Prof. Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang - June 20th, 2004: God is a Journey

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Professor Anil Kumar's Sunday SatsangPrasanthi Nilayam

The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar"God is a Journey"June 20th, 2004

OM…OM…OM…Sai RamWith Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan, Dear Brothers and

Sisters, Bhagawan's silent mission Because of this morning's program I think

some of our brothers and sisters are delayed, on genuine grounds. We can

understand, but I have no business to make you wait till that long.This

morning's program is put up by students of the orphanage, which is started by

Bhagavan. They have put up this program. They made the presentation. Around

sixty orphans are adopted by Bhagavan and Swami constructed a school for them.

They have their own hostel, they have rooms and teachers, medical care, ….tory

attention given to them. Just in a record time of two years, the first batch of

students appeared for examination on around 6th I believe and I got the marks

sheets' zerox copy with me. Five of them got above 80%. One got even 92. This

is the nature of Bhagavan; because I was there at that time, while they were

selecting children from different villages. They are all orphans, left with a

nun, just on the streets and the revenue department people

were asked to pick them up, make a list and submit.Thereafter Swami made police

people to verify. Further he sent team of teachers to go and visit everybody.

So checklist 3, three levels of checks. So, we can understand that they are

genuinely poor orphans, left with a nun. From such a category of people, how He

made children come out in flying colours, as to secure above 80, one even

getting 90 and chant shlokas there and enact a drama in front of us. It's not

an ordinary thing, its not ordinary thing. Even rigorous schools find it

difficult to make a presentation of that order.Swami's mission is so silent; I

am ashamed to say that I have not seen that centre till this day, though I have

been here all along. I have not gone there. Swami's spiritual revolution is

always silent, without any publicity, without any propaganda. Those of us who

are here quite for long also are not aware of things going on somewhere. This

is what the divinity is. Man believes in

publicity. God believes in simplicity. Man considers propaganda very essential;

God feels it as a duty to help his children. Therefore, He does not expect even

thanks from anybody. Man wants recognition; God expects transformation. Man

expects leadership, but God expects you to follow Him, to follow His example.

All His projects, all His programs are going on silently over the last couple

of decades. But many many people are inspired all over the world to take up

similar programs.

Grand opportunity In Africa, which is very well known for its poverty, what a

tremendous program, Educare program has been taking place, is a matter of

revelation quite unbelievable. Children just in rags can't afford even a square

meal a day. Such children are brought up in an ideal atmosphere and a very high

level of education is extended to them totally free of cost, there in Africa.

How people are inspired there, is a matter of a question to a non-devotee but

it is a matter of a pleasant surprise to a devotee; because as a devotee one

accepts the reality. He never doubts, he never questions. We are participants

in this Divine program. We are the living witnesses to what has been going on

today, and this is not a small thing. Because when one of these things go into

the record, and the future generations go through that record it is a history.

But today we see right in front of our eyes what is happening and try to

identify ourselves in our own way

contribute in our way to the Divine mission. It is a grand opportunity given to

every one of us. In fact Bhagavan said, "I can do anything all by Myself. I

don't need anybody's support, but for your name, for your fame, for your

redemption, for your salvation, I am giving you this opportunity to participate

in My Divine mission." Therefore my friends, we enjoy every minute of our stay

here. We enjoy every scene that we come across, all that has happened here, in

front of Swami. Qualitites of a spiritual person As the devotees we have some

times some development or some transformation, which needs us to doubt it. Some

people say, "Sir, is this all true? This experience I had, would you please

interpret for me. What does it mean?" We doubt our own experiences because of

the lack of conviction. One person comes and says; "I feel that I am very soft

and calm after coming to Swami. Is it any progress in spirituality? Does it

indicate any anything good? I feel very calm and soft. Earlier before coming to

Swami I am known for my anger. I am known for my temper. I am known for my

vengeance. I am known for all that. But after coming to Swami I am soft and

calm. What does it mean?" is a question put by a very sincere devotee. I said,

"By being angry, you may be subjected to tensions, worries. It may sometime

lead to violence. You will be hurting yourself and hurting others. By remaining

calm and quite, leave alone progress in

spirituality, at least you are free from that danger of being in anger. If you

are in anger there is a threat, there is a danger. If you are calm and soft,

you are free from all these tensions and anxieties."What does it mean, a man is

calm and soft. This is a feature of a spiritual man. Agitation, disturbance,

worried mind, they are in no way qualities of a spiritual man, in no way. A

spiritual man always remains calm and soft. You may say anything; he is

unruffled.

