The other part

November 13, 2008

I would like to know the basics of sadhan from you. I donot know how much i can submit myself, but to the possible degree of humlity that i can show, i am requesting you to share that which would be relevant to me. It is left to your inspiration that you get from mother. It is the same mother which you and i worship, you and i have guru, but you are closer to mother, higher in consciousness, so please ask that unifying principle about her message for me.------------------------------

Dear Tammudu,

This required another posting from me and is being addressed presently.

There are certain points which need to be emphasized here for the benefit of all:

First, learning a sadhana from me or any Guru requires total surrender and humility.When there is a qualification in it, it is no surrender.It is a mere play of the ego which still wants to retain control.

There is a story here which I might narrate here:

The pupils of the Tendai school used to study meditation before Zen entered Japan. Four of them who were intimate friends promised one another to observe seven days of silence.

On the first day all were silent. Their meditation had begun auspiciously, but when night came and the oil lamps were growing dim one of the pupils could not help exclaiming to a servant: "Fix those lamps."

The second pupils was surprised to hear the first one talk. "We are not supposed to say a word," he remarked.

"You two are stupid. Why did you talk?" asked the third.

"I am the only one who has not talked," concluded the fourth pupil.

What do you get from this story? They all failed in their silence! The ego made even the last student fail.Even if he had not said those words and had it in his mind to say then too he failed because the silence was already broken in his mind.

Second, humility cannot be 'shown' nor does it have 'degrees'.If something can be shown is it real? Is there unpretenciousness in it? a Total honesty in it to reach God or the truth?

Humility is a totality in itself, there are no degrees in it. It happens as a continuum just like cause and effect(which too is a continuum).

Either you can be humble or not and there is nothing like--"Iam partially humble''.It makes no sense and is patently absurd.

I appreciate your honesty and speaking out to me though here in the forum.Many people hide because of embarrassment.I'm no different form you or anyone around.The divine spark exists in all of us.There is hope for all of us and one day we reach 'the goal' ...just a matter of time.

Third, in matters of asking Mother, one should never have a middle man.Now this concept is confusing. On the onehand I say 'have a guru' and on the other hand I poutforth a statement 'seek Devi directly'. This is what is called 'primal-contradiction'(Maybe an elaboration to the previous query you asked me and it came to me in the 'flow' of answering you now!)

Gurus are all equal and there is none higher or lower.None closer or farther from Devi.It is all in the way we receive.

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.

"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."

"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don't have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."

The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him. "Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can't you see this lantern?"

"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.

Thus, each Guru says onething and some other thing happens.The true Guru/Master lies within but then you also need an external Master who reflects your inner-self like a mirror.Who gives you initiations into mantras and paths which you seek, though there is no path in reality as most of it ridden with Maya and an aspiration for higher powers.

When there is a balance in Vivekamaina-vicharamu(discrimination) without becoming too logical and a blind acceptance in following a true adept or master then the candle will not stop burning.

Fourth, Iam not Guru or a master and do not give any initiations as such to help people reach 'God' or see 'Devi'. Devi decides that.

If you want to see the Empress, the Empress's attendant has no power but to just inform Him that someone has come to meet Him. Here the Empress already knows your desire and will fulfill it when the aspirational fire burns really bright.

I would be a willing friend,guide and wayfarer till then to provide you some entertainment, maybe.

Cheers,

Shreeram Balijepalli