Books / Open the Door...Let the Breeze in! Part 2 English merged

32. 62. How to do meditation?

# 62. How to do meditation?

  • Oh! The mind controls and binds. The thoughts drag us here and there. Being caught in between these two, man struggles in the same way as a parrot gets perplexed when it is put inside a cage, being unable to fly off independently, in spite of it having wings.
  • Doing meditation is only that of journeying inwards thinking, 'Oh! You ego! You drag me here and there through thoughts! Where are you?'
  • An important rule in this journey The passenger should remain only as a spectator.
  • If you travel with the belief that it is possible to cut the ego which makes the man a slave and shouts loudly and triumphantly then shouting loud with total independence will certainly be possible by meditation.
  • This is a peculiar journey. As the speed of travel increases, the speed of thoughts will decrease.
  • As the speed of thoughts decreases, the quantum of inner independence will begin to increase.

This is an interesting conversation between a 60 year old grand father and a 6 year old grand son.

The grandson said, 'Oh grandpa, it seems the mind is a monkey! My teacher said, if you control the mind, you can study well. One, who wins over his mind, will win over this world itself. If tried this would be possible. How long will it take to control the mind, grandpa?'

The grand father got angry and said, 'Did you ask how many days? Your teacher is wrong. Don't believe him. Not simply days. Even if it is sixty years, a man cannot control his mind.' When he said this, the 6 year old grandson saw with wonder the way in which he said this.

  • Mind cannot be controlled. Mind should become calm by itself. The more you try to control, suppress and subdue the mind, the more it will go the opposite way. You will lose your control.

What one has to do for the mind so that it will subdue by itself?

Inside this article...

Many are eager to know the answers for the heading.

Reason: When they sit to meditate, it appears as though more and more thoughts seem to come to the mind as compared to ordinary times.

The reason for such an appearance is, that then only, for the first time in their lives, they come face to face with the mental horse which is continuously galloping within themselves.

For those who are thinking, 'I am quite natural', it will be only the 'unnatural quality' which is inside them, which would come out when one sits for meditation.

An interesting incident.

On the twenty fifth day after India got independence...

That youngster who was from Andhra, had come to Ramanashram, with a quest for inner independence, to learn meditation.

As usual that day also, Ramana Maharishi (an enlightened Master) set out for a walk.

That youth was not prepared to waste even a minute, as his 'fire of inner independence' was burning furiously.

He crossed Ramana Maharishi and requested him, 'I have come from a very long distance to do meditation. I do not know which place is suitable in the Ashram to do meditation. Wherever you want me to meditate, I will do it there.'

Ramana did not appear to have listened to the question. Ramana simply rubbed his feet and ankles and started for the walk.

The patience of the youth was tested.

As the youth who asked the question was standing before him, Ramana turned towards the people behind him and said, 'If you ask in which place I have to meditate, what can be said? It is good to stay at the place where the self is there. It will be very correct. Remain in that place and meditate.' Laughingly Ramana said these words and moved away.

As the answer to his question was like a Yagna, the youth got irritated a little.

The youth said to those present there, 'What is this? He is saying, 'Be at the same place where you are.' Have I come all the way from Andhra to hear this? He is a great man. So I thought he would tell me about a place suitable for me and that is why I asked him, but he says, 'Be at the same place where the self is.' I am near this sofa now. So, does it mean that I should meditate here only? What is this futile play?' He said sadly.

At that moment he could not understand as to how Ramana Maharishi had put a great secret in such a simple way.

Then a devotee took that youth aside and said, 'Oh friend, whether he says humorously or playfully, what Bhagavan speaks will be about truth only. Wherever the ego 'I' is staying, that very place is where 'you' are. Going with awareness to the place where the ego is and watching as a spectator – is only meditation. Remaining with awareness at the place, where you (ego) exist, is only meditation. Leaving that aside and asking, 'Can I do meditation by sitting here; or there?' - These are all waste of time.' So saying, he finished his explanation.

The youth understood, 'Oh! Being in a state of awareness and looking at happenings of the external world with playfulness is what Ramana meant by meditation', and then he applied himself fully on meditation.

'Penetrate into the still feeling which is present inside you.' It is difficult to understand this...

First of all, learn to look at your thoughts and your mind as a spectator only.

For every one to understand better here is an example.

You are watching a picture in a cinema theatre. In that picture, a scene of your liking is going on. Because it is to your liking, the same scenes will not come continuously.

Same way, a scene not to your liking, is going on. Because you don't like it, those scenes cannot be stopped at that moment.

Because this picture is not good and is boring, a new picture cannot be screened at that very moment there. It is not possible.

Whatever is screened, let us watch. With this idea only, you will sit and watch for three hours and come home.

Same thing you do with meditation also. Simply watch. Watch simply as a witness only. Watch a cinema for thirty minutes inside you.

  • Just in case the thoughts that come to you are not to your liking, do not stop those thoughts and scenes.
  • The thoughts that come, if they are to your liking, don't continue and follow those thoughts and scenes.
  • Do not try to create any new thought or any new scene. That is all.

If you adhere to these three rules, it will be easy to watch like a witness. You can involve yourself in meditation well. Meditate and see.

A meaningful incident.

After a few days of beginning to meditate, Nitty, feeling very joyful said:

'I searched and searched within me; there was not even a single reason to worry. What joy is there which is bigger than this?'

  • These are the outcomes of the path of meditation: First, worries will get dissolved.

Next, joy will overflow.

Last, bliss will remain permanent.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No.17.

The way to make every second, a meditation...

Stand. Walk. Run. Dance. Taste. Smell. Laugh. See. Hear. Speak. Sing. Think. Sit. Eat. Play. Why? Even become angry. Do any thing.

