Bhandara — Go Within Your Own Consciousness Rice Lake, Wisconsin — April 2, 2015

Openingsong,AmazingGrace.

Welcome,friends,tothisgreatdayoftheBhandaraofGreatMasterHazurMaharajBabaSawanSinghJi,myMaster.On2ndofApril1948,HazurMaharajBabaSawanSinghJigaveuphisphysicalbodybutmanifestedhimselfinhisradiantformtothousandsofthediscipleshehadinitiated.EventhosewhocouldnotseetheradiantformduringhislifetimewereabletoseeandbecamesurethattheMasterhadneverdiedforthem.

GreatMasterdidindicatetousthatalthoughthosewhohaveseenhimwillhavehimforeverbutthosewhohavenotseenphysicallywillhavetosearchforanotherPerfectLivingMaster.BecauseitisonlywithalivingPerfectLivingMaster,onewho’s alive infleshlikeus,thatwecangettrueinitiationandtruediscoverytotheroadtoourowntruehome.Therefore,althoughwewereverylucky,somanyofus,tohavehisinitiationwhilehewasstillalive,hispowerandhispresencecontinuestilltodaywiththosewhowereinitiatedbyhim.

It’s veryinterestingtorememberhowhewasaskedbyhisownMaster,BabaJaimalSingh,whowasaninitiateofSoamiShivDayalSinghSethfromAgra,howhewasinitiatedandhowhebecameasuccessortotheGreatMasterwhowashisownMasterBabaJaimalSingh.FourteenpeoplewerepresentwhenBabaJaimalSinghaskedBabaSawanSingh,GreatMaster,tocarryontheworkthathewasdoingintheDeraontheriverbankoftheriverBeasinIndia.BabaSawanSinghwasatthattimeworkingforthegovernmentofPunjabinthebuildingandroadsbranchofthepublicworksdepartmentasasub-divisionalengineer.

AndhesaidtoBabaJi,“Amongstfourteenofussittingaroundyou,therearemorecompetentpeople,peoplewhohaveachievedmoreintheirmeditation,andthereforewhydon’t youaskoneofthemtodothiswork?”AndBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“LetmecheckwithmyownMaster.”ThathasalwaysbeenthetraditionamongstPerfectLivingMasters.Theynevertakecreditforanythinguponthemselves.Whenevertheyhavetoperformmiracles,theyattributethemtotheirownMasters.ThisisanoldtraditionamongMasters.Therefore,BabaJaimalSinghsaid,“LetmecheckwithSoamiJi.”

So,heclosedhiseyes,andafterafewminutesheopenedhiseyesandhesaid,“Thereisanewmauj,anewplayfulwillhasbeendiscovered.” AndBabaSawanSinghsaid,“Whatisthatmauj?” Andhesaid,“ThemaujisthatSoamiJisaysonlySawanSinghwillcarryonthiswork.”Whereupon,BabaSawanSinghsaid,“Youknow,Master,Iamaworkingengineer. IhaveaverysmallpensionwithwhichIwillberetiring. HowwillIbeabletotakecareofsomanypeopleyouaresayingwillbecomingtothisDerainthefuture?”UponthatBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“Letmecheckthatonetoo.” So,heclosedhiseyesandthenheopenedhiseyesandhesaid,“Newmaujhascome,”andBabaSawanSinghsaid,“Whatisthemaujnow?” He said,“Themaujisthatyouwillnothavetospendmoneyfromyourpension. Peoplewillgiveyoudonationsandbringfoodandmoneyenoughforthemtobefedandtotakecareofthemselves. Youwillnotevenhavetofeedthem,andtheywillbringsomuchthatevenifthewholeBrahmandcomesdowntoeatinyourlangartherewillbeenoughfood.”

UponthatBabaSawanSinghsaid,“ButMaster,Ihaveonemorequestion.”AndBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“Whatisthenewquestionyouhave?”Hesaid,“Being agovernmentofficerandanofficerwho’s providedaccommodationbythestategovernment,Iliveinanicebungalow,andyouarebeenlivinginalittlehuthere,BabaJi.”“Whatdoyouexpectmenow,tomoveintoalittlehuttocarryonyourwork?”AndBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“Letmecheckthatonetoo.”So,heclosedhiseyesandafterawhileheopenedhiseyesandhesaid,“Newmaujhascome,”andBabaSawanSinghsaid,“Whatisthenewmauj?”Hesaid,“NewmaujisthatSoamiJisaysBabaSawanSinghwillnothavetoliveinthesamehutinwhichJaimalSinghisliving,thathewillhaveahousenotlessspaciousthanthehousehe’slivinginnowasasub-divisionalengineer.”Afterthat,BabaSawanSinghsaid,“Ihaveonemorequestion,” andBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“Whatisyournewquestionnow?”Hesaid,“Myquestionisthatyoutellpeoplethatonceyou’re initiatedbya PerfectLivingMaster,theywillnotcomeagainintothisworldmorethanfourlifetimes.ThismeansifIinitiatepeoplethenIwillberequiredtocomebackwiththemfourtimes. Iammyselftryingtogetridofthislifeandgobackthislife—youwantmetocomeagainandagainforthesakeofmydisciples.”AndBabaJaimalSinghsaid,“Letmecheckthatonetoo,”andheclosedhiseyesandafterawhileheopenedhiseyesandhesaid,“SawanSingh,thehukumis,themaujis,thatwhoeveryouwillinitiatewillneverhavetocomebackintoasecondlifeagain.”AfterthatBabaSawanSinghsaid,“Iwillcarryoutyourorder,sir.” I’m tellingyoumyMasterwasaverycleverguy.Hegotallhisconditionsfulfilledbeforehestartedhiswork.ItistheBhandaraofthatMaster.Itisagreatday.It’sadayofabundance.

Bhandarmeansabundance,andBhandarameanscelebrationofthatabundance.Andwhatarewehaving?Wearehavingabundanceofgrace,abundanceofblessings,abundanceofthatopportunitythattheseMastersgiveusonceinawhile,whenwecansoakourselveswiththeirloveandwiththeirblessings.Todayisthatday,andIreallywantallofyoupresentheretojoinmeinthisBhandaratotakefulladvantageofthisopportunitytoday,tosoakinalltheblessingthatisavailabletoday.AndIwillhaveaspecialmeditationsessionswithyou.I’ll meditatewithyousothatwecantakeadvantageofthiswonderfulopportunityandgettheblessingsoftheGreatMaster’spower.Iknowyoucan’tseehim. Iknow hecan’tevenhelpyou,becausehe’s notaliving Masteranymore.ButwhenIspeaktoyou,Idonotspeakfrommypoweratall.It’sentirelyfromthepoweroftheGreatMasterHazurMaharajBabaSawanSingh.He’s thedoerofallthingsthatI’mdoing. HeisresponsibleforallthingsthatIdohere.I am justcarryingouthishukum,hisorders.IamjustasevadardoingservicetomyMaster.

YoumightthinkI’ve cometohelpyouguys.Iamhelpingmyself.I’m beingselfishthatway.IamdoingthissevaformyMaster,notforyou.ButlookslikeImightbedoingitforyou.Butthetruthis,itisallanopportunityhehasgivingmetodothisworkforhim,andI’mverycheerfullygladlydoingit,andIdonotdistinguishbetweenanykindofsevaaMastergivesusfromanyotherkindthathegives.WhenIwasyoung,asmallboythishigh,wehadnoelectricpowerintheDerasoweusedtofanhimwithabigfan.Normallytalleradultsusetodothefanning,andIonceasked,“Icandothefan,”andtheysaid,“Noyou’retooyoung,”andGreatMasterwassitting,hesaid“No,hecandoit.”So,Itookthefan.Itwasmysize,andIwasdoinglikethis.IcanstilltodayrecallwhatagreatjoyitwasformetobeabletodothissevaoffanningmyMaster.TodaythesevaI’m doingtodayisidenticaltothat.Igetthesamejoyindoingseva/servicetomyMaster.MyMasteroncetoldmethatifyoudoservicetoyourMasteritcountsasgoodasmeditation.IsaidthisthebestshortcutIeverheardof.

It’ssohardtomeditate.Themindrunsamuckallthetime,andwecan’tsitforalittlewhilebehindtheeyes,andherehe’ssayingthere’s ashortcut,anotherwayavailable.Doselflessseva!Butthesevamustbedonewithoutexpectingareward.Itmustbedoneasanoffering.Whatisseva?It’s anoffering.It’s anofferingofhelp. It’s anofferingofanykind. Sevaisofthreekinds,andwecandoallthatkindofseva.

