Posts in Category: Sri Ramakant Maharaj Answers Questions
The body is not your identity at all. Unless you accept the Reality that “the body is not your identity”, the experience of a body-form will continue to appear upon your Presence. These concepts create so much confusion, and then, the mind raises all sorts of questions. So many questions keep arising, and they are all body-based questions! I receive so many questions from seekers, and they are always body-based concepts. Melt, dissolve, demolish all your body-based concepts. This is the primary task at hand. Your problems are all body-related, arising from this human life that is only a dream: depression, worry, sadness, loneliness, feeling unloved, fearfulness, stress, dispeace, unhappiness, misery, etc, etc. We have become fearful of everything. We behave like sheep, instead of lions! We have a lot of tension. There is no peacefulness, or blissfulness. And, we are always fearful of death. All these illusory concepts are to be demolished. Demolish all your concepts! This is the main goal of spirituality.
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Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Ultimate Truth
Ramakant Maharaj Nashik Ashram March 25 2017
Ramakant Maharaj Nashik Ashram March 25 2017 Download Link
Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj March 25, 2017.
That Spirit or Presence acting through body is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. It is not limited to the body, it is beyond the body. And knowledge means That Identification. So, theoretically we know that I am Brahman, Paramatman, God, Master. To implement the practice, you have to undergo the meditation. What is the result of meditation? You will not get results immediately. It has happened in my case also. I have taken Mantra, October 31st of 1962. In the beginning, not possible to understand what Maharaj used to say. Every day, in the evening, I used to go to Maharaj, there was lecture, before there are some foreigners used to be at the house, there are discussions, so I’m attending discussion also, attending lectures also. But uh beyond my capacity, no idea. But Maharaj used to say, “Listen to me, Listen to me”. What he wants to say that “Listen to Me”, that Invisible Listener is Listening to his speech and engraving it indirectly. Though intellectually you are not able to understand, but some Invisible Presence engraving that Reality Permanently. At that particular moment, you will not get results, you say “I can’t understand, it’s beyond my capacity.” But it is absorbing within you indirectly, Master’s Word. He used to say, “Listen to me, Listen to me”. Sometimes he used to give some tips. So, he said “What is there in body? Nothing, Only Glimpses Of I”. So, he told long ago this, then after some years back, afterwards, everything opened. How that open? Because after strong meditation, Involvement, Faith in Masters, your Inner Master Open the Secret of the Spirituality. Because Inner Master is not separate from the External Master, these are only concepts. But whatever is in you, that Power, it opens Behind. And I slowly, slowly I form That. Listen, You’re Presence is Everywhere. Every being has Presence, it happens Spontaneously inside, inside, it is surprise. Second thing, sometimes I think very, very bad thoughts. I feel sometimes guilty, some hatred, jealousy, bad dreams, it happens, but I am getting confused. But thereafter after some time, it’s open, “why should I guilty?” Its nature of the mind to know the thoughts. I’m not accepting any thought that flow in the mind. I’m not guilty for that. That is Reality Opened. Some Inner Voice explaining the Reality before you. At that time, you will not have any separate from That. You become One with That.
That Spontaneous Instructions, some answer of your special question, or some difficult question, is flowing inside. And there was some dialog within me. See it is very funny miracles, directly within you. When you are asking some question, when some question is raised inside, immediately those questions are answered. There Is No Master physically, but your Inner Master – this is also concept – your Inner Power replying that questions and you accept that “Oh how it is!” So whenever, if anybody asking any difficult question the instant answer is there because your Inner Master is pleased with you, you have not become separate from Inner Master. Therefore, Nisargadatta Maharaj say, “I’m not making you disciple I’m making you Master.” Because Masterly Essence already within you. It happens, you are unaware of that power. Always you are measuring yourself, counting yourself in body form. That body-concept supposed to be dissolved for which meditation is having powerful effect. It happens, and then slowly, silently, permanently, you feel that “Oh, body is not my identity at all, why should I fear?”. Because prior to beingness I am not body, after leaving body nothing remains.
So, knowledge, purpose of knowledge, value of knowledge, till that, till that knowledge that Reality absorb within you. What is knowledge? Spiritual knowledge, spiritual knowledge, what spiritual knowledge? Spiritual Knowledge, through Master, place before you the Reality of the Listener. And You Are Listener, To Whom There Is No Shape. That Conviction supposed to be appear. Then everything will be clear within you. You need not to go to anywhere in the world, no need of any Masters. But you are to enter your Master, your Spiritual Master external master. If external Master say “You Are Brahman” you are to accept it. Therefore, those illiterate people they have accepted it, plainly, no doubts. We’re having some intellect, we are creating some “why this? how this? how this?” No why, no how. My Master is Master. My Master says, ‘You are Brahman’, You are Brahman. No other thoughts. Like that you are to accept the Reality. What happens?