When you do it, do that alone.

Think about that action in full measure.

Look at all the possibilities concerning this.

Make all your five senses interested in that action.

The action you do will become a meditation.

The action you do will be successful.

63. Alchemy.

When a journalist asked a modern Zen Master, 'What is your idea about evolutionary growth?' he laughed without giving a reply immediately and said to the devotees present there:

'One who destroys joy is an animal. One who is not joyful is a man. One who is blissful is an enlightened Master. One who gives joy is a Guru (Teacher). That state of bliss is God.

As far as I am concerned, this only is evolutionary growth.'

According to this list, you also can go to the next states. But it is you who should permit the alchemy to happen!

Section 2

  • This article is written for those who think, 'Oh, for me wisdom and spirituality are not needed' and also for those spiritual persons...
    • Sleep that comes when desired!
    • Sorrow that does not come even when desired!
    • Bliss that bubbles up from the inside!
    • Tranquility which is not agitated by any thing!
    • Joy which helps to celebrate life!

Along with these, each and every hair-root of the body will be rejoicing with joy.

All the five senses will function at their peak with zeal.

In short, all things stated above are in fact one hundredth parts of evidence of the state of bliss of enlightened Masters.

To explain more than this, language has not evolved to that extent.

  • Wisdom, meditation and bliss only refer to that state of remaining rejoiced in bliss in such a manner that each and every cell of the body tastes sweet.
  • Spirituality is only that path which teaches us and helps us make the alchemy happen within us to attain the state of bliss through meditation techniques and wisdom.

Do you require spirituality?

Or you don't need it?

Continue to read the article after deciding that.

The methods adopted by a person to discover within him the eternal bliss which is called enlightenment and also the changes that occur within his inner world. – I call both of these put together as 'alchemy'.

Jumalki used to adopt a lot of new methods to see that alchemy reached the people.

He kept a notice board at a junction of four roads:

  • 2 Special Shows! Sunday 6 PM
    1. Debut dance performance by a person who has no legs.
    1. Painting by a person who doesn't have hands.

As expected, the performance hall was filled with people. Devotees who respected Jumalki as God and practitioners of spirituality had assembled there.

Jumalki, who arrived there punctually at 6 pm, instead of the special show, started his speech.

During his entire half an hour speech, he was emphasizing with much relish, saying, 'You are also God and you too can experience total joy.'

Even though Jumalki spoke with elucidation, those present there were only thinking, 'What all he says is not possible for ordinary people like us.'

Suddenly a gang of ruffians entered. They were shouting as they entered the hall.

Along with them, they brought a man sitting in a basket and another man seated in a palanquin. Silence and peace was disturbed. Confusion prevailed.

One of the ruffians challenged, 'Oh Jumalki! It seems that you are a great enlightened Master. Nothing is impossible for you.

We saw your notice board. Only to teach you a lesson, we have brought a man without hands and a man without a leg.

Go on! Make this lame man run and this man without hands draw. Let us see.'

Jumalki slowly got up and pointed at his walking stick towards the lame man and said, 'Get up and walk.' Then he looked at the man without hands and said, 'Wave your hands.'

Nothing happened. The hall was silent.

Suddenly Jumalki beat both of them vigorously with his walking stick.

First, being unable to bear the pain, crying aloud, 'Oh! Ah! Oooch! Oh God!' the lame man jumped out from the basket.

Next, the men without hands also crying out, 'No, No, don't do that...' jumped out blocking and warding off the blows.

The aim of the gang was o make the dancers pretend and act as if one had no hands and the other had one leg. But this got exposed. As Jumalki started beating them they were forced to use their hands and legs to defend themselves from his blows. Their true colors were revealed.

Announcing the spiritual truths of the inner world as a puzzle and then, later, explaining the solution was Jumalki's method of teaching.

But, today, as the devotees tried to attack that gang, which had thought of insulting their Master by pre-planned and stage-managed actions, Jumalki said, 'Stop! They have said it beautifully in just half a minute, what I have tried to say in half an hour.'

As the devotees saw, they were not able to understand any thing.

Jumalki continued, 'Having forgotten to move the hands and feet for very many days and believing himself to be lame, if a person tries to dance or draw, in the first instance, it will of course be amusing to him. If he continues his trials, soon, at an unexpected moment, his hands or feet will begin to function. The fact that he is not lame will become an experience to him.

In the same way, the entrance door to reach the bliss will also suddenly open within ourselves.

The person who falsely believes that he is lame, only if he thinks, 'Why not I try as these people say' and tries to walk only then he can feel the presence of his feet.

I call the treasure inside us only as the sea of bliss. If we try, we can dive into that sea.

Meditation is only the effort taken to search and find out that the sea is very much present inside us. Begin to strike inside vigorously with the stick called meditation. The curtain will unveil. Sea will be visible.

Do it and see. You will come to understand.

My thanks to the gang of friends who helped me to express well the last portion of my speech', so saying he finished his discourse.

The methodology to attain bliss is entirely scientific.

As we can emphatically express in chemistry, that when we mix a particular liquid with a given chemical, we will get a specific end product, bliss can also be expressed in the same way.

When the juice of joy (Ananda rasa) merges with the awareness, the resultant end product so obtained is called bliss. It is only the things that are to be done and actions taken concerning spirituality that are called as alchemy.

Whether we believe it or not, we are living in the blissful energy flow only. Still we are not aware of it. The reason is that the awareness has not expanded and spread itself!

'Nava pashanam' is the one made by mixing a collection of nine poisons which contain medicinal properties and are powerful. If all the nine poisons are mixed in correct proportions and in correct quantities then the next minute itself Nava pashanam will be ready.