Wecandosevawiththebody,likeIwasfanningtheMaster,sevawiththebody.IcancarryMaster’s bagsandluggage.IcanhelpMastertoputonhisshoes.IcanhelpMaster.Icanopenthedoorforhimtogetintothecar.Icoulddolotsofthings.Theywereallbodilyseva.Theyallareequal.Noonesevaisbetterthantheother.Sevais

anofferingofyourservicetotheMaster.Thesecondkindofseva,whichiseasierreally,istodonatesomemoney,towriteacheck,andthat’salsoseva. It’ssevawithyourwealth.Sevawiththebody;sevawithyourwealth.Butthemostimportantsevaissevawithyourmind.Andsevawithmindmeansthatwhenyoumeditateyoudonotmeditateforyourself,butasanofferingtoyourMaster.Mostofthetimewe’redoingmeditationforourownself,togetrealization,togetexperiences.Wemeditatesowe’llgetsomething.HaveweeverthoughtthatthesamemeditationcanalsobeofferedtotheMasterasseva?Andthatissevawiththemind.

So,whenwemeditate:“Master,today’ssevais,today’s meditationisnotformetogetanything—it’sofferingtoyou.So,Icanofferyoumysevawithmybody,withmywealth,andwithmymind.”Andtherefore,thesevahelps.Howdoesithelpussomuch?Becausesevawithoutexpectingareward,againlikelove,pushesouregobehind.Andthatiswhysevaisrecommendedassomethingsoimportant.Andtoo,ifyoucannotservetheMasterhimself,thenyoucanservehisdisciples.Andifyoucan’tservehisdisciples—they’renotthere—serveanybody,servehumanity.

Sevaofanykindisgoodnomatterwhereitisdone.It’sveryhighqualityifitcanbedonewithoutexpectingareward.AccordingtoLordKrishnaasexpressedbyhiminhisGita,hisconversationwithArjuninthebattlefieldofKurukshetra,Krishnasaysthat“whenyouactwithoutexpectingareward,youbecomeayogi,” that“ifyou arecontinuouslydoingthingsexpecting‘whatwillIgetforit,’thenyou’re an ordinary person. Youaren’tenlightened.”But“ifyoucan performanyaction,anditshouldbeperformedskillfully,”hesays,“Yogakarmasukaushalam.”Thatmeansifyouractionisperformedwiththeutmostskillthatyouhave,withthebestskillyou’re performinganactionwithoutregardtowhatyou’regettingbackforit, you’llbecomeenlightened,you’llbecomeayogi,you’ll discoveryourtrueself.Ofcourse,hedescribesotherformsofyogatoo.There’sayogaofaction.Healsodescribesyogaofknowledgedhyanyogaorsanthyayoga,whereKrishnatellsArjunthat“if youthinkaboutwhatisrealityandkeeponthinkingyou’llreachapointwhenyoufindthinkingcangiveyounothing. Andwhenyoureachthatpointandcrossityou’ll getenlightened.”

Buthesays,“Thehighestyoga isbhaktiyoga,whichmeansyogaofloveanddevotion, becauseifyourloveanddevotionisexpands,youcangoevenbeyondtheseothertwoyogas andgobeyondthemind.”So,thesearealltalkingaboutactionswithoutexpectingareward.So,whenweoffersevaitshouldbedonepurelyasanofferingwithoutexpectingareward.Andthenitcarriesahugereward!Butletnotyourmindfoolyou:“Okay,Iknowthere’ll beabigrewardafterwards. Andnowletmedoseva,”say,“Idon’twantanyreward,” andyou’reexpectingnowwhatwill

comenext.”Youcan’t docheatinginthisgame.Youcandocheatingelsewherebutnotinthisgame.

SothatiswhyIamonlymentioningtoyouwhywe aregatheredhere, becauseI have celebratedthisdaysince1949,theyearaftertheyearthathepassedaway.AndIhavenotmissedthisdaywhetherI’malone… Somebodytoldme,“Supposingnobody’sthereatBhandara. Howwillyoucelebrateit?”Isaid,“Ithasneverhappenedthattherewasnobody. Twowerealwaysthere—meandmyMaster!”So,wealwayscelebrateBhandaratogether!

So,I’mnotaloneevercelebratingBhandara.ButI’mveryhappythatallofyoucameandjoinedmetodayinthisBhandara,thedayofabundance,thedayofgrace.Theveryfactthatwehavegothumanbodies,theveryfactthatwehavefreewill,theexperienceoffreewill,theveryfactthatwecanmakechoicestoday,theveryfactthatwecanbecomeseekerstodayisthegreatestblessingwehavethatwecanseekthetruthandfindit.

Andthatiswhyashumanbeingswiththecapacitytoseek,wehaveanopportunitytoseek.Andwe’vealsoanopportunitytofindsomethingthatisthemostvaluablethingintheworld,thatistobefoundbyaPerfectLivingMasterandgetinitiatedinthislifetime,inthelifetimeofthePerfectLivingMaster.DolittlebitofhomeworkandmanifesttheradiantformoftheMaster,whichwillstaywithusforever.AndwhenIsayforeverIdon’tmeanforeverwhilewe’realivehere—foreverintoeternity.

That’sanamazingexperiencethatyoucanhavearelationshipwithahumanbeing!Thisistotallyarelationshipwithalivinghumanbeinglikeyourself!Andthatrelationshipcanbesopermanentafriendshipandsopermanentacompanionshipthatitlastsforever!You’reneveraloneafterthat!It’saveryamazingexperienceandIknownootherexperiencelikethat.Thatiswhywhenwegetthisopportunitythere’snothinglikeit. Howmanyofyouwouldnowliketojoinmeinmeditationsothatyougetthebenefitoftheblessings?Thankyouverymuch.Somanyofyouareparticipatinginthisjointmeditationtodaytotakethebestadvantageoftoday’s Bhandara.

Pleasecloseyoureyes.Seatyourselfonyourchairsoronthegroundwhereyou’resittinginsuchawaythatyoudon’thavetomoveafterthis,youcanbestillforawhile.Closeyoureyes.Imaginethatyourbodyisyourhouseinwhichyoulive.Imagineyou’relivinginthesixthfloorofthishousebehindtheeyes.Imaginethespacethatisthere.Imagineyou’reinthecenterofthatroomonthesixthfloorofyourhousebehindtheeyes.Takeacomfortablechairoracomfortablematandsit

downonthechairoronthefloor.Doyourmeditationthere.Repeatanymantrayouknow,anysimranyouknow.Repeatveryslowly.Repeatveryslowly.LookaroundifyouseetheMasteranywhere.AskfortheMastersblessings—GreatMasterdistributinghisgraceandblessings—receivethem.Receivethemwithabundance!Openyourself.SeehowtheMasterisgivingyouthegrace.Opentoreceivingthegrace.Expressyourloveandgratitude.Expressyourthanks.KeepyoureyesclosedtillIcountfive.One,two,three,four,five—openyoureyes.Welcomeback.

Howmanyofyouwereabletoactuallyenjoy/receivetheblessings?I’mveryhappy.Congratulations.I’mveryhappy. TheMasters’teachings,ofallMasters,allPerfectLivingMasters,teachusthesamething:thatourtruehome,ourSachKhand,ourTruthlieswithinourselvesandnotoutside.Ifwehavetofindit,wemustgowithinourselves.Runningaroundoutsidedoesnotgiveyouanything.Itonlytiresyouout,developsyourego.“Ihavegonetoalltheplacesofpilgrimage. Ihavedonesomuch.”Itonlyenhancesyourego.

Readingbookscangiveyouinformation;readingbookscannevergiveyouenlightenment.Youcankeeponreadingasmuchasyoulike.Wethinkthereadingofscripturesisgoingtotakeustoheaven,isgoingtotakeustoenlightenment?Howcanreadingofordinarywordsprintedonpapertakeusanywhere?Ifyouwanttoread,readwhatiswritteninsideyou.BullehShahmysticsayswejustkeeponreading,keeponreading…wegooutsidetolearnandnobodyentershimselftolearnwhatisinside.Thetruewritingthatyouwanttoseeisinside,notoutside.Outsideisthedescriptionofwhatyoucanfindinside.

Ifwekeeponreadingaboutaplacewhichwelike…There isaniceHawaiianbeach,theycallitparadise.WaikikiBeach.Beautifulplace. And wegetawholebookdescribingthatbeach.Everydaywereadit.Everydayweenjoy.WehavenotreachedWaikikibeach.Nobodycanreachtherejustbyreadingabook.InGuruGranthSahib,theholybook,theGranthoftheSikhs,itsays,“Padiyejetebarasbaras,padiyejetemaas,padiyejeteaarza,padiyejeteswaas,” Ifyoukeeponreadingeverymonth,ifyoukeeponreadingeveryyear,ifyoukeeponreadingeveryday,ifyoukeeponreadingwitheverybreath,“Nanaklekheikgalhorhaumechakhanchakh.”Thetruthliesinonething,theresthasdevelopedyourownhaume,yourego.“Ihavereadsomuch.Ihavedonethisreadingsomanytimes.”