Purpose of worship When somebody said, "Baba are You God or fraud'? He said,

"I'm god and you are also god." He is not disturbed by that silly question.

Furthermore He says," If you call Me a bald man I am not angry with you,

because I am not bald. I am not bald. If you say that I have mop of hair on My

head then why should I be angry with you. I have lots of hair. I am not

disturbed. If you praise me, well, I don't think that I'll be very much elated.

No, because you are praising for your satisfaction. You are praising so that you

may learn these great qualities. That's what true worship is. Unfortunately

worship has come down to the level of a ritual. Finding flowers from the

market, buying them, just put it down the picture, that is worship. I am not

condemning it, it is a ritual. But something more, true worship is emulation of

the Divine qualities. When I say, "O Baba, you are god of mercy", it means I

must be merciful. "O Bhagavan you are the one

with total compassion", it means I should be compassionate. All the qualities

that we attribute to god, all those noble qualities that we sing in praise of

god as an act of worship are simply meant to be copied, to be emulated. That is

the purpose of worship.

Every moment is a chance for advancement But if it is made into a timetable or a

schedule, if it's mechanical, well we spoil the very purpose of worship. That is

why even the ritualistic people, those that worship regularly, meticulously, are

known for their life unchanged. They remain same, because, 5 O'clock meditation,

7 O'clock worship, 9 O'clock bhajans, something like a routine. But life is not

routine, life is not mechanical, life is not a schedule. Every moment is the

one of excitement. Every moment is a chance for improvement, is an occasion for

advancement. We have to find something new in every moment. Nothing should be

taken for granted. Just watch what had happened this morning. Did we ever

expect that we'll stay this long there? Did we ever expect that there will be

program there? Did we ever expect that the program will be a lengthy one? Did

we ever expect that Swami would be there around 8.15 or so and the program will

go long like this? And

those people who think that darshan is between 7.15 and 7.30 what would happen

to them when swami comes at 8.20? Who am I to give a timetable to Him? Who am I

to indicate His arrival and departure here? Nothing should be taken for granted

so far as Bhagavan is concerned. That is spirituality. Spiritual person is calm

and soft So to begin with this morning's satsang, the first and foremost point,

which I want to draw your attention is this: that a spiritual man is always

calm and soft. No Sir I find some people shouting there, are they not

spiritual, certainly not. I find some people who are rough and tough. Are they

not spiritual? No, by any standards. One has to be quiet, calm and soft. That

is the first beginning of spirituality, the first step. There lies the beauty,

there lies the beauty. The question is this: how can I be calm and how can I be

soft? How to be calm and soft; that is the next question. To answer this

question, let me know why am I not calm, why am I not soft? I am not soft

because of my indifference. I am not soft because of my selfishness. I am not

soft because of my ego. When one fully understands why we are not soft, it may

be quite easy to be soft some day or other by making ourselves free from these

evil qualities. So a rough,

tough, harsh man is egoistic, non spiritual and irreligious. Be that a man of

position or authority, whatever it may be. This is a yardstick; he should be

calm and soft. Why am I not calm? I am not calm because my mind is not

positive. The mind, which is not positive, is never calm. The mind, which is

self-centred, is never calm. The mind, which is at extra work, mind which is

physical mind, which is worldly is never calm. So I can make my mind calm,

remain in calmness, if I am able to turn inward. If I am able to strike a

balance between the world and my own religion, I can be calm if I learn how to

forgive others. I can be calm if I learn what sympathy is. By being sympathetic

towards others we can be calm. By being kind to others we can be calm. By being

non-egoistic we can be soft. But not allowing ourselves to playing according to

the mind, just judging what is what one can remain soft and calm. The

quintessence, one word formula, one word formula to be calm and

soft is this, to cultivate Love. A man of Love is always calm and soft. That

adds beauty to our life. If I am calm and soft, I should know that I am at the

entrance of the temple. I am at the doorstep of god; I am at the doorstep of

divinity. This is the first point, which I want to draw your attention to.

