nn 1,2

1.4.8 spirituality in practice

Tonight, I will speak on the relationship between a sadhaka and the Lord. There are those who think that a sadhaka, that is, one who meditates, is automatically very connected to the Infinite Being. But in fact, that is not the case. One may meditate on many things and one may meditate for many different reasons.

First of all, for true meditation, there must be an object of ideation and that object of ideation must be sublime, must be infinite, must be the Cosmic Entity. If there is any lesser object of meditation, such as a new car or success in business, these forms will not lead to any proximity to the Infinite Entity. Only meditation which emphasizes ideation on that which is Infinite, that which is sublime, will bring a sadhaka in any proximity to the Cosmic Entity.

Now, a sadhaka not only must have a proper object of ideation, they must also have a methodology, a technique or a practice which they do to focus the mind away from worldly involvements and towards the Infinite Entity. So there must be a proper object of ideation, there must be a methodology for focusing and concentrating the mind, and finally, there must be a sincere desire to know the Cosmic Entity. There must be a sincere intent to grasp that which is beyond the normal sphere of the mind. If there is no sincerity, then the meditation will be half done, half baked, it won't be fully done with whole hearted enthusiasm, and so the results will be half baked.

In order to get the maximum results from meditation, there must be a proper object, a proper methodology, and proper intent. Then maximum result will be had. But even if all of these three are present, still the sadhaka may not come in contact with the Lord of their being. Do you know why? Because that Entity is most elusive. He cannot be ordered about like a servant "Come here, I am calling you now. You come and sit here please". He cannot be ordered about like that. He will come if He likes, if He pleases, if it is His whim He will come to this boy, to that girl. He will come to them if it is His whim. Though they may be sincere, though they may concentrate their mind with a good and proper method, and though they may take ideation of the Infinite Entity, still, if it is not His whim, He will not come.

So, not only are the efforts of the sadhaka involved, but also the grace of the Supreme. That Being must be given due respect and the sadhaka must humbly appeal to the most Gracious Lord saying "Oh my Lord, you are the most great Entity, you are the very source of my little existence. You are great beyond knowing. Please grace me with your divine presence. Allow me to know you my Lord". Saying like this, the sadhaka must surrender their all before the Infinite Entity. They must give everything to that Being. Then, and only then, He may be tempted to come to them, to show himself to that boy, to that girl. He may be tempted by the selfless love of the sadhaka.

You see, His heart is very soft, and when a boy, when a girl comes to Him with a pure heart and surrenders all before Him, surrenders their greatness, their woes and troubles to Him, saying "Oh lord, I will do what you wish, I will be what you wish, please come to me. I wish only to serve you and to know you my Lord". When the sadhaka appeals like this, the Lord becomes very attracted. What can He do? The boy, the girl, they are calling for Him. And He is not unaware of their calls. So, He may choose to come to them, to gently touch them, to correct them, to make them aware of His most benevolent presence. When this happens it is the greatest gift in the life of a human being. To glimpse that most precious being, that Infinite Guru, to glimpse Him just for a moment, is the greatest blessing a human being may have. For in that vision of that most gracious and benevolent Being, there is complete transformation.

Once a sadhaka has been graced with this experience, this direct experience of that most precious Entity, they will never be what they were. They will, henceforth, know deep within themselves, there is something so stunning, so beautiful, so profound, that no one can describe this experience, this beneficent Entity, and that the access to that benevolent Being lies within them. When this direct experience of the existence of the Supreme comes in the life of a sadhaka, that individual becomes absorbed, they become entranced. They cannot think, the mind is stunned to see such greatness, to behold such beauty, to smell such sweetness, such unearthly scent, to feel the love which is beyond description. When that experience occurs, the sadhaka is overwhelmed. They are completely awed by the presence of the Divine Being. Within them wells up the inspiration to give everything to that Entity. What was before in the life, is tasteless, like food that has no salt, no flavor, no spice. It is dull and dreary by comparison. Seeing this vision, the sadhaka knows that there is something far, far greater than they could ever have imagined, even though they may have been devout, even though they may believe in God, even though they have meditated in a strict fashion; this is something altogether more, this direct perception of that most precious Entity.

Once a sadhaka has come in direct contact with his Lord, with her Lord, they will never be what they were, for they will carry ever afterwards the knowledge and love that are the grace of that most precious Being. Their lives will be forever changed. A person touched by that Entity will develop lofty ideals. They will be overawed and like a lovestruck girl, they will find their heart ever wanting to again touch that great Beloved. They will find that their mind is ever drifting to thoughts of Him. Then that person will become a bhakti. Having seen such a great Being, their heart is open, their mind is stunned and devotion floods through them. It is the grace of that benevolent One.

So, you see, the relationship of the sadhaka and the Lord is not simply dependant upon the efforts of the sadhaka, it also depends on the grace of that guiding Entity. That grace cannot be earned, it cannot be bought. "Lord, I have done so many service projects, I have dedicated my life, I have complete a PhD, I have won so many battles, I have done so many things for you, now you please grace me with your presence". He may grace, He may not grace, it is His whim. His affection cannot be bought. You do good works, you meditate regularly, and you offer yourself to that Divine Being. You be like the girl in love, you attract your Lord to you through your good works, through your devotions, through your self surrender. You sing His name with hands upheld in kiirtan, you continually remember Him during the day. You keep yourself devoted to Him. You know, He is not a hard hearted fellow. He is in deepest love with every living being, with every atom of this universe. He has no hatred for anyone.

You may think you are a very lowly person, you may think "Oh I am so lowly, such a great Being will never take interest in one like me". But you are not to judge. As I have said, His affections cannot be bought. He gives them when and where He pleases. You are not to judge yourself. Offer yourself humbly to that great Entity. Put your welfare in His hands, and when He deems fitting, when He is attracted, He will come to you. It is a certainty. You should never think you are not worthy. You should never think there is some flaw in you. That is not the case. Every being is a manifestation of that great One, a child of that great One. You are the child of that Great Entity. You are His expressed form in the world of form and action. If you devote yourself to Him, surely He will not be able to stay away from you. He will come to you and reveal Himself before you. Then, all the efforts you have made in your sadhana, all of the good works you have done, all of the opinions you have ever had, your inferiority feelings, your superiority feelings, all of these things will turn to dust in His presence and mean nothing and you will know love that is beyond words.

So you go on doing your sadhana, you go on devoting yourself to the Supreme. You go on serving your fellow beings and surely, you will find your Lord, oh sadhaka.