Atmamun

ThePathToAchievingTheBlissOfTheHimalayanSwamis.AndTheFreedomOfALivingGod

KapilGupta,MD

Copyright©2016KapilGupta

ALLRIGHTSRESERVED,nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedor

transmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,recordingorbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem

withoutpermissioninwritingfromtheauthor.

www.KapilGuptaMD.com

www.SiddhaPerformance.com

www.Atmamun.com

PublishedApril2016

ISBN-13:978-1532762727ISBN-10:1532762720

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FormattingbyPolgarusStudio

Themomentthatmangainsfreedomfromhismind,hebecomesaliving,breathingGod!

—KapilGupta,MD

TableofContents

IntroductionWhatisAtmamun?WhatIsTheMind?WhyWorshipAGod?BecomeGodOrGiveYourselfToOneThePriceToAttainGodYourManufacturedSelfIsYourLifeReallyALife?...Really?LifeIsTheUltimateAbsurdityWhyYourLifeIsFilledWithPainHumanBeingsWereNotMeantToBeWorkersBecomeALegendInYourFieldTheBurdenOfThoughtMindfulnessBinds.MindLESSnessLiberates.No-Mind:TheGatewayToAtmamunMeditation:WhatYou’veNeverBeenToldWorldPeaceIsACopOutParentsDoNotRaiseChildrenYouAreFastAsleepYouHaveEverything.ButDoYouHavePeace?HappinessWillMakeYouMiserableBlissInAnInstantAllConflictIsSelf-ConflictTheRichMan’sGreatestLuxuryBecomeTheGodOfYourOwnLifeAbouttheAuthorSiddhaPerformanceWebsitesandMedia

Introduction

Iamnotatheist.Oranatheist.I’mnotanykindof“ist.”Manwasnotmadetobelongtoagroup.Norishestrictlyanindividual.For

the concept of an ‘individual’ canonly existwhen there simultaneously existstheconceptofa‘group.’

Is thereaGod? Isn’t thereaGod?Whyarewehere? Is there lifeonotherplanets?Most people consider such questions to be important. I say that suchquestionsareaskedinordertoavoidaskingtherealquestions.

Thereispainandriskinaskingrealquestions.Intellectualizationisrisk-free.In this book, I’ve explored and dissected what I believe to be the real

questions.Issuesthatarefundamentaltoourdailyexistence.Andonesthathavethepowertotransformthelifeofahumanbeing.

Thisbookisfor theTrueSeeker.Thisbookisfor theonewhoisSincerelySearching.Thisbookisfortheonewhohasunderstoodthatorganizedreligion,self-help,newage,andmotivationalvehiclesaremeantforentertainmentratherthanTransformation.

Atmamun isapath tobecoming theGodofyourown life. It is thepath toachievingoutrightbliss.Itisthepathtoachievingunbridledfreedom.

Atmamun is a path which leads to the bliss experienced by the Kings ofhumancivilization:TheHimalayanSwamis.

Atmamun is a path which leads to uncompromising freedom in everypossibleway.

Mancannotbefreeuntilherealizeshowdeeplyheisbound.Hecannotusehisminduntilhefirstbreaksfreefromitscontrol.

Together,wewillworkthroughthispersonyoucall“yourself”inordertogettotheYouthatlivesbehindhim.

Together,wewillexplorethetruthbehindtheideasandthephilosophiesthatsocietyhasfilledyouwith.

Indissectingthemajorquestionsaboutlife,thefundamentalnatureofmind,andinexploringthedifferentrolesthathumanbeingsassume,youwillbegintoshedfalsenotions.AnddriftintotheworldofAtmamun.

I’ve decided to organize this book with a combination of dialogues andcommentary. Many of the dialogues come from conversations I’ve had with

clients.AndIbelieveingettingstraight tothepoint.Ihave, thus,kept thechapters

short.AndIhavenotkeptthereaderinsuspense.FortimeisjustaspreciousastheTruth.

WhatfollowsistheroadtorealizingtheGodthatisYou.Andthefreedomyouhavesearchedforforyourentirelife.ThisisthepathofAtmamun.

WhatisAtmamun?

TheSanskrittranslationofAtmamunis“MindoftheSpirit.”ImagineifyoucouldtrainyourselftocultivatetheMindOftheSpirit.What

wouldyourlifeexperiencebelike?Howwouldeachdayfeel?Whatwouldyouthink?Howwouldyouseethings?

Whatexactlyisthemindofthespirit?Imagine sitting where you are currently sitting, experiencing everything

aroundyou.WhenIsayExperiencingeverythingaroundyouwhatImeanisthatyou are not thinking about anything that comes into contact with your fivesenses.

No matter what sights or sounds you encounter, they do not register asthought, but as experience. You experience them intimately. Without theintermediaryknownasthought.

As a matter of fact, you have no thoughts whatsoever. You experienceeverything.Youexperienceitjustasitis.Withoutthinkingaboutitinanyway.Justexperiencingit.Tastingit.Immersingyourselfinit.

Imaginethatwhateversituationyouencounter,your lipsproducethewisestwords.Youareuntouchedbyanger,oranyemotion.Youactperfectly.Andinperfectproportiontowhateverthesituationrequires.

Imagine that you live in a state of peace. A perpetual high. And that thisfeelingremainsunbroken,nomatterthenatureorgravityofthecircumstance.

Is this not the documented experience of the legendary swamis of theHimalayas?

IsthisnotwhatitwouldbeliketobealivingGod?ThisisAtmamun.You have hadmoments of complete bliss. Infinitesimalmoments inwhich

you felt light, peaceful, and completely joyous. They might have occurredcompletely independent of the circumstance in which you found yourself.Perhapswhiledrivingalongastretchofhighway.Orwhilecookingdinner.Oreveninthemidstofaconflict.

Such experiences are oftendiscussed in the settingof athletics.SomehavedescribeditasTheZoneoraFlowState.

Theworldreferstothisstateasresultingfromacalmmind.Butactuallythis

isnotthecase.Insuchotherworldlyexperiences,itisnotthatthemindhasbeencalmedor

tamed.Itisthat,forasmallfractionoftime,themindhasdisappeared!ThisisthestateofNo-Mind.TheJapanesecallitMushin.ItwasreferredtointheTomCruisemovie,The

LastSamurai.No-MindisthegatewaytoAtmamun.Atmamun goes beyond the zone and flow states, particularly as they are

understoodinmodernparlance.Atmamunisactuallyaprocessthatencompassesadeepandnuancedunderstandingofthehumanmind.

Atmamunisaprocessoftranscendingthemindaltogether.What the mind really is. What gives rise to it. What excites it. What its

patternsare.Andhowitcontrolsourlives.And control is the correct word. All of us are controlled by the mind.

Althoughmost people in the world do not realize this. They believe that thedecisions that they make are the result of their own conscious logic andreasoning. They believe that their “personality” is an intrinsic part of theirfundamentalnature.Theybelievethattheyareincontroloftheirownlives.

Thisisanillusion.Pleaseunderstandthis:Man’sgreatestdilemmaisthathelivesinaprison

andhebelievesthatheisfree.Themanwhoknowsthathelivesinaprisonwillfindawaytobreakfreeof

it.Buttheonewhobelievesthatheisfreewhilebeingimprisonedwillremainedimprisonedforever.

Through the exploration of the process of Atmamun, he will begin to sethimself free.Butbeforehe takeshis first stepupon this journey,hemust firstrealizethatheisindeedimprisoned.

Inwhatwayisheimprisoned?Ineverywaypossible.Iwillexplain.Hebelievesthathelikesonethinganddislikesanother.Isthistrue?No.Foritishismindthatlikesonethinganddislikesanother.Yousee,the

mindcannotlivewithinastateoflikeorwithinastateofdislike.Itmusthaveboth!Thisispartofthescaffoldinguponwhichitrests.Indeed,theveryfactthatapreferenceexistsmeansthatmindisdoingthe“preferring.”

Thehumanbeingisthusimprisonedbyhislikesanddislikes.Youmightask,WhatwouldIdoifIhadnolikesordislikes?Youwouldtakelifeasitcomes.Youwouldexperienceit.Andbecauseyou

wouldnotbetakingsides,youwouldenjoyitimmensely.

Please understand this:When you have likes and dislikes, you have adesireforonethingandanaversionforanother.

Thisisadeepandpainfulimprisonment.Mangoesthroughlifeunawareofhisimprisonment.Thatwhichheconsiders

tobeanintegralpartoflife,isactuallyanintegralpartofHislife.Andhedoesnotquestionthis,forallofthosearoundhimlivesimilarly.

Heisimprisonedbydesires,cravings,preferences,prejudices,hopes,wishes,vices,ideals,philosophies,andonandon.

Hedoesnotrecognizethatthesearehisimprisonment.Infact,heconsidersthemtobeapartofhistruenatureandthusheholdsthemtight.

ThepathtoAtmamunbeginswiththerecognitionthatallofthesethingsdonotbelongtohim.Theybelongsquarelytohismind.

AndmanisNothismind!Itwillperhaps,then,becomecleartoyouthatAtmamunisnottoimprovethe

mind,buttoTranscendit.Atmamunisnotastateofacalmorserenemind.ItbeginswithastateofNo-

Mind.This then spawns another question. One that I am constantly asked: If I

transcendthemind,willInotgoinsane?WhatisironicisthatthemindthatisaskingthisquestionisitselfInsane.Ido

notintendtobederogatory,ortopassjudgment.Imeanthisquiteliterally.WeareallInsane!Howso?Foralmosteveryhumanbeingintheworld,hiscurrentexistenceconsistsof

thefollowing:Hehasathoughtthatisgeneratedbyhismind.Thethoughtmaybe true or untrue, logical or illogical, pleasant or unpleasant. This thoughtproduces an emotion within him. It makes him feel a certain way. He thenexpresses this feeling in the form of a particular reaction or a behavior. Thatbehavior produces a certain tangible consequence. This consequence thenproduces another thought. And this thought another emotion.Which leads toanother feeling.And another behavior.With another consequence. Leading toanotherthought.

This is the state of existence formore than 99.9 percent of the population.Thisisareactive,robotic,andprogrammedexistence.Thissortofexistencehasthemanlivingasanakednervewhichtwitchestoeverythought,sensation,andcircumstance.

ThisiswhatIcallaSpinalCordExistence.Ifyoutaptheinferioraspectofaperson’sknee,itproducesakickreflex.Man’sentirelifeisaKickReflex.

Youmightask,Whatiswrongwiththis?

Anotherthemethatyouwilldiscoverthroughoutthisbookisthatitisnotaquestionofrightandwrong.Itisaquestionofmiseryversuspeace.Joyversusanguish.Andfreedomversusimprisonment.

Ifweliveinthisreflexiveway,ourlivewillnecessarilybefilledwithpain.Forthemindisadeptatproducingnegativethoughtsandthusnegativefeelingsandnegativebehaviorsandnegativeconsequences.

The self-helpmovementhascreatedwhat it considers tobeanantidote forthis:PositiveThinking.

Positive thoughts still emanate from the same mind. And while they maymake one feelmore ‘positive,” it is imprisonment all the same.And youwillforever remain lost in the struggle of turning negative thoughts into positiveones.

Bliss is neither positive or negative. Neither is it neutral. It is a state ofEquanimity.

You see, any disturbance to a state of equilibrium is a disruption to thatequilibrium.Whether the disruption is in an up direction or a down directionmattersnot.Itisadisruptionallthesame.Butinordertocircumventthisissue,manhascategorizedthedisruptionsaspositiveversusnegativeinordertomakehimselffeelbetteraboutit.

Naturelivesinastateofequilibrium.Itdoesnotconsiderastormasbadandsunshineasgood.Itdoesnotcategorize.Orjudge.Ortakesides.

Natureexistsfullyandunabashedlyaccordingtoitsfundamentalnature.Tounderstandthefundamentalnatureofthemindallowsonetotranscendit.

And once themind is transcended, its powers become available to the humanbeingtouseashepleases.

Thisisman’sfundamentalnature.Thisistruefreedom.ThisisAtmamun.

WhatIsTheMind?

Beforeweget subtle, let’sbeginat thegross level.Letus speakat thewhollypractical level. For one can only understand that which is in one’s ownexperience.

Themind is a deeply intricateweb. So intricate, in fact, that as you learnmore about it youwill begin to seriouslywonderwhether you candistinguishwhatismindfromwhatisYou.

Inherentinthislaststatementistheimplicationthatyouarenotyourmind.The mind is not you. But the life that you are experiencing is not beingexperienceddirectlybyyou.Itisbeingexperiencedbyyouthroughthefilterofthemind.Infact,thisfilterisalsoaprojector.Themindcreatestheentiretyofthescenethatyouexperience.Every.Single.Day.

Iwillillustratethisviadialogue.ThequestionerwillaskquestionsasQ.andIwillrespondasKG.

Q:Dr.Gupta,Iwanttounderstandwhatthemindis.

KG:Verywell.Letusbeginwiththeforminwhichyouexperienceitdaily.

Q:I’mready.

KG:Doyouhavethoughts?

Q:Yes.

KG:Thesethoughtsaremind.Doyouhaveemotions?

Q:Yes.

KG:Theseemotionscomefromthethoughtsthatcomefromthemind.Doyouhaveirritability?

Q:Yes.

KG:This irritability ismind.Doyoufeelhappinessandsadnessandguiltandfrustration?

Q:Yes.Allofthosethings.

KG:Theseallarisefromthemind.Doyoufeelcompetitive?

Q:Quiteoften.

KG:Thiscompetitivenessismind.ShallIcontinue?

Q:Sowhatyouaresayingisthatallofmythoughtsandmyfeelingscomefromthemind?

KG:Notonlythattheycomefromthemind.TheyAREmind.

Q:Wealwayshearthatthemindisagreatthing.Thatitcanmovemountains.Youseemtobespeakingofmindinanegativecontext.Ismindagoodthingorabadthing?

KG:Itisneithergoodnorbad.Thesearesimplyjudgmentsthatdonotgettotheheartoftheissue.Letusspeakoftheissueintermsofwhateffectithashadonyourlife,shallwe?

Q:Yes.

KG:Fromthe time thatyouawoke thismorninguntil thisevening,howmuchjoydidyouexperience?

Q:Itwasjustaregularday.

KG:I’mnotsurewhatthatmeans.Areyour“regulardays”filledwithconstantjoy?

Q:Smallmomentshereandthere.

KG:Speakingonlyoftoday,howmanyofthosesmallmomentsofjoydidyouexperience.

Q:Today?Veryfew,actually.

KG:Andhowaboutyesterday?

Q:Notmuch.

KG:Howaboutlastweek?

Q:Iseeyourpoint.

KG:Andwhatpointisthat?

Q:Thatjoyisveryrareinmylife.

KG:Verywell.Andwhatiscommonandfrequentinyourlife?

Q:Basicallyeverythingbutjoy.Joyhappens,butveryinfrequently.

KG:Andhowmanytimesduringthedaydoyoufeelasenseofinnerquietudeorasenseofprofoundpeace?

Q:Almostnever.

KG:Andhowmanydaysinaweekdoyoulivefreeofeventheslightestformofconflict?

Q:Betweenworkandfamilylife,smallconflictshappenalmosteveryday.Butisn’tthisnormal?Everyoneexperiencesthesethings.

KG:Absolutely.I’mnotsinglingyouout.Whatyouaredescribingisthelifeofthevastmajorityofpeopleintheworld.

Q:Sowhatyouaresayingisthatitdoesn’thavetobethisway.

KG:WhatIamdescribingistheimpactthatthemindishavinguponyourlife.

Q:Howdoestheminddothis?

KG:Manisaveryadaptablecreature.Ifhelivesinprison,hecanadapttotheprison.Ifhe lives inmisery,hewilladapt to themisery.Nomatterhowgravethesituationmaybe,heeventuallyadaptstoitandmakesithishome.Youandmeandtherestoftheworldhavebecomesoenslavedbythemindforsolong,thatweconsiderit“normal.”

Q:Howdoesallofthishappen?

KG:We become enslaved by our minds because we believe that we are themind.

Q:Andthisisaproblem?

KG:It’sthegreatestproblemintheworld.Becauseaslongasyoubelievethatyouarethemind,youwillbecomesubjecttoalloftheturmoilthatthemindis.Andthemindislostinturmoil.Theincessantthoughts.Thecrazyemotions.Thewild swings ofmood. Jealousy.Anger. Frustration.Envy.Hope.Desire. Fear.Loneliness.Depression.Anxiety.Allofit.Foraslongasyoubelieveyouarethemind,thenyourlifewillbefilledwiththeseturmoils.

Q:Sowhatisthesolution?

KG: Anyone that you go to for help with such problems will attempt to“improve” your condition by attempting to change themind and alleviate theeffect.Theywillattempttohelpyou“dealwith”theproblemscreatedbyyour

mind. But you cannot “deal with” cancer. You must find a way to becomecompletelyfreeofit.

Q:Soyoudon’tbelieveinpositivethinkingandtheotherpopulartherapiesthatareoutthere?

KG:Letme ask you a question:Are you bombarded by thoughts all day andeveryday?

Q:Yes.

KG:Isitnotthisconstantthinkingandnoiseinsideyourheadthatisthesourceofallyouranxiety?

Q:Yes,Irarelyhaveasenseofinnerquiet.

KG:Sowhatdoesitmatterifthosethoughtsarepositiveornegative?Theyarestillthoughts.

Q:Butpositivethoughtsarebetterthannegativeones.

KG: Imagine thatyouhadcancer, and Iofferedyou threechoices.Onewasamedicine that made you vomit four times a week with daily headaches. Theotherwasamedicinethatmadeyouvomittwiceperweekwithheadacheseveryotherday.Andthelastwasawaytoactuallybreakfreeofthecancer,withoutvomitingorheadaches.Whichwouldyouchoose?

Q:Thelastone.

KG:Positivethinkingisthemiddlechoice.

Q:Soyouaresayingthatwecanbreakfreeofourminds?

KG:Yes.

Q:How?

KG:Byunderstandingit.

Q:Canyoupleaseexplain?

KG:Imaginethatyouarefightingawar.Andthatyouhavefoundawaytospyonyourenemysothatyoucanseehiseverymove.Wouldn’tthisallowyoutoescapehim?

Q:Yes.

KG:Imaginethatyouaresittinginachair.AndItellyouthatthereisasnakeunderyourchair.Willyouneedtoaskmehowfasttogetup,orhowstilltosit,

orhowtorunaway?

Q:No.Iwouldjustreact.

KG:Exactly.Youwouldreact inaway thatyoufeltwasmostappropriate forthesituation.Andyouwoulddosobyyourownnative intelligence.OnceyouweregiventheInsightthatthereisasnakeunderyourchair,therestwouldberelatively easy. The difficulty would arise if you Did Not Know there was asnake under your chair. For then you would become a victim. The difficultywouldariseifyoudidnotknowwhenorfromwhereyourenemywouldstrike.For then you would be under his control. Understanding is everything.Understandingisthepathtoliberation.

Q:Soweshouldviewthemindasourenemy?

KG: For the vast majority of us, the mind is indeed our enemy. For it hascontrolledourlives.Theonlywaytomakeitafriend,orevenaservant,beginswithunderstanding itsways.This is thefirststepon thepath tofreeourselvesfromit.

Q:Iunderstand.Wheretowebegin?

KG:Let’sbeginwiththemind’smostobviousmanifestation.Thewayinwhichyouexperiencethemindmostoften.Andthatisthroughthought.

Q:Okay.

KG:Haveyoueverexaminedyourthoughts?

Q:Notreally.

KG:Thenlet’sdothatnow.Thinkaboutyourthoughts,ifyouwill.Whatisyourthoughtpatternonanygivenday?

Q:Mymindthinksaboutalotofthings.

KG:Arethosethingslogical?

Q:Well,ifI’mdoingatask,itcanbelogical.ButIloseconcentrationquickly.IoftensaythatIhavetheattentionspanofaflea.

KG:You’renotalone.Andwhyisthisattentionspansolimited?

Q:Becausemymindtakesoffontangents.

KG:Andarethosetangentsrelatedtothetaskathand?

Q:Usuallynot.I’llstartthinkingaboutthemovieIwatchedyesterday,oreven

somethingthathappenedtwentyyearsago.

KG: This is the wayward nature of the mind. It flies around the world in asecond.Itisfrenzied.Anddisjointed.Andwild.Itisabirdthatreactsviolentlyifonetriestocageit.Andthisisokay.Theproblemariseswhenwegowithit.Andaslongaswebelievethatwearethemind,wewillgowhereitgoes.Wewillrunaroundinafrenzyinlockstepwithit.Wewillflyaroundtheworldinasecond.Wewilllivedisjointedly.Andwewilldoeverythingwecaninordertoavoidbeingstill.Becausemovementisthemind’snature,itbecomesournatureaswell.

Q:Sohowdowestopitfromflyingaround?

KG:Ifyourdogrunsaroundinthebackyardforhours,doesitbotheryou?

Q:No.

KG:Whatifyouweretiedtohimwithaleash?Andwhereverheranyouhadtorunaswell.Wouldthatbotheryou?

Q:Yes.

KG:Sowhatwouldbethesolutiontothislatterproblem?

Q:Tocuttheleash.

KG:Precisely.Thedog runningarounddoesn’tbotheryoubecauseyouknowthatyouarenotthedog.Themindrunningarounddoesbotheryoubecauseyouaretiedtoitbyaleash.

Q:What’stheleashthattiesmetothemind?

KG:Thebeliefthatyouareyourmind!

ThePathToAtmamun

Themindcangoanywhereitwishes.YouneednotgoWithIt.Themindcanentertainanythoughtsthatitwishes.Theyhavenothingtodo

withyou.Foryouarenotthemind.

WhyWorshipAGod?

MillionsofpeoplearoundtheworldworshipandpraytoaGod.Thereseemstobeacertainnobilityinit.Afeelingofgoodness.Afeelingof

belongingtoacategoryofmanwhoisontherightpath.Thereligiousaredrunkontheprideofreligiousness.Andthenon-religious

man (thediscrepant and theheathen, as somecallhim)has seemingly losthisway.Hehassuccumbedtoevil.Andlosthissenseofmorality.

Iwill tellyousomething:Theprideofreligionismoredetrimentalthantheprideofego.Theboastfulnessofmoralityismoresinisterthantheboastfulnessof financialwealth.The high of altruism is nomore evolved than the high ofsubstanceabuse.

Itisafaçadecreatedbythemanseekingtobrandhimselfunderthebannerof“morality.”

If you placed highly sensitive microphones in prayer halls and religiousinstitutions,whatsortof“prayers”wouldyouhear?Whatsortof“worshipping”wouldbegoingon?

In cultures around the world, prayers are not an innocent homage to thedivine. They are a clever transaction. It is bartering at its best. A deal in the“holy”market.

Peopledonatefruitandmoneytotheirlordinexchangeforahigherpension.Successfortheirchildren.Aflourishingoftheirbusiness.Tobegivenacertaingenderofchild.

It’sablackmarketdevotedtothefulfillmentofdesires.SanctifiedbythesealofamanufacturedGod.

How often are the prayers and the worships about God himself? For hisbetterment?Withoutaskingforanythinginreturn?

IfGoddoesexist, suchaonewouldnotbeasbadabusinessmanas thesepeoplethink.Whowouldgiveamanalifeofriches,inexchangeforacoconut?IfGoddoesexist,Idoubthepays50to1.

DoesGodexist?Theanswertothisquestionhasnosignificancetoanyone’slife.Itisamere

curiosity.Moresenselessconceptsuponwhichtowasteourpreciousexistence.Ifheexists,yourday-to-dayexistenceisstillyourday-to-dayexistence.Ifhe

doesn’texist,yourday-to-dayexistenceisstillyourday-to-dayexistence.Unlessyoubelievetheideathatifheexistedhewouldtakeyouinhisarms

and give you a tour of the heavens. If you do believe this, and this hasn’thappenedtoyou,thenaccordingtothisdefinitionitmustnecessarilymeanthathedoesn’texist,doesitnot?

Understand this:Man will take any opportunity to avoid that which ismostimmediateinhislife.Hewilldoanythingbutthetaskathand.Hewilllookatanythingbesidesthatwhichstandsinchesfromhisface.

Heisanescapist.Heisafantasy-seeker.Illusionsarehisdrug.Andrealityisofnousetohim.

Growingup,IusedtoreadstoriesofpeoplewhoclaimedthatKrishnacameandstoodbeforethem.SaintswhoproclaimedthatGodcameandstoodbeforethemas realasanymancouldbe.StoriesofpeoplewhosincerelyprayedanduponopeningtheireyestheysawtheGodoftheirworshipsittingbeforethem.

DoIbelievethesestories?Beliefisauselessconcept.Thereisonlyknowingandnotknowing.Is it possible that people experience such things?Who am I to arguewith

someonewhohasclaimedsuchanexperience?Dosuchthingshappen?Cantheyhappen?Idon’tknow.This ismyhonest

answer.WhatIcansayisthatImyselfhaveneverhadsuchanexperience.AndthusI

mustlivemylifeaccordingtotherealitythatImyselfhaveexperienced.Whereverwewish togo,wecanonlyproceedfromwhereweare. If these

storiesareapartofyourpersonalexperience,thenbeginfromthere.Iftheyarenot,thenbeginfromthere.

Ifyouseekriches,chasethem.Ifyouseekfame,cultivateit.Ifyouseektobeaholyman,becomeone.Ifyouseeksuccessforyourchildren,helpthemattainit.Ifyouseektohelptheneedy,doit.

Dowhateveryouwish,freelyandcompletely.Withouttheguiltofmorality.Ortheburdenofshould’sandshouldn’ts.

Aresomeoftheseroadsadead-end?Mostcertainly.ButthatdoesnotmeanthatanymanoranyGodshouldstopyoufromexercisingyourwill.