Never doubt your experience The second point is this: we start doubting whether

this experience is true or not. Often times some of my friends come to me, "Sir

this what had happened. How shall I take it? This is what had happened in my

dream, how shall I interpret it? This is what Swami said to me. What does it

mean?" These are the questions that many of my students and friends ask me. I

think it is also your experience; people come and ask, "What does it mean?"My

dear friends lets all give a common answer to all such questions. Let us tell

everybody, "Never doubt; never doubt your experience, whatever it is." When you

doubt your experience please note it is imagination. Any experience doubted is

imagination. Simple example. "Swami told me to do it.""How do you know he told

you?""Somehow I felt he was talking to me from within.""Oh I see, very good."

Is it true? You have put this question, "Is it true?I feel that

Swami is giving me this thought, I feel that Swami is giving me this direction,

is it true?" My friend tell him immediately, when you put this question, ‘Is it

true?' it means it is imagination. Anything that is doubted is either hysteria

or imagination. But a true experience, that which is genuine, which is

personal, will never be doubted. It gives no scope for any help. We may doubt

god but we never doubt Love. Am I not right? You may doubt god but you will

never doubt Love. Simple example. ‘My mother loves me', do u doubt that? ‘I

love my mother', do you doubt it? He is god, but then I doubt it. That is the

reason why Bhagavan always speaks of Love. You don't doubt Love. And that Love

is god. God is Love. Live in Love. Never Love is doubted, because this Love is

born out of personal fountain of experience. It is born out of your own

experience. Therefore you never doubt. Well how to be doubtless? That is the

next question. How am I to be doubtless?

Satsang is sharing of knowledge My friend these are all collected from Sai

literature. I am trying to put it as interesting as possible in the form of a

question and answer. Because if it is read as a long article, well I think it

may not reach your head straight away. Certain books, like Vijaya Sutra Vahini,

Jnyana Vahini, Upanishad Vahini, they are very tough. Somehow we have to get

them sugar coated and yet see that things get into our head. Like ??. So it is

in this direction that I collect these points and am trying to get a place in

our head. That's all. Not with the idea that you do not know. No. My friends, I

repeat once again, whatever is happening here, not talking about that that you

do not know. No. We are sharing all that we know together. We are just

exchanging our views on Swami. That is what satsang is. That's all. Satsang is

not flow of knowledge from one end that takes place in a classroom; that takes

place in a

college or a university; where one man sits on a higher pedestal and goes on

teaching what he knows to a person who does not know. That is not satsang. This

is satsang. Why? Here both of us know, both of us know and we are just reminding

ourselves. We are just sharing. We are sharing what all we know together. That

is the objective of satsang. That is what satsang in reality is.

How to be doubtless How to be doubtless, here comes an answer. When the thirst,

thirst or hunger for truth is total, when hunger for truth and thirst for truth

is total then there will be no doubt at all. Because there is no total hunger,

because we are not thirsty in full, we have got doubts. We come here with fixed

notions. We come here with a feeling that we can manage ourselves. There is no

surrender.

With the spirit of surrender, openness, ready to accept, with full thirst and

hunger for god whatever experience born out of that state is doubtless. You

will never doubt your experience at that moment. Therefore Bhagavan Baba said,

"The longing should be so genuine, so deep, just as the calf jumps runs towards

the mother cow. The calf watching the mother cow there, goes on jumping running

to be very close to the mother, starts licking the neck, because that's love,

yearning. So Bhagavan always says that yearning, pining for god should be so

deep and total as to give birth to an experience, which will take us to a state

of doubtlessness. But when that is not so, all those things that we get are

prone to doubt.

Bhajan must go on to eternity within you Point 3, we participate in bhajans we

sing, we enjoy, we listen to Bhagavan's talks, we are so happy talking to

devotees. We are very much delighted to know the experiences of our friends and

relations. But there is one step more required. All that you sing, all that you

are happy about, should be continued, because that is not a temporary state of

mind. I sing, yes during bhajans I sing ok, but there should be singing within

throughout.Bhajans or some time, should be a guideline for bhajan to eternity

within. Yes. If there is bhajans going on to eternity within, I can remain

calm, soft, peaceful and blissful. But we don't do it. Because bhajan time is

between 6 and 7, bhojan time from 8 to 10. …. So when once we feel within, all

the external joy, all the external merriment, dance, ecstasy, music, within

throughout, that is real spiritual sadhana, that is the real spiritual

practice.