Like this, in our body, there are seven energy centers. There are fluctuations in regard to the fitness of the feelings connected with them. Only these fluctuations sow the seed for the diseases of the mind and the body to occur.

If the feelings connected with the seven chakras of the body are rectified and corrected and if we can enter into the place where the energy of the seven chakras gets concentrated and shrunk, we can happily enter into the ocean of bliss.

Since science has advanced well today, we can learn the alchemy of transforming the base feelings such as fear, greed and lust concerned with the seven chakras into higher and purer states of energy (love), by way of

individual practical meditation techniques. Make the alchemy happen in you and see.

If you approach the Dhyana healing centers of Dhyanapeetam, you can learn these meditations and obtain the benefits.

A meaningful incident.

A doctor asked me in Oklahoma University: How to find out whether I am enlightened or not? How to confirm it?

I replied: If you are enlightened, there will be no doubt at all whether you have got enlightenment. It is such an experience you will not have even a ray of doubt! As long as you have this doubt, be sure that you are not enlightened.

  • For being enlightened, the alchemy that happens within you is deeprooted. And it is very clear.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No.18.

An embryo makes a girl, a mother. A Master makes a man a mystic.

Is a Master essential for you to be enlightened and to be blissful?

After reading these words, make a decision...

  • Until and unless an individual makes a decision by himself to be blissful, even if he stays with a teacher life-long, the teacher cannot help.
  • If an individual takes a decision by himself to be blissful, he will not need the help of a Master. He will attain bliss by himself.

If that is so, what is the necessity for a Master's help?

Section 3

A Master is needed because for the one who has not taken a decision to live blissfully, it is not easy to make him take this decision. For that alchemy should happen.

If it does not happen, for the only reason of not having taken this decision to live blissfully, many births may have to be wasted.

'Mother' is merely a societal status. It is another pen-name only.

But 'motherhood' is blossoming; maturity of quality.

Anybody can get motherly qualities. Even a man can get this. It is because it is a quality-oriented change. Not a bodily change.

For a girl to get motherly qualities, giving birth to a child is an easy way. The society grants the status of 'mother' to the girl. Because of the living evidence of the child together with this status granted by society, alchemy happens within the girl which will push her towards motherhood.

It will become an honorable and prestigious target to get motherhood. Very easily a girl will change as a mother... If this opportunity is utilized!

For a person to be enlightened, 'a Guru, a Master' is an easy way.

As the ecstatic experiences given by meditation and the maturity obtained by wisdom truths add up, the alchemy that happens within him will push him towards bliss.

Due to the guidance and actions of the Master, enlightenment will become an honourable and prestigious target.

Man will be enlightened very easily...

If the Master is utilized! If a conscious decision is taken by himself to be blissful!

64. Enlightened Master

A person asked Vivekananda, in a sarcastic tone, 'You are speaking about every thing with proof. What evidence do you have to prove the existence of God?'

Reply came from Vivekananda in a ringing voice, 'The fact that until today nobody is able to prove that there is God is by itself a proof that there is God.' The man who questioned him was shaken.

He hesitated for some time and then asked.

'How is that? Can you please explain?'

Vivekananda said, 'In case science proves that there is God then science would become a matter greater than God. God is not such a play thing to be proved by science.

God is great. Gigantic. Being unable to prove that there is God is by itself the proof that there is God.'

  • Only an enlightened Master can give replies for such complicated questions in an easy and simple but at the same time curt manner. Enlightened Masters have not taken birth only to give varied, new answers for puzzling questions. Enlightened Masters have only taken birth to change even a troubled man as a man with the quality of love and joy. Those who approach the enlightened Masters in the appropriate manner are those persons who have come to this world to become great men. What about you???

A disciple can accept the Master's words as it is. He will not waste the Master's time, or his own time in doubts.

  • A devotee can listen to the Master's words. But, he will take time to believe and accept it.
  • A spectator will waste all his time in testing as to 'Whether this man is really a Master!'
  • Disciple, devotee or a spectator this depends upon the method of your approach towards the Master. A logician came to Bharatha Rishi with the intention of testing him.

The logician asked him in a voice full of pride, 'What is it that you can teach me?'

Bharatha Rishi said in a firm voice, 'I cannot teach you more than the lessons that the society teaches. But if you wish to learn, I have got so many lessons with me, which society cannot teach even in your dreams.'

The logician who came thinking he could play with words, stood there speechless!

Here is a Sufi's story to understand easily the reply of Bharatha Rishi...

That Sufi enlightened Master used to spend a lot of time with the public. He would talk with a lot of laughter. He would take great pain to explain everything. But he would not bother about the disciples.

The same disciple would have been a devotee some time back. Then the Master would have talked with him for a long time.

When the same devotee became a disciple, he would speak only a few words that too once in a way only.

For a disciple, who was new, he could not understand as to why the Master was behaving like that. So he engaged himself in direct argument.

The disciple asked the Master, 'Why do you talk with the disciples only for a short time. I see that you are not bothered about us at all. Why is that?"

The Master said in a firm voice, 'All for your improvement only.'

The disciple asked, 'Then, why do you talk to the public for a long time?'

The Master says, 'It is for their welfare. Understand one thing. Whether you live here or live in the family, you can lead a spiritual life. Only he becomes a disciple who comes away after having decided that only spirituality is life, only bliss is the limit. For a disciple, it is easy to believe my words and to implement them in practical life.

For the reason that he has realized that what I say is for his good only, it is enough if I talk a few words to him.

