Mother's Mini-Message #3, Working the Program - When a Salad is Not a Salad

Mother's Mini-Message #3

Working the Program: When a Salad Is Not a Salad

Hello Dear Masters, our children, come close.

Imagine you have just made a big salad for dinner with all kinds of goodies in it, and you set it on your dining table. Then I come to you and ask you to take the salad back into the kitchen and un-make it. Perhaps you say to me, "But Mother, I am hungry, and my salad is all ready, and I took time in my hectic day to make this salad, can't I just have some first?" I then say to you, "Please trust me."

So you galumph back into the kitchen with your prized salad and begin to take it apart. You start with your least favorite bits thinking, "Well, I didn't really want those in there anyways." The whole time you work, you are questioning and doubting, which is causing you to move quite slowly and sluggishly. You are giving off an air of begrudging compliance. You pick apart the ingredients of your salad and move them into separate bowls, and as you reach the midway point of your project, you stop and ask me, "Do you want me to keep going? I trust you Mother, but this doesn't really make any sense to me. Why am I doing this?" I send you a wave of warm encouragement.

Once you have everything in separate bowls, you turn and ask me if that is good enough? I gently point out that everything is still covered in salad dressing. You respond with a forced smile, but inside you are grumpily complaining, "That was my last bottle of salad dressing, what am I supposed to do, rinse it off of everything?"

Once you are finished rinsing, I ask you to look at your accomplishment and tell me what you see. You think, "I see two hours wasted. I see I'm hungrier than ever, and my dinner is ruined. I see a useless demonstration. I see nonsense." Outwardly, you simply say, "I see that I did what you asked."

I ask you if you would like to know what I see? You perk up a bit and say "Yes, of course." I remind you of your recent request to have a healthy body, a clear mind and a loving disposition, and I say that you have now taken a big step to accomplishing those wishes. Well, this makes no sense to you. After all, weren't you already striving for the same thing by having a salad, which took too much time to make in your already stressful day, instead of what you really wanted?!

Before I illumine another way to view your dinner salad, I give you a wink and encourage you to keep a bit of humor in your bearing, so that you may more easily see a clearer view, without self-incrimination. Mildly, I speak, "You were distracted and forgot to wash the harmful toxins off your greens. Many of your vegetables come from genetically modified seeds (GMO) that are extremely dangerous to your brain and body and cause you to be emotionally volatile as well.

The dressing you used is made of high fructose corn syrup, which re-programs your brain to crave sugar. The tofu you chose is not organic, so it has been soaked in hexane, a petroleum byproduct. In an effort to cut down on meat, you only added bacon bits, which are full of nitrates and chemicals and, sadly, came from animals that had extremely tormented lives. When you eat their meat, you ingest their antibiotics, their growth hormones, and their misery."

Love Yourself as I Love You

You see? In an effort to "do the right thing," in order to be "healthy," "skinny," and "spiritually correct," you created a new, equally damaging program to replace the old one, and you top it off with feelings of deprivation and righteousness, as if you are "giving up" something. It's like the heroin addict who spends hours in the gym drinking synthetic vitamin drinks.

Now, please understand, I am asking you to care about yourself as much as I do. It hurts me to see the damage you have all taken on, and the damage you continue to inflict on yourselves, your dear planet, and your families.

You didn't set out to be belligerently self-destructive. You have a loving heart. I only ask that you use it to love yourself and your precious body and soul. To do that, you must see the truth. You would not think of drinking out of mud puddles, but you drink out of plastic bottles that are more chemically dangerous than the puddle.

You have not accepted the simple truth that if it kills a bug, it will kill you too.

Children, of course we are not speaking of salads and water bottles. Again I say, "Come close," and I gather you to me. These examples illustrate the depth of your layers upon layers of programming where with your good intentions you replace one program with another. Do not seek a new set of behavioral rules or philosophical standards. Do what your father and I invite you to do. "Take apart your salad" means to take apart your programming, which consists of your thoughts, feelings, values and beliefs. Put them in separate bowls on the counter. See them for what they are. Walk around them, poke them, prod them, see what they're made of and where they came from.

In the light of day, do they still seem so appealing and important? Once you have done this all-important and indispensable step, then and only then, turn your shining face to your Father and me and let us fill you with real nourishment.    Then, we will begin to co-create your new life and our new world. There will be no going back. We will meet you on the other side of this Salad Project.

I am Mother (and of course Father is here with me).

Channeled by Christine Burk and Kathryn E. May, June 5, 2015

Michael's encoded message:
http://www.whoneedslight.org/cm-english/2015/5/31/you-are-cherished-beloved-safe-and-called-to-unite )

These Mini Messages from Mother will be found in writing on our website, www.whoneedslight.org

and on our YouTube channel in audio form by Kathryn:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj5-mM1eDcJslL8VMwu4QFw?view_as=public

© Kathryn E. May, PsyD. Permission is given to copy and share these message, providing they are presented in their entirety without additions or deletions, and credit is given to the channel and to the website, www.whoneedslight.org.

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Synthesis of the Divine Feminine
by Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary
Synthesis of the Divine Feminine by Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary
Channelled through Natalie Glasson – 3^rd June 2015 - Sacred School of OmNa

It is with the grace of the Goddess and the Divine Mother that we, Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary greet you. We come forth as representatives of the purest vibrations of the sacred feminine aspects, qualities and expressions of the Creator, so you may absorb and activate the same within your being. Let us welcome the purest vibrations of the Divine Feminine aspects of the Creator into our present ascension knowing that acceptance will lead to synthesis within your being and the universe of the Creator.