The real spiritual practice is to chant within continuously, to sing within

throughout for which purpose the external schedule is meant.

Akhanda Bhajan Because somebody came to Swami and said, "Swami we had bhajan for

24 hours'. They thought that Swami will praise them to skies. But Baba said,

"What were you doing next, later? You did bhajan for 24 hours, later what did

you do? Stop, wait for next year, to do bhajans, 24 hours."It's not so. And

Bhagavan also in of the discourses He said, "Akahnda bhajan, akhanda bhajan

meaning infinite incessant continuous. But the so-called akahnda bhajans we

start at 6 in the evening, conclude in the morning at 6, Bangalore standard

time or next day 6 Puttaparthi standard time. Akahnda bhajan. At one of the

discourses towards the conclusion of the akhanda bhajan what Baba said is this,

"When you start at one time how can you call it akhanda. Akhanda means infinite,

continuous. When you start it is khanda, finite, limit, fragmented. So we do

khanda bhajan, khanda, fragmented, piece meal, scheduled,

time bound and call it akhanda bhajan, infinite. Then the question will arise,

‘Alright shall I do bhajan throughout my life? What shall I do about my

living?' It is not that my friend. There is bhajan going on silently within.

The silence is more powerful, silence is more powerful than sound. The sound

gives a kind of relief of gas from a cylinder, that's all. There is no depth in

word; there is no depth in verbal communication. There is fathomless depth in

silence. That is the reason why every sage, every saint, every aspirant, every

avatar, made the silence compulsory to every follower and every devotee.

Silence, Baba said that it is only in the depth of silence that you will hear

the voice of god.

Silence is the sound of god If you go through the literature of Ramana

Maharishi, the sage of Arunachala, arre re what wonderful things he has said.

The silence, out of that silence, the Himalayan silence if we calculate in

terms of height, or silence as deep as an ocean if you want to calculate it in

the form of, in terms of its depth. That infinite silence is more powerful than

any word, any expression, any language, any sound. Why? That silence which is

within out of which mind is born. Mind is the product of that silence and the

mind gives rise to thought. And series of thought interwoven constitute the

jagat or the creation. The whole creation, the world is nothing but a bundle of

thoughts. And out of these thoughts comes the word or expression. When I say my

word or expression is so powerful how shall I take that silence which is the

bedrock, which is the very foundation of expression? That's the reason why

Ramana Maharishi says,

"Silence is more powerful than word. Silence is more powerful than expression,

because silence is a language of god. Silence is the speech of god. Silence is

the sound of god." This silence within will help us to withdraw our mind, to

withdraw our mind slowly and slowly. The sage of Arunachal, Ramana Maharishi

speaks more of silence, the depth of silence the significance of silence, the

charm of silence, the charisma of silence, the influence of silence, the

philosophy of silence. While I don't think anyone has spoken about silence as

much as Ramana Maharishi, when time comes we will get into the topic later. So,

the point is out of the silence, the bedrock which is the seed, sprouts the

mind, out of the mind, the thought and the thought leads to expression or word

or verbal or vocal. Therefore that word is least powerful when compared to the

silence.

Silence helps in self-evaluation Bhagavan wants us to observe silence

necessarily everyday for some time. This has been prescribed even to bala vikas

children, because silence helps us to examine ourselves, self-examination. But

we're busy in examining others. Silence helps us to evaluate myself, but I

evaluate others. Silence is a guide to judge myself, but I am busy in judging

others. Therefore this sort of silence is necessary just as thermometer is

necessary to know the temperature. Silence will show the temperature of owns

progress in the spiritual field.

