1.4.8 pract applic

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You know, there are many forms of spirituality, many types of methodologies for achieving spiritual ends. That is to say, there are many methodologies for bringing the mind away from concentration upon the diversity of manifest expression to concentration upon the singularity of consciousness. In this multi-dimensional expression, human beings come to exist in the introversial process, in the journey of consciousness back to its origins. In their small existence, they experience so many different joys and pains, and through all of this joy and pain they discover, they grow, they become more and more knowledgeable about the nature of their own existence. After a certain number of lifetimes of exploring the world and acquiring knowledge they come to feel that they want to know the very depths of human experience, they want to know the origin of their existence. And this desire leads them to various practices which bring the mind towards the Infinite.

There are so many practices that have been developed in India through the efforts of the ancient rishis and the yogis. There are so many practices that have been developed in Tibet by the ancient Buddhist masters of tantra. In China also there are so many methods that have been developed by the Confucianists, by the Taoists, and in Japan, as Chan became Zen, their methods of meditation were altered and new methods developed. In the West with Gnosticism and the ancient mystical societies, so many methods were there. Even in organized religions, methods of meditation and prayer prevailed. Throughout the world, in every culture, people have found ways, have developed systems and methods for bringing consciousness from ideation upon day-to-day activities to contemplation of its own inherent nature.

Now though there are many methods, some people have found greater success than others. So one must look into why it is that some people appear to have greater success in their approach than others. I would say there are several variables that are most important. First and foremost, if there is a realized master to give the teachings, to give the methodology and to guide the students, there will be far greater success than if the students are merely following a program that has been developed for them but there is no presence of Guru. For Guru will make the slight shifts and turns that are necessary to guide the students, to keep them focused, to bring them home. He will inspire them and give subtle instructions. Those instructions will be very potent, and he will review their progress making sure they are going in the right direction. So when there is guru, there is a more solid method than when practices are done without the assistance of a realized master.

This has been true in all the cultures, for the path of mysticism cannot be known without some guidance. You may do a meditation practice that is very nice, you may read spiritual books and learn many things, but if you want to transform your own awareness, then you will need more than books and more than book learning. You will need direct experience. And that direct experience comes not from books, not even from doing certain exercises you have been taught. That direct experience comes from your internal connection to guru.

When an internal bond has been established between a human being and an enlightened being, then progress can be made. Because that which you seek reaches to you, and you, perceiving its existence, reach to it and together you form a bond that will bring you home. Guru is never far away, never inaccessible. Guru is always with you, always looking to your welfare, always willing to guide you. But to know his guidance, to understand his approach to you, you must be willing to open yourself to him. You must be willing to surrender yourself before the divine and to be receptive, to look to him. If you do not look to him you may not even notice he is there. You must take the time each day to look to him, to notice that he is there with you. Noticing this, you must then reach out.

And how do you reach out to Parama Purus'a? You take your mind, concentrate it upon Him, and extend yourself: "Oh Lord, I want you." You take this ideation in your mind: "I want to give everything that I am to you." You take this ideation in your mind and direct your mind towards the Supreme Entity in the form that He has come to you. Doing this, you extend your awareness, allowing Him to exist in your sphere. He is always showering His love on you, and when you do this that love becomes directly perceptible. So that you will experience directly His infinite compassion and His infinite love for you. Doing this, you will experience something of His nature and something of your own essential nature. In this way, the practices which you have learned become alive.

So if you want to truly know Parama Purus'a, you cannot simply read, you cannot even simply do exercises or practices to know Him. You must call upon Him, you must engage yourself with Him so that you may come to know His essential nature and your own Self, for they are one in the same. Make your resting place the abode of divine love, of infinite peace. If you do this, your spiritual practices will be successful. Take the shelter of Guru, for it is through the guidance of a realized entity, one who has attained realization of the supreme, that you will be able to directly experience Parama Purus'a. Hold to Guru through all. Take the shelter of guru and then you will come to know from whence you have come.

It is said, "Parama Purus'a is the only shelter for a human being; all other shelters are no shelter at all, but only further causes of pain." So do not live your life in pain. Take the shelter of the Infinite Entity. Bring all your sorrows, all your joys, all your suffering, your failures, your successes, your disappointments, and your accomplishments and offer them at the feet of guru. For there is nothing outside of guru, nothing which would overpower that Entity.

So, oh little human beings, take your shelter in the great and place the burdens of your life in his hands. Let him rule your life. You, take his shelter and give up all of these struggles, all of these difficulties, all of this pain, all of the disappointments, all of the successes; give them up, give them to him. Let them be his. You take him as your shelter. Give all that you have to him and you hold to him without vanity, keeping nothing for yourself. You hold to him like the babe clings to the mother. You cling to Him, and rest in His arms.