MEDITATION AND THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE
When we meditate, we do not put pressure on samskaras or force them to the surface. Instead, we bring our minds to a state of quietude, allowing us to assess our faults objectively, for when the mind, as everyone knows, is in turmoil, you cannot look at a problem objectively because you are too involved in it. When we meditate, we do not put pressure on samskaras or force them to the surface. Instead, we bring our minds to a state of quietude, allowing us to assess our faults objectively, for when the mind, as everyone knows, is in turmoil, you cannot look at a problem objectively because you are too involved in it.
Many times, a problem comes up, and as the old saying goes, “Oh, let me sleep over it.” This means, “Let me be. I will give you the answer tomorrow. Let me be quiet about it.” So, in the quietude of the mind, we see our faults. In other words, because of that inner force which has quietened the mind, we develop the courage to face ourselves squarely in the mirror and to look at ourselves without rose-coloured glasses. We look at ourselves squarely in the mirror and find our faults. In my work, I have been dishonest, pinching my boss’ time or his money. I have not been good to my wife or my children. I have not been doing my duty to my wife, husband, brother, sister, father, friend, teacher. I have not been doing my duty.
This acknowledgement within oneself brings about a sense of duty. When a sense of duty is cultivated within ourselves, we can develop discipline, and discipline is what life is mostly composed of. That is where the conscious effort in the waking state of life comes to an end, where you discipline yourself against dishonesty. Where you discipline yourself against various things, and at the same time you meditate, gaining extra energy, so the very qualities of unfaithfulness, dishonesty, or guilt are smoothed over, because at the same time as we are becoming more aware of our faults and frailties, we are also drawing from this vast storehouse of energy to dissolve these faults. The effort that is required is called discipline, and that leads one to the betterment of life.
That leads to such a betterment of life that you evolve. It is not the aspro for the headache, for that is temporary. You evolve and become a better person, and more and more so. That is what life is all about. The lost sheep, the prodigal son, is coming back home, back home to the father, from whom he originally came.
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES
It is because of all these psychological methods and the various things happening, which I would never condemn, for those who might need them, they might serve a little purpose, but it is because of these beliefs implanted in man. Technological progress is good, but it has also done harm, and that is why you find all the temples and churches empty today. For man’s mind has been diverted to short cuts instead of the straight and narrow leading to Divinity.
Shortcuts, “Come for a weekend seminar and all your problems are over.” I had someone in the office this week who discussed a course he had attended with me. This was in South Africa, and he said, “I had to pay a hundred Rand for attending the week, a few hours in the evening, and it was promised to me that all my problems would be gone.”
This poor man came to see me because his problems had not gone away. So I spoke to him about his problem and said, “Well, you can help yourself with this problem, but you must make some effort. God only helps those who help themselves, and a guru is nothing compared to God, although he might be the symbol, the representation of Divinity itself. So, if God cannot help you and if you cannot help yourself, how can a guru help you?” So we worked out a beautiful plan to solve his problem, and I said, “Now you do this and at the same time see that you meditate regularly.” And we will hear from him soon.
But the point is that he went to spend a hundred Rand on attending five or six lectures and processes for a week, and he still has all his problems. I have the habit of never mentioning names, but he is a very well-known personality, and if I were to mention his name, all of you would know him. But the point is that he went to spend a hundred Rand on attending five or six lectures and processes for a week, and he still has all his problems. I have the habit of never mentioning names, but he is a very well-known personality, and if I were to mention his name, all of you would know him.
THE HELP WE SEEK, IS TO BE FOUND WITHIN
Through meditation, we reach deep within ourselves to the Kingdom of Heaven within. If that is found, if that connection is made, then all else is added unto thee. When that connection is made, when the forces of love are released from deep within ourselves, our hearts will be opened more and more and more. Meditation is so designed that, with the opening of the heart, a greater awareness of the mind takes place, and you become more perceptive. As I always say, then you will not only see the petals of the flower, but also the sap and the Divinity contained in the flower. That comes from awareness.