There is one great saint by name Ekanath, a great saint from north India. He

goes one step forward. If you are to talk, if you are to open your mouth, if

you are to express by word, my son, speak about god and spirituality, or else,

keep quiet. "You should not speak anything other than god and spirituality,

says ekanath. To impress this statement, Ekanath goes one step further. He says

all our thoughts is filth, is dust, ugly, and if u r to talk yes talk about god,

talk about spiritual sadhana. Most of us who have chosen to live here with the

desire to improve ourselves take the lesson of Ekanath. Let us think of Swami,

let us think of our own sadhana, let us exchange our experiences, let us

encourage each other. That should be only the centre and topic of our thoughts.

Nothing else as we understand, because let us know one basic fact. People are

mistaken, if they think by coming here that it is be all and end all. Some

people say, "I am in Puttaparthi, yes what more I want." I am sorry there are

many people in Puttaparthi. Your stay here is not be all and end all. I'm

sorry, our stay. Whatever statement I make includes me or begins with me. I'm

not different from anybody, least of all of you, least and last of all of you.

I have no false claims, as on today. I have no extra authenticity or authority

more than anybody else. I am very sure about it. We are fellow pilgrims. We are

moving towards together, along the same path of journey towards god that's all.

Fellow pilgrims. We are walking along the footpath towards god.

That's all. God is not a goal, god is journey So it is in this context that let

us not feel anytime that I am here therefore everything is done. That nothing

more is required. No. If you think by being here that this is the goal of life

we are mistaken. Why? God is not a goal. Because if you think god is a goal,

the road ends there. No. God is not a goal. But god is a journey. He is not a

goal. He is a journey. That is the reason why we go on moving, we go on

travelling we don't stop. If He is a goal, yes I saw Him yesterday, why should

I see Him again today? If He is a goal, I came to Puttaparthi, it is my goal of

life. ‘Alright, I can sleep in my room.' It's not a goal. God is a journey and

he is not a goal. Love is the beginning. We should begin every journey towards

god with love, because Love is the beginning, god is the journey. God is not a

goal, but a pilgrimage. God is a pilgrimage but not a goal. Pilgrimage is an

activity that takes place throughout our life. Its not

seasonal, it is not incidental, it is not accidental. Therefore my friends our

being here is an eternal travel and to begin with Love is the requirement. And

it is travel: continuous, eternal, infinite because we believe that god is the

journey. God is a pilgrimage and that He is not the goal.

Spirituality is an Eternal quest That's the reason why Bhagavan always says one

thing. "Swami, he has been here for last 20 years. Swami, he has been visiting

this place for the last several years." That will not make god happy. He says,

"Bus conductor comes here everyday. Bus conductor comes here everyday. There

are number of shops outside. They have been here for the last several years.

Casual labour, carpenters, electricians, masons number of them are here. Do you

think they are all liberated souls? Certainly not." So they are here. It is not

the physical presence or location, it is an attitude in life. That is an

attitude in life, which is the real spiritual pursuit. Then what happens? If

your attitude is positive, if my attitude is tuned to god, god will come to

you, you don't have to come to god. If Mohammad is not prepared to go to the

mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammad, that's what it is. If you are tuned

towards god you don't have to go to Him,

He comes to you. That's what is happening all over the world today. In 160

countries there are Baba's devotees. In 160 countries there are Sathya Sai

centres. They are not all here. Everyone has got his own experience to share.

Everyone has got his own excitement to share with his friends. Why? Because

though he maybe in New York, but mentally he is here though his body is in

Sydney, psychologically he is here. Though he is functioning in his office,

continuously singing bhajan made him stay here, enjoy the Divine bliss. So

spirituality is an eternal quest, is an eternal quest. We should not put a full

stop at any particular stage, because every physical activity has a full stop

but spiritual activity is a never-ending process. Furthermore a great

philosopher calls it, it is a pathless land. It is an endless journey. We are

all on eternal quest, which I wanted to share with you.

Spirit and philosophy behind bhajans Alright, if I am to go like that throughout

relentlessly, ceaselessly what is happening in the meantime. I go on, go on and

on and on as a pilgrim in this pilgrimage of life, in this pilgrimage of

divinity. What happens in the process? Simple example. When you sing bhajans

full throated, have you examined at that moment what is happening to yourself.

