Conversations with Daaji, Part 8, December 2016, New Jersey
Table Tales
Effortless Efforts
Q: You mentioned yesterday evening that we all have a long way to go. That left all of us in a contemplative and motivated state.
Daaji: The foremost thing is that we need to act with a sense of urgency. When I am thirsty, I had better go and drink water. Right? When I see the house on fire, the next immediate step is to grab buckets and try to douse the fire with water. At such a time, would you sprinkle water glass by glass? Can you take it easy at such a moment?
Similarly, many a times we feel the need to meditate, and we keep avoiding it. We procrastinate and say, "Maybe later," and it goes on. This procrastination should not take hold of us.
The second thing: should we relegate the good things to others? We want others to do those things for us. Sacred duties must be performed right away personally by us. A sense of urgency should be there. That is why beloved Babuji Maharaj says, "Live as if you will die the next moment." This is only to create a sense of urgency.
In Nature, change happens gradually. You see in the normal way of life, from childhood adulthood, change is a slow process, however spiritual change must be instantaneous. It should be brought forward into the here and now! Meditation is a means to fast forward the desired spiritual state into the `now'.
Q: We have around thirty thousand days on earth assuming we live up to 80 years of age. That's about seven hundred and thirty thousand hours. Of this we sleep around 25 years!
Daaji: Our earlier discussion was about the time it can take to move from the 1st point to the 13th point: if we did not fall back or take a break it would be millions of years. Chariji once shared this with us, stating that it takes 45 years to arrive at the 2nd point from the 1st point. Then to move to the 3rd will take 5 times that, which is 225 years. Mind you, this is if we practice without any break. You multiply like this and see how many years it would require to reach the 13th point.
Now if you want this journey that takes millions of years to be completed in a moment, imagine the intensity of that one moment! It is with such an intensity that we must live. To save time we must increase the force.
Q: Increase the force of effort?
Daaji: Increase the force of the inner intensity or the craving. We make efforts in the form of our practice. What we are discussing here is an increase in the intensity of craving within us. This is different from effort. All the efforts and practices create a special attitude within us. That attitude is what decides if it will take millions of years or just a moment time! It's all about attitude.
Q: So the more the efforts, the faster the development of attitude?
Daaji: That depends on you! You can practice for years together and be completely devoid of the right attitude. But even regular practice will give you some change, there is no doubt about it.
In one of the recent messages beloved Babuji says "The key to success is action, perseverance and surrender." If there were no love, why would you repeat the action? Perseverance and surrender are automatic when there is love. All these things become easily understandable when you bring in the element of love. Perseverance without love is akin to labour. Surrender without love simply cannot happen. Surrender out of love is what is needed, not out of a defeatist attitude.
Q: Bringing the intensity into that moment means we must be very alert to know that this is the moment, otherwise we end up missing it.
Daaji: It's a tricky business. You need to plunge into the moment without having any idea about what you will get out of it. You must have no idea or conditioning that, "I must merge in the Ultimate," or "Babuji will merge into me," etc. Then it won't happen. The intensity is so much that you are oblivious to what you want. It is like beloved Babuji says in `The Beggars Bowl', part V of Complete Works of Ram Chandra, Vol. 2.
Q: How was Babuji able to expand himself to such a state to merge with Lord Krishna? What did he do then? How do we expand to that maximum extent?
Daaji: It is very simple [Daaji laughs]. When we will be able to attract the Lord! When Lord Krishna comes, we will know how to do it. It will happen. Why not? In every meditation we expand. Our consciousness expands based on how much we give up our ego. It is an exercise in continuous expansion when we are in meditation.
In our worldly activities, when we are meditatively active, then also expansion goes on. So it is a continuous process of expansion. In meditation, we are interacting with Divinity. In our worldly activities, we are exchanging ideas with our colleagues, but if we continue to stay in that meditative state then the expansion continues. It happens only when we give in. In worldly life, for example, when you consider the opinion of others, interact with others with kindness and genuinely care for their views, then go on expanding. The moment you put your foot down the expansion stops. There will be heaviness. Even if you are right, it doesn't help to stomp your foot down and get your way. We need to agree and wait. We need to realize that, "This is not the moment for confrontation." So, we amicably agree for now and take up the matter later in time with a better idea.
Make him happy and see what he can do for you
Discord between preceptors, challenges at centres, and lack of harmony, end up affecting the health of the Master. There is a statement by sister Kasturi: "Make him happy and see what he can do for you." One morning, she observed the condition of Babuji Maharaj. It was as if he was spread all throughout the universe. Every particle of the universe was soaked in him. Suddenly someone came and brought bad news about some centre. In a moment he shrank. His consciousness became so heavy and his hold over the universe was back to the level of an ordinary human being. That is why the statement, "Make him happy and see what he can do for you." If he is happy, he can do anything. When there is discord, you have made him miserable and he can do nothing. He has become your slave now and what can slaves do? When there is any tension, between anyone, anywhere, the Master feels it.
The ideas of competition, jealousy . why are we competing? Abhyasis watch the behaviour of senior members. There are some very close friends to whom I cannot say no. They are always in the cottage. They need to be around with abhyasis, giving sittings and spending time with them while answering their questions and solving problems. Instead they are here with me. I can't tell them to leave because they will take it personally and attribute it to the arrogance of Kamlesh bhai. They might accuse me of becoming so after succeeding beloved Master! I myself always chose to stay away from Master. Only he would call me. He would say, "Pakad ke le aao usko (Grab him and bring him)!" [Daaji laughs]
From the desk of Daaji
In this section of the update, we share with you excerpts of emails sent by Daaji to abhyasis in various parts of the globe.
Context
An abhyasi sent a note to Daaji about the pain and suffering in the world today. He was pained by the state of affairs and sent a prayerful note about his anguish.
Daaji's reply
Very dear ones,
May God bless you and yours!
It is unfortunate to see so many wars for peace! Almost all the wars are backed by fanaticism arising out of beliefs and dogmas fuelled by so-called religious minds. Do we have a solution in hand? No, not at all. One can only pray and remain as a messenger of peace and add no more divisive ideologies. Even to say Sahaj Marg is better is divisive and creates discord. Instead of saying Sahaj Marg is better, let us prove in our life that, yes, following Sahaj Marg has transformed me. It has helped me become sincere, genuine, authentic, humble, loving.
Now, the question arises, how many Sahaj Margis can come under this category of transformed and inspired individuals? One can only speak for oneself. Isn't it? Trying to find the effectiveness of Sahaj Marg in others only shows our incompetency in some way.
Brother, you have introduced yourself as a classical flutist. I would like to listen to your flute one day, maybe in Hyderabad. Please come with your family when I am there.
With Prayers to Beloved Master for His love and blessings,
Kamlesh