ThePathToAtmamun

Dowhateveryoulike.Liveinaccordancewithyoursensibilities.Liveandworkinaccordancewithyourowninspirations.

Thisisyourday-to-dayexistence.ThisisYourLife.WhatdoesGodhavetodowithit?

BecomeGodOrGiveYourselfToOne

For theattainmentofcompletebliss, therearereally twowaysofdealingwiththematterofGod.Eitherwaywillworkbeautifully.

IfyoumustbelieveinaGod,imagineforamomenthowheliveshislifeorhis existence. Does he experience problems? Does he live in strife? Does hedream about things? Or does he already know that whatever he wants willmaterialize in front of him? Is he at themercy of creation?Or is he truly themasterofeveryinchofhislife?

Does he live in conflict? Or emotional upheaval? Or at the mercy of themind?Ordoallofthesethings,natureincluded,bowathisfeet?

There are those for whom the idea of becoming their own God is toointimidating.Orfantastic.Orimpractical.Theywouldrathersubmitthemselvestoapre-packagedGod.

TosubmitoneselfwholetothisGodistoachievebliss.Andmasterlife.Andbecomewhole.And“enlightened.”

Q:IhavebeenaGod-fearingwomanallofmylife.ButIhavenotexperiencedtheblissthatyouspeakof.

KG:WhydoyoufearGod?

Q:I’vealwaysbeentoldtobehumble.AndtofearGod.

KG:IwillnotaskyouthenameofyourGod.Foritmattersnot.Doyouseehimas one who holds you in the palm of his hand? Or under the weight of histhumb?

Q:Isupposeherewardsusandpunishesus.

KG:SoforyouGodislikeaparent?

Q:Well,IdocallhimFather.

KG:Youalreadyhaveafather.Whydoyouneedasecond?

Q:Itisamannerofspeech.Asignofrespect.

KG:Iunderstand.Butinordertoreachtruebliss,enlightenment,nirvana,orjoyinthislife,youdonotneedmoreauthorityfiguresinyourlife.Youdonotneed“policing.”Youdonotneedtoliveyourlifehankeringforrewardsandshunningpunishment.Thisisthewayyouhavelivedyourentirelife.Firstasachildundertheauthorityofparents.AndthenasanadultundertheauthorityofGod.

Q:Ihaveneverinmylifeheardanyonesaythat.SowhatshouldIdoaboutmyGod?

KG:Itisallamatterofsincerity.Itisaboutbeingcrystalclearaboutwhatyouwishtoattaininyourlife.

Q:I’lltellyouwhatIwant.Iwantthisblissthatyoualwaystalkabout.I’mnotsureIevenknowwhatitis.Butifitmeansaconstantsenseofpeaceorasteadyfeelingofjoy,thisiswhatIwant.I’mwillingtodoanythingforit.

KG: I applaud your honesty and your sincerity. Let us then abandon all thegamesthatyou’vebeenplaying,shallwe?

Q:Yes.

KG:IwillnottakeyourGodfromyou.ButIwillbeginbyaskingyouwhatalloftheprayershavegivenyou.

Q:Afeelingofpeace,Isuppose.Butit’sshort-lived.

KG:Yes,prayersarethepoorman’sgold.

Q:Howso?

KG: If there isabeingwho, inyourestimation,has thepower togiveyouallthat you seek,whywould you settle for his good graces?Whywould you sitwithabeggingbowlbeforehim?Wouldn’tyouwantwhathehas?

Q:Doc,howcanIpossiblygetwhatGodhas?

KG:Forgetthe“how”foramoment.Whywouldyousettleforsecondorthirdbest?

Q:Idon’teverthinkIwouldhavebeenboldenoughtowantwhatGodhas.

KG:Andyetyouare“bold”enoughtowantuninterruptedblissinyourlife?

Q:Ihaven’tbeenuntilnow.IwouldlovetohavewhatGodhas.Whowouldn’t?

KG:Icanperhapscountononehand thenumberofpeople in thisworldwho

wantwhatGodhas.

Q:Why?

KG:Becausetheyconsiderit“bold”asyoudo.Perhapsevensacrilegious.

Q:Ifyou’retellingmethere’saway,I’mready.

KG:Imaginealeafthatsitsmotionlessontheriverbank.

Q:Okay.

KG:Asitsitsaloneonthebankoftheriver,ithasthelimitedpowerofaleaf,doesitnot?

Q:Yes.

KG:Ifyoupickupthatleafanddropitintotheragingriver,whathappens?

Q:Theleaffloatsalongthesurfaceoftheriver.

KG:Correct.Andforaslongasitfloatsalongthesurfaceoftheriver,itmovesastherivermoves.Itseesthevariousplacesaroundtheworldthattheriversees.It breathes as the river breathes. It rolls over ancient stones and leaps acrosssteep cliffs and winds through lush green valleys and ambles through quaintmeadows.

Q:Yes.

KG:Whileamanmaylookat this leafanddistinguish it fromtheriver that itfloatsalong,doestheleafexperienceitselfasaleafanylonger?Doesitstillseeitselfasalimpandmotionlessleafwithlimitedpower?Ordoesitnowineverywaypossibleassumethepoweroftheriverthatithasgivenitselfto?

Q:Iunderstand.

KG:Theleafthatgivesitselfwholetotheriver,Becomestheriver.

Q:SowhatyouaresayingisthatIshouldgivemyselftoGod?

KG:Forallofyourlife,youhaveheldGodfarfromyou.Youhaveusedhimasawishingwell.ItmattersnotwhoyourGodis,orwhereyoubelieveheresides.Ifyougiveyourselftohim,youwillexperienceyourlifeasheexperienceshis.Youwillassumehispower.Andfeelhisbliss.

Q:Isthereanyonethatyouknowwhohasdonethis,Dr.Gupta?

KG:Icanthinkoftwobeautifulexamples.FrancisOfAssisiandMeera.ThesetwoindividualsdidnotlookuponGodasaparent.Theygavethemselveswhole

tohim.And the lives that they livedafterhavingdone sowere filledwith thesortofotherworldlyblissthatmadetheworldsuspectthemasbeinginsane.Inaway,theywereinsane.Fortheydiscoveredaworldwhichblossomedinfrontofthem inaway that few in thehistoryof civilizationeverhave.Whowouldn’tpreferalifeof“insanity”filledwithbliss,asopposedtoalifeof“sanity”filledwithturmoil?

Q:TellmewhatIneedtodo,Dr.Gupta.

KG:Imaginethatyouwereboatinginalake.Andthatyoudidnotknowhowtoswim.Thenimaginethattheboatcapsizedandyoufoundyourselfsubmergedinthewater.Wouldyouaskmewhatyouneededtodo?

Q:No.

KG:Whatwouldyoudo?

Q:Iwouldtrytokeepmyheadabovewater.

KG:Indeedyouwould.Inanyandallwayspossible.Youwouldflailandkickandpant anddowhateveryouhad todo tokeepyourheadabovewater.Youwouldnotaskforinstructions.Youwouldnotlookfora“how-to”manualora“self-help”book.Youwouldtakemattersintoyourownhands.Andyouwouldsurvive!AndthereasonthatyouwouldsurviveisbecausetheWHATwouldbeclearly before you. That WHAT is your life. And because you chose Life,becausetheWhatwascrystalclear,youwouldcreatetheHOWforyourself.

Q:You’reright.

KG:Wemust, therefore, establish yourWhat. How clear is thisWhat? HowintenseisyourdesireforthisWhat?Doesitmeananylesstoyouthansurvivingfromdrowning?IsthisWhatamatteroflifeanddeathforyou?

Q:I’veneverthoughtofitthatway.

KG:Theroadtoworshipandprayerisacrowdedroad.AnditdoesitnotleadtoGod. The road to the kingdom ofGod leads directly to him. But this road isdeserted.

Q:Why?

KG:Becausepeopleareclever.TheyplayingeniouslittlegameswithGod.Theyofferanickelandaskforafortune.Godissimplyaninsurancepolicyforthem.Theyhavenodesiretoknowhimorbecomehim.Theyseekonlytofortifytheirmeagerlittleliveswithafewpleasantdistractionsandamodestsackofwealth

andcomfort.ThekingdomofGod is for the rarestman in theworld.Millionsspeakofit.OnlyOnepursuesit.

Q:ThemoreyouspeakthemoreashamedIfeel.

KG:It isnotmyintent tomakeyoufeelashamed.It isonlymyintent tohelpyouestablishyourWhat.

Q:MyWhatiscompletebliss.Toliveinjoy.ButI’mnotsureifsuchathingispossible.

KG:Ifyouaredrowninginalake,doyouweighpossibilityandimpossibility?Ordoyousimplyact,possibilitybedamned?

Q:You’reright.Isimplyact.

KG:Thehumanbeingwhoisconsumedwithaparticularvisiondoesnotallow“possibility”tostandinhisorherway.

Q:I’minspired.IwantthekingdomofGod.

KG:IfyouwantthekingdomofGodmorethananythingelseinyourlife,youwillhave it.And the reason thatyouwill have it isbecauseyouwill not stopuntilyouattainit.

Q:Agreed.

KG:Thereisnoreasontoagree.I’mnotmakingadealwithyou.Infact,therecan no longer be any deals in your life.No compromises.But therewill be acost.Andtheonlyquestionthatremainsiswhetheryouarewillingtopayit.

ThePathToAtmamun

IfbelievinginaGodisyourway,thenitletitbeyourwayCompletely.DonotuseyourGodasaninsurancepolicy.Donotpraytohim.Orworshiphim.Ormakerequeststohim.DiscoverwhatyouareusingGodfor.Discoverthewaysinwhichyou’replayingaclevergame.ThisrequiresgreatSincerity.But if you wish to truly attain something or arrive somewhere, this is

absolutelyessential.

ThePriceToAttainGod

It isamostpeculiarthingthat, inmanycultures,ifaboyshowsnopromiseinworldlyaffairsorifheisdeemedtolacktalent,heissenttothepriesthoodortheashram.

This is like saying that if a boy has no talent or interest in swimming, heshouldbesenttotheOlympictrials.

Theworld, in one sense, putsGod on a pedestal. And in another sense, itholds him in very lowesteem.For it feels that it is the easypath.Or awastebasket institution of sorts for those who have not the dedication or themotivationtosucceedinworldlypursuits.

IfGodisconsideredbymanytobethealmighty,thenwoulditnotrequireanalmighty individual to pursue his kingdom? Would it not require a man ofintensefortitudeandsingle-mindeddevotiontoattainabeingthatisconsideredtheruleroftheuniverse?

Anymancanjoinanashram.Orsitinachurch.Orlistentoasermon.Ornodhishead in agreementwith amotivationalguru.But it is a truly rarebreedofmanwhoisimbuedwiththeintensemotivationtoattainevenafractionofwhatthescripturesteach.

The truth is that holy followers around the world, even the most devotedones, fail to reach any high attainment in theworld ofGod. Theymay shavetheir head. And beg alms. And acquiesce to a life of celibacy. But, in manycases,theyaresimplypartofagroup.Theyenjoythe“idea”offollowingsuchapath.Thespiritualorderisnodifferentthananyotherworldlyinstitution.Therearethecommon.Andtherearetheelite.AndwhatseparatesthetwoisaSincereandHeartfeltDesire.

Hair is cheap. As is celibacy. As is a comfortable home. As are materialgoods.Veryoften,themanwho“surrenders”suchworldlythingsfeelstheegoofhavingsurrendered them.And thisbecomehisgreatestobstacle toattainingGod.Heisessentiallygoingthroughthemotions.Forsomewhereinsidehimself,even he knows that he got off cheap. He knows that he has not yet paid theultimateprice.

Letuscontinuetheconversationfromthepreviouschapter.

Q:Yes,Iamwillingtopaytheprice.

KG:Suchthingsareeasilysaidwhenthepriceisnotyetknown.

Q:Younameit.

KG:Verywell.Ifyouwishtotastethenectaroflifeandliveincompletebliss,thereisnoroomforYouANDGod.Thereisonlyroomforone.

Q:That’saprovocativestatement.Canyoupleasediscussthisfurther?

KG:Hewho chases two rabbits catches neither.Hewhohas one foot in bothworldsrelinquishesboth.

Q:WhymustIchoose?

KG:Becauseyouandyourso-calledlifeareincompatiblewiththekingdomofGod.ThewaythatyouhaveconstructedyourlifeallowsforGodasaconsultantand an advisor. As a result, he is always at arm’s length. Advice nevertransformedanyone.TheonlywaythatyoucanattainthekingdomofGodistogiveyourselfwholetothepursuit.

Q:AndIcan’tgivemyselfwhilelivingmyownlife?

KG:Togiveyourselfwholemeanstohavenothingleftforyourself,doesitnot?

Q:ButifIgivemyselfwhole,howwillIbeabletoexperiencetheblissinmylife?

KG:ImaginethatyouhavespenttwoweekslostintheSaharadesert.Youareattheedgeofdeath.Youarestrugglingtowalk.Yourmouthisparched.Youreyesaresunken.AndIcometoyouonacamel,carryingacanteenofwater.

Q:Okay.

KG: Now, imagine that I explain to you the chemical formula for water. Iexplain that water is comprised of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom ofoxygen.Andthattheseatomsarejoinedbycovalentbonds.

Q:I’dthinkyou’recrazy.

KG:Crazy?Well,what if I explained thatwaterwas a colorless fluid.That itcouldbeheatedandcooled.Andthatitflowsalongagradientfromanareaofhighconcentrationtoanareaoflowconcentration.

Q:Iwouldn’tbeinterestedinasciencelectureinthatcircumstance.

KG:WhatifItoldyouthatitcomprisedroughly60%ofyourbody?

Q:Itwouldn’tdoanythingforme.

KG:WhatifIsplashedafewdropsofwaterontoyourface?

Q:Imightfeelsomerelief,butitwouldn’tbeenough.

KG:Whynot?Iwouldhavegivenyouadeepknowledgeaboutwater.Andevenallowedyoutofeelitonyourcheeks.Whatmoreisthere?

Q:I’dwanttodrinkit,ofcourse.

KG:Sowhatyouare saying is thatyoucould forfeit theknowledgeabout thewater.Butyoucouldn’tforfeitthedrinkingofit.Isthatright?

Q:Absolutely.

KG:Animalslargeandsmallknownothingofthechemicalnatureofwater,butdrinkingitsustainstheirlives,doesitnot?

Q:Yes.

KG:Mydearfriend,isitnotthesamewithGod?

Q:I’mnotsureIunderstand.

KG:Knowledgeisacopout.Itisatokendemonstrationofpassinginterest.Itisacleverlittlegame.Forwhileitmayfillthehead,itleavestheheartempty.Theone and only thing that a thirstyman seeks is to quench his thirst.Unless histhirstisquenched,itisalluselesssmalltalk.Isitnot?

Q:You’reright.

KG:TheonlywaytoattainGodistodrinkhim.

Q:AndhowdoIdothat?

KG:WhenIgaveyouthewaterinthedesert,didyouaskmehowtodrinkit?

Q:Butthatwasliteral.Andthisisfigurative.

KG:ThisisbecauseyourthirstforGodisnotyetmature.

Q:Perhapsyou’reright.

KG:Forallofyourlife,youhavebeencontentwiththeknowledgeofGod.YouhavebeencontentwithGod’schemicalformula.Perhapsyouhaveevenfelthimonyour cheeks.Butunlike the thirst in thedesert, thismannerof exposure tohimhasleftyousatiated.

Q:Dr.Gupta,pleasehelpmeunderstandhowIcandrinkhim.

KG: To drink him means to want the kingdom of God more than you wantyourself.TodrinkthekingdomofGodmeansthatyouarewillingtorelinquisheverythinginordertoattainit.

Q:Whatdoyoumeanbyrelinquisheverything?

KG:Fearnot.Youneednotsellyourhomeandretreatintoacave.Youneednotgiveawayyourpersonalpossessions.But inorder tomake roomforhim,youmustcleanseyourselfoftheNEEDforanythingelse.Allyourideasaboutlife,yourattachmentstoyourideologies,yourthoughtsaboutthewaythings“shouldbe,”yourpreferences,yourprejudices.Allofitmustbeonthecuttingtable.

Q:Youreallydomeanthatit’seithermeorit’shimandnotboth,don’tyou.

KG:Absolutely.Therecanbenohalfway.Thereisno“partialenlightenment.”Iaskedyou tomakecertain thatyouwerewilling topay theprice.Theprice isyour particular understanding of life. The price is all that you consider to be“yours.”Thepriceisyourself.Anditisnon-negotiable!

Q:Aheftyprice,isn’tit?

KG:Ifyouthinkso,youwillneverdoit.

Q:Thisisseriousstuff.

KG:Whatdidyouexpect?Doyounotrealizewhatyouareaskingfor?Youarenotaskingforamodicumofsuccess,orabetterjob,oranounceofriches.YouareaskingfortheKingdomOfGod!

Q:IknowI’veaskedthisbefore,butifIgiveawaymyselfandallthatIknow,whowillbelefttoexperiencethejoy?

KG: It is a valid question. We can only know things that we’ve personallyexperienced,correct?

Q:Yes.

KG:Untilnow,wheneveryoufeltjoyinyourlife,youweretheExperiencerofthejoy.

Q:Yes,Iwastheexperiencer.

KG:Whenyouaretheexperiencerofthejoy,thejoyusuallycomesfromsomefortuitouslifeevent.Correct?

Q:Yes,somethingpositivehappens.

KG:Precisely.Andthatpositiveeventisshort-lived.Becauseitissoonfollowed

byanegativeevent,isitnot?

Q:Yes,inmylife,negativeeventsseemtooutweighthepositiveones.

KG:Thisisalwaysthecase.Andevenifitweren’tthecase,itwouldnotmakeabig difference. For it does notmatter how positive the event was, it is short-lived.Andthus,theExperienceofhappinessisalsoshort-lived.Andthisishowman goes about his life. Hoping for one positive event after another so as to“stringtogether”momentsofjoy.

Q:I’mwithyou.

KG:AndthiswillbeyourfateforaslongasyouaretheExperiencer.Foryouwillsitinwaitforthenext“positiveexperience.”ButifyousurrenderyourlifetothekingdomofGod,youarenolongersittinginwait.

Q:Howso?

KG:Whoisitthatwaitsforbliss?

Q:Everyone.

KG:Theonewhowaitsforblissistheonewhoisnotblissful.

Q:Sotrue.

KG:ThereasonthatpeoplearenotblissfulisbecausetheydependuponEventstomakethemhappy.

Q:Isn’tthisthewayit’ssupposedtobe?

KG:Lifeisasyoumakeit.

Q:HowdoImakeitotherwise?

KG:Thereasonthatpeoplewantjoyisbecausetheyfeel,inaway,miserable.Doyouagree?

Q:Miseryorunhappinessordisappointment,yes.

KG:AndyouseekthekingdomofGodinordertofeelendlessjoy.

Q:Yes.

KG: And the reason that you crave endless joy is because you feel endlessmisery.

Q:Yes.

KG:YouaskedmeearlierthatifyousurrenderyourselftothekingdomofGod,

whowillbelefttoexperiencethejoy.

Q:Idid.

KG:Mydearfriend,ifyousurrenderyourselftothekingdomofGod,whowillbelefttofeelthemisery?

ThePathToAtmamun

Anythingofgreatvaluehasagreatprice.Ifyouareasking forno less thanGodhimself,youmustgiveno less than

yourEntireSelf.

YourManufacturedSelf

Whenyoulook into themirror, itshowsyouan imageof thepersonyouhavehabituallycometoregardas“yourself.”

Because you believe this to be “yourself,” you have spent your entire lifeattemptingtoadornhim,fortifyhim,protecthim,andguidehim.

Ifsomeonesaysanythingagainstthisperson,youretaliate.Ifsomeonetriestoharmthisperson,yourushtoprotecthim.Ifheishungry,youfeedhim.Ifheistired,youallowhimtorest.

His every little wish is your command. Hismundane desires, his need forapproval, his hope for success, these are all your life’s work. You workincessantlyforhim.Andyouneverquestionit.Eventhethoughtofquestioningitpuzzlesyou.

Itmay cause you all sorts of hardship, but youwouldn’t have it any otherway.

Thesurvivalandthewell-beingofthispersoninthemirrorrepresentsthefullsumofyourlife.

ImaginethatIcametoyouandsaidthatIwouldtakecareofthispersoninthemirrorforyou.ImaginethatIgaveyouaweek’srest.Foronefullweek,Iwould take care of his needs and attend to all his concerns. From hisdisappointmentsabouthiscareer tohishopeforbecomingasuccess.Fromhisconflict inhisfamily life tohisdesireforhappiness.Hishunger,hissleep,histhirst,hissenseofpeace,youwouldbefreeofitallforoneweek.

Whatwouldthatweekbelike?Therewouldbenoworry,for therewouldbenoonetoworryabout.There

wouldbenohope,astherewouldbenoonetohopefor.Therewouldbenobosstoimpress.Orfamilymembertoapologizeto.

Whatwouldyoudowithyourtime?Howwouldyouspendtheday?Iwantyoutogotherenow,withinyourself.Fearnot,Iwillnotgiveyouthe

luxuryofoneweek.Formanhas learned to shun suchguiltypleasures. Iwillonlygiveyouafewminutes.

Forthenextfewminutes,thispersoninthemirrorisnotyourconcern.Justfor a fewminutes.Whether he lives or dies, is tired or hungry, is hopeful ordepressed, is not your concern. For the next few minutes, this person in the

mirrorhasnocaretaker.Hiscaretakeristakingabreak.PutthisbookdownanddothisNOW.

PLEASEDOIT.Nowthatyouhavedoneso,Iwillnotaskyouhowyoufeel. Iwillnotask

youtotellmewhatIwanttohear.ForthereisnothingthatIwanttohear.Insightsareachievedinsilence.Whentheyarespokenof,theyarepoisoned.

Feelingsarefeelings.And,inmanyways,tospeakistolie.Forlanguagecannotdojusticetothesubtletiesandnuancesoffeeling.

Foryourentirelife,youhavelivedasaslavetothispersoninthemirror.Andithasdestroyedyourlife.

This is always the case with slaves. For there is no state that is morelamentablethanthelossofone’sfreedom.

YouAreNotYOU

Iwillbrieflyoutlineyour life.Foryour life is the sameaseveryotherhumanbeing’slife.Itdiffersonlyinthedetails.

OnlytheonewhoseeksTransformationwillallowthemselvestheobjectivitytoimbibethefollowingwords.

Yourlifeisinturmoil.AndyouattemptwithallyourmighttoOrganizetheturmoilintoasemblanceofacceptability.

Youbeautifythefacethatyoushowtoothers.Sothattheresponsesthatyoureceivefromthemmayupliftyou.

Youraiseyourchildrenintheimageofyourownego.Andyouoftencryinbedatnightforthewaythatyousometimestreatthem.

Misery. Hope. Disappointment. Longing. Emotions. These are yourbedfellows.Andtheyareatthecenterofyourlifeexperience.

Why?Iwillnowrevealtoyouthetruth.Thetruththatnoonehaseverbeforerevealedtoyou.The life thatyouare currently living isnotyour real life.Becauseyou

arelivingthroughtheSheathknownasMind.Theminddesires, andyoubelieve that it isyouwho isdesiring.Themind

cravesonesuccessafteranother.Andyoubelievethatitisyouwhocraves.Themindcreatesyour turmoils,andyousetoff ina frenzy tocleanup itsmesses,

believingthatitisyouwhomadethem.Yourattempttobecomea“goodperson”isanattempttopolishthatwhichis

knownasego.And understand this immediately and clearly:TheEgo isNot thatwhich

saysthatyouaregreat.ItisthatwhichsaysthatyouExistatall!Andnowwecome to themind’smaster stroke.Thegreatest illusion in the

history of man. The sleight of hand that has the entire world enchanted andconfused.

Theideathatyouexist.Thisistheonesinglesourceofallyourproblems.Thisisthegenesisofall

yourturmoils.Thisistheseedofallyourtroubles.Allowmetoexplain.Takeforinstancealovelywomannamed,NaomiJohnson.Naomibelieves thatsheexistsasapersoncalledNaomiJohnson.Andthus

she will beautify Naomi. She will adorn Naomi. She will have dreams forNaomi.Shewillhaveplans forNaomi.Shewillattempt tomakeNaomigoodand helpful and ambitious and mannerly. She will attempt to make Naomi asuccess.ShewillattempttomakeNaomiaSTAR.

ShewillspendNaomi’sentirelifedoingthesethings.Andfortheentiretyofthislife,shewillliveinabjectmisery.

Why?BecauseNaomiJohnsondoesn’treallyexist.ThemindthatiswithinNaomi

hascreatedthispersonathatherparentsnamedNaomiJohnson.And the creation of this persona is the genesis of all of Naomi’s

problems.How?BecausewhateverhappensinNaomi’slifedoesnot“justhappen.”Ithappens

ToHer.Thebreakups,thedisappointments,theconflicts,andalloflife’sendlessupheavalshappenToNaomi.

As a result, she is simply doomed to a life as a piñata, battered bycircumstance. And all the psychotherapy, and meditation, and yoga, andcounselingintheworldcannothelpher.

Why?Because even as she pursues such remedies, she pursues them As Naomi

Johnson.Ifyouweretoshowerwithyourclotheson,wouldyoueverbecomeclean?ThebeautifulhumanbeingsthatIcounselhavetheworldattheirfeet.They

have greatwealth and notoriety and all that thematerialworld can offer.YetwhattheyseekistheExperienceofBliss.AndPeace.AndUnbridledFreedom.

Andthisthematerialworldcannotgivethem.HereistheUltimateTruthOfYourLife:NaomiJohnsonisnotthepersonshethinkssheis.SheistheBeingThat

KnowsthatapersonacalledNaomiJohnsonhasbeencreated.Itisthesameforyou.AndonceyouExperienceThis,thetroublesoflifemaycontinueinfullforce.