We develop intellect, spiritual intellect. We’re having subtle ego. We’re having pressure of mind. And therefore, always, though we are Knowing the Reality, we are confused. We confuse ourself. Our thoughts creating problems. When alert these thoughts are illusory thoughts, not to struggle with thought, it is natural, that mind is manufacturing something that I told you. So, whatever thoughts are useful for your routine you can accept it, else throw it. What happens is the nature of the body is that whatever person accepts “yes, my thought my thoughts”, and then some depression is there. So, in that case, how to act or how to react under the various circumstances, that Reality will come out of you. There’ll be inner voice, no doubt will be there. If mind says no no-oh I don’t want it. So, you are to have commanding nature. Your mind has become slave, now we have become slave of mind.
Mind instructing your power. So, in that case we are powering power to the mind, ego, intellect. What is mind, ego, intellect? They are subtle organs. Subtle functioning bodies. Where are those prior to beingness? Nothing. We came across with the body only, needs, requirement, desires, good desire, bad desire, all concept, all concepts, came along with body. And now only you are afraid of all these concepts, but we are trying, we have accepted the concept, my thoughts.
Therefore, we feel guilty or feeling tension, anything happens against our mind you are getting tension, depressed, “oh that man is not”, there is jealousy. Nisargadatta Maharaj used to say not to be jealous of anybody.
There should not be attract, not to hurt anybody’s feelings, that is basic. That means directly or indirectly you are assaulting family members, your friends, anybody else, you feel that he is not doing well, or say something bad or some…. ok. Don’t insist, don’t force somebody to act according to your wishes. Suppose your wife is there, brother is there, sister is there, son is there, mother is there, so many. They are expecting that they should behave like this, this, this and that, it become again to accept that, some concept, a spiritual exhibition. You feel something irritating. I told that “You not follow me.” So, like that force, create problems for you. Forget it. forget it, why to insist? You are Master of Your Own. The world itself is illusory world, it’s a dream. Because prior to 100 years you were not there. After 100, how you will be there? So, nothing dissolves into nothing. Nothing came out of nothing. And we are fighting because ‘this is something’. That fighting is supposed to be stopped. That confusion is supposed to be stopped. You can stop it. Not difficult.
Why Master is required? Because we are not knowing Reality, even though we are knowing the Reality it is not implemented. We’re having body pressure, we’re having mind pressure, we’re having ego pressure, intellect pressure. Some thoughts are there. So many thoughts racing all the time. So, that to say, not to come across with such element which will distract you from the Reality. You know better, your aware mind. When you know the identity perfectly, why to go to enquiry, ‘how that I Brahman is” hmm? Brahman does not have any shape. It’s the nature of, ‘oh after this going Master, how that Brahman is.” And he’s trying to impress concepts. This master says like this, this master says like this. You follow your inner Master, and through meditation you are giving some strength, power to inner Master to open the Truth to you. Then your external identity will be dissolved. No identity remains. You become one with your Selfless Self. Though you are living as a man or woman, you are not taking any touch, you remain unconcerned with the world, as if you are acting in a drama. So, That Reality is supposed to be absorbed, digested, for which meditation….
Q: So not to struggle? I mean you want to put in effort but not to struggle with it….
Maharaj: What, why to struggle? Why to struggle with, we are struggling with our own thoughts. It is the nature of the body to manufacture so many thoughts. 24-hour thoughts. In dream, also the thoughts are there. After meditation, after Conviction, after absorbing the Knowledge, Reality, you are not giving so much importance to thoughts. Why become victim of your thoughts? Ok the thoughts are flowing. Some dog is barking. Are you paying attention to why that dog is barking? No. Similarly, mind is flowing with thoughts, then you can forget it. Listen to me. Then you become thoughtless. If you give importance to the thought, then again and again it’s trying to confuse you. So be alert. Be cautious. All the time. Because Bhajan is there, prayers are there. It is a systematic Devotion. All the time you are alert. Alertness is there. Through Bhajan and through prayers, through meditation, knowledge. You are getting alertness. You are not becoming a victim of anybody’s thoughts, anybody’s concepts, or your own concepts. Very simple thing. You are not forgetting, from that dedication. Knowledge is there, but dedication is there. It’s the only thing, beyond that nothing is there. You don’t have to think how to maintain it, that you have to do. You may be anywhere, you can do your job, do your duties. You can recite the Mantra, reciting Mantra.
Sit for meditation, if you got sufficient time to, one hour, half an hour, sit for half an hour for meditation. time. Remember all this Atmosphere so your mind will not play tricks against you.
The mind always tries to distract you from it. Even some other people, some different concepts are there. Everybody says, “I know Brahman, I know Brahman, I know Brahman.’ The story of that blind boy going to see the elephant. Whatever part he got he says, “this is the elephant”. But when you see the entire elephant, you don’t argue with that. That is correct. You are Knowing. Like that, there are so many Masters, so many things are there. Everybody says, “Brahman is like that, Brahman is like this, Brahman…….” Ok. Not to struggle with it. When you know the Reality, why to struggle?