He will sincerely strive continuously for many days to implement it practically. But it is a different story altogether with the public. They are thinking that spirituality is only a part of their life.

It is difficult to make them understand that they can live their life in a spiritual manner. Their minds will suffer without believing the truth. That is why I have to spend a lot of time with the devotees. I have to teach the devotee.

The disciple will learn from me. Understand this difference.'

The disciple asked, 'All those things are all right. Why won't you spend time to teach us also?'

The Master looked at the disciple and said, 'Eh! Boys! This boy still remains a devotee only. He has not become a disciple. Let him remain in the ashram as he likes, till he becomes a disciple. Relax a little, the rules of the ashram for him.'

Then he gracefully looked at the disciple, who was struggling being unable to believe the truth and reality and said, 'Yes, tell me further about your problem.' so saying he was walking with him leisurely and was listening to him. He spent a lot of time with him.

Spirituality is easy to learn, difficult to teach.

The reason: One who learns will be mentally prepared to learn from the enlightened Master. But when an enlightened Master tries to teach a devotee – the Master's time will be wasted in preparing the mind of the devotee for learning.

Just like the person searching for the ghee when he has butter in his own hands, man goes in search of petty pleasures when there is the ocean of bliss within him.

However long one tries to make this man understand by saying, 'Oh man! What you search for is very much within you', the human mind, instead of trying to understand that, will spend all the time in acting as though it is not at all understandable to him.

Man would also easily try to escape saying, 'Oh God! Even to understand what the Master says we should have performed great penance in the last birth. For persons like us, it is difficult to understand such wisdom.'

Many do not know till the end that they are dancing to the rather bad tunes of the mind.

If we understand that it is the mind only which prevents us from understanding the path for attaining bliss, the work of the Master will become easy. Changing as a disciple is just mental orientation.

By merely staying in an ashram, one cannot become a disciple.

Many disciples under great enlightened Masters, Chaithanya, Ramakrishna and Ramana have been family people. Their open minds will accept the teachings of the Masters as it is, totally. Such people's progress in spirituality will also be fast.

If we want to get full benefit from the Master, we have to be a disciple mentally. All other things, the Master will look after.

A meaningful incident.

A king went to see a Zen Master. This Master was the head of a monastery with ten thousand monks and had lakhs of devotees. The king asked him, 'How many disciples have you?'

The Zen Master replied, 'Oh! Disciples? May be four or five at the most.'

- Becoming a disciple, will save more of your time rather than that of the Master

Becoming a disciple is not for the good of the Master. It is for you. So open up your mind.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No. 19.

'I am an enlightened person'. Say this to the world boldly.

Just because it got lost, will the lion cub which grew up along with the lambs, become a lamb? Even if it believes so... Is it all right?

Some day or the other, the lion cub, which is thinking it is only a lamb, will approach a lake. It will see its reflection in the water. On that day, it will realize, 'I am a lion'. Then it will announce it with a loud roar. It will start living as a lion.

If I say this, you may not believe.

Each and every one of you is an enlightened being, having got enlightened already.

Even if you refuse to believe, this is the truth.

Because the truths have been forgotten, if you believe, 'I am just an average man' like so many others, will that become true...?

While in meditation, some day, your true status will be reflected in the meditative state.

You will come to know, 'I am an enlightened person'.

This is a long-term plan.

An easy way to realize the truth instantly...

Do not wait till you get enlightenment.

Today itself, begin to express wisdom and bliss. You will realize that it is true only.

This is not a complicated formula. Just like that, pat your chin and say, 'From today I am an enlightened man'.

I am going to celebrate this. Do this boldly. You will live an enlightened life.

If you feel what all you read is like a puzzle, know that you still remain as a lamb only.

Still, it is an indisputable fact that you are actually a lion cub.

Take the revolutionary ideas well within you inside to the extent that you are thoroughly shaken and rolled.*****************

65. Surrender.

There was an enlightened Master sitting under a tree. A family man approached him and asked for some boons. The Master said: Go northward into the forest. You will see a big cave. What you want is available there.

He believed him and went there.

He carried off the silver materials lying strewn there, returned and thanked the Master. The Master said: Tomorrow, you go still further a little.

Believing this he went and found another cave filled with gold coins. He gathered them, returned and thanked the Master.

The Master again said: You proceed still further ahead.

This time, having found a cave filled with diamonds, and having collected them as much as possible, and while returning home, the family man got a new idea.

The question arose in him: Even after knowing the location of so much of treasure, without caring for all these, what is it that makes the Master calmly and peacefully stay under the tree?

This time, without thanking the Master, the family man fell at the feet of the Master. He surrendered to the Master saying: What is it that is with you, which is beyond all these treasures? I want that.

  • Every one of us is trying in our own way to find out only that treasure of all the treasures which is within us. For that surrender is an easy path. It can happen after we have lived, enjoyed and experienced all sorts of things. Or else, it can happen by mere devotion, by total wisdom, by understanding or by any means. All the meditation techniques, all religious teachings, strive to make only one thing happen - that is to make surrender be born within you.

Neither my body will be flexible for meditation, nor will my mind control itself by meditation. But I have full belief in spirituality. For a person feels this way, surrender is an easy path.

  • Only a deep rooted love and wholesome respect are the very basic essential requirements necessary for surrender.
  • Well beyond grief, for worry less, blissful life, the one that takes you quickly is the rocket of surrender.
  • Surrender should not be born just from the lips. It should be born from deep inside the heart and be a conscious one.

Surrender, which is, the belief, 'You entrust yourself to me. I will look after you,' is certainly required by all people during some periods of life, to tide over some kind of helpless situations.