Buttheywillnolongerhavethepowertoaffectyou.Andthis,myfriend,willbeyourDoorwaytoBLISS.

Aren’tYouTiredOfYOU?

Aren’tyoutiredoflookingatyourself?Ofthesoundofyourvoice?Ofknowingwhatyouaregoing to saybeforeyou say it?Of thinking the same things?Oflivingwiththesameopinions?

Aren’t you tired of this person that you have lived with your entire life?Aren’tyoutiredofthispersoncalledYou?

Youtrytopreserveyourselfinfrontofothers.Butyourunfromyourselfinprivate.Youmakeyouropinionsknowntothosearoundyou.Andyouquestiontheminthequietofyourroom.

IstherenotawholenewpossibilityoutsideofYourself?Wouldn’tyouliketobesomethingelse?Notsomeoneelse.Butsomethingelse?

Wouldn’tyouliketoseethroughneweyes?Eyesthatseewhatisactuallyinfrontofthem.Eyesthatseekrealityinsteadofconfirmation.

Wouldn’tyouliketothinkless?Wouldn’tyouliketocareless?Wouldn’tyouliketolookintothemirrorandseeonlythemirror?Insteadof

livingUndernature,wouldn’tyoulikeittolivethroughyou?Hasn’tthisYoubecomeaburdenyet?Forhowlongwillyoucarryitaround?

Whynotjustparkitinstoragewhilethenon-Yougoesforastroll?Whynotleaveittoitselfwhilethenon-Youseeswhatithasbeenmissingfor

alltheseyears?The You that you have been told to look for is the same You that has

preventedyoufromseeingit.Showyourselfthenon-You.Andletthosearoundyouseeitaswell.Theywilllookatyoudifferent.Theywillgetlostastheylookintoyoureyes.BecauseinthemtheywillnotseeYou,butthemselves.

Theywilladorethisaimless,opinion-less,transparentYou.Thenon-You.Andthemostbeautifulthingofallisthatitwillbeevergreen.Thisnon-You

willrequirenomaintenance.Nocare.Noadornment.

Youwillblendintotheether.Youwillbefreeofallthathaseverconcernedyou.

Because you will finally be free of the You that brought about all theconcerns.

MayyouneverbeYourselfagain.

Q:Ifeelpeacefulandconfused.

KG:Thatstatementisfullofpromise.Whatexactlydoyoumeanbyit?

Q: Idid theexerciseand I feltaweight liftedoffmyshoulders. I literally feltlight.Butitdoesn’tmakesense.I’mcompletelyconfused.

KG:Confusionisawonderfulthing.

Q:Whyisconfusionawonderfulthing?

KG:When you don’t have the answers, a new possibility is on the horizon.Whenthemindthinksthatitknows,itcreatesastory.Anditmakesthepersonbelievethefairytale.Butwhenitisconfused,ithasnostorytotellyou.Soyouare,forabriefmoment,freetolearnthetruth.Independentofthemind.

Q:Youjustmadememoreconfused.

KG:I’mhappytodoso.Buttellmeaboutyourinitialconfusion.

Q:AsIsaid,IfeltahugeweightliftoffmyshoulderswhenIletthepersoninthemirror be on her own.Butwhen I thought about it, itmade absolutely nosense.

KG:Whynot?

Q:Because thatperson in themirror isme!Howis itevenpossible that Ican‘takeabreak’frommyself?Butthefunnythingisthatthat’sexactlywhatIdidwhenIdidtheexercise.SoIactuallydidit.Anditfeltwonderful.ButwhenIthinkabout it, itmakesnosensewhyitevenworkedatall.Howcanapersonleaveherownself?

KG:Thoughtspoilsallthefun,doesn’tit?

Q:Laughs.Iguessso.ButIhavetomakesenseofit.

KG: This is the problem with us human beings. Receiving something is notenough.Becomingsomething isnotenough.Feelingsomething isnotenough.Nomatterhowgrandormajesticthatthingmaybe,wemustspoilitwithreason.

Wemustgraffitiourlogicacrossitssacredpresence.

Q:Idon’tknowanyotherwaytobe.

KG:Iknow.Itisahabitthatyouhavepickedupfromtheworld.AndasmuchasIwouldliketoleaveyouwiththefeeling,Iknowthatyouwilldriveyourselfmad until you have a proper explanation using logic and reason. So I willindulgeyou.

Q:Guiltyascharged.

KG:Youaskedhowapersoncanleaveherownself.Correct?

Q:Yes.

KG:Butforthosefewmoments,that’sexactlywhatyoudid,isn’tit?

Q: Idon’t reallyknow.All Iknow is that for those fewminutes, Ididn’tcareabout this person.And I feel strange calling her ‘this person’ because I knowthatthatisME!

KG:ButhowcoulditbeYOUifyoulefther?

Q:ThisiswhatIdon’tunderstand.

KG:Though youmay not know it in an intellectual sense, there is somethingwithinyouthatknowsthatyouarenotthepersonyoubelieveyourselftobe.

Q:Somethinginsideme?

KG:Yes.Pleasegrabapenandholditinyourhand.

Q:Okay.Ihaveit.

KG:IfIweretoaskyouwhatyouhadinyourhand,whatwouldyousay?

Q:IwouldsaythatI’mholdingmypeninmyhand.

KG:Andwhenyousay‘mypen,”whatexactlydoyoumean?

Q:I’msayingthatI’mapersonwhoisholdingapenthatsheholdsinherhand.

KG:Whatyouaresaying, then, is that there isYOUoverhereandapenoverthere.YouaresayingthatYouandthePenaretwodifferentthings.Thisiswhyyouusethedesignation“my.”Correct?

Q:Yes.

KG:Excellent.Nowdropthepen.

Q:Done.

KG:Whatdoyouhavenow?

Q:Nothing.

KG:Nothing?Whatwasholdingthepenamomentago?

Q:Myhand.

KG:Now, let’sdiscuss that.Amomentago,yousaid‘mypen.”Implying thattherewasYOUoverhereandapenthatisNotYouoverthere.Correct?

Q:Yes.

KG:Nowyouuse thephrase‘myhand.’This implies that there isaYouoverhereandaHandoverthere.

Q:ButIownthehand.

KG:Preciselymypoint.Someone isowning thathand.And that someone,byvirtueofthepossessivenounused,cannotbethehanditself.Isthiscorrect?

Q:Yesitis.

KG:Somyonlyquestion,then,iswhoisthispersonthatownsthehand?

Q:I’mstillconfused.

KG:Letmesayitinadifferentway.IfIaskedyoutopointtotheownerofthepen,wherewouldyoupoint?

Q:Iwouldpointtomybody.Maybesomewheretowardmychest.

KG:Okay.And if I now ask you to point to the personwho owns the hand,whereareyougoingtopoint?

Q:I’mstumped.Idon’tknow.

KG:ThisiswhatImeanbythefactthatsomethingwithinyouknowsthatyouarenotwhoyouthinkyouare.

Q:SowhatyouaresayingisthatIamnotthisbody.

KG:Whatyou justsaid ispreciselycorrect.But this isnot theangleIwish topursue because it relegates the discussion to an intellectual sermonwhich haslittlepowertochangesomeone’slife.ItistruethatyouareNotthebody.Andthat you areNot themind.But let us proceedwith understanding, rather thanfactualknowledge,shallwe?

Q:Yesthatsoundsgood.

KG: Nothing means anything unless it is in one’s own experience. Do youagree?

Q:Yes.

KG:Iamleadingyouonajourneyawayfromyourmanufacturedself.Andinordertodothis,mygoalisnottohelpyouescape,buttosee.Advisorsacrosstheworld,beitintheworldofpsychologyorotherwise,arefartoointerestedintreatments and solutions. Treatments and solutions are simply a balm thattemporarily soothes the pain. They cure nothing. The only thing that cures isUnderstanding.TheonlythingthatcuresisClarity.ThethingthatcuresisNotthesolution.ItisaclearandunflinchingexaminationoftheProblem.

Q:I’mwithyou.

KG:Yourproblem,byyourownadmission,isthatyoulackpeaceinyourlife.Youdon’tfeelblissorjoyonanyconsistentbasis.Correct?

Q:That’scorrect.

KG: I will state plainly that the reason for this is because you live as yourmanufacturedself.

Q:Tellmeaboutthismanufacturedself.

KG:First Iwilloutline it foryou.Thenwewillexploresomeof thedetails ingreaterdepth.

Q:Soundsgood.

KG: When you look in the mirror, you see a body and a face. You havecompletelyandtotallyaccepted thisbodyandthisfaceasYou.Youchoose todressthisbodyinacertainway.Groomyourselfinacertainway.Partyourhairinacertainway.Youhaveopinionsaboutmanythings.Opinionsaboutpolitics,society, abortion, finances, hard work, raising children, education, diet,philosophy, religion. You decide to walk a certain way. You decide to carryyourselfinacertainway.Allofthesethingsarestrategicallydesignedtoportraytheimagethatyouhaveofyourself.ThisiswhatyoucallYourPersonality.AllofthisiswhatyoucallYou.AnditiswhatIcalltheManufacturedSelf.

Q:Bysayingthatitismanufactured,doyoumeanthatitisfalse?

KG:Youaskawonderfulquestion.Naturally,ifsomethingismanufactured,itisnotinitsoriginalstate.ButIdon’twishtobederogatoryorcondemning.Iwantustowalktogetheronthisjourneytowardanorganicunderstanding.

Q:Okay.

KG: The problem with manufacturing anything is that it requires continuousmaintenance. It requires constant support. It needs to be looked after andcheckeduponandgroomedandtrimmed.Andinthiswayitverymuchbecomesa burden.My backyard consists of patches of lawn bordered by a fence.Andbehind the fence is a natural wooded area. The patches of lawn must beconstantly and intensely maintained. They must be watered with sprinklersystems and cut with mowers and fertilized and trimmed. The wooded areaneedsnomaintenance.Therainswaterit.Theanimalsplaywithinit.Thewindcaresses it.Nature assumes its care.And it is just asbeautiful as thecarefullymanicuredlawn.Withoutanyneedofmaintenance.

Q:Thatmakesperfectsense.But it’salmost likeyou’resayingthatweshouldnottakecareofourselves.

KG:WhatI’msayingisthatbecauseyouhavemanufacturedaself,youhavetoconstantlylookafterit.

Q:Howismymanufacturedselfnotmyrealself?

KG:Thevastmajorityofyourideas,opinions,likes,dislikes,andphilosophieswere not ones that you were born with. You acquired them like pieces ofclothing.Theybecamethescaffoldingforthismanufacturedself.Andeachdaythatyouawake,youhavetojumpintotheskinofthemanufacturedself.Itisarolethatyouplay.

Q:Howso?

KG: If someone says something against this self, you feel a powerful need toprotect it. If itdoesnotgetwhat itdesires,youfeeldisappointment. If it losessomething, you feel sad. If it gains something, you feel happy. And as I’msayingthesethings,youthinkthatthisisnormal.Andthereasonthatyouthinkthis is normal is because everyone around you also does the same thing. Fornormalcyisnothingmorethanademocraticmadness.

Q:SowhatshouldIdo?

KG: You ask this question too easily and too quickly, dear friend. I will notallowyoutofleefromthefullweightofthetruththroughanescapechute.Youdon’t seem to understand how much of a burden this personality, thismanufacturedself,hasbecometoyou.

Q:I’vefeltburdenedquiteoften.

KG:Youfeltburdenedbytheweightofsomeresponsibility.ButI’mspeakingoftheburdenofhavingtomaintainandtendforthismanufacturedself.

Q:Howdoesitburdenme?

KG:Becauseyouconstantlyseektosatisfyitseverywish,youliveinconstantanticipation.Becauseyouseek towipeaway its sorrows,youseekdesperatelyfor its happiness.Becauseyou seek tomaintain its reputation, you are acutelysensitive to thesharpopinionsofothers.Everythingthatyoudoisdonein theinterestofitswelfare.Ithasmadeyouaslave.

Q:Sothismanufacturedselfisresponsibleforallofmyunhappiness?

KG:Whois thepersonwhoseeks tobehappy?ThepersonthatyoucallYou.AndwhoisthisYou?Yourmanufacturedself.Doyounotsee?Eventheneedfor happiness is a great burden.Youwould not have this need if you had nomanufacturedself.

Q:Sowhatyouaresayingis theverypersonathatI’musingtoOvercomemyproblemsisactuallytheCauseofmyproblems.

KG: That is correct.When the manufactured self is created, problems are aswell. Themanufactured self is nothingmore than one gigantic problem. Andmanliveshisentirelifetryingtountangleamess,whenallheneedstodoistostepoutofit.WhenYOUareborn,miseryisborn.WhenYOUareborn,burdenisborn.

Q:Thatwouldbeeasytotakethewrongway,wouldn’tit?

KG:Noquestionaboutit.BecausemostwouldfeelthatI’mattackingsomethingabout their personality. But what I’m attacking is the very idea of Having apersonality.

Weareslavestoourselves.Andwethinkthatwearefree.Thegreatestfreedomthatwehaveisthefreedomtowalkawayfromourselves.

Iwillsaythisagain:Thegreatestfreedomthatwehaveisthefreedomtowalkawayfromourselves.

Theday thatyouwalkawayfromyourself,youno longerfeel theneedforhappiness.Forblisshasbecomeyours.

Why?Because there isno longeranyburden tocarry.There isnogreatmaster to

takecareof.Youareabsolvedofyour responsibilities.Youarenowofficially

offduty.Youarefreetodanceinthefields.Androaminthehills.Inbecomingnothing,youhavegainedeverything.

ThePathToAtmamun

Thesinglegreatestobstacle toAtmamunis thepresenceofyourmanufacturedself.

Thepersonthatyoucall“myself”isthesourceofallyourmiseries.Removethismanufacturedself,andyouwillbeasfreeasalivingGod.

IsYourLifeReallyALife?...Really?

YouspendyourlifechasingThings.You chase after success.You hope for riches.You strive for respect. You

valueaccomplishment.Why?Becauseyouhavenochoice.Theholewithinusissobig,thechasmsowide,theemptinesssounbearable,

thatwemustfillitwithsomething.Natureabhorsavacuum?Nosir.Naturenurturesavacuum.Itismanthatabhorsit.The man who cannot stand being a Nobody will strive to become a

Somebody.Butashechasesthisstatus,hefindsthatthisSomebodyhehopestocreateneverseemstosustainitself.

Therefore, hemust keep creating and re-creating this person.But try as hemight,hecannevermakefleshandboneoutofit.Itremainsforeverashadowonthesurfaceofthewater.

Andifhelooksbackathislife,hewonderswhatitallamountsto?Whatdohisaccomplishmentsreallymean?Whathavetheydoneforhimbesidesaffordhimacertainlevelofcomfortandasmatteringofapplause?

Tobethebestintheworldatone’scraftislargelyajourneyintotherecessesofone’sself,ratherthanajourneytowardastage.Toarriveatone’sgoalbrokenand battered and soul-less, no matter how grand the achievement, is to havearrivednowhere.

Asitisputsobeautifullyinthebible,Whatgooddoesitdoamantogaintheworldandlosehissoul?

Aman’sgreatestprizeishisownLife.Notthelifehecreates.Notthelifehehopesfor.Not the lifehemanufactures.Not the lifeheadorns.Not the lifehestrivesfor.

But the lifehewasbornwith.Thatdeep,nameless,pulsatingvibration thatspawnsbreathinhislungsandconsciousnesswithinhisbeing.

Thelifethatexistedbeforethelifeheattemptedtocreate.ImagineforamomentwhatitwouldfeelliketoWantForNothing!Tolive

your days invested completely in that which you love to do. Your art, yourpassion...

ButWithoutASingleIotaOfHope.Toliveyourlifeassomeonewhohadnoneedtoattainanythingelseforthe

remainderofhislife.Whatevercomes,letitcome.Andwhateverdoesnot,isn’tevennoticed.ForitwasneverHopedForinthefirstplace.

Understandthis:HopeDestroys!Ifwhoyouare today isnotenough, it isbecauseyoudon’tknowwhoyou

trulyare.AndtryingtomakeyourselfintoSomeonewilltakeyouevenfurtherawayfromwhoyoufundamentallyare.

ToliveaHope-lesslifeissimplythemostgloriouslifeofall.Toliveasnothing.Tohopefornothing.Tostrivefornothing.Themanwho lives in thiswaygainsaccoladeswithoutwanting them.And

hebecomesaPrinceofMankind.Iaskyou:IsitnotforeverbettertoliveasaPrince,ratherthanasaPauper?

LifeIsNotWhatYouBelieveItToBe

Doyourecalltheshapeofasinewave?Itiscomposedofpeaksandtroughsthatrecuratregularintervals.Asinewaveisaperfectmathematicalrepresentationofthelifeoftheaverage

humanbeing.Because the average human being lives his life according to Events, he

suffersboththerisesandthefalls.Thehappinessandtheturmoil.And do notmake themistake of believing that happiness and turmoil, and

pain and pleasure are opposites. For I assure you they are not. They are verymuchtwosidesofthesamecoin.

Ifyouarehappy,don’tgettooexcited,formiseryisjustaroundthecorner.Andifyouareunhappy,fearnot,forhappinessisonitsway.This is thepurgatoryofman.To livevacillatingbetweenoppositepolesof

emotion.LivinginThiswhilsthopingforThat.LovingThiswhilsthatingThat.StrivingforThiswhilstreceivingThat.

Mustitbethisway?Yes!Why?Because the events of theworld are precisely this. It canbe nootherway.

Someeventswillbeinyourfavor.Whileotherswillbetoyourdetriment.And

youwillcontinuetosufferthefrictionofboth.Isthereawayout?Thereisawayout.Butonlyforaveryspecificsortofhumanbeing.Thehumanbeingwhoseesthesinewaveforwhatitis.Andcaresforitno

more!Thehumanbeingwhoseesthestringsbehindthestage.Thehumanbeingwhounderstands that the events of his lifewill bring himnothing of any realvalue,oranylastingbliss.

When this sort of human being encounters something auspicious, he willlikely feel a surge of excitement. But hewill immediately recognize that it isfromthemind.Andthushisexcitementwillabate.

Whenheencounterssomethingtroubling,hewillfeelhisheartdrop.Buthewill immediately recognize that this too is from the mind. And hisdisappointmentwillsimplyvanish.

What thishumanbeingwillbegin tounderstand is thatLifehasnothing tooffer him. That nature has structured life in such a way that bliss is onlyavailableinthemostmundaneofplaces:ThisVeryMoment.Andnowhereelse!

Thatwhichappearsexcitingisacharade.Thatwhichappearsdisastrousisaswell.

We live in a world of shadows and mirages. Nothing is real. Nothing istangible.NothingbelongstoYou.Nothingisunderyourcontrol.

LifeissomethingthatistobeLivedratherthanmanufactured.But the Living can only happen if we live as a lonely traveler passing

through.Ratherthanonewhobuildshishomeandsettlesdownwithinit.Youcanbuildyourhomeifyoulike.Butunderstandthatyouarebuildingit

onshiftingsand.And,assuch,itwillonedaycrumble.Andyourso-calledlifewillcomecrashingdown.

Liveyourlifeasalonelystranger.Asawandererfilledwithaweandwonder.Leaveeverythingasyoufoundit.Fornoneofitbelongstoyou.Lettheeventshappenaroundyou,knowingthatnoneofthemarehappening

TOYou.Andyouwillliveanequanimouslife.Youwilllivealifewithouttheburdenofhope.Ortheweightofdespair.Indoingthisyouwillhaveknownlifeforwhatitis.Andwhatitisnot.Andwisdomandequanimitywillfinallybeyours.

MakeYourLifeABenediction

IfItoldyouthatthisworldwasahallofmirrors,youwouldn’tbelieveme.

Norshouldyou.Foramanshouldnotallow“belief”tobehisguide,lesthelosehimselfinthedarkness.

It is important to look at the results. It is important to look at the state ofthings.Itisimportanttolookatthewaythingsare.

Andaskyourselfifyouaresatisfiedwiththem.Oneof themostusefulqualitiesofhumanbeings is also theirpoison.And

thisisthequalityofAdaptability.As history has shown time and again, a human being can adapt to any

circumstance and any condition. And while this may afford him a mode ofsurvival,itrarelyaffordshimamodeofLife.

Ifamansuffers,hebecomesaccustomedtothesuffering.Sufferingbecomeshis companion. And thus he spends the whole of his life looking for minornuggetsofjoywithinthisoceanofsuffering.

Thereasonthathumanbeingsdonotlivealifeofblissisbecausethisisnotwhattheyholdmostdear.Theireyesarefixeduponthetwinklesonthehorizon.Their hearts are fixed upon the drug of achievement. Their attention is fixeduponthesearchforhappiness.

They recognize that such things are fleeting. And thus they feel that theymusthavetheminbulk.

Whattheycannotcreateinquality,theymustmakeupforinvolume.Theyarehookedbytheoccasionalreward.Andthiskeepsthemboundtothe

world.Ifmy ancient brethren of theHimalayan snowsdiscovered anything itwas

thattheworldhadnothingtoofferthem.Experiencehadtaughtthemthatlivingintheworldwasakintowalkinginabigcircle,chasingshadowaftershadow.

There is a wonderful story of a young professional who went to see aHimalayanswami.

Swamiji, he said, “I admire your courage. For what a sacrifice you havemade.To liveasa renunciate.Tohavegivenup theentireworldand live inacave.”

Theswamilaughed,andsaid,“Mydearboy.Ioncelivedintheworld.AndIdiscoveredthat inchasingthisandthat,I livedinconstantanxietyandmisery.NowI live incompletebliss.Myeverymoment isanoverwhelming joy.Youhavechosentheworldanditsmiseries,andhavegivenupjoyandbliss.Tellme,youngman.IsitIwhoistherenunciate?Oryou?”

Lestyoubecomeafraid,IamnotaskingyoutoretreatintoaHimalayancave.Infact,I’mnotaskingyoutodoanything.Forthisisnotmyway.Iwillonlyaskyou this: Iswhatyouhave renouncedworth thatwhichyou

continuetochase?

IsthelifethatyoulivealifeofAdaptation?Oralifeofceaselessjoy?IfthereisonetruththatIhavelearned,itisthatunlessyoufinditinside

ofToday,youwillneverfinditinsideofTomorrow.Yourlifewillbecomeabenedictionthedaythatyoustopsearching.Foras

longasyoucontinuetosearch,youwillkeepsacrificingToday.Foraslongasyoucontinuetosearch,youwillbeboundtotheideathatthere

issomethingtofind.For as long as you continue to search, you will become in love with the

search.TheBiblesays,Seekandyeshallfind.Butperhapstheseekingitisspeakingofisnottheseekingintheworld.Buta

seekingwithinyourself.You see, once you seek inside, you no longer have the need to find. The

searchwillbeover.A man who pursues his passions and experiences his life with complete

boldnesshasnoneedtosearch.Hesimplylives.Hewalkstowardnohorizon.Forhehasalreadyseenbeyondit.This,myfriend,isthebenediction.Toabandontheworld.Andgaintheuniverse.

ThePathToAtmamun

Lifedoesnothappenaroundyou.Itisnotachronologyofevents.Perceivinglifeinthiswaykeepsyouontheedgeoflife.Askyourself:WhatdoesitmeantoLIVE?Andyouwilldiscoverthatyou’veneverreallyLIVEDatall.Lifeistobetasted.Drinkit.Immerseyourselfinit.Andexperienceitfortheveryfirsttime.

LifeIsTheUltimateAbsurdity

Whatisthemeaningoflife?This is on the lips of millions of human beings. And every one of these

humanbeingsisanadult.Haveyoueverheardachildaskthisquestion?Theonewhoasks thequestion is theonewhohasnot tasted life.Theone

whoasksthisquestionistheonewholooksatlifeasameanstoaparticularend.Formeaningisanintellectualconcept.Intellectaffordsasenseofsurvivalinthemodernworld.Butsurvivalissurvival.Andlivingisliving.

Thechildwhotwirls intherainhasnopurposefordoingit.Thechildwhoruns through the field does not run to get somewhere. The running and thejumpingandtheplayingisnotdoneformeaningorpurpose.Itisanexpressionoftheelationwithin.ItisnotdoneForjoy.ItisdoneOutOfjoy.

Youcantrytoorganizeyourlife intoneatandorganizedsections.Youcanlabelitandcategorizeit.Youcanarrangeitinanywayyouwish.Buttheminuteyouturnyourhead,itwillbecomeamorphousonceagain.Youcannotcontainitanymorethanyoucancontaintheocean.

A mountain breeze has no meaning. A floating cloud has no meaning. Asurgeofemotionhasnomeaning.Aglorious ideahasnomeaning.Successes.Accolades.Achievements.Feelings.Noneofthesethingshavemeaning.

Certainly,manwillascribemeaningtothem.Manwillsliceit thiswayandthatandlookatitfromallanglesinordertoReduceItintoameaning.ButthisisonlybecausemanisnotinterestedinwhatIS.HeisonlyinterestedinwhathecanMakeOutOfIt.

AndthisiswhythebulkofhumanitylivesaClinicalexistence.Itreeksofantisepticandmedicines,ratherthanundefinedaromas.

YoucancreateanythingyouwishInyourlife.ButyouwillnevermakeanythingOutOflife.Forlifewillalwaysbelife.Meaningless.Innocent.AndIndefinable.

Somewill readmywordsandassume that I amcondemning thepursuitofsuccessortheprocurementofwealth.Iwouldarguethatmywordsare,infact,providingevenmorefreedomtodoso.

Yousee,ifyourpursuitsandexploitsinlifehavemeaningtoyou,youwillbe

burdenedbyexpectation.Youwillfeeltheweightofstriving.Youwillfeelthepainofhope.Youwillbeexposedtoturmoilanddisappointmentandhardshipalongtheentirejourney.

Buddhistmonksspendsweekscreatinganintricatelypatternedmandalawithpainstakingdetail.Millionsofgrainsofsandare required.Andanunwaveringfocustoexacteverydetail.Andwhenitiscompleteisabeautifulworkofart.