When you sing bhajans, full throated, not talking to anybody, not scratching

the back. In full awareness when you sing bhajans, have you ever watched what

is happening? What happens is this: you as an individual do not exist. You as

an individual do not exist. Why do you say that, I am there I am singing. Why

do u say I am not in existence? I am sorry. If anybody watches you form a

distance as you clap, as you go on singing: if anyone takes a photograph and

shows you later Polaroid film, you begin to doubt. "Is it I that did bhajans

like that? Was my face like

that? Did I clap like that? Did I move like that? Was I ever a dancer? What

happened to me? What happened to my head? What happened to me?" Because that

‘I' ness, that ‘me me me' is gone totally, because you melt in bhajans. You

merge in god's name; you disappear as an individual. Three things happen.

That's why bhajans are very important. That's why I love people who sing

bhajans. That's why Baba encourages bhajans. He sits there. What next? Swami's

bhajans. C'mon sit. Though the program runs for one hour He still wants

bhajans. Because bhajans are the surest, simplest, most guaranteed path to

divinity. Yes. Similarly when you put your fingers in the fire they are sure to

be burnt. Is there any doubt about it, whether in America or in Russia? No sir,

the Russian fire will never burn your fingers. Oh oh, it is not fire. Fire

anywhere will have to burn you. Similarly, the fire of god's name, the fire of

His glorious

…..ous name, the fire of bhajans will make you melt. Melt. Why should I melt?

Because my heart is a stone. My heart is a stone. It is not tender and soft

like butter. It is indifferent; It is so selfish; it is so arrogant. Such a

type of heart first should melt. That's the reason why unknowingly tears start

rolling on the cheeks. Just watch. Some people start doing bhajans, but tears

start rolling. Just look at him. He will look at you. "Why do you look at me?

You do bhajans. Why do you look at me?""Arre, why are you crying? Is that so? I

am sorry."He doesn't know. Tears start rolling on the cheeks without your

knowledge. Why? You melt in bhajans. Melt. Like ice that melts, like sugar that

gets dissolved. Like that you melt in the process of bhajan. Then merge. You

merge in God's name. You merge, because soon after bhajan is over some people

don't get up because they are still in the world of bhajans.

Those that get up immediately, they have been watching their watch, every time,

when to get up. It's very silly. How can you get up immediately after bhajans.

Is that possible? Because you are not there. So you melt in bhajans. You merge

in the name of god, in the name of god and disappear. Merge, melt, disappear.

Melt, merge, disappear - these are the three words, which we should remember.

Let the heart melt, let the ego merge, let you disappear. That is the spirit

and philosophy and the depth behind true bhajans.

Difference between music and spirit of bahajan Singing of the bhajans, if I come

and ask you how my singing is, then better we be away from such fellows. If

anyone comments that the second bhajan is not as good as the first bhajan, then

he is stupid. Because he is still existing there as an ego. It only means he has

not melted. He has not merged, he has not disappeared as an ego. Therefore he

goes on grading the standards of bhajans. Whenever I ask some students, "C'mon

sing", they feel shy. "Sir, sir not now." I tell him, "This is not music

competition. We are not having music competitions. I don't expect from you a

top singer. No. The standard of a top singer, no."Bhajan means the spirit, not

merely the form. The spirit of the song is bhajan, mere song is music. Mere

singing is music; the spirit of singing is bhajan. That's the difference

between the two. The singing, the music is just the melody, beat, tune. But the

spirit of bhajan, the spirit of

singing, the spirit of bhajan is to make you melt, merge and disappear. That's

what it is according to Bhagavan Baba. Let us also be aware of what we have

right now on hand. Simple example. If we do not know what we have how valuable

this opportunity is. If I am not convinced of this, if someone puts a question

then my feeling starts wavering, it is worthless. It is useless to be here any

longer. Having been here, having been among the path of Bhagavan, we should be

so convinced beyond doubt. Simple example. A jeweller knows the value of the

diamond, knows the value of the gold. Whereas, an illiterate, a rough thick

totally ignorant person does not know the value of the diamond. Plays with it

like a stone. But jeweller knows its value. That's the radon why let us adore

Bhagavan. Let us sing his glory in full understanding, in full awareness of its

value rather than simply making it a mechanical process. Watch your mind And it

is in this context; I can also share with you another thought that Bhagavan has

given us. Watch your mind. "Watch your mind", said Bhagavan Baba. Statement is

understood but is it possible? How to watch my mind? Who is to watch? Who is to

watch my mind? That is the dilemma. These are certain things that require in

depth study and enquiry. It is not a simple story. It calls for introspection.

