THE PATH ITSELF IS THE JOY🔗

And the reward

No artist will go for marketing. He will not be interested. He is completely fulfilled the moment he finishes the painting. The painting itself is a reward for him. The job itself is reward for him. A real singer will feel fulfilled just by singing; not what he gets after singing. A real dancer will feel fulfilled just by dancing; the very dance is fulfillment, just the joy is enough. You are not dancing for something; you are dancing just out of joy. You are not singing for something; the very singing is happening out of overflowing. You are overflowing, so you are singing; these are the emotional level people.

(In response to a question: how is ego an obstacle for enlightenment?)

The idea that ego is an obstacle for enlightenment is the only obstacle. If you search deeply, the ego is not there at all. It is our idea that something called ego is there and it is attacking me, affecting me, that creates the obstacle. It is almost like a ghost which is not there, but you think is there.

You should understand this one important thing: all negative things have got power; they have got only one power: that is your faith in them, that's all. Whether it is your depression, low energy, ego, ghost, witchcraft or black magic, they have only one power - that is your faith in them. They have no other power. Be very clear: they are like a shadow. The more you run, the more they will be following you. If you just stop and look into them, you will realize that they are nothing, just your shadow. Have a little intelligence, stop and look. You will see that it is nothing.

WHAT WE EAT

The effect of food

Someone asked me what effect the type of food we eat has in the pursuit of enlightenment. What are the types of food that we should avoid? I can say that garlic, onion and green chilies are natural steroids and hence they are recommended for medicinal purposes only. Daily intake of these as food will bring down your energy. As far as coffee and tea are concerned, I can say that they are not good for your system. Meat, alcohol and cigarettes are considered as tamasic (laziness-inducing) foods; they disturb your energy flow and make you dull. All these foods create a feeling of depression in the morning.

The first 20 minutes, soon after you wake up in the morning, play a vital role in your entire day's activity. The mood you are in, in these 20 minutes, decides the mood of your entire day.

If you adhere to satvic food: vegetarian food and non-consumption of garlic, onions and green chilies, it breaks the depression in the morning. It keeps you light and active throughout the day.

From my personal experience, I can tell you that vegetarian food increases the joy and sensitivity in your energy flow. You feel light and ecstatic. Definitely, vegetarian food is better for meditative people.