  • Why do you fear when I am here?
  • Unload all your worries on me.
  • Don't be afraid. We will look after.

Such soothing statements which heal and give succour to the mind have come into being in all religions, based on the principle of surrender only.

Here is a beautiful incident which happened in the life of Ramakrishna. It was a time when the devotee Girish Chandra Ghosh had accepted Ramakrishna as his Master whole-heartedly.

Girish asked Ramakrishna: After this, what is it that I have to do in my life?

Ramakrishna said: Keep both the world you live in and the God with you. Continue to remember God both morning and evening.

Then, God or the world – any one of these will slip away from you. Whatever is to happen, will happen.

'I am not properly taking care of even bodily necessities of eating, sleeping and clothing. While it is so, if you want me to think of God both morning and evening! Is it possible at all? It is not possible for me to remain controlled by compulsions.' Thinking like this, Girish was hesitating as to how to tell this to the Master.

If Girish had expressed it out in words instead of merely thinking so, whatever reply Ramakrishna would have then given, Ramakrishna gave that very same reply now. Those present there were rather confused. But Girish was happy since he knew that his Master had read his mind.

Ramakrishna said, 'Yes, it is not possible only for you to think about God in the morning and evening.

Therefore, once before you take your food and again before you go to sleep, try to think about God.' Ramakrishna spoke in a graceful and peaceful voice.

'The case is dragging on in the court. As my own worries and frustration are pulling me up and down, on some days; I eat my breakfast after 10 o'clock and lunch after 5 o'clock in the evening.

As Girish went on thinking ...'Is it possible at all for me to think about God, before eating and before sleeping, when the actual situation is that, when I eat, I am never conscious at all that 'I am eating' since I possess a mind which is ever wandering here and there due to worries.'

Ramakrishna said with a loving and encouraging smile, 'All right, Girish, you want to tell me that even this is not possible. Well, you are not able to do that. Therefore entrust it to me. I will look after everything.'

Girish thought, 'Oh! How easy it is. I have no controls at all. Master will look after every thing. Whatever good and bad that happens to me is only due to his spiritual power's guidance. I have no worries hereafter'. Girish felt relieved and happy.

To trust one is not a matter of play.

Girish, who thought that to think about God for two times a day is rather difficult and that he will not get caught in such a net, got himself caught in the love- net of Ramakrishna.

After that, there was not a single moment when he was not thinking about Ramakrishna. He had stated with tears in his eyes later on, that he had got himself filled up fully with the blissful power of Ramakrishna.

Having come to know about the life of Girish, Mr. Anunithan got the desire, 'I should also meet a living Master, surrender to him and become filled up with Ananda or bliss.' He went in search of a living Master.

At last, he found one living enlightened Master. He had stayed in his ashram after deciding to surrender himself to him and be peaceful. He had told the Master about his desire and had asked him to accept his surrender.

On hearing this, the Master began to laugh. Anunithan got confused. 'Why is he laughing?'

Section 5

'Do you know about the trials and tribulations Girish had to undergo before he became overwhelmed with the blissful power of Ramakrishna? He could not examine his own good and bads after that. He should understand that whatever happens to him is only for his welfare and it is due to the blessings of the Master. When once Girish said, 'I do this', Ramakrishna told him, 'When you have entrusted yourself to me, then how can you act by yourself? You should say only, 'If God's grace is there, if God permits, I will do it. Do you understand?'

Girish had no independence even for that. 'Have you taken this decision only after knowing all this?' he asked.

Anunithan had hesitated a little bit and then said, 'Yes'.

But after that, unable to stay there even for a week, he came running away from there. After that only he came to see me.

He said to Anunithan, 'There is no limit at all for the deceptive nature of the ego. It will point out that path which does not affect or inflict pain to it as correct. Ego will make you run away from that place which was responsible for causing even a little pain to it. What has happened to you is only this. Surrender is only the technique which Ramakrishna had selected for the ego of Girish to dissolve and melt away. Surrender may look rather hard in the beginning. The reason is only that the ego is beginning to get dissolved. You should not be afraid. The action, laughter, talk of the living Master – all will be aimed at destroying the man's ego only.

I finished it, saying, 'If you come over the hard times, like Girish, it is only possible to overcome it by blissful power.'

Surrender is a wonderful technique.

Moreover, for the modern man, who has been affected both psychologically and physically as well, it can be said that it is a great boon.

Anunithan understood the truth. Then he understood that living Master totally.

Surrender will melt away the ego, which has become a part of you... Only if you understand it!

A meaningful incident.

If the wise men say, 'It is very easy to become enlightened.' Men struggle badly to understand it. Why?

When Dr.Nitty said to a blind man, in a free eye camp, 'If a small operation is done ... your blindness of many years will become all right. Thereafter you can walk without the stick. The blind man, it seems, said, 'I am able to understand that, after the operation, I will be able to see. But you say that I would be able to walk without the stick, I am not able to understand how I could do that.'

  • For that blind man, the stick has become a part of the body. In the same way, the human mind which is full of sorrow and inability, believes that it is also a part of the man. Mind is only the root cause for all struggles.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No.20.

What all good happens is due to God... What all bad happens is due to the man's mind...

Even if a tiny fish wants to remain still in the river water saying, 'No, I won't swim' as it lives in a flowing river, it will be pulled and drawn away along the course of the river.

Resisting that, even if that fish tries to be still, it will have to suffer unnecessarily.

The fish, which opposes the river, would struggle. It would be thrown away. It would think that it is being ill-treated by the water. It would unfortunately believe that the water drops surrounding it are snatching away its independence!

The natural power called God is many, many times faster than the river.

It is subtle.

