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1.1.1 FNS

In the life of each and every sadhaka there comes a time when it is necessary to give up old habits, old patterns of thinking and doing, of being, in order to incorporate new ways, new experiences. So in the life of each and every sadhaka, there is this tendency. A time comes when change must be undertaken and that which is familiar and habitual replaced by something more expansive. So the sadhaka should never run away from challenges, from new opportunities or experiences. Take it on with enthusiasm, don't hide from that which is new, that which is challenging. You know , the spiritual path is not for cowherds, the spiritual path is ultimately the path of the warrior, for a spiritualist must face all the demons, all the monsters within and those demons, those monsters will fight even the bravest warrior. Even the greatest warrior will cower before the inner demons, the inner dragons which must be fought. So a sadhaka is a very brave person and the path of sadhana is not for the feeble hearted, Because along the path there will be trials and tribulations. All of those beliefs, all of those attitudes which you have held in order to maintain your delusions will be destroyed, they will be torn apart, so that your delusions will crumble. They will crumble before you into the dust and you will be left with the truth of your own self. So this is not a path for the feeble hearted, it is the path for the warrior. Each and every person who walks this path must one day face the inner realms, those forces, those tendencies of mind, developed life upon life, to perpetuate one's existence, those beliefs, fundamentally based in deception, in self-deception will be dissolved, so that you must stand naked, unprotected, vulnerable before your own self and dissolve all the cries, all self-importance, all self-criticism, all self-indulgence, all negativity. All of this you must dissolve, so that you may stand in the innocence of your own existence devoid of all the coverings, all the delusions which you have hidden behind in order to avoid the truth of your existence. It takes a great warrior to walk this path. But once you have committed yourself to the journey, once you have sailed with full sincerity and I want you oh Parama Purus'a and no other and you have dedicated your all to the pursue of this inward journey, then you will face any and all obstacles and surmount them. And not only that you will face them but you will overcome them with divine assistance. So that the purity of your own being may shine fort in you with the radiance of thousands suns. Then and only then may you know the self resplendent existence which is your fundamental nature, for that resplendent self is hidden beneath the layers of illusion, the dirt and grind of life times. So you may wash yourself clean of all of this dirty accumulation which you have acquired over the long period of time. And what will you use to wash the mind, to cleanse and purify your being? You will use the balm of sadhana. Do service to others, do sadhana and take a firm commitment to Parama Purusha. Set yourself on the path with sincere and firm determination and surely you will find success.

So, oh sadhakas, be brave and walk the path of the warrior toward final destination. For he will be waiting for you in the core of your being, in the core of your heart, in the Vrindavan within you, there will find him playing his flute, smiling at you, calling you: come to me, come to me. And when you enter that road you must be washed clean of all of the grind, of all of the yeast and like a fresh born baby in the innocence of your being, you go to him in the Vrindavan of your heart and there you'll find eternal solace.

Now are there any questions today?

Q: I want to ask about emptiness. When I look within, I find that is very empty. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but I am curious if that emptiness which seems very black and dark is the core that you speak of, that inner core of my being. I don't seem to hear anybody calling for me, calling to me, from that emptiness.

You go into the emptiness and you go through the darkness into the light. Before the dawn is the darkest hour. There is a darkness within that is the prelude to the dawn of light. For at the core there is the resplendence, more brilliant than the thousands of suns, in which there is fulfillment and accomplishment within the self. All that exists in this universe, lies within you, all that you have taken as the external reality is in fact internal reality. It is all his play, his internal liila. When you blend your mind with his mind, it becomes the dance within you and you are dancing in all the people, all the experiences of this universe. You are flying with the eagle, being silent in the tall pine, washing the shore in the ocean, laughing in the children, and crying in the old men. You are in all of these and they are in you. So it is not empty, it is full and at the core of this magnificent expression is a brilliance, more resplendent than a thousand suns and peace without end. Come to know the self you are and become self-resplendent.