1. isbn 979-8-88572-611-5.pdf

Content: Dialogues

Content: with my God

Content: Disciples Of Nithyananda

Content: Disciples of Nithyananda apply Master's teachings to resolve day to day problems.

Content: How can I love people I dislike? How can I work without looking back and forth on what I have done and what I need to do? How do I cope when my colleague is promoted and I am not?

Content: Here is how!

Chapter Name: Love your neighbor, Love the world

Content: I had time on my hands. I was recovering from enforced rest following a back sprain. Let me talk to my God, I decided. So I visualized my God, my six foot tall Master, Nithyananda, with flowing mane, saffron robes and forever laughing. Were I to meditate, I have to drop His form. But, I wanted to talk, so the form stayed embedded. ‘May I ask you something?’ I asked. ‘When did you ever stop?’ He threw his head back and laughed. I refused to rise to that bait. ‘Why do you laugh so much, all the time?’ I asked. ‘Why is the sky blue, why is the rose pink? That’s my nature, that’s why! In any case, what do you want me to do, Look at all your monkey faces and imitate how serious and stupid you all look?’ This was really leading nowhere. I decided to try a different tactic. ‘Life is so full of contradictions. I want to be loved by everyone, but I do not seem to be able to love everyone. There are so many people I do not like. You say, let go. So, do I continue to dislike all these people and yet want them to like me?’ I asked. ‘So many things I say that you never follow. When I say let go, I mean let your likes and dislikes go. Who are you to judge others and say I like them and dislike them? On top of it, you want those who you dislike also to like you. Are you an idiot?’ My Master was just warming up. ‘I am not trying to dislike them. I can’t help it if they are so different from me. We have nothing in common. Their beliefs and value systems are so different’, I was getting defensive. ‘I see, and that gives you the right to dislike them, and yet demand that they like you. Do you know what you sound like?’ He queried. I knew I was getting into a deeper hole, but didn’t know how to get out. ‘Like what?’ I tried to be cool. ‘Like every other human being, animals are intelligent. A lioness kills sheep but doesn’t ask that the sheep love her. She understands the law of nature. Humans are idiotic. You will kill and say

Content: that you will not harm even an ant! Does even one word of what you say make any sense to you? the words came like hammer blows.

Content: 'Yes, I know that I sound confused, but what can I do? That's how I feel. I want to be loved, yet I cannot love everyone. Isn't that true of everyone?' I was pleading.

Content: 'You may be right, but that does not make you right.' His voice was deeply compassionate. 'Beneath the surface, deep within you, you are the same as every other human being; the same energy. Once you realize this truth, everything else will fall into place. You will have no negativity towards anyone, since you will look at them the same way as you look at yourself. They in turn will reciprocate your love.'

Content: 'What happens when people are so unhappy that they can no longer love themselves, let alone love others?' I ventured.

Content: 'Unfortunately this happens more often that you imagine. We all have high levels of attention need. From childhood we are taught that we need to be approved by elders to feel complete. When they disapprove, we are unhappy. That childhood experience continues into adulthood. If someone smiles at us, our day is made. If someone scowls at us, our day is ruined.' He continued.

Content: 'We depend so much on opinions of other people because we have no opinion about ourselves. This is not about the self esteem that is so prized in Western countries. That self esteem is often a false mask of rebellion.

Content: True self esteem and self love happens when you are brought up in an environment that accepts you for what you are. In turn you accept others as they are. You receive love and you give love.

Content: Meditation is an excellent technique that helps you to go within yourself and make you aware of your true self. Your true self is so pure that loving it, being in bliss with it is so easy. It is then simple to love others.'

Content: You know what! I find it difficult now to find fault with people; along with any perceived fault lines, more 'goodness' lines open up. There is nothing to judge or feel guilty.

Chapter Name: The Stone That Was I

Content: I was sitting with eyes closed; thought I was meditating. 'That stone and you', said my Master 'you are the same. You both lie and wait. You take the pounding. You love to be shaped. You both have uses. After people are done with you, they break you, trash you, ignore you or cast you away.' My Master had said the stone and I are the same. I smiled visualizing I was a stone, as if the smile was etched, carved, or branded by forces of nature; a smiling Buddha in stone. 'Are you saying I am as strong as the stone, as hard as the stone and as big?' I asked, knowing nothing He says is so simple. I suddenly had a doubt, 'Could a stone simply roll down the mountain?' He laughed, 'You are clever, aren't you? You can roll down, you can erode, you can crumble, and you can corrode. Go deeper.' I became thoughtful. I let His words seep in. I looked within. 'I may break, I may crumble, and I may chip and wear down. Yet, deep within I am every bit the same as the mountain I was. Deeper within I am that molten energy whence I became the stone.' 'You are getting there', He said, 'discover yourself. Discover your real Self. That can never crumble. You are right, you are not the stone, you are not the mountain, you are just the energy within.' Came a day when I felt I was shining. I felt I had been molded and polished by Him. I felt I was ready, but not sure for what. Ah, but I felt heavy. 'Why do I feel heavy? Can't you make me light? I can then be free and fly with You?' I pleaded. My Master said, 'You still are a stone. You have the identity of a stone. You are a stone because you don't listen to your body, to your soul, to your being.' He is right, but not as much as I would like him to be. 'I do not wish to be a stone, I wish to be a feather so that I can fly with you' I pleaded. 'I'll not spoon feed you', He said firmly, 'the path is for you to make.' I cry, I plead, I beg. I said, 'But Master, what will happen to the beautiful form you molded?'

Content: 'That was the stone. Are you a stone? You say you don't wish to be one.' He said. He had said look deep within. Let me seek, I thought. Let me seek answers to find out who I am, and who I wish to be? 'Am I a stone? I don't think so. No not at all. Why did the Master say I was one? Maybe because I was one then, at the point I started. Now, I'm softer, more like clay. I'm neither soil nor stone.' I began to burn from within. The debris-like images, memories, desires and attachments slowly dissolved. I seemed to shrink, grow lighter. Finally I looked one day at the Master with no feeling. I saw not the Master, but a grain of sand, just like me. 'Now' said the Master, 'you have evolved into the highest form of stone. You are not a stone, but a fine grain of sand.' 'I am still the same substance, Master, even if I am of a finer grain' I said. 'That you are, that you were, and that you will be always, but, you did not know that was what you really are. Now, you know. You can now fly. You can do anything you want. You are a stone no longer' He said. 'Come fly with Me.' Tears flowed down. I was one with Him. He had said I shall be in you when you drop Me. I am now complete and replete within and without. The Master is my universe I care not to comprehend. I cannot. But I know! Master sits in blissful silence. I sit waiting in joyful silence. Two crabs walk by and say, 'Hey, look at these two stones. They look massive!' I am still a stone to the outside world. I'm sand within, just a bundle of grains of sand. All truth, all love, all Universe and my Master wrapped into that. He says I am light. People may think I am heavy. I care for neither. Yes, I am both and more. Transformed within, transparent to the master, translucent to the world, I live like a stone. My Master said I am a stone. He, of course, is right. The stone and I are the same. The stone didn't make a mountain. It stood alone and by the truth of Master's word, by His love it became a grain of sand. The transformation was complete!

Chapter Name: Greatest Mystery of them all!

Content: Mythology has it that Yudhishtra told his father Yama: The greatest mystery of mankind is that everyone thinks one is immortal, even though one sees others dying around them every moment. I asked my Master: Do you really think that this is the greatest of all mysteries of life? He answered inscrutably: Surely this is one of the greatest paradoxes. I persisted: What do you think is a greater paradox? He said: When I see people suffering and yet cling onto desires which in turn bring sufferings, I wish they understand that this is the greatest paradox of them all; chasing their desires hoping happiness would follow. ‘Why not’ I asked, ‘Once you lose hope and stop seeking and desiring what is there to live for?’ ‘Desires, unless truly fulfilled, breed more desires. It is a never ending vicious downward cycle. What one feels as happiness as one’s desire is fulfilled turns into anxiety, fear and greed as another desire succeeds it; and finally into sorrow, when the desire does not get fulfilled.’ Master said firmly. ‘Perhaps what you say is true, but I do feel quite happy and contented when I get what I want. Why worry about what happens later? You have said to live in the present moment!’ I knew I was pushing my luck. Master said with a gentle smile, ‘When it suits you the present moment is always handy. This happiness you feel is the gap between two sorrows; it can never be permanent. It is like saying we are at peace, because there is a ceasefire in the battle!’ ‘You said unless desire is fulfilled it will breed more desires and cause sorrow. What do you mean by that?’ I asked, now piqued. ‘We are all born with definite needs that the Universe provides for. Just let go and flow with nature, these needs will be fulfilled. However, as we grow up we accumulate wants born out of greed, fear and jealousy to our needs. These wants can never be fulfilled. They will only lead you down into sorrow,’ Master said without a smile. ‘I do not understand this difference between need and want’, I was confused. Master said gently, ‘Listen. What you need to survive is one meal a day. What you need to wear is one piece of cloth, if you feel that it is necessary. What you need to sleep on, is six feet of ground. These are your needs. Would you be able to make do with these?’

Content: 'Of course not, it's preposterous! What will people think if I eat one meal a day, wear one saffron cloth like you, and sleep on the ground?' I expostulated.

Content: 'Ah' He laughed, 'Now we have gotten somewhere. What will people think? So your happiness is based on what others think, not what you feel you really need?'

Content: 'You know, you are too smart for me. I am not questioning you to show my knowledge. I really do not know. I want to understand. Please tell me where I am going wrong.' I was close to tears.