Whatdothemonksdoafterthemandalaiscomplete?Dotheycherishit?Dotheyputitintoaframe?Orsaveitasagallerypiecewiththeothermandalas?

No.Theydestroyit.Thisistheirwayofteachingthemselvesimpermanence.Andasstrangeasit

may sound, there is joy in freeing oneself from the attachment to his owncreation.Forattachmentisthegreatestbondageinexistence.

Climbthegreatestmountain.Achievealltheaccoladesintheworld.Becomethegreatestinyourfield.Achievefame.Earnmillions.

Andyouwillenjoyeverybitofthejourney,ifandonlyifyouunderstandthatnoneofitmeansanything.

When something has meaning, it becomes work. When something ismeaningless,itbecomesplay.Thejoythatyouexperienceinhoningyourcraftisthegreatestreward.Spendingyourlifeexactlythewayyouwishtospenditisa wonderful liberation. This is what sinks into the heart. This is the trueexperience. And understand this: life’s nectar lies in experience, rather thanreward.Rewardsfadefrommemory.Experiencesremainforever.

Alifeofwildabandonis thegreatest life.Leavepurposetothewind.Giveyourself to your life. Surrender yourself to your inspirations. Achieve all thegreatnessintheworld.Andbewillingtodropitwithouthesitation.

Thisisalifeofjoy.Thisisalifeoffreedom.

LifeIsNotAWishingWell

Thebiggestproblemthatweashumanbeingsfaceisnotunderstandinglife.Webuild our homes on fault lines and we suffer the inevitable earthquakes thatresult.

Lifeisawildbeast.Itisasitis.Forallhumanbeings.Atonce,uglyandbeautiful.Ithasneverbeentamed.Itwillneverbetamed.Themessages that surround us say that we deserve happiness. That life is

good.Thatlifewillgiveuswhatweaskifwearewillingtoworkforit.

Myfriend,lifewillnotgiveyouanything.Notbecauseitisevilorcruel.Butbecauseithasnotthecapacitytogive.Itis

simplythere.Itcanbeexperienced.Itcanbedrank.Itcanbeexplored.Butitisnotawishingwell.Itissimplytheretodowithasyouplease.Itisatempestthatwealltravelthrough.Theproblemsarisewhenwethink

ofitasourfriend.Orwhenwebelievethatitshouldbegentle.Life is as rawasall forcesofnature.Andwhatweperhapsmust realize is

thatoursufferingcomesfromexpectingittobethatwhichitcanneverbe.Eachmomentbreathedisamomentlived.Toexperiencelifeineverybreath.

Justasitis.Knowingthis,perhapswecanmoveforward.

LifeIsNotWhatYouThink

Life...We attempt to make meaning out of it. We attempt to shape it into

significance.We attempt to adorn it with ideals. We attempt to look into it and find

ourselves.We are all such fools. Yet we think we are wonderfully intelligent. We

marvelatourcleverness.Webelieveweunderstandlife.Wedonot.Life has never had anymeaning. Themeaning that one finds in life is the

meaningheascribestoit.Life is simply a joke. An absurdity. A non-linear, haphazard, and

unpredictabletrailthatisfertilefortheimaginationofhallucinatoryhumanbeings.

LifeisaRorschach.Youcanseeinitwhatyouwish.Itisamirage.Alwaystemptingustoseesomeglimmeringlandscapeonthe

horizon.Ifyoudeconstructlife,andbreakapartallofthepiecesandlookatit,bitby

bit, you realize that it is not what you thought it was. Instead of pages ofprophecyandsignificanceandbiography,you find the intelligiblegibberishofaninfanttappingonthekeysofatypewriter.

You’vebeenchasingaghost,myfriend.Whenthingsweregoingwell, life

had no intention of treating you right. And when things were sour it had nointentionoftreatingyouill.Theeventsthatsurroundusjustsurroundus.

Thereisnograndplan.Andthereneverwasone.Thereisjustanopenfielduponwhichtoplay.By all means, build your house. But understand that it will be a house of

cards.By allmeans,make yourmark.But understand that someonewill one day

eraseit.By all means, change the world. But understand that after you die, it will

changeback.Iamnotapessimist.NoramIanoptimist.Iamaseeker.Mywayisthewayoftruth.InanyforminwhichIcanfindit.

IwilltellyoufirmlythatthatwhichIknowpalesincomparisontothatwhichIdonot.

ButthismuchIknow:Lifeisnotwhatyouthinkitis.Whatislife?Lifeistheleafthatfallsandtumblesontoabedofleaves.Lifeisthedogthatbarksinthedistance.Lifeisabreezewhichblowsthroughyourhair.Lifeistheverythingthatyouignoreeveryday.Lifeisthemostinsignificanteventofthehour.Life is not a seriesof events.Rather it is the substrate inwhich the events

takeplace.We have a habit of looking at life in a certain way. We have a habit of

lookingatitinagoodorbadlightdependinguponthenatureoftheeventsthatweexperience.Buteventsdonotcolorlifeanymorethansmokecolorsthesky.

Perhapsthegreatestrealizationwecanhaveisthatwearefreetodowhateverwewish.Butinordertoremaininthisfreedom,wemustdiscardthenotionofsignificance.

Myfriend,therewasadaythatyouwerenothere.Andtherewillsoonbeadaywhenyouareno longerhere.Andonceyourealizethis,youwillunderstandthatallthereislefttodoisplay.

Playwith yourwork. Playwith your kids. Playwith yourwife. Playwithyoursurroundings.Playwithyourhappiness.Playwithyoursorrows.Playwithallofthosethingsthatyouconsidertobeyourmiseriesandmisfortunes.

Thereisnolinearpath.Thereisnodestinationonthehorizon.Ifyouwishtocreateone,playwiththataswell.

IfyouattempttoMakeALife,youwillmissit.IfyouattempttoCreateSignificance,youwillloseyourfreedom.

Andifyouloseyourfreedom,whatlifeistherelefttolive?

ThePathToAtmamun

Tointellectualizelifeistomissitcompletely.If youunderstand that lifehasnomeaning, the eventsofyour lifewill not

affectyou.Youwillmovethroughtheworldwithease.Foryouwillhaveacquiredthewisdomtolivelifeasapoetry,ratherthana

staleandconfiningprose.

WhyYourLifeIsFilledWithPain

WhatIamabouttotellyouiswhattheworldneverwill.Itiswhatyourparentsneverhave,fortheywerenotinapositiontodoso.It is what your churches, and your temples, and your priests, and the

motivationalspeakers,andthepsychologistshaveneverevertoldyou.Youhaveforeverbeenontheroadtopain.Andyouareheadedtowardmore

pain.Anditispreciselythisunderstandingthatwillleadtobliss.Itispreciselythis

understandingthatwillfinallyleadtoyourfreedom.Ifyoubelievethatwatercanbeextractedfromastone,youwillspendyour

entire lifechiselingawayat thatstone.But ifyoudoso,youwillhavewastedyourlife.Forthestonecannotgiveyouwhatitdoesnothave.

You believe that your life is supposed to be filled with joy. And withsatisfaction.Andwithpeace.Andwithfreedom.

Andbecauseyoubelieve this, you lookhere and there.Youenter into thisrelationship and that relationship. You move from one city to another. Youtransferfromonejobtothenext.

You trymeditation.You speak to priests.And go to the church.And readself-helpbooks.Andwatchmotivationalspeeches.

Andalthoughyouveryoccasionallytasteadropofjoy,itsoonretreatsintoafamiliarfeelingofdisappointmentandanxiety.

Why?Becauseyouhaveneverbeentoldthetruth.Andevenifbysomechanceyou

were,younevertrulyunderstoodit.ThelifethatyouarecurrentlylivingisalifeofEvents.Oneafteranother.A job interview.Achancemeeting.Abridal shower.A run-inwitha store

clerk. An upcoming deadline. An encounter with your son or daughter. Apromotion.Andsoon.

Such are the events that surround you. Such are the events that give youanxietyandhappinessanddisappointmentandfearandstressandhope...

Iftheeventdoesnotgoinyourfavor,itwillleadtopainImmediately.Iftheeventgoesinyourfavor,itwillleadtopainTomorrow.

Whythelatter?

Because you liveWithin this construct known as yourMind, you look atthingsthroughTheMind’sEye.Andsincethemind,byitsverynature,cannotbesatisfied,achievementonlyleadstotheNeedformoreachievement.

Moneyleadstotheneedformoremoney.Sorrowleadstotheneedformorehappiness.Andhappinessleadstotheneedforevenmorehappiness.

Insuchanexistencethereisnosuchthingascontentment.Forcontentmentismind’skryptonite.

TheMindlivesforTomorrow.Foritsimplycannotlivetoday.Yourentirelife,nomatterhowdeepandsignificantyoumaythinkittobe,is

essentiallyafrenziedrushtowardPeace.ButyouwillNeverfindpeace.Never!Why?Because for as long as you believe that This LifeOfYourswill give you

peace,youwillcontinuetosearchforpeaceintheeventsthatyouencounter.Butthoseeventsarefleeting.Andthusyoursenseofpeaceisaswell.

Theonlyhumanbeingthatdiscoverslastingpeaceistheonewhofinallyseesthroughthegame.Theonewhofinallyunderstandswhatliesbehindthecurtain.Theonewhopiecestogetherthebitsandpiecesofthispuzzleofpastlifeevents.

Andwhenhesincerelydoes,heorshebegins to laugh.Forhesees thathehasbeenattemptingtoextractwaterfromastone.

Mydear friend, this life canofferyounothingbutpain.Youhave lived inpainandmiseryforallyourlife.Mostpeopledonotevenrealizethis.Andthustheyliveimprisonedforever.

But this is your only chance at freedom. For when you see that life isinherently and fundamentally full of strife, pain, disappointment, anxiety, andmisery,youwillstoplookingforblisswithintheeventsofyourlife.

Youwillstopattemptingto“replace”negativethoughtswith“positive”ones.You will stop attempting to “reframe” the pain into something morepsychologicallypalatable.

Andwhenthisunderstandingseepsintoyourbones,youwillsee“yourlife”forwhatitis.

AndyouwillperhapsforthefirsttimeinyourlifebegintoactuallyLive.Youwill begin to live inside this verymoment. Not because of silly little

prescriptions such as “mindfulness” but because you fundamentally will haveunderstoodthattoliveanywhereelseissimplyalie.

Why would you go anywhere else if you no longer believed that that“somewhereelse”hadnothingtogiveyou?

YouwillExperienceyour children.YouwillExperience the slight bend in

the road.And thegentle slopeof themountain.And thewayward twirlof theleafasitfallsontothesurfaceofwetstones.

Your lifewillbecomeabenediction.Andyouwillhavediscovered the lifethatnaturehasalwayslived.

Andtheonethatithasalwaysintendedforyoutolive.

ThePathToAtmamun

Prescriptionssuchaspositivity,mindfulness,optimism,andhappinessaretraps.Theywillkeepyouinvestedinanactivity,anundertaking,a“doing”ofsome

sort.Ifyoutrytobemindful,youwillneverleavethemind.Ifyouchaseafterhappiness,youwillattractunhappiness.If you convert negative thoughts intopositive ones, youwill be converting

fortherestofyourlife.PeaceisnotknownEventually.ItmustbehadNow!Noprescriptions.Notricks.Nopotions.Notechniques.SimplyUnderstanding.Simplyseeingthegameyou’vebeenplayingforyourentirelife.Thisandthisalonewillleadyouwhereyouhavealwayswantedtogo.

HumanBeingsWereNotMeantToBeWorkers

There is a famous story of a lion cubwho lost hisway and found a group ofsheep.Ashelivedwiththesheep,hebecameasheep.Hebegantowalklikeoneandmakesoundslikeone.Untilonedayalionnoticedthisstrangesightandheaskedthecubwhathewasdoing.Thecubexplainedthathewasasheep.Theliontookhimtoanearbylakeandaskedhimtolookathisreflection.Thecubsuddenlyrealizedthathewasalion.Anduponrealizingthis,hebegantoroar.

In thisworld, there isanenormousvalueplacedupongettinga“job.”Mentoilinlaborinexchangefora“paycheck.”Thisisconsideredtobeanhonorableway to live.And it isconsideredhonorablebecause it iscomparedagainst theindividualwhoisgiventosloth,andadependenceupongovernmentassistanceorhandoutsforhisexistence.

Itistruethatthemanwhoisgiventoslothanddependencyisdeplorable.Butitisalsotruethatthemanwhotoilsinexchangeforapaycheckisaslave.Somewill consider my words harsh. Some will consider it an affront against theworkingclass.It isimportanttounderstandthatIamalsoguiltyofthisaffrontagainstmyownhumanity.AndIamonthemend.

A“job”isaninsulttoahumanbeing.Forahumanbeingisaprinceofmen.Heisakingofexistence.

Wehavelostourway.Andhavetakencomfortinthecompanyofsheep.Andthetimehascomeforustolookatourownreflection.

The man who is in love with his trade is not a worker. He is an artist.Whether hemakes amillion dollars or a thousand, he is living in accordancewithhisnature.Andthushisdaysarefilledwithjoy.

Themanwhoworks“foraliving”andwhoisnotinterestedinwhathedoes,isa laborer.Itmattersnot ifhehasacorneroffice,foursecretaries,andafivemilliondollarsalary.Heisinsultingthegloryofhisowncreation.

Youmaytellmeyoursentimentalstoryofthefamilythatyoumustsupportandthechildrenthatyoumustfeed.Butitwillfallondeafears.Forthegreatestnourishmentthatyoucangiveyourchildrenisaninspirationalrolemodelwhosetsthestagefortheirownfuture.

Food is overrated.Man is hungry for inspiration.Man is hungry for inner

abundance.Manishungryfortherealizationofhistruepotential.Manishungrytoretaintherightofhiskingship.Your“job”mayindeedearnyoualiving,butitwillnotearnyoualife.

Itmayput foodonyourtable,but itwillnotnourishyou.Itmayprovideyouwithdrink,butitwillnotquenchyourthirst.

Itwillsimplyallowyoutosurvive.And,mydearfriend,youweremeantforsomuchmorethanthat.

Iwill tellyou todopreciselywhat the religionsand theholymenforbid. Iwill tell you to achieve. I will tell you to find your talents. I will tell you toexploreyourabilities.Iwilltellyoutomakeanameforyourself.Iwilltellyoutomakemillions.Iwilltellyoutoliveinluxury.

BecauseyouareaKing!Somewillsaythatrichpeopleareunhappy.Andthatasuccessfulpersonis

notalwayscontent.Idonotdiscountthevalidityofthisclaim.In response to this Iwill say that I am not advocating a life of success or

riches.Iamnotsayingthatoneshouldseekthesethings.NoramIsayingthatoneshouldnotseekthesethings.Yousee,itseemstobeatrendintheworldofspiritualitytodiscountalifeofcomfortandsettleforalifeofpoverty.Thereisalongtraditioninspiritualitytodemonizewealth.

Ibelievethatthisphilosophyismisguided.AndthereasonthatIbelievethisisbecauseitspeaksonlyapartialtruth.MoneyisNottherootofallevil.Firstly,ithasnothingtodowithgoodversusevil.Foritisnotaquestionofgoodorevil.Itisaquestionofjoyandmisery.

Therearejustasmanymiserablepeopleonthespiritualpathasthereareontheworldlypath.Ifwearegoingtodiscusswealthandsuccessanditsrelationtobliss,letususethehonesttruth,ratherthanjudgmentandcondemnation.

Whatistheunbiasedhonesttruth?Theunbiasedhonesttruthisthis:Wealth,success,andluxurydonotharma

man.WhatharmsamanistheAttachmenttothesethings.Ifamanbecomesgreatlysuccessfulandaccumulatesatreasurechestfullof

wealth, he is not the worst for it. But if he is attached to these things, he isdoomed.

Andwhat is rarelymentioned isalso this:Themanwho isAttached to theideaofachievingspiritualityisequallydoomed.

Attachmentispoison.Attachmentisthesourceofallmisery.Attachmenttomoney,fame,ego,success,spirituality.Evenattachmenttofamilyandfriends.

Attachment is the antithesis of life.Attachment is the great death.A deathgreaterthandeathitself.

Man is a king.But he believes that he is a beggarwhomustwork toward

becoming a king. And because he believes this, he lives his entire life as abeggar.

The king is not the onewho possesseswealth.The king is the onewho iswhilst possessing it, remains unattached to it. Because he does not feel anintimateownershipofit,heisnotownedbyit.

AkingisnotakingBecauseofhisriches.AkingisakingDespitehisriches.Therefore,whenamantakesprideinbeingaworkerorforhavinga“job”for

thepurposeof receivingapaycheck,he is abeggar.Hemayearna six figuresalary.Butheremainsabeggar.

Manywillprotestthisstatement.Theywillsaythatitishonorabletoprovideforone’sfamily.Theywillsaythathavingajobinordertosupportthefamilyisasourceofprideandresponsibility.

To this Iwill respond in the followingway.Everyman in thisworldhasatalent.Andthevastmajorityofthemhavebeentaughttoignoreit.

Isthere“pride”inthis?Doesthisshowa“responsibility”towardone’sownSelf?

On the airplane, we are told to secure our oxygen masks before we helpanother with their oxygen mask. This is beautifully symbolic. For the worldteachesusexactlytheopposite.Anditisforthisreasonthatmansuffocatesinaworldfilledwithoxygen.

Unless a man first helps himself, he cannot really help another. AsShakespearesaid,ToThineOwnSelfBeTrue.Unlessyouaretruetoyourself,you cannot possibly be true to another. Unless you first help yourself, youcannotpossiblyhelpanother.

I receivemany telephonecallsandemails frompeoplewhoaskmehowtobecomeasuccess.Theytellmethattheyaretiredoftheirjob.Theysaythattheywishtodoworkwhichfulfillsthembuttheydon’tknowwheretobegin.

Ihavewrittenaboutthisoften.AndIwillsaythatwhenamanasksmesuchaquestion,heisbeingdisingenuouswithme,anddishonestwithhimself.IfIsetyourhouseonfire,youwouldnotsitamidsttheinfernoandaskmewhattodo.Youwould surrender toyour instinctsanddoanythingandeverything to saveyourself.

ThepersonwhoasksmeHowtodosomething isnotserious.Heissimplylookingforsolace.Heislookingforsomeonetosympathizewithhisplight.Heislookingforsomeonetotellhimthat it isOkaythathedidnotspendhislifeexploringanddiscoveringthetalentsthatnaturebestoweduponhim.

IfIgavethismanadviceonHowtobecomeasuccess,Iwouldbecomeanaccomplice.Andinbecominganaccomplice,Iwouldservetokeephimexactlywhereheis.Foreach“answer”thatIwouldgivehimwouldonlyemboldenhim

to ask more questions. And he would ask and ask and ask, all the whileremainingexactlywhereheis.Thisis,infact,hisclevergame.Toaskasmanyquestions andHow’s as possible so as to free himself from the guilt of doingnothing,andgranthimselftheluxuryofstayingexactlywhereheis.

Iwillnothelpamanremainabeggar.Iwillapplaudhimwhenherecognizesthatheisone.AndIwillembracehimwhenhesincerelydecidestowalktowardhisownKingship.

Oncethisdecisionismade,togetherwewillcreateapathforhim.Ajourneytowardthatwhichisrightfullyhis.Butonlyoncehesincerelydecides.Andnotonemomentsooner!

Idonot condemnaman forhavinga job. I chastisehim forbelievingthatthisisallheisworth.IcallhimoutforhisunwillingnesstoexaminehisinteriorityanddiscoverthatheisaPrinceoftheearthlykingdom.

There areglorious talents that areuniqueonly toYou.Fornaturedoesnotmakecarboncopies.And schools and societies insistuponnothingbut carboncopies.

Onedayyouwilldie.Andwhenyouareinyourfinaldays,howyouwillyoufeelwhenyourealizethatyouspentyourlifeasa“worker?”HowwillyoufeelwhenyourealizethatyouhavewastedyourentirelifeneverhavingexploredthetalentsthatweremeantonlyforYou?Howwillyoufeelwhenyoudiscoverthatyouhaveleftyourrichesonthetable?Howwillyoufeelwhenyourealizethatyousoldyourselfforashilling?

Youarefortunate.Forthereisstilltime.Whatwillyoudowithit?

ThePathToAtmamun

Naturecreatedyouasanoriginal.Originalsareinvestedwithglorioustalents.Discover the talentwithin yourself that nature has beenwaiting for you to

showtotheworld.Youareacreator.Andyoualwayshavebeen.Giveyourselfthepermissiontocreate.Forifyoudonot,theworldwilltakeadvantageofyoubeingignoranttothis

fact.Anditwillputyouto“work!”

BecomeALegendInYourField

Manisaddictedtomediocrity.Itisinthewaterthathedrinks.Andinthewordsthathehears.Itisinthefacesofthosearoundhim.Andonthelipsofthosewhosurroundhim.

Heistaughttogeta“job.”Andto“improve.”Andto“makealiving.”Andto“survive.”

Thesesentimentsarerepresentativeoflivingatthelowestrungontheladderofhumanpossibility.Theyareascrapingofthebottomofthebarrelofhumanexistence.

Itissoincrediblydifficulttothinkofyourselfasalegend,isn’tit?Theminddoesn’teasilygiveintothisidea.Itfightsiteverystepoftheway.Butitdoesn’tneedtofightmuch.Forfeweverentertainthisideaaboutthemselves.Andmostofthosewhodo,endupdroppingitaltogether.

Ifyoulookatanyindustryyouwillseethattheyalldothingsthesameway.Ifyoulookatanyprofessionyouwillnoticethattheyallgetsimilarresults.Allof them follow each other. And while following each other, they hope todifferentiatethemselvesfromoneanother.Isthisnotadirectcontradiction?

Letuslookattheworldofprofessionalsports.Whatistheonethingthatiscommontoalmostallsports?

Parity.Each player is attempting to outdo the other by just the slightest margin.

Thousands of a second, a single point, a single goal, a single shot. And theydevotetheirlivestothepossibilityofvictorybyinfinitesimalmargins.Itisthesamewiththecorporateworld.

Letuslookatprofessionalgolfasanexample.ThePGATouristhegrandeststage in professional golf. Players on the PGA Tour have markedly differentstrengths,physiques,andtalents.Somearesuperlongdriversoftheball.Othershavegreatshortgames.Afewhaveboth.Somearegreatputters.Somecannotputt.Somearestrong.Somearenot.Somehaveyearsofexperience.Othersarerookies. Some possess a certainmental fortitude. Others cave under pressure.Theplayersdiffersignificantly in theirphysicalattributes,yearsofexperience,skill levels, mental capacity, perception, degree of determination, physical

power,andsoon.Anddespitethemultitudeofdifferences, timeandtimeagainthemarginof

victoryonthePGATourisASingleStroke!Howissuchathingpossible?The fact that few even ask such a question is further evidence of man’s

adaptability.Nomatterhowoutrageousaresultorsituationis,ifheisexposedtoitenoughtimes,heacceptsitasthenorm.HeAdaptstoitandfilesitinhisbrainas“normal.”

WhenIwasfirstexposedtogolf,thisamongotherthingsweresoglaringthattheyslappedmeintheface.Butthebiggerslapinthefacecamefromnoticingthatnooneelseseemedtoquestion,orevennoticesuchthings.Asanoutsider,there were bells and sirens going off inmymind. But to the insider, all was“normal”andstatusquo.

Itwasn’t until years laterwhen I beganworkingwith players on the PGATour that it became more clear as to why this was the case. The concept ofadaptabilitywasthegreatestfactor.ButwhenIstoodinsidetheropeswatchingthe manner in which professional golfers trained and how they lived andfunctionedinthisenvironment,thepuzzlewassolved.

Itbecamecleartomethatthetourplayerswerenotdifferentiatingthemselvesfromeachother.Infact,theyweregrowingTowardoneanother.

Humanbeingstendtobecomethenormthattheyareexposedto.Thisistheastonishingpowerofenvironment.

Youbecomeyoursurroundings!

WinningandLosing

Ifyouareanathleteoranexecutive,youmostlikelyhaveadesireforwinningandanaversionforlosing.Mostwillconsiderthiscompletelynormal.

Athemethatyouwillfindthroughoutthisbookisthatwhilenormalmaybenormal,butnormalisNOTnatural.

Whenthemindhasadesireforonething,ithasanaversionforitsopposite.Inthecaseofwinningandlosing,thedesireforwinningissogreatthatitcreatesananxietyaboutlosing.Ananxietywhichoftenturnsintooutrightfear.

Here is the crux of thematter:When themind desireswinning, its fear oflosing far exceeds thedesire forwinning.Asa result, there is intenseanxiety.Which,inturn,sabotagestheindividual’sperformance.Andoftenresultsintheverythingthatthemindfearedallalong:Losing.

Doesthismeanthatthisanxietyalwaysresultsinlosing?Of course not. But whether you win or lose, if your experience of the

situationwasfilledwithfearandanxiety,whathaveyoureallywon?Theinterestingthingisthatthereasonindividualswishtowinisbecauseof

thefeeling that itgives them.But inorder toprocure this“good”feeling, theyspendtheoverwhelmingmajorityoftheirtimesimmeringin“painful”feelings.

Arethreepoundsofanxietyworthanounceofpeace?Some individuals will say yes. And the reason that they will say yes is

because they have been taught by society to be masochistic. That one mustendure pain. That one must be “mentally tough.” That the road to victory ispavedwithblood,sweat,andtears.

I would argue that victory is something one experiences everyday, if heimmerseshimselfinthejoyofhiscraft,andinhissincerequestforlearningit.Blood,sweat,andtearsarefine.Butratherthanbleedingfromwounds,isitnotbettertobleedfrompassion?Ratherthansweatingfromamaniacaladherenceto“hardwork,”isitnotbettertosweatfromaninnocentimmersioninone’scraft?Ratherthantearsofpain,isitnotbettertohavetearsofjoy?