Doesitchangeyou?Doesreadingchangeyou?No,ifyouactuponwhatitissaying.ThesameGranthsays,“Gharmeinghardikhlaidesosatgurpurukhsujaan.”YoucanknowaSatguru.Whoishe?Whoshowsyouhistruehomewithinthishome,whichisourhouse,ourbody.Andyetsomanyofuskeeponreadingallthescripturesagainandagain,againandagain.Wesinghymns.Wesingsongs,chanting.Theyare

great,butthey’renotgoingtoenlightenus.They’rethewaytogetenlightenedbyreadingandfollowingthem.Ifyoudon’tfollowthem,whatgoodisjustreading?Andsometimeswedon’tevenread.Weletsomebodyelseread,andwethinkwearebenefitingbecausesomebodyelseisreading.Somebodyelsereadsthescriptures,andwesitthere—wethinkwe’regettingthebenefitofit.Ifyoulistenwhatthey’rereading,actuponitanddoit,thenyougetthebenefit.

Thetruthliesbyanexplorationofyourself.Todiscoverthetruth,todiscoverwhoyouare,todiscovertheultimatecreator,youdonotrequirereligion,yourequirespirituality.Allreligionswerecreatedoutofspirituality,outofspiritualtruths.Thefoundersofthereligionmadeveryclearstatementsthatthetruthliesinside.Gowithinandfindout.Thesamespiritualtruthsarenowbeingpracticedbyusthroughreligionbyoutsideceremonies,outsideprayers,outsidereadings,outsidedistributionofsweets,outsidedistributionofeverything.

Whataboutgoingwithin?Whogoeswithin?Yougotoanytemple,anychurch,anygurdwara,anysynagogue,whatarewedoingthere?We’reall…allactivitiesareallexternal,outside.AndyetalltheseMastersinwhosenameswehavefoundedthesereligions,they’resayingthesamething—gowithintofindthetruth.Therefore,unlesswegowithinwe’llnotfindwhatthosebooksaresaying.Ifyougowithinyouwillknowwhatthebooksmean!Otherwisewefightovertheinterpretationofthebooksthatwe’rereading. “No,thismeansthis.”“No,thismeansthat.”Intellectualdiscussionsaretakingplace,andwe’renottakinganyadvantageofwhat thebookissayingandadvisingustodo.

Togowithinmeanstogowithinyourownconsciousness,togowithintothepointwhereyou,asconsciousunit,asalivingthing,existwithinthebody.Thisismerelyacoveruponourselves.Thisisnotourself;it’satemporarycostumejusttoparticipateinonesmallshowhere.We aregoodactors. Youwillnoticethatwhenwegotoseeaplay,ifit’sacheap-sizestreetshowthere’snoproperstagesetting, theactorsarenotwearinggoodcostumes, they’reverypooractorsandtheyactverycrudely,sowecangivethemaquarterandseetheshow.

ThenyougotoBroadway,NewYork,orgotoabiggerplace,ahundredandfiftydollarstickettogoin.What’sthedifference?Thoseactorsactasifitisreal. Thatactisgreatwheretheactoractasifitisrealandnotanact.AmoviewasproducedcalledGandhionthelifeofMahatmaGandhiofIndia.BenKingsleyofEngland,aBritishcitizen,actedasGandhi.Inaninterview,hesaidwhenthecameramanwantedtoshootthemoviehetoldthem,“Hold.Idon’tfeelIamGandhi. Forthree months,dayandnight,hethoughthewasGandhitillhebegantobelievehewas

Gandhi.Thenhetoldthepeopleshootthefilmnow.Inordertobegoodactorsyoushouldforgetyou’reanactor.

Nowimaginethisworldisastage.EvenShakespearethedramatistsaidso:“This worldisastage,we areallactorsuponit.”Andwearesuchgoodactorswehavetotallyforgottenweareactors.Whatbetteractingcanwedo? Andthescriptwhichwe’reactingisinstilledinusinsuchabeautifulwaythatwecannotdepartfromthescript.Andyetwebelievewe’re reallyactingareallifeandmadeitareality.It’sstillanact.Weareparticipatingintheactasifitisreal.Canweatanytimebyanawareness,byaspiritualawareness,ceaseanactinamovieoradramaandnotreal?Yes,youcan!Bywithdrawingyourselffrombecomingacharacterinthisshowtobecominganaudience,totakingaseatintheaudience.Whenwegoandwatchamovie,weforgetitisunreal,justashadowonthescreen.Forthetimebeingwetakeitasreal.Wewonder,“What’llhappennext?”

IwilltellyoujokinglythestoryoftheyoungboyfromthevillageinIndiawhohadneverseenamovie,neverknewthere’satheater. Andwetookhimtoacinemahall,andtherehesawamovieinwhichtherewasasceneinwhichagirltakesoffherclothestojumpintoapondtohaveabath.Andhegetsreallyexcitedtoseethegirlisgoingtotakeoffherclothesandhe’llseehernude!Butasshetakestheclothesoffatrainpassesinfront,andbythetimethetraingoesshe’salreadyinthewater. Thatyoungboycametwentytimestothemovie,samemovie,towaitwhenthetrainwillgetlateoneday.Wewatchthismoviethesameway.Wetakeitequallyreal.Whenwewatchamovie,weforgetthatitisnotreal.

TheGreekphilosopherAristotledescribedthisasadeliberatewayforhumanpsychetogetridofexcessiveofemotions,toconsideraplayasreal.Hesays,“Whydowecrywhenwewatchamovieoradrama? Weknowthey’reacting.” Atthattime,wedon’tthinkthey’reacting. Hecallsit“awillingsuspensionofdisbelief,” thatwewillinglysuspendour disbelief.Normallywewon’tbelieveit’sreal. Wewillingly suspendthisinordertowhathecalls“acatharsisofemotions,” togetpurgationofexcessofouremotionsandbecomestable,thatotherwisewe’resuchemotionalbeings thatthisdramathatwegothroughisanoutletforusforouremotions.Thislifeisthesamething,andwearetakingitasrealsothatwecangetexcessofouremotionsdrawn.Wecanbecoolandwecanknowwhoweare,andbestable.Sothatiswhyifyouwanttoseethiswholeworldasanact,asamovie,asaplaygoingonaroundyou,jumpfromthecharacterinwhichyou’resittingandthinkingyou’re thatcharacteralonewhichisanamegiventoyourphysicalbody.That’sthecharacter.

Normallyinamovietheateryoudon’tsitinanycharacter,yousitawayfromit.So,youknowtheaudienceisinaseparateseat,charactersareonthescreenandyou’re notpartofthem. Inthismovie,you’re sittinginoneofthecharacters!Yourchairfromwhichyouwatchthismoviehasbeenplacedinsideoneofthecharacters.Butwhenyouthinkyou’reacharacter,itbecomesarealworld.Whenyousitbackonthechairandwatchthemovie,itbecomesamovie.Where isthatchairfromwhereyou’rewatchingthismovie?Behindyoureyes,inside.WhenIledyouthroughalittlemeditationIsaid,“Sitinthishouse,” whichwasthisbody,“behindtheeyes.”Becausewhenyousitbehindtheeyes,you’resittingwhereyou areactually,asconsciousness,observingthisshowbysittinginoneofthecharacters. Ifyouareawarethatthat’swhereyou’resittingandwithyoureyesopenyou’rewatchingtheshow,includingtheshowwhichincludesyourbodyasacharacter,thiswholeworldwillbecomeamovieinaninstant,andyouwillenjoyitlikeamovie.It’sjustaquestionofawareness.Ifyouputyourawarenessintheseatbehindtheeyes,youdon’tparticipate. Thecharactersaremovingincludingthecharacterinwhichyou’resitting. They’reparticipatingintheshow;you’resittingstillintheaudiencebehindtheeyes,watchingtheshowfromthere.

IamnottalkingofalongjourneytoourtruehometoSachKhand,I’mtalkingtotheveryfirststepofjustpulling yourattentiontobehindtheeyesandsittingthereandwatchingthismovie,constantlybeingawarethat“Iamnotthebody.Bodyisacharacterinthemovie,andsoaretheotherbodiesthatIseearound,andallthatishappeningisashow. Iamsittingtherestillinmychair,watching.”Thewholelifebecomesamovie,whichindeeditis!Ofcourse,youcan’tfinditwhenyouaresittinghereasacharacterandnotknowingwhoyouare.

