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Shabd Sound Pulls You Up

Sebastopol,CA–February22,2013

Inthemorning,friends,Iwastalkingtoyouaboutsomanywordsstartingwith"s"thathaveaffectedmylife.AndthefirstoneIpickedupwasSantSatguruSawanShah,myMaster,whogavemeeverythingthatIsharewithyou.Iamnotinventinganythingnew.IjustlearneditfrommyMaster.

SometimespeoplehavesaidIspeaklikeaparrot.Inthe‘60swhenIfirstcametothiscountry,peoplethoughtthatIspeaksomuchlikeaparrottheytookmetoFloridatovisittheparrotjungle.Andthere,thoseparrotsareverywelltrained.Irecentlywent,andtheychangedthenameoftheparrotgarden,parrotjungle,toSunkenGarden,buttheparrotsarestillthere.Atthattimetheparrotsweresowelltrainedthatwhenyouwalkedalongtheroad,thepathways,theparrotswouldbesittingonsides,sometryingtorideabicycle,sometryingtodoothersmallthings,butmanyofthemwouldspeaktoyouandsay,“What’sthehurry?What’syourname?”Thingslikethat.Buttheyallspokewithaparrot,parrotlanguage,youknow,squawkylanguage.“What’sthehurry?”Parrotsspeakinginnasalvoice.ButthenwhenI—Iwalkedalittleaheadoftheparty,wewereaboutfiveorsixpeople,andtheotherswerebehindmeandwhenIwentalittleahead,oneparrotsuddenlyspokealmostinhumanvoice.Hesaid,“What’sthehurry?”Isaid,“Nohurry.”Icouldn’tbelievethiswasaparrotspeaking,soIgot…Istoppedtheretoseehowcouldaparrotspeaklikethis,andthenIbegantolaughseeingtheparrotspeakingandtheparrotbegantolaugh.Ihaveneveragainorbeforeseenaparrotlaughingwithhisnecklikethis.“Ha,ha,ha,ha!”Idon’tknowhowthatparrotwastrained,buthe…whenothersjoinedme,theysawmeandtheparrotlaughingateachother.TheygotconvincedthatImusthavebeenaparrotinmypastlife,andIsaid,“Whypastlife?Eveninthislife!”IjustrepeatwhatmyMasterspoketome,virtuallylikeaparrot.TheytookitsoseriouslyforintheChristmasof1962theysentmeaparrotasagift,Christmasgiftinacage,andwroteonit,“Thismustbeoneofyourrelativesfromthepast.”

EversincethenIhavebeensoaffectedbythisparrotthing,theseparrotjokeshavecometomeagainandagain.Iwastalkingtoyouinthemorningaboutdyingwhileliving.There'sstoryaboutthat,too,anditcanbemadeintoaparrotstory.IheardaboutitfromGreatMaster.HesaidtherewasamerchantinIndiawhousedtogoanddoimportandexportbusinessinAfrica.InAfricahewouldgobuycashewsandthings,nutsandcorn,andtakesilksfromIndia,tradethat—thatwashisbusiness.ButduringhisvisittoAfrica,heusedtopassthroughaparrotjungle.Therewerealotofparrotsthere,andhelikedthoseparrots.Sothismerchantononeofhistripsdecidedtotakeoneoftheseparrotshome.Sohewas

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there,hecaughtoneoftheparrots,anicelittlebird,puthiminacageandbroughthimtoIndia.Hefedtheparrotwithallnicefoodsthatparrotslike.Theylikechilies,redchiliesandgreenchilies.Theyeatboth.TheyalsolikeanIndianpreparationcalledchoori,whichislikeanicemixtureof…youcooksomenice...andthenyoubreakthemintopieces,putsome…orsugarinthem.Theytasteverygood,andtheparrotslikeit.Sothisparrotwasfedalotofchooriandchiliesandandwasveryhappyanddancedandsangandlearnedalotofthingsinthecage.

NextyearwhenthismerchantwasgoingtoAfricahedecidedtoaskhisparrotthat“Iamgoingtoyourhomeland.CanIcarryamessageforyouforanybodythere?”Theparrotsaid,‘Yes,tellthepeoplebackthereI'menjoyingmylifeinthiscage.Isinganddanceandenjoymychooriandenjoymychilies.I'mveryhappy.”Sohesaid,“Okay.”SoafterfinishinghisbusinessinAfrica,thismerchantwenttotheparrotjungle,calledalltheparrots.“Hi,folks.Ihaveamessageforyou.YourememberItookaparrotfromherelastyeartoIndia?Hehassentyouamessage.Hesayshe'senjoyinghislifeinthecage,eatingchooriandchilies,dancingandsinging,andhe'sveryhappy.”Onhearingthis,oneolderlookingparrotonanearbybranchhadtearsinhiseyes,andhefelldowndead.Themerchantwasverysurprised.Hesaid,“ThisparrotmusthavebeenveryclosetotheoneItooktoIndiaandhecouldn’tbeartohearthenewsofhisparrot.”So,feelingsorry,hewentbackhometoIndiaandtoldtheparrotathomethat,“Iconveyedyourmessagethatyouareenjoyingyourlifeinthecage,youenjoyyourchooriandchilies,andthedanceandsing.Andtheparrothad…therewasoneparrot,”hesaid,“whomusthavebeenclosetoyou,becausewhenIconveyedthismessage,hehadtearsinhiseyesandhefelldowndead.”Onhearingthismessage,theparrotinthecagehadtearsinhiseyesandhefelldowndead.Hesaid,“Oh,foolishmerchant,ifyouknewtheyweresoclosetoeachother,whywouldIhaveconveyedthismessage?”Anyway,theharmhadbeendone.Heopenedthecageandthrewtheparrotout.Onthat,theparrotimmediatelyopenedhiswingsandflewandsatoutsideonthewall.Hesaid,“Youaren’tdeadafterall?”Andtheparrotsaid,“No,Iamnotdeadnoristhatotheronedead.Heonlysentmeamessagethroughyou.Hesaidifyouwanttoescapefromthecage,diewhileliving!”

Theseare…Iliketheseparrotstoriesbecausesometimestheyconveyalotofmessage.Ofcourse,somearetotallyhumorous,andthatisonlywhenyouhaveaseriousdiscoursegoingon,inthemiddlewewanttoputinsomethinghumoroussoyoucanlaughatit.AndthelatestoneaboutparrotsIheardonlyacoupleofmonthsback,andIcansharewithyou.It'sallanadultaudience,soyoudon’tmind.

Amanwasaverydevotedchurch-goer,andhelovedhischurch,lovedthesermonsthere,andhelovedthepastorofthechurch,whohadtwoparrots.AndthoseparrotshadbeentrainedtorecitetheBible.Theycouldsingverses,andtheyreallyweretrainedsowell.Everytimehewouldvisitthepastor,theparrotswererecitingfromtheBible.Itwasavery

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holyatmosphereinthehouse.Hesaid,“IwishIcouldalsohavetwoparrotsliketheseandtrainthemtorecitetheseholyverses.”Sohewentandboughttwoparrotsfromtheparrotshop,fromthepetshop.Whenhebroughtthemhomeandopenedthecage,thesetwoparrotshappenedtobefemaleparrots.Andwhenheopenedthecage,theysaid,“Wearehookers.Youwanttohaveagoodtime?”Hewasshocked!WhatkindofparrotshaveIgot?Sohewenttothepastorandsaid,“IthoughtI'llgetsomeniceparrotswhowillrecitetheBible,recitesomeholyverses,andlookwhatI’vegot!”

Hesaid,“Youknow,companycanmakeadifference.Myparrots,Ihavetrainedthem,Ihavegiventhembeadsintheirhands,intheir...theycarrythebeadsanddolikethiswhiletheyreciteandsotheymovethebeads.AndIhavetrainedthem.IfIsendmyparrotstoyourparrots,theywilltrainyourparrotsalso.Itdoesn’tmatterwhattheysaynowbecausecompanyaffects,andpeopleandparrotsbothlearnfromcompany.Sothepastoragreedtosendhistwoholyparrotsbacktothisman’shouse.Andwhenhebroughtthesetwoparrotswhowereholdingbeadsandspeakingsomeniceverses,heopenedtheothercage,andthetwofemaleparrotssaid,“Wearehookers.Youwanttohaveagoodtime?”Uponthis,oneofthepastor’sparrotslooksattheother,andhesays,“Throwawayyourbeads!Ourprayershavebeenanswered!”[laughter]They'rejustparrotstories.