Iftheindividualwouldexplorehismindandlearnitspropensitiesfordesireandaversion,hewouldactuallybevictoriousmoreoften,preciselybecausetheneed towinwouldnot sabotagehis efforts.And the talent that he spent yearsamassingwouldbeavailabletohimwhenheneededit.

Thesameappliestoallthingsinlife.Ifweenterintoanysituationasablankslate,weareabletodeftlyhandlethesituation.Butifweenterthesituationwithlikesanddislikes,fearsandaversions,webecomerigidandtense.Andthusourspeechandouractionslackwisdom.

If our aim remains fixed upon cultivating Atmamun, we will becomeobservers of our feelings rather than “fixers” of them.We will be constantlyvigilantofourobservationanddocumentationofwhatfeelingsarearisingwithinus,ratherthanallowingourselvestoreact.Thusneithercontrollingthereactionnorrefiningit.

Forreactionsarisefromaparticularsubstrate.Ifthatsubstrateisdesire,thenourreactionswillbeunruly.Ifitisobservationofdesire,thentheywillbecomewiserastimegoeson.

SuccessIsAProductOfInnocence

Ithasoftenbeenthecasethroughouthistorythatthosewhobecamelegendsin

their fields were often recluses, loners, and misfits. They did not feelcomfortable in crowds. They lived an almost hermetic existence. It is notcoincidental that such a personality often achieves brilliance. For he is notColoredbythecontagiousmediocrityofapeergroup.

Becoming a legend in your field, therefore, is verymuch about one’s ownnature andhis comfort or discomfort in theworld.We are taught that it is allabout “hardwork” and striving and ambition andblood, sweat, and tears.Yetthereareliterallycountlessexamplesofthoseinanyfield,particularlyinsports,that are blessed with great talent but do not achieve success. Many of theseindividuals do “work hard.” In fact, they often work “harder” than theircontemporaries.Buttheystilldonotsucceed.Andwealsoknowofthosewhodon’tputinnearlyasmuch“work,”andskippracticesessions,anddoallofthethingsthatwearetoldleadstofailure.Andyettheydosucceed.

Why?Success arises from innocence or from a sort of knowing. It arises from

innocencewhenanindividualissodevotedtohiscraftthathegiveshimselftoit,dayandnight.Notbecausehewishestomakehimselfasuccess.Butbecausethe craft is quite literally a part of him. He simply cannot imagine doinganythingelsewithhislife.Hefeelsthatheisborntodoit.Hefeelsthatthisiswhat he was made for. And because of this intimacy with his craft and theinnocencewithwhichheapproachesit,hisskilllevelsoars.Andsuccesscomesrunningtohim.

Thentherearethosewhojustknowthattheywillbeasuccessintheirfield.They can feel it. It is in their bones. They can see it. They can taste it. Notmaking it is simply not possible.Not because they talk themselves into it.Orbecausetheythink“positively.”Theygenuinelyscoffattheideaofnotmakingit.Thisisnotartificial.Theytrulyfeelthiswayintheirheartofhearts.

Themajorityliveinaworldofhopeandstriving.Theylistentotheclichésand the endless motivational phrases that society tosses about. Hard work,striving, practice with a purpose, fake it till youmake it, believe in yourself,walk thewalk . . .These thingsaremeant for thosewhoneed tobehelpedateveryturn.Theyknowwithinthemselvesthattheyarelikelynotgoingtomakeit.Andinordertoabsolvethemselvesofthisfeeling,theydoeverythingonthe“outside”inordertomakethemfeeldifferentlyontheinside.

I once wrote a discourse titledHardWork Is No Excuse. Hard work hasbecomeascapegoatofsorts.Itisagamethatpeopleplaywiththemselves.Theywork“hard”inordertoprovetothemselvesthatWhentheydon’tmakeit,itjustwasn’tmeant to be.Because if they don’tmake it EvenWith all of that hardwork,whatelsecouldtheyhavedone?

Hardworknevermadeanyoneasuccess.Itmayhaveplayedacatalyticrole.Butitwasneverthekeytotheirsuccess,regardlessofwhatsocietysays.Itmayhave appeared this way. But it just isn’t so.We have evidence before us allacrosstheworldofthosewhospenddecades“workinghard,”butgonowhere.

Opponentsofthisclaimwillstatethatitisbecausetheydidn’twork“smart.”Orthattheydidn’t“practicewithapurpose.”Imyselfwasgiventosuchideasyearsago.Butlifeandmyownexperienceshavetaughtmethetruth.

Knowingcomesfirst.Devotionandlovecomefirst.HardworkMAYcomelater.Andforsomepeopleitneverreallycomesatall.

Idonotmeantosuggestthatonesitsonthecouchandsuccesscomestohim.WhatIamsayingisthatwhenendlessstrivingandthetoilandsweatareseeninthevicinityofgreatsuccess,theyaremoremethodologythanthecentralkey.

Themanwhoknowsthathewillbeasuccessmakes“hardwork”workfor him. To him it is a tool in his arsenal. Theman who does not knowWorks For hardwork.HeRelies upon hardwork as the engine and thevehicletogethimthere.Andthislatterinstancerarelyworks.

Theinsidealwaystrumpstheoutside.Knowingtrumpsbelief.Innocenceandsincerityareking.

Theonewhoknowsjustknows.Theonewhodoesn’tknowlooksat“theodds.”

Theonewhohopesforsuccesscreatesbackupplans,“justincase.”Theonewhoknowshasnoneedforabackupplan.Becausehesimplycannot imaginedoinganythingelsewithhislife,hesimplyhasnochoicebuttosucceed.

Evenamongthosewhoaresuccessful,however,fewbecomelegends.Forasuccessfulmanisonething.Alegendissomethingaltogetherdifferent.

Legendsarecreated from the inside rather than theoutside.Theyare thosewhosimplyseethingsinadifferentway.Theyareoftenrebellious.Theyarenotinhibited by the status quo. In fact, they seek to shatter it. And they feelcomfortablewiththeirideas.Eventhoughtheworldmayridiculethem.

Yousee,societyisagainstthecreationoflegends.Thissocietyisnotmeantforlegends.Itdoesnotbreedlegends.Itbreedsclones.Itbreedssheep.Itvaluesconformity.Andhailsmediocrity.

Ifyouseektobealegendinyourfield,itwillhelpyoutounderstandthatyouwillhave tobecomfortablebeinganoutcast.Foryouwillnot fit intothis society.And ifyoudo fitneatly into this society, there isnoway thatyouwillbealegend.

Society does not support anyone who goes against it. It only supports themasses.Itsupportscommonpeoplewithcommonthinking.Andthereisperhapsnogreatercontributortomediocritythantheconceptof“school.”Foreducation

isonething.Schoolisanother.If you seek to be a legend, bring to theworld something that it has never

beforeseen.Thereissomethinguniqueinyou.Fornaturemakesone-of-a-kindcreations.Societymakesclones.

Q:Dr.Gupta, I’ve alwayswanted tobe exceptional atwhat I do.But I sufferfrom constant ups and downs. More downs than ups, actually. How do Iovercomethisandbecomealegendinmyfield?

KG:Whatdoyoudo?

Q:I’maprofessionalgolfer.

KG:Whatsortofdownsareyouspeakingof?

Q:MyscoresarenotwhereIwantthemtobe.Theyarenotconsistent.

KG: If your scores are not consistent, thenwhat thismeans is that the personwhoisproducingtheshotsisnotconsistent.Wouldyouagree?

Q:Oh,absolutely.

KG:Fromthestandpointoftheexecutionofyourshots,whatdoyoubelieveisthereasonforyourinconsistency?

Q: I could say it’s my swing. But I know it’s probably my mind more thananythingelse.

KG:Whatdoyoumeanbythatexactly?

Q:Iknowthatthisisyourdomain.Don’tyouagreethatit’sprobablymymind?

KG: That’s much too broad a statement. Throwing pebbles into the Atlanticoceanwon’tgetusanywhere.Whatspecificallydoyoubelieveisyourproblem?

Q:Ireallywanttobegreat.Ijustdon’tknowhowtogetthere.

KG:Why,inyouropinion,areyounotalreadythere?

Q:Basicallybecausemytournamentperformancesarenotconsistentenough.

KG:Wheredoyoubelievethatperformancecomesfrom?

Q:Ireallydon’tknow.

KG: I applaud your honesty. This will save us a lot of time. You see,performanceisasideeffect.Andifyoutreatitasagoal,itwilleludeyou.

Q: I’ve always been taught that performance is the main goal. I structuredeverythingaroundit.

KG:Howhasthisworkedoutforyou?

Q:Notverywell.

KG:Performanceisanaturalbyproduct.Ifyouunderstandthesubtlenuancesoftraining,performancesimplycomestoyou.

Q:Canyouexplainthatplease?

KG: To be truly great, you must understand that the human body does notrespondverywelltogoalsorhopesorexpectations.ItrespondstoPerceptions.And themoreclear cutyourperceptions, themoreconsistentyour resultswillbe.Therefore,yourentire trainingplanmustbecenteredupona foundationofperception rather than technique. Technique training is like a bullock cart.PerceptiontrainingislikeaFerrari.

Q:SothisperceptiontrainingiswhatI’mlacking?I’veneverevenheardofit.

KG:Thetruthisalwaysrare.It isneverfoundinthemiddleofthestreet.It istypically found in remotecornersof theworld.For it requiresa true seeker tofindit.

Q: Thatmakes sense. So are you saying that everyone in professional golf isbeingtrainedwrong?

KG:Idon’twanttocallitwrongordemonizeanyone,foreverycoachtriestohelp his player in his own well-intentioned manner. I will just say that themannerbywhichprofessionalgolfersaretaughtisincongruentwiththewaythatthehumanmindperceivesandthehumanbodyresponds.Asaresult,theplayerwillconstantlyworkagainsthimself,ratherthanexploitingthenaturalgiftsthatnaturehasgivenhim.

Q:Andthisiswhysofewplayersareconsistent?

KG:Truegreatnessandbecominga legend isveryrare.And the fact that it isvery rare is considered normal by theworld, the society, the players, and thecoaching establishment in professional sports. If you train against the naturalgrainofthehumanbody,greatnesswill indeedberare.Ifyoutrainagainstthenatural grain of the supernatural perceptive abilities of the human mind,greatnesswillberare.Incannotbeotherwise.

ThePathToAtmamun

Whethersomethingispossibleorimpossibleisnotyourbusiness.Successandfailureareideasthatwillonlyserveasaburdentoyourquest.Rather than finding the thing thatyoucan imagineyourselfbecoming, find

thethingthatyousimplycannotimagineyourselfNotBecoming.

TheBurdenOfThought

Descartesfamouslysaid,“Ithink,thereforeIam.”Iwillsay,“Ithink,thereforeIamnot.”Thinking is a tool thatmancanemploy inorder to carryout anactivityor

reachaparticulargoal.Butitcertainlydoesn’tMaketheman.Andforthevastmajorityofhumanity,itishisundoing.

Thinking is a utilitarian activity.And, as such, it is verypowerful.But themannerbywhichitisexperiencedbyhumanityhasmademan’slifeaprison.

Q: I’ve been blessed with intelligence. And my thinking is a part of thatintelligence.Howisitaburden?

KG:Howdoyouusethelightsinyourhome?

Q:IturnthemonwhenIneedthem.

KG:Andwhatifonceyouturnedthemon,youwerenotabletoturnthemoff?

Q:Iwouldwasteelectricity.

KG:Andifthewholeworlddidthis,therewouldbeacatastrophe.

Q:Yes.

KG:Howdoyouusewaterinyourhome?

Q:IturnonthefaucetwhenIneedtouseit.

KG:Andyouturnitoffonceyouaredone,Iassume?

Q:Yes.

KG:Whatifyoudidnotturnitoffonceyouweredone?

Q:Iwouldwastethousandsofgallonsofwater.

KG:And if theworld did this, therewouldbe an evengreaterwater shortagethanwehavetoday.Therewouldbeacatastrophe.

Q:Yes.

KG:Howdoyouusethought?

Q:Thoughtshavegivenmemanygreatideasovertheyears.They’vehelpedmedogoodthings.Andthey’vehelpedmesucceedinmylife.

KG: I don’t dispute that. But when you are not thinking great ideas or goodthings,whatareyouthinking?

Q:Ireallydon’tknow.

KG:Areyouabletoturnoffthisthinkinglikeyouturnoffafaucet?

Q:I’venevertriedto.

KG:Howdoyoudriveyourcar?Pleasebehonest.Noonewilljudgeyouhere.

Q:Sortoferratic.

KG:Pleaseexplain.

Q: Ichange lanesquite frequently.Trying toget tomydestinationas fastas Ican.

KG:Whatareyoumorningslike?

Q:Likeanyone’smorningsIsuppose.

KG:Pleasebespecific.

Q:Fairlyhectic.Gettingthekidsofftoschool.Runningaroundlookingformykeys,whichseemtohavelegsoftheirown.It’sdefinitelyhectic.

KG:Andhowaboutwork?

Q:Busy,busy.Nodowntime.

KG:Andwhenyougethomefromwork?

Q:Makedinnerforthekids.CatchupontheworkIdidn’tfinishduringtheday.Getthekidstobed.

KG:Howmuchpeacedoyouknowinanygivenday?

Q:Verylittle.

KG:Howlittle?Q:Mostdays,Ihavezeropeace.That’sforsure.

KG:Whenyouaredrivingyourcar,youareinarushtogetsomewhere,correct?

Q:Yes.

KG:Whenyousit,youfeeltheneedtoDoSomething,correct?

Q:Yes.Thereissomuchtodo.Itneverends.

KG:Whenyouarehere,youwishtobethere.Andwhenyouarrivethere,youseektobesomewhereelse.Correct?

Q:Yes,butIdon’tjustgotherewithoutapurpose.Igothereinordertoaddressmyresponsibilities.

KG: Yes, I understand. But please tell me this. When are you here withoutfeelinganyneedwhatsoevertogothere?

Q:Isupposenever.Becausethereisalwayssomethingtodo.Theworkandthechoresneverend.

KG:Doyoubelievethatnaturecreatedyoutodoworkandchores?

Q:No,butIcan’tcarelesslyleavemyresponsibilities.

KG:Iunderstandthatyouarearesponsibleperson.Nooneisdoubtingthat.ThefirstwordinyourresponsewasNo.DidyoureallymeanNo?Orwasthatsimplyatokengesture,sothatyoucouldgettothepointyouwantedtogetacrossabouttakingcareofyourresponsibilities?

Q:Isupposeitwastoken.BecauseI’veneverthoughtofit.

KG:Let’s thinkof itnow.Iaskyouagain.Doyoubelieve thatnaturecreatedyoutodoworkandchores?Doyoubelievethatnaturecreatedyoutobeamule?

Q:Itwouldbehardtobelievethat.

KG:Howdoyoufeelaboutthefactthatyouhavelittletonopeaceinyourlife?

Q:Whenyouaskmepointblank, I think it’s terrible.But it’snothighonmyprioritylistwhenI’mfacedwithallthethingsIhavetodoinagivenday.

KG: Thank you for your honesty. I will now ask you this. If I gave you adeadlinetocompleteallthechoresandworkthatyouhadtocompleteandoncethatdeadlinewasreached,youwerenevertodothemagain,wouldthisworkforyou?

Q:No.Thechoresgoonforever.AndIhavetoworkinordertolive.

KG:Itistruethatonemustworkinordertomakealiving.AndI’dliketosaythatyoudoanawfullotofwork,butdoyoudoanyliving?

Q:Isupposenot.

KG:Accordingtothelogicthatyouhavepresented,theworkandthechoresandtherunningfromheretotherewillneverend.Andyouwillcontinuetodothemuntil you die.And youwill die having lived as amule.Never having knownPeace.

Q:Isn’tthisjustthewayitis?

KG:Yes.Forthepersonwhoacceptsthisdeal.

Q:It’sarottendeal.

KG:Thenwhydidyousignsuchacontract?

Q:I’veneverthoughtaboutitthatway,Iguess.

KG:Well,let’sconsideritnow,shallwe?

Q:Yesplease.

KG: The reason that you run from here to there is not because of You. It isbecauseofthoughtswhichtellyoutodoso.YourthoughtsarealwaysOn.Thelightsarealwayson.Andthefaucetisneverturnedoff.

Q:That’strue.

KG: The thoughts run wild within you. Flying from here to there. Thoughtsabout all things insignificant and foolhardy. It’s a circus of never-endingthoughts.Andwhileamidstthiscircus,agoldennuggetappearsintheformofagreatidea,thevastmajorityofthisthinkingisdegradingyourconstitution.Androbbingyouofallpeaceinyourlife.

Q:Butwhydoesthishappen?

KG:Becauseof thenatureofmind.Mindcanexist everywhere.But it cannotexistHere.

Q:Whatdoyoumean?

KG:Mindisfundamentallyarestlessanimal.Thisisitsnature.Itexiststoroam.It thrives from jumping about. And its currency is thought. Shall I tell you asecret?

Q:Please.

KG:DuringthoseraremomentsinyourlifethatyouwereHere,youhadclarity.You had joy.And the reason for this clarity and joy is because for that briefperiodoftimethatyouwereHere,youwerefreeofthoughts.Andbecauseyouwere freeof thoughts,youwere freeof themind.You’vealwaysbeen told to

fightforyourfreedomOfmind.Butthetruthisthis:thegreatestfreedomintheworldisfreedomFrommind.

ThePathToAtmamun

If you think about something as you are looking at it, youwill not have trulyseenit.

ThoughtstandsasabarrierbetweenYouandTheExperience.WhenoneExperiences,thereisnothought.Whenthereisnothought,thereisnomind.Whenthereisnomind,thereisAtmamun.

MindfulnessBinds.MindLESSnessLiberates.

Theconceptofmindfulnessisinvogue.Butdoesitmakesense?Isn’tthefullnessofthemindtheentireproblem?Are

nottheendlesssuccessionofthoughtsthesourceofallmisery?Thenewagecommunityhashung itscolorfulbanners toutingmindfulness.

Institutionshavebeendevotedtoitspropagation.Theyadvisethatpeopleshouldbe“mindful”ofeveryactivity.Tobeherein

thepresent.Toinhibitthemindfromdriftingintothepastorthefuture.Itisawonderfulconcept.Asinceredecree.Alogicaldirective.Andwhollyimpractical.Thosewho are so intent uponmakingYoumindful are doing their best to

avoidbeingmindfulthemselves.Whatiswrongwiththeconceptofmindfulness?The tenets of mindfulness are very much like the tenets of all self-help

philosophy. The principles that they espouse are sound and true.But the paththatitrecommendsleadsoneastray.

If you visit themultitude of yoga centers,mindfulness retreats,meditationcenters,andmindfulnessinstitutionsaroundtheworld,youwillseepeoplewhoareAttemptingToBeMindful.

Whileontheoutsidetheygiveanappearanceofserenity,theturmoilwithinrolls on. While on the outside there is stillness. On the inside there isrestlessness.

Youmightarguethatitispreciselybecauseofthisinnerturmoilthattheyareattemptingtobemindful.Andyouwouldbecorrect.Butifyouvisitthesesamepeople ten years later, they will still be afflicted by the very same turmoil.Becausemindfulnesswillnothaveworked.

Ifyouweretofollowtheeverydaylivesofpeoplewhopracticemindfulnessyouwouldnoticethattheyarenotenvelopedinpeaceandtranquility.

Somewho read thesewordswill believe that I am condemning thosewhopracticemindfulness.Actually,itistheopposite.Theindividualswhoaregivento ideas such as mindfulness are the rare individuals who seek to attainsomethingtrulyworthwhileintheirlives.TheyareSeekers.Andmyrespectand

sensibilitiesareperfectlyinlinewithTrueSeekers.Easternconceptssuchasthesehavebecomediluted.Andmanisattractedby

Form. The garb, the pose, the look, the walk . . . This has happened mostfamouslywith yoga.The yoga that is being practiced theworld over, even inIndiawhereitoriginated,isacosmeticproductionofdeep-seatedtruths.

Itisthesamewithmeditation.Andwithmindfulness.Whatisthetroublewithmindfulness?Andwhydoesn’titwork?The trouble with mindfulness is that it requires persistent effort. It is like

attemptingtoemptytheoceanwithateacup.On theonehandyouhave themajestyof themind.Andon theotherhand

youhaveahumanbeingwhoistryingtobe“mindful.”Even the term “mindfulness”makes little sense. Isn’t the entire problem a

fullnessofthemind?YouarealreadyFullOfMind.WhatyouwantistobeFreeOfMind.

Youdon’twantMoremind.YouwantLessmind!AfarmoreaccuratetermisAwareness.Thismakesmuchmoresense,doesit

not?When you try to be “mindful,” you are putting in constant effort to be

“mindful.”Andthemindiscomingatyouwithitstorrentsofthoughts,feelings,andemotions.Themindhasbeendoingthisformillennia.Whileyoujuststartedlastyear.

Whodoyouthinkwillwinthisfight?Youwill eventually tire.Themindwillnot. Itdoesn’tmatter forhow long

youtrytobe“present”or“mindful.”Youreffortsarenomatchfortheongoingengineofthemind.Itisnomatchfortheoceanofthoughts.Itisnomatchforthemountainsofemotion.

Youwill TireOfBeingMindful.And themind iswell aware of this. Themindknowsthatassoonasyouloosenyourgripforevenafractionofasecond,itwillfloodthesensesasithasalwaysdone.

Forhowlongcanyoukeepholdofatiger’sthroat?Mindfulnessissimplynotsustainable.Andthusitisimpractical.Is it not a more realistic solution to be Aware of one’s lack of

mindfulness?IhighlydoubtthatTheBuddhawas“mindful.”What he learned under the Bodhi Tree was not mindfulness, but

Wakefulness.Attempttobemindfulandyouwillremainasleep.Becomeawareofthemind’spatternsandyouwillawaken.Thosewho are attracted bymindfulness do so because they have not been

givenanotherway.Is there another way to achieve peace? Is there another way to cultivate

equanimity?IstheretrulyawaytobecomeAwake?IsitreallyandtrulypossibletobecomealivingBuddha?Yes.Absolutely.Withoutquestion.Whatisit?Atmamun.

ThePathToAtmamun

IfyouaretrulySincereaboutachievingFreedomandBliss,dropalltechniques.Foratechniquewillleaveyouboundtotechnique.

TheHowleadsonlytotheHow.ItneverleadstothedestinationoftheHow.Stopplayinggames.Dropallsolutions.Abandonallmethodologies.Dropall

slogans.Donotjumponthebandwagonofready-madesolutions.Fortheywillonly

takeyoufurtherfromthetruth.Andtheywillkeepyouentrenchedinmiseryandbondageforever.

If you are truly sincere about achieving Freedom and Bliss, youwill lookdirectlyatthatwhichispreventingyoufromrealizingthem.

Ask yourself, what precisely is preventing you from having FreedomTODAY!

Askyourself,whatpreciselyiskeepingyoufromBlissrightnow!AtmamunisapathawayfromAllPaths.ItisajourneytowardQuestionsratherthanAnswers.Dropthesedisingenuoussolutions...Becomealonewarrior...Andsetoffona journey to theplacewithinyourself thatyouhave forever

ignored.

No-Mind:TheGatewayToAtmamun

Ifthereisastateoflivingenlightenment...Ifthereisastateofotherworldlybliss...Ifthereisanundeniableandfail-proofpathtooverwhelmingpeace...ItliesinthegloriousstateofNo-Mind.It is often more productive to first look at the obstacles to a goal than to

directly lookforapath to thatgoal.For ifyoufind theobstacles,youfind thepath.

Whatistheobstacletopeace?Whatistheobstacletofreedom?Whatistheobstacletoequanimity?Whatistheobstacletoserenity?Whatistheobstacletorelaxation?Whatistheobstacletojoy?Whatistheobstacletobliss?

Mind!Mindstandsas the singlebarrierbetweenourselvesand the life thatnature

intendedforustolive.Yes,theverysamemindthatcommercialsaskyounottowaste.Thevery samemindwhich is the sourceof your pride.Thevery samemindthatsocietytellsyouto“develop”andbolsterandenliven.

Pleaseunderstandthis:ineverysociety,ineverynationpeoplearegiventhewrong information.Themessages thathumanity receivesareeithercompletelyfalse,or theyaresocryptic that it leavesfar toomuchroomfor interpretation.Eitherway,theyservenopurposeotherthantocausemantolosehisway.

Thereisnogreatermisunderstandinginthisworld,andthusnogreatersourceofturmoilthanthatwhichconcernsthetruenatureofmind.

Can themindbe a powerful force for good in aman’s life?Certainly.Butman never gets to this point. He rarely sees this face of the mind. He rarelybenefitsfromitspower.Rather,helivesforeverunderitsthumb.Andlivesalifeofslavery.

Thereissimplynogreaterenslavementinthehistoryofmanthanman’senslavementtohisownmind.

Itmattersnothowmuchlandanationaccumulates.Itmattersnothowmanywarsitwins.Itmattersnothowmanytyrantsitoverthrows.Thepeopleofthatnation will forever be enslaved by their own mind. And it is the sort ofenslavementthatnodictatorcanhopetomatch.

We are so enslaved by themind thatwe don’t even recognize thatwe are

enslaved.Themindplaysamagictrickuponus.Andthetrickissofantastic,sobrilliant,soingenious,thatitenslavesa

manwhilstgivinghimtheimpressionthatheisfree.Ouraddictionsandourvicesareanexampleofourenslavementtothemind.

Itisthemindthatisaddictedtothings.Andratherthanchallengetheaddictionandrefusetodothemind’sbidding,weascribetheaddictiontoourselves!Weinternalizeitasapartofour“personality.”

