(The method: stripping covers to bare consciousness)
It will tear away all your internal and external covers and leave your innermost core bare, with no support and ultimately no concepts, method or system to cling onto. At its foundation, of course, are the non-dual teachings of Vedanta or similar schools of thought. Its uniqueness is that here it comes to us from an enlightened master’s direct experience expressed spontaneously.
dhyana or meditation, is the best practice. After waking up and before going to bed, meditate for half an hour. This is what Maharaj used to prescribe: Sit steady with the back erect. Contemplate on: ‘I am not the body. I am formless. I am self-illumined, pure consciousness’. Remain aware of pure consciousness without words till you forget yourself while still awake.
Maharaj has given further spiritual advice: ‘The search for happiness is the cause of suffering’. The world is a repository of desire and fear. True detachment brings peace. The anxiety of ‘what will happen to me?’ is removed by detachment.
(World and consciousness as one appearing movement)
Consciousness and the world appear together and disappear together. They are two sides of the same coin. The world exists till the mind exists. The world comes into being with the birth of the body. Realize that the world is within you and not you in the world.
Maharaj says: ‘From your point of view, you are born and you will die. From my point of view, the world appears and then disappears’.
You wear clothes but you do not say, ‘I am the clothes’. Similarly, learn to say, ‘I am not the body’. Your form is of the nature of space.
Liberation means being free. It is freedom from our own concepts, from the bondage of our mind, intellect and imagination. The Self is free from the concept, ‘I want to be’ and requires no liberation.
When there is no time, there is no world. (This time is not by the clock. Maharaj says time starts with the birth of the person. It is not the child, but it is time that is born. So, the world is there as long as you are.)
You will get time for spirituality only when your mind is silent. For this, concentrate on the goal. Krishna says: ‘That, through which the world is known, is My nature as well as yours’.
When I am beyond my sense of ‘I am’, how can I commit a sin or a virtuous act?”
(Seeing no difference between great and small, God and devotee)
Rich people, highly educated people and dignitaries come to meet me. I behave with them just as I would with anyone. I know why and how one feels that ‘he is’. Therefore I see no difference between big and small. I see no difference between God and the devotee. You will not understand this without discrimination.”
I have undergone all the yogic experiences. I have washed them off, as there is no real greatness in spiritual powers.
Self-realization never changes. The greater the understanding, the lesser will be the desires. The nature of the Self has no desires.
Meditate on the meditator, not on others. It is very fortunate to get to listen to Self-knowledge in this way.
(Escaping oneself vs. the courage to sit alone)
People keep themselves busy because they find it difficult to bear their own consciousness. People look for various entertainments to escape from themselves. The greatest challenge lies in looking at oneself; sitting alone by oneself.
Liberation means to be free. Then one is not affected by the bondage of mind, intellect and ego. One who follows this gets freedom from all concepts.
After knowledge, there is no use of words. After realization, the sense ‘I am’ is still there but the attitude of the mind is entirely changed.
The listener should watch himself rather than interfering in the affairs of others. He should take the opportunity to see or know what he is. After knowing the meaning of the concept, you will know that the world is a joke. ‘Absolutely nothing has happened, I have not seen anybody, nobody has ever seen me’; this will be your conviction.
My Guru used to say no matter how old you are, you are only a child. (The body gets older. Yet consciousness is always in the present moment. It is like a newborn child at all times.)
(True meditation: knowing the knower, releasing personal benefit)
Hold tight to that knowledge. That is true meditation. As long as you look for personal benefit, you will not get Self-realization.