Iwastalkingof"s"isSatguru,andIsaidtheremanyotherwordscomeupfromthat,too.WhatIcanthinkofis…afterSatguruIcanthinkofSatsangandShabdandSimran.Howaboutthese?Letmeexplainbrieflytheimportanceofthese.Importanceofalivingmasteristhathecanspeaktouswhatourmindcannotspeak.Whenwegobyadeadmaster,wegobyamasterlivingintheHimalayas,ascendedmastersthere,oranyothermasterwhowedon’tsee,ifwespeaktorocksandbirdsandanythingelse,it'sourmindspeakingalways.Welistentoourmind.Themindisobstructiontoourhome,toourjourneyhome.Therefore,wegetmisled.APerfectLivingMasterwhoisawareofhishomewhilehespeakscorrectsusandtellsus,“No,thisisyourmindsayingthis.Don’tfollowthat.”ThisisnotthevoiceofGod.You'vebeenbelievingit'sthevoiceofGodtellingyouthingsinside.Yourownmindistellingyouthesethings,andthemindtellsyoutodothingswhichthemindwants.Sosomethingthatwasgiventoyoulikeacomputertouseisnowgivingdirectionswhattodo.It'sputtingthecartbeforethehorse.Therefore,aPerfectLivingMaster,ahumanbeinglikeourselves,cantellus,“No,that'snottherightthing,”whichotherscan’ttell.Sothere'saveryimportantthing,averyimportantlessoninthat.It'scommonsense.Whatdoesheteach?WhatdoesaPerfectLivingMasterteach?AllPerfectLivingMasterswho'veevercomeuponthisplanethavetaughtthesamething,thatthetruthlieswithinyourselfandnotoutside.It'sasbasicasthat.Ifyouwanttofindtherealtruth,youwanttofindanythingthat'sreal,gowithinandfindit.It'snotgoingtobefoundoutside.It'ssuchacommonthreadinalltheteachings.Andtherefore,theirteachingisthatyoushouldbeableto

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withdrawyourattentionandgowithin,andtheygiveyouapathwayhowtodoit.Andthepathwayconsistsoftwoorthreesimplesteps.

Thefirststepistoovercomethemind’shabitofthinkingofotherthingsanddrawingyourattentionoutside,putartificialwordsintothemindtospeakandrepeatsothatthoseartificialwordsthatthemindspeakssqueezeoutthewordsofthoughtthatdistractyou.Wecallitamantra.Wecallitsimran.Wecallitbydifferentnames,butthat'sthepurpose.Thepurposeofrepetitionofwordsisthatbyrepeatingthosewordsyouarenotallowingthemindtothinkofotherthings.Andtherefore,yourattentionismoreeasilygatheredbehindtheeyes.Itdoesn’tmeanthatrepeatingthosewordswilltakeyoubackhome.Neverhavetakenanybodybackhome.Butthey'reagoodstartingpoint,goodstartingpointsothatyoucanconcentrateyourattentionbehindtheeyesbyrepetition.Thiswecallsimranormantraorjaporrepetition.

Thesecondsteptheytellisthatifyouhappentowithdrawyourattentionbehindtheeyes,youwillseelightandsoundinside,whichispreexistingthere.Lightandsoundisalwaysthere.Wedon’tseeitbecausewearenotputtingourattentionthere.Bywithdrawingyourattentionthroughtherepetitionofwords,youareabletoseethelightandthesound.Theymaycomeseparately.Theymaycometogether.Eventuallyyoufindthatwhatwecalllightandsoundarebothhigh-classvibrationsthatarethesamethingandappearintwoforms.Thesoundandthelightarenottwodifferentthings.Theylookdifferenthere.Thehigheryougoinyourinnerexperiences,themoretheybecomesimilar.Ultimatelytheybecomeone.Nowwhathappenswiththelightandthesound?Theyhaveacertainpower.Thelightilluminatesanewworld,anditisnotalightthatisbornwithdarkness.It'sasteadylight.Attheveryfirststageafteryoupullyourattentionhereandbecomeunconsciousofthisbodyandbecomeconsciousofyournextsensoryorastralbodyorsukshmshariroronethatisverylight,whenyougointothat,you'llfindthereisanewworldwheretheskyisneverdarkorblack.It'salwayslitup.Notonlythat,it'slitupbecauseeverythingelseinthatcreationisalsolitup.It'sexactlylikethiscreationexceptit'silluminatedtoacertainextent.Forexample,theroadsshinethere.Thechairshaveaglowinthem.Humanbeingsthataremovingintheirastralbodieshaveaglowonthem.Thewholethinghavingaglow,thatglowisreflectedintheskyandkeepsthatgrayishglowallthetime,24/7.Soit'saverydifferentexperiencefromtheskyweseehere.It'sanewskythathascomeup,andthatlightthatiscreatingthatparticularexperienceandparticularspectacleisthelightthatguidesustoseeingnewthingsinsideus.Thesoundisevenmorepowerfulandmorerelevanttousbecausethesoundthatiscomingfrominsidehasapullinit.Itpullsyou.Soifyoudorepetitionofwordstowithdrawyourattentionthere,it'slikearear-wheeldrive.Youhaveseenacarwithrear-wheeldrive?Youpushit,andifyoulistentothesoundthatitpullsyou,it'slikeafront-wheeldrivethatpullsyoubyitself.Alittlecombinationofpushandpulldrawsyouinsidemuchfasterthananythingelse.It'saverynaturalway,natural

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wayofdrawingyourattentionbehindtheeyestothethirdeyecenter.Sothesoundisveryimportant,becausethesoundhasaabilitytopullyourattentionfasterbecauseitisanunusualsound.Thereasonwhythissoundcanpullyouisbecause[its]unusual.

Thereareseveralsoundsonecanhearjustbysittingsomewhereandclosingone’sears.Thesoundsthatkeepon,someringingsounds,somesoundslikewindblowing,soundslikeshah-shah,likeatraincometoahaltatarailroadstation,soundslikeatruckpassingontheroad.Alargenumberof10or12soundsareverycommonwhenwejusttrytoputourattentionin,butthesesoundsdonothaveanypull.Theydon’tpullyouinside,butthey'reallrighttolistentoforthesakeofpracticing,thatthereissomethinginsidethatwecanlistento.

Thecapacitytolistenbelongstooursoul.Thecapacitytospeakbelongstoourmind.Rememberthis:Whenwespeak,weusethemind;whenwelisten,weusethesoul.Thislisteningcapacityisaverystronghelptousinmeditation.Sobyhavinganinternalsoundthatwecanlistento,ourattentioniswithdrawnveryfast.Thesoundthatreallypullsusisverysimilartoasoundofabigbell.Abellsoundwhichhasaswinginit,whichhasapealinit,buthasastrongpeallikeitgoinglikesurroundsound,likeabigsoundaroundyou.Whenthatcomes,thatissouniqueinitspowerthatyouareliterallythrownoffyourfeetanddraggedalongwithit,andtheconcentrationbecomesmucheasierthananyamountofrepetitionofmantrasorsimran.Sothereforethesoundbecomesveryimportant.Andthesoundisrightthereandcanbeaccessedveryquicklyifyouareabletopreventtoomanydistractionsfromcomingintoyourway.Andtopreventthedistractionsofthemind,itthinksofdistractionsandbringsthemupinfrontofyou,therepetitionofwordsisverygood.Soincombinationwiththesetwo,weareabletoremovemanydistractionsthatcomeintryingtomeditateandtakeourattentiontothethirdeyecenterbehindtheseeyes.

Theotherdistractionscanbeimagesthatcome.Whenwehaveimagescoming,otherpeopleareappearinginfrontofus,andwhenwetrytomeditatemoreimagesappear.Bytheway,that'sthemind’swaytokeepusdistracted.Moreimagescomewhenwemeditatethananyothertime.Morethoughtscometouswhenwemeditatethananyothertime.Morethoughtspullusoutwhenwetrytomeditatethanatanyothertime,becausethat'sthemind’swayofsurvival,tokeepusbusywithit.Sowhentheimagescome,theycanalsobereplacedwithanimage.IfyouhaveaPerfectLivingMasterwhoinitiatesyouoracceptsyou,hisimageismoreusefulthananyotherimage.Andifyouimaginethatimage,ifyouhavepersonallymetthatperson,it'sgreat!Youcanrememberthemeeting,andifyourecallthat,thatrecollectionofthemeetingwiththeMasterremovestheotherimages,and,therefore,theconcentrationbecomeseasy.Themethodofachievingallthegoalsonthespiritualpathareconcentrateyourattentionwithin.Period.Alltheseothermethodsarejusttopromotethistohaveaconcentrationofourattentionbehindtheeyes.That'sthestartingpoint,andithelpsveryquicklyifyou'reabletowithdrawyourattentionfromthe

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bodyandgothere.Afterthatitbecomessimplerandsimpler.Thehardestpart,themostdifficultpartinthismeditationalprocess,isinthebeginningwhenwehavetopulltheattentionfromhereandthemindscattersusallover.