Upon the inner planes we, Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary, are communing in unison, joining our energies together with a focus of synthesising the Divine Feminine aspects we represent to create a powerful unified surge of Goddess vibrations and power, which will impact and alter the Earth and inner planes. We, Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary, have always been focusing upon unity and synthesis between our energies as Mother Mary represents one aspect of the Divine Mother energies while Lady Quan Yin represents a different aspect. When these two aspects are united we are all able to recognise fuller and more complete vibrations of the Goddess. Mother Mary upon the Earth has been known as a western figure of the Divine Mother, whereas Lady Quan Yin has been known to represent the Eastern figure of the Divine Mother. Many may perceive the energies of Mother Mary and Lady Quan Yin as the same, they both hold a powerful resonance and embodiment of the Divine Mother, some may even recognise them as the same soul, however we are two souls representing two aspects of the Divine Mother vibrations. The synthesis of the Divine Mother energies is our purpose in order to unlock the divinity and power of the Creator, bringing forth empowerment to all aspects of the Divine Feminine whether on the Earth or the inner planes. When the Divine Feminine is restored and empowered this will allow for nourishment and enhanced vibration of the Divine Masculine, thus the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine will become equal in vibration encouraging a full and complete merge where the concept of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine are dissolved becoming a unified vibration of the Creator where aspects are no longer recognised as separate identities. Take a moment to imagine how this would impact the Earth, inner planes and most importantly your perspective.

You may wish to visit us upon the inner planes to experience and absorb the powerful surge of synthesised Divine Mother energy we are creating. You may wish to use this invocation:

‘Beloved Mother Mary and Lady Quan Yin, I call upon your energy, love, protection and support, please transport my conscious awareness to the chamber you currently reside within, on the inner planes within the 11^th Ray of Light Ashram at a Planetary Level. It is my wish to sit with you both as you synthesis your own soul energies and the energies of the Divine Feminine, also known as the Divine Mother and Goddess vibrations. It is my wish to absorb the synthesised energies you are creating to empower the Divine Feminine aspect within my soul, thus anchoring the energies you create and I receive into the Earth to benefit and support all of humanity in accepting this powerful surge of light and synthesis with the Creator you are creating now. I am now ready and available to receive the beautiful blessings you are creating, I am now ready and available to support the emanation of these beautiful blessings across the entire world and universe of the Creator. Thank you.’
Simply breathe deeply, imagine, sense or acknowledge yourself present with us, Mother Mary and Lady Quan Yin, observing and receiving our creation of energy. Breathe the energy deep into your entire being and body, noticing the shifts and healing which takes place.

We are synthesising two aspects of the Divine Feminine in order to raise the energy vibration of all upon the Earth and the inner planes. We are also achieving this now because the process of synthesis is deeply important at this stage of ascension. The unified energy we are creating will actually create a healing space for deep synthesis of all forms and aspects of the Creator to take place within your being. This is a powerful concept and idea which will bring forth immense healing and a deeper feeling of resonance and familiarity with the Creator.

It is our wish for you to take time to contemplate the extreme energies of the Creator, for example, love and hate, fear and contentment, happiness and sadness, abundance and lack, trust and distrust, confidence and doubt. There are so many extreme energies which exist within your being and are created by your energy throughout your day. The examples we have shared are more focused upon feelings, emotions, perspectives, thoughts and states of being; however there are extremes of energy, vibrations, beliefs, experiences, situations and even souls, all around you. There is a need to recognise, honour and respect these extreme aspects of the Creator, as all were born from the energy of the Creator. Even seemingly negative experiences, energies or thoughts were created from the energy of the Creator, or the Creator’s energy was used to fuel their creation. Take time to acknowledge the extremes within your being and around you, try to contemplate this on numerous levels even contemplating the physical surroundings of your reality. We do not wish for you to judge but to simply observe, recognise and notice. We wish for you to notice the beauty of the Creator in all, this is a wonderful practice of acceptance without feeling the need to alter, become involved or influence.

The energies we, Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary, are creating support a healing and synthesis of these extremes you are observing. Our purpose is to bring forth a vibration of balance; the synthesis of the extremes. This doesn’t mean that the extremes will be dissolved or erased; it simply signifies that your perspective of the Creator and all that is the Creator will alter and shift thus supporting a new perspective focused upon unification and synthesis. If your focus is upon unity, this is the energy you will create and experience in your reality as well as recognising within yourself and others. Thus you will not react to energies which seem to be extremes in your reality and within your being, you will recognise they are the same, unified in oneness. This has always been the case it will simply be that your perspective has altered and shifted to align with and recognise the truth of the Creator.

In meditation or quiet time we wish for you to focus upon two extremes which influence your reality or are created by you. Maybe there is a desire to be love and yet there are people within your reality which you hate or dislike because they frustrate or have harmed you. It is important to recognise that love and hate are born from the same energy; essentially they are the same vibration simply expressed in different ways. With your recognition of love and hate being the same vibration and an expression the Creator, we wish for you to acknowledge and accept both love and hate within your being.

Imagine that you take love and hate into your heart chakra. Hate is not negative and love is not beautiful they are simply two aspects of the Creator which you do not wish to judge, simply accept.

We then invite you to call upon our energies, Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary to surround you, asking us to send our synthesised light of the Divine Mother into your being.

When you feel ready, invite the energy of synthesis and unification from your soul to come forth and fill your heart bringing healing to the energy, perspective and past experiences of love and hate. As these two aspects heal within your heart the energy of synthesis and unification flows in all directions into your entire physical being, auric field and surroundings. This energy is truly making an impact upon your being and your reality. It is as if the energy vibration and perspective of love and hate of the past is being healed within you and reborn as a new synthesised energy of oneness and unity of and with the Creator. This is a process of empowerment and greater unification of the Creator. Take time to contemplate all extremes within your reality.