Meditation encompasses so many things. It brings deep rest to us, quiets the mind, and helps us face ourselves in the mirror and see our faults. If the guru’s teachings are properly listened to and understood, we will try to improve our lives in some way or another, and we become more loving and lovable people. If you want to become lovable, first be loving. Then, automatically, you become lovable. You attract that to you because you are loving.
It is only the beautiful flowers that attract the bees. Bees are not attracted to anything that is not like a flower. So you will automatically attract all these forces to yourself because you become a magnet. As the heart opens, love unfolds, and what greater magnet can there be in all of existence than love, for “Love is God and God is Love.”
THE DEEPER MEANING OF LOVING THINE ENEMY
So here you start by facing yourself in the mirror, and with the added energies and tranquillity you gain, you start addressing your faults. As your awareness develops through meditation, you become very conscious not only of yourself but also of the environment. Because love has grown in you and your awareness has developed, you become very conscious of another’s pain, and when you become conscious of another’s suffering, you become more kind, more compassionate. So, with the expansion of the heart and the expansion of the mind, you come closer to that which is Divine, and that is the purpose of life.
Meditation wipes away the dirt of the samskaras. You cannot get rid of the mind; you get rid of the dirt within the mind until you are embodied and allow Divinity to shine through. The energies we draw from within refine the samskaras, the impressions that are there, and through meditation we become more aware of our weaknesses. Because we are more aware, our perspectives change, and when our perspectives change, we view things in a different light altogether. That which seemed ugly to you today would seem beautiful to you tomorrow. Someone had said a nasty word to you today; tomorrow the same or even worse words might be spoken, and you will not allow yourself to be affected by it because through meditation you are becoming a more integrated person, so it has not so much effect upon you. By doing this, you will be the living religion, and there is not a single religion or theology or precept that does not say, “Love thine enemy.”
Apparently, “love thine enemy” might make no sense. You will say, “Oh, that is all nonsense. Why must I love my enemy?” But there is deep sense in this. There should be a spontaneous reaction, but love does not just come about; it takes time. By consciously making an effort to love, by having a kind thought towards the enemy, you are curing yourself of anger and hatred towards the enemy. Do you see the lever? We use the opposite. You know your enemy will do this to you, but by having kinder thoughts towards the enemy, you are getting rid of the anger and hatred within yourself.
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF LOVING THOUGHTS
I have spoken about the power of thought, about how thought can pierce steel walls, and about how a thought is a thing. When such positive thoughts arise, not of anger and hatred but of kindness and love, those very thoughts of yours rebound on the object, on the person you regard as an enemy, and you also help that person by lessening his hatred and anger towards you. That is why “love thine enemy,” because by loving him, he will not help but love you, and he will cease to be your enemy. Do you see the two-way process? I have spoken about the power of thought, about how thought can pierce steel walls, and about how a thought is a thing. When such positive thoughts arise, not of anger and hatred but of kindness and love, those very thoughts of yours rebound on the object, on the person you regard as an enemy, and you also help that person by lessening his hatred and anger towards you. That is why “love thine enemy,” because by loving him, he will not help but love you, and he will cease to be your enemy. Do you see the two-way process?
People do not understand that my mission here is to revive these teachings of love and peace, not by using a can opener, as I discussed last week, to open people’s minds. Those who need can openers go to the can opener factories. We teach the word of God because in today’s world there are so many fads emerging, all kinds of things under various guises. People do not understand that my mission here is to revive these teachings of love and peace, not by using a can opener, as I discussed last week, to open people’s minds. Those who need can openers go to the can opener factories. We teach the word of God because in today’s world there are so many fads emerging, all kinds of things under various guises.
A person attends half a dozen different movements, does a little bit of study, and picks out a little from here, a little from there, and a little from there, and from the six he creates a seventh movement. But no man has the right to fiddle around with your inner being except you. The only person who could be of assistance to you, if you want him to be of assistance to you, is a person who has realised Divinity himself. Only that person is qualified enough to help you dig deep within yourself. All the others are of surface value, working only on the surface.
… Gururaj Ananda Yogi: Satsang SA 1979 – 101