Mostofthisscatteringofthemindistakingplacebecausewehavetoomanydesiresandattachmentsinthisworld.Ifwedidn’thavesomanydesires,somanyattachments,wewouldn’tbesomuchhelduphere.Sowhathappensisthatwhenwetrytomeditate,thosedesiresandattachmentstheycomeinfrontandtheypullusout.Otherwiseitwouldbeverysimpletoignoreeverythingandgoinandhaveanicetripbackhomeandthencomebackandtellpeople,“ThatwasagreatplaceIvisited.Iwenthomeandcamebackforanadventureinthiscarnivalhere.”Thisworldissupposedtobelikeacarnival.It'ssupposedtobeacreation.Everylevelofcreationwassupposedtobejustforentertainmentforanexperience,andwecamedownfortheexperienceandgottrappedintheveryexperience,thinkingitistheonlyreality.Forgotourhome.Whenwegobackhome,weknowthatwasjustashowsetupbyourownconsciousnesstovisit,andwecanvisitagainanynumberoftimes.Rightnowwehaveforgottenhowtogobackhome.Howcouldwemakesuchabigmistake?Howcouldwecommitablunderthatleavingourtruehome,comingintoanadventureland,comingintoacreateduniversewherewecamejustforhavinganexperience,andwedon’tknowhowtogoback?Whydidn’twetakecaretomakearrangementtogoback?Well,Icantellyoumostofusdidmakeanarrangement.It'saverygoodarrangementwemadetogoback.Andthearrangementwasifwegettrappedherebythedistractionsweourselveshavecreatedinthisuniverse,ourrealselfwillreappearinthisshow,inthisstage,intheformofanotherpersonwho'lltellusgobackhomeandtakeusbackhome.It'sourownrealself.Wemadethearrangement.APerfectLivingMasterisanexternalphysicalrepresentationofourowntrueself.Therefore,we'repullingourselves,butwedon’tknow.Whenwecloseoureyesweseedarkness,andthere'sapersonwho'soutsidecreatedbythesameconsciousnessthat'screatingusandeverythingelse,andhesays,“No,goin,”andhelpsustogoin.LateronwefindattheendthatwasourowntrueselfthatcameoutandbecamePerfectLivingMaster.Wemadethearrangement.That'swhywemetthePerfectLivingMaster.

Soallthosewhohavesaid,“Incasewegettrappedinthisadventureland,wemustbeabletocomeback,wegotanarrangementmadethatwewillbeabletocomebackthroughthisroute,”andtheyseethisexcellentarrangementwhentheygoback.Whenwegobackhome,wefind,yes,wemadeourownarrangement.That'showitworked,andsothePerfectLivingMasterwasanexternalphysicalrepresentationofourowntrueself.Notonlythat,aPerfectLivingMasterisahumanbeinghere.Throughmeditationwefindthathisrealformisinside.Ifyougodeeperintothis,youwillfindthatthePerfectLivingMasterisactuallyarepresentationofthesoundthatpullsus.Verydifficultforthemindtoaccepthowthesoundisbecomingahumanbeingandaperson,butyoucanfind…butyoucanrealizeitand

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acceptitwhenyouseeitinside—thatthisisarepresentationofthesamepullthat'stakingusback.ThissoundthatItalkofisthenextstage.Aftersimran,wegettheshabdorthesound.

Thesoundhasbeenreportedinallspiritualliterature,includingreligiousscriptures,asthebasisofthiscreation.Wedon’tknowhowtodescribethatsoundbecausenotordinarysound.It'sacreativepower.It'sacreativepowerthatcreatesalltheseuniversesforus.It'sacreativepowerthatcreatesallexperiencesforus.It'sacreativepowerthatmakesanexperiencerbycreatinganexperience.It'sacreativepowerthatmakesconsciousnessintoanexperiencerandacreator.It'saverypowerfulthing.Howcanwejustcallitordinarysound?Wecannotcallitordinarysound,butwhatworddowehaveforit?There'snowordthatwehaveforthatsound.Andit'snotfairtocallitsound.Thenwhatshallwecallit?Ithasbeencalled,forwontofaword,ithasbeencalledtheWord.IfyoureadJohn’sGospel,makesitveryclearrightinthebeginningofthoseverses,“InthebeginningwastheWord,andtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.”Whatmorecouldyouhear?“AllthingsweremadebyHim,andnothingwasmadethatwasnotmadebyHim.”GivesallthepowertotheWord.TheWordalmostfromthatstatementlookslikepreexistentGod,thatWordwasGod.“InthebeginningwastheWord.”WhatdoestheoldestSanskritliteratureinIndia,theRigVeda,say?Itsays,“InthebeginningtherewastheNad.”Nadisthesound.“InthebeginningwastheSound,andtheSoundwasthecreator,andallthingsweremadebythatcreator,theSound,andnothingwasmadeexceptbythatSound.”ThisisintheIndianscripture.AlmostaSanskrittranslationofJohn’sGospel.Similarly,inotherreligioustextsthatIhaveseenasimilardescriptionisgivenusingdifferentwordstorepresentthatwhichcanbelistenedto.Therefore,wecallitsound,orword,orwhatevernamewegiveit.IthasbeencalledbytheGreeksastheMusicoftheSpheres,thatthemusicisrunningthespheres.Itismorerecentlybeingexaminedbyscientistsinphysicsandsayingthere'sahumeveninthemovementofelectronsaroundthenucleusofaatom.They'refindingthatthesoundisbasictoeverything.Therefore,thesoundI'mtalkingofisnotmerelyasoundlikeanyothersoundthatwehear.It'sapowerfulpullthattakesus,anditkeepsonchangingasitwithdrawsourattentionnotonlyfromthephysicalworldintootherworlds,butevenbeyond.Itisconnected…thissoundisconnectedrightthroughtoourtruehomewherethere'stotalityofconsciousness,there'sone,there'soneness.It'sconnectedrightallthewaythrough.

Thisscenethatwesee,thevisualsthatwesee,keeponchanging,butthe…andthesoundanditsqualitymightchange,butit'sconnected.Itistheconnectionbetweenusandourtruehomeatalltimes,eventodayatthistime.Thebeautyofthesoundisthatitrepresentsconsciousnessatalllevels.Itisthemanifestationofpureconsciousnessevenifithasnothingelsetobeconsciousof.Itislikeconsciousnessisconsciousofitself.That'sthekindofsound.Therefore,thatsoundthatcanpullusallthewaybacktoourtruehome,that'sthe

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soundthathasbeenadvocatedbythemostPerfectLivingMastersallthroughhistorythatI'vebeenabletosee.Ofcourse,myMastersaidthatistheRoyalRoad,CaminoReal.There'stheRoyalRoadforusatthistimeandtogobackhomebecausethesoundisemanatingfromourtruehome.Andifwejustlatchontoit,gowithit,we'llreachhome.

SothissoundwecallShabd,wecallWord,wecallsound,othernames,istheveryimportantpartofmeditation.Andtobeabletoreachthatpartisabigsuccessinmeditation.

Andifyoucanreachthatanditpullsyou…wherewillitpullyouto?Ifitpullsyoutoanotheropenworld,aworldthatopensupthroughthesenseperceptionsthatlieinsideandwithdrawnfromtheperceptionsofthisphysicalbody,whenitopensupthereyouseeyourownPerfectLivingMaster.Ifhehasinitiatedyou,ifheisaPerfectLivingMaster,youwillseehimthere,andhewillwelcomeyou.He'llwelcomeyoubecausethatformoftheMasterisnottieddowntothephysicalformintermsofhowlongitwillbewithyou.Itwillbethereforeverandiswithyou24/7here.Itnevergoesaway.Fromthatpointonwards,nobodycaneverbealone.Lonelinessdisappearscompletelyforever.Youhaveafriend,atruefriend,withyouforever.Inthebeginningyoumayhavetocloseyoureyestoseethatfriend.Lateryoudon’tevenhavetocloseyoureyes.Evenwithopeneyesyoucanseethefriendnexttoyou.Thefriendhelpsyoutodoeverythinginthislifeandtheotherlives.Everythingthatyouwanttodoherewhichtodayyouregoandmindistryingtodo,tostruggle,thefriendiswillingtodoforyou.

It'sanamazingchangeinlife.Peoplewhodon’twanttobelievetoomuchinthesupernaturalstates,inhigherconsciousness,butwanttosay,“Whatdoesthisdotopresentlifehere?”Icantellyouthiswholelifechangesrighthere,becauseyoufoundapowerwithinyou,secretpower,secretfriend,sittinginsideyouwho'shelpingyoutodoeverythinginthisworld,andyoubecomemoreeffectiveineverythingyoudo.Itchangesthislifecompletely.So,therefore,atalllevels,IfindthatgettinginitiationfromaPerfectLivingMasterandmanifestinghisinnerradiantformsolveseveryproblemthatIknowof.Wedon’thavetoworryaboutgoingbackhome,becausehewilltakeusbackhome.Hetakes,hetakes…hisresponsibility.

WhatisthemeaningofinitiationbyaPerfectLivingMaster?Itdoesnotmeanhetellsyouhowtomeditate.Thatyoucanevenreadinthebooks.Anybodycantellyou.Hedoesnotteachyouwhatthemantrais.Anybodycantellyouthemantra.It’spublished,it’sonYouTube,it’soninternet.Hedoesnot…hecanmakeanywordsintoamantra.Thenwhatdoeshedo?Whatisinitiation?Initiationisaninnerconnectionthathemakeswithyouandestablishesalong-termpermanenteternalfriendship.That’sinitiation.Initiationmakesyouhispermanentfriend.Notonlythat,initiationputstheentireresponsibilityforyourgoingbackhomeupontheMaster.Hedoesn’tsay,“Iamjustateachercometoteachyou

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howtodothis.Nowyougoahead.”Hedoesnotleaveittoyou.Hetakesfullresponsibility.Ifhedoesnottakefullresponsibility,besureheisnotaPerfectLivingMaster.APerfectLivingMastertakesfullresponsibilitytotakeyoubacktoyourtruehome,toSachKhand,byinitiatingyou.Actuallyyourjourneyreallyspeakingendsthere.Therestisaverificationthathaveyougotitornotbecausepeoplestillwanttoknow,wasmymasteraPerfectLivingMaster?AmIinitiatedornot?WasIjustgivensomemantratorepeatandit’snotrealinitiation?Ofcourse,thesequestionsareveryvalidquestions.Andhowdoyougetanswerstothesequestions?Youcan’tverifybyaskingsomebodyelsethesamequestions.TheonlywaytoverifyifyouareinitiatedbyaPerfectLivingMasteristogowithinandfindoutifhe’stherewelcomingyou.Ifhe’sthere,hewelcomesyou,that’sdirectproofthathe’sthere,heisyourPerfectLivingMaster.IshereallyaperfectmasterthatgoesrightallthewaytoSachKhandorhejustthinksthefirststageisSachKhand?Hemaybejustamasterwhohasonlygonetotheastralstage,andbecausetheastralstageissodifferent,lookslikeitstheoriginofthiswholeuniverse,itlookslikeSachKhandtous.SohemightsaythisisSachKhand,andyoumightacceptit,andyouarestillbackintherebirth,cycleofrebirth,becauseyou’restillintheregionofthemind.Howwillyoufindouthowfarthismasterhasgoneandhowfarhe’stakingyou?There’snowaytofindout,becausehewillsaythisistheendofthejourney.Youwillsayokay.