Content: His deep compassion lit deep into me. 'I know. Remember this. When I gave up my parental home this whole world became my Home. You become happy not by becoming materially wealthy, but by limiting your needs. Would you rather grow wealth and then chase health? A so called poor man eating his one square meal a day eats it with so much of delight. Do you ever see that in a person dining in a five star restaurant? Instead of walking you drive and then you complain you don't have time to exercise? Do you really think you are living in the present moment?'

Content: My Master said that living within one's real needs is called 'aparigriha', and is one of the five factors of 'yama', in the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali. This is also one of the five basic vows taken by sanyasins (saints).

Content: Today, I am surprised that things which used to seem so important to me a while ago are so irrelevant to me now. A genuine internal need that arises from present moment awareness has replaced the wants spurred on by what others may want of me.

Chapter Name: Children of God

Content: My Master says that children below seven years of age have no need for any meditation. They are naturally free and independent in spirit and blissful. They are not conditioned. He himself is like a child. I have seen Him playing with toys with intense awareness that would have done a four year old proud. ‘Why do innocent and free children grow up to be monsters’ I asked Him. ‘I did not say they were innocent. I only said they were already in bliss.’ He said. ‘They are in bliss because they are innocent and corrupted, aren’t they?’ I asked. ‘If you call innocence a state of total lack of conditioning, total lack of engraved memories or samskara, then newborn or even unborn infants are not innocent. They too carry the samskara of previous birth known as prarabda karma. But, if the level of conditioning is limited to this and not added on, they can still be bliss.’ He said. ‘I don’t understand’ I asked, ‘if they do have baggage that they carry, they will still be affected, and depending on the baggage, they can be sad as well.’ ‘If you keep children away from adults’ He explained, ‘and do not expose them to yes and no, do this, don’t give these instructions till about the age of seven they will do everything naturally. They will not be afraid to explore. They will not be limited by conditioning, which is what induces unhappiness.’ ‘Let me tell you a story’ He went on,’ two pet dogs met on the road being walked by their owners. One said to the other ‘My name is Jackie’. The other said ‘I am Don’t do that Harry’. ‘What’, queried Jackie, ‘what a funny name!’ Don’t do that Harry explained: every time I do something they always call out, Don’t do that Harry. That’s what I think my name is.’ He laughed, ‘that’s how we bring up children too.’ ‘What will happen then, if parents do not at all control children? Would they not be in danger? Will they not get into accidents?’ I was doubtful where this was leading. ‘When you design households and living spaces in a manner that you need a PhD degree to operate a TV remote, you are asking for trouble. We design dangerous places with floor level electrical outlets, steep staircases, slippery floors and unsafe roads, and expect that we learn to live in such dangerous places. Why children? If you bring someone from a rural area and leave them in the middle of a traffic junction in Bangalore, that person has a good chance of ending up in a Hospital.’ He was warming up.

Content: 'So, are you saying we stop the world, move back from civilization and rear children', I sounded incredulous. 'Well, that certainly will be an improvement from where we are now. What you call civilization is a monster house, if only people are honest enough to admit it' He laughed, 'but you don't need to go that far. For a start we can stop educating children the way we do. We can teach them by example rather than by preaching. Children learn from our walk, not our talk.' 'So, you say that we lie to them all the time.' I was incredulous. 'Of course we do' He calmly explained, 'we tell them not to lie, and when someone is at the door we tell them to say we are not home. We tell them not to hurt other people, and father and mother are fighting all the time. Do you expect to believe what you do in front of them, or your lies?' 'You cannot make occasional events standard behavior. Most of the time parents do what they tell their children to do.' I tried to reason. 'You are a bigger idiot than I gave you credit for' He was unmerciful in being honest, 'Look around yourself and you will realize what I say is right. Take children away from adults and you will find that they are happy. That is how the ancient Hindu education system of gurukulam worked. Wise teachers took charge of children at a very young age and brought them up in natural awareness. Parents in turn learnt the wisdom to bring up the children without conditioning them till they were ready to go to these teachers.' 'Ok, I think I understand; but, I am not finished yet. I shall be back!' I was a bit miffed at being told the truth that I was an idiot!

Chapter Name: Was there a Garden of Eden!

Content: In a discourse someone asked the Master, 'when was the Universe created?' He pretended as if going into deep thought and said,' I don't know. When I am next invited for a meeting with God, who made this Universe, I shall ask Him and let you know.' I asked Him once, 'You quote Buddha to say that the Universe never existed. What does this mean?' 'Just what Buddha said!' He said, 'I have scanned as far back as possible into the past and find no time that Universe and life did not exist. I have scanned as far forward into the future, and I find no time when the Universe will not exist. You and I may not in this form, but Universe and life forms will continue to exist.' 'But, scientists say that at one time there was nothing; no Universe and no living matter.' I persisted. 'I do not know about that. Science does not have all answers, never did and never will. All I know is the truth that I told you about. Take it or leave it.' He said simply. I asked a highly qualified bio-scientist recently: 'My Master says that life always existed. Science talks about abiogenesis, evolution of life from non life. How did this happen?' He was an honest man. 'Science has no clue, and scientists who say they do, are lying. There are hundreds of theories as to how life evolved from non life. But what do we know? It was billions of years ago. If you ask me, we shall never know.' This was a guy who was working on stem cell research, cloning and creation of life. I had asked Master, 'You say man is woman, woman is man. Sure I can understand with man, he has x and y chromosomes; but a woman has only x chromosomes. How can she be a man?' Patiently He said, 'I no nothing about your chromosomes. Go and find out if that x and y themselves are purely male and female.', and then waved me off. I asked this bio-scientist guy, 'My Master says that all of us are of both genders. Man is part woman, and woman is part man. Is that scientifically true?' 'Of course, yes' he said, 'the woman is the default species. A bit of tinkering and man appears. At the very basic level the living cell is asexual, or if you will bisexual. It can reproduce by splitting. The final gender differentiation is a very superficial thing.' 'So' I asked Him, my God, 'What about Adam and Eve, Garden of Eden. How could Eve have been created out of Adam if the woman is the default species?'

Content: 'Look, don't get into things which you cannot understand intellectually. They are of no use to you as well. There never was a Garden of Eden or Satya Yuga. Each culture and religion talks about a glorious past that is the benchmark of purity, but these are creations of our minds. Just be in the present and be aware. That's what matters.'

Content: 'But, what about Eve? Did she come out of Adam's rib?' I persisted.

Content: 'You never give up, do you', he laughed, 'How does it matter who came first, or whether either of them existed at all? It is true that women are closer to their inner divinity than men are. Of that, there is no doubt. That's why from time immemorial, man has unfairly tried to control her by force, out of sheer insecurity.'

Content: 'Then, why aren't there many more women enlightened Masters?' I wasn't quite ready to give up my male advantage just because He said so.

Content: 'There are' He said, 'They don't advertise the fact, that's all. What do you know about enlightenment, anyway? Wait and see, I am here to redress that balance!'

Content: Women of the world unite; you have nothing to lose but your men!

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: As I progressed or so I assumed with my Master, I did feel that my negativities dropped. I was far less judgmental and opinionated. I felt I was more loving.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'Is this compassion?' I asked my God one day, 'I feel so loving towards people, I feel no negativity. Is this unconditional love and compassion?'

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'As long as you are not enlightened you cannot feel unconditional love and compassion. You may feel pity, empathy, sympathy, and whatever else you may call such an emotion, but not compassion.' He said.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'What is the difference?' I asked, 'I genuinely feel love for them. I am not looking for anything in return. There are no specific issues I need to be sympathetic to them for. What then is the difference?'

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'As a result of your meditation, your association with me and the association of the people around me with whom you relate well, you feel highly positive energy. That's good, very good, but that is not compassion.' He said.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'I feel the same positive energy from you', I countered, 'and you say that is compassion.'

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'Listen' He explained, when enlightenment happens one's boundaries disappear. The being becomes one with the Universe. Every other being in this Universe, living or non living, becomes part of one; one becomes part of that. There is no way one can think of another being without being related fully with that being. That is compassion.'

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'What you are saying is that I am still bound in my own identity. Is that it?' I needed to know.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'Yes, to a large extent that is it. As long as your identity prevails, so long as you have not surrendered that identity to The Universe, your boundaries are intact. Enlightenment is when the ego disappears, haven't I told you that before?' He smilingly teased.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'Yes, of course, you have. You have also told us that we must surrender completely for the identity to disappear, but you never told us how!' I burst out.

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: He laughed throwing His head back, 'Of course, I have. But then, you have to drop your ego, you have to surrender. I cannot do that for you.'

Chapter Name: Compassion Unlimited!

Content: 'So, it means nothing that I feel no negativity; that I feel what I think is love and compassion to others.' I was close to tears.

Content: He was deeply compassionate now. ‘Of course, it means something. It means a lot, in fact. The boundaries have started blurring, the identity has started dissolving. Whatever you are doing is right for you.’

Content: ‘Where do I go from here?’ I wanted to know.

Content: ‘Just go with the experiences. Don’t try to verbalize them. Don’t try to compare them. Once you express, you will lose that experience. You do not as yet have the internalization of truth to retain the experience. Don’t even try to apply what I tell someone else to do for your own self. Each of you has to follow one’s own path. You have to carve your path. You have to walk your own path.’

Content: Master’s love is the only unconditional love one can experience. What can I give Him in return? Whatever He does for me, for us, is out of sheer compassion.

Content: Master said to us, ‘I am not for sale. There is no amount that can buy Me. But, you can buy me with your love. I am very cheap. All I need is your love and surrender.’

Content: My heart warms and melts as I hear the words again.