It calls for meditation and contemplation. It is not simple narration or

describe or description of a source. Watch your mind. Some people said, "Swami,

how to watch? Should my mind watch my mind?" People say that there are two

halves here. This half of the mind should observe this half of the mind or this

half of the mind should observe this half of the mind. Who is to watch whom?

Watch the mind. Who is to watch? And Bhagavan says, "There is watcher beyond

the mind. Watcher. The witness is beyond the mind". That we do not know.

Whether there

is anything like beyond the mind. Because we think that we are the mind.

Everyone identifies with the mind. That is the reason why we are so egoistic.

Anyone comes and says, "You are a good man.Oh I see. Is that so? Has he come

to know only now? I have been good all along."If anyone says you are wrong. I am

very much disturbed. All this is because of the mind. I think I am the mind. By

identifying with the mind, I am not able to go beyond the mind. There is a

state beyond the mind. When I go to a state beyond the mind, I can take it for

granted that I am along the spiritual path. That's what sage Ramana Maharishi

told. Ramana Maharishi always lays emphasis on this. Go beyond the mind. We are

not able to go beyond the body. One should go beyond the body, then go beyond

the mind; then one can reach the state of witness.

The purpose of meditation The third stage is witness. That watcher is called

witness, that's what Baba says. He gives a beautiful definition. Really all of

us love Swami because, just as the scientific law in simple terms He gives

beautiful definitions to Vedantic doctrines, to philosophical nomenclature. He

gives simplest definitions straight. What is meditation? Baba says, "True

meditation is to go beyond the mind. To go beyond the mind." So if I say, "In

mediation I saw a beautiful swan, in meditation I saw so many colours, in

mediation I got directive", that is all imagination. Because you are not there.

If you report what had happened; if you go on repeating what had happened it is

super imposition. It is the mind that records. It is the mind, which is the

computer. It is the mind that reports, records, records, reports. But true

meditation is beyond the mind. When one is beyond the mind there is neither

recording, nor reporting. So, reaching

the witness, the watcher, the more distance between the mind and the watcher, is

because of meditation, which is better, all the more good. Wider and wider gap,

distance between the mind and the watcher, the witness that; is the purpose of

mediation. Summary This morning let me conclude with these three important

points for the benefit of those who joined us late.The first point is if one is

soft and calm, he is spiritual. Once can be soft and calm if he has Love in him.

The contrary behaviour is because of the absence of Love. Point number 2, god is

not the goal, but god is the journey. Love is the beginning; god is the

pilgrimage. Spirituality is an eternal quest. Point 3. The joy, the bliss that

we show externally during bhajan or during meditation or during some activity,

during darshan, it should not be time bound. Such dance, that music, that

ecstasy should be there within me throughout. The joy, the bliss should be

within me throughout. So the external and the internal harmony, synchronicity,

synchronicity, harmony; the unity of the external pleasure and internal bliss,

the external singing and the internal singing to the beats and the rhythm is

the true

sign of a spiritual man. Point 4. If my hunger, if my thirst for god is total

and full, I don't need to be worried; god will come to me. Without this full

thirst and hunger even if I go to god, I am not going to be benefited. If you

are not hungry, whether you go to western canteen or the south Indian canteen,

or north Indian canteen, it is useless because you are not hungry. If you are

hungry, very hungry, wherever you go that hunger will be satiated, that hunger

will be appeased. That's what it is. Point 5. Lets watch our mind. Let us go

beyond the mind, because the purpose of meditation is to create a distance

between the watcher and the mind. Wider the gap, more the distance it is all

the better. That is the purpose of meditation. In on sentence, to go beyond the

mind is the objective of meditation. With these thoughts I take leave from you

for this morning; with a prayer that we will meet once again positively, next

week, same day, same

time. OM…OM…OM…

Asato Maa Sad GamayaTamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya

Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Source: http://www.internety.com/anilk2004/20.06.04(E)central.htm© Anil Kumar Kamaraju 2004

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