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EZ Print Version of all 15 [Part Six] THE FOLLOWING AM EXCERPTS FROM TALKS GIVEN BY THE MASTER IN INDIA. (14th September, 1967) - Delhi, India "Be looking at yourself, not others. Ask yourself where you are. Just having a perfect Master is not enough. You must have love and devotion and faith. You must put in time and keep diary. Don't be criticizing others. Don't be showing off and talking. Do your job. Don't think about others. Don't think about the past. Just begin today. If everyone here began today, in two or three months he would be changed. Don't get involved with others. Keep your mind on the Master. Don't let your mind be all over. When you see or hear the Master, you get charging. Don't disperse this by talking, etc. Do your meditation." (15th September, Delhi, India; Morning in the Shed). "Thieves do their work at night; we should also use the night. Be very accurate in your meditations. People come to me and say they are not making progress, but they are not really giving everything. Fix the gaze in the middle. Have no worldly thoughts. You must give your attachments and ego. You have only an inch to go to the seat of the soul at the back of the eyes and still you have so much trouble. Those who have seen the Master only once in all loving devotion, they are greatly blessed. Love the Master and nothing else. If your attachments are with the Master you will not come back. Take notes and act on what the Master says. If you put yourself completely in the hands of God, surely He will take care of you. One man went to the jungle for 12 years and hung himself upside down in a well by iron chains. A farmer came by and asked 'What are you doing?' 'Waiting for God.' The farmer said, 'Oh, this is what one must do to find God,' and he quickly ran to make a rope out of grass. Although the rope was so weak he hung himself in a nearby well. In ten minutes the farmer asked of the other, 'Has your God come yet?' 'No.' 'Oh', said the farmer, 'Mine has.' 'What' said the other, 'how can this be after only ten minutes?' 'I have been here twelve years.' The farmer had no iron chains but put his faith completely in God, once he knew the way to God, not caring for his life. Kabir says, "whoever has found God has done so by crying the whole night. When you sit for meditation, you should just have tears in your eyes of devotion and longing. Always have such a remembrance of God." * * * Additional excerpts from letters Answer to a question regarding the accuracy of prophets such as Edgar Cayce: "Please do not bother about prophecies as these are more apprehensions caused by certain brains out of their sophistication. The destiny of child humanity is being controlled by the gracious Master Power. The dear ones accepted and put on the way back to God by virtue of their Holy initiation into the mysteries of the Beyond, need not have any fears in this behalf. All feasible gracious protection will be extended to them in case of any eventualities whatsoever. You may convey this piece of right understanding to those who seek your counsel in this behalf." * * * SATSANG AFFAIRS Donations from non-initiates are not to be accepted. Howsoever, if they insist, the sacred books should be given in return which will enable them to benefit spiritually. Voluntary contributions from the initiates should be recorded carefully for accounting purposes. It is unfortunate that the dear ones put forth their own pleas for attending Satsang late. Please have more of patience for them and continue your efforts in a still sober manner. Please have more patience with the late comers and radiate loving thoughts and good will for their spiritual welfare. All the dear ones should know it for certain that it becomes obligatory on their part to maintain the dignity of the house by sitting silently in all serenity, which will bless them with more of inner peace and divine grace of the Master. * * * PHILOSOPHY, INTELLECTUALISM, AND RATIONALISM - PURE BHAKTI AND SPIRITUALITY Philosophies deal with theories but mysticism deals with reality. The Masters do not relish its advocacy as it is simply a speculation within the domain of mind whereas spirituality is the science of the soul. I have noted your comments for the Satsang talks when you do not find any nourishing food intellectually in these meetings. You will please note that spiritual progress by inner development of your consciousness far excels intellectual attainments. There is a great difference between head and heart. Love of God is the essence of higher spiritual life, and it evolves in the heart full of ennobling virtues. The Path of the Masters, known as Surat Shabd Yoga is not to be confused with Bhakti Yoga, as limited to the emotions. Inferences, feelings, and emotions. Inferences, feelings, and emotions are all subject to error; seeing is above all. This path is a practical one. Unless you live a pure, chaste life -- as enjoined in the booklet "Seven Paths to Perfection" -- you will not unfold the spiritual side of your nature that is at present lying dormant within you. I hope you take it in the right spirit when I say that you should first ascertain the full potential of the teachings of the path that you have been put on before looking elsewhere. Once you live the spiritual life in the practical way, rise above the body consciousness and meet the radiant form of the Master within, you will then begin to appreciate that pure Bhakti only begins when one has surrendered one's mind and intellect to the Master, and gives implicit obedience to His commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments", Christ said. God is love and we can only truly worship Him in love. But this love is not of the emotions. It is a love of complete self-surrender and as such demands discipline and obedience. I hope you now understand what is meant by Bhakti in its pure and pristine form. You are correct in your assumption that the Path of the Masters is the path of pure Bhakti. The pearl of divine knowledge can be preserved securely in the casket of bhakti, or loving devotion. Bhakti in its pure and pristine form is Love Divine. * * * PAIN AND SUFFERING Physical and mental disturbances are caused as a reaction of past Karma which should be met with in a spirit of forebearance. Loving devotion and deep humility surmounts all troubles. The trials and tribulations of earth life are simply passing phases in the draw of life. Please be rest assured my love and blessings are always with you both. * * * I am sorry for your physical suffering and hardships which you had to undergo during these several past months. Such like hazards crop up as a reaction of past Karma. Howsoever, their severity and duration is considerably toned down by the gracious Master Power. Your sense of endurance