Chapter Name: This Whole Business of Karma

Content: 'One day you say that there is nothing called karma. Another time you say that we are what our karma is! Which one do we believe? Why do you confuse us so?' I was querulous. 'So, you are blaming me for your ignorance?' He baited. 'No, only for the confusion you could have avoided causing', I knew I was taking a chance. 'Listen' He said patiently, 'there is no uni-dimensional truth. The truth exists at different levels depending upon your evolution and understanding' 'Which means that I am an idiot, and I do not understand.' I persisted. 'Of course, that goes without saying. But what I am saying is this. For you and others, karma does exist. What you do rebounds. For me, for enlightened beings, there is no karma; it has been dissolved.' Master was still patient with His foolish disciple. 'Yes, I do understand that. You have explained that to us. But you also say that even for us there is no karma if we fulfill our desires. You said that karma is the fall out of unfulfilled desires. I do not understand', I was genuinely confused. 'That's absolutely correct. If you have a desire that you are able to fulfill completely you shall no longer have that desire. It is the carry over desire that causes consequences you term as karma.' Master continued. 'Karma is action, that's all. You have seeds of desires in you which are planted by looking at others. Someone has a bigger car, bigger house, and you too must have. So you work, you act to fulfill that desire. But, that desire is not your own. You borrow it from others. So, as soon as one desire is fulfilled, another comes, another house bigger than this, another car faster than this. Will it ever end? So, karma continues.' 'All our desires in that sense are borrowed, aren't they? We learn from others, we imitate others. So, how can I fulfill any desire in that sense?' I felt defeated. 'Desires that you are born with are your own. These are your basic needs. Ramana has said that this universe can fulfill the needs of all its 6 billion population but it can fulfill the wants of even one individual. It is the wants that you borrow from others that cause problems. That's what Buddha referred to when He said desires cause sorrow.' Master explained. 'Two questions then. What are the desires I am born with? And how do I avoid borrowing desires from others?' I was truly curious; for a change He was not deflecting me. 'Brilliant. Sometimes, just once in a while, you can think.' Master was nothing if not sarcastic, 'What are the desires you are born with, I shall explain another time. Let me explain how you can stop borrowing desires.'

Content: 'You compare yourself with others and become dissatisfied because you lack the awareness of your own uniqueness. As I once said before, the richest man is not the one with the greatest wealth but one with minimum need, because I have no home of my own, the entire world is my home.'

Content: 'It's easy for you to say; you are enlightened. You are a sanyasin, in fact beyond that. What about me? I am still bound by family ties.' I was getting frustrated.

Content: 'When I left home forever, I was only seventeen. I had no clue if I would become enlightened or when', His tone had softened, 'You can live with minimal needs with far greater happiness if you decide to, right now, in this moment. You only need to ask yourself what you are here for. It is never for fulfilling material desires. Human spirit seeks something beyond material wealth. Go deep within to rediscover what you know already.'

Content: It is His grace, infinite grace that sustains me in this path. Even without any special attempt desires drop. He says to go deep within. When all that I am is filled by Him, wherever I go it is Him I encounter. What more can I ask?

Chapter Name: That Doesn't Mean Great

Content: I invited Master into my meditation. Master guided me in silence, 'Take a look into you. Are you in the present? Are you living 'here' and 'now'? Where is your body and where is your mind? Are you feeling the sensations in your body? Do you know where your body hurts? Do you know what thoughts are chasing your mind?' 'Yes, I am in the present. I listen to everything around me. My body and listening are grounded in the environment around me. Yes, I can feel the heart pounding, the breathing pause, I can hear the rumbling tummy and I can feel the carpet with my feet. I do feel the keyboards as I tap. I also hear the air-conditioner hum its tune. I can smell the night blooming indoor flowers and smell of the rain outside. The thumb hurts, does it? Is this the awareness you want to me in, Master?' I ask. 'Where do you feel these observations coming from?' asked the Master suddenly. 'Outside Master' I said. 'mmm...' said my Master and turned away with an enigmatic smile. I saw Him toss his hair, and like a bolt of lightning the thought hit me. I stood stunned, numbed and drenched in wisdom. I gazed into the honest eyes, which opened a window to my soul. I gazed into the eyes full of promise and the determination to transform the world and everything in its path. The body vibrated with awareness; the surge of energy swirled everything in its path into bliss. I entered the dimension of vibrations where all was energy. Nothing lived, nothing died. All was alive and all was dead. Everything was ephemeral, except the energy of love. That energy chose Master's body to reside in to spill and spread over the world. Neither the body nor the love was a miracle of the Universe. The Master is a gift, a treasure, and a gem so precious that millions of lives waited for a loving glance with a heavy heart over the eons. 'I am neither the doer nor the receiver' said Master. 'To whom am I then praying and talking? Isn't it you?' No, I am just a witness. So are you.'

Content: This was getting complicated, ‘What are we witnessing, Master?’

Content: ‘The joy that radiates in us. That is all...all that bliss’ He said, enjoying a wicked laugh at my confusion and bewilderment, ‘doesn’t mean anything special.’

Content: ‘Oh!’ I felt let down.

Content: ‘The bliss is the beginning, the first step. Until that bliss can dissolve your bones, flesh, hair, nails, and you are nothing but liquid and molten inside, it doesn’t mean great things...’

Content: ‘And I should feel like this all the time?’ I inquired, seeing ahead. I saw a path that was perhaps best left un-trodden.

Content: ‘You know’ said my Master, as an aside, with a twinkle in his eyes, ‘all this doesn’t mean anything great.’

Content: ‘Then what counts Master?’ I was pleading.

Content: ‘Being yourself. Accepting yourself. Loving yourself.’

Content: I blinked. ‘What about devotion, love, affection, feelings...’

Content: ‘nonsense, all fantasies your mind creates.’ But the smile was compassionate.

Content: ‘Is it being me, is it the little spark I find deep within; no form, just the energy’

Content: His eyes were laughing, ‘You have got it, go with it’.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: It was a long list of chores, all mundane, all unremarkable, that I tackled before I headed to be with my Master. The journey was long but I was light and willing. No luggage and with lots of time to reflect and meditate.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: I thought I had reached early. But before me were thousands milling who waited to be with Master. I followed them all, feeling neither relief, nor excitement. I watched them all from a distance, as if I was watching a dream.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: Soon we were herded in different rooms. Some were automatically sent to the room that read sorrow, others into room that said anger. People filed past me into rooms like: lust, love, pride, healing, ego, and finally came my turn. I saw the right room for me- Gratitude and I entered into it.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: There was not much space for me in there. I was small and I squeezed in. People continued to trickle in and bargained softly for better places. The things they bought for the Master never ceased to amaze me. Some had peacocks, some chariots of gold, some had diamonds, and some had silk robes. I even saw a huge mountain, a park with fountains, and a forest filled with sandal trees.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: Many came to me, to inquire if I was in the right room.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: 'How can you come empty handed in gratitude?' they asked. I kept silent for I knew not the answer.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: 'Can you help me hold this?' asked another. It was large, gem-studded palanquin.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: I could easily see Master seated in that. But, I thought I heard him say, 'I have good legs, thank you!'

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: I laughed and laughed until tears drenched my dress. The Gratitude room went silent and my laugh echoed all around.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: 'Someone, please put sense into her,' muttered a man.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: Soon I stopped and into the hush came an announcement: 'line up please, in a single file. Master will be here to talk to you all.'

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: I found myself at the head of the line.

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: A lady with white elephants said, 'Please, may I, since you have nothing to offer.'

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: Another said, 'I need to attend to my child, may I go head of you?'

Chapter Name: Not Even A Seed of Gratitude

Content: 'My bird can't take this wait any longer, may I?'

Content: I moved down the line feeling the burden of their gratitude. Soon I was out of the woods, into the highway, past the mountains, rivers, and over the bridges. The line was longer and everyone wanted to be one ahead. Just one ahead!

Content: Finally I came to the desert. I stopped there to find I was last in the line. All I had to do now was to wait. Master had said He would come.

Content: I heard people ahead of me mutter, ‘this heat. These bugs. O! I wish I had come months earlier to be in the lead.’

Content: No matter how discomforted they were, they were always clear about quizzing me.

Content: ‘You have nothing to offer!’

Content: ‘And you are in the gratitude line!’

Content: I sat in the desert watching the sand weave patterns. I looked at the clouds and for an instant I saw not only the moon, but also the stars and rainbow. They all stood there waiting for the Master.

Content: I counted neither hours, days, nor thirst, hunger. I compared not with anyone. I was content just to be.

Content: Suddenly there was an increase in noise level. I opened my eyes and there He was! He was in front of me.

Content: A surge of tears, a reserve I never knew I had conserved, tumbled out to wash my Master’s feet. I fell prostrate and pressed my forehead on His feet leaving the trace of the vermillion I wore. Master said nothing. Neither did I. Master said everything in a smile. I comprehended nothing.

Content: ‘Ma’ I could see His eyes twinkle, ‘I find elephants and palanquins intimidating. I prefer empty hands and hearts filled with love. Where is that seed of gratitude you brought Me?’

Content: ‘I have none in hand, Master’ I said, confused that He knew all along.

Content: ‘Then take me to where you left it’ He said with a joyful laugh that brought the rainbow out in the skies.

Content: We tread across the same sand, Master and I, and walked to the oasis.

Content: ‘It was only a desert when I planted the seed of gratitude’ I explained.

Content: Master nodded.

Content: ‘This is my seed of gratitude, Master, an oasis in the desert of life’ I bowed.

Content: ‘Live here Ma and let it grow’ He said choosing my favorite tree to sit under, ‘Let it will become the forest it once was.’

