Excerpts from Events
With the Heart of a Child [08:29 min]
We have certain natures. We have the ability to feel pain. When something painful is placed in front of us, what it triggers is pain. When our hopes, and dreams, and ideals, and our little castle of sand. When somebody comes and plays with it, we don't like it. When hope is taken away, we don't like it. Where do you wanna be? Wherever you've decided to be be, may be more painful than current scenario.What do you want? Do you know what drives you, what inspires you? What is this thing that doesn't like hopelessness. What in you wants real peace? Why are you attracted to truth? What is this truth business? This microphone is black (pointing to microphone in front). This is truth right? So you felt peace? You felt the salvation? Did you feel free? This chair is almost neutral gray. So are you free? You feel free now? Did you see God? See, that may be true, but that's not The Truth. If our consciousness is plugged into that, then it would bring not just joy, but supreme joy- Joy unparalleled. And methinks, that's what we should be passionate about. That if we were, the flood gates would open.
To understand the ultimate truth. Because the ultimate truth is so simple, that you have to be utterly simple to understand that. How simple? How simple? With the heart of a child! What does a child have that you don't. You have more of everything- older, more hair (some!). Child has simplicity. You don't. Careful, you do not qualify! So if you want to experience that passion, you will have to have a heart of a child. That means not doing, but undoing!
Do you feel blessed? [04:45 min]
In India, I got this email from this person and he said, there is this couple in South India and the guy’s wife is dying of cancer, so they would like to see you. So, we worked it out. It was a young couple, a very young couple, and I walked into the room where they were sitting. And believe me I could’nt figure out who it was, that was sick. She looked just radiant. And her grandmother was sitting on one side, her husband was sitting there, and she was sitting, and I was like, "Who is it?". The doctors had said time-out. Yet I remember her face, because she was still filled with so much hope and so much joy. And it reminded me of the flower that I had seen coming out of the rock.The audacity - Why should you be so happy, why should you be so hopeful. Don’t you know what the doctors are saying? But there was a thankfulness, for having knowledge. For having been alive, for having this gift. And a hope, not formulated in some concrete numbers. But whatever will happen will be fine.
This I must tell you is a powerful thing. Why here, why are you using your time and energy to sprout here, go down further south, it’s better. But no, this is it. This is the place. When that flower sprouts from that rock, in the middle of the most incredibly barren land. What that flower is saying, "This is the place to be. Regardless of the consequences. And I am here and here I’ll grow, and it happens."
Hope, but hope cannot be the first thing. Knowing, understanding, and then that brings the truest hope. Let it be like that, the truest hope. Not in, "This is the specific result I want.", but in, "It will be fine." That there is indeed a blessing in my life. "Do you feel blessed?"
Blessed you are, the only thing missing, is for you to know it.
Heaven, hell, and God [08:45 min]
Look what people have done to God. And why? Because there are expectation. When they don't get according to their expectations "There is no God". What is expectations from God; Two eyes, two ears, white hair, light in the back (only in the back, not in the front), teeth, lips, hands, feet. So then people go "I'm looking for God." Are you looking for God, or you're looking for somebody you think should be God? God doesn't need eyes. What is God going to see with the eyes- who is omniscient and see everything doesn't need eyes like this in front, coz you can be doing things at the back! This is expectation.Put aside your expectations. Know how to receive. When you are open, you go inside, you feel. Knowing the coming and going of this breath is the blessing. God is residing inside of you. What is your reason for living? Are you living for fulfilling other people's expectations? Now, how do you know about God. Its simple, somebody told you! And whoever the first person was, whatever spices he put on in description will stick with you for the rest of your life. How do you know about heaven, and the hell? Have you been there? You can say "I'm sure what I felt now, must be hell" I can understand that, but see somebody told you about hell, and the heaven just stuck with you. Heaven is in you now. This is where God resides (pointing within)! The whole idea is about now. If you don't know, then you are in ignorance. Nothing is bigger hell than darkness- Ignorance. And nothing is greater joy than that light, that beauty. Receive it.
Surprise event at Malibu, California [04:13 min]
Do you have the ability to look at every day anew? Yes you do. Do you? No, so, whats the point? Do you have the ability to recognize the value of a moment? Do you? No. You are perfectly satisfied being frustated. You would rather talk about all those things that went wrong. It's a nice point of conversation with your friends, with your family. All the things that happen that are good, no one wants to talk about. It's not interesting. It's not interesting to talk about that you are alive. It's taken for granted, till you die.The opportunity has been given to you because you have the ability to recognize what is good. So, do so.
If life was a canvas and a bunch of colors, would you paint? If life was a drum, would you play? Would you? Or would you say, I do not know how to paint. Or would you say, I don't know how to play. Or would you say, I do not understand. Or would you say, I don't know how.