Man, whose mind is many times subtler than that of the fish, has detached himself from nature.

Instead of being led along the path of nature, man wants only to go in a direction opposing the flowing river of life, according to his own imaginations.

Result – Unfortunately he believes that he is being made to struggle; all surrounding him are misusing him, and they are snatching away his independence!

It is celebration and celebration only all the way for the river, which has surrendered and offered itself to go along with the course of the river. Going along with the river flow will be continuously pleasant as the joy ride in a merry-go-round.

The man, who has surrendered himself to the flow of nature, will imagine himself as a drop of the pleasant river of life. He will be blissful.

A truth:

Whether you oppose or do not oppose the river of life, you will be pulled along. This is law of nature.

A meditation rule:

Good happens due to God. Bad happens when we oppose those goods due to our ignorance.

Begin to live life like the fish which swims along with the current.

Live, realising that, what all you got, were all given by God.

If you live like that, you will reach that blissful state where neither good nor bad would be able to shake you.

A wisdom statement:

Life is not in our hands. Joy is not in our hands. Opposing and grieving only are in our hands.

Then what next? You have to spread your hands and take a dive into the river only, Is it not...? 66. Right.....Wrong....

Only a mind, which is inferior in quality, will be aroused when under pressure. It will act as per other's dictations. It will call wrong as right. It will argue that something that is right is wrong.

  • So, it is an act of an inferior mind to estimate and judge others.
  • Until the quality of humanity rises, differentiating people is a continuous serial novel.
  • A man of fine quality cannot differentiate between people. There will be no need for that too.
  • Praising the right thing rightly, taking efforts to make others understand the mistakes correctly - These belong only to a person who knows how to live a balanced and impartial life.

A family man asked an ancient Master, 'Sir, how to find out whether I show affection in the correct way and whether my affection is not wrong. Please tell me the means.'

The Master said, 'When you become mature enough to the extent of showing affection towards your enemy... then your affection reaches a mature state that such affection is not a wrong.

When you begin taking action like a friend for your enemy's pleasure... then your affection becomes correct.'

  • The right love has the ability to make an enemy a friend. The wrong type of love has the ability to make a friend an enemy.

True love is beyond all ' right and wrong'. The drama of affection enacted by man in the name of love is bound by 'right and wrong'.

Just because Vivekananda ate fish, if one eats meat, he does a wrong in the name of right.

Because Gandhiji did not eat meat, if one stops eating meat, he also does a wrong in the name of right. Because it is not a decision taken out of experiential clarity, it is a hastily taken decision.

On matters other than the ones about which we are experientially clear, if we begin to adopt and implement certain things in our lives, just because some one did so, or said so, then, we will also be doing the wrong thing in the name of doing a right one.

    1. If I do, it is right. If you do, it is wrong.
    • -- This is peak of ego.
    • -- First type.
    1. If a friend does it, it is right. If an enemy does the same thing, it is wrong.
    • -- Second type.
    1. Even when a friend does wrong, wrong is wrong only. When an enemy does a good thing, it is good only. All right!
    • -- Third type.

First category of persons is pitiable, since they obstinately believe, 'I am right.' They believe that what all they think is correct and true. They believe as right those things that are totally and fully wrong!

Poor people! They have a mind which acts erratically, having been afflicted with various types of negative thoughts.

They will not understand their pathetic condition even though so many great souls have come and taught these things time and again.

That person will not know the truth that the 'inferior thoughts' which come from a confused mind will be wrong only, as long as that person has a feeling, 'I am all right'. It will appear as though the whole world is committing wrongs.

Section 6

Many times many people fall into the pit of thought 'I am all right'! Result: We prick, tear and destroy the gem-like minds of people around us and make a hell of those few minutes.

For the hell to become a heaven, in that sentence, 'I am all right', the 'I' should be broken away and 'right' alone should be understood.

The second type of people is 'prisoners of circumstances'. For them, the wrongs of their friends will not appear as wrongs. Further even very correct things done by the enemy will not appear as right.

We understand about life only from those around us, that is, from those whom we like and those we don't like.

When we separately divide persons as those liked by us, and those not liked by us, we will begin to accept as 'right' even the wrongs of those liked by us.

Result: Wrongs would begin to get settled in our minds. Because the mind becomes wrong, we will begin to change as a 'wrong person'.

Because, by wearing the glasses called 'wrong', we look at the activities of those whom we don't like, things which are actually 'right' will appear to us with a changed quality and we will see it as 'wrong'. For the question, 'Which is right?' the mind will give only a confusing answer.

Since 'right' does not get settled in our mind in the correct manner, the possibility or opportunity of our becoming a correct person will begin to decrease.

Third type of persons is those who tow the middle paths, they are the neutral people. They are bold. They will prosper in life by utilizing life and the people for their own growth.

Nobody can ever shake the minds of those people, who have learnt to live in a balanced and neutral manner, duly assessing and grading the people, and at the same time without degrading themselves.

Boldness is required to point out the mistakes in a friend. A mature mental attitude is necessary to accept the right things of an enemy.

Both these are the expressions of a person who lives life nicely, towing a middle path.

If one practices to stand in between right and wrong, likes and dislikes, pain and pleasure, good luck and bad luck, it is enough. Peace will come in search of such a person. This is what Buddha calls as the 'Middle path'.

Meat eating was all right for Vivekananda, but it was wrong for Gandhiji. Abstaining from eating meat was right for Gandhiji but was wrong for Vivekananda.

Before Vivekananda's energy and power of his penance, food was not a worthy matter at all. The energy which was frolicking within him had the capacity to protect him beyond food, sleep, words.