Content: He smiled at me and my tears once again washed His feet of the vermillion I had applied to His feet.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: I love to write, mostly about my Master. In the presence of the Master, in the absence of the Master, in the shadow of the Master, all I do is to write. I love writing so.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'No writing today' said Master one morning.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: I left my notebook outside, but I carried my pen. 'If I can capture all the energy of the Master radiates, into this pen,' I thought, 'how much and how beautifully I could write!'

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: That evening Master directed a laser beam towards me and said, 'Don't split hairs! No writing keeps out all the tools too.'

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: The pen scalded my hand. It was a live coal. I dropped it on the floor. It burrowed and buried itself in shame. For days I wandered like an orphan. There was so much I needed to write. Writing was my lifeline. I felt suffocated.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'Master!' I cried one day, 'Master! Save Me! I'm going mad!

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'So! You're all mad anyway! All who come to me is crazy one way or the other. Otherwise you won't be here'. He threw His head back and laughed, His mane forming a halo around Him.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'I need to write Master! Please! Let me.'

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'But you are getting addicted to it.' He was serious.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'But it is a harmless habit' I argued.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'Harmless, Look at you! You are having severe withdrawal symptoms.'

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'Are you calling me a junkie, Master?' I was concerned.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: Master smiled and moved on.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: I sank on my knees, and after a while, I curled in fetal position. Slowly tears, hard and salty trickled down my face. They dried. No more tears. No more tears for my love.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'Go on' I heard His voice say 'Go and get it.'

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: 'What could he mean?' I wondered.

Chapter Name: Writing from my Bones

Content: Go, Go where? I love walking. And so I set out. Tramping the steaming

Content: thorny jungle, heaving through the teak forests, and finally into the cool shade. I felt heavy and sad.

Content: I walked to the large teak tree with a buttress twice my height. I felt an insane urge to hug this giant. I clung to its swaying form, it rocked me gently. For an instant, I was one with the tree. I felt the forest vibrate with joy. This was bliss too. It flowed not from a pen.

Content: I sat there in joy, in bliss, content at the wordless state. When I came to I was in front of Him.

Content: 'Can you write now?' asked the Master.

Content: 'Yes, Master' I said and sat in front of Him.

Content: 'Where are your instruments?' He inquired with a twinkle in His eye. As an aside He said, 'This is my scribe intern!' Laughter rippled everywhere.

Content: 'Why are you not writing?' He asked, as if he knew not the answer. Master loves to play!

Content: 'I am writing, Master' I replied, feeling so calm, yet bubbling with joy.

Content: 'Does anyone see the instruments?' inquired the Master. Not a head nodded. Not a ripple of murmur disturbed the sheet of silence.

Content: 'All right. Come out with it' said the Master.

Content: 'I can't explain it Master' I said.

Content: 'Try' He said simply.

Content: 'Master, your energy pumps my blood, drives my muscles, and keeps the body moving. But Master the energy is deeper than that.'

Content: I sat silent, only experiencing it.

Content: 'When you write, you write not with your mind, hands, or head. You write from deep within. You write from your bones, your marrow and your soul. Every word you write about me is an echo of your soul' Master reassured.

Content: I know that now I write only from my bones. Someday I will write from my marrow and my soul.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: I wish to do so many things, but even before I start I hear voices saying I am not good enough.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: I may still try, but with an attitude, with a degree of carefulness, a bunch of caution, timidly looking over my shoulder.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: Why am I so afraid to try?' I asked Him.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Ah!' Master said, 'You are still clutched. You still clutch to your fear, joy, expectation, image, or even love. You are clutching onto to something. Let it go. Liberate yourself. Be free. Life is freedom. Dive in. Fall free.'

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Will you be there to hold me, Master?' I ask.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'When you fall free, you develop the wings of confidence. You will soar in joy. You don't need me to baby you anymore.' He said.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Master! I have no wings! And I have chronic myopia!' I plead.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: The prescription doesn't alter.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Excellent! The blinder you to the physical world, the better it gets. That's all there is to that.'

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Master!' I plead. Master pays no heed.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: I asked. I sought counsel. It meant that I was ready to break from old patterns at some level. Ah, that is so, so, so, hard. The old way, although it brought me no results, was familiar.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: Yeah! Dive! You asked for it! I dive from the cliff. Panic floods me. I have nothing to hold on! I scream, but it chokes me into silence.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Chicken,' a voice mocks me.

Chapter Name: The Perfect Witness

Content: 'Is someone watching me?' Instantly I steady myself. Someone is watching. Someone is a witness to this plight of mine. Maybe help is on the way. May be there's nothing more to it. I no longer feel concerned at falling.

Content: I'm keen to figure out who is spying on me.

Content: 'Hello!' I call out, my voice no more than a sharp in-drawn breath. I hear no answer. I see no eyes. But oh, I feel, I feel strongly that someone is watching me. Who is watching this body fall?

Content: 'Simply look within,' says the guiding voice of the Master.

Content: 'Are you my witness?' I ask. Silence greets me. This silence blows me away. I fly.

Content: 'He promised me' I thought, 'this is what I get to be free. I should be determined and continue until the end.'

Content: I float within and without, in and out. My silence will be my only witness; an eternally watchful witness. Is this silence different from my Master?

Content: 'Is this what You mean when You say the experience, experience and experienced merge into one?' I think and ask.

Content: Only laughter greets me, 'words just words. Go beyond them.'

Content: 'Have you woken up from your fantasies? Have you finished building your castles? What did you build them with?' asked Master. He laughed hard at the look of shock on my face.

Content: Speechless, I search within; strange, but there had been no fantasies; there wasn't even a 'me'. In some sense I seem to have disappeared for a while. Or perhaps, I was the witness myself.

Content: I shake my head in confusion. 'I felt I was falling, but there was no fear. I seemed happy I was falling. There was nothing to think about.'

Content: 'Hold the memory of this experience, but move on' said Master.

Content: And so I move on, from one experience to another, neither expecting nor fearing, bust being. I don't even care if He is there or not to hold me. But then, I know deep within, that I cannot fall without Him.

Chapter Name: A Master Key

Content: One morning my Master knocked on my doors. I found a youth who looked straight into my eyes and said, "I need a place to stay a while." "Sure! Come in," I invited and took him to the sitting room. He saw the leather couches, carpets, rugs and knick-knacks. He saw the china, the tapestry, and stained glass windows on display. "Mother, this room isn't right for me." "Let me take you upstairs," I said, fishing out the keys. "Those rooms are the best in the house." I opened the doors of the biggest suite. "This belongs to my father-in-law when he visits us. You are welcome to use it." The mendicant stood at the door and observed with a stillness that belied his years. I peeped over his shoulders anxious that everything was right. Yes it was. The white satin sheets were in place, the lace curtains were just right. The white carpet was spotless, all the linen matched. Everything was white, and everything was right. "Not this room, mother," he said. "Let me show you the next room," I said, fishing out the right key, "my daughter uses this when she visits us. You can use it now." I opened the doors of the next room. It was done in pink, silk, and smelt of rose. There were flowers all around. A lovely inviting room I thought,. I waited. The mendicant had already turned away and was looking at the guest room. I fumbled for the keys and opened the guest room. Blue was the theme for this room. He asked, "Are there other rooms in this home?" "Why yes," I said, flustered now, "I have rooms on the first floor." "Let us look at them," he said with a quietness that froze my heart. No one yet had passed a chance to live in the comfort he had dismissed casually. I found the bunch of keys to open the doors to the rooms on the first floor. "This room my for my parents use when they come here," I said. He stepped into the room. I anxiously checked if the utilitarian furniture was in place. The windows were partially open and a small breeze blew in. He saw the bed and then eyed the shelf with a few things my parents had sentimental value for. He stepped out. "No, mother, not this room."

Content: "How about the guest rooms?" I asked and opened the doors of each one with my trembling fingers.

Content: I finally opened our modest room and offered it to him.

Content: He stood in silence.

Content: "What about the rooms in your basement?" he inquired softly.

Content: "I haven't opened them in a while. They might be dusty. They are dark, musty, and cold..." I prattled.

Content: "Let us see," he said.

Content: I led him down the stairs to a part of the house that I came to cry.

Content: In there were paintings, handicrafts, and the things I loved to do, had done, but had no place anymore in the life I had built since then. He saw each of them with keen interest. He inquired what medium I had painted them.

Content: "You have a true calling there, ma," he said, pointing at my painting of flowers.

Content: "I have no room for them upstairs," I replied. He said nothing.

Content: "Ah!" was all he said. It was not a sound. It was a bell that shattered the ice in my heart.

Content: "I have the right room for you, Master," I said.

Content: "Let me see it," he said enthusiastically.

Content: "This way, Master," I said and lead him into the garden.

Content: We walk in the sunshine, my Master and I, and past the bushes and flowers that waved their greeting.

Content: I took him into my favorite place, my heaven in all the madness around me.

Content: "What do you do here?"

Content: "I come to experience peace and quiet. I sit still and watch myself."

Content: It was a small, rough cabin. I pushed the door open.

Content: "What! No locks?" asked the Master laughing heartily.

Content: "No one will come here; there is nothing here for them, Master."

Content: "And if they do?"

Content: I stood silent. I knew not the answer. For, no one had ever come into this place.

Content: His joyful laughter never stopped.

Content: He entered the room and sat on the mat. He saw a candle and a cup.

Content: "This is the kind of room I live in Ma," he said.

Content: "Not even a cushion here, Master," I said choking in tears.

Content: "Truth lives here" said my Master.

Content: "Master! This is not a comfortable room for you." I cried.

