether you are making progress or not.
Just keep your attention on the Self twenty-four hours a day.
Meditation is not something that should be done in a particular position at a particular time. It is an awareness and an attitude that must persist throughout the day. To be effective, meditation must be continuous.
If you want to water a field you dig a channel to the field and send water continuously along it for a lengthy period of time.
If you send water for only ten seconds and then stop, the water sinks into the ground even before it reaches the field. You will not be able to reach the Self and stay there without a prolonged, continuous effort. Each time you give up trying, or get distracted, some of your previous effort goes to waste.
Continuous inhalation and exhalation are necessary for the continuance of life. Continuous meditation is necessary for all those who want to stay in the Self.
Source: CONVERSATIONS WITH ANNAMALAI SWAMI, p. 277
Beings
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