I don't know how, is an excuse because if you really don't know how, then you would find out how it takes to search, takes to see, takes to understand that tool that you have been given, the tool called life.
The Ocean Inside [07:52 min]
Maharaji talks about the ocean that is inside each on of us. He is also in humorous mood as he talks about the human behavior!
Passing of Life [06:40 min]
This existence is your home. And it is incumbent upon you to make this home as comfortable as possible.
The Lamp [08:57 min]
Recognize your freedom, that within you is a light so bright, that never again, do you have to be in darkness. And if the majesty that is inside of you is unchanging. Where is freedom? Freedom is within you. Where is the joy, the joy is within you. That is your true love, that is your true joy, that is your true knowledge. So, in this life, you dont have to wander. In this life, you dont have to walk confused. The wondering should be changed to knowing. Know where you are. Know what you have been given. Know the truth about you. You, are the well and from this well comes the spring of clarity.Each one of you needs the peace within. You are a lamp and you need to be lighted. And when you are lit, you too will give light. This is when you will look the most beautiful.
The wind and the sun [03:59 min]
There are certain things we cannot help. Just can't help! Control is not the issue, but because we are human. There is a little story. One day there was a competition between the sun and the wind. Who is more powerful. Wind said "I'm more powerful". They saw a guy walking along the road. Wind said "Whoever can take off his jacket, wins.". Sun asked the wind to try his best. The more wind tried, the more the guy clutched to his jacket. When the sun's turn came it simply shone. When the sun shone, the guy took of his jacket.There are certain natures in us. We can all become angry, but nobody likes anger. We can all become sad, but nobody likes sadness. Just look at the one quality- you cannot bear pain even a bit. Joy? No limit!
King Janak and Ashtavakra [06:44 min]
Maharaji quotes a story from Ramayana. The story of King Janak, who was father of Sita. Sita was married to Ram of Ayodhya. The story speaks about King Janak’s dream, following which he made a declaration to give away his kingdom as a prize to the person who could answer his question. Through these unfoldings, King Janak met his young master, Ashtavakra.There was a king. I'll abbreviate this. This is an Indian story. There is this king and he is dreaming. He is dreaming that he has lost his kingdom. He is dreaming that he has been defeated. He is dreaming that he is running into the jungle. He is dreaming that he is really hungry. The jungle is cold and wet. He comes across this hut. He knocks at the door and says, "Do you have anything to eat?" An old lady says, "I don't have anything to eat. But I have some rice and some lentils, I will give it to you. You can cook it and satisfy your hunger."
The wood is all wet. He gathers the wood, lights the fire. The smoke is running into his eyes. I mean its a mess. Finally he gets enough of fire going. He puts the pot on. He puts the little bit of lentils, he puts the little bit of rice. Boils it together. It is too hot for him to eat, so he takes a big leaf and puts it on the leaf, to cool down.
In the meanwhile, while he is waiting for it to cool down, two bulls come, fighting, and take what he has made, and plough it into the dirt. In this desperation, the king begins to weep. And he weeps and weeps. And the tears rolling down his eyes, wake him up. When the dreams sometimes get so intense, you wake up. So, he wakes up. He looks. There are the guards. His bed, beautiful bedroom. And he thinks to himself, "What is real? What I was just feeling, was that real? Or now, that I am lying here, is this real?"
So, he gets up in the morning, goes to his court and makes a declaration. "Whoever can answer my question, I will give him half my kingdom." People come. I am sure dream readers must have come. But, nobody could satisfy him.
Then this young master comes, and he says, "Are you ready to listen to me? So, if you are ready to listen to me. then listen king. Let me tell you. What you saw in your dream, was not real, because that was a dream. But when you thought you woke up, and what you saw was also a dream. Both are dreams.
Thats the point of it, that all that we consider to be real, is not. Then we have those, whom we feel, we are related to, our relatives. Then we have those, whom we feel we love, our loved ones. Are these real? Are these relations real?
There is a time, when all these relations come to an end. So, it is. The loved ones, there is a time, when no longer can they reciprocate this love. So, why am I talking to you about relations, love and all that good stuff? My point is, if you are going to have relations, have a relationship with something inside of you too. And if you are going to have loved ones, then find the love that is inside of you too. Because this is the one that transcends the limitations of this world. I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
Griffith University, Brisbane- Australia Honors & welcomes Prem Rawat [08:34 min]
Maharaji addressed a distinguished audience of faculty, students and guests at Griffith University. He was thanked by a leader from the Australian Institute for International Relations. Griffith University is committed to high standards of scholarship, innovation, internationalization, social justice, ethical standards and lifelong learning. It consistently ranks high among Good University Guides, with the Griffith Business School ranking 11 in 2006.