We are in love with you,
Lady Quan Yin and Mother Mary
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Revised: The New Scriptures by Sananda/Jesus, Chapter 2: The Trinity Includes Mother God

Chapter Two

The Trinity Includes Mother God

The True Way

Today is a brand new time for Planet Earth. It is a time of change, a time to leave behind old ideas, no matter how precious they might have been to you. I regret that I am now in the position of having to revise the religion that was established in my name, but the misinterpretations of my teachings are so rampant that I must set the record straight.
Wouldn't you want to do the same if you knew you were misquoted so frequently and so deliberately it changed the message that had been the work of your heart and soul?

It is not a matter of pride for me. It is a matter of Truth. The ones we call Mother/Father God - Creators of our Multiverse - which currently consists of ten multi-dimensional Universes - and I worked together for eons developing the plan for Planet Earth. Our Dream of the Blue Planet was always that she and all upon her would be able to descend into lower vibrations, to create a 3rd and 4th dimensional world for humankind to experience with free will and to offer Mother/Father's children an arena to learn and practice co-creation.

Of course the only way to experience free will is behind the Veil of Forgetfulness, since that is the only way you can feel separate from Universal Law. Being veiled and feeling separate allows your senses to suggest to you that things "happen" independent of one another. You feel dissociated from the cause and effect dynamic that is so obvious to us in higher dimensions.

You see, in higher dimensions, although we have free will, the outcome of every major choice is so apparent and obvious that there is far less latitude to experience imbalanced or aberrant choices and behaviors. It is easier to foresee the outcome of your actions when the possibilities and probabilities are laid out before you in vivid color.

The fruition of the Dream was to be the day (in cosmic terms, of course) when Terra, Planet Earth, would rise again to the 5th dimension and beyond in triumph with her beloved family of humans, animals, plants and other sentient beings. All were to rise along with Terra in a glorious Ascension that would lift the entire Cosmos along with her. Yes, it was what we foresaw, and what we expect to see now. Our faith in humankind has not been misplaced.

Even though the dark ones slowed the process by creating havoc with the thinking and feelings of the people, humankind has shown the resilience and true nature of the Adamic race. As a race, you have clung to your ability to sense what is fair, right, just and true. You do it with your sturdy hearts and with your far-ranging minds, and you also cannot help but turn to some form of Faith when you feel yourselves slipping.

You are built for flexibility, courage and determination. These are qualities that provide a powerful foundation for your Creativity. You see yourselves as chaotic, unable to control your emotions and your thoughts. You feel at the mercy of your instincts, your experiences and your environment. We see you as brilliant, lacking only the skilled coaching that will help you raise yourselves to the levels of intelligence and command you were created to embody.

This is the purpose of these messages: to help you raise the vibrational level at which you operate in your everyday lives to the point where you will be able to ascend with your dear Mother Earth in the very near future - and by that we mean months, not eons. Some of you are ready now, but the promise of Ascension we all made to each other long ago in the Dreaming Time was that all would come together. We envisioned creating the most wonderful, joyous uplifting of hearts to carry every one over the threshold into the 5th dimension at the same time.

Now, by "everyone at once," we did not necessarily mean in the same exact moment. You will each make your Shift when you feel ready. Some have been preparing for years, and will sail through on the first wave because they are fully informed of the discipline and elevation needed to make the transition. Others will take a few more weeks or months to acclimate to the idea that their entire lives are going to change, regardless of whether they hang on for dear life to their old familiar ways or not. And of course, the old familiar ways for many are steeped in religious tradition.

It has been an area of conflict across the globe - one religion against another   - with each claiming to be The One True Word of God. Dear friends, I can tell you now with complete confidence, there is no one true religion at this time on Planet Earth. There are many truths and many falsehoods in every religion, from Christianity to Islam, from Buddhism to Hinduism, from distorted New Age views to the tribal belief systems of the most remote forests and mountains (although some of those come closer to Truth through their simple acceptance of God in themselves and in every living thing).

Preserving Mother and Father's Sacred Teachings

I do love to use parables and living examples when I tell of the lessons I pass on to you, yet I will limit my descriptions to the common, everyday events you all experience now, as I did 2,000 years ago. Much has changed, and the descriptions and the language have taken on very different nuances from what it was then. This revision is long overdue.

I hope to do a better job this time of recording my own words for all to read, and I will express the lessons directly and simply, as it is your habit of doing now in the 21st Century. I will also be present with you through Kathryn so we can carefully oversee the publication and translation of these messages.

Today, it is possible to write these words with the help of my dear Kathryn, and to send them out to the world electronically, with the expectation that soon millions of people could be reading them. This is the reason I ask that no alteration be made to the text, and that translations be authorized personally by me through Kathryn. These ideas are difficult enough to get across without well-meaning reinterpretation or inaccurate translation.

With that international, multilingual audience in mind, I will begin with the most basic teachings first because those are the ones that have been so misunderstood in the old Scriptures. I have chosen to present these teachings after years of previous messages and conversations channeled for everyone by Kathryn from Mother/Father God and the Company of Heaven. This offers us the advantage of their words having set the tone for me to follow. In that way, their words provide an important context for offering my simple lessons.

Lesson One stated that All is One. All consciousness is connected therefore all beings are connected to each other and to God. This is true not only for Earth, but also for all the far-flung beings, planets and stars of the Cosmos. All is One. All is God.

Now, in Lesson Two I will explain the relationship you have known as The Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Creator/Source, Father and Mother God together, hold the position at the top of the pyramid that represents the Trinity. They are the Creators of All Creators, the Beginning of all Beginnings and the Mother and Father of All. The separate description of the Father position emphasizes the Father element of Creation - the inspired envisioning, the dynamic forces, the outward impetus of Creativity. He is the initial spark that lights the fire of Life.

I, Sananda am the Son of Creator. I will now expand that to include my Twin Flame, Kathryn, who is the other half of my soul, the glaring missing link in the ancient story. (Note: My previous Twin Soul was indeed Lady Nada, who fell into darkness on Earth, as Mother God explains in her Addendum included at the end of these scriptures. Kathryn is the soul created millions of years ago by Mother and Father to take her place at my side as my Twin Flame).