Youhaveneverbeenaddictedtoanythinginyourlife.Youhaveneverhadasinglepreference.Youhaveneverhadany ideal.Youhaveneverhadasingleprejudice.Youhaveneverinyourlifehadasingleopinion.Aboutanything!

Buthowcanthisbe?Whenyouwereachild,youwerebornatabularasa.Andsocietycouldnot

helpbuttodoodleitsideasuponyou.The ultimate teaching for any child would be to understand that

fundamentallyhe is life itself.To teachhimthathis thoughtsdonotbelong tohim.Thethings thathebecomesattractedtoarenothisattractions.Thethingsthathecravesarenothiscravings.AndthatthisistheonlywaytoFreedom.

As one begins to explore and to look squarely at the mind, he begins tounderstandthatheisNotTheMind!Butthisideaoftenleadstoconfusionandfright,ratherthananimmediatefeelingofliberation.

TheimmediatereactionisthethoughtthatifIamnotthemindandIamnotmythoughtsandIamnotmylikesordislikesandIamnotmypersonality,whoamI?IwillrelatetoyouthatitisfarmoreimportantatthisstagetounderstandwhoyouareNot.ItwillleadyoutofreedommuchquickerifyoulearnwhoandwhatyouareNot.For if youkeep subtracting, there sooncomes a timewhenyoucansubtractnomore.

Andwhenyoureachthispointyouwilldiscoverwhoyouare.Whenyourthoughtsfeellikeimposters.Andyourideasseemlikenoise.

Andyourpreferences fail tomoveyou.Andyourpride is easilydropped.YouwillexperiencethestateofNo-Mind.

Whenyou loseyourself in the activityyouare involved in, and thatwhichseemedtobeaninsignificantchorenowseemsliketheonlythingintheworld,youwillexperiencethestateofNo-Mind.

Somewill say that suchdescriptionscanalsobe indicativeofmindfulness.Andtheywillbecorrect.IdonotdisagreewiththeEndProductofmindfulness.Idisagreewiththeideathatmindfulnessisapracticalvehiclethroughwhichtoreachthisendproduct.

Whenwebegintoviscerallyunderstandthatwearenotthemind,webegintolookatthemindfacetoface.Andforthosemomentsthatwelookatthemind

face to face, we have transcended the mind. For in order for you to look atsomething,youcanonlylookatitifyouunderstandthatyouarenotit.Wheretherewasone,thereisnowtwo.AndthisisthebeginningofAtmamun.

Theworldhasbeentryingtogetyoutocontrolthemind.Andcalmthemind.Andtamethemind.Thisiswhyithasspentbillionsonacampaigntoutingyogaandbreathingandmeditationandmindfulness.

Butithasnotworkedforthevastmajorityofpeople.Nomatterhowmuchoftheseprescriptionstheyfollow,theyremainenslavedtothemind.Andthisleadstoevenmorefrustration.

Whyhasitnotworked?Becauseyouhavenotbeentoldthetruth.Youhaveonlybeenshownarosy

pathfilledwithfloweryaphorisms.YouhavebeentaughttofollowFORM.Andideas.Andself-helpjargon.

Wouldyouliketoknowthetruth?Verywell.Hereis the truth:TheMindCannotBeCalmedOrTamed.It

CanOnlyBeTranscended!And it is transcended Not through activities. It is transcended through

Understanding.Ifyouembarkuponasincerejourneywithinyourselfinordertounderstand

allthethingsthatyouarenot,youwillhavebegunthepathtotranscendingyourmind.Youwillhavebeguntocutthetiesthatbindyoutoit.Andyouwillhavebegunthepathtothesortoffreedomyouhaveneverbeforeknown.

ItisonlywhenyoureachthepointofNo-Mindthatyouarethenabletousethemindforyourownpurposes.

Understandveryclearlythatforaslongasyouarethemind,Itwilluseyou.AndwhenyoureachthestateofNo-Mind,youwillbeabletouseIt.Anditwillserveyouthewayitwasmeanttoserveyou.Andinthisstate,themindisthemostpowerfulforceintheworld.

ThePathToAtmamun

OnceyougetatasteofNo-Mind,yourpersonalitywillbegintodeconstruct.Thebaggagethatyouhavebeencarryingfordecadeswilldropaway.

Andyouwillbeseetheworldanew.YouwillsoonbeimmersedintheMindoftheSpirit(Atmamun).

YouwillliveinClarity.Therewillnolongerbeaveilorafilterbetweenyourselfandthatwhichyou

see.Youwill thinkwhenthoughtsareneeded.Andyouwillusethemindwhen

youneedtouseitforyourownpurposes.YouwillExperienceLife.YouwillbeFree.YouwillbeinvestedinAtmamun.

Meditation:WhatYou’veNeverBeenTold

Youhavebeentoldtospendtwentyminutesadayinmeditation.Totaketimeoutofyourbusydaytositandbreathe.Companiesnowhavemeditationroomsandyogamatstoavailtheiremployeesofawayto“de-stress.”

As I’ve mentioned, society only has the capability to reveal partial truths.Andapartial truthisjustasharmfulasawholeuntruth.Forit leadstogreaterfrustrationwhenthepartialtruthsdoesnotbearfruit.

Iwillalsostatecandidlythatpartialtruthswouldnotbesoreadilypublishedif there wasn’t a market for them. The masses are unserious. And thus theirappetiteforunseriousinformationisexploited.

Might sitting for twentyminutes ofmeditation give you a sense of peace?Certainly.ForThoseTwentyMinutes!

Forwhenyouresumeyourdailyactivities,youwillsuccumbonceagain toyour inner turmoil.Potionsonlywork for a very short time.They arenever apermanentsolution.

If you are serious about truly accomplishing something in this domain,understand this:Meditation Will Get You Nowhere. Meditativeness WillGiveYouTheKeysToYourInnerKingdom.

The unserious man puts in his obligatory twenty minutes of meditation inordertofulfillhisdailyquota.Buttheonewhoistrulyserioustransformseverysinglethingthathedoesintoameditation.Inshort,hebecomesMeditative.

Brushing his teeth is a meditation. Putting on his clothes is a meditation.Driving to work is a meditation. Losing himself in his work is a meditation.Talkingtohischildrenisameditation.Kissingthemgoodnightisameditation.Washingthedishesisameditation.Tappingkeysonhiscomputerkeyboardisameditation.

EverythingIsAMeditation.And when everything is a meditation, you have become Meditative. And

whenyouhavebecomemeditative,thereisnothingthatisdonereflexively.Andwhennothingisdonereflexively,itisdoneperfectly.

This,myfriend,isthekeytohumanperfection.Once again, themindfulness folkswill say that this soundsverymuch like

mindfulness. Are they correct? Absolutely. I have never contested the EndProductofwhatmindfulnesstouts.ButIfullycontesttheideathatmindfulnessisapracticalvehicletoreachthisendproduct.

When you “meditate” you are only inmeditation when youmeditate (andeven that is questionable).Whenyour life isMeditative, there is never a timewhenyouarenotinmeditation.

MeditationisNotanaction.Andtheworldhasbeentaught to treat itasanaction. And it is for this reason that it does not work for the overwhelmingmajorityofpractitioners.

Meditation is not about Doing something. It is not about Achievingsomething.ItisnotaboutBecomingsomething.

Meditation isaboutAllowing, rather thandoing. It isaboutStillness, ratherthanachievement.Anditiscertainlynotaboutbecomingsomething.

Please understand this:Meditation Is About BecomingLESSThanYouEverThoughtPossible.

Meditation isabout forgettingyourself.Meditation isabout losingyourself.Meditation is about killing themeditator. For themoment themeditator dies,there is only the meditation. And when there is only the meditation there iscompletepeace.

Ifyoutrainyourselftobecomewhatyouaredoing,youwillbemeditative.Ifyouallowyouractivitytoconsumeyouwhole,youwillbemeditative.

Herein lies the secret to creatingMasterpieces.Thedoermustdisappear!Foroncethedoerdisappears,hismasterpieceappears.

ThePathToAtmamun

Themeditationthattheworldistaughttopracticeisallaboutthe“meditator.”Itisabouttheindividualactivelyengaginginthepracticeofmeditation.Assuch,itisaDoing.

But the truth is that exploration of the self is a subtle realm. It cannot beapproachedinafashionsimilartocommontasks.

In this realm, the greatest currency is Sincerity. And the greatest tool isSurrender.

When any artist has had the performance of their life, itwas because theyhappened to dissolve into the performance. They simply disappeared. And

because they disappeared, there was no interference. As such, it became ameditativeexperience.

For as long as there is a “meditator” who is “meditating” nothing willhappen.

Oncethemeditatordisappears,allthingssuddenlybecomepossible.

WorldPeaceIsACopOut

Whydoyouhankerforworldpeace?Whatdoespeaceamongnationshavetodowithyou?

Thereissomuchturmoilinyourownlife,andsomanyfiresinyourdaytodayexistence,ofwhatconcerntoyouarethefiresthatgoonaroundtheworld?

Man is very clever. He attaches himself to high-minded ideals in order toavoid doing the work that needs to be done. He convinces himself that he isworldly and progressive and magnanimous by hanging on the coat-tails ofsocietalprinciples.Allthewhile,hisownlifeliesinshambles.

Thegreatest thing thatyoucangive to theworld ispeace inyourveryownlife.

If youwish to play games, by allmeans play them.But at least be honestenoughtoadmitthistoyourself.Admittoyourselfthatitissimplytoopainfultowork through the conflicts and the disappointments that pepper your dailyexistence. Admit to yourself that you don’t have the appetite for the arduousworkofattaininginnerpeace.Thenyouwillbefreetopickupyourpicketsignsinprotestofthisandthat.

Manlovesnothingmorethantoavoidthe immediate.Helovesnothingmore than to abandon the practical in exchange for the romantic. Hecontinually flows toward the path of least resistance. And it is for thisreasonthatheachievesnothingworthwhileinhislife.

Dropthisideaofworldpeaceandsetoffonajourneytowardinnerpeace!Forget world hunger and for the first time in your life seek to satisfy the

deepesthungersyou’vehadforyourself!World peace is simply amanifestation of the lack of oneman’s peace.

And foras longasmanseeks to“correct” theworld,hewillgainnothingandlosehimself.

Yourparents,youradvisors,andallofsocietyhastoldyoutobe“unselfish.”Selfishnesshasbecomeaterribleslur.Youaretoldtohelpothersandlovethyneighborasthyself.

I understand that these ideals sound good. But have you ever sought toexaminethemfortheirvalidity?

MayIaskyouaquestion?Unlessyouaddressyourownissues,howwillyouhave thewisdomtohelpanothermanwithhis issues?Unlessyouhavesettledthings in your own home, what credibility do you have in helping yourneighbor?Andforas longasyoucontinue to lookatothersbecauseyouhavebeentaughttobe“unselfish,”whenwillyouacquirethe“selfishness”necessarytolookatyourownissuesandyourownneeds?

For I promise you this: Unless things are in order in your life, you are inabsolutelynopositiontohelpanother.

If everyman andwomanwere encouraged to address their own needs andtheirownissuesandfaults,wewouldhaveasocietyfilledwithwisdomratherthanasocietyfilledwithideals.

Thewaytohelptheworldistohelpyourself.Notintheformofindulgence,butintheformofself-examination.Notintheformofgluttony,butintheformofself-reflection.

Man’s greatest gift to man is also his greatest gift to himself: The gift ofbecomingWhole.

ThePathToAtmamun

Ifyouareseriousaboutlivingapeacefullife,dropallmatterspertainingtotheworld,andpursueallmatterspertainingtoyourself.

Thestateof theworldwilldonothingforyou.Thestateofyour interioritywilldoeverythingforyou.

Yourgreatestprotectionfromtheworldisalsoyourgreatestgifttotheworld:YourPersonalPeace.

Afractionofdailypeaceinyourownlifewillbenefityoumorethananysortof“worldpeace.”

ParentsDoNotRaiseChildren

Parentingisthemostarduousrolethathumanbeingsareaskedtoassume.Itisthemosteye-opening,exhilarating,andtumultuousrideofahumanbeing’slife.

Itistumultuousbecausewebelievethatwearetoraisethechild.Thisisnottrue.Parentsdonotraisechildren.

Naturedoes.Naturedoesnotmakemistakeswithchildren.Parentsdo.But there is one mistake that nature has made with adults. And that is to

allowthebiologyofchildbirthtobegrantedtoalladults.Thisone fact has led tomore catastrophe andhuman suffering than all the

worldwarscombined.Achildissuchasacredcreationthatnatureshouldnothaveallowedhimto

behandledbyjustanyone.A child is such a grand possibility that nature should not have allowedhis

potentialtobedestroyedbythehandofman.TheancientsaintsoftheHimalayanordersaythatliberationdoesnotcome

tojustanyone.Itcomestotheveryfew.Foritrequireslifetimesofcultivationofcertaininnerconditions.Andwhenthesearemet,liberationcomes.

Nature was so careful with liberation. But it has been so careless withchildren.

I will state outright that unless a parent has achieved a certain degree ofwisdom,natureshouldnotallowthemtohavechildren.Theirphysiologyshouldberenderednon-functional.

Thevastmajorityofhumanbeingsintheworld,myselfincluded,shouldnothavebeengrantednature’spermissiontohavechildren.Forthisisthesortofon-the-jobtrainingthatiscompletelyunfairtothechild.

Most adults have not raised themselves yet. They have not understoodthemselvesyet.Theyhavenotcometotermswiththeirowndeficiencies.Theyhavefundamentallyunresolvedissues.Theydon’tknowwhotheyare.

Howcansuchaonepossiblyraiseachild?Theconceptof“childrenhavingchildren”doesnotsimplyapplytoteenage

pregnancy. It applies to the vast majority of human beings having children,

regardlessoftheirage.You see, a child is a mirror. The most stark and unflinching mirror in

existence.Andwhen the parent looks at his child, subconsciously he sees hisowninadequacies.Andinseeinghisowninadequacies,hecannotbearthepainofthem.Asaresult,heattributestheinadequaciestothechild.

Anditisatthisjuncturethatallthetroublesbegin.Foritasatthisjuncturethathedecidestodosomethingthatwillchangethecourseofbothoftheirlives:HeattemptstoFixthechild!

Heattemptstocorrecthim.Andmendhim.Andimproveuponhim.Andindoingso,hedestroyshim.A parent doesn’t have the wisdom to see beyond his own ego. And he

becomesintoxicatedwiththisnewlygrantedpower.Thisnewfoundcontrol.And this becomes his undoing. For he abuses his power. And assumes

omniscienceoverthechild’slife.Heteacheshim“lessons.”Andtellshimwhattothink.Andindoctrinateshimintoreligions.

Hehastakenthischildwhohascomeintothisworldcolorless,andpaintedhimwiththecolorsofhisreligionandhisnation’sflag.

Ifamanorawomaniswise,theywilllookattheirchildreninacompletelydifferentway.Theywillstopteachingandbeginlistening.

Why?Whoisthemostjoyfulpersoninanyfamily?Thesmallchild?Orthegrown

adult?In the familyunit, there is theadultwho ismiserableanddisappointedand

stressedandconfused.Andthereisachildwhoisenergetic,fulloflife,joyful,andplayful.

Letmeaskyousomething:Whoshouldlearnfromwhom?Shouldtheparentteach the child to bemiserable?Or should he learn from the child how to bejoyful?

Thechildseeseverythingasnew.Heseeseverythingasifitisthefirsttimehehaseverseenit.Theadulthasn’tseenanewthinginyears.

Shouldtheadultteachthechildtheacademicandstaleinformationaboutthisoldanduninterestingthing?Orshouldhelearnfromthechildwhathehimselfhasbeenmissingforalltheseyears?

Youcanrefertoallofthe“parenting”tipsthatfillthepopularmagazinesifyoulike.ButthesewillonlyaddressBehavior.

Butbehaviorisneverthewaytoaddressanissue.Toaddressanissuefromthestandpointofbehaviorislikeaddressingtheproblemsofatreeatthelevelofthebranch,ratherthanattheleveloftheroot.

Behavior,whether in the child or the adult, is the natural byproduct of the

person’s outlook, perception, and level of understanding. If you address thesemorefundamentalelementswithinthehumanbeing,thebehaviorwillchangebyitself.

Ifyouwishtoraisewisechildren,stopbeingaparent.Abandontheideaofownership.Forwhateveramanowns,hedestroys.

Doyounotseethatyoutreatotherpeople’schildrenfarbetterthanyoutreatyourown?

Why?Becauseyoudon’townthem.Butthechildrenthatyouownaretheveryones

thatyoutakeforgranted.The truth is that you don’t own your children. Parents are owned by their

childrenfarmoreoftenthantheiregoandtheirdelusionsallowthemtoaccept.Parentsareenslavedbytheirneedfortheirchildrentodowell.Andthiscausesanenormousamountofpainintheirlives.

Parents are enslaved by the need for their children to reflect well on thefamilyname.Andthisproducesanincalculableamountofstrife.

The truth of truths is what every parent will deny to their dying day. Butperhaps in their old age theywill finally allow themselves to admit themostpainfultruthoftheirparentinglives.Theonethattheyforeverrefusedtoallowthemselves to entertain.Because the fearwas tooprofound.And thepainwastoogreat.

Whatisthattruth?Whateveraparentdoesinthenameofhisorherchild,heisreallydoing

forhimself.Feelfreetoletlooseyourmockoutrage.Screamatmeforspeakingsuchan

unspeakablelie.Dowhatyouwill.Andwhileyouarelostinyourfitofrage,Iwillcalmlyaskyou:Howmany

hoursoutofeverydayofyourfamilylifearefilledwithPeace?Howmanydaysoutofeverymontharecompletelyfreeoffamilyconflict?Howmanydaysoutofeveryweekarefreeoffamilyturmoil?

Idonotmeantodemonizeyou.Understand,myfriend,thattheaccusationsthatIlevelagainstyouIhavefirstleveledagainstmyselfathousandtimesover.

Parenting is a role that the vast majority of human beings are simply notreadyfor.Becausetheyhavenotattainedtotheirownwisdom,theyaresimplynotequippedtobecomearolemodelofwisdomfortheirchildren.

Andunderstandthis:Achilddoesnotneedaparent’s teaching.Heneedsaparenttocreateforhimacertainenvironment.Andthisenvironmentwilldoalloftheteachingnecessary.

Ifyoucreateanenvironmentofpeace,thechildwilllearntoberelaxed.

Ifyoucreateanenvironmentofunderstanding,thechildwillbeopenwithhisproblems.

Ifyoucreateanenvironmentofsilence,thechildwillbecomeaversetotheworld’snoise.

Ifyoucreateanenvironmentoffreedom,thechildwillhavethecouragetofindhisownway.

Butinorderforaparenttodothis,hewillhavetofirstlearnthesethingsforhimself.

And once he does, he will be drawn less to the control and the ego ofparenting,andmoretothecreationofanenvironmentthatwillallowthechildtoneverlosehisway.

Theparent’sultimatedutyistonotmakethechilddependentuponhim.Theparent’sultimatedutyistoallowthechildtoneverlosesightofhimself.

ImagineThis...

Imaginethattomorrowmorning,yourchildwasgoingtoleavethehome.Imagine that youwere going to drive him to the airport.And as youwere

driving him to the airport you sat in complete disbelief that this time actuallycame.

Somewherewithin thecommonsensepartofyourbrainyouknewthat thisdaywasgoingtocome.

Didn’tyou?Yesandno.YouknewitTheoretically.Butitwassofaroffthatyouneverconsideredita

truepossibility.ImaginethatyouaredrivinghimtotheairportNOW.Youarethinkingofalltheyearsthathavepassed.Thenuances,thejoys,the

quiettimes,andtheconflicts.Andyousuddenlyhavethisurgetorewindtheclock.You have this painfully desperatewish to have just two years of that time

returnedtoyou.Eventwomonths...Buttheuniversesaystoyou,“I’mtrulysorry.Butyou’vehadyourtime.And

nowthattimeisgone.”What you wouldn’t give for another shot. What you wouldn’t give for a

handfulofborrowedtime.You think toyourself, “Mygoodness . . .All the time thatyouwasted.So

manyyearsflusheddownthedrain.”Andnow it is time to reap the benefits and the sorrowsofwhat you spent

decadesplanting.Allof thosetimeswhenitwasAllAboutYOU.Allof thosetimes that you sat on your pedestal and preached your silly doctrines. All ofthose times that youwere sobusy “teaching” that youdidn’t have the time toListen.

Being a parent is, in many ways, a burden. The burden of possessing toomuchpower.Andanyhumanbeingthatisgiventoomuchpower,eventhoughhemayhavethebestofintentions,endsupabusingit.

Inowbringyoubacktothepresent.Younowhavethetimethatyoubeggedfor.

Whattheuniversecouldn’tgivetoyou,I’mgivingtoyounow.Andasyou run forward into this rediscovered life, I hope that youwill be

acutelycognizantofthefactthatTheDayIsComing!

ParentsDon’tReallyLoveTheirChildren

Doyouloveyourchildren?Loveissuchaneasyword,isn’tit?Fourlettersthatjustslipoffthetongue.

It’susedjustasoftenashelloandgoodbye.Andfrankly,inthecontextofmodernlifeitmeansaboutasmuch.Ifyouhavechildren,youdon’tlovethem.Youcontrolthetimestheysleep

andwake.Youcontrol the things thesay, themanner inwhich theysay them,andeventhetonewithwhichtheyaresaid.

Youplantheirfutureforthem.Youmakethemaskyourpermissionforthemostmenialprivileges.Youcontroltheirbehaviorbywithholdingyouraffection(Iwillnotcallitlove).Youtellthemnottoembarrassyou.

You have free reign to speak to them anyway you like because you knowtheywillbequicktoacceptyourapology.Whileyouareslowtoaccepttheirs.

Thereissolittleresistance,solittlecaution,whenyouspeaktothembecauseyouaretheKingandtheyaretheservants.Until thedaycomeswhentheyarereadytoleavehome.Andforthefirsttimeinyourlifeyourealizethatitisyouwhonowstandsbeggingthemnottoleave.

Theproblemwithbeingaparentisthatthereistoomuchpower.Anditisinthe nature of human beings to abuse any power that they have been givenunchecked.

You treat them thewayyoudo, not because you feel that you should.But

becauseyouCan!Youtreatthemthewayyoudobecauseyouarelostinyourself.Youarelost

inyourownlittleworldofconflictsthathavelivedwithyouforyears.Youdonotlovethem.Notbecauseyoudon’twishto.Butbecauseyouhave

notyetcometothatmomentinyourlifewhenyouseeyourlifeasmeaningless.Andmeaninglessitis.

Whenyourlifebecomesmeaningless.Whenyoucanlive,insteadofaskingfromlife,youwillhavethecapacitytogivelove.Anditwilllookfardifferentthanitdoesnow.

ThefundamentaltenetofloveisFreedom.Theonewhogiveslovehasnoneedtocontrol.Heseesthehumanityinthe

humanbeing.Andheloveshimforwhoheis.Hehasnoneedtomeddle.Forhowcanonemeddlewithperfection?And,onapracticallevel,ifsomerulesneedtobesetforthewell-beingofthe

child, theyare set.But theyare set inclay rather than stone.And theyare setwiththechildratherthanagainsthim.

Foryourentire life,youfeel thatyouhavegivensomuchtoyourchildren.Butyouhavefailedtogivethemthatwhichtheyhavecravedfromthemomenttheywereborn.

Theydidnotneedyoutobuythemthings.Theydidnotneedforyoutotakethemplaces.Theydidnotneedforyoutoraisethemorteachthem.

What they neededwas for you to be somadly in lovewith them, thattheywouldneverfeeltheneedtoleaveyou.

Whattheyneededwasforyoutolookintotheireyesandseecreation.Whattheyneededwasforyoutogiveyourentireselftothem,andkeep

yourmindtoyourself.Thereisstilltime...Despiteallthatyouhavedone,theywillstillacceptyou.Donotkissthemonthecheek.Ortellthemyourliesaboutlovingthem.Or

fillthemwithyourhigh-mindedadvice.Loseyourselfintheireyes.Andfallcompletelyinlovewithwhotheyare.Allowthemtheprivilegeoffeelingthattheyareworthyofsuchlove.Allow

themtheintoxicationoffeelingthattheyareperfectbeings.In losing yourself in their eyes youwill give them the love that they have

alwaysgiventoyou.Andnothingwillneedtobesaid.Forwhatsortofloveisalovethatcanbereducedintowords?

ALetterForYourChildren

ALetterForYourChildren

DearChild,Ihavesomuchtoapologizefor.AndIknowthatanapologyissimplynot

enough.Butitmarksanewbeginningfortherelationshipthatbindsmetoyou.I’msorryforthetimesIhurtyourheart,forIwasblindedbymyego.I’msorryforthetimesIsawyourtears,butnotyourheartfeltpain.I’msorryforthetimesIconsideredyoulessthanme,forIwasintoxicatedby

myroleasaparent.I’msorryforthetimesIignoredyou,forItookyoucompletelyforgranted.I’msorryforthetimesIhuggedyouloosely,whileyouhuggedmetight.I’msorryforthetimesIshowedyoumyhand,insteadofextendingit.I’msorryforthetimesIspoketoyouwithoutlookingatyou.I’msorryforthetimesIexpectedyoutogive,notrealizingthatthiswaswhat

youhadbeendoingallalong.I’msorryforaskingfromyouthethingsthatyouknewnothowtogive.I’msorryforholdinggrudges,whenyouforgavesoeasily.I’msorryforteachingyoulessons,whenIshouldhavebeenlearningthem.I’msorryforscoldingyouforthingsthatIincitedinyou.I’msorryfornot lookingatwhoyouwere, insteadofwhoIwantedyouto

be.I’msorryforthrowingawaythoseprecious,lovelyyears.AsI lookatyounow,Isee theyears inyourface.AndIvownot towaste

anotherday.InowunderstandthatitisIwhomustlearnfromyou.AndwhileIhavenorighttoexpectit,mayyouhavepityonthispersonwho

wassoblindedbyhisroleasaparent,thathecouldnotseethechildinfrontofhim.