Butifyoufindoutwhoyouareyouwillknowitactuallyisamovie.Itwaspre-recordedlikeamovie.Itisbeingplayedoutlikeamovie.Whenyouseeamovieonthescreen,wheredoesitcomefrom?Youthinkit’shappeningatthattime.Youwonderwhatthatcharacterwilldonext,whetherthatpersonwillberunawayornot,whetheramurderwilltakeplaceornot. Horriblethingswearewatchingonthemovie.Youdon’trunfromyourchairtogoandstopit. Onone hand,youknowitisnotreal,ontheotherhandyouwanttobelieveitisrealandthat’swhyyouwanttoenjoyit.

Buthaveyoueverthoughtthatthemoviewasshot,thefilmwasmadewayearlier!It’spackedupinafilmandisbeingprojectedonthescreenfrombehindyou, notfromfront, thattheprojectorisbehindyou.Themovieconsistsofstillshots.It’smovingfasttomakeitlooklikeit’smoving, andunlesstherewasalightbehindthisgoingthroughthefilm,youwillneverseethatshadow.It’sthelightthat’sputting

throughthefilmisgoingonthescreenandyouseeamovie.Thisworldisidenticaltothat!Thelightofoursoul,ourconsciousness,goes/piercesthroughthefilmpre-recordedinthemindandcreatesthisexperienceoutside.Thefactthatitcreatesexperienceinmultidimensionsdoesnotmakelessofaprojectionfromconsciousnessonapre-recordedmovieinthemind.

Thewholedestinywe’regoingthrough, thewholelifewe’regoingthroughistotallypre-recorded.Buthowcanyoufindthistruth? Well,truthinthemoviecanbetested—turnaroundandlookback.Thetruthaboutthismovieisjustturnaroundandlookback.Lookwithin.Doesthemindhavethesepicturesalreadyprogrammed?Lookback.Isthelightofyourownself,ofyourownsoul,projectingitthroughthemindandcreatingthis?Checkitout.Youwillfindthereisnodifference.

Andyetwhenweidentifyourselveswithjustthecharactersofthemovieweforgetthis.Wesufferandweenjoyalongwiththecharactersofthemovie.Thenwemakeitarealworld.Ofcourse,notabadidea.Ifyouwanttoenjoyamovie,itshouldlookreal—andthat’swhyitisreal,andit’sagreatadventure!It’snotallfun.There’s suffering,there’spleasure, there’spain. Wehaveallthesethings. Wehaveupsanddowns.Iftherewerenoupsanddownswouldbeveryboringmovie.Wewon’tliketostayhereanymore. So,it’sagreatmoviewhichwe’rewatching,pre-shotandpre-recordedrightinside. Notonlythat,justbygoingbackbehindtheprojectorandtakingthefilmoutyoucanloadanothermovie!Andyouwillfindthattherewastrillionsofmoviesavailabletoyoutoload.Youpickedthisoneupandloadeditandarewatchingit.Whenit’sdoneyou’llloadanotherone andkeeponwatching.IsthisjustafairytaleI’mtellingyou,orisitaverifiabletruth?Ifyou’reameditator, ifyou’reusedtowithdrawingyourattentionbehindtheeyesandgoingwithin, you’llfindit’saverifiabletruth. Andanybodycanverify.

It’snotatopsecretsomewhere.It’stransparentthatthisthingcanbeverifiedbyanybodywhogoeswithin.Butifyoudon’tgowithinandjustsitoutsideandtalkaboutit,therenoverificationpossible.There’snoproofofitoutsidewhenwe’re livingasacharacterinthisbigshow.Itisabigshowgeneratedbyusforourpurpose.Whenthemovieisoverwegohome—wedon’tbotheraboutwhathappenedtothecharacters.Whentheshowendswegobackhome.Whenthis showwillendwe’llgobackhome. Butwecanalsogobackhomeinthemiddleoftheshow.Atleastthatwouldgiveusthefeelingthatwealwayshaveachancetogobackwhenwelike.Thebestthinginlifecanbewhenyoucanmakeatripintoadventurewhenyoulikeandgobackhomewhenyoulike,inyourownsweetwill.AndthatiswhatinitiationbyaPerfectLivingMasterprovidesforus,becausethatisthewayhecanprovideameanstoustogowithin,goandfindoutourtruehomeandgoback

intotheseverallevelsofcreation,severallevelsofconsciousnessthatarebeingcreatedoutsidewhichwe areexperiencingnow.

Suchisthewonderofthiskindofajourney.Thenwehavedifferentlevelsofcuriosity.Somepeoplearecurious.Somearenotsocurious.Somearejusttakingitforgranted,letthingsmoveonastheyare—theydriftalong.Somearecurioustoknowmore.Thissenseofcuriosityalsoapplieswhenyou’redoingmeditationanddiscoveringthings. There’ssuchavarietyofexperiencesavailabletousattheveryfirstlevelwhenyouwithdrawyourattentionandarenolongerawareofthisbody,butyou’reawareofyourinnerbodyonly. There’ssomanyadventuresofamoreinterestingkind thanthisphysicaladventurethatopentoyou.Curiouspeoplestaythereforthousandsofyears,evenaftergettinginitiatedfromaPerfectLivingMaster.ButthePerfectLivingMasterneverleavesthem.Hesays,“Yes,haveagoodtime. Enjoy.”

Onebigdifferencebetweencertaindoctrinesthataretellingusthisworldisnotreal,andtheteachingsofPerfectLivingMasters—onebigdifferenceistheMastersdon’tsaywearesittinginhell,runoutofit,gosomewhere.Theysaydiscoverthetruth,thisveryhellcanbecomeheaven.Theydon’tsaytorunaway anywhere.Theydon’tsayenlightenmentcomesbyrunningintoforests orgivingupeverything.Thesurrendershouldbesurrenderofthemindwithinyourownhead.Outsidesurrendermeansnothing.Ihavetravelledinsomeveryremoteareas,inIndiaandelsewhere,andseenpeoplewhoaredoingmeditationupinthemountainsofHimalayas.IwasworkingthereonjobsandI’veseenthemintheforestofDandakaranya,remoteforestwheretherewerenopathways,wherepeoplehavetowalkonstiltsbecausethere’snothing, therearesnakesandbushesallaround. Iwalkedonstiltstoo,buttheretwopeoplehelpedmelesttheyfallamongstthesnakes.I’veseenthoseplacesandI’veseenpeoplewhohaverunawayfromsocietyinordertogototheseforestsandtothesemountainsinordertogetenlightenment.Andalltheytalkaboutwhenyoutalktothemiswhattheyleftbehind.Theyhavenotleftanythingbehind,it’sfull,itisallintheirmind. Ifyoulikepizza…backtoShakey’spizza. Ifyoulikepizzaandyoueatit,youenjoyit.Butifyougoawayintotheforest,andyoucan’tgetpizzathere,willyoubeabletomeditate?Yourmindeverytimewillsay,“Oh,Ileftpizzabehind.” Byrunningawayphysicallydoesnotgiveyouanychanceformeditationorenlightenment,yetwethinkifwerunawaysomewherewe’llbeabletogetsomething?Peoplewhohaverunawaygotnothing—theyhadtocomeback.Therefore,whatwehavetofindiswhereweare,whatwe’redoing. Justlikealotusflower.Alotusflowerisinthewater.Therootsareinthedirt,buttheflowerremainspureandabove.Weshouldstaywhereweare,butourawarenessshouldbeaboveallthissothatwe areawareofwhoweare, why

wearehere,whatwe’redoinghereisallanopeningofhigherawareness.It’sanopeningofrealknowledgeofwhoweareandhowwecandothingsverywellinthisworld.Tobeagoodmeditator,togetenlightenment,youdonothavetoleaveanyofyouractivitiesyou’re doinghere.Youcandoyourjobsverywell.Youcanhavefamilies.Youcantakecareofyourchildren.Youcantakecareofyourfriends.Youcantakecareofsociety.Youcandoanythingyoulikeandstillraiseyourawarenessandknowthisisalightshowinwhichyou’reparticipating. Higherawarenesshasnothingtodowiththesethings.Youcanlivebothequallywell.Theoutwardlifeweliveinthisworldisnotgoingtobeaffectedbyyourhigherawarenessofknowingwhoyouare.Therefore,torunawayfromthingsisnotnecessaryatall.Wedon’thavetorunaway.