So be Strong, Spiritually Strong. Now you know the Reality, you are to maintain that Reality. Do your duties, do your jobs, your responsibilities. Earn something if you are earning something, what is there? Nisargadatta Maharaj was working, not to depend on anybody else, stand on your own feet. Spirituality is not restricting any of your activities. Whatever is required for this body, you can have it. “Oh, I am spiritual man, how can I do this?” Nothing. If you are having any time you may come to master. If not, I can talk with you on telephone, mobile is there. Nowadays lots of facilities are there. But stand on your own feet. Spiritually lets you stand on your own feet. Master is there, but even if Master is not with you physically Master is Master. Master is not there so I find other live masters, disciple of, so many persons “oh I have to go find live master”. What do you mean live Master? You are live Master.
Okay.
Sri Ramakant Maharaj
Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj Nashik Ashram, March 3, 2017
Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj Nashik Ashram, March 3, 2017 Download Link
Sri Ramakant Maharaj a recorded discussion from Ranjit Ashram in Nashik of Satsang with Sri Ramakant Maharaj March 3, 2017.
Maharaj: So as we are discussing the same thing. Same tape we are repeating again and
again.(Laughter)
Devotee A: Just push play…
Devotee B: Raga…
Maharaj: Same Raga. (Laughter) Words are different. The principle behind that you get
some Spontaneous Happiness. Then, so many (inaudible) are there. They’re reading books,
listening, but some or other way they’re coming on the body-based-knowledge. Yesterday
some lady made a lot of arguments, in a message, and “Why is my family like this? Why my
son-in-law is acting like this?” So many (inaudible) But we are not concerned with family
matters. Spirituality not concerned with the family matters, why your son is not studying?
How can I help that? Why your husband (inaudible). I can’t help you! The main thing
(inaudible) family life, I can’t help you. Because base of the Spirituality, You are not body
at all. You live Happily. You are getting some Courage to live Happily, Peacefully, because
since You are holding your body you have started to believe in the body and you are acting
according to that, therefore we are having some depression, and some sadness,
unpleasantness, painful life. How to be painful life (inaudible) pleasure (inaudible).
Devotee C: But still it can be that Spirit feels it just by chance helps you in life. So that, I
don’t expect so much from my family members anymore, then they are free.
Maharaj: Yes, it happens. Because not you, but some other people say that, particularly
ladies, a problem, “My husband is not going like me. I am spiritual, doing bhajan,
meditation, why my husband is like this? My son is like this? Why he’s not learning?
Why…” What you? How to do? What to do? (Laughter) I can’t take care of your family life.
So it happens. So after teaching, after listening, after reading, again that body-based
concept pricking. It should not (inaudible), because our concept of the reality is not real
point. (Inaudible) devotees are reading, but that Conviction is not there. Some or other
body-based-concept is there. That’s supposed to be dissolved, melted – without it, it is not
possible. Even if told that, even intellectuals say that “this is not your Identity at all”.
Where are all these bodies prior to beingness? Nothing was there. My husband, my father,
my sister, my guru. All these concepts came along with the body. After leaving the body
what concept remain? Nothing remain. It’s open, even forget of spirituality, you think
intellectually also, “this is not going to remain.” And further, if there is no Presence, what is
the value of this body? It’s a dead body. So after knowing this, you will be have Conviction
that (inaudible) that I am not birth and death, no birth, there’s no death. Inside this body,
what is there? Just glimpses of I. It’s space, just like a veil, subtle veil, through which we
feel ‘I’. If there is no veil, how can you feel ‘I’? And that ‘I’ we are directly experiencing. And
it’s nature of the Spirit to continue this life for long. It’s not possible. But the importance of
spirituality, it give you Courage. Whatever happened, happened on the body. It may be
words, but it give courage to, how to live happily. (Inaudible) Nisargadatta Maharaj,
number of problems, number of problems. Since he was a – there was so many – he was
there, even he become disciple of Siddharameshwar Maharaj. He left all his things. He
wanted to experience these words, etc, etc. Now his family life and his business are totally
disturbed. Then his mother died, daughter died. Father, what why he die? So many
calamities! His business gone. Now out of ten shop, one shop remains. So many things are
there. He also (inaudible). In spite of that he not left spirituality. Because you are getting
Courage how to live in all these circumstances. So this spiritual teaching show how to live
successfully, peacefully in spite of there are so many difficulties and depressions. It’s the
purpose behind it. But you are trying to relate, ‘my family life’ to spirituality. So this
Understanding, this Conviction (inaudible) reading book. So try to overcome all these
difficulties. Because you have got Power how to overcome all these difficulties. You can use
your Power. And as it, it is fact that this is illusory world. There is no I, you, he, she, it,
nothing is there. There is no master, there is no disciple, there is no god, there is no
devotee. It’s Fact, but so far we are holding body so all concept are there. The moment
body disappears what concept? Nothing remains. Who is God? What is God? What is
Brahman? What is Atman, Paramatman, Master (inaudible)? So everything came out of
nothing, everything dissolve within nothing, It’s fact. (inaudible) the ego. So not struggle,
not struggle with the mind. No fighting with the mind. We are fighting with the mind,
fighting with the thoughts, yes why not? We behave like this. We are preparing some
frames and within that framework (inaudible).