Together, Kathryn and I represent the Son of Man, which includes every man, woman and child. In doing so, we have been charged by Mother and Father God to carry, to embody the Christ codes for the Earth Project. These codes are the high dimensional frequencies of Christ Consciousness that once guided higher dimensional Earth, and will now restore the Planet and Unified Grid of Earth. Everyone has inner access to these codes, as will be made known in the coming weeks and months.

Mother/Father God, the Twin Flame of the Created Multiverse combined, make up the Holy Spirit. This Mother position represents the inner gestation, the ever present nourishment of Love, the birth process through which all beings, all planets, all Created forms of life come into being. Hers is the long-burning flame that nurtures and sustains the span of all Created Life.

The patriarchal description of the Story of Creation left out the ones who give birth - the Mothers who are an essential part of the process, just as women are essential to the thriving existence of humankind.

The original tendency to name only the men, their exploits and their strengths, gave an entirely distorted picture of the value of women in the life and governance of the Planet. I will try to begin to right that wrong in these writings.

Contrary to the teachings in the Bible, Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute nor a fallen woman of any kind. She was a strong and intelligent woman of great dignity. Mary Magdalene was a primary incarnation of Kathryn. She was my beloved wife and the mother of our children. The degraded depiction of her was an example of the degradation of women which would last until the present - with some small progress being made, mostly in the Western cultures, during the last 120 years or so.

Mary Magdalene, heart of my heart, soul of my soul, and Love of my Life, would have been the model for strong and righteous women through all these years. Instead, the group of men who compiled the stories for the Bible three hundred years after my death, made the conscious decision to wipe her existence out of the minds of the people, and for all intents, they succeeded. By separating us, and creating a picture of me as a celibate, unattached, single man, they told a lie that deprived the people of the truth - that I was a loving and devoted husband and father.

It was the beginning of what came to be known as the War of the Sexes. For us, Mary Magdalene and I, as Yeshua, there was no war. It was and is a strong and intimate equal partnership, based on the mutual respect and enduring Love which sustained me during my life challenges as much as did the Love of my devoted mother Mary, father Joseph, and my extended family. It was this picture of strength through family Love they wished to eradicate, for it is the basis of a culture of happy and independent people. Individuals who form strong, supportive family and community structures are less vulnerable and less dependent on outside resources, such as government and religious institutions, and therefore they are less easily controlled and less tempted by promises of power or material indulgence.

Following the Biblical rewrite of my life, the Big Lie left everyone confused and uncertain about what their primary relationships should be. Relationships between men and women, women and their children, and men and their children were all redefined and distorted. Does being of service to God mean you must be celibate, separate and alienated from the opposite sex? Certainly not. The appeal of a solitary life is strictly a personal choice.

Does it mean an attraction to an adult of the same sex puts you at risk for disapproval and punishment from God? Absolutely not. Your choice of lifestyle, in terms of who your intimate partnerships are, has nothing to do with your devotion to God, except in the quality of the Love you share and the Compassion, Kindness and Forgiveness you practice in your interactions with one another.

Instead of turning to each other for the comfort, nurturing and friendship present within the close family relationships that so inspire us to feel the glory and presence of our Loving God, people were asked to turn to a priest or minister for forgiveness, guidance and solace. This created a power structure in which the institution of the Church (any church) and its doctrine becomes the authority over the people, and whereby the church carries the right and responsibility to interpret God's Word and God's Will for the people. This was never God's intention nor mine.

I suggest the elimination of all religious structures, other than perhaps gathering places where people may share in celebration and fun in the conscious joy of being in God's loving embrace. I also suggest the elimination of all doctrine, dogma and rules. The only guidelines we need are those included in the simple lessons I am presenting here, to live in Kindness, Harmony, Love, Forgiveness, Compassion and Joy. Love expands the heart and mind and brings joy to all who experience it. If it does not have that effect, it is not Love; it is something else masquerading as love.

God is Love. Creator is Love, and this is our highest example of Unending Love. Mother/Father God are Love, individually and together. This leaves no room for judgment, vindictiveness or blame. God does not punish. Only humans under the influence of dark energies are interested in talking about, thinking about and envisioning punishment and suffering for so-called "sins." God does not even consider such things. I do not teach or encourage such thinking.

We know that oppression breeds anger and tends to create competition and conflict between and among the people. We are confident that - taken out from under the yoke of economic, religious and political slavery, relieved of imposed guilt, shame and resentment - free men and women will begin to experience themselves as the kind and loving race of Creator Beings they are capable of being.

Our intention is to show the way to an end to divisiveness, duality, separation and alienation. The alternative will be that which has been within your true core all along: Generosity of Spirit, Kindness, Acceptance, Friendship and Service to Others - all others - and to the Planet who has been your loving Mother.

I am Love. I am your Sananda, the one who has given my life in service for the enlightenment of humankind. All humankind is created in the image of God. It is my Path to demonstrate and teach the True Way, the way of Love, so that every human being may discover that you are all Gods. You are Light, and you are Love.

We are One. Sananda

Transcribed by Kathryn E. May, 2015

© Kathryn E. May, PsyD. Permission is given to copy and share these message, providing they are presented in their entirety without additions or deletions, and credit is given to the channel and to the website, www.whoneedslight.org.

Sivananda Daily Reading

7 June

Posted: 05 Jun 2015 10:00 PM PDT

Test of Sincerity

Essentially, prayer should be selfless as far as possible. We should first pray for the good of others, for the welfare and peace of the world and for our own spiritual evolution. We should pray for the eradication of our evil qualities, for wisdom and knowledge, for goodness and saintliness.

An aspirant should always pray for the removal of his ignorance. His goal is to realise the truth and to free himself from the meshes of those things that are unreal. His goal is to realise his essential divine nature.

At times even sincere prayer is not responded to, but this should not be allowed to mar our faith or sincerity or to discourage or depress us. It should be considered as a necessity, as a test of our sincerity, our serenity and our faith in God.

At times this irresponse is often repeated. The devotee becomes bewildered; he begins to lose faith in God; he may even be diverted from the path. Indeed it is here we must show our patience, our steadfastness and our faith in his grace. God often tests us with severest trials but does it mean that he is unkind, that he does not wish to pay heed to our prayers? Obviously not. It is a test that the aspirant must pass through. His faith may not be strong enough; the dross of his mind may not have been cleaned yet; his heart may not be pure yet.

How can the aspirant strengthen his faith? How can he cleanse his mind? How can he purify his heart? Only through tests, trials, tribulations. Just as gold is purified by passing it through the crucible several times, so also the heart must become pure, the faith must become unflinching, through passing through the crucible of trials again and again.

But at the ultimate end all prayers are fulfilled and gratified with the highest fulfilment. Therefore when we pray to God or wish to receive grace from him, we must be prepared to accept joyfully his irresponse and the trials and tribulations.

Raja Yoga, Message 27

Posted: 05 Jun 2015 10:00 PM PDT

The section ‘Obstacles on the Spiritual Path’ now resumes...

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Jealousy is the worst enemy of peace and illumination. It is the strongest weapon of maya. Aspirants should always be on the alert. They should not become slaves of name and fame and jealousy. He who has jealousy is a small little being only. He is far from God. One should rejoice at the welfare of others. One should develop complacency when he sees others in a prosperous condition. He should feel the presence of God in all beings. Jealousy assumes various forms, and all forms of jealousy must be totally eradicated. Just as milk again and again bubbles up during the process of boiling, so also jealousy bursts out again and again. It must be entirely rooted out.

Even sadhus who have renounced everything and who live with only one cloth in the caves of Gangotri and Uttarkashi in the Himalayas, are not free from this evil. Sadhus are more jealous than house-holders. Their hearts burn when they see some other sadhu in a flourishing condition, or when they notice that the neighbouring sadhu is respected and honoured by the public. They try to vilify the neighbour and adopt methods for his destruction and elimination. What a sad sight! What a deplorable spectacle! Horrible to think! Dreadful to imagine! When the heart burns how can you expect peace of mind?

The mind of the aspirant who always tries to poke his nose into the affairs of other men is always out-going. This is a detestable habit of man. It clings to him tenaciously. How can he think of God when his mind is ever engaged in finding fault in others? If you spend even a fraction of the time that you waste, in finding your own faults, you would have become a great saint by this time. Why do you care for the faults of others? Improve yourself first. Reform yourself first. Purify yourself first. Wash the impurities from your own mind. He who applies himself diligently to his spiritual practices cannot find even a single second to look into the affairs of others. If the fault-finding nature dies, there will be no occasion for criticising others. Much time is wasted in back-biting, tale-bearing, scandal-mongering, etc. Time is most precious. We do not know when death will take away our lives. Every second must be utilised in divine contemplation. Let the world have its own ways. Mind your own affairs. Clean your mental factory. That man who does not interfere with others is the most peaceful man in the world.

The habit of self-justification is very dangerous for an aspirant. Self-assertion, self-sufficiency, obstinacy, dissimulation and speaking falsehood are the constant retinue or attendants of self-justification. He who has developed this can never improve himself, as he will never admit his faults. He will always try his level best to justify himself in various ways. He will not hesitate to tell several lies to support his false statements. He will tell one lie to cover another lie, and he will speak lies ad infinitum. The aspirant should always admit his faults, mistakes and weaknesses, etc., then and there. Then only can he improve quickly.

Back-biting is a dirty, abominable habit of petty-minded people. Almost all are victims of this dire malady. This has become an ingrained habit of narrow-hearted, mischievous people. This is a tamasic habit. The play of this world is kept up by this evil habit of man. It is maya's strong weapon to spread restlessness throughout the world. If you see four men sitting in a group, think that some back-biting is surely going on there. If you behold four sadhus talking, you can at once infer, without any shadow of doubt, that they are back-biting against some person or other. The sadhu will be talking: "The food of that kshetra is very bad. That swamiji is a very bad man." Back-biting is more prevalent amongst the so-called sadhus than amongst house-holders. Even educated sannyasins and householders are not free from this dreadful disease. A sadhu who is engaged in contemplation will always be alone.

The root cause of back-biting is ignorance or jealousy. The back-biter wants to pull down or destroy the man who is in a prosperous condition by false vilification, slander, calumny, false accusation, etc. There is no other work for a back-biter except scandal-mongering. He lives on back-biting. He takes pleasure in back-biting and mischief-making. This is his inner nature. Backbiters are a menace to society. They are the worst criminals. They need capital punishment. Double-dealing, crookedness, diplomacy, chicanery, quibbling, tricks and artifices are the retinue of backbiting. A back-biter can never have a calm peaceful mind. His mind is always planning or scheming in wrong directions. An aspirant should be absolutely free from this dreadful vice. He should walk alone, live alone, eat alone and meditate alone. If a man who has not removed jealousy, back-biting, hatred, pride and selfishness, says: "I am meditating for six hours daily," it is all nonsense. There is no hope of getting a meditative mood even for six minutes unless a man removes all these evil thoughts and purifies his mind first by selfless service for six years.

Building castles in the air is a trick of the mind. Look at this wonder! The aspirant is meditating in an isolated cave in the Himalayas. He plans in the cave: "After finishing my meditation I must move about in San Francisco and New York and deliver lectures there. I must start a centre of spiritual activity in Columbia. I must do something new in the world. I must do something which none has done up to this time." This is ambition and egoistic imagination. It is a great obstacle which will not allow the mind to rest even for a second. Again and again there will be the resurrection of some scheme, speculation or plan or other. The aspirant will be thinking that he is having deep meditation, but if he closely watches his mind through introspection and self-analysis it will be seen to be a true case of building castles in the air. One will subside and another will crop up in the twinkling of an eye. It may be a small idea or ripple in the mind-lake, but it will gain tremendous force within a few minutes by repeated thinking.

The power of imagination is tremendous. Maya havocs through the power of imagination. Imagination fattens the mind. It is like musk — it renovates and vivifies a dying mind. The power of imagination will not allow the mind to keep quiet even for a second. Just as swarms of locusts come forth in a continuous stream, so also currents of imagination will stream forth incessantly. Enquiry, discrimination, prayer, japa, meditation, satsang, fasting, pranayama and practice of thoughtlessness will obviate this obstacle. Pranayama checks the velocity of the mind and calms the bubbling thoughts. A young ambitious man is unfit to remain in a solitary cave. He who has done selfless service in the world for some years and who has practised meditation for several years in the plains in a solitary room, can live in a cave. Only such a man can really enjoy the solitude of Himalayan retreats.

When you constantly contemplate on the meaning of the mahavakyas 'I am Brahman' (Aham Brahmasmi) or 'That thou art' (Tat tvam asi) all seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling will stop. But owing to the force of samskaras, building castles in the air will continue. Sleep also will intervene. If you are alert and if by protracted efforts and incessant vigilant meditation on Brahman you get over these two obstacles, steady thought of Brahman alone and knowledge of Brahman will dawn in no time. Ignorance will vanish. You will be established in the supreme state of bliss. All accumulated karmas will be burnt up in the fire of wisdom.

All vrittis are thinned out and assume subtle forms when you practise japa and meditation. They should be totally eradicated through samadhi or blissful union with the Lord. Then only are you safe. Latent vrittis will be waiting for opportunities to assume a grave and expanded form. You should be ever careful and vigilant. Resist the fatal downward pull by the dark antagonistic forces, through regular meditation. Check the aimless wanderings of the mind through clear and orderly thinking. Hear not the false whispers of the lower mind. Turn your inner gaze to the divine centre. Do not be afraid of the severe setbacks that you will encounter in your journey. Be brave. March on boldly till you finally rest in your centre of eternal bliss. May the blessings of the great yogis be upon you all!

(a) Subtle Obstacles

You may have aspiration for the Truth, you may be endowed with devotion and you may possess a will to overcome the obstacles and hostile forces, but if the little ego asserts or persists, if the external personality has not consented to change or transformation, you cannot have rapid progress in the spiritual path. The ego will have its own ways and inclinations.

The lower nature must be thoroughly regenerated. The habitual lower personality of the aspirant must be entirely changed. If this is not done, any spiritual experience or power is of no value. If this little ego or human personality persists in retaining its petty, limited, selfish, ignoble, false and stupid human consciousness, no amount of austerity or sadhana will bear fruit. This means that you do not really thirst for God-realisation. It is nothing more than idle curiosity. The aspirant says to the preceptor: "I want to practise yoga. I want to enter into nirvikalpa samadhi, I want to sit at your feet," but he does not want to change his lower nature and old habits. He wants to have his own way and old habits, old character, behaviour and conduct.

Any partial or temporary elevation or slight occasional inspiration during some exalted moments, any momentary spiritual opening within without any true or radical transformation of the lower nature or habitual little personality, is of no practical value.

This change of the lower nature is not easy. The force of habit is ever strong and inveterate. It demands great strength of will. The aspirant often feels helpless against the force of old habits. He will have to develop his sattva and will to a considerable degree by regular japa, kirtan, meditation, untiring selfless service and satsang. He must introspect and find out his own defects and weaknesses. He must live under the guidance of his guru. The guru finds out his defects and points out suitable ways to eradicate them.

If the lower nature or old personality becomes obstinate and self-assertive, and if it is supported and justified by the lower mind and will, then the matter becomes very serious. He becomes incorrigible, turbulent, unruly, arrogant and impertinent. He breaks all the rules and disciplines.

Such an aspirant clings to his old self. He has not surrendered himself either to the Lord or to a personal guru. He is ever ready to revolt against any man, even for a little thing. He will never obey and he is not willing to receive any spiritual instructions. He is self-willed, self-satisfied and self-sufficient. He is not ready to accept his weaknesses and defects. He thinks that he is a flawless man of great achievements. He leads a happy-go-lucky life.

He asserts and follows his own crude and egoistic ideas, desires, fancies or convenience. He claims the right to follow his own human unregenerate or diabolical nature with all its untruthfulness, ignorance, selfishness and rudeness, and to express all this impure stuff in speech, action and behaviour.

He argues vehemently, defends himself in a variety of ways and paints himself in special colours. He professes one thing and practises another thing. He tries to force his wrong view and opinions on others. If others are not willing to accept his wrong views he is ready to fight against them. He at once stands up in revolt. He asserts that his views only are correct, and that those who try to oppose his views are unjust, unreasonable and uneducated. He tries to persuade and convince others that his views are very reasonable and that his ways of action are the right ways of action for all, and that his ways and views are in full accordance with the science of yoga. Marvellous people they are! Really the world is in great need of such wonderful, useful people in great abundance!

If he were really frank with himself and straightforward to his guru, if he really desired to improve himself, he would begin to realise his folly and defects and to recognize the source and nature of the resistance. He would soon be on the direct road to correct and change himself. But he prefers to conceal his old nature and his old diabolical thoughts under some justification, excuse or other shelter.

The self-assertive arrogant seeker tries to make himself a figure in society. He wants to maintain a position of prestige. He poses as a great yogi who possesses several yoga powers. He claims the part of a superior seeker or an advanced yogi, with great knowledge and experience of nirvikalpa samadhi. These defects of vanity, arrogance and rajasic temperament are present in most human natures on a smaller scale.

He is unwilling to obey the orders of his guru and respect elders and superiors. He is ever ready to break discipline. He has got his own ideas and impulses. The habit of disobedience and disregard of discipline is ingrained in him. He sometimes promises that he will be obedient to his guru and elders, but the action done is frequently the very opposite of his promise. Non-observance of discipline is indeed a serious obstacle to the sadhana. He sets the worst possible example to others.

He who is disobedient, who is not straightforward to his guru and who cannot open his heart to his preceptor or spiritual guide, cannot be benefited by the help of a guru. He remains stuck in his own self-created mire of mud and cannot progress in the divine path.

He practises dissimulation. He plays the hypocrite, pretends falsely and exaggerates things. He makes false use of his imagination. He conceals his thoughts, distorts and falsifies. He positively denies certain facts. He tells terrible, deliberate lies to cover up his disobedience or wrong course of action, to keep up his position and to have his own ways or indulge in his old habits and desires.

He, himself, does not know what he is doing exactly, as his intellect is clouded by impurity. He does not know what he means and does not mean what he says.

He never admits his faults and defects. Even if anyone points out his defects for correcting him, he feels extremely annoyed. He wages war against him. There is much of the brute in him.

He has got the most dangerous habit of self-justification. He always tries to justify himself, to stick to his ideas, to maintain his own position or course of action by bringing in all kinds of foolish, inconsistent arguments, clever tricks or devices. He misuses his intellect to support his own foolish actions. (These defects are common, in some to a lesser and in others to a greater degree.)

If he feels even a little bit for his present deplorable condition, if he attempts to show even a slight improvement, if there is even a little receptive attitude, he can be corrected. He can have progress in the path of yoga. If he is obstinate and pig-headed, if he is absolutely self-willed, if he deliberately shuts his eyes or hardens his heart against the Truth or the Divine Light, no one can help him. What a great pity! His lot is lamentable indeed!

The aspirant should give his full consent with all his being to the change of his lower nature into divine nature; he must make a total, unreserved, ungrudging self-surrender to the Lord or guru; he must have the true spirit and right abiding attitude; he must make the right persistent endeavours — then only will the real change come. Mere nodding the head, mere professing, mere saying "Yes, yes." will not serve any purpose. It will not make anyone a superman or yogi.

As soon as an aspirant gets some spiritual experience or siddhis he is puffed up with vanity and pride. He thinks too much of himself. He separates himself from others. He treats others with contempt. He cannot mix with others. If anyone has some moral qualifications — such as a spirit of service or self-sacrifice or celibacy — he will say: "I have been practising celibacy without a lapse for the last twelve years. Who is pure like myself? I lived on leaves and gram only, for four years. I have done service in an ashram for ten years. No-one can serve like me." Just as worldly people are puffed up with the pride of wealth, so also sadhus and aspirants are puffed up with their moral qualifications. This kind of pride is also a serious obstacle in the path of God-realisation. It must be eradicated thoroughly. As long as a man boasts of himself, so long is he the same little jiva only. He cannot have divinity.

There are as many fashions in sadhus as there are in worldly persons. Just as hypocrisy prevails in worldly persons, so also it manifests in aspirants, sadhus and sannyasins who have not completely purified their lower nature. They pretend to be what they are not in reality. They pose as big mahatmas and siddha purushas (perfected masters) when they do not even know the alpha-beta of yoga or spirituality. They put on the serious Sunday-faces which some Christian missionaries sometimes assume on Sabbath days. They cheat others. They boast and brag too much. They do mischief wherever they go. They practise hypocrisy to get respect, honour, good food and clothing and to cheat credulous simpletons. There is no greater crime than trading in religion. This is a capital sin. Householders can be excused, but we cannot excuse the aspirants and religious seekers who are treading the path of spirituality and who have renounced everything for God-realisation. Religious hypocrisy is more dangerous than the hypocrisy of worldly persons. A long drastic course of treatment is needed for its eradication. A religious hypocrite is very far from God. He cannot dream of God-realisation.

One can renounce even one's wife, son or property, but it is difficult to renounce name and fame. This is a great obstacle in the path of God-realisation, and brings downfall in the end. This does not allow the aspirant to march forward in the spiritual path. He becomes a slave of respect and honour. As soon as the aspirant gets some purity and ethical progress, ignorant people flock to him to pay homage and salutations. They imagine that the mahatma has got siddhis and that through his grace they can get children and wealth, and roots and herbs for the removal of diseases. They always approach a sadhu with various motives. The aspirant, through bad association, loses his dispassion and discretion. Attachment and desires crop up in his mind. He gets puffed up with pride and thinks he is a great realised soul. He eventually becomes a slave of his admirers. He cannot notice his slow downfall. The moment he mixes freely with householders he loses what little he had gained during eight or ten years. He cannot influence the public now. The admirers also leave him because they do not find any solace or influence in his company.

Therefore, an aspirant should hide himself always. Nobody should know what sort of sadhana he is doing. He should never attempt to exhibit any siddhi. He should be very humble and should pass for quite an ordinary man. He should not accept any rich present from householders as he will be affected by the bad thoughts of those who offer presents. He should never think that he is superior to anybody, but should always treat others with respect. He should not treat others with contempt. Then only will respect come by itself. He should treat respect, honour, name and fame as dung or poison, and should wear disrespect and dishonour as a golden necklace. Then only will he reach the goal safely.

Building ashrams and making disciples are also stumbling blocks in the path of God-realisation. The aspirant becomes another sort of house-holder. He develops institutional egoism. He gets attached to the ashram and the disciples. He gets 'mineness' for the buildings and people. He has the same cares, worries and anxieties of running the ashram and the magazine, and feeding his disciples. He develops slave-mentality and weak will. Thoughts of the ashram revolve in his mind when he is in a dying condition. Sometimes an ashram is nicely conducted by the 'spiritual head' of the institution while he is alive. When he passes away, the disciples who are petty-minded fight amongst themselves. The ashram becomes a fighting centre afterwards. Cases are going on in the courts. Ashram owners have to flatter the donors and appeal for funds very often. How can thoughts of God remain in the mind when one has his mind fixed on collection of money and developing the ashram?

Those who have started an ashram may say, "We are now having religious classes daily. We feed poor people in various ways. We are training religious students." It is quite true that an ashram that is run by a selfless dynamic yogi and a realised jivanmukta is a dynamic centre of spirituality. It is a spiritual nucleus for the spiritual uplift of thousands of people. Such centres are needed in all parts of the world. Such ashrams can do immense spiritual good to the country, but such ideal ashrams with ideal spiritual heads to run the institutions are very very rare nowadays.

The founders of the ashram in course of time unconsciously become slaves of worship and adoration. Maya works in various ways. How can a man who has the attitude that he should be worshipped as an incarnation of God serve the public? Workers are petty-minded. They fight amongst themselves for trifling matters and disturb the peaceful atmosphere of the place. Where is peace in the ashram then? How can outsiders who visit the ashram to get peace, enjoy it there?

The founders of ashrams should live on daily alms from outside. They should lead an ideal life of absolute self-sacrifice, a life of ideal simplicity, like the late Kalikamlivala of Rishikesh who carried a water-pot on his head for the ashram and who lived on alms from outside. Then only can they do real good to the people. Founders of ashrams should never appeal to the public for funds. It brings great discredit to those who tread the path of God-realisation. It is another way of respectable begging. The habit of begging destroys the subtle, sensitive nature of the intellect and those who appeal for funds frequently do not know what they are exactly doing; just as the lawyers and those who visit houses of ill-fame have lost the discriminative faculty of finding out the truth from untruth, purity from impurity. Begging kills one's soul-force. It produces a wrong impression on the minds of the public. Where is freedom if one begs? People have lost faith in the founders of ashrams. If anything comes by itself, without asking, it can be accepted. Then, you can do some work independently.

It is very difficult to get good workers for the ashrams. Then why do you bother about building them when you have neither money, nor workers, nor dynamic spiritual force? Keep quiet. Do meditation. Evolve yourself. Mind your own business. Reform yourself first. How can you help others when you yourself grope in darkness, when you are blind? How can a blind man lead another blind man? Both will fall in a deep abyss and break their legs.

Power, name, fame and wealth stiffen the ego. They strengthen the personality. Hence, renounce them if you want to attain immortality and eternal peace.

Lastly, I have to point out that though we have not got at present the first class type of ashrams, yet there are many good ashrams of the second class type that are run by noble, pure souls, who do great service to the country in a variety of ways, bring out valuable philosophical books and train students in the practice of meditation and yoga. They render selfless service. Their works are to be greatly congratulated, indeed. It is the duty of rich people to spontaneously render them financial help and help of all sorts. May God bestow on them inner spiritual strength to disseminate their message of love, service and peace! My silent homage and salutations to these rare, exalted selfless souls!

(b) Psychic Obstacles

Experiences vary in different individuals. The experience of one man may not be the same as that of another man. Many erroneously believe that they have realised the Self when they get some experiences, such as visions etc. They stop their spiritual practices and try to move with the public, to preach and to work for world solidarity. This is a serious blunder. This is not realisation at all. These experiences are all simple encouragements to convince you of a higher spiritual life and push you in your systematic and incessant practice with zeal and enthusiasm. You will have to ignore these things and drive them away just as you did with worldly objects. You must have samadhi as the goal.

Experiences may appear in some persons within a few days, and in others within six or nine months. It depends upon the state of the mind and degree of concentration. Some persons may not have such experience, but they will be progressing in the spiritual path. Visions and experiences come and go. They are not in themselves the culminating point. He who attaches much importance to these small visions does not march swiftly on the path. Therefore abandon the idea of these experiences. The final experience, intuitional and direct, of the Supreme alone, is the real, true one.

Sometimes elementals appear during meditation. They are strange figures, some with long teeth, some with big faces, some with big bellies, some with faces on the belly, some with faces on the head. They are inhabitants of the spirit world. They are the attendants of Lord Siva. They have terrifying forms, but they do not cause any harm at all, they simply appear on the stage. They come to test your strength and courage. They can do nothing; they cannot stand before a pure, ethical aspirant. Repetition of OM will keep them at a distance. You must be fearless. A coward is absolutely unfit for the spiritual line. Develop courage by constantly feeling that you are the Atman. Deny and negate the body-idea. Practise deep intense meditation always.

Rise above the visions. They are a hindrance on the path to samadhi or God-realisation. When you see a vision the mind will be fixed on them throughout the day instead of on God. Avoid these visions and the thought of them. Be indifferent. Substitute the thought of the Lord.

Various psychic powers (siddhis) come to the yogi who has controlled his senses, prana and mind. They also are stumbling blocks. They allure the yoga students. Sadhaks should be very careful, they should shun them ruthlessly as mere trifles or worthless things. Do not think of them. Clairvoyance and clairaudience are not worth having when far greater illumination and peace are possible without the siddhis than with them.

Desire for powers will act like puffs of air which may blow out the lamp of yoga. Any slackness in feeding it, due to carelessness or selfish desires for siddhis, will blow out the little spiritual light that the yogi has kindled after so much struggle, and will hurl him down into the deep abyss of ignorance. He cannot rise up again to the original height which he had ascended on the hill of yoga. Temptations are simply waiting to overwhelm the unwary student. Temptations of the astral, mental and heavenly worlds are more powerful than the earthly temptations.

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‘Psychic Obstacles’ will continue next week.


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