ThisisoneofthebigthingsthatIlearnedfromGreatMaster’steachings,who’s Bhandarawe’recelebratingtoday,thatwecanperformallourfunctions.Ididallkindsofjobsmyself.Iworkedinaprivatecompany.Iworkedforthegovernment.IdidbusinesswhenIcametothiscountrytomakemoney.InallthesethreeIwassuccessful,becausetheyhadnothingtodowithmyenlightenmentormyMastersittinginsideandguidingmeorhelpingme.Thetwothingsarenotclashingatall.Infact,IwasinjobsinIndiawherepeoplethoughtthattositonthatchairgivesyoualotofpower.Theycallit,thatthisis,“Kissakursika,”thatit’sallamatterofthechairyousiton—adumbfellowcanbeputonthatchair,hebecomeswise—thosekindofjobs.Andyetinspiteofthose,peoplethoughtonceyousitonthatchair—forexample,theytoldme,“Youcanneverbeabusinessman,becausethosechairsofauthority,likesecretaryofadepartmentofgovernmentorheadofadepartmentoracommissionerofadivision,whenyou’reholdingthosepositions,” whichIdidhold,“you’realwaysright.”Theofficerwhositsonthechairisalwaysright.Inbusinessthecustomerisalwaysright.Theysayyoucan’tdoboththings. Ididboththings.WhenIdidthat,Iwasright;whenIdidbusiness,customerwasright. Where’stheproblem?Solongasyouknowthisismerelyanact,thisismerelyalifethatwe’relivingthroughlikeanactonaplay.Thisisjustaplay,andyourawarenessisbeyondthat.Theawarenessiswatchingtheplay.

Youarebestabletolivelifeifyousayyouarewatchingthisplayfrombehindtheeyesinacomfortablechair,andthat’s theplacewhereyoubecomeanaudience,wheretheworldbecomesaspectacle,ashowforyou. Andthatsimpleexerciseshouldnotbedifficult.Wedidalittlebitjustnowinthemeditationsession.Ifyoucanjustpracticethat…AndIamnotsayingthatyouhavetospendyourlifeonthat.Leadyourlife.Fiveminutesinthemorning.Getupfirstthing—fiveminutesinthemorning—andsitinsidethereandlookattheworldfromthere.Fiveminutesatnightbeforeyougotosleep…Sitthereandimaginewhattheworldlookedlike

whenyouspentthewholedayhere,andhavewonderfuldreams.Spendfiveminutesmorning,fiveminutesnight,you’re onthewaytoenlightenment. Butifcontinuouslyyousay,“No,I’lldoittomorrow.” “I’lldoitwhenI’mfree.” “I’ll doitwhenIretire.” “Thisistoomuchatthistime,I’mtoobusy.” “I’mtoobusywiththechoresofthisworld,Ican’tdoit.” Thenyoumissthebus. Becausethethingisthatamomentumiscreatedwhenyouconstantlyvisitthespaceinwhichthetruthisheld.Whichisinsideyou.Ifyoudon’t evenvisitit,you’llforgetaboutit.Thenyou’re drownedintheaffairsoftheworld. Thetruthisifwewanttoreallybeaspiritualperson,liveaspirituallife,wemustchangeourpriorities.Ourprioritynumberoneshouldbethespirituallifeandtositinsideatleastinthemorningwhenwegetupandwhenwegotosleep.

Prioritynumberonenomatterwhat,nomatterwhat’s goingtohappen.Everythingcanwait.Ifyoumakethatyourpriority, you’llbebuildingamomentumtowardsyourownspiritualgrowthanddiscovernewthings.Butifyourpriorityis“No,I’m verybusy,Ihavesomanycommitmentshere, there,andI’ll dothis,thisis secondary,I’lldoittomorrow,” itneverworks. Norisitgoodtosay,“Idogoodmeditationonweekends.” Or“onceamonth.” Youloseall momentum;youstartalloveragaineverytime.Butfiveminutesdailymaintainsthemomentum,andyoukeeponmakingprogress.Thisisaquestionofsettinguppriorities,andI amsayingthisfrommyexperience,thatI’veseenallsidesofthis,thatifwegiveprioritytobewhowereallyare,aspiritualbeing…We are notpeoplewhocanfindspirituality,wearespiritualbeingswhohappentobeheretemporarily,andifwecanrecognizethateveryday,wewillkeeptheawarenessatthatlevel.TheGreatMaster’s teachingswereasgood,assimpleasanyotherPerfectLivingMaster’steachings. WhytheyimpactedmesomuchandtransformedmylifetosuchanextentisnotreallybecauseoftheteachingsbutbecauseoftheunconditionalpurelovethatIexperienced.Thereisnomatchforthat.ThefriendshipthatyougetfromaPerfectLivingMaster,thereisnomatchforthat.Ihaveseennothinglikethat.

Wehadadoctor,veterinarydoctor.HisnamewasDr.IsherSingh,andhewaslivinginasmallstatecalledKapurthala,twentymilesawayfromtheDerawhereGreatMasterlived.Andhehadmanyexperiences.He’stheguywhohadtobreakhisarmbeforehewasgettinginitiated;youhaveheardthatstory. He’stheguywhotieduphisfatherinaropetogethisdarshan from theMaster.Hedidallkindsofcrazythings.Hewasacrazyguy.Ispentmanyyearswiththatguy.Hewascrazy;hecoulddrivemecrazy.Andyetthatguy,heinvitedGreatMaster.Hesaid,“Masteryoudoallyourworkhere.Whydon’tyoucometoKapurthala,visitmytown,visitmyhome?Youwillblessmyhomewithyourpresence.”AndGreatMasteragreed.TheveryfirsttripheevermadeoutsideoftheDerawastothehouseofIsherSingh.Butwhen

IsherSinghmadethearrangement,hewas,hehadaverysmalllittle,smallhouse.Itwassosmallitwasjustoneroomandalittlecourtyardoutside.AnditwasrightinthebeginningwhenyouenterKapurthalacity.It’srightinthebeginning,onalane.Yougorightlane,andtherewasthelittlehouse. Andtherewerecows,andtherewereotheranimalsthatweretiedupinthatcourtyard.Itwasanormalvillagetypeoflife,andhe,whenGreatMasteracceptedhisinvitation,hegotallthesevadars,allthesatsangisgathered.“Let’scleanuptheplace.Master’scoming.”So,theycleanedup.Theypushedthecowsout,andtheypushedthebuffaloesout,andtheybegantocleanthatplace.“Great Masterisgoingtocome,andpeoplewillsithereandhavesatsang,”adiscourse.ThereweretwomoreaffluentdisciplesofGreatMaster.OnewasaprofessorinKapurthala.Theybothpassedaway—Icantaketheirnames:ProfessorBhatnagar,andtherewasthejudge,andwhowasfinancesecretaryofKapurthala,DaryaiLal.Thesetwopeoplehadbighouses,theyhadcars.IsherSinghhadnocar.Hehadahorseandhehadabike.So,heborrowed,herequestedthemtousetheircartobringtheGreatMasterfromBeasDerauptoKapurthala.Andhemadeallthepreparations,toldallthesatsangis“Masteriscoming.”AndMasterdroveinoneofthecarsaccompaniedbythesetworichpeople,thetycoonsofKapurthala.

AndwhentheMaster’scarcame,allthesatsangiswerewaitingnearthatlanewhichturnedintoIsherSingh’shouse.Andthecarneverstoppedthere.Itwentrightahead,bypassedthemandstoppedatthehouseofProfessorBhatnagar.AndProfessorBhatnagarsaidthat,“Master,wehavearrangedaspecialbedroomforyou. Madespecialarrangements.There’sabathroomattached. Wehaveallthearrangementsforyou. Wehavediningarrangementsforyou,andyoucome. Shallwetakeyourbagsout?” He said,“No,leavethebagsinthecar.” Andhesaid,“Keepthebags.”So,theythoughthewantstostayinDaryaiLal’s house.So,theyallgotbackintothecarandtheydrovetoDaryaiLal’s house.

MeantimethesatsangistoldIsherSingh,“Youaresostupid.Didn’t yourealizethat there’snoplaceforaMasterstaywhereyou’repreparing,makingusallcleanuptheplace? He’sgoingtostaywithoneofthosepeople. He’salreadygone,andhe’s goingtogivedarshantopeople. He’sgoingtogiveadiscoursealsoontheothersideofthetown,inthebigmaidanthere,biglawnthere,opengroundthere. Andyouaresittingherewastingourtimeandwastingyourtime.‘Master’scomingtomyhouse.’ Howcanhecometothisoneroominwhichyoulive?”Hesaid,“No,he toldmehewouldcome.” Theysaid,“Youareafool,” andtheylefthimtoruntotheplacewherethediscoursewasgoingtotakeplace.