Devotee A: My only depression is not repeating the Mantra enough. Otherwise I feel very
good, but I feel like I’m not repeating the Mantra enough. But I guess as depression goes,
it’s a good depression to have.
Maharaj: So now to accept that thing within you. Mantra is saying that ‘You Are Brahman,
Atman, Paramatman, God, Master’. Master does not have any death and birth. No
depression, nothing is there. No peacefulness is required, no happiness is required because
happiness, peacefulness, they connected to the body only. Because body-knowledge is not
tolerable. So Spirituality teaching you to stand on your own feet. Not to depend upon
anybody, including masters also. Encourage you own Master, approach your Own Master.
It’s Powerful Master. But we have our habit, “give something, be something, give me
blessing. (Inaudible).
Devotee D: Who needs to be courageous? When you say that we need courage. I don’t feel
that I am very courageous person…
Maharaj: Courage is required because you are considering yourself in body-form.
Devotee D: Yes, but where I get that courage I……
Maharaj: It’s Spontaneous Courage. Even difficulty appear before you, you not disturbed,
you’re not depressed. Some incidents, some unpleasant incidents happen in your life, at
that time you are getting some Courage, Firmness, to remain unconcerned with that
incident. Previously if such thing happens we are getting afraid, disturbed, depressed. That
depression will not come after having this Conviction. You are getting courage
spontaneously, it happen. Let it happen, even it happen I am not concerned with it. Like
that black clouds will go away. Clouds are coming, going. You are There and There Only. So
you will feel spontaneous within you, continuous meditation. Because slowly, silently, and
permanently all body-based-concepts supposed to be dissolved. Then only You remain
untouched with the world. Whatever happening in the world, forget it. Because You are not
body at all, I was not body at all. So stop measuring in body-form because You are
Formless.
Sri Ramakant Maharaj
You Are There and There Only
Video Download Link
Q: I’m confused about when the best time to activate the inner Master and do the self-enquiry. Should that…
Maharaj: See, I said that ‘inner Master’ and ‘outer Master’ are concepts. There’s no difference between the internal Master and the external Master. Just for understanding we are saying ‘internal Master’, ‘external Master’, there’s no difference between any ‘internal Master’ and ‘external Master’. It’s just for understanding. Master is Master, there’s no inner and no outer, no external.
Q: Thank you.
Maharaj: Yes?
Q: Who is eligible to have the Naam Mantra?
Maharaj: Everybody!
Q: (inaudible)..requirement for that?
Maharaj: Yes, yes, I told John. If you are willing to have the Naam Mantra, spare some time for Naam Mantra. But it should be sincere. I’m not accepting anything from you, but you should be sincere to accept it, your involvement is most important. Because what happens, is that things we get free of charge have no value. I’m not expecting anything from you except your involvement, which is most important, not anything else. To give the Naam Mantra is not difficult for me. But there should not be some ill-faith or something. Be serious about the Naam Mantra.
Q: How to practice it?
Maharaj: (Inaudible), (I’ll guide you). You are to recite the Mantra according to the breathing. At the initial stage we are giving some discipline, just like when you are learning some language, how to write a-b-c-d and all these things.
Q7: Because sometimes it feels we are torturing ourself.
Maharaj: It’s not necessary to torture yourself. It’s a very simple thing. No torturing, no special exercise. Why to torture the body? It’s a simple thing, it’s your knowledge, not the knowledge of ‘Brahman’, ‘Atman’, ‘Paramatman’. The Invisible Listener within you is Ultimate Truth, it is called Ultimate Truth. But you are neglecting it, you are underestimating yourself. You say “God is great”, “Oh God bless me”, okay, it’s not bad. But if your Presence is not there, how can you identify God?
To say ‘God’ your Presence is required. If there’s no Presence in the body, who will talk about the God? Who will talk about this world? At the initial stage I’m insisting on meditation because we forgot our identity. You might have read so many books, you might have listened to so many Masters. But you’re not reading, not listening as if it’s the listener’s story, the readers story, “It’s my story”. If somebody writes your biography, you“It’s my biography”.
Yes?
Q: You can also recite with an ‘Om Nama Sivaya’ or (other) mantra also?
Maharaj: You can recite one mantra, any one mantra. Not to take one mantra from one Master, go to another Master for some other mantra. Have some loyalty or faith with your mantra, any mantra will do. Not to encourage wavering mind: “Today one Master gives this mantra then that Master gives a different Mantra”.
Q: No, in the morning you have a habit of (inaudible), ten minutes…
Maharaj: Okay, no problem. With full faith, full involvement. Any mantra will do: ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ is okay, ‘Sivoham’, any mantra. But be faithful with full trust.
Q: I’m kind of confused. When you say something comes…nothing comes from something, and then something becomes nothing?
Maharaj: I said that ‘everything came out of nothing, and everything dissolves back into nothing’. Everything came out of nothing and everything dissolves within nothing.