Content: "There is a simple solution, Ma" he said, laughing as I broke into a smile, "Use the same key for all the rooms."

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'Master', I asked, 'Day after day things are getting tougher. Life isn't as easy as it was before. Even the solutions you provide may not be enough to raise people in happiness in future.'

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: Master gave me a look that stopped me from proceeding further.

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'First of all, nothing is getting tougher. It is only your perception that is seeing them as getting worse or tougher. Thousands of years ago people of the Sumerian civilization complained about worsening economy, crime and ill behaved younger generation. What you are saying now is what every generation has said about what is to come.'

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'Yes, but' I started, and then stopped as I looked at Him.

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'Secondly, Life was never easy or hard. You remember only the easy or hard part. You remember the golden past, those wonderful days of your childhood or youth; those glorious days when you probably wasted your time doing nothing. At that time your life would have seemed just as tough as it seems today. It is just that in retrospect you see the rainbows but forget the storms.'

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'I am not talking about the past', I finally managed to get my two words in, 'I am worried about the future and about how people will manage with rising costs, rising crime and so on. If I remember right, the Sumerian civilization was lost without much of a trace. Should that happen to us too?'

Chapter Name: Living with Nature

Content: 'What is it that you would like to do with the future? Even if you did know, how do you know that what you want will help anyone in any way? You are not in control of even the next breath

Content: that you may or may not take. How then can you be so arrogant as to imagine that you can solve the problems of the world?’ Master continued.

Content: ‘You are right, the Sumerian civilization, the Egyptian civilization and the Indus valley civilization and all similar ancient civilizations and cultures did disappear. However, other cultures and people appeared and life carried on. Those who did not disappear.

Content: The Hindu culture also started at the same time or even earlier. The Indus Valley civilization as it is called may have disappeared. Mohenjadaro and Harappa may have been lost underground. However, the philosophy of the Vedic culture has been passed on relatively unchanged for well over 5000 years. Universal Truths always sustain themselves.’

Content: ‘What then can we learn from these great cultures that will help us today?’ I ventured.

Content: ‘A lot or nothing. It all depends on what you wish. If you are looking at yourself and how to learn to cope, a lot can be learnt. But, if you are talking about the whole world, you can do precious little. You can change yourself, without a doubt. You can attempt to change others, but you can never change another person. That person has to change himself or herself.’

Content: ‘I do not understand, Master.’ I said.

Content: ‘Well, look at it this way. Even when I teach you, it is not my teaching that changes you, but your acceptance of what I say. Transformation happens within you when you accept, understand and internalize what I say. If my words can change people, by now millions would have been transformed just by listening to me. They don’t. They hear me; they don’t even listen to me.’

Content: ‘What will then happen to the World?’ I asked plaintively.

Content: ‘Nothing’ He said impassively, ‘Someone asked Buddha how the Universe was created, and He said that Universe has always existed; it created itself and that it will always exist. The World will go on though people may change.’

Content: ‘This sounds hard hearted’ I complained, ‘People make up the world and they matter.’

Content: ‘Of course they do. It is what they do that the World as you call it, the Existence, Nature responds to. If each one on this planet believes he is here to fend for himself without a care about how the next person lives or dies, Existence too will respond the same way, without a care to those who live here. However, if each one here truly believes that we are all connected and in turn connected to Existence, then that Existence will shower its blessings on us. You only reap what you sow, as Jesus said a thousand years ago.’

Content: Master looked thoughtful. ‘People keep asking me why nature is so cruel. Tsunamis drown thousands, earthquakes kill thousands and that many are innocent children. They want to know why.

Content: Who knows why? Nature is nature. Nature acts by its rules. Nature is neither kind nor cruel. Nature is just spontaneous. It moves with its energy. If you are in its path and resist you are destroyed. If you flow with it, you grow.

Content: What about all the negativity that we build by destroying nature? We destroy forests to make paper; we drill through the earth for oil to run cars; we destroy hills for granite to beautify our homes; we block rivers in the name of agriculture; and, we spew out gases that burn a hole in space. At each turn, we fight nature, and we destroy nature.

Content: Yet, people wish to know why nature destroys and complain.

Content: Become one with nature and nature will nurture you. Nature never destroys. Nature merely responds. How nature responds is in your hands.’

Chapter Name: Where Fear and Greed Rule

Content: One day I asked the Master, ‘You say that the spiritual plane and material plane can coexist. You say that there is no need for us to renounce what we have; we need to renounce only what we do not have, to be in happiness. Does this apply to corporate life? In business, one constantly strives for what one does not have? How can then one be happy?’

Chapter Name: Where Fear and Greed Rule

Content: I had been a corporate animal a very large part of my life. My happiness during that period was always between periods of sorrow. As master has said time and again, this is like saying that a ceasefire between two battles is a period of peace.

Chapter Name: Where Fear and Greed Rule

Content: Master asked, ‘Is this a question based on your experience?’

Chapter Name: Where Fear and Greed Rule

Content: I nodded.

Content: 'It is true that you can traverse both a spiritual path and material path together and comfortably. Let us say you have set yourself goals to achieve. There are different ways to achieve these goals, both internally and externally. You can succeed, at least temporarily, by cheating and harming people, perhaps in a much faster way. Or you can decide to follow the path of truth and not harming others, satya and ahimsa, in achieving your goals. Surprising as it may seem, there are even in this day and age companies who follow the latter path and succeed. Do you agree?' He asked.

Content: 'Yes, Master' I agreed, 'I have experienced this and I also see this working in a few companies. In fact in a book called the Living Company, its author Arie de Geus analyses long lasting companies and finds that they survive because they follow these principles. They also are the reeds in water. They do not fight, they bend and survive.'

Content: 'Exactly' He said, 'That's the principle of Tao, following nature without resistance. It is possible to be successful and long lasting, in fact it is only possible to be long lasting, if one followed principles of truth and not harming others. Not only not harming people but the environment as well. Problem is that everyone wants to make quick money and in their haste and greed, they decide to focus on the end goal rather than on the process.'

Content: 'So, you say that one must adhere to principles of truth and non violence in business as well and also focus on the process instead of the end result.' I asked in confirmation.

Content: 'Yes, you can be spiritual in business if you follow some simple principles' said the Master, 'You need to combine the principles of spirituality such as truth and non violence with the material aspirations of the business. Further, having set the structure and plan for realizing these aspirations, focus only on the path and the process instead of constantly peering at the future goal.'

Content: 'How would this work master?' I queried, 'after all the goal is the million dollar issue, not the process.'

Content: 'When the path is right, the process is correct, the goal will be correct too' said the Master, 'not only that wherever you reach, as long as the path is right, your destination will be right. The issue is one of your awareness in setting the process right so that it is directed towards the goal you are aiming at. What use is it, if you set the direction wrong and then keep worrying that you are not reaching the goal? You never will, will you?'

Content: 'All corporate planning process involves reviewing results every quarter or some such period. Are you saying they are wrong?' I asked.

Content: 'Of course, yes. It is pointless looking at the future based on past performance. Would you be able to drive looking only at your rear view mirror? When you drive, you watch the road carefully; you see the milestones even though you do not see your destination. If you follow the right road and the right milestones, you will certainly reach where you set out to reach. Isn't it as simple in business too? Why do you make it complicated?'

Content: 'Yes, but...' I stopped.

Content: 'Human mind needs an excuse to worry and keep others worried. That's why all these systems are invented. They help some people make money as well. Every right thinking manufacturer knows that even if he inspects every piece carefully after he has produced it and rejects all

Content: defective pieces, he will still end up shipping defectives. Is it not? The only way he can avoid this is by focusing on the process, am I correct?' 'Yes, Master, That's what they now call the six sigma process' I agreed. 'See, that's what Krishna said in the Gita many thousands of years ago. He said to forget the responsibility and ownership for the product, but instead to focus on the process, the path, and the way. There is deep truth in this wisdom. When you renounce your attachment to the end product, end result, you can be more objective, more focused on the process and path, ensuring that you stay on course without getting disturbed or emotionally involved. This alone will ensure success.' Master continued. 'Emotional attachment to the end result, the goal causes only trouble; it does not increase one's chances of success. It breeds fear or greed. One is either afraid of failure or desperately greedy for achievement and in both cases both internally and externally one loses balance. When you lose external balance you end up cheating your customers and shareholders, because you are so desperate to show that you are right and successful. When you are internally imbalanced, you create a climate of distrust and disloyalty amongst your colleagues and subordinates. When the leadership of a company is insecure and unbalanced, the whole culture of that company starts to stink, does it not?' Thinking back on my own experience of over thirty years, I could not but nod in full agreement. How many bosses I have endured as corporate leaders, men of deep insecurity who ruled by fear and greed because they themselves were so afraid and desperate! 'Why don't you talk to them and explain this simple wisdom' my Master laughed, 'You have walked that path and you know how slippery it is.' I nodded in agreement.

Chapter Name: Multitasking

Content: I had always been proud of my ability to do many things at once. In fact, I felt confused and inadequate when I did not have multiple things to do at any point in time. I felt disturbed when Master spoke of the present moment and the need to focus on what is in hand. What if many things were in hand? So I asked, 'Master, you have said that we need to be in the present moment. You have said, when we eat we should eat, when we sleep, we should sleep. When we eat, we should not talk, watch TV or read. Does this also mean that when I do one job, I should focus on it thoroughly and finish it before I take another job?' 'It is simple', Master said, 'you need to be aware all the time. You can only be aware in the present moment. You cannot be aware in the past because that is history. You cannot be aware in the future, because it is yet to begin. You can only be aware now. Now is that precise moment of the present. The minute I say now, the now is past already. You can only do one thing now. The moment you start another, you are no longer in the now. What you started earlier is past.' He must have sensed that I was looking quite blank. Compassion flowed. 'Listen', He said, 'There is a saying that you cannot step into a river twice, is there not?' I nodded. 'I say that you cannot step into a river even once!' He said. 'The moment you dip your toes into the river, much before your entire foot goes into that water, the water that your toe touched is no longer the water your heel touches. The water that touches the two is not the same. Do you follow?' I did and I nodded. 'That's why you cannot ever do anything with awareness unless you do that in the present moment and you cannot do more than one thing in the present moment. You may imagine you are doing many things all at once. You cannot even really listen to music and read at the same time, as you all pretend you do. You cannot do both with awareness. That is why I always ask you and all participants in my courses not to write anything down when I speak. You can either listen to me or write what I say. While you write you have lost what I say. You are no longer actively listening. You are listening with only one part of your energy. You are listening without awareness, if you write at the same time. Do you understand?' He asked. 'Yes, Master', I ventured, 'I understand; but I get bored working in the same thing for long. I need to move from one job to another to keep myself interested. What can I do?'

Content: I knew I was asking for trouble.

Content: 'There is nothing you can do if you have a mind like a monkey' Master was as usual in clear understanding of the status of my mind. 'It will wander. Your mind controls you and you pretend that you are in control. When you are focused, your mind can become a laser beam. Just by looking at something with such focus in the present moment you can understand everything about that object everywhere. That's why Vivekananda said that by studying a handful of clay in your hand with awareness you can learn about all the different types of soil in the world.'

Content: He saw that I was not convinced.

Content: 'Let me take a simple example. Why do you think law enforcement agencies all over the world prohibit you from talking on your mobile phone while driving? You are not only a danger to yourself, but a menace to everyone else on the road, is it not? Your attention wanders. Your attention wanders even if you listen to the radio, and suddenly there is something so interesting that it takes your attention away from the road. Your mind cannot handle two things at the same time.'

Content: 'What about corporate life? Everyone is under so much pressure that everyone has to handle multiple tasks at the same time. What can be done?' I was still not convinced.

Content: 'That's why corporations are in the mess they are most of the times'; He was biting in sarcasm, 'In the name of multi-tasking these guys act without awareness and cause harm. You can handle multiple projects at the same time, no doubt and you need to. There is no way though that you would be able to handle all of them simultaneously. You have to take manageable bites from each, complete, digest and move on to the next.'

Content: 'Try this approach next time you are confronted with multiple tasks.' He said, 'Focus on each separately and completely. See how big a difference it makes to your productivity and quality of output.'

Content: Well, my Master is a CEO of sorts. If I needed any proof of that, the value of His words provided that.

Chapter Name: Role of the Master

Content: I went to my Master and said, 'I have a few queries.' He said, 'That is what you will always have and that is what I am here for. What is it?' I asked Him, 'What does a Master exactly do with His disciple? I mean what is His role?' 'Oh, what do you think I have been doing all this while?' the Master said jovially. To this I replied, 'everyone keeps talking about a spiritual guru. You tell us what is written in the scriptures, what is told by sages all along. Then why do people talk so much of the Master?' The Master replied strongly, 'Alright, if you think you can understand those scriptures, if you can work on your own, obviously you are free to practice yourself. You can work on your own. There is nothing wrong in it. It would be like you are searching for the right door and the right key. If you think you can find the right door and open it, then fine. Go and open it. But you see, if someone already has the key to the door, why would you want to try all the doors and the keys.' I obviously felt a strong blow, a strong blow to my ego. I asked Him questioningly, 'You say that a Master is compassionate enough to help the disciple realize himself. If a Master is so compassionate why doesn't He give the key immediately?' The Master could see my ego speaking those words. He said, 'a Master is an embodiment of compassion. He showers compassion. There is no doubt about it. A Master is an ocean of compassion. Everyone is entitled for that compassion but one can fill his bucket of compassion only when he surrenders to that Universal energy that the Master represents. If you go to that ocean with a cup, you will get only a cup-full of it; if you go with bucket you will get a bucket full of it. It all depends on you how you want to approach the Master. It all depends on you how open you are how much you want to take in and how much you can take in. Understand, if you want to benefit most, there is only one way of approaching a Master, total surrender. Only then the alchemy can happen. You cannot go to a Master with an ounce of ego. You have to surrender. You do not go with a cup or a bucket, you fall into that ocean, and you immerse yourself' I started to internalize now.

Content: 'You mean to say when the student is ready the Master arrives. When a Master knows that everyone is caught up in the web of ego and if a Master is so compassionate, why doesn't the Master reach out to everyone?' I enquired Him.

Content: He explained beautifully. 'A Master is a master surgeon. He does surgery on you. You are his patient. You have gone to Him with a lethal tumor called ego. A master removes that tumor. You lie on the operation table of the Master and the Master works on your tumor.'

Content: 'Understand that patient should first realize that he has a tumor. The patient always thinks that he is healthy. He always thinks that he is not suffering from any disease. He always says the other person has this ego tumor but he never accepts that he himself has one. When he accepts that he has a tumor, when he understands that something needs to be done, only then he goes to the doctor. That is why a Master waits till the patient accepts that he has this tumor called ego and goes to the doctor.'

Content: 'I understand what you say, Master,' I said. I finally called Him 'Master'. I was convinced but I still had doubts about doubts. I asked the Master, 'Our intellectual mind is tuned to think everything logically. Sometimes or rather most of the times we do not accept what a Master says. What should be our approach when dealing with such an issue? This can create a big void between us and the Master. If the mind does not logically find a route, we start having a doubt about what the Master says. Should we believe in everything the Master says?'

Content: He smiled at me. 'Doubt and belief, both are not the correct ways. Trust or surrender is the correct way. Be very clear when you have a doubt, you are still hanging on to your ego. It is your ego that tries to justify what you know and again and again; compares with what you know. So doubt is not the way. On the other hand, if you believe blindly, your foundation is weak. Your belief can be shattered by anyone. Your whole foundation is weak. Anybody can shake it and you will break.'

Content: 'Trust is the only way. Trust what the Master has to say. Trust what technology the Master has. Don't reject it right away; do not believe it straight away. Experiment with it. Be curious. Try to find whether it works or not. If the Master is what He claims to be, you will see whatever He says is the truth. Whatever He says works.'

Content: 'Once you experience what the Master says, your trust will turn into love and then to surrender with gratitude. You will gradually surrender to the Master who is the Divine. The Master then works on you because you still cling on to that little part of your ego. Only an enlightened being is free from this tumor. Even when you surrender, you don't completely surrender. That is the reason why the Master works on the disciple till the tumor is removed from the root. Be very clear, the Master works continuously till the tumor is removed completely. Once the tumor is removed, once the ego is wiped off, you are in eternal bliss, Nithyanandam.

Chapter Name: Dream on or Wake up

Content: It was early in the morning one fine day. My Master sat peacefully enjoying the fresh morning air. I approached Him frantically and started to rattle away "Master, you won't believe what happened in my dream last night. I was being kidnapped by four well built men and I was fighting them all by myself. In the midst of exchanging blows, I was woken up abruptly and I was sweating all over. When I opened my eyes, I saw my wife was beside me offering me a cup of water reassuringly. She said that I had screamed so loud as to wake up the neighborhood" My Master nodded silently with his inward gaze and ever smiling face, as though asking me to go on. After a brief pause, I continued "Master, now that I look in a back I feel like laughing at myself for being so terrified in a mere dream". He calmly asked me "When did you get to know that it was a dream?" I failed to understand why He asked me this question. I blurted out "When I woke up of course!" "So, while you were dreaming you felt your identity completely with that character being kidnapped, didn't you? You felt it so real, though it was just a passing dream. We always think that whatever we are is permanent. We try to possess it and identify with it" I suddenly was engrossed in my own chain of thoughts. I looked up showing obvious confusion on my face "Then Master, can it be that this life is yet another dream?" For this he laughed and said "That is the question you have to ask yourself. If you delve deep into it, you will realize that your life is indeed a dream. It is transient, temporary, fleeting. Only you hold so tight to it and do not want to let go. So what do you do to yourself in the process? You start to experience all the pain, suffering, misery of this life as though it is affecting 'you'. This identity to which you are holding on to is just an image of yourself created by your mind and people around you. Only when you wake up to Reality you will experience what I say. Right now, what I say may appear to be senseless because you are still dreaming and believe that what you see or feel is true. Be very clear, your core nature, your true Self knows no pain or joy. It is above all this drama." Suddenly excited about this new concept, I asked him curiously "Can I also wake up from this life's dream and experience what you just told me". My Master replied instantly "Why not? Learn to look at your life; just watch it. In Sanskrit we call this vipassana. Look at every little detail that you are going through, just as you would sit back and watch the characters in a movie. Do you cry if the hero in a movie meets with an accident? You know very well it's just a movie, so you pacify yourself. In the same way, watch

Content: your own life and learn to laugh at it, laugh with it. You will suddenly realize that you are no more experiencing the hardships of life, but just are flowing with it, as a mere spectator

Content: I was trying hard to internalize what was just said but was still unable to understand many related issues. I pestered my Master to clarify "So Master, if what you are saying is true; if life is just another dream; another drama; why do we treat life so seriously? Does life have any meaning at all then?"

Content: He said "Be very clear, as long as you think life is all about achieving set goals, life has no meaning. Only when you realize that life has no meaning at all can you really start living. What you think is worthy is not really worthy. What you think is being purposeful is not really purposeful. What we think are greatest treasures in life to be achieved, are meaningless. When we realize that life is but another drama, you suddenly start to enjoy the drama without being a part of it. Life suddenly becomes meaningful, blissful."

Content: I added "Master, then are you saying that since life is meaningless and we are just a witness, we should give up all interest and initiative in doing anything in life?"

Content: My Master knew this was coming. He instantly retorted "Did I say anything about losing interest or zest for life? I tell you, when you start employing this witness attitude, you will have much more enthusiasm in life for any little thing you do. You will be brimming with creativity, with ideas. Not just to come up with ideas, but the drive and energy to fulfill them will also accompany. Each step in the journey of life becomes joyful. You don't care about the destination anymore because you are enjoying every step. This is the meaning of life; the juice of life. What follows from such a witness attitude is constant joy, energy, bliss, Nithyanandam!

Chapter Name: It is all a matter of time, or is it?

Content: It was a hot sunny day and we were getting late for lunch. ‘Master, it’s going to be 4 pm. shouldn’t we go for lunch now,’ I enquired. Master looked at me and said, ‘Drop it. Drop the very idea of time. Drop the idea of being bound by time.’ I was amazed and intrigued. I asked Him in total disbelief, ‘Master, I do not understand. Am I not supposed to do things at the designated time like taking meals at proper time?’ He smiled and asked me, ‘What will happen to you if you eat at 5 o’ clock and not at 1 o’ clock? Will you die of hunger?’ ‘No. You will not die. You will surely not die if you miss one meal, not even miss, just have the meat at a later time. Your body is intelligent enough to use the extra calories that you have stored in your belly. If you are so particular about having lunch at a particular time, then why do happily munch all those snacks at some odd hours?’ he questioned. I looked blank. He continued, ‘See, all this eating at a particular time, having three meals a day, everything is conditioning of your body and mind. Your body is conditioned like that. At 8 in the morning, one alarm rings and says – breakfast time. Eat 5 idlis (rice cakes). At 1 in the noon, another alarm buzzes saying – lunch time. Eat 5 chapatis (Indian bread) and again another alarm sets off at 8 in the night shouting – its dinner time.’ ‘Most of the time, you won’t even feel hungry. You eat because you have to eat, because others are eating and because it is said by everyone that it is dinner time, it is lunch time, it is breakfast time. All this is conditioning done by you to your body which makes us time bound.’ I was trying to digest this food that Master was giving but I checked, ‘I understand not being time bound with respect to having meals. But I do not understand Your first statement about dropping the idea of time.’ He laughed and explained, ‘We are always running to do things at the right time. We think if we do not do something at so and so time, something wrong might happen. So we keep on looking at our watch and see the time, see if we have missed the deadline. In this process of constant worrying, all you are doing is raising your blood pressure and being totally out of focus. All your concentration is on time and not on what you are doing.’ He looked at my puzzled face expecting me to pour out my doubt. I said, ‘But Master does that mean it is okay to be late, to reach some place or office? I mean, how does punctuality fit into this?’ He looked at me and replied immediately as if He was expecting me to ask that very question. He clarified, ‘Being punctual has nothing to do with not being time bound. For all business transactions, for all your meetings, for all your presentations, you have to be punctual. You have

Content: to reach that place at the correct time. That is because you live in a society and you are interacting with others. If each one comes at one's own time, then you can imagine how it will be. ‘I do not understand Master...,’ I said in a confused tone. My Master smiled and continued, ‘Punctuality is a social etiquette. You are a part of society; you, in order to interact with others, have to follow a standard and that standard is your watch. But that is it. That is where the story of your watch ends.’ I listened to my Master with full attention as he continued, ‘Be very clear, time that a watch shows is just a standard for you to interact with others. It should not become something that rules you that governs you, which keeps you on your toes every moment to do your work. Just release yourself from its clutches. You do whatever you want to do. Do everything that you want to do but do not keep looking at your watch to check how much time you have.’ ‘Understand that you are reducing your own efficiency by being bound by time. You are so caught up doing things at the right moment that you do not live the current moment. You miss the current moment. All you think of is what will happen in the next moment. You do not enjoy what you are doing at this point in time. You do not give your 100% to what you have with you at this point in time.’ He continued in the same flow, ‘When you are on your own, just remove your watch and keep it aside. Do whatever you want to do without thinking about what time it is. You will see that by doing so you enjoy every moment of your work more. You will enjoy every single second. Calling ‘every single second’ is again making it time bound. So let us say, you will enjoy every single moment. You will see that you are meditating every single moment and you are enjoying the work process that much more. It is only when you are in the present moment that you really do exist, that you really live life. It is only then you experience bliss.’

Chapter Name: Dissolving Pain

Content: I woke up in the morning with a splitting headache. I went to my Master and confessed to him that I was working till late yesterday and so my head was on fire now. He touched me on my head and said, 'If you abuse your body like that what else can you expect from the body in return. First of all, there is nothing called pain. Pain is simply your way of stopping the body from healing itself.' I was amazed. I asked Him, 'Master, how is it possible? I want the pain to go away...' My Master stopped me midway and said, 'You see, that is exactly why and how the pain starts. You want to stop pain. You do not even know what pain is and you want to stop pain.' I looked at him, eagerly waiting for an explanation. Before I requested Him to clarify, He smiled and said, 'Pain is a result of you obstructing the flow of energy. When you abuse your body, it cries for help. For example when you watch TV continuously for hours together, your eyes get strained. Continuously the eyes call for attention but you never entertain that call from your body. After some time you say eyes are paining.' He paused for a while and continued, 'When you do not give that attention to that part of the body, pain happens. Your lack of attention creates pain. We create pain by not attending to the call from our body.' I said in a halting tone, 'Master, I understand by not listening to the call from our body, we overstrain ourselves but I do not understand how that results in pain.' My Master replied, 'Actually when you abuse some part of your body, in your case, your head, your body is intelligent enough to react. There is a flow of energy gushing towards that part of the body but you stop the flow of energy. You again and again stop the body from healing on its own. You do not allow energy to reach the destination.' He elaborated, 'See, by giving attention to that part of the body, you are actually letting the energy to flow. So first you do not listen to call from the body which is continuously asking you, requesting you to stop straining it. Then, when your body starts to heal itself by letting energy flow, you stop even that from happening. Then what will happen? You start experiencing what you call pain.' 'Master,' I said, 'sometimes, we do not even realize that we have strained our body and we then experience pain as an aftermath. How then can we overcome this pain?' My Master looked at me and answered, 'You see, when you experience pain, all you have to do is allow the energy to flow. That's enough. You don't have to do anything. You just have to let the body heal itself. That's all.' 'How do I let the energy flow? I mean how can I let the body heal itself?' I enquired.

Content: 'See, now you are asking me for a trick. You people always looks for tips and tricks. School kids learn mathematics formulas from formula books. Just like that, you are asking me for tips and tricks,' said my Master with a laugh.

Content: I looked at Him for an answer as I was indeed looking for some tip. He said, 'I will tell you a very simple technique. Just watch the part of the body where it paining. Just see that part like a curious child. Do not see that part as if it were paining. For example in your case, see your head, see the skull, see the bones, and see the muscles surrounding the skull. Let your entire attention be on that part. Giving attention is giving energy. Do not see pain. Do not allow the word pain to occur in your thoughts. See the energy flow towards it. See it full of inquisitiveness. Get yourself into that part, feel that energy. You will see, by removing the very idea of pain, your pain will just go away.'

Content: 'Another thing' he continued, 'If you have a headache, and you keep wishing that you had no headache, what do you think happens?'

Content: I had no clue.

Content: 'If all you can think of is headache, the headache will stay on. It will never go away. If instead of wishing that the headache will go away, you imagine, you visualize that you are well, you are healthy, it will certainly go away. Just try this and see what happens.'

Content: Well. Every time I have some pain, which is not that often in any case these days, I think of getting well and focus of my attention on the spot where the pain. I find the pain getting sharper for a brief while, as I narrow my attention down to that spot instead of the general area. But, soon, very soon, the pain goes away. Miracles never cease with the Master!

Chapter Name: Right & Wrong, Good & Bad

Content: I went to my Master one day and told Him, 'Master, there is so much of negativity around us in the society that we live in. There is so much of corruption, bribery and misuse of power. I mean every politician, every government official is in a money making business and because of this the common man in the society suffers.' 'There should be something that we can do, isn't there?' I asked Him questioningly. He said just three words, 'Transform yourself first.' He continued, 'The problem is not outside. The problem is inside you. What you are seeing outside is your own projection. You want to see that negativity. So all you see is negative. First see what is inside you. First peep into yourself.' 'But Master, how is my seeing inside going to help solve the wrong doings of the politicians and the others?' I retorted. 'First of all, nothing is right or wrong in an absolute sense' Master replied in a strong voice. 'All that you know as right or wrong are social conditioning. That's all. All these moral values are societal. All this right and wrong is created by society to keep you under its control. Society labels some things as right and some things as wrong. What you are doing may be wrong to others but you will find it right at that point in time. And secondly, when you stop finding fault with others and start looking into yourself, you will realize there is a lot that you can do to create a positive atmosphere around you. So start with yourself and stop branding others' actions as right and wrong' 'Master, does that mean that all these officials are justified in their acts of corruption?' 'You want to justify things because once again your ego is evaluating based on a framework that you have created or borrowed from society and you want to satisfy it. You cannot sit here and do anything about those politicians, but you can certainly transform the way you approach things. Understand one thing, when you start to infuse awareness into each of your actions, it is always for the good of mankind. It can never hurt anybody. That is the power of conscious action. Follow your inner guide, your intuition and do not worry so much about whether society calls it good or bad. This is what I mean by transforming yourself'. 'Do you know of a single case when any revolution has succeeded, when any social transformation has succeeded? Every revolutionary claims that he came to power with the desire to change, with the energy of his idealism. Soon, very soon, he becomes the dictator he replaced. There is not one exception to this rule in history. When you transform yourself, at one level you stop falling prey to what you see as the veil outside. In addition, in a strange but natural way, that we humans find it difficult to understand rationally, out transformation influences others into their transformation. Collective transformation is a virtuous cycle; it builds upon itself; but, then, it has to start with the individual.'

Content: 'Master, you say that good or bad are societal conditionings and not to use them as a benchmark. But surely I can say that when my action is hurting somebody then it is bad, can't I? For example, I really wanted to pursue art, but my parents always wanted me to become a doctor and would have felt hurt if I became a singer or a painter by profession. Since I didn't want to hurt them, I took up medicine. Now this is not based on my inner guide as you put it, but I feel good that I satisfied my parents'.

Content: My Master said 'Your whole life you spend in satisfying others, not yourself. At the end of it, you realize that you ran someone else's race in life and by that time, it is too late. When someone imposes something on you, it is because they are dumping their unfulfilled desires on you. You carry its burden and superficially feel happy that you did not hurt them. In reality you are only happy that they haven't taken away their certificate of appreciation from you because otherwise you will be in their bad books, that's all. It's nothing to do with you hurting them; it only reflects your weaknesses'

Content: I was still confused 'So Master, doesn't that mean I will become insensitive to others' emotions and feelings?'

Content: The Master laughed. He patiently explained 'Only when you start living for yourself will you feel real empathy for others and their emotions. However ironical it may sound, only true selfishness can be called true selflessness. Till then, it is only a transaction that you do in the name of respecting others' emotions. You see, you do not want them to think badly of you, so behave in a particular way in the name of respecting their emotions. When you start living from your depths, you will suddenly realize that the same essence in you flows in everyone around you. You will see yourself in everyone and cannot see anybody hurt. You decisions will also be for the good of everyone'

Content: I still had my traces of doubt. I went on 'Master, now let's say I think something is good for me from deep within and decide to do it. But if I see that circumstances are strongly hinting me against it, then should I go ahead with it or not?'

Content: 'Understand, if you have truly listened to your inner guide after having surrendered to it completely, it means you are flowing with the Universe. Circumstances will surely make way for what is best for you always, just that you are blind to it most of the times. It is when your ego starts to give instructions about what is good or bad for you that puts you into crossroads in life, where a choice becomes necessary to take. Be very clear, choicelessness is bliss. Just let go and listen to the cosmic plan you will realize you have no choices to make but only actions to take'.

Chapter Name: Drop out of the rat race

Content: "My colleague who lazes around everyday got a promotion and I didn't! The world is so unfair" I complained to my Master. He smiled and exclaimed "Oh, so you have so easily given your colleague the power to control your happiness? He gets a promotion and you feel cheated. Tomorrow if he gets fired from office, will you celebrate? Instead of comparing yourself with him and cry, why don't you compare yourself with the thousands of unemployed people who are struggling to get jobs and feel grateful for what you have?" "But, I really deserved to be recognized. I feel as though all my efforts have been wasted" I continued as though I had been deaf to what my Master had just uttered. He patiently looked on, as though waiting for me to first finish all that I had to rant. I continued "I am frustrated with all this favoritism and there is no reward for true work in this world!" I now looked up at my Master waiting for Him to say something that would put me at ease. My Master smiled and said "When you honestly, sincerely do your work every day with no expectations from it, the very satisfaction that you get out of it is the true reward. The problem is you are always caught up with impressing the world and not your own self! If you just think deeply, these external rewards, promotions, recognitions are all shallow and superficial." I listened as my Master continued "If you are doing your job with a reward in mind, be very clear, you are not sincere to the act of 'doing' in the first place. The problem arises because you do not enjoy the path and are too bothered about what people say; the stamps that they put on you". I interrupted "Master, then is it wrong that I too want a promotion, just as anybody else?" He added "What is it with man and running in a rat race? Remember that even if you win a rat race, you are still a rat! When all your time and efforts are channeled for accumulating societal titles, ranks, you are left with no time to enjoy whatever you are doing. You will simply miss the enjoyment of the very process of what you are doing. Not just the enjoyment, your efficiency is hampered because every second you are worried about the end result. Each worry is like a drain in energy and you feel tired, fatigued and unable to concentrate well. Drop out of this blind rat race and learn to live for your own self" "Let me tell you one more thing, when you work honestly, your promotion will surely come. What you deserve and what you need, the Universe will always give. If you sit back and look carefully, you will realize that the Universe has always given you what you have needed. Not only that, it is intelligent enough to hold back certain things for your own good. So, just do your best and leave the rest for the Universe to handle." This seemed to raise more questions in me. "Master, how do I know I have done my best? If I stay in office today till 7pm, I can still leave feeling guilty that I didn't stay till 8pm and so on." The Master seemed to understand my concern. He clarified "It is not the quantity of time, but the quality. If you have done your best, you will simply know. If whatever time you have spent with

Chapter Name: Soak into the Present

Content: It was raining heavily and we were stranded in the midst of a dense jungle. I was worried and my Master looked at me and asked, 'What is it that is bothering you?' I replied, 'Master, if it continues to rain like this, it will be difficult for us to go down the river tomorrow to the town downstream and catch our bus back home.' He looked at me and said, 'What a fool you are! Just look around you. Just see how nature is dancing in ecstasy; the rivers brimming with overflowing energy, the rapids rolling over each other joyfully, the trees making royal arches across the river, the whirlpools swirling to glory and the trees, hundreds of years old, guarding the beauty of the nature majestically.' I said, 'But', then I opted to stop mid way. He continued, 'All you can think, all you worry about is what will happen tomorrow. Everything around us is enjoying every second of its existence. Every single leaf, every single drop of water, every single insect, everything is soaking into the present. Everything is immersed in the blissful energy, every single thing except us, humans.' He paused and looked at me with His piercing look. I asked innocently, 'Master, isn't it good for us to plan a little ahead?' He smiled at me and said, 'Chronological planning is not wrong but worrying about the future is wrong. Chronological planning hardly takes any time but we keep on worrying if we can execute what we have planned. That worrying is wrong.' 'Just plan the plan but don't scan the plan for its success,' He continued, 'See the rain around you. See the trickling drops of water around you. See the beauty around you. In the midst of your

Content: so called 'planning', you are missing this wonderful play of nature. You are missing this wonderful opportunity to tune into this extraordinary energy field because you are worried about tomorrow.'

Content: For a while, nobody spoke except the rain, except the crickets, except the croaking frogs. I broke the silence, 'But Master, aren't we supposed to take precautions against what we think may disrupt...'

Content: He stopped me mid-way and said, 'There you go. You think that something will disrupt 'your' plan. You think that something will not go according to 'your' plan. You think that 'you' have planned something good for everyone and something will spoil it.'

Content: 'But I do need to take precautions. That is how I have always planned. I have been trained to provide for contingencies.' I blurted out.

Content: 'You see, you are continuously thinking about 'you'. You think you can control everything. You don't even know if you will survive to take the very next breath. How many contingencies will you provide for?'

Content: He continued, 'This present moment is what matters now. You plan, that's it, just plan. Then follow the process of that plan as you have developed. Don't keep looking back through the rear view mirror, while you are driving forward. If you keep worrying about where and how you will reach, based on what has so far happened, you will miss the present moment. You will simply miss the present moment that is so beautiful. Soak into the present moment. Soak into the energy around you.'

Content: I was soaking in what He was saying.

Content: 'As long as we follow the right path, wherever we end up, that will be the right destination for us. What is important is to enjoy the path. Most of the time we are so stressed out in trying to reach a destination, that we do not enjoy the journey. What a waste of life! Look at those trees; see that flowing river. We, our bodies, are just specks of dust in front of them. Feel that energy around you and you will see that we are that nature itself, that energy itself. We think we can change things to suit our convenience. We would like to make life work the way we wish. No. That will never happen. We cannot control anything. All we can mind is our own mind. All we can do is to live life the way it unfolds. If you see and live the present moment and you will be in bliss.'

Chapter Name: Front Flap

Content: 'When a Master knows that everyone is caught up in the web of ego and if a Master is so compassionate, why doesn't the Master reach out to everyone?' I enquired. Master explained, 'A Master is a master surgeon. A master removes a tumor called ego. A patient should first realize that he has a tumor, only then he goes to the doctor. That is why a Master waits till the patient arrives.'

Chapter Name: Rear Flap

Content: 'Master, there is so much of negativity around us in the society that we live in. There is so much of corruption, bribery and misuse of power... There should be something that we can do, isn't there?' I asked Him questioningly. He said just three words, 'Transform yourself first.' 'In history, every revolution or freedom has ended in a dictatorship. He who seeks to transform others ends up dictating others. No social transformation is possible without individual transformation.'

Chapter Name: Rear Cover

Content: Each day, we wake up to new problems, new challenges, and new realities. We feel overwhelmed, stressed, uncomfortable, and depressed. Why is the world so unjust? Why do people far less qualified than I get on famously in life, when I don't? Why are corporations singled out for unethical behavior? What makes people different when they run companies? When I feel I can love the world at large, why is it so difficult for me to love my colleague? When a Master appears, many of these questions are answered in silence. He does not need to speak. Questions dissolve into answers and confusion gives way to clarity. A few disciples of Nithyananda recreate the inner process of silent dialogue that unfailingly resolves their doubts. You too will benefit from this process.

Content: Ebook ISBN: 979-8-88572-611-5