Thenwhatdoyoudo?Ifyouareaseekerofyourtruehomeandyouonlyseekthat,evenifthemasterisnotaPerfectLivingMasterhe’lltakeyouasfarashecan,andthenthenextmasterwillcomeintoyourlifeandtakeyouahead.EventuallyaPerfectLivingMastertakeyoubackhome.Secretisyoukeeponseeking.Don’tstop.Wholesecretliesinseeking.

Irememberthestoryofafriendofmine,adiscipleofGreatMaster,BabaSawanSingh.HewasanengineerinBurma.HisnamewasTrilokChand.TrilokChandwasaverykeenseekeroftheultimatetruth,andhewenttosomanymasters,bothinthesoutheastAsiacountriesandalsoeventuallyfoundoutthere’samasterinMadrasinIndiawhocantakeyoutothehighestlevelofconsciousnessandteachesthesamepaththattheoldmastersusedtodo.SohewenttothatSwamiJiinMadras,southIndia,andhesaid…andhehadsavedupmoneybecausehewaslittlebitofwhattheycallamiserlyperson.Youknowwhatmiserlymeans?Thatmeansheheldaonedollarbill(itwasaonerupeebill),andhewouldsay,“Spenditornotspendit?Spenditornotspendit?”Inpocket,“Notspendit.”That’showhepiledupinamodestsalaryofhis30,000rupees,andthose30,000rupeeshegatheredandwenttoMadrasandmetthatSwamiJi.AndSwamiJisaid,“IteachthesamewaythatKingJanakgothisteachingfromAshtavakra.”Forthoseofyouwhodon’tthestoryofKingJanakandAshtavakra,therewasakinginIndia,KingJanak,whowantedinstantknowledge.Hewaslookingforallthemasterswhocouldgivehiminstantknowledge,butnobodycouldgivehiminstantknowledge.Theyallsaidreadscriptures,dothismeditation,dorituals,dothesethings.Hedidn’tlikethat.Hewantedinstantknowledge,whichmakes

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mesuspecthewasanAmericaninhispreviouslife.Weallwantinstantstuff,youknow.Heaskedhisadvisors,KingJanakaskedhisadvisorsandministers,“Iwantrealinstantknowledge.WherecanIgetit?”Theysaid,“King,youarelivinginagreatcountry,India.It’sfullofswamis,yogis,mahatmas,saintsallover.Allyouhavetodoisholdabigfeast.Andtheyalllikegoodfood,soholdabigfeast,callallthesepeople,andtheywillgiveyouinstantknowledge.”SoKingJanakarrangedabigfeastinhispalace.Thegroundswasfullofpeople.Allthepeoplecame,andthekingdisguisedhimselfandmovedamongsttheseholypeople.Andhefoundthattheyweresofulloftheirego,eachoneclaiming“Iknowmorethantheother.”They’refightingwitheachotheroverwhatthescripturessaid.“No,thiswordmeansthat.”“No,thiswordmeansthis.”Hesaid,“Thesepeoplemaybeverylearned.Theyseemtohavereadmanybooks,butnoneofthemisreallyenlightened.NoneofthemhavetrueknowledgewhichIamseeking,”sohefeltverydisappointed.

Hecamebacktohispalaceandsaid,“Iamdisappointed.Thesepeoplearelearned.They’vereadalotofbooks,buttheydon’thaverealknowledge.”Theministersandotherssaidtohim,“King,youhavetohaveabiggerfeast.Youonlycalledafewpeople.Haveaseven-dayfeast,andbybeatofdrumwe’llinformthewholecountrysomorepeoplewillcome.”Soanotherfeastwasheldforsevendays,andbybeatofdrumsagesandswamisandsadhus,somewearingsaffron-coloredclothes,somewearingwhiteclothes,somewearingashontheirbody,somewearingnothing,theyallturnedup.Ahugecamp.Somanytentswereopenedupforthem,andforsevendaystheywerefednicefood.Andthekingdisguisedhimselfagainandincognitowalkedamongstthem.Andhewassodisappointed.Itwasjustarepetitionoftheoldexperienceseven-fold.Everydayhefoundtheywereangrypeople.Iftheycouldn’tcontroltheiranger,whatkindofenlightenmentdidtheyget?Theywereegoistic,eachoneclaiming,“Iknowmorethanyou.”Howcanapersonwho’senlightenedtalklikethat?Hewasreally,reallydisappointed.Sohetoldhisministersandhissecretaries,“Iamverydisappointedthatthisisthestateofourenlightenment.Wehaveemphasizedlearningtosuchapointthatlearninghasusurpedtheroleofenlightenment.They’realllearnedpeople,butnoneisenlightened.”

Andthentheministerssaid,“King,ifyouarelookingforthatkindofenlightenment,youwon’tgetfromthesesadhusandothers.ThenyouhavetolookforaPerfectLivingMaster.”Hesaid,“Butwhereisone?”Theysaid,“Thereisonesittingonthebankofariver.Yougotohimandinvitehim.He’llcomeandgiveyouPerfectLivingMaster.Hewon’tcomeonthesefeastsofyours.AndHisnameisAshtavakra.Ashtameanseight;bakarmeanswavesonhisbody.He'shump,hunchback.He’shunchbackedwitheightwavesonhisback.AndHe’sahunchback,buthe’sanenlightenedperson.”Thekingsaid,“Whydidn’tyoutellmefirst?”andhewentstraighttoAshtavakra’slittlehutonthebankoftheriver.Andhe“Ashtavakra,willyougivemetrueknowledge?Iwanttoinviteyoutomypalace.”Ashtavakrasaid,“Yourmajesty,youhavecomepersonallytoaskforthis.CertainlyIwill

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come.”Soadatewasset,andAshtavakra,themystic,cametotheking’spalace.Thekinghadplacedtwochairsonthestageandinvitedalltheroyalty,allthenoblemen,alltheneighboringkingsandqueens.Allofthemweresittingintheaudience.WhenAshtavakraentered,followedbyfiveorsixdisciplesofhis,hetookoffhisshoes,whichwasthecustomthere,atthedoor,theentrance,andhewalkedtowardsthestage.Andpeoplesawahunchbackwalkinglikethis,andtheysaid,“Thisisthekindofmanourkinghasinvitedtoenlightenus?Somethinghasgonewrongwiththeking.Howcanthisguyenlightenus?”Sotheywerereallymockingattheman,sowhenAshtavakracameandsatonthechairwiththekingontheotherchair,hesaid,“King,whatisthepriceofleathertoday?”Andthekingsaid,“Master,we’veinvitedyoutotalkaboutenlightenmentandspiritualdiscoveryoftheself.Whatisthequestionofpriceofleathertodowithit?”Hesaid,“Aretheynotallleathermerchantssittinghere?”Hesaid,“No,theyareroyalty.Theyarenoblepeople.Theyaremyownrelatives.”Hesaid,“Oh,Ithoughtthey’redealersinleatherbecausetheywerelookingatmybodyandmyskinasifitisofsomeusetothem.”Theneverybodykeptquiet.Thismanhasasenseofhumor.Theysaid,“Hehasasenseofhumor.Hesawthatweweretryingtomockathim.”Thenkingsaid,“Okay,weunderstand.Thesepeopledidn’tunderstandhowyoucouldgiveusenlightenment,butIwantinstantknowledge.”Ashtavakrasaid,“Eveninstantistime.Howmuchtimeisaninstant?”Hesaid,“Inmydefinition,aninstantiswhenIridemyhorse,Iputmyfootinthestirrup,jumponthesaddle,that’soneinstant.”Hesaid,“Butyouhavetopayapriceforthatkindofinstantknowledge.”Hesaid,“I’llpayanyprice.Allmytreasuryandcoffersareopentoyou,master.Takewhateveryouwant,andgivemeinstantknowledge.”Hesaid,“Iwantthreethingsfromyou.”Thekingsaid,“Take10!Norestriction.”Hesaid,“No,onlythreethingsIwantfromyou.Givemeyourbody,givemeyourwealth,andgivemeyourmind.Whenyou’vegivenmethesethree,I’llgiveyouinstantknowledge.”Thiswasaverystrangepricetag,butthekingwasaverykeenseeker.Heimmediatelyagreed.Hesaid,“Master,mybodyisatyourdisposal.Allmywealthbelongstoyounow.Andmymindisatyourdisposal;itisyours.”Ashtavakrasaid,“Areyousureyou’vegiventhisbodytome?”Hesaid,“Yes.”“ThencanIkeepthebodywhereverIlike?”“Sure,master.”“Okay,getupfromthischairandgoandsitonmyshoesthatIleftnearthedoor.”Andthekinggotup,andalltheaudiencewassoupset.Whatkindofknowledgeisthisguygiving?Whatenlightenmentisthisthathe’smakingthekinggoandsitontheshoes?Astheybegantomurmuragain,“Thisisnonsensewhatwehavebeencalledherefor!”Astheywereallmurmuringtoeachother,thekingwalkingtowardstheshoesthought,“Thesepeopledon’tknow.TheythinkIownthesepalacesandallthiswealthandwhatamIdoingwiththispoorman.”Whenthisthoughtcametohim,Ashtavakrashoutedfromthestage,“King,youhavenobusinesstothinkofthatwealthandyourpalaces.They’reallminenow.You’vegiventhemtome.”Hesaid,“Oh,mygod.IforgotthatIhadgiventhesethingstothemaster.”Whenhesaidthat,Ashtavakrashouted,“Youcan’teventhinkwhatyougaveornotgave.Thismindofyoursismine.”Hesaid,“Ican’teventhink!”Andheputhishandslikethis,andAshtavakragavehimsomegrace,andhe

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sawthelightandgotenlightened.Hesaid,“KingJanak,youdon’thavetogototheshoes.Comeback.”Hecameback.Hesaid,“King,didyougetinstantknowledge?”Hesaid,“Yes.”“Wasitreallyaninstant?”Hesaid,“Fasterthananinstant.”Hesaid,“Areyousure?”Hesaid,“I’mabsolutelysure.”“Anyquestions?”“Noquestions.”Ashtavakrasaid,“King,thiswasjustasamplingofwhatlieswithinus.Thisenlightenment,thisglimpsethatyougotofenlightenedlifeinside,wasjustasample.NowdothismeditationlikeI’llteachyoufor20years,you’llgetitbackagain.”

ThisistheoldstoryofKingJanak,andwhenmyfriendTrilokChandfromBurmawenttoMadras,theSwamiJiinMadrastoldhim,“IfollowthemethodofAshtavakra,soyoufirstgivemeyourbody,yourwealth,andyourmind.I'llgiveyouenlightenment.”Nowimaginethismanwhodidnotspendonerupee,hadtothinksomuch,hesaid,“Itisallyours,SwamiJi.Mybodyisyours.Mywealthisyours.Mymindisyours.I’llfollowKingJanak’smethod.”Hesaid,“Transferthis30,000rupeesintomyaccount.Ihavetostartbuildingatemple.Let’sstartwiththewealthfirstofall.”Sohetransferredallthewealthtotheswami,whobegantomakehisashram.Thenhesaid,“Nowyougivethebody,andforthatyouhavetodothemeditationbythetechniquesIwillteachyou,whichisgoingtobeaverycomplicatedkindofpranayam,breathingexercise.Inthisyou’llhavetobreathealternately,ontherightnostril,theleftnostril.Youcannotbreathetwicefromthesamenostril.Andyoucannotuseyourfingerstostopthenostrillikethisbecauseifyoudothat,alltheattentionwillgoinyourhandsandyourfingers.Therefore,ithastobedoneinternallywithyourtongue.Yourtonguemusttwistbackwardsandmustclosetheseorificesfrominside.Oncefromthisside,oncefromthatside,withthetongueyouhavetodoitinside.Andfordoingthat,you’llhavetocutyourtonguefromthe,fromitstethershere.Thetendonshavetobecutsoitcanmovearound.”Hesaid,“LikeIhave.”Andheopenedhismouth,theswami,andshowedhistonguejustflewoutlikeasnake’stongue,notattachedtothetendonsatall.Hesaid,“NowIdothemeditationbyreversingmytongueandcontrollingmybreathingfromonesidetotheother.Youhavetodothesamething.Andtomakeitapricethatyoupayforenlightenment,I’llnotmakeitaneasysurgerytocutthis.I’llsandpaperitonadailybasis.It’lltake30daysforittobecut,andtomakeitevenmoreofasacrifice,I’llusesomenettleleaveswithallthesting,stingingthingsonit,soyoucancryandfeelyoupaidforenlightenment.”Imaginewhatkindofseekerthatguymighthavebeenthatheunderwentthattorture.For30dayshewasinthattorture,andthetonguegotreleasedandhepracticedthatpranayamofbreathingwithnostrilsoneitherside.Andhedidgetsomeinnerrelief.Hesawsomestarsandmoonalso.Hesawsomelightsinside,butthat’sall.AndhetoldSwamiJi,“Ihaveseenallthis,butIwantmore.”AndSwamiJisaid,“Butthat’sallIcangiveyou.Ifyouwantmore,you’llhavetofindsomebodyelse.”Sohebegantothensearchagain.

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EventuallyhecametotheGreatMaster,whowasmyMaster,whosepictureishere.AndIsawhimtalkingtotheMasteroneevening.WeusedtohaveaneveningmeetingafewofussittingwiththeMaster.Andhesaid,“Master,ifIhadknownthatyouaretherealmasterwhoisgoingtotakemeup,Iwouldnothavegiventhose30,000rupeestothatswamiinMadras.”AndGreatMastersaid,“TrilokChand,youdon’tknow.Thedayyoucametome,Itransferredthose30,000inmyaccount,andalltheworkyoudidthereItransferredintomyaccount.”Hesaid,“Weneverloseanypartofoureffortthatwemaketowardsenlightenment.It’sallaccumulated.Therefore,neverworry.”

Ifyouhavegonetoamasterwhoteachesyouonlyapartoftheway,it’sstillworthwhile.He’stakenyoupartoftheway,andifyoukeeponseeking,youfindamasterwho’lltakeyoufartherup.It’sacoursethatstartsfromourfamily,fromourfather,parents,whoteachusinthebeginning,thenwegotoschool.Wecangetsomeinfluencethere.Wegotochurch,wegototemple.Wegetinfluencedthere.It’snotasimplethingofjustsaying,“Youareaseeker.There’saPerfectLivingMaster.”WegothroughalltheseintermediatestagestillwereachthePerfectLivingMaster.Therefore,oneshouldneverworryaboutthis.Peopleareconcerned.Theytalktome.“Idon’tknowifI’mreallyinitiatedornot.”Isaid,“Doesyourmastertellyougowithin?”“Yes.”“He’sright."Nomatterhowfarhetakesyou,he’sgivingyoutherightdirection.Ifsomebodysaysgowithin,he’sright.Howfaryoucango?Onlyasfarashehasgone.Nomastercantakeyoubeyondwherehehasgone.Therefore,hewilltakeyouwherehehasgone,andifyourseekingisstillthere,you’lldefinitelymeetamasterwhowilltakeyoufarther.Thewholesystemoperatesonseekingandfinding.Ifyouseek,youwillfind.Themoreyouseek,themoreyoufind.Youseekyourtruehome,you’llfindyourtruehome.YouseekaPerfectLivingMaster,aPerfectLivingMasterwillcomeintoyourlife.

InIndiatheysaywhenthechelaisready,theguruappears,whichmeanswhenadiscipleisready,themasterappears.Theydon’tsaywhenthediscipleisreadyhe’llfindamaster.Theyneversayyougolookaroundandfindamaster.Howwouldyouknowwho’samaster?Howwouldyoudistinguishbetweentwopeoplewho’reteachingthesamethingandoneisamasterandoneisafake?It’salmostimpossibleforus.Inashortinterviewyoucan’tknowwho’samaster.Therefore,thebestthingistogoasfarasyoucanandletthePerfectLivingMasterfindyouandkeeponseekingfurther.Seekingisinside.IfaPerfectLivingMasterdoesnotknowyouareseekinginside,he’snotaPerfectLivingMaster.It’sassimpleasthat.That’sthedefinitionofaPerfectLivingMaster,thathecomestopickupthosewhoarehismarkedsouls.Howdoesthemarkingtakeplace?Themarkingistakingplacerightatinception,inSachKhand,intotalityofconsciousness.

WhenIsaidinthemorningthatsomesoulswhosaidwegotoAdventureLand,butifwegetdistracted,whowillbringusback,andtheymadeanarrangement,thatarrangementiscalledthemarkingofsouls.Andwhoevergotmarked,thesepeoplecomeandtakethe

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markedsoulsback.Everyhumanbeingwhocomesas—functionsasaPerfectLivingMaster—isaPerfectLivingMasterforhismarkedsouls.Hemaygiveadiscourseforthewholeworld.Hemayspreadthewordaround,andmanymaybecalledtolistentohim,butfewarechosen.Thechosenonesarethemarkedsouls.Therefore,itistheduty,responsibility,andfunctionofaPerfectLivingMastertopickuphismarkedsouls.It’snotthefunctionofthesoul.Thesouldoesn’tknow.Soulistrappedrighthere.Therefore,don’tbothertoomuchthatIamsearchingveryhardforaPerfectLivingMaster.Don’tsearchforamaster.Searchfortruthwithinyourself.Ifyousearchfortruthwithinyourself,mastermustappearinyourlife.Andheappearsthroughwonderfulprocesswecallcoincidence.Whatiscoincidence?It’snotanaccident.Nocoincidenceiseveranaccident.It’samessage.Itsendsusamessagestraightaway.Wheneverwehavearealprobleminourminds,youtryitoutandthinkoftheproblemandsuddenlyyouopenabookandtheansweristhere.Youdriveacar,andabillboardrelatingtosomethingtotallydifferenthasonelinethatisansweringyourquestion.Onthespiritualquestionsparticularly,thiskindofcoincidencehappens,andwhenyouseekmore,youhavemorecoincidences.Ifounditallmylifewithallmyfriends.Theysay,“Eversincewecameonthespiritualpath,thesestrangecoincidenceshaveincreasedintheirfrequency.”Sothat’swhathappens.Thiscoincidenceandcircumstantialthingsthathappenaroundusareallmessages,becausewhenwerealizethattheworldiscreatedthroughconsciousness,itmodifiesitselfaccordingtowhatourseekingis.Andtherefore,theseeventstakeplaceinourlife.

Oneshouldnotworrytoomuchaboutthatfactorbecausealotofpeoplegetworried.Wehavethismaster,thatmaster,there’resomanymasters.Igetemails,“Idon’tknow.I‘maseeker,andIknowIhavemetthreemastersbynow.”Somesayfivemasters.Ibelievethere’rehundredsofthemnow.Ibelieve,asGreatMasterusedtosay,therearemoremastersnowinIndiathanseekers.Thenumberofmastersgrownsomuchandbecomebigbusiness,internationalbusinessformasters—togoaboutandcollectdisciplesandcollecttheirmoney.Thishasbecomeabusiness.Sohowcanapersonknowwho’saPerfectLivingMaster?It’sconfusing…Igetletters:“I’mconfused.Therearesomanymastersaround.WhereshallIgo?”

Well,firstofall,ifamasterinsteadofgivingussomethingwantstotakesomething,don’tgoafterhim.Stepnumberone.NoPerfectLivingMastercomestotakefromus;hecomestogiveus.Therefore,ifamaster’sdemandingsomethingfromyou,anything,incashorkind,rejectit.That’smyclearadvice,becausethat’snotthedefinitionofaPerfectLivingMaster.Hecomestogive.Heneverchargesforanythingthathe’sgiving.Hehasnochargeforhisdiscourses,nochargeforinitiation,nochargefortakingyoubackin,nochargeformakingyoupracticemeditation,neverchargesanything.Ifhedoes,he’sabusinessman,notamaster.Rememberthis.

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Thensupposingthereareanumberofmastersandtheyalllooklikethey’rereal.Whowouldyoufollow?Theansweristheonewhopullsyouwithhislove.Theonewhopullsyouwithhisunconditionallove,andyouwillfindthatiswherethediscriminationcanbemade.Notallofthempullyouwiththesamelove,butamasterwhosemarkedsheepyouarewillpullyou.He’sashepherdcometocollectthesheep.Therefore,wheneveryouhavethisquestion,don’tworryaboutit,saywhereyou’repulled.Supposingyouarepulledtoamasterandthenfindanothermaster,it'syourturntomovebecausehehastakenyouuptothepointwherehecantakeyou.Theseareverysimpleissues,butthey’regettingsocomplicatedbecauseoftoomanymastersaround.Sothat’swhyIkeepontellingmyfriends,“Don’tworry.Whoeverpullsyou,go.He’lltakeyouasfarashecan.Ifyoufeelyouhaven’treachedyourtruehome,keeponseeking,andanothermasterwillcomeinyourlife.Andhedoes.So,therefore,rememberthatmarkedsoulsaretheonesthemastershave[on]alist.Theycarrytheirownlist.Eachmasterhascarriedhisownlist.Mastershavebeenhereeversincetherewereseekers.Mastersdon’tcomeformasteryhere.Theycomehereforseekers,torespondtotheseekers.Therefore,whereverthere’saseeker,there‘samaster.Themasteristheresponsetoseeking.He’snotcomingbyhimselftoteachsomething.Therefore,justseekinyourheart.Seek.Ifyouwanttobeaacceleratedseeker,wanttoseekfast,thenseekintheareabehindyoureyes,forthatiswheretheinnermasterissittingwaitingforyou.

Nowyoutoldme,manyofyou,thatyouwouldliketopracticemeditation.Areyoustillready?Good.Shallwedoitnow,alittlesessionsothatyouknowhowtodrawyourattentiontothethirdeyecenter,whichisthestartingpoint?Thisisjustthebeginning,andIwantyoutojoinwithmesothatyouknowthatthedoorwaytoallthisenlightenmentwetalkaboutliesinsideus,andtheopeningisrightbehindtheeyesatthethirdeyecenter.Inthismeditationexercise,Iwouldonlylikeyoutocloseyoureyes,sitquietly.Yourbodyshouldbestill.Youcansitinapositionthatiscomfortable,butnottoocomfortable.Whatdoesthatmean?Itshouldbecomfortableenoughnottodragyourattentiontothediscomfortandshouldnotbetoocomfortabletomakeyougotosleep,becauseIcantellyouthatmeditationisagreatsleepingpillalso.Whenpeoplesay,“Ihaveinsomnia,”Isay,“Trymeditation,”andthey’llgetsleepveryquickly.Someditationmakesyousleepbecausewhenyoutrytoputtheattentionhere,theattentiontriestogodown,andyougotosleepsession.Sothat’swhyholdtheattentionhere,youhavetobealert.Tobealert,yourbodyhastobealert,too.Soinanuprightpositioninthebody,takeanypositionthat'scomfortable,notuncomfortable.Don’tworryaboutachesandpainsthen.Ifthere’reanyachesandpains,thenthey’lldrawyoudown.Afteryouhavesettleddownyourbody,thenyoucloseyoureyescomfortablyandcontemplatewhatisinyourheadbehindtheseeyes?Youknowwheretheeyesare.Whatisthespacebehindtheseeyes?Areyouthere?Whereareyouinthatspace?Canyoufigureoutwhereyouare?Ifyoucan’tfigureout,imagineyouarethere.Imaginethisbodyisahouse.Ithassixfloors,andthesixthfloorisatthelevelof

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theeyes.Theotherfloorsarebelowus.Canyouimagineyou’resittingonthesixthfloorbehindtheeyesinthecenterofthehead?Canyouimaginethetwoearsareoneithersideofyou?Thephysicaleyesareinfrontofyounow.Thenoseisrightlittlebelowyou,whereyou'resittingthere.You’resittingcomfortablyonthefloor,onachair,orstanding.Canyouimagineyouarerighttherebehindtheeyes?That’sthefirstexercise.Closeyoureyesandtrytobethere.

Don’tthinkofanythingelseexceptbeingthere.Seewhat’shappeningthere,insideyourhead.It’sahugespace.Itlookssmall,butonceyouarethereyou’llseethere’splentyofspaceallaroundyou…first,keeplookinginfront,andifyoucan,lookonthesidealsowithoutturningyourphysicalhead.Seeifyoucanturnyourvisioninsideandlookbothsides.Seeifyou’reindependentofthebodyandsittinginyourhead.Seethatisnotthebodythat’smoving,it’syou,youbehindtheeyes.You’reaseparatebeingsittinginsideyourbody...

Don’tthinkofanythingelse.Justexaminewhatisthere.See:isitacomfortableplace?Canyoumakeitbetter?Canyoulaydownalittlerugoracarpetbehindtheeyes?Canyouputanicechairtositon?Canyouputsomedecorationsaroundyourself?Imaginethat’syourprayerroom,theroomformeditation.That’stheroomformeditationinyourhead.Keepitniceanddecorateit.Cleanitupifnecessary.

Don’tgoanywhereelse.Staythere.Don’tthinkofanythingelse…

Ifanyimagesorfigurescomeinfrontofyou,letthempass,don’tfollowthem…Ifanydistractiontakesplace,bringyourselfbacktothecenter,centeroftheroom.Ifyouseeanylightorcolor,ignoreit,letitpass…Ifyouhearanysounds,don’tmovetowardsthesound.Stayinthecenter.Don’tloseyourlocation…Stayinthecenter.You’reinthecenterofthehead…Concentrateonbeingthere…

Nootherthoughtsexceptwhatisthere.Thinkofwhatyouarewatchingthere…

Don’tlosethecenter.Evenifthewallsofthatroomdisappear,iftheyexpand,youstayinthecenter.Don’tmovesideways.Stayinthemiddle.Stayinthecenter.Ifyouseeanycolorsorlights,don’tfollowthem.Letthempasslikeamovingscreeninfrontofyou…Ifyou’resittinginside,seeifyoucanstandup.Ifyou’restanding,seeifyoucansitdown.Inthemiddleofthehead.Canyouwalkaround?Canyouturnaroundandseewhatisaroundyou?Tryit…

KeepyoureyesclosedtillIcountfive.One,two,three,four,five.Openyoureyes.Andwelcomeback.

Howmanyofyoucouldsuccessfullyhavetheexperienceofbeinginthecenterofthehead?Pleaseraiseyourhands.Prettygood.Howmanyofyouhaddifficultyinfiguringoutthat

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youarethere?Howmanyofyoufeltthatthemindwasthinkingofotherthingswhileyouweretryingtodothis?Thankyou.

Nowthisisthestagewhenweintroducetheotherphaseofmeditationtopreventwhathappened,andthatistosqueezethewordsofthoughtfromyourmindsoitdoesn’ttakeyououtfromthecenter.Thatiswheresimranorrepetitionofwordscomesin.Howmanyofyouareinitiatedandknowthewordsofrepetition?Howmanyofyouarenotinitiatedanddonotknowwhatwordsoneshouldrepeat?Thosewhoarenotinitiatedanddonotknowwhatwordstorepeat,youcoinrightnowashortphraseexpressingyourloveforthebeloved.Justyouhavesomebodyyoulove?Thinkofthatpersonandsayhowyouwouldexpressyourlove,inwhateverwordsyoudo.Keeponrepeatingthosewordswhenwedothenextexercise.Forothers,whatevermantrayouhavebeentaughtbyyourmasters,yourepeatthem.Butthemantraorthesimranmustberepeateddeliberately,slowly,withattentiononlisteningtoit.Repetitionisnotasimportantasthelisteningtowhatyouarerepeating.Theconcentrationofattentiontakesplacebylisteningtowhatyouarerepeating,notbyrepeating.Rememberthis.Wemakethismistake.Wekeeponrepeatinglikeaparrot,andourmindkeepsonrunningallover.LikeKabirsays,thatMaalaToKarMeinPhire,JeebhPhireMukhMahinManuaToChahunDishPhire,YehToSimranNahin.Hesaysevenifthebeadsareinyourhandandyou’removingthem,tongueismovingtheholywordsinyourmouth,themindisrunningallaround,don’tcallitsimran.Itisnotrepetition.Repetitioniswiththemind.Themindmustrepeat,andyoumustlistentowhatit’srepeating.That’ssimran.Sowhenyouusethat,you’llfindsomeofthedistractionsyouexperiencenowwilldisappearbecauseyou’llkeepthemindbusy.Andyouhavetodothisexercisewiththeselfthatyousawandplacedbehindtheeyes,notthisbody,notwiththistongue.Butyouhavetodoitwiththebeingsittingtherebehindtheeyes,whichisyourself.Wouldyouliketotry?Closeyoureyes.Sameposition.Gobacktothesamethirdeyecenterbehindtheseeyesandbetweentheeyes,behindtheeyesinthecenterofthehead,betweentheears.Locateyourselfthereimaginatively.Andonceyouarewelllocatedthere,you’vefoundyoursittingplace,youcancheckitout,andthenstartrepeatingthosewordsandlistenattentivelytothewords,sittingbehindtheeyeswithoutmovingfromthere.Repeatslowly,becauseyouhavetolistentoeverywordasyouutterit...

Ifsomebodyelsecomesinyourimage,makethatpersonalsodotherepetitionwithyou,butdon’tstoprepeatingthewords.Ifyouhearsomeothervoiceofyourmindspeaking,joinintherepetition.Letthree,fourvoicesrepeatinyourhead,butdon’tgiveup.Justlistentothewords…

Alltheattentiononthewords.Nootherwords,nootherthought…

KeepyoureyesclosedtillIcountfive.One,two,three,four,five.Openyoureyes.Rubyoureyesalittle.Rubyourhands.Welcomeback.WhydidIsayrubyourhandsandthis?

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Becausethedeeperyoumeditatethemorethewithdrawalwilltakeplace,andwhenyougetbackyousometimeshavetorubyoureyesandyourhandsandyourlegsandfeettogetbackintothisphysicalexperienceagain.Wasitabetterexercise?Howmanyfeltthatthiswasalittlebetterthanthelasttime?Oh,muchbetter.Thankyouverymuch.

Nextstep.Thismechanicalwayofsittingthereandsaying,“Iwanttolistentothewords,”iscalledhollowmeditation.Whatweweredoingwashollowmeditation.Itwasnotfullmeditation.Itisnotreallygoingtohelpmuch.Peoplehavebeendoingthismeditationthatyoujustdidfor40yearsandgotnothingregularly,andyetpeoplethinkitismeditation.Youthoughtso,too,andImadeyoudoit.Whatwasmissing?Whatwasmissingisthatthismechanicalmeditationisonlygooduptoaverysmallpoint.Whatpullsyoutotherealhome,totheself,isloveanddevotion.Therewasnoloveanddevotioninthismeditation.Unlessyouputloveanddevotion,you’renotbeingpulledintherightdirectionevenbythismeditation.Loveanddevotionmeansthosewhohaveamasternowdodhyan,contemplationofthefaceofthemaster,andaskquestionsandcomplainandcry.“Iwantthis,master.Ifyouaremymaster,Iwantthis.Allmycomplaintsarewithyou,andIloveyouthisway.”Speaktothemaster.Thesamewords,usetherepetitionofwordsatonechannelandrepeattheconversationontopofthat,whichbypracticeyoucando,andyouwillseethemasterappearsandyou’llseehisform.Andit’saconversationwhichbuildsupyourloveanddevotion.Ifyouexpressyourloveanddevotioninmeditation,it’llwork.Otherwise,inPunjabitheysay,PaanijemadhanipannePaigemakkhanNiklega,thatwearegoingonstirringwater,hopingthatbutterwillcomeoutofit.Youhavetohavesomeyogurtorsomemilkorsomethingtogetbutteroutofit.Youcan’tgetbychurningintowater.Andthiskindofmeditationwithoutloveanddevotionislikethat.TheseareGreatMaster’swords,andhe’sright.Therefore,let’strytherealthing.Nowgobacktothethirdeyecenterbehindtheeyes,sitthereinthemiddleoftheheadandexpressyourloveandshowyourdevotiontoyourmaster.Ifyoudon’thaveamaster,toyourbeloved,whoeveryoulove.It’sthelovethatpullsusultimately,soanywayofexpressingisgood,whatsuitsyou,butitshouldbethatwhichyouknowmeansbeingpulledbyyourmaster.Loveanddevotion,therealsecretofmeditation.Addthatingredientnowtorepetitionofwordsandsittinginthemiddleofyourhead.Pleasecloseyoureyesandstart.Imaginethefaceofthebelovedinfrontofyou.Letthebelovedwalkinfrontandtalk.Talktothebeloved.Talktothemaster…Haveagoodconversationlikewithafriend…

Don’tthinkofanythingelse,onlyyourmasterandbelovedisthere.Allconversationiswithhim,nobodyelse…

Anyotherimagescome,tellthemtowait.You’rebusywithyourmaster.Holdontothatimage.Havealivingmaster,notapicture,amasterwhocanwalkandtalkinfrontofyou.Remembertheactualexperiencewiththemaster…

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KeepyoureyesclosedtillIcountfive.One,two,three,four,five.Openyoureyes.Welcomeback.

Wasthisbetter?Howmanyofyoufeltthiswasbetter?That’sgoodimprovement.Thankyou.Verygood.We’lldomorepracticalmeditationsessionsthenextcoupleofdays.Justanintroductiontowhichistherightdirectiontofindthetruthandfindyourself,findGod,findtheCreator,findtheTotalityofConsciousness,findallthereistofind.Thisisthedirection.Gowithin.We’rerunningaroundoutsideallthetime.That’snotthedirectioninwhichyoufind.Thisisthedirectionthatyoujustexperimentedwith,youjustsawit.We’lldosomemoreexperimentstohelpusinthisjourney,maybetomorrow.

Youcanaskafewquestionsifyoulikeintheremainingshorttimewehave.Youcanaskquestionswhatwehavebeendoing.

Yes?

Q.[Inaudiblequestion.]

A.[IshwargivestheanswerfirstinPunjabi.]Thequestionhe’saskedisthatifheisdoinghisrepetitionofsimranandthesoundcomes,thenshouldhekeepondoingthesimranorlistentothesoundordoboth?Theansweris,ifthesoundcomeswhichhasapull,giveupsimranandlistentothesound.Ifthesoundbecomesweakorhasnopull,gobacktosimran.Okay.

Anyotherquestions?Yes?

Q.[Inaudiblequestion.]

A.Everyday,everydayaboutone/tenthofyourtotaltimeisagoodrecommendation,whichisabouttwo-and-halfhoursoutof24hours.Itcanbedoneatonegooritcanbesplitintomorethanonesession,dependinguponyouroccupationandhowyourtimeisplacedonadailybasis.

Q.[Inaudiblequestion.]

A.It’sbettertogoandsitupright.Whereveryouchoosetosit,situprightanddothismeditation.Thetorsoshouldbeupright.Ifyouliedown,thattendencytosleepwillbemuchmore.Eventhoughyoudon’tsleep,you’reawake.Meditationbringsyouthattendency.Whenyousitupright,it’smoreofawakefulposition,sositupright,chooseanylocation,butthereallocationisnotoutside.Thereallocationishere[pointstothirdeyecenter].Whereveryousit,youdon’thavetomeditatethere.Youhavetomeditatehere.Iaskpeople,theyinvitemetotheirhomes.“I’vegotaveryspecialplaceformeditation,aspecialcushionIhavegot,aspecialchairIhavegottomeditate,”andIlookatthemandIsay,“Doyouknow,you’remeditatingonthechair,you’remeditatingonthecushion,you’re

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meditatingontheroom,you’remeditatingonthedecorationsyouhavedone,becausetherealplaceformeditationissittingrightontopofyourbodyinthehead.Youmustassumethisisyourplaceformeditation,insidethehead.”Outsideyoucanmake,forthesakeofregularityofmeditation,becauseifyougetupandsitinacertainplaceeverymorning,itbecomesregular—it’sanincentivetomeditate.Tothatextent,right,butdonotassociatemeditationwiththatplace.Associatemeditationwiththespacebehindtheeyes.

Q.“Sometimes,itseemsalittledifficulttofocusandholdingtheimageofthemasteratthesametime.Attentionseemstobesometimesdivided.Whattodoaboutthat?”

A. Withpracticeyoucanholdboth.Itneedssomepractice.Simranshouldbemadeintoahabit.Thatmeanssimranshouldnotonlybedonewhenweareinmeditation.Simranshouldbedoneevenwhenwe’rewalking,talking,doingotherthingsthroughouttheday.Sobythetimewearemeditating,it’sahabitthatthemindstartsrepeatingthesimran.Youwakeupinthenight,automaticallysimranisgoingon.Oncethathappensthenholdingtheimageofthemasterandthesimranbothbecomeveryeasy.

Yes?

Q.[Inaudiblequestion]

A.IlovemyiPhonealso.WhenIcametothiscountryIfoundanicepizzaplacecalledShakey’sYeOldePizza.Ilovedthatpizza,andwhenItriedtomeditateonotherwords,Shakey’sPizzawouldcomeinfront.ButIhadtoshakeitoffeventually,becauseit’sanexternalthing.Wewanttolovesomethingthatcanappearinternally,soaninternalappearanceofthemasteristhebestwaytoshowyourloveanddevotion.Itcomesbypractice.ButI’mgladyouhadtheexperiencethatyoufound.It’sveryupliftingtodomeditationwithloveanddevotion.Good.

Q.(Inaudiblequestion)

A.Ihavetogiveyouanopenanswerandasecretanswer.Openanswerisyes,themoreyoumeditate,themoresuccessyouhave.Thesecretansweris,meditationdoesn’tpullyou.It’sthegraceofthemasterthatpullsyou.So,thebestthingis,doyourmeditationasbestasyoucanasthepart,firstpart,andseekgraceofthemaster,who’llpullyoufrominside.Okay.Please,thatwasthesecondpartofsecretanswer.Don’ttellanyone,andifyoutellsomebody,tellthemnottotellanybodyelse.Yes?

Q.[Inaudiblequestion.]

A.Jomangethakurapnete,soisoideve.Whateveryouwillaskfromthemasterinthelimitedbody,hewillgiveyoutheunlimited.Theunlimitedisalsofoundwithinthelimitedbody.Thelimitedmindwhichcannotunderstandtheunlimitedisstillholdinginsideitthe

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unlimited,andyouwillfindthatthemasterwhenhepullsyouinandtakesyoubeyondthemind,heopensuptheunlimitedforyou.Therealsecretisaskforthegraceofthemaster.Whateveryouaskfromyourheart,he’llgiveit.Thereisabookandamoviecalled“TheSecret.”Thesecretsayswhateveryouwantwithoutdoubt,youwillget.Theonlyqualificationisdon’thaveanydoubtaboutit.Eveninthisworld,wecangetwhateverwewantprovidedwehavenodoubtaboutit.Withcertainty,wecangetanything.Butthemindplaysthedirtygameofcreatingdoubts.It’sthemindthat’screatingdoubt.Otherwisewewouldgetwhateverwewantinthisworldandintheinnerworld.

TherewasaswamiinIndiawhousedtowalkonwater.Alotofpeoplesawhimwalkingonwater,becausehelivedononesideoftheriverandusedtogototheothersidetocutsometreesandbringsomelogsforburning.Andeverydayhewouldwalkonthewaterandcomeback.AndsomefriendsfromAmericaorsomeothercountrysaid,“It’simpossible.Wehaveheardmanystoriesofpeoplewalkingonwater.Nobodycanwalkonwater.Andifhewalksonwater,Iwanttoseewithmyowneyes.”That’sthedoubtwenaturallyhavebecausewehaven’tseenwithourowneyes.Sohetraveledtothatplaceandhesawthemanwalkingonwater.Hesaid,“Howdoyoudoit?”Hesays,“ItellmyselfIcanwalkonwater,andIhavenodoubtaboutit.Iwalkonwater.”Hesaid,“CanIdoit?”“Sure,youcandoit,too.Comewithmeinthemorning,we’llbothwalkonwater.”

Sointhemorningthisguypreparedhimselftowalkonwaterwiththeswami.Andwhenhewasthere,hesaid,“ButsupposingIdrowninthemiddle,”sohetoldhisfriend,“Tiearopearoundme,andifIdrown,pullmeout.”Hejumpedanddrowninthewaterrightashesteppedin,becausehewasnotsure.This…solongasthemindisouradvisor,solongasthemindguidesus,wecan’tachieveallthatwewant.Wedon’tgetwhatthemindwants,butwhatthesoulwantswithoutthedoubtofthemindyouwillgetit,eventheunlimited.Okay.Yes?

Q.[Inaudiblequestion.

A.Themasterisourownself.Attheendwefindthemasterwasareflectionofourownselfbecausewecan’tseeourself.Wecanseethemaster.Heeventuallyshowsusthathewasourownself.That’sthetruth,butwehavetostartfromsomeuntruth,thatthemasterisseparate.Whatseparatesusfromthemaster,whatseparatesusfromeachother,whatseparatesusfromthings,isourmind.Mindisseparated/separatingagency.Mindisthethingthatseparates.Ifthemindwerenotthere,therewouldnotbeseparate.Sothemindisseparating,andwhenwecrossthemind,thereisnoseparation.Theselfandthemasterandthecreatorarethesameattheend.

Q.[Inaudiblequestionorcomment.]

A. Themindwasnotgivenustobeablockage.Themindwasacomputer.Mindwasavery goodcomputer,processessowell.Input,output,itdoesgoodthings.Markcantellyou moreaboutcomputers.Mindisaveryhighqualitycomputerandprocessesthingssowell, butmindissupposedtobeused.We’resupposedtousethemindforwhatweneed.We wanttotellthemindwhattothink,wetellthemindwhattosense.Wetellthemindwhat tointerpretforus.Wetellthemindtodothisorthatforus.Wedon’tdothat.Weaskthe mindwhatshouldwedo.Wehavereversedit.Themindhasbecomeourguide.

Irememberalittlestory.Ithinkwe’llendtodaywiththatlittlestoryfortoday.TomorrowI’llanswermorequestions.ThestoryisofalittleboynamedAladdin.HaveyouheardofthestoryofAladdin?Aladdinandthelamp,inwhichtherewasageniehidden?Whenheopenedthebottle,rubbedthelamp,andabiggenieappeared.Andhesaid,“Iamyourslave.Master,tellmewhatIcandoforyou.”AladdinwasfrightenedtoseesuchabiggenieappearingandsayingIamyourslave.Hesaid,“Goandmakeahouseformerightoutthere.”Infiveminutesthegeniecameback,“Houseisready.”Hesaid,“Goandmakeabridgeonthatriver.”Infiveminutesthegeniecameandsaid,“Bridgeisready.”Afterafewhours,littleAladdinhadnomoreorderstogive,sothenhesaid,“Goanddowhatyoulike,”andthegeniebegantogiveorderstoAladdinandbegantotakehimaroundwhereeverhewanted.Hewassadperson.Thegeniebecamehismasterinsteadofhisslave.OnedayafriendofAladdincameandsaid,“Youusedtobesuchahappy-go-luckyfellow.Whathappenedtoyou?”Hesaid,“MyproblemisIfoundagenie.It’sahuge,powerfulgenie.Hedoesthingssofastthathe’snowtellingmewhattodo.Iamoutoforders.Ican’ttellhimwhattodo.EverythingItoldhimhehasdonesofast,andnowhe’stellingmewhattodo.”

Hesaid,“I’llgiveyouawayout.Nowwhenthegeniesays,‘WhatshouldIdo,’don’tsay‘Dowhatyoulike.’Say,‘Bringatalltree,cutatreeandbringit,thepoleofatree,’thenwhenhebringsitsay,’Digitinthisroom.’Whenhedugitoutandhesays,‘WhatnextshallIdo?’say,'Goupanddownthistree,upanddownthispoletillIgiveyouthenextorder.’Sokeepthegenieupanddown,upanddown.Whenyouwanttouseit,thenyouaskhim,‘Genie,dothat.’Whenhecomesback,upanddownonthepole.”Thegenieisourmindandisgivingusordersbecausewehavenoorderstogiveit.It’stakencontrol,sowhatdowedo?Sayplantalittlebitofsimranrighthere.Makethegenierepeatthesimran.Whenwewanttothink,takeitoff.Think,doyourwork,putitbackonsimran.That’sthestoryfortheday.

We’llmeettomorrow11o’clockagain.Thankyou.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNxgvyWGq-4&feature=youtu.be

http://ishanews.org/ishagroup2/

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