and deep gratitude for enjoying the gracious protection is appreciated. He is ever with you extending all feasible help and protection. I am glad to find that you could detach yourself from the physical pain and have allowed the healing processes to go on unhampered with the grace of the Master. It is indeed a great solace to find that most of the pains have diminished and you are on way to recovery though at a slow speed. The severe accident resulting in serious injuries does require some longer time to heal. Pain and pleasure are the varying conceptions of mind. The initiates are privileged to repose their all in the ever present gracious Master Power and await cheerfully for the results, which are invariably flavoured with divine mercy. Your inner awakening for this accidental fall being a Karmic liquidation is auspicious. You should be glad to know that much of the severity and duration of physical suffering is toned down by the Master Power for the dear ones. You need not harbour any feelings of strain for probing into the past Karma which has resulted in this agony, as it is not within the ken of human comprehension. The good sense of Vairagya evolved for you will bless you still more of divine bliss and harmony. My best wishes are with you. Suffering strengthens character. The seeming troubles sometime prove blessings in disguise for spiritual progress when forced seclusion and solitude is obtained, which is very much helpful for deep thinking and contemplation. You are advised to keep your thoughts immersed in the loving remembrance of the Master, or listening to the holy sound current if it is audible and coming from the right side, or repeating the charged names. Such a schedule will bless you with more of fortitude and inner strength, with the grace of the Master. I am sorry for dear _________ who is experiencing much pain and discomfort. Please convey my love to her and request her to absorb her attention in the sound current which will be helpful for assuaging her suffering. My blessings are with you both. * * * DREAMS There is a difference between dreams and vision. The one narrated by you was a vision when you were blessed with the manifestation of Master's Form in sleep. One remains vividly conscious in visions whereas in dream state you have only hazy impression on awakening. It does happen that the dear ones who cannot rise above body consciousness completely during meditations and have intense longing to meet the Master are blessed with similar gestures of divine grace. This shows His rare loving protection to you. Dreams are the results of sub-conscious thinking which manifest during sleep. A rarified mind is often led to correct revelations otherwise these are mainly distorted versions of past, present or future based on one's thought pattern. Masters do not attach much importance to dreams, owning to the fact that it is a state where inner consciousness is rather dulled, whereas they exclaim that inner consciousness should be developed by contact with the God-into- Expression Power, the Holy Naam, which is All Consciousness. Dreams are the result of past thinking, hearing, seeing, etc., which result in distorted visions during sleep state. Howsoever, at times the gracious Master Power blesses the child disciple with visions in sleep which are distinct than the dreams and you remain consciously aware of the events which are usually blessed with the Form of the Master. You may refer to "Spiritual Elixir Vol. I" since published. Its study will enrich your spiritual understanding when you will find interesting answers to your several questions relating to the Holy Path. * * * NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY Lottery means the distribution of money by chance among purchasers of tickets. You will please appreciate that chance money seldom proves fruitful and such an action of purchasing lottery tickets creates some vague expectations which cause mental chaos and confusion more than harmony. Howsoever, it is up to the personal discretion of the Satsangis who desire to go in for it. The dear ones may be told that should they relish to contribute voluntarily towards the funds being raised for education purposes, with least expectations of reward, they my do so. However, I would advise you not to bring in business affairs in the Satsang. * * * STOCK MARKET INVESTING This is a personal affair. Masters do not advocate gambling, stakes or chance money. If you consider that buying stocks instead of putting money in saving bank would yield greater profits, there is no objection in your doing so. * * * SELFLESS SERVICE -- THE DIARY Failures in selfless service are to be noted only in the diary form. If there is a chance for selfless service and you fail to undertake it intentionally, this should be reckoned as a failure. The column under "Selfless Service" in the diary form refers to the failures to be recorded. It may be understood in this manner that suppose there is a chance coming to your notice when you could do some selfless service, but you have failed to attempt it or render it; this will constitute as a failure and should be recorded. The maintenance of self introspection diary is very much helpful for inner progress. It serves as a sweet reminder for one's spiritual obligations and you cannot slacken your efforts in this behalf. The question marks in the diaries show that you do not follow exactly as to how the diary is filled. Please note that under columns of spiritual practices the time spent for repetition of names and listening to the sound should be stated regularly, and in other columns failures in daily living are to be inserted for check and replacement with opposite virtues. (Following refers to white lies told to avoid hurting somebody; or turning down an invitations, etc., etc.): Telling a lie in one form or the other has a purpose behind it which may be personal or impersonal, but the effect varies according to the circumstances in which told. Truthfulness is a divine virtue and should be practiced carefully by avoiding all loose talk, gossip, and in case you consider that somebody's sentiment are likely to be injured by speaking truth, silence should be observed than speaking untruth. (Following refers to when asked for a contribution to an organization or cause of which one does not approve): Failure in selfless service means when you can afford but refuse to do so. (Following refers to responding or being stimulated by seeing posters or movies or improperly attired people): Failure in thought caused by one or the other factor when unchaste ideas intrude is a failure and should be reckoned as such. (Following refers to exterminating cockroaches, vermin, etc.): Inadvertent mortality caused during sanitation, etc., need not be noted in diary form. EZ Print Version of all 15 |