AndnowIamreadytolookintoyoureyesandlistenwithallofmyheart.For Inowunderstand thatyouhavealwayshadwhat Ihavealways longed

for.

TheWorstThingThatAParentCanGive

Parentsareinthehabitofgivingtoomuchtotheirchildren.Andmostofwhatthey give is not only detrimental to the child’s growth, but it interferes in hisdevelopmentasanindividual.

TheworstthingthataparentcangivetohischildishisMind.Thechild’smindisfarsuperiortothatoftheparent.Thisisbecauseitisnot

welldeveloped.Awelldevelopedmind issimplya trashbin that ismorefull.Themoreemptythetrashbin,thelessthetrash.

In giving his mind to his child, the parent passes on to him all of hisprejudices.Hepassesontohimthewayinwhichheperceivestheworld.

Thechildisbarelybornandtheparentstandsinwaitwithasuitcasefullofadvice.Thechilddoesnotneedyouradvice.Oryourhelp.Oryourdirection.

Thegreatestthingyoucandoforyourchildistonotinterfere.Itisthemostdifficultthingintheworldforaparenttodo.Butitisalsothe

mostimportant.Themind is the greatest burden known toman.And the less of yours you

givetohim,thelessburdenedhewillbe.And unfortunately, the place where the mind can have such a disastrous

influenceonsomeoneelse...Theplacewherehumanbeingshavecompleteaccesstothesensibilities,the

thoughts,andthefearsofanother...Theplaceinwhichcontrolofanotherhumanbeing’slifeisamostseductive

proposition...Theplace inwhichemotions,desires,expectations,andguilt are intricately

wovenintotheveryfoundation...Theplace inwhich the influenceofonehumanbeinguponanother canbe

detrimentalorinspirational.Sometimesneither.Butoften,both...Theplacethathasbecomethemostdangerousplaceintheworld...IstheFamily!Thefamilyisaplaceinwhichmindcollideswithmind.Eachsearchingfor

itsownplace.Eachlongingforitsownfreedom.Butwhatisnotunderstoodisthatthatwhichseeksfreedomistheverything

thatproducesenslavement.Whatmakes theconceptof familysocumbersome is thateverymemberof

thefamilyislostinasearchforsomething.Whatmakesthefamilysodangerousisthatnoneofthemembersknowswhatpreciselyitisheissearchingfor.

Thissearch,thisendlessgroping,causesthemembersofthefamilytocollidewith one another. Each member searching for something, notWith the othermembers,butThroughthem.

Thefamilymustbeunderstoodforwhatitis.Themembersmustunderstandtheir true state of spiritual evolution. Those who realize this can truly impartwisdom.Forthem,thefamilybecomesahaven.

Forthosewhobelievethattheyknow,forthosewhobelievethattheyarein

control,sufferingistheorderoftheday.Andendlessconflictthestapleoftheirlives.

Anditallbeginswithunderstandingthatoneisnottheirmind.In understanding this, the parent begins to hold his opinions and ideas

loosely.Andoncetheparentlivesinfreedomfromtheirownideasandprejudices,his

childrenwillbeabletolivefreefromthemaswell.

TheChildMustRaiseTheParent

Adultshaveturnedintoparents.Andchildrenhavebecometheirslaves.The problemwith parents is they think that they know. Perhaps they once

knew.Butthatwhichtheyonceknewis longgone.Andthatwhichwasworthknowinghaslongbeenforgotten.

Theparentlivesintheworldofyesterday.Hehopesfortomorrow.Thechildhasnohope.Forhim,tomorrowisanillusion.Thechildlives.Theparentdreams.Thechildisraw.Theparentiscalculated.Thechildisspontaneous.Theparentisrehearsed.Thechildlives.Theparentmakesalife.Ifthereissomeonetobeinspiredby,whoshoulditbe?Theonewhoisconditioned?Ortheonewhoisfree?Ifthereissomeonetolearnfrom,whoshoulditbe?Theonewhosearchesforanswers?Ortheonewhohasnoneedforthem?

ThePathToAtmamun

Lookintoyourchildren’seyesandseeallofcreation.Thisisallthatneedstobedone.Forseeingtheminthiswaywillgivethemallthelovetheywilleverneed.AndtheywillgrowupinthegloriousatmosphereofAtmamun.

YouAreFastAsleep

Youdonotliveintherealworld.YouliveintheworldofMind.YouliveintheworldofThought.

UnderstandwhatIamabouttosay.Andunderstanditclearly.Foritisnotasleight against you. It is simply the unadulterated truth: You Are ASchizophrenic.

Your existence is such that you live your entire day within a cocoon ofceaselessthought.Yourmindramblesendlessly.Itproducesthoughts.Thoughtsproducefeelings.Andyoureacttothosefeelings.

AndthisentireescapadeoccurswithinYou.Thereisnorealitytospeakof.Itisonlythesemblanceofreality.

Youhearvoices.Andyourentirelifeislostinafranticquesttoquellsomevoicesandaccentuateothers.

Thisistheplightofallhumanity.Youarenotunintelligent.YouAreSimplyAsleep.WhatdoesitmeantobeAsleep?Itmeansthatrealityislostuponyou.Youliveforeverinthoughtsofpastand

future.Youhope.Youdream.Youlament.Youponder.YouneverdealwithWhatTrulyIs.YoudealonlywithwhatyourMindTells

YouWhatIs.As a result, you are a walking zombie. You drive towork, and you don’t

rememberhowyougotthere.Youplaceyourkeysonthenightstandandyoudon’trememberplacingthem

there.Youspeakadozenwordstoyourneighborandyoudon’trememberspeaking

them.Your liveyourentire life inastateofEventually.You live forever looking

deep into the distant horizon. And every ship that crawls upon the horizongeneratesahopeinyou.Ahopethatthisistheshipyou’vebeenwaitingfor.

And if this isnotyourship, thenyouawaitanother.Andasyouwait,yourlifepassesyouby.

I’vedevotedmylifetoAwakening.

Awakeningmyself,andawakeningthosegloriouslytalentedsoulswhoseekmy counsel. These individuals have the world at their feet. Fame. Money.Accomplishment.

Buttheylayasleepwithintheirbedofriches.Thisiswhytheyseek“more.”Whattheyeventuallycometounderstandisthatthereasonthattheyhavenot

achievedsatisfactionorcontentmentorequanimityorpeaceorblissisbecausesuchthingscannotbeachievedthrough“success.”

TheycanonlybeachievedthroughAwakening.HowdoesoneAwaken?Byfirstunderstandingthatheisasleep.

ThePathToAtmamun

Virtually everything that you do every single day of the week is doneautomaticallyandreflexively.

Youquiteliterallysleepwalkthroughyourlife.But before you ask me “how to awaken,” you must acquire a heartfelt

understandingofwhatI’mtryingtotellyou.Catchyourselfinthissleepystate.Seewithwideopeneyeshowasleepyou

trulyare.Noticethateverythingyoudoiscompletelyreflexive.AndthenyouwillbeprimedtoAwaken.And there isnothing that can transform the lifeof a sleepymanmore than

AwakeningtoAtmamun.

YouHaveEverything.ButDoYouHavePeace?

Itisoftenthecasethathumanbeingsfailtoseethingsnotbecausetheyaretoofar,butbecausetheyarerightundertheirnose.

Inworkingwithcelebrityclients,forexample,Ihavefoundthatitisalmostalways the case that they spend their careers chasing something. But uponacquiringittheyarefilledwiththeneedtobeginanewchase.

Theworld thinks theyhaveeverything.But they themselvesfeelasenseofemptiness.

Uponcompleting their ascent to the topof themountain, theybelieve theywill see a vista of Truth. But, in fact, what they often discover is an endlesslandscapeofmountainranges.

Thisisthepredicamentofallhumanity.Humanbeingshavebecomeaccustomedtochasingmirages.Andthisis

whytheirthirstisneverquenched.Andtheyhavechasedforsolongthat theyhavebecomeaccustomedtothe

chase.Thereisachaseinthemorning.Achaseintheevening.Achaseatwork.A

chasewiththechildren.Achaseforachievement.ItisonlywhenheorshediscoversthatthechaseisFruitless...ItisonlywhenheorshediscoversthatthereisnothingtoFind...It isonlywhenheor shediscovers that, in fact, the chase isnot a running

Towardsomething,butarunningAwayfromsomething...Thatclaritybeginstodawn.Enlightenmentisnotanachievement.Foritdoesnotcometotheambitious.Peaceisnotaneventuality.ForitisonlyavailableNOW.Whatisitthathumanityisrunningfrom?Whendistilledintothemostbasictruth,itisafactthatman’sgreatestfearis

notwhatmaycome.Orwhatmaynot.Itisnotdeath.Anditisnotfailure.Man’sgreatestfearishisfearofHIMSELF.Manwillcomplaintotheheavensaboutthedetailsofhismiseries.Butifyou

attempttoremovethemfromhim,hewillfighttothedeathinordertopreservethem.

Why?Becauseheisunsureofwhohemightbewithoutthem.Ifyou leadhimby thehand toaworldofpeace,hewillhesitate.Forwhat

willhedowithoutaworldofturmoil?Itishisgreatestploytobegforpeaceontheonehand,anddenyitfullywith

theother.Forpeaceisadangerouswordforhim.Andblisscanonlybehandledinsmalldoses.ItisforthisreasonthatIalwaysexplaintomyclientsthatIwillnotattempt

tobringthemtoaworldofPurePeaceallatonce.Theywillbeabletoretreatfromitatwill.

Butforthoserareoneswhohaveseenthroughthemirage...Forthosewhohavefinallycometotherealizationthatthisworldreallyhas

nothingtoofferthem...WewalktowardPeaceinbigboldsteps.Fortheyarefinallyreadyforit.Theyarereadytoliveinaworldwithouttheanticipationofexpectation,or

thefalsewhispersofemptyhope.Andwhentheyarrivethere,theylaugh.Theylaugh,notnecessarilybecause

of the joy that they feel, but because of the complete absurdity that was thefoundationoftheirpreviousexistence.

Itwasallsosimple,theysay.Anditwassoclose.Theywereneverfarfromit.Buttheyhadneverbefore

beenreadyforit.Understandthis:YourMindWillNeverSpareYou.Forithasnotsparedanyman.Itwill chatter incessantly. Itwill robyouofyourequanimity. Itwill entice

you intopettysquabbles. Itwillburdenyouwithguilt. Itwill showyougrandimaginings.Andfillyouwiththefearofnotachievingthem.

Itwillgiveyouafalseidentity.Andshowyouafaceinthemirrorthatyouonedaywillnotrecognize.

Itisamasterofcreation.Ithas,infact,createdYou!Andin identifyingyourselfwith thepersona that ithasgivenyou,youwill

livealifeofPAIN.Whatisthewayout?AreyoureadyforInstantPeace?Dear friend, do not be quick to answer this question. For if your response

rolls of your tongue with ease, it is likely a reflexive response. And if yourespondreflexivelynow,youwillshyawayatthecriticalmoment.

Youwearmanyfaces.Someyoushowtotheworld.Someyoukeephiddeninthecloset.Andsomeyoucannotbeartorevealeventoyourself.

Behind all of these faces there is a human being. And behind the humanbeingistheFace-lessConsciousness.

Nomatterhowbeautifullyyouwearthefaceofyourchoice,thewearerwillalwaysbemorethantheworn.

ShallItellyouthesecrettoPeace?Iwillprovideforyouthewritingonthefrontdoor.But,asinallthings,the

magicisintheEXPERIENCE.Hereitis:WhenYouDisappear,YourProblemsWillAsWell.WhatdoImean?Whenyou say “I”,who is the I that you are speakingof?Andwho is this

entitythatsays“I”?Fromwheredoesthisvoicearise?Andwhomisitreferringto?

Thereinliestheexploration.Ifyoucontinuetoliveyourlifeasoneofyourfaces,youwillneverachieve

peace.Why?Becauseitisthisveryfacethatrobsyouofit.Equanimity.Enlightenment.Peace.Nirvana.Moksha.Samadhi.Mushin.These can never be available tomorrow. For tomorrow doesn’t exist. They

canonlybegottenNOW.AndtheyareonlyavailabletotheonewhohasfinallyHadEnough.Theyare

onlyavailabletotheonewhoiswillingtothrowawayAllOfHisFaces.Theyareavailabletotheonewhoiswillingtoexchangehisidentityofbeing

SomethinginreturnforbecomingNothing.Andwhenamanbecomesnothing,heinstantlybecomesEverything!

FreedomFromTheMind

If you examine the last 20years of your life, youwill find that it is saturatedwithdisappointmentsandfearsandconflict.Itisnotyourfault.Anditisnotthefaultofthosewithwhomyouwereinconflict.

Itwasnotaboutwhowasright.Orwhowaswrong.Itwasnotaboutlogic.Orreason.Justunbridledemotion.

Truthbetold,thereisgreatsolacetobefoundinmisery.Thereiscomfortinpain.Apartofusenjoysplayingtheleadroleinourdrama.

Butwepayforitwithourlives.

We live reactive and reflexive lives. Spinal and emotional reflexes prevail.And this is not living. To choose to let our drams drift away for good is adifficultchoicetomake.Towalkawayfromourmiseryisaverydifficultthingtodo.

IassureyouIamnotbeingfacetious.Ispeakwithcompleteseriousness.Forthesemiseriesandturmoilsandcomplexitiesandconflictshavelivedwithusforsolongthattheyhavebecomeapartofus.Andtoremovethemfromourlivesleavesaholethatwedonotknowhowtofill.

Manisanamazinglyadaptivecreature.Hecanbecomeaccustomedtosimplyanything.Andoncehebecomesaccustomedtosomething,beitjoyormiseryorpain,hebecomescomfortablewithinit.

Ifhevacillatesbetweenhappinessandmisery,hebecomesaccustomedtothevacillation. But there are those who finally reach the day in which they say:Enough is Enough. And they ready themselves for a brand new journey. Ajourneythatisnolongerabouttakingsides.

Ajourneythatvaluesthesanctityoftherelationshipmoresothantheegooftheindividual.

Mindyou,itisnotabout“swallowingone’spride.”Itisaboutunderstandingthatthereisnopridetospeakof.Thereisonlyasurrendertotheinnocenceandsincerityoftherelationship.

The relationship between two human beings. The relationship between ahumanbeingandhimself.Therelationshipbetweenhimselfandhislife.

Thegreatestthingtounderstandisthatourreactionsarecompletelytheresultof us living wholly within the mind. The mind takes sides. The mind enjoysconflict.Andthemindenjoysresolution.

The mind simply enjoys the game and the drama. The mind enjoys pain,perhapsbecauseitenjoyssettinguptheguiltandthereconciliationthatfollows.

Butifweseethedramaasadramathatisindependentofourselves,thenwebegintobreakawayfromthedrama.Webegintoquiteeasilysurrenderouregoat the door.And this becomes a completely painless and natural phenomenononcewestopfunctioningfromthePlaceOfMind.

Wisdomistheunderstandingthatwehaveboughtintoagame.Thatnoneofitisreal.Andthatwehavebecomepawnsonastage.Pawnsofthemind.

Thisveryrealizationisthepathtoliberation.Evenifyouhavethisunderstanding,theunderstandingwillstillbefreshand

“intellectual”inthebeginning.Andthusconflictswillcontinuetoarise.Buttheywillbecomelessfrequent.Andshorterinduration.Andonedaytheywillstopaltogether.Theywillnotstopbecausewehaverunawayfromthem.

Theywillstopbecausewenolongerneedthem.

OurWorldOfProblems

Wefindourselvesconstantlyputtingoutfires.Whenwearenotputtingoutfires,weare thinkingabout theones thatmay

come.Andwearelamentingtheoneswehavelivedthrough.Wehavefireallaroundus.Anditisinthecenterofthisinfernothatourlife

moves.We have a problemwith the way our kids treat us. The way the waitress

speakstous.Thewayourspousescoldsus.Thewayourjobmakesusfeel.Thewayourbossmakesuswork.Thewaythecoldmakesustremble.Thewaytheheatmakesussweat.Thewaythecardelaystostart.Thewayourhairfailstopart.

Thisisthewayitgoesforus.And themost tragic part of this is that we fail to realize it.We are given

ridiculousadagessuchas“That’slife.”Insteadofexaminingthetotalityofthesituation,wearetoldtobecomebetter

problemsolvers.Themagazines, thejournals, thebooks,andthemediadevotetheir content to so-called expertswho give us tips on how to better solve ourproblems.

Doyouwanttobeabetterfireman?Ordoyouwishtofreeyourselffromtheinferno?

Thewrongquestion isbeingasked(italways is, isn’t it?).Andbelieveme,friend,itisalwaysaboutthequestionratherthantheanswer.

ThequestionisNOT“HowdoIsolvemyproblems?’Thequestionis“WhydoIhaveproblemsinthefirstplace?”Butwhoaskssuchaquestion?Theonlypersonwhowouldasksuchaquestionisthepersonwhorejectsthe

stories thathehasbeen told.Thesilly little talesabout lifebeingdifficult andstressful and that in order to make our way through it wemust deal with itswrath.

That“lifeisnotabowlofcherries.”To say that it is not a bowl of cherries is to imply that it is a bowl of

something.Iftoyou,lifeisabowl...Iftoyou,lifeisacontainerofanysort...

ThenthisimpliesthatyouarelivingINSIDEOFIT.Andifyouliveinsideofsomethingyouwillgetbruisedwitheverybumpin

theroad.Youwillbecomedizzywitheveryroll.Youwillsimplybeapebbleinacontainer.

Nooneevertoldyouthatyoucouldbefreeofthecontainer.Nooneevertoldyouthattherewasaworldoutsideofit.

Theytoldyoutomanupandacceptthebruises.Andtheystartedgivingyoutipsonhowtotendtoyourwounds.

They toldyou that life is fullofdangerous flames.And theystartedgivingyouadviceonhowtospendyourentirelifeputtingoutthefire.

Andthereyouhavesat,thimbleinhand,tossingthreedropsofwaterintoaraginginferno.

Ifthisisnottheway,thenwhatistheway?Whatisonetodo?Myfriend,fireneverharmedanyone.Itonlyharmedthosewhochosetoget

initsway.Lettheflameburn.Lettheproblemsamass.Letthefeelingsofillwillflow

throughyou.Letthebossyellandthechildrenscream.Theveryattempttodistinguishtheflamewillonlymakeitburnbrighter.This flame is simply life being life. And the reason we get burned is

becauseweattempttoputourarmarounditandcallitOurs.Letlifebelife.Alloweventstocarryonoftheirownaccord.Livealongside

them.Butdonotintersectwiththem.Inlookingatlifeaslife,youwillmovefreelyintheworld.Youwilldowhat

themoment requires andnot anouncemore.Youwill givewhat the situationasksofyouandyouwillnotbeattachedtoit.

Lettheflameburntotheheavens.Anddonottrytofindyourreflectioninit.Liveasamanwhoroamstheendlessdeserts.Andwhosailsthesevenseas.

Withoutanyattemptatnavigation.Allow the delicate hand of instinct to lead you, for in it lies the truest of

truths.Life is jagged and raw. And by attempting to Own It you turn it into a

problem.Watchtheflamerise.Useittowarmyourselfonacoldday.Andasyouwatchit,itwilleventuallybegintoseeitsreflection.InYou.

AllOurDramas

Ifyouarealiveyouwillhavetroubles.Thiswillneverend.Youwillhavethemuntilyourdyingday.

Itdoesn’tmatterhowyoudealwithit,orhowyoulookatit,orturnlemonsintolemonadeoranysuchsilliness.Troubleistrouble.Problemsareproblems.Andtheywillbeatyourthroatforaslongasyoulive.

Almost every single dayof your life therewill be a running soapopera ofsome sort. Perhaps a new problem or one that keeps recurring.And themostintuitivethingtodoistotrytoresolvetheproblem.Toputanendtothesoapopera.

Butthisdoesn’twork.Why?Because althoughyou try to end the soapoperawithonehand,you start a

newonewiththeother.Youdon’thaveanyrealdesiretoendyoursoapoperas.Youcan’tlivewithoutthem.

Youenjoythem.Theyaddmeaningtoyourlife.Theyarelikepiecesofyourjewelry.Theyplayasignificantpartinyourlife.

Youonlypretendtonotwantthem.YouRelish your problems.And this iswhy they never go away.Youwill

makecertainofthis.Youenjoy the timesof sorrow.You feela senseofcomfortwhenyoucry.

Wallowinginguiltisadelicacy.Playingthevictimisaluxury.Ifsomeonetriedtotakethesethingsawayfromyou,theywouldhaveafight

ontheirhands.All your problems, your disappointments, your guilt, your worries, your

miseries, your pain, your sorrow, your apprehensions, and anxieties coulddisappear in an instant. Butwherewould that leave you?Whowould you bewithoutthem?Whatwouldyoudowithyourtime?

IamnotsayingthatyouShouldletgoofthesethings.Iamsayingthattheyexistbecauseyouinvitethem.

Andsince thiswasn’tenough tomuddy thecircumstancesofyour life,youhavenowaddedanewlevelofcomplexitybystatingthatyouwanttogetridofthem.Thiswillkeepyoubusyforever.Andthisiswhatyouareseekingtodo.

Humanbeingshaveahabitofcreatingproblems for themselves inorder toaddmeaningtotheirlives.

Andthereasontheyseekmeaningisbecausetheyhavenotlivedlifeatall.

ThePathToAtmamun

Betruthful.Besincere.Doyoureallywanttoberidofyourproblems?Ifso,thenunderstandthatwhyitisthatyouholdontothem.Thereasonthatyouhaveproblemsisbecauseyougainsomethingfromthem.

And unless the perceived gain from Peace exceeds the perceived gain fromMisery,youwillforeverliveinmisery.

Mangetswhathewants.Thereasonthatheiswhereheis,isbecauseitisokayforhimtobethere.

HappinessWillMakeYouMiserable

Manisnotsearchingforhappiness.Heisrunningfromsadness.Hebelieves thathappiness is theoppositeofsadness.When,actually, there

areonlyshadesofdifferencebetweenthem.Happiness and sadness aremoods.Moodsare abyproductof thought.And

thoughtistheveryconstitutionofthemind.The unenlightened man thinks, and he then responds to the feeling which

arisesfromthethought.Andthenmattersbecomeevenmorecomplex.Hebegins tohavea thought

about the thought. And he begins to have an opinion about the feelings. Hecategorizeshisfeelingsintolikesanddislikes.Andheattemptstofindwaystocultivatethegoodfeelingsandavoidthebadones.

Thusbeginshisfranticsearchfor“happiness.”It is at this stage where the world of self-help, positive thinking, and

motivational recipes come into existence. Books are written and articles aregeneratedoutliningwaystoattractthegoodfeelingsandavoidthebadones.

Prescriptions abound.Slogans andbumper stickers and “Tenways to” listsfloodthepublicconsciousness.

Themajority of the writings argue that since feelings come from thought,thenwhynotthinkpositivethoughts?

Others recommend singing a song, doing something kind, turning off yourphone,takingawalk,practicesmiling,takingavacation...

Dosuchthingswork?Theycan.Why?Becausethemindisanephemeralelement.Itchangesmoodsandpreferences

witheverythirdbreath.Butthatisnottherealquestion.The realquestion is,How longdoes thegoodmoodor thepositive feeling

last?The tide always returns, does it not? Cosmetic fixes will always lead to

resultsequallycosmetic.

Whilethatmaybetherealquestion,themostimportantquestionisthis:Howsatisfiedareyouwithyourcurrentstateofaffairs?

Happinessandmiseryaretwosidesoftheverysamecoin.Toseekoneistoseektheother.

Theonlywayoutisbliss.Blissisbeyondbothhappinessandsadness.Foritisnotdependentuponafortuitouseventoranenjoyablecircumstance.

Itisabyproductofwisdom.Thewisdomthatcomesfromseeingthingsthewaytheytrulyare.Thewisdomthatcomesfromseeingtheworldthewaythatittruly is. The wisdom that comes from understanding that life is not what wethinkitis.

BlissisTheWay.Itisthesearchthatendsallsearches.

ThePathToAtmamun

The search for happiness is nothing more than a reaction to unhappiness. Asalways,thetruthisafunctionofsubtractionratherthanaddition.

Happiness andmisery are different segments of the samewave.Neither ofthemwillbenefityou.

Blissistheabandonmentofthesearchforhappiness.Andtheabandonmentofthesearchforpleasure.

Forthiswillreturnyoutothemomentthatyouforeverseektoescape.

BlissInAnInstant

Doyouwantinstantbliss?Iwillnotkeepyouinsuspense.Iwillgiveyouthesecretrightatthebeginning.

UnderstandthatwhenIrevealittoyou,youwillsaythatyoualreadyknowit.ButIwillarguefiercelythatyoudonot.

Iwillargue thatyouknowit inyourhead.Butyoudonotknowit inyourheart.Theknowingoftheheadisforcocktailparties.Theknowingintheheartisfortransformation.

Areyoureadyforthesecrettoinstantbliss?Hereitis:YouAreGoingToDie!Thisisnotatheoreticalunderstanding.Orsomefaroffpossibility.Itistheheartfeltrealizationthatstabsamansquareintheheart.Itisthegripoffearthatensnareshisentirewakingmoment.Itistheimagethatfillstheentirescreenofhismind.WhenhefinallyrealizesthatheisgoingtoDie!Untilwelearnthis,lifeisanendlessstreamofevents.Untilwelearnthis,we

will live within the illusion of an Abundance Of Time. And that which is inabundanceisNevervalued.

Nature should bemore kind toman. It should subjectman to a near-deathexperienceat leastonceeverysixmonths.Just toremindhimthatHisTimeIsRunningOut.