Meantime,Master’scarreachedDaryaiLal’s house.Andtheretheysaid,“Master,wehavepreparedforyouabedroomhere. Wehaveprepareddiningarrangementsforyou. We’vedoneidenticalarrangementstheprofessorhasdone.Youchoose! Youcanstayhere.Shallwetakeyourbagsout?”Hesaid,“Leavethebagsinthecar.”“Theysaid, Master,thesearetheonlytwoappropriateplacesforyoutostay.” Hesays,“ButItoldIsherSinghthatIwillcometohishouse.” “Master,hehasnohouse. Hehasonlyoneroomandadirtycourtyardoutside,andthere’snobathroom.” Hesaid, “Nobathroom? Howdoeshetakeabath?” Theysay,“Hecarriesabucketofwaterandtakesitbyastaircaseonthesideandputsitontopoftheroof,justwithalittlecuporsomethinghejustputsthewateronhisheadandthat’shisbath. There’snoproperarrangementthere.” GreatMastersays,“MaybeIcouldalsogo ontopofhisroofandhaveabaththere.”“Master,no.Thereisnoplaceforyoutostay.”

Meantime,nobodyistherearoundIsherSingh.Everybodyisgone.HiswifeMayasaid,“YouhavealwaysbeenamadfellowandfollowingaMasterwithoutknowledge,”andshealsoranawaytohim.Poorfellow,alone,lockedhimselfinthisroomandcried.Tearsflowing.“Master,whatkindofMasterareyou? Youpromisedyou’ll cometomyhouse.Andjustbecausethosepeoplearerich,thosepeoplehavebigbungalowsandtheycanaffectyou,you’redrivingintheircar,thereforeyou’ve forgottenme?Whatkindof friendareyou? Yousaidyou’reafriendofmineandnota Master: ‘Masterfirst?No,friendfirst,Masterlater,’ youkeptonsaying. Itookyouasafriend.Isthathowafrienddoestoaperson?” Andhekeptoncrying. Meanwhile,MastersaidtoDaryaiLal,“ThatpoorfellowIsherSinghiswaitingforme. Itdoesn’tmatterwhatkindofaccommodationhehas. It’sjustamatterofoneortwo days.I’llbeabletostaythere.”

[Thereisagapinthevideohere.]

…satsangitryingtocallhim[IsherSingh].Hesays,“Goaway!I don’twanttogo! That Master’sbetrayedme.Notafriend.” Then Masterspoke.Hesaid,“IsherSingh,thisisSawanSingh,standingoutside.”AndheopenedthedoorandMastersawalltears.Masterhadtearsinhiseyes,andhehuggedhim,andhesaid,“IsherSingh,Iamyourfriend.WhenIpromise,Ideliver.WhenIsaysomething,Imeanit.” Andtheybothcriedinside.Mastersaid,“Satsangwillbeheldrighthere. Iwillstayinthisroomhere.”Andforthreedayshestayedinthesameroom.Andhehadabathrightonthetop.Andhewentfornumbertwo,numberthreeoutsidelikeIsherSinghdid.AndheaccommodatedhimselfexactlylikeIsherSingh.

I’mgivingyouthisstorytotellyouthenatureoffriendshipofaPerfectLivingMaster.Whenhesayssomething,hedelivers.Todaypeopleaskme,“Canyouname

thePerfectLivingMastersthatyouknow?”AndIsaid,“Icannameonlyone—GreatMasterHazurMaharajBabaSawanSingh.”Icannotknowanythingelseaboutanybody,becausetheremaybesomanyPerfectMasters.Butmyattentionisfixedononeman,andIknowhe’saPerfectLivingMaster.Theysaid,“Howdoyouknowthathe’saPerfectLivingMaster?” Thisquestionhasnotbeenaskedbyanyordinaryperson.ThisquestionhasbeenaskedbypeoplewhofollowmyMaster’sMaster’s teachings.TheseareSoamiJi’sdisciplesfromAgracomingtomeandtellingme,“YouarenotfollowingaproperMasteratall,becauseBabaJaimalSinghwasnevernamedtobeasuccessortoSoamiJi. There’snowillshowingthat. Hislastwordsdon’tincludehisname,andJaimalSinghwasnoteveninitiated.AndSawanSinghwastwiceremovedfromtruththathehadnoknowledgeatall,andyou’re followingthatMaster? Whydon’t youcometotherightplacewherewehaveawholelineology,wholewillafterwillshowingwho’stheMaster?”AndItoldthem,“IhavenevermetBabaJaimalSingh, andI’venevermetSoamiJi. I’ve nevermettheseold Masters. Ionlyoneman…ImetonemanwhosenamewasBabaSawanSingh,andhepromisedsomethingtome,andhedelivered—infull! Isthat notmy…amInotcontentedwiththat?”

HeisaPerfectLivingMasterbecausewhatIreadaboutaPerfectLivingMaster,whathepromisedtome,hedeliveredinfull.That’smyonlydefinitionofmyrecognizingaPerfectLivingMaster.Theremaybemany,buthowcanIcertifyanybodyelse?I’mnojudgeofanybody. Norisitmydutytosaywho’saMasterandwho’snot. IknowoneMaster;hewasaPerfectLivingMaster.TheserelationshipsyouhavewithaPerfectLivingMaster—hedeliverswhathesays!Heguaranteeswhathesays!Heguaranteeshewilltakeyoubacktoyourtruehomeandhewillnotleaveyoutillhetakesyoubacktoyourtruehome.Evenifyoutrytorunawayfromhim,he’llstillcatchyouandtakeyoubackhome. SuchisthenatureofthesePerfectLivingMasters.

It’stheBhandaraofsuchapersonwe’recelebratingtoday. It’snotanybody. Thisisjustnotafeast.It’safeast,acelebrationofsomebodyaboutwhomIcanvouchwithahundredpercentcertaintythathewasamanthatcouldsaysomethinganddeliver.AllthescripturesI’veread—and I’vedoneastudyatHarvardUniversityoncomparativereligionandstudiedelevenreligionsoftheworld—alltheysayaboutapersonwhocanbelikethatwasfoundinBabaSawanSingh,andhematchedallthose.Therefore,Ihavenoquestionaboutit.IamsohumbledbyfeelingwhatgreatluckImusthavehad.Whatagreatfortuneitmusthavebeentobefoundbysuchaperson,suchaMaster.

Whenyou’refoundbyaPerfectLivingMasterit’sthegreatesteventofyourlife!Italtersyourcourseofhistoryfromeons!Itchangesyourdestinywhichwaswrittenupagesago!Andatthatonemomentitischanged.It’ssuchanamazingexperiencetohavesuchaMaster.HowcouldIexpressgratitude?Ihavenowords!TotellyouaboutthemanI’mtalkingabout:hislovewassopure.Hecouldbelikeachildinfrontofachild.Hecouldplaychildlikewithachild.Hecouldbeawisemanwithwisepeople. Hecouldtalk lawwithintellectuallawyerswhocametohim,andhecouldbeabusinessmanwhenhetalkedtobusiness.Hecouldbeanythingwithanybody!Andyethislovewassopure.Hisforgivenessandcompassioncannotbematched.Heneverjudgedanybody!Iwatchedhimverycloselyforalongtime.

OnceamancametoGreatMaster,andhesaid,“Master…” Weweresittinginaplacewhereheusedtolookafterhismailintheevening,andhewas…hissecretarieswerebringingupletterssohecouldreadthemandhewoulddictatewhatrepliestogive.Sothatsessionwasgoingonofhiscorrespondencewithpeoplewhenamancamerunning.Iusedtojustsit/watchwhat’sgoingonsinceIhappenedtobeintheDera,andIsawthatmanruntoGreatMaster.“Master,forgiveme! Youtoldmenottodrinkalcohol.LastnightIdrankandgotdrunk! Youtoldmenottoeatmeat. LastnightIwasinbadcompany. Iatewhatevertheygaveme—lotofmeat. Youtoldmetohaveagoodmorallife. Lasttimetherewereprostitutesthereandyousaiddon’t womanize—Idideverything. Master,Idideverythingwronglastnight.Pleaseforgiveme.”

Weallstarttowatchthismantalkinglikethat,andMastersays,“Allright,you’reforgiven,don’tdoitagain.” Andhesaid,“Thankyou,thankyou,thankyou,” andheranaway. ThesecretariesalltheresittingaroundtheMastergotsurprised.Andtheysaid…onesecretaryspokeup.Hesaid,“Master,thismandideverythingwrongandhejustsayforgivemeandyouforgavehim?”GreatMastersays,“WhatshouldIdo? Heaskedforforgiveness.Iforgavehim.What’swrongwithit?” “But Master,thewayyousoeasilyforgavehim,hemightgoanddothesamethingsagain. Supposinghedoesthesamethingsagainandcomestoyou,willyouagainforgivehim?”Mastersaid,“IthinkI’llagainforgivehim.” “Master,whenwillyoupunishhim?” Andhesaid,“Pleasedon’t makemeoneofthepunishers. Letmeremain aforgiverforever. Letmealwaysforgive. Thatmanwhocamehere,hewasbeingpunishedbyhisownmindsomuch.Youshouldhaveseenhowmuchhefeltbeingpunishedbyhisownmind! Thedevilsitsinsideuspunishingusallthetime! Themindwaspunishinghimandyouwantmetopunishmore? Ihavetoforgive.” Hesays, “Letusremainonthesideofforgivers. Weareforgivers,givers,forgivers.Andletusnotbeonthesideoftakersorpunishers.”

PerfectLivingMastersarealwaysforgivers,andalwaystheydon’thaveajudgment.Whensomebodycomesupandsays,“Master,lookatmylife,Ihavesinnedsomuch,mylifeishorrible. Ihavenotfollowedanygoodthinginmylife.” Whatdoesthe Masterlookathimandsee?WhatdoesMasterseyesseeinthatperson?Heseesapuresoul,unalloyed,unaffected,belongingtothetruehome,toSachKhand,thesoul,atma,sittinginthatperson!Andheseesthesoultroubledbyamindfullofallthestuffthathe’scomplainingabout,andhewantsreleasefromthat.

WhatwillaMastersfeelingwillbe?Fullofloveandcompassionforthatsoulthatissotrapped.Theywon’tsitonjudgment.Apersonisalreadybeingaffectedsobadlybyhisownmind,bythedevilsittinginhishead,andyouthinkMasterwillcomeandtrytopunishthemmore?Mastersknowinwhatstateweare.Mastersknowhowthislawofkarmaandthismindandallthemethodofpunishmentandrewardhastrappedushere.Andtheycomewithcompassiontotakeusoutfromhere.Nottojudgeanyfurther.

There are toomanyjudgesalreadyaroundus.Firstofall,peoplejudgeus,andwe’reaffectedbythat.Ourownmindjudgesusandwefeelguiltandwe can’tforgiveourselves.Whatmoredoyouwant,aMastershouldalsojointhat,andstartpunishingusorjudgingus?No,theMasterneverjudges.He’stotally,that’swhyIsayit’ssuchagreatexperience.Ihadthegreatestexperiencetofindahumanbeingexists,ahumanbeingwhosewholelife,whateverIcouldwatch,neverjudgedanybody.Neversaidyou’rebad.Everybody’ssoulwaspureandgood, trappedbyamindthatwasbad.Weallhavethesameminds;weallhavethesamesouls.Sotherefore,these PerfectLivingMastersdonotcomelikeordinarypeopletojudgeus,todecidewhetherwe’re goodorbad.They’reSantaClauseswithnojudgmentandbringbagsofgiftsandgiveusfreely.IthinkIlikethewhitebeardofmyMaster.HelookedlikearealSantaClausforme.IthoughthegavemethebestgiftsIcouldeverget,hegaveitinsuchabundanceIcouldnotevenholdthem.IwasoverloadedwiththegiftsthatthisMastergaveus.

SothatissuchabeautyofthemanwhoseBhandarawecelebratetoday. I’msohappythatsomanyofyoucameandjoinmeinthis.AndIofferyouthegreatestblessingsoftheGreatMaster.Maynotbevisibletoyou,buthe’svisible. WhenIaskyoutomeditatelittlewhileago,heplacedhishandonallofyourheads,andIsaw.I’mawitnesstothat.IcannottellyouthepleasureIgetfromthiskindofgenerosityandgracethathespreadsaround.AndthatMasterpower!Itexists,itisalwaysbeingrevealedinalivingperson,aonewho’slivinginourmidst,onewho’saPerfectLivingMasterinhislife.

WhenaMasterpassesawayinphysicalbody,he’sgone!It’snotthephysicalbodythatisthe Master!Oneofthewell-knownMastersinhistorywasSheikhFarid!SheikhFaridShakarganj.HewasaMasterwho,beforehebecameaMaster,wasafollowerofSheikhQutbuddin.AndhewantedhissonalsotobeinitiatedbySheikhQutbuddin.Faridtoldhisson,“Son, Masterisgoneold,andthehumanbodydoesn’tlastforever. Betternotlosethisopportunity. Goandgetinitiated,becauseoncetheMasterdiesyou’llnotbeabletogetanything.” Andthesonsaid,“Dad,youknowIamyoung.Ihavetostilldovariousthings.” Youknowwhatvariousthingsyoungpeopledo.Andhewassaying,“No,I’ve gottime.I’llwaitforit.” Theysaid,“Theremaybenotime,the Masterisold. Qutbuddinisinhislateeighties. Whatdoyouthink?He’snotgoingtolivehereforever.”

Thesondidn’tlisten. OnedayQutbuddindied,andthesonheardQutbuddinhaddied,andhisbody waslyingthere tobeputinthegrave.Heran!Heshavedhisheadoffwhichwascustomarytogetinitiation.AndwithhisbaldheadheputhisheadonthefeetofthedeadbodyofQutbuddin.Watchingthat,Faridsays,“Son,thisisthebodyofaperson Ihavethehighestloveandregard. Iknownobodyintheworld forwhomIhadmorerespect,and yetItellyou,youaregettingnothingoutofhim.Thisisjustacorpse,justadeadbody. Masterhasleft. Sorry,youmissedit.”

EvenoneminuteistoolateifaMasterleaveshisbodyandyouhaven’thadthechancetoholdhishand.AndthenFaridsays, “Onlyifyoucanholdthehandofa PerfectLivingMasterwhilehe’salivedoyougetthebenefitswe’retalkingabout.”AndnotthatsomebodydiedandyousayIbelieveinhimandthereforehe’llgiveyou anything?Thenyoubelieveinyourmind.Ifthereisnobodytotellyouwhetherit’syourmindoryourMastertalking,howdoyouknowwho’stalkinginyourhead?

It’salwaysthemind!Makenomistake!There’snoinspirationtellingusthatsomebodyelseisspeaking.Allspeechinourheadisfromourownmind.Therefore,arewefollowingourmind,orarewefollowingaMaster?Butwhenthere’sahumanbeingaliveinfrontofusandwethinkMaster’sspeaking,hecansay,“No,that’snotit.” Whenhe’sdeadhecan’tsaythat.Andwelivewitha…we’reworshipingourownminds.Thatiswhy it’simportant, ifwe are luckyandwe’reseekersandaMastercomesourway,donotlosethatopportunity,becausehe’snotthereinfleshallthetime. Andtimeruns.Therefore,it’sthegreatestopportunityonecanhave.Ifoneis abletofinda PerfectLivingMasteroraMasterappearsinhislifeandyouareaseeker,aseekerofyourtruehome,don’tmissthebus.

That’sthetimethatyoushouldnotdilly-dallyatall,notwaitforanything.GreatMasterhasgoneinhisbody.Hecan’thelpanybody.IkeepontalkingofGreatMaster,andIknowformehe’salive.Forotherswhowereinitiatedbyhimhe’s

equallyalive!Wesawheneverdied!He’swithusallthetime!He’snotonlyinternallywithus,externallytoo!WhenyouhaveaPerfectLivingMasterandyoumeditateregularly,doyourhomework,notonlyyoumanifesthiminside,lateronyoucanseehimbesideyou.Youcandriveyourcarandhesitsnexttoyou.Youcanbewalkingandhe’swalkingwithyou.

Whetheryousaythatyourimaginationbecomessorealisticorwhat,whateverhappensyou areneveralone,alwayswithyourMaster.Andwhatgreatcompanytobewithsomebodywholovesyouunconditionally,somebodywhoneverjudgesyou,somebodywhosesenseofhumorisbetterthananyhumoristthatyoucanfind.Whocrackjokeswithyou.Whatawonderfullife.Whocanflywithyoutogether.Whocanwalkwithyoutogether.Talkwithyoutogether.WhenyousayIwalkandItalkwiththeMaster,itshouldbereal!Itnotjustbeaprayer,itshouldbereal,thatyoushouldbeabletowalkandtalkwithyourMaster.ThatonlyhappensiftheradiantformoftheMaster,theinnerformoftheMaster,ismanifestinyou.Andthathappens…hemanifestshimselfatthetimeofinitiation,atthatverymoment.

InitiationbyaPerfectLivingMasterisnotamethodtoteachyouhowtomeditate—anybodycandothat.APerfectLivingMasterdoesnotcometoteachusanything.Hecomestotakeusbackhome.Butheteachesusbecauseweliketobetaught.Ourmindwantstobetaught,thereforeheteaches.Hegoesalongwithus.Everystepwetaketowardsrealizationhegoesalongwithusatthateverystepandactsasifthatisthemostimportantstep,includinglearning,includingputtingeffort,includingmeditating.Allthesethingshedoesalongwithusbecausethat’swhatwethinkweneed.

Wehavetobypassthemindsomehowandveryoftenwehavetogoalongwiththemindtillthemindrealizes,“It’s agamegoingon,andI’mbeingbypassed. It’satrickbeingplayedonme.”Ourownmindbeginstosaythat.AndthenwerealizethatMasterscomeonlytoloveusandthroughthepoweroflove,pullusbacktoourtruehome,becausethelovedoesnotcomeintheregionofthemindatall—itcomesfrombeyond.

Sothatiswhy…onemanIremember…Masterwasstandingoutsidethedoorofhishouse.Hehadjustcomeout,wasstandingthere.Someofuswerestandingaroundwithhandsfolded,whichwascustomarythere.Andamanfullofdustonhisclothescarryingalittle,notabag,butapieceofclothtiedupwithhisbelongingsheldonhisshouldercamerunning.AndhedroppedthebagandrantotheMasterandsaid,“Givemeinitiation. GivemeNaam.” Thatmanhadcomefromaveryfaroffvillage.Hehadnomoneytotravelbybusorbytrain.Hewalkedallthewayforalmostamonth.Hewalkedamonth.Hehadheard,andhehadadreamthathehadseen

GreatMaster.Hehadadream,andpeopletoldhim,“That’snotadream. You’re seeingthe Master.He’scallingyou.”Therefore,helefthomeandafteronemonth’strudgingalongeverydaycarryingalittlebitoffoodinhis bundle,whichwasapieceofcloth,hehadreachedthere,droppedtheclothandfellatthefeetoftheMaster.FirsttimehehascometoDera.WhatdoesMastersaywhenhesaid,“Givemeinitiation”? Mastersays,“What,onceagain?” Veryfirstthing!Oh!Then Mastergotup!Hesays,“Oh,Imeanyouwereinitiatedamonthagowhenyouleftyourhouse.” “Oh,formalityIcandotomorrowmorning.”

Whatwethinkisinitiationisaformality.It’saformalityforthemind. Forthemindtoacceptyes,we’vegotsomething. Theinitiationisaninternalprocess.Initiationtakesplacebehindtheeyesatthetenthdoor,andtheMastermanifestshimselfandtakeresponsibilityforus—that’scalledinitiation. Initiationisnotsetofwords,notsomemethodofteaching.Initiationisafriendwho ishavingconsciousnessoftotalitywhenhe’sfrontofusasahumanbeingand takesresponsibilitytotakeusbackhome.That’sinitiation.

Therestisaformality,andwedoitjusttogettoknowmindandbodyacceptsyes,nowwe’reinitiated. The initiation,GreatMasterusedtosay,whenhesaystoaperson,“Okay,that’sinitiation.Iacceptyou.”Initiation.Theteachingofhowtomeditateandsoon,anybodycoulddo.Sometimeshewouldletsomebodyelsedoit.Andhewouldjustinitiateapersonandsay,“Okay,teachhimthemethodtodosimran,torepeatwords” todothis. That’sjustamechanicalthing.So,don’tunderestimateinitiation!Initiationdoessomanythingsnothingelsecando!

Weareallbounddownbythelawofkarma.Lawofcauseandeffect,lawsofdoingactionswhichcouldbegoodorbadandgoodactionsgiverewards,badactionsgivepunishment.Andyoucan’tgetoutofthesystem,becausenothingcancelseverything.Youdogoodtoday,yougetareward;badtomorrow,punished.Youdogoodagain,rewardagain.Itdoesn’tcancelthebadthatyou’vedoneinthemiddle. Sothat’sthesystembywhichthiswholelifewe arerunning, thatwehaverewardsandpunishmentcontinuouslygoingonbecauseofthislaw,andwehavedonesomuchofthiscollectionofintentions,badandgoodintentions,wehaveahugereservoirofit.

Wecouldcreateamillionlifetimesoutofthereservoirwehavealreadycreated,andthat’s calledSinchitkarmaorthekarmathat’sheldinreserve. Supposingweleadakarma-freelife,orgoingwiththeflow,notcreatinganynewkarma. There’s plentytobepickedup bythelawsofthiscreation,thattocreateanewlifeforusfromtheoldkarma.There’ssomuchofit.Andyetatthetimeofinitiation,theentireSinchit

karma,thereservekarmafromwhichanyfuturelifecanbecreated,isdestroyed.It’saverybigevent!

Intermsofhowthisworldisrunning,andhowthelawofkarmaisoperatingtocreatelifetimeafterlifetimeofexperiences,initiationbyaPerfectLivingMasteristhegreatesteventtodestroyallthatreservoir.Andifyouhavetocomeagain,itwillonlybebasedonthekarmaofthislife,andnopastlife.It’saverybigchange!So,initiationisaverybigevent.Accordingtomeit’sthegreatesteventthatcan happeninone’slife.

AndIthinkthatiswhyIforgetmyweddingday,Iforgetmybirthday.Ofcourse,mywife…weallknowwhathappenswhenyouforgetyourweddingday.Imeanwemakesomuchfunofmarriages,youknow.It’s amazing.TheotherdayIreadaninterestingstoryofamanwhowenttoawizard.Therearewizardsalso.Wizardshavelongbeardsandverywise,andtheycanremovecurses.Themanwenttothewizard,andhesaid,“Ihaveacurseuponme.Canyouremoveit?” Thewizardsaid, “Ifyoucanremembertheexactwordsofthecurse,thenIcanremoveit.” Mansaid,“Idoremember.” Said,“What werethewordsofthecursewhichyouwantnowtogetremoved?”Hesaid,“Thewordswere,‘Inowproclaimyoumanandwife.’” Wemakefunofthesethings.

Idosaythatmarriageisaveryconvenientmethodofspeedypaymentofkarma.Thereareinstitutionsbuiltintothesystemherewhichwecanmakeuseof.Therefore,whenIsaythatthesearematterswhichweshouldhavesenseofhumor.Whenwemeditate,weshouldnothaveaseriousface.Weshouldhaveafaceofsmile.It’ssomethingtobeamusedwith,somethingtobeenjoyed,something…It’sanentertainment. Thislifeisentertainment.Innerexperiencesareentertainment.Whyshouldwemakeaseriousface?

Weshouldbelaughingallthetime,enjoying.Somepeoplearelaughingallthetimeinside,andwecanseefromtheirfacehowhappytheyare.Someevenlaughoutside,andwecallthemmastanas.WeusedtohavecoupleofmastanasintheDera,theywouldlaughanddance.AndIwasveryhappytofindonemastanahere,inCalifornia.Infact,he’ssittingrighthere. EverytimeIsawhewaslaughinganddancing.Isaid,“Thisiswonderful,becausewhenyouhavethatkindofexperienceinsideitautomaticallymakesyoulaughandbehappyandbeontopoftheworld.”

Thespiritualpathisnottomakeyousomberandseriousandsay,“NowIhavetoleavetheworldandgosomewhere.”No,itmakesyouenjoytheworld.Itmakesyouriseabovetheworld.Itmakesyoulookattheworldlikeashow.Andthenyou

cheerfullyleavewhenyouwantandgobackhome.That’sthepromiseofthesePerfectLivingMasterswhentheyinitiateusandsaytheycantakeyoubackhome.

IgiveyouGreatMaster’sblessingstodayonthisgreatday.Andhaveall…enjoytheblessingsfortherestofthedayalso.Andsoakinallthegenerousblessingthatarebeingspreadtoday.Thegracethatisspreadingtoday,Icanwatchitflowing.It’slikeabigrainfallflowing. Keepyourcupsofattentioninthatdirection. Nomatterhowmuchtherainshowercomes,ifyourcupisturnedupsidedownitwon’tgetfilledup.

Ifyourcupofattentionisstilloutside,itwon’tgetfilledup. Turnitinward,itwillgetfilledup,veryquickly.Turnthecupofyourattentioninwardssotherainthatiscomingfillsitupquickly,andtakeadvantageofthisspecialdaytoday.

AndI’llbeveryhappytomeetyouonceagainnextyear onthesame2ndofApril.

Thankyouverymuch.

Godblessyou,GreatMasterblessyou.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn0RNKkWSSw

Published by ISHA. All rights reserved. This English transcript of a YouTube talk by Ishwar C. Puri is published under a CC BY-NC-SA license, which means that you can copy, redistribute, remix, and freely distribute sections of the transcript, provided that any derivative works or new resulting creations are not used for any commercial purpose and as long as you give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. License details: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Copyright 2019. Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).