Q: But how can something become nothing? And nothing become something, I mean…
Maharaj: We are playing with the words. Try to identify yourself so this question will not arise in your mind. These are the words, I repeat, this is language through which you are conveying yourself. We have created language: ‘something’, ‘nothing’, ‘everything’, these are words. The basic principle behind that is that you have to try to identify yourself, try to identify the Invisible Listener within you. Instead of analyzing so many words, spiritual words, try to identify: who is the analyzer? Who wants this knowledge? What is the purpose of this knowledge? To what extent is this knowledge helpful? Suppose somebody has lots of knowledge. Will that knowledge help at the time of leaving the body? Lots of knowledge, so many books you are reading, fifty years of sadhana, seventy years of sadhana, or something. Just question yourself: “After reading so many books, after having approached so many Masters, after having a lot of knowledge, will this knowledge help me at the time of leaving the body?” You should be fearless. That fearless life should be there. That moment should be a happy moment: “I am not dying, no death is there. I am unborn.”
You’ll get spontaneous courage out of spirituality to approach any problem. Thoughts are coming and going, negative thoughts are coming and going, depressions are there. But after having Conviction you’ll neglect all these depressive thoughts. It is momentary, just like clouds, black clouds coming and going. You are there and there only.
Is Love a Concept?
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Q: Is love a concept as well?
Maharaj: Of course, when did you come across the ‘love’? ‘Love’, ‘affection’, these are concepts which appeared upon your Presence. When the Spirit clicked with the body, the love, affection, appeared before you. What is the love? Prior to beingness no love is there. After leaving the body any love is there? So far we’re measuring ourselves in body-form, ‘love’, ‘affection’, so many things are there, so many relations are there: ‘my father’, ‘my sister’, ‘my brother’, ‘my Master’, ‘my God’, thousands of concepts are there. The moment the body dissolves nothing is there, no relations. All relations are body-based relations, and you are not the body at all, you were not the body at all, you’re not going to remain the body at all, because you’re Ultimate Truth, you’re Final Truth, Final Reality.
And to absorb this Reality, again I am repeating, you are to undergo the meditation, it’s the only source. Only reading, only talking, only listening, no. And you can do it! Nothing is impossible. Because except your Selfless Self nothing is there.
Be practical. Not to neglect your family life. If you’re doing a job, do your job, you’re doing duties, do your duties. So “I’m Brahman”, or “I’m spiritual man, how can I do all these things”, no restrictions at all. What you’re reading, what you’re doing, has nothing to do with it. There’s no deed, there’s no doer! Because we are measuring ourself in body-form therefore we are saying “I did something, bad thing, good thing”. What is a ‘good thing’ what is a ‘bad thing’? That which is tolerable is a ‘good thing’, that which is not tolerable is a ‘bad thing’.
Yes?
Q: I think of bliss, and then I think of impersonal love as sort of the same, and to me, when I’m there, it’s a fact to me. Then other times, I forget that fact. So is the bliss, the bliss and love…
Maharaj: Not to measure yourself in body-form. What blessing is there?
Q: Bliss, bliss…
Maharaj: Ah, acha, acha (I understand), blissfulness.
Q: So,when I experience that it’s a fact for me…
Maharaj: It’s okay, it’s okay…
Q: …but then I forget it, and then it’s no longer a fact.
Maharaj: Don’t underestimate you. Nothing forgotten, nothing remembered. That so-called ‘I’ is supposed to dissolve.
Q: When you meditate do you have to repeat a certain Mantra?
Maharaj: Yes, of course, of course. Therefore I told you, our lineage is having a different mantra. ‘Aham Brahmasmi’ is one, ‘Soham’ mantra is there, ‘Sivoham’ mantra is there, ‘I am Brahman, Brahman I am’. Various mantra’s, various words are there. It is an indication, some key-words. Through those words you are to identify, you are hammering yourself. You’re not only sitting for one hour, two hours. You can sit for meditation, but all the time involvement is required.
Yes?
Q: When I do the meditation I can’t help but have thoughts coming through. What do I have to do to stop the thoughts?
Maharaj: It’s the nature of the mind. Mind means flow of thoughts. You are witnessing thoughts, you are different from thoughts. You are witnessing thoughts, good thoughts, bad thoughts, you are witnessing. Not to try to control the thoughts, let them be there. Suppose you are sitting here and outside something happens, you’re neglecting it. Thoughts are flowing all the time. Which thoughts to be accepted and which thoughts not to be accepted is up to you.
Meditation Will Be Spontaneous Within You
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Q: I just have a little technical question about the Mantra Japa. A person can do Mantra Japa while breathing in and breathing out…
Maharaj: Correct.
Q: …and also he can (inaudible), and he can also do the same Mantra, (inaudible), ten or fifteen times, so which one is…
Maharaj: Why ten or fifteen times, there’s no limit of ten or fifteen times. It can be continuously, it is your property, you can use your property.
Q: But then if I take breath in and breath out, I can repeat more than one time…
Maharaj: See, when you’re sitting for meditation, at that time, this principle is there. All the time you can recite the Mantra as it is, be simple.
Q: So if I can do five…
Maharaj: Yeah, yeah, yeah, no problem. I told you, when you’re sitting for meditation, you sit as per the instruction given to you, as for all the time you can recite the Mantra as it is. Be normal. And even then, there’s no hard and fast rule, I’ll tell you. This is the beginning stage, just like when you’re learning some language you write ‘a’ like this, ‘b’ like this, ‘c’ like this, when you’re a student. After having some stages, you’re no longer a student, you’re a master of that particular language.
So when you’re sitting for meditation, you sit in that fashion for half an hour, one hour, two hours, it depends. And according to the breathing it will give more effects, it will be give more absorption. But all the time you can recite the Mantra as it is, not concentrating on the breathing and all. And thereafter also, you’re not required to sit like this also, your meditation will be spontaneous within you. So without your knowledge, even within deep sleep, that meditation is going on inside. This is the beginning stage, the initial stage, but you have to do it.
So be practical. As I told you, this is an opportunity, the body is an opportunity to identify yourself in a real sense. Basically you’re formless, this form isn’t going to remain constant. This is a shape, a form (Maharaj refers to his body).
Yes, anybody have any more questions? Be free.
Q: I have one. Does a certain type of diet help calm your mind? Like a sattvic diet? Vegetarian, not many spices?
Maharaj: No, no, no. No question of diet, diet is not a restriction, it is not a concern. Whatever physical requirement is there is unconcerned with the Reality. What you’re eating, what you’re doing, what you like for the feeling of the body, the requirements of the body, you can do it. Whether you take non-vegetarian or vegetarian is not a concern. How you are identifying yourself, that is most important. You’re not the body, what is required for the body, you can do it. Whether you take the pure water, whether you take other water, this is unconcerned.
So many concepts are there, therefore I’m telling you, you have to come out from all these concepts, body-based concepts, you have to undergo the meditation.
Q: So the yoga, the postures, is another body-based concept then?
Maharaj: Yoga? Yoga is good for health. But it will help you, pranayama is giving some good (effects). There are some types of yoga, padmasana also gives good effects. Yoga is also helping. But it is not Ultimate Truth, it will help you. Pranayama is good for you.
Q: Maharaj, I just want to make sure I understand or elaborate a little bit more on what this gentleman had asked you. There’s a lot of chaos and drama in my family during the course of the day, and I’m trying to repeat the Mantra during all this drama, because in Reality there’s really nobody there…
Maharaj: Correct, correct.
Q: …correct, and I just want to understand: I don’t have to focus on the in and the out breath while I’m repeating the Mantra, while experiencing or seeing the chaos and the drama that is going on. As long as I’m aware and repeating the Mantra, that’s all I have to do. I don’t have to be aware of the in and out breath at that time. I do take time to meditate by myself, but I’m talking about all the other time that all this is going on. Do I have to be aware of the in breath and the out breath….
Maharaj: It is only the beginning stage only, until you’ve got conviction. Breathing, reciting the Mantra – only at the beginning, initial stage. At the Ultimate stage it’s not necessary, not necessary to recite the Mantra also. It happens spontaneously. What is a Mantra? It is reminding you, trying to identify yourself. Where was the Mantra prior to beingness? Any Mantra was there when you came into this world? After leaving the body, any Mantra will remain? The Mantra is also a concept, it is illusion. But to remove one illusion, you have to take the help of another illusion. Just like a thorn, you know a thorn? To remove one thorn you take the help of another thorn and then throw away both the thorns. But you have to do it at the initial stage, I’m telling you the initial stage, the beginning stage.
It still seems like a fantasy and a good idea
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Q: So, for the past eight years I’ve read so much, I’ve done so many practices that people have shown me and things like that, and I just feel more confused and more lost than ever before, and I’m just tired of it and I need it all to stop. And I understand it intellectually, a lot of it, but there’s no conviction at all. It still seems like a fantasy and a good idea. I just don’t know what to do anymore to get…
Maharaj: You must accept this, that you are not the body at all. It is fact, open fact, forget about spirituality for a time. You are knowing intellectually that this body is not your identity at all. You were a small child, you have become a young man, after you will become an old man, and after, willingly or unwillingly, you will have to leave this body. That means the body is not your identity, open fact. Forget about spirituality, these are intellectual things. The concept ‘I am somebody else’ is supposed to dissolve. The concept ‘I am somebody else’ is supposed to be dissolved. There is no karma, no dharma, no destiny, nothing is there. You are totally unborn, it is fact! So many concepts are there after reading so many books. We are depending upon bookish knowledge, literal knowledge. Last birth, future birth, who’s birth? Is the sky taking any birth? Is the sky having any destiny? You’re Spontaneous, Invisible Presence is beyond that.
Master is not Separate from You
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I’m inviting the attention of the Invisible Listener within you all the time, that except your Selfless Self, nothing is there. Have some courage, spiritual courage, to accept the Reality which you are lacking. “I’m doing something, I’m doing…”, what are you doing? You can’t do anything! If there’s no Presence, what can you do with this body? If there’s no Presence for a moment in this body, what can you do, nothing. And therefore I’ve told you, this Presence is just like sky or space. It does not know ‘I am space’, also it does not know ‘I am Presence’. Try to identify the Invisible Identifier within you! It is unconcerned with the world, unconcerned with all activities. How you were prior to identifying yourself? “I don’t know”. What does identification remains after leaving the body? “I don’t know”. ‘I don’t know’ means I am shapeless, I am formless. My Presence is there, but not in form.
We have a lack of confidence. We’re listening to everything, everybody knows ‘Atman’, ‘Paramatman’, ‘God’, ‘Brahman’, but a lack of confidence is there. Some impressions are there. We have to come out from this illusory circle. All our actions are within the illusory circles. So far desires are there, we’re under the pressure of mind, ego, intellect. What is mind? The flow of thoughts. Ego is there, “I’m doing something!”, what are you doing? Intellect is there. Where was the intellect, mind, ego prior to beingness?
Basically you are formless, no form is there, no shape is there. And therefore I am saying, everything came out of nothing and dissolves within nothing.
There are no restrictions. You’re not required to do any exercise, not to torture your body. Do your duties, have some responsibilities, be practical. “Oh, I’m a spiritual man, I’m a spiritual woman, how can I do this?” Not to do this. Be simple, be normal. Don’t underestimate yourself, “How can it happen?” Everything can happen, nothing is impossible. You’re not required to spend a single penny for this. It’s your knowledge!
Therefore my Master said, “I’m not making you a disciple, I’m making you a Master.” Because you are a Master. The moment you stop measuring yourself in body-form, the Master is not separate from you.
Q: Is there any specific way to do meditation and bhajans?
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Q: Is there any specific way to do meditation?
Maharaj: Meditation just means concentration and involvement. Not sitting like this: ‘Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram…’, not like this. Try to identify who is acting within this body. Just sit, calm and quiet, to see what’s happening. Who is witnessing the thoughts? Who is watching the dream? Who is that? It’s not the body at all. It’s called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, the name given to the Supernatural Power.
Q: So, meditating…
Maharaj: Meditation means just to identify yourself. Invite the attention of the Invisible Meditator within you that you are Brahman! Except your Self, nothing is there.
Whatever knowledge we’re having is body-based knowledge. This is a food-body, it’s not going to remain constant. There are stages: you’re a child, then grown up as young man, then you become an old man, and some or other day, willingly or unwillingly you have to leave the body! What remains? After leaving the body, what remains? Nothing. So everything came out of nothing and dissolves back into nothing. What remains? How were you prior to beingness? “I don’t know”. After leaving the body? “I don’t know”. ‘I don’t know’ means that in a negative thought, a positive concept, a positive Reality is there. “I’m not in any form, I’m formless, I’m shapeless. My Presence is there, just like sky or space: everywhere”.
Q: And the same question about the bhajans…
Maharaj: Yes, yes, prayers, bhajans, which are required, because this is the weak point (sensitive point) of the Spirit, of spirituality. It creates an atmosphere. We’re playing with the various instruments, it’s creating an atmosphere. It’s ‘sattva guna’, three gunas are there: ‘sattva guna’, ‘raja guna’, ‘tamo guna’, you know? Spiritual science says this.
Q: Is it a specific kind of bhajan, or any general bhajan?
Maharaj: Any bhajan through which you are getting happiness, peacefulness, not a specific bhajan.. In our lineage we have bhajans. The purpose behind that: you should be one with your Selfless Self. There will be spontaneous peacefulness, not artificial peacefulness, not a material cause of peacefulness. Peacefulness is there, happiness is there, a tension-free life is there. And therefore I am insisting not to measure yourself in body-form, not to underestimate your Selfless Self. That grand secret is within you. We’re ignoring ourself. We’ve got so many expectations, so many concepts. We like to live within the circle of concepts – you have to break the circle.
And this courage you’ll get out of meditation only. And I’ve repeatedly told you, meditation is not only sitting like this (Maharaj pretends to meditate), it is involvement. This body is called ‘man’, this body is called ‘woman’, and we accepted it, we’re acting as a woman or a man. You’re watching the dream as a woman or man, we’re totally absorbed. Your parents told you this body is called ‘man’ or ‘woman’ and we totally accepted it. Master says you are not woman, you are not man, you are Brahman! But we don’t accept it. You are the Supernatural Power. You’ve got tremendous power, hidden power, which you’re ignoring all the way. Then you will be fearless, no tension will be there.
What is the purpose behind spirituality? To live a tension-free life, peaceful life, happy life, fearless life. Everybody is having fear of the death: “What will happen?”. After knowing the Reality:“I’m not going to die, there’s no birth and death to me. It’s connected to the body only, and I’m not the body at all and I’m not going to remain the body at all!”, it’s fact.
Q: Why is one Brahma willing to harm another Brahma if we are one and the same?
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Q: If all of us are Brahmans, the Brahma itself, is that correct? That’s the premise? Is that we are all…
Maharaj: It’s a fact! You’re measuring yourself in body-form! Bodies are different, bodies are different…
Q: No problem, so that’s the premise. So the question that is begged is: why is one Brahma willing to harm another Brahma if we are one and the same?
Maharaj: Because it is body-based knowledge. Brahma is not harming anything. Is the sky harming any sky? American sky is harming some Indian sky? Sky doesn’t know ‘I am sky’, Presence doesn’t know ‘I am Presence,’ Brahman does not know ‘I am Brahman’. Brahman is a word given to that Ultimate Truth that you are. The Invisible Listener within you is Ultimate Truth, it is called Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. It is not an individual, there’s no duality at all.
Q: So then can one say that it’s okay for this Brahman to harm this Brahman?
Maharaj: No, no, no “Okay I am Brahman I will harm another Brahman”, there’s no two different Brahman.
Q: Okay, so it’s one Brahman, right, but bodies, there are two separate bodies. If I harm this body in some way do I just turn around and say it’s okay because we’re all one and the same?
Maharaj: Egoistic concepts are there, ‘I am somebody else’. That ‘somebody’ is supposed to be dissolved. Brahman is not harming anybody else.
Q: But if harm should happen, which you, I think, said earlier, was that nothing is really being done, no deeds are being done, ultimately.
Maharaj: There’s no doer there’s no deed. So far we’re measuring ourselves in body-form, all these concepts appear. I’m talking about that invisible Presence within you, where nothing is there, no thoughts are there, no concepts are there. The concept ‘Brahman’ is also not there. And as I told, the name ‘Brahman’ is given to that Ultimate Truth. Except your Selfless Self there is no Brahman, Atman, Paramatman, God, Master. So Brahman is not harming some other, “this Brahman is different, this Brahman is different”.
Q: Okay, so in other words, what you do to others you’re doing to yourself, right?
Maharaj: So far you’re considering yourself in body-form these concepts appear. No other is there. Because we are measuring in body-form, therefore ‘he’ is there, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ is there, and all concepts appear. Prior to beingness any of these things are there? Prior beingness or after leaving the body, are you finding any different things?
Q: So, somebody who does do harm to another…
Maharaj: When did you come across with somebody? Prior to beingness who ‘somebody’ was there?
After leaving body any ‘somebody’ is there?
Q: …body, body, if this body harms…
Maharaj: (Smiling) I’m shouting…I’m shouting at you…because you’re measuring yourself in body-form therefore you say different bodies are there. Different houses are there, sky is one. This is called a bungalow, this is a cottage, something, something, names are given. If all the houses collapse what happens to the sky? Is it going to hell or heaven? And therefore I’m telling you not to measure yourself in body-form, it’s the basic thing. Since we are measuring ourselves in body-form, so many concepts appear. Bodies are different. After one hundred years what will happen to all these bodies? Even if you think intellectually – how were you prior to one hundred years, you say “I don’t know”, your answer will be: “I don’t know”. How are you after one hundred years – “I don’t know”. ‘I don’t know’ means “I’m not in any form, not in any shape”. As I told some of you: You’re alone in the house, and somebody knocks on the door “Anybody there?”, you say “Nobody’s there”. Correct? You want to say “I am here, except myself nobody’s there”, that’s the only thing. Except your Selfless Self, nothing is there.
And therefore I am insisting on meditation. Meditation means concentration, full involvement. For which there are no restrictions, no bondage is there. This is the base, foundation. Because only listening is meaningless, it is a temporary relief, painkillers. Temporary intoxication.
The human body is an opportunity for you to identify yourself. Every moment is very important, it’s valuable. Complete concentration, complete involvement is most important. We’re not accepting it. Everybody knows ‘I am not body at all’, everybody knows. Some or other day, willingly or unwillingly we are to leave this body, what remains?
Q: Maharaj, why are we so scared to find this Ultimate Truth?
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Because you’re Master of mind! So far mind was dictating us “do this thing, do that thing”, now we are dictating to the mind. It can happen. Mind, ego, intellect, these are only functioning organs. And after having Conviction you will be thoughtless, no thoughts will be there. And therefore for which, again I am repeating, meditation is the base, the foundation, which you are neglecting, you are not knowing.
Yes?
Q: Maharaj, why are we so scared to find this Ultimate Truth?
Maharaj: Not like that. Because we are having so many concepts engraved upon us we are having some strong concepts: ‘I am somebody else’, ‘man’ or ‘woman’. And to dissolve all these concepts, again, you have to undergo the meditation. After having the Conviction that ‘I am not the body at all, I was not the body at all, I’m not going to remain the body at all, I am unborn, death and birth are connected with the body only, all desires are connected with the body only”. You are beyond that. So there won’t be any depression, there won’t be any negative thoughts. It is not your fault. Because since childhood till today we’ve had a long association with the body, thousands of concepts have been engraved upon us. And we are trying to live within the circle of those concepts, we are having some limitation. Our thinking process is also within the circle of limitation, ‘I am somebody else’, ‘I am a man or woman, somebody else’.