Looking at saints or great men and saying, 'That person did this', 'This man did that', and trying to do the same, if an ordinary person begins to do various things, then, depending upon the energy level of such a person, it will result only in dullness and exhaustion.

Under any circumstances, without examining by ourselves just because someone said so, we should not allow anything that is not acceptable to our heart to enter within us.

  • The wrongs which have occupied our minds, through persons we like, are many in number.
  • Like wise, the right things done by persons whom we do not like that have not caught our attention and slipped away from our minds, are also many in number.
  • The phrase, 'persons not liked by us' will apply to such persons only till such time they do things that are not to our liking!
  • In the same manner, 'persons liked by us' also applies only as long as they do things to our liking!

Persons liked by us. Persons not liked by us.

-- Both are not permanent.

With your glasses of opinions, stamping the people as good or bad, separating them, leaving away the truth, doing a wrong thing under the name of 'right' – It is enough if you begin to stop doing this mistake. You have started coming closer to the 'Middle path' of Buddha. The gentle breeze of peace has already begun to blow.

A meaningful incident.

Mukundan asked his wife, who was watching a serial.

'Life is more interesting than the serial. Are you born to live joyfully or to weep and cry? What is there in that to get so much drowned?'

Next day, while Mukundan was reading the newspaper, the wife asked,

'Life is more confusing than the news paper. Am I the wife? Or, is the news paper the wife? What is there in that to get so much engrossed in it?'

  • The reason for the quarrels with those we like is because of our limits, saying, 'This is right' and 'This is wrong'.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No.21.

Mantra to drive out fashion stratagem.

An animal which has been denied the opportunity to at least later on bring back the food to the mouth as cud, then chew and digest it, is man.

Still, he only swallows without chewing, fashionably! Is there a grinder inside the stomach, which will grind whatever is put in?

Eating with finger tips.

Drinking without wetting the lips.

Walking without the heels touching the floor

-- All these are fashions.

These are techniques to decrease our oneness with nature.

Why? Even breathing stops with the chest. The inhaled breath does not occupy the lungs fully. It does not even go deep up to the bottom of the lungs.

What you read above are only some examples to point out that 'man lives an imperfect life'.

Such behavior has merged with your body, life and being to such an extent that it cannot be pointed out. Every thing has become polluted.

What polluted it?

Right from childhood, under various circumstances, certain lines, 'This only is right', 'This only is wrong', have been inserted within you.

They have entered within you in the name of fashion.

Even when a man is doing a wrong thing, the one that makes him say, 'I am doing a right thing only' is only these fashionable methods.

These should be found out and rooted out.

The Mantra to search for the fashionable methods, which have created many quarrels in your body and mind, and drive them away, is to:

'Perform those methods and techniques wholly and fully.'

It will disappear.

Bring to your attention all those times at which you live imperfectly.

Remove and push away the very bad techniques which can be recognized only if you examine very thoroughly and meticulously. Make all the actions during these times 'whole, perfect and full'.

Don't even think about fashion.

If you begin to live fully and wholly, those technique-applying times also will become meditation times.

67. Sweeter than honey, is human life.

Sakyas and Goliyas were fighting for the waters of Rohini River and even prepared for a war.

In the midst of that hurly-burly, Buddha entered there very calmly and asked, 'Do you respect this water because it is Rohini river water or is it for the benefits given by this water?'

They replied, 'Who will respect mere water? It is respected because of its benefits only; it is loved.'

'This water which is responsible for the war between the two sides, does it do good or does it do bad in this particular situation? Are you going to fight for this water which triggers the blood-shed filled war?' so saying, the Buddha went away. War also got dispersed.

  • If you are fighting with your close ones for their certain wrong actions whom do you respect? The one close to you... or the wrongs...think for yourself and stop fighting.

Section 7

  • 'Quarrel in relationships between lovers is necessary' Those who said this are those who did not know how to live with zeal.
  • Lovers' quarrel is only the trial run or rehearsal of hatred deep in the mind.
  • As long as one is attracted to the other, lover's quarrel will be there like smoke, in human relationships.
  • The moment the attraction disappears, the deep-hearted hatred will burst forth instantly.
  • The reason for the formation of hatred deep in the mind the disagreement between the illusory ideas of the mind of dreams about life and actual real life.
  • All lovers' quarrels, all enthusiasm shown towards each other, all temporary joys happen only to those who drink the dream in real world.
  • Ego is a collection of confused ideas. Ego is the master of imagination beyond limits.
  • As the ego disappears, lovers' quarrel will go away. Enthusiasm will bubble up. Human life, sweeter than honey, will fructify.

Lines written by the lady Zen Master Seeyano about the moment she got enlightenment....

'There was moon in the water in the bamboo bucket, which I was holding on my hips. At an unexpected moment, the bucket was broken. The moon as well as the water – both disappeared. There was nothing at all in my hand. I got drowned in the floods.'

We can understand these lines easily, if we know about Seeyano's life.

She was not accepted in any monastery, just for only one reason. The reason: Seeyano was very beautiful.

They refused her saying that it was dangerous to admit a beautiful lady into the ashram due to the atmosphere which existed then.

But, Seeyano had a sincere and severe spiritual quest.

We would not have thought even in our dreams, what she did to become a monk.

She thought, 'Is it that the beauty of my face is the obstruction?'

She went to the kitchen. She scratched her face here and there with a burning torch of fire wood and made it ugly! It will require a few minutes to conclude that Seeyano was a girl. The face had become ugly to that extent. Saying, now there is no harm, they admitted her in the monastery.

Continuously for thirty five years she had learnt many faiths. She also did all penances so as to say that there is no more left. But she could not get any salvation.

Then one day, Seeyano was walking, appreciating the reflection of the moon in the water in her bamboo bucket, she was carrying in her hips. Then at an unexpected moment, it happened. She got enlightened. She describes it as follows:

'That bamboo bucket, which was with me for twenty years, had lost its strength. At an unexpected moment, the bucket just broke down. Next second, the water and the moon disappeared. A wonder happened within me. I also disappeared.

At the time when the bamboo bucket broke up, my ego, which was made up of my mental ideas and illusions, also broke up. For both these things to break and fall off, the reason was that I was with my full awareness then!

Just like the fish which was in the river suddenly realizing that it was in the river only, I realized that I was surrounded by a flood of bliss or divine energy. I got drowned in the flood.'

The lady enlightened Master has written about her enlightenment experience, saying:

For so many years, the one that had been an obstruction was only the bucket made of bamboo splints called the mind.

Like the water which was isolated within the bucket, I got entangled and trapped in the mind and was isolated. The mind got broken at that moment.

We gather only from our life experiences all about our future, opinions about various people and other illusions.

This gathering starts right from our adolescent age and as our mental ideas and opinions which shatter our peace of mind, enter into us; then and there only ego gets created in us. Peace is lost.

The future is going to be very great; spouse should be like an emperor/empress – such mental ideas enter into a man at a young age itself.

Too many expectations which are absolutely impossible to fulfill in real practical life, suck away our peace of mind. And discontentment boils within us.

It is only the honey-moon days time when the dreams of very long times come to reality.

Why do they call it as honeymoon instead of honey sun?

To find out the answer, continue to read this further attentively...

Here only, for the first time in their lives, they come to meet with realities.

The duration of time when the dreams of, 'Life should be like this; life-partner should be like this' coming face to face with reality viz. 'Life is only this much' – is honey-moon.

The growing numbers of divorce cases confirm that, even thirty days are too long to realize that there is no connection at all between the dreams about life and real life.

'Love is for 60 days, infatuation is only for 30 days' are not adages said in a joking way. They are the expressions of psychological maturity of our ancestors.

A moon will not last longer than 16 days. Oh man! Your dreams also will not last longer than 16 days – this has been indirectly indicated as honey-moon in Tamil.

Do we dream really to see that life becomes sour in 16 days! The very nature of the dream itself is to exaggerate the natural and normal state and make sour the reality.

It is only the same ego that aids in the uncontrolled creation of dreams which prevents dreams from being experienced and enjoyed in real life.

If the dreams begin to become a reality, then it is destruction for the ego. Therefore, for the ego to survive, it will encourage you to dream. But the same ego will plan and make all prior arrangements to see that the dream is not realized in real life and that too through you only! It is so cunning!

What got broken inside Seeyano, was only this ego.

Just as the bamboo bucket had lost its strength since it was many years old, when we involve ourselves in the path of meditation, the illusory feet of the ego, that is the wrong notions and ideas will lose their strength.

Since the bamboo bucket of Seeyano broke down at an unexpected moment, one day the ego will break down within us. For a person, who does meditation consistently, this will be a surprise gift for him!

After that a life without dreams will be born. Going beyond the celebration for thirty days, called honey-moon, it will be a life-long celebration.

Then the celebration of life will be there through-out the year. Honeymoon will become Sun during the entire life.

We can enjoy all the 365 days of the year.

There is no chance at all for the life or life-partner to become boring for a man who has gone beyond dreams.

Begin to live beyond your mental notions. Let your life begin to be sweet as honey. Let the human life which is sweeter than honey belong to you too.

A meaningful incident.

A reader's question: 'How the meditation done only for a short duration daily will make the strong mind lose its strength?'

Reply: Meditation and mind – are like the Indian mother-in-law and daughterin-law. Both will not agree with each other. Somebody should win. Meditation is a new addition for you. Admit it daily! It knows the trick of bringing you and your mind under grip and control. Just allow meditation and see.

For a sweet and pleasant life to ripen...

Even if you voluntarily go and do 'simple meditation' it is good only.

Meditation chisels. Chisel No.22.

Mental opinions which kindle cravings should be cut off.

Before you get it, even if it is as small as mustard seeds, the mind will make it appear as a mountain... After you get it, even if it is a mountain, it will make it appear small as mustard seeds.

That is a foolish mind.

Those who are addicted to smoking, alcohol drugs will crave for it to the extent that they will think that there is no life without it. Till they get it, it will appear like a mountain.

The moment it is obtained, the craving will get shrunk.

What appeared like a mountain so far will now appear as small as mustard seeds.

This is one of the very basic qualities of the mind.

All the people are affected daily by this quality of the mind only

Having a cup of tea, a sweet, tasty food, a small nap, a new dress, chatting with a friend or relative – Such aspects of life have kept man tied up.

All these things will appear to be interesting and joyful till they are got or done.

But, once you get them, immediately that interest, joy will disappear and it will become an ordinary one.

The difference between the amount of craving and the joy after getting it has always been the difference between the mountain and mustard.

Reason: The mental idea that creates the hurry before getting a desired thing vanishes once that is obtained.

This mental idea of creating the desire and the idea vanishing after the desire is fulfilled, is present in everybody.

It is a pity that man runs and dances just for the wrong mental notions.

Hereafter, be very careful during the times the desire takes control of you. Reason: They are the instigations of a wrong mental notion.

That which instigates must be cut away.

Go up to the place wherefrom the instigations come. As a side-effect of this going, you will learn the art of cutting away the instigations themselves.

Only after the instigations are cut off and gone, will the man begin to live his life for the first time.

Make the times of your being instigated as meditation times. You will begin to live your life as per your desire.