ToremindhimthatthispaperexistencethathelivesisabouttoWhither.Toremind him not to get too comfortable. To remind him not to take his lifeseriously,foritisonlyonLease.Toremindhimthatevery“grandachievement”and every bit of respectability and every drop of his so-called reputation isGoingToFallAsCommonDust.

ItissaidthatAlexanderTheGreatoncemetanIndiansagewhoaskedhim,“Alexander,whatifyouwerewalkinginthedesert,dyingofthirst,andIhad

a bottle of water?What would you be prepared to giveme for that bottle ofwater?”

TowhichAlexanderreplied,“Iwouldbewillingtogivehalfmykingdomforthatbottleofwater.”

TheIndiansagesaid,“Whatifthatdealwasnotacceptabletome?”

Alexandersaid,“ThenIwouldbewillingtogiveyoumyentirekingdom.”TheIndiansagereplied,“Youareaverysillyman.Devotingyourentirelife

towagingwarsandconqueringlands.Allforabottleofwater.”We are even sillier thanAlexander. For at least Alexander had a life-and-

deathexcuseforcravingthebottleofwater.Wehaverefrigeratorsfullofwater,yetwewasteourlivesseekinganextra

drop.Whydowedothis?BecauseoursituationisnotascleartousasitwasforAlexander.Alexander

knewpreciselywhathecraved.Heknewexactlywhathewasthirstyfor.The sage’s question had defined the problem so perfectly for him, that the

solutionbecameclear.Ourproblemisthatalthoughwethirst,wedonotknowwhatexactlyweare

thirstingfor.Asaresult,wewanderthroughlifegraspingatshinyandcolorfulthingshopingtoquenchourthirst.Butthethingswefindneverdothejob.

Thepathsthatwewalkarecircularratherthanlinear.Andasaresult,wegonowhere.

The elixirs we drink are filled with salt. And thus we remain thirsty. Thedreamswehavedooftenmaterialize,butthentheyleadonlytomoredreams.

Wecryinthequietofourroom.Wonderinghowtoescapefromourplight.Andthemoreweattempttoescapefromit,themorewebecomeensnaredbyit.

The lonely and thirsty wanderer in the desert is in a far more enviablesituation,ishenot?Hislifeissimple.Hehasonlyoneneed.Andoncehegetsit,heiscontent.

Butmaythatmanneverleavethedesert.Thoughhemaynotrealizeit,thebareopenexpanseofdesertishisonlysalvation.

Why?Because ifhe trades thewildsof thedesert for thepavedroadsofcivilized

life,his lifewillbecome immediatelymorecomplex.Whereheoncehadonlyoneneed,hewillnowhavehundreds.

Whereheoncethirstedonlyforwater,hewillnowthirstforeverythingundercreation.Andindoingso,hewillbecomeafarmorepitifulcreaturethanheeverwasinthedesert.

Lifemadeamistakewithhumanbeings. Itoverestimatedourability to seeTheTruth.

Thetruthisthatweareonlyhereforashortwhile.Yetthecalendaronthewalldisplaysdaysfromhereuntileternity.Thewatchwindsupinsteadofdown.Thisiscompletedeception,isitnot?

TheonlyworthwhilewatchintheworldisnottheonewhichcountsUp,but

theonewhichcountsDown.NotthewatchwhichtellsyouwhattimeItIs.Butthewatchwhichtells

youhowmuchtimeyouHaveLeft.Toknowtheverydaythatyouaregoingtodie.Andtohaveawatchwhich

tellsyouhowmuchtimeremainsinyourlife.Thatisalife-changingwatch!Unlesswehaveawatchlikethis...Unlesswehaveamultitudeofnear-deathexperiences...UnlessweViscerallycomefacetofacewithourowndemise...Wewillneverknowdeath.Andifweneverhavetheluxuryofknowingdeath,wewillforeversufferthe

miseryofnothavinglived.

OfWhatUseIsABirthCertificate?

MayIaskyouaquestion?Ofwhatuseisabirthcertificate?Suchacertificateonlyencourageshumanbeings.Itencouragesustobelieve

in infinity. It encouragesus tobelieve thatwehavebeengrantedanunendingstreamofyearswhoseendissimplyincomprehensible.

Ifabirthdateneedstobedocumented,writeitonthelivingroomwall.But the thingofvalue, theembossedcertificate, shouldnotstatesomething

soobviousasthetimeofbirth.Whatitshouldstate,inboldblackletterswithafontgreaterthaneveryother

wordonthepageistheTimeOfYourImpendingDeath!Toknowthedayyouaregoingtodiefromtheverymomentyouareborn...Toknowwhatyouhavetoworkwith...Toknowexactlyhowmuchtimeyouhave...Ifyouknewthis,youwouldneverbefacedwithhavingtogetyouraffairsin

order.Fortheywouldneverhavebeendisorderedtobeginwith.Perhaps you would not allow yourself to luxuriate in your emotional

indulgences.Theshrinkageoftimeintoamanageablesumwouldallowyoutoplan.Itwouldallowyoutonotwastetime.

Itwouldallowyoutolive.Deathisthegreatestmotivator.Andwhatawonderfulfrienditwouldbeto

our existence. Because we feel we have so much time, we waste it by thetruckload.Wehavenovaluefortheday.Wefailtounderstandthatthisdaywillnevercomeagain.

This is because we see today as yesterday. And we will see tomorrow astoday.

And thus our lifemoves.With us constantly being a step behind. Smilingtowardanemptyhope.Believinginaseeminglyendlessfuture.

Dyingiscommon.Livingisanoutrightscarcity.Hewhobelievesindeath,willsoonbegintoreverelife.Hewhobelievesintomorrow,willhavenovaluefortoday.

TheSkyIsAbsolutely,PositivelyFalling

Themostcataclysmicmistakeofyourentirelife isbelievingthatyouhavetime.

Youhavebecomesoincrediblycomfortablein thiswell-wornlifeofyours.Thereisanovaldepressionrightinthecenterofit,whereyounestleintoit.

There is so little time.But you are so accustomed to hearing from sciencefictionmoviesthattellyouthattheendiscomingthatyouhavebecomenumbtoit.

Intellectually,youKnowthatyouareonlyhereforashorttime.YouKnowthatyourdaysarenumbered.But intellectualknowing isonlygoodforTrivialPursuit.Intellectualknowingdoesnotchangeyourlife.

Doyouknowthatyourdaysarenumbered?Youwilllikelyreplywithareflexiveandmeaningless“yes.”Butifyoutrulyknowthatyourdaysarenumbered,howmanydaysdoyou

thinkyouhaveleft?Howmanyyears?Howmanymonths?IfItellyouthatyoumighthaveZerodaysleft...If it tellyou thatyoumightdieTomorrow,youwillacknowledge thiswith

thatmatter-of-factKnowing.Youwillprobablyevenbe thinkingofsomethingelsewhileansweringthequestion.

Andthisisthewayitisgoingtobeuntildeathcomestoyou.Youwill diewith unsettled affairs. Fixingyour curtains,makingyour bed,

andmendingthelooseendsofyourcomfortablelife.Yourmindsays that foryouitwillbedifferent.Thatyouarespecial.Your

mindwillaskyou,“Doyoureallybelievethatyouaregoingtodietomorrow?”It will tell you that you have plenty of time. It will tell you that your mostimportantdutyrightnowistosaveforretirement.Torefinanceyourhouse.Tore-upholsterthatcomfortablecouch.Tofixthedentonthecar.

AsIsaid,youarecompletelyimmersedinthislifeofyours.Andthatiswhy

itwillbesuchagargantuanshockwhendeatharrives.Thisdeathisafunnything.Italwayscomesatthemostinopportunetimes.It

does not even have the decency to make an appointment or wait until it isconvenient.

It’scoming.IthasalreadystarteditsjourneyStraightTowardYou.Youdon’tbelieveme?Isthereanyshortageofdeatharoundyou?Arepeoplenotdyingeverywhere?

Everyhour?Everysingleday?AndforEveryOneof thosepeople,DeathCameTooSoon.It rudelycame

before the timewas right.Theyneededmore time.But it ripped through theirlifeinaflash.

Iwon’ttrytoconvinceyouthattheskyis falling.Iwillsimplytellyouthatitis.

Iknowyouwon’tbelieveme.Yourmindwilldismissmywords.Itwillbringyourattentionbacktoplanningthenextthirtyyearsofyourlife.

You look at your life and you see an endless horizon.You see an endlessamountoftime.

Andthisonefactmorethananyotherpreventsyourlifefromexplodingintobliss.

ThePathToAtmamun

If you knew that you were going to die tomorrow, today would be the mostblissfuldayofyourlife.

All things would immediately explode into perspective. The insignificantelements of your life would immediately drop away. Because you would nolongerhavetheluxuryoftime.

Manisbynatureaneleventhhourcreature.Itisonlywhenheisthreatenedwitheverythingthathedecidestodoanything.

Break through the illusion that you have time. See all of the names in theobituariesandthecemeteriesandKNOWthatYOUarenext!

Thiswill pluck you from your complacency.And force you to look at thethingsinyourlifethataremostimmediateandmostinneedofattention.

Isthereanythingmoreimportantinyourlifethanlivinginbliss?Thenunderstandthattimeisnotyourfriend.

Understandthatyouhaveafinitenumberofbreathsleftinyourlungs.Andwitheachpassingone,youcomeclosertodeath.WeareallquiteliterallyDYING.AndthismorethananythingelsewillkeepusclosetoLIFE.

AllConflictIsSelf-Conflict

Youhaveneverinyourlifehadasingleconflictwithanotherhumanbeing.Never!Our behaviors are amanifestation of our internal state.Our state of being.

Ourstateofunderstanding.Ourstateofignorance.Ourstateofwisdom.Thatwhichtheworldhascategorizedas“natural”isnotnaturalatall.Itisa

conditioned response. And because everyone around you has the sameconditionedresponses,youconsiderittobe“natural.”

Conflictisatthecenterofallofourlives.Itissuchaubiquitouselementofourlivesthatitisperhapsthegreatestreasonforourlackofjoy.

When people seek help for conflict, it is typically in the form of “conflictresolution.”Essentially,theyareaskingfortipsandremediesbywhichtoUndothe tangledweb.And theyaregivenexactly that.TheyaregivenPrescriptionsforwhattosayandhowtolookatthingsfromtheotherperson’sperspectiveandhowtobemoreempatheticandpatientandunderstanding.

It is a form of behavior modification. And when one hears it, it soundsperfectlyreasonable.Andwhiledoingthismaylessenthefrequencyofconflict,itoftencomesbackfullforce.Forconflictissopervasiveinourlivesthatmostwouldn’tevenconsiderseeking“help”forit.

Whensomeonesayssomethinghurtfultous,wereactinangeroutwardlyandfeelpaininwardly.Advisorstellthemthattheyhavetherighttofeelangry,buttomodifytheresponse.

Mydearfriend,lookingatthingsinthiswayisthereasonthatyouhavebeenputtingoutfiresallofyourlife.Andyouwillcontinuetograpplewiththousandsmore.

Why?Becauseyouhavebeen tooeager for solutions.Youhavebeen soquick to

jumptothe“answer”thatyouhaven’taskedthequestion.Letustakeangerasanexample.Ifsomeonecallsyouanidiot,yougetangry.You have spent your entire life asking how to overcome the anger. Or to

modify your response to the insult. Or to take deep breaths. Or to repeat amantra.Ortowaittenminutesbeforeresponding.

But the true solution to this problem lies in asking a completely different

question.Andthequestionisthis:Ifsomeoneinsultsme,whatisthereasonthatangerarisesinme?

Nothowto“dealwith”it.Orhowtolessenit.Orhowtoeradicateit.Buttounderstandwhyitarisesinthefirstplace.Angerisnotaformofself-defense.Itisamanifestationofinnerconflict.Andunderstandthis:ALLConflictIsSelf-Conflict.You need not worry about the other. You need not attempt to change the

other.Youneednotmaketheotherseeyourway.Youneednottheapologyoftheother.

Why?BecauseThereIsNoOther!Yousee,ifsomeonecallsyouanidiot,somethingwithinyouatleastpartially

entertainsoracceptstheideathatyouareanidiot.Thisideathatyoumaybeanidiot,inturn,causesyoutofeelveryuneasyaboutyourself.Andthisuneasinessismanifestedasanger.

The person calling you an idiot simply set the stage and created theopportunityforyoutoexaminehowyoufeltaboutyourself.Andwhenyoudidnotlikewhatyousawinternally,youreactedwithangerexternally.

Theanger,inthisexample,issimplyamanifestationoftheinnerconflictofentertaining thepossibility thatyouarean idiotanddisliking the fact thatyouareentertainingitinthefirstplace.

Iwillstatecategorically that ifwithinyourself therewasnopossibility thatyouwereanidiot,angersimplywouldnotarise.

ThePathToAtmamun

Webelievethatourresponsesaretopeopleandsituations.Andthereasonthatwebelievethisisbecauseofthetemporalrelationshipbetweentheresponseandtheincitingpersonorevent.

But in understanding that our emotional responses come from entertainingthepossibilitythatthecriticismisvalid,wewillbegintoexaminethesourceofthis self-criticism, rather than the source which provoked the emotionalresponse.

Ifweunderstandthatthemindlevelsunduecriticismbyitsverynature,wewillbegintodiscovertherootoftheproblem.

Ifwe come to termswith our own strengths andmisgivings,we cannot bebotheredbyanyoneoranything.

Andimaginewhatyourlifewouldbelikeifyoulearnedtoliveinthisway.

TheRichMan’sGreatestLuxury

ThebiblesaysthatitiseasierforacameltogothroughtheeyeofaneedlethanitisforarichmantoenterthekingdomofGod.

Ibelievethistobeastatementwhichunfairlytargetstherich.ForwhatthisstatementisfundamentallyspeakingofisAttachment.

The richdonothaveamonopolyonattachment.Themanwith little tonomoney is just as attached to hismeager possessions as the richman is to hisluxuriousones.

Virtuallyallofmyclientsareextraordinarilywealthy.Theycanaffordallofsociety’s pleasures. They can satisfy their every wish. They can fulfill theireverydesire.

ButthereasonthattheyhavecometomeistoExperiencetheonethingthatmoneyhasnotbeenabletobuythem.

And that thing isFREEDOM.Freedom from the torment of themind.Freedomto feelblissandequanimityon the inside,regardlessofwhathishappeningontheoutside.

Theabilitytodevotetheir life totheattainmentofFreedomandBliss is, infact,theirgreatestluxury.

Yousee,thepoormanhasnotimetofillhissoul.Forhisfirstpriorityistofillhisstomach.

Therichman’spossessionsaffordhimconvenienceandluxury,butthesearenothistrueriches.Fortheyleavehimemptyforsomethingmore.

The richman’s appetite is great. For his entire life, this appetite has beendirected towardsuccess,achievement,andaccumulation.Andatacertain timein his life, after he haswater skied behind his yachts and taken his numeroustripsaroundtheworldinhisprivatejet,hebeginstoaskcertainquestions.

He isconfrontedby the limitationsofhiswealth.And,perhapsfor thefirsttime in his life, he turns his direction toward thatwhich remains after he hasexhaustedallofhisluxuriesandindulgences.

Hefindsthatthegreatestluxurythathiswealthhasaffordedhimistheluxury to turn inward.Todevotehis timeandhisenergies toward tastingthenectaroflife.

The appetite that allowed him to succeed in his craft now allows him to

succeedinlife’sultimatejourney:Thejourneytowardhistruenature.Thedoggeddeterminationthatservedhiminhiscraft,nowserveshiminhis

journeytowardTruth.HehaslivedasaKingofmen.AndnowhemustlearntoliveastheKingofhimself.

TheironyisthatonceamanachievesAtmamun,heisabletoenjoyhispossessionsinfinitelymore.Heisabletoperformhiscraftatanexponentiallevel.He is able to truly enjoy the relationships that are valuable to him,anddeftlyhandlethosethatarenot.

Why?Becauseforthefirsttimeinhislife,heisattachedtononeofit.ThroughAtmamun,hehasbecomeFree.Heholdshisempireloosely.Andin

doingso,hedoesnotsuffertheweightofitspresence.Thisishisfinalfrontier.ThisishisEverest.Anduponsummiting it,he trulybecomes theGodhewasalwaysmeant to

be.

ThePathToAtmamun

Understandthatyourwealthisnotahousethatyouwalkinto,butascaffoldingthatyoumustclimb.Foraslongasyouareattachedtoit,youwillbeownedbyit.

Donotpayheedtothosewhoaskyoutogiveitallawayandliveinpoverty.Forattachmenttopovertyisjustasimprisoningasanattachmenttowealth.

Now that you have attained success and accumulation, there is one finaljourneythatyoumustembarkuponifyouwishtotastetrueFreedom.

Theempire thatyouhavebuilt is sittingonyourshoulders.Thesolution isnottoridyourselfofit,buttosimplygetoutfromunderneathit.Foritisonlythenthatyouwillbeabletoenjoyit.

Take advantage of the single greatest luxury that yourwealth has affordedyou.

EmbarkuponthepathtoAtmamun,andyouwillbecomeasRichasalivingGod.

BecomeTheGodOfYourOwnLife

You’vedonewretchedthingsinyourlife.You’ve unfairly treated those you love. You’ve abused your authority.

You’veliedinbedwithunbearableguiltover the thoughtsyou’vehadandthebehaviorsyou’veallowedyourselftosuccumbto.

You haven’t been a rolemodel to your children. You haven’t been a truecompaniontoyourspouse.

Simply put, you’ve become a person you never thought you wouldbecome.

Iunderstand,mydearfriend.Weareallwretchedinsomanyways.Weloseourwayeasilyinthisworld.

Weloseourselvestothemindandwecarryoutitsbidding.Itisinmanywaysthehumancondition.

Understandthateveryholymanwasonceawretchedman.Everymanofwisdomwasonceamanof ignorance.Andhe livedsoconsistentlywithignorancethatonedaytheignorancebecamesounbearableitwastimetoletitgo.

Thisisnotaboutchangingbehavior.Forbehavioristhenaturalconsequenceofthedegreetowhichwelivewithinthemind.

Iwon’tgiveyouamotivationalspeechandtellyouthatthingswillchange.They haven’t changed in thirty, forty, or fifty years. In fact, things have onlygottenworse.

Whywouldtheychangenow?Waterboilsat100degreesCelsius.At99degreesitonlysimmers.Areyouat

100?Orareyouat99?Mind you, I’mnot attempting to get you to 100.The question is a sincere

one.Ifyouareat99,mywordswillresonate,buttheywillnottransform.Ifyou

areat100,mywordswillcatalyzeyourtransformation.There are people in this world who live as saints. People who have

discovered the true beauty in life. People who live in constant peace. Andendlessjoy.

Canyoubecomeoneofthem?

If thisis thequestionyouareasking,thentheanswerisNo.Forthepersonwhowondersifsomethingispossibleremainstiedtoimpossibility.

Thereasonthatyouarethewayyouareisbecause,onsomelevel, it isokaywithyoutobethewayyouare.

Togiveyourselfthepermissiontobethewayyouare,andalsothefreedomtolamentaboutitisagreatluxury.Anditisaluxurythatwillneverallowyoutoknowlife.

Changeiscosmetic.Forhewhochanges,changesback.Transformationispermanent.Anditbeginswithadecision.Notadecisiontoacquire,butadecisiontolose.Whataboutyourselfwouldyouliketolose?Whatarethethingsinyourlife

andoutlookthatyouwouldliketocompletelyabandon?I will warn you. It will not be easy. For you are emotionally tied to your

destructive habits. You are enmeshedwithin them.And as you tear away thehabits,youwillalsotearawaypartsofyourself.

Andwhile youwill certainly rejoice at seeing the habits go,will you alsorejoiceatseeingthosepartsofyoufloataway?

Myfriend,youwillnotgetatruefeelof theoceanwithonefootfirmlyonthe sand. You must dive into the depths. Become saturated with the newpossibility.Anditisonlythenthatyouwillacquireanewskin.

Tobecome thehumanbeing you’ve alwayswanted tobe, youmustbewillingtowalkawayfromthehumanbeingyou’vebecome.

Whenpreservationisofnoconsequence...Whenself-protectionhasnomeaning...WhenInstantTransformationisyoursingle-mindedgoal...Itwillhappentoyou.Youwill look into themirror and see a new face.Youwill see theworld

through new eyes. You will behave differently without having attempted tochangeyourbehavior.

Towalkawayfromyourimageofyourself is themostdifficultandpainfuljourneyintheworld.

Butwithoutityouwillneverknowbliss.Blissisknowninemptinessratherthanform.Itisheraldedbymysteryrather

thanfamiliarity.Theonlymanwhocanwalkthispathistheonewhoiswillingtoloseeverything.

Howcanamanbewillingtoloseeverything?Whenhe realizes thatall thathehas isnotwhathehas trulybeenseeking.

Andwhenherealizesthis,itimmediatelybecomesokaytoloseit.Justforthatonechancetoacquirewhathishearthasalwayswanted.

Justforthatonechancetobecomethehumanbeingyou’vealwayswantedtobe.

JustforthatoncechancetobecometheGodOfYourOwnLife.

ThePathToAtmamun

ThePathtoAtmamunisthepathtobecomingyourownGod.Ifeverythingoutsideofamandoesnothappenaccordingtohim,everything

ontheinsidecanindeedgoaccordingtohim.ThisawaitsthemanwhobecomeshisownGod.

Toremainuntouchedbyanythingthathappensintheworld.ThisawaitsthemanwhobecomeshisownGod.

To face any conflict and hold it at arm’s length. This awaits themanwhobecomeshisownGod.

Toproduceamasterpiecewitheveryactionthathepursues.ThisawaitsthemanwhobecomeshisownGod.

NatureisNatural.NatureisPerfect.NatureisPure.NatureisWhole.Naturesufferszeroturmoil.Andlivesincompleteserenity.

Natureisaliving,breathingmasterpiece.Iaskyoupointedly:Isthisnotthewaythatyoushouldbe?Iaskyouhonestly:Doyoudeserveanythingless?

AbouttheAuthor

IwasborninNorthernIndia.NotfarfromthefoothillsoftheHimalayas.WhenIwasaboyIwascaptivatedbythestoriesof theHimalayansadhus.

Their understanding of life. Their investigation of the human mind. Theirunparalleledinsightsintothewaysofnature.Theirachievementoftruebliss.

I spent years reading the ancient texts, listening to modern gurus, readingancient folklore, and watching lectures on video. And after many years ofsearchinginthisway,whatIdiscoveredwasthattheyallsaidthesamethings.

AndlisteningtotheirwordsdidnothingtoquenchmythirstforTheTruth.Theoneauthenticman...Theonewhoinspiredmebeyondcompare...WasSiddharthaGautama(TheBuddha).Hesetoffonasearch forTruth.To theknowtheUltimateReality.Tosee

withhisveryowneyes.AndwhenheventuredintothedenseforestsofNorthernIndia,hecameacrossasceticswhomhebegantofollow.

AndsoonhecametotheverysameconclusionthatIhad:ThesepeoplehadnotfoundTruth.Theywerenomoreevolvedthanhim.

Itisthenthatherealizedthattherewasonlyonejourneythatcouldleadhimto his destination. And this was The Personal Journey. Without teachers,swamis,orscriptures.

Andindoingso,hearrivedataplacewithinhimselfthatfewinthehistoryofcivilizationeverhave.

Afterhisdeath,hiswordsweredocumented intoscripturesandbooks.Andwhilehisstoryisnothingshortofinspirational,hismessagehasbecomelost.

Forwhathefoundcannotbeexperiencedthrough“nobletruths.”ItcanonlybeexperiencedthroughDIRECTEXPERIENCE.

Themanwhoconqueredhismindandcametoknowhis truenaturedidsoprecisely because heDidNot follow doctrine.Yet, ironically, hiswords havebeenturnedintodoctrine.

And just as “words”didnothelphim, theydonot, inmyexperience, helpanyone.

IhavespentdecadesonmyJourneytowardTheTruth.Ihavedonemyownexperiments related to the true nature ofMind. I have followed the emotional

energiesbacktotheirsource.Ihaveinvestigatedthehumanbeingathisdeepestcore.

AndIhavecomeupwithTruthsthathavehadTransformativeeffectsuponmylife,andthoseclientswhoserendipityhasbroughtmyway.

I am not a guru or a swami. And I preach no religion. For religion hasnothingtodowithGod.

ManIsGod.Ineverysenseoftheword.Mywayofworkingwithhumanbeingshaslittletodowithprescriptions,or

meditation,oryoga.Mywayistohelpthehumanbeingfindhimself.Mywayistohelpthehumanbeingfindwhathehasalwaysbeeninsearch

of,whetherherealizeditornot:COMPLETEandUNBRIDLEDFREEDOM.Onceahumanbeing finds this,he isnot inneedofany“teaching.”Forhe

becomeshisownmaster.ATMAMUNisaprocessIhavedevelopedovertwodecades.Itisactuallya

non-teaching.Apathawayfromallpaths.Itallowsthehumanbeingtotranscendhismind.AndbecomeGodhimself.Andoncehedoes,hebearsanewskin,andseesthroughdifferenteyes.HeExperiencestheworlddirectly.HeexperiencesitasonlyaFreeMancan.AtmamunisthepathtoachievetheblissoftheHimalayanswamis.Andthe

FreedomofalivingGod.

—KapilGupta,MD

SiddhaPerformance

Dr.GuptaisalsothefounderofSiddhaPerformance.Hehasappliedhisworkonthehumanmindtotheworldofperformancein

professionalsportsandbusiness.HehasdiscoveredtrainingmethodswhicharebasedsolelyuponPerception

ratherthantechnique.PerceptiontrainingisaformofSUPER-TRAINING.Itallowsanindividual

toachieveexponentialresultsinafractionofthetimenormallyrequired.ThisallowshimtoOWNhiscraft.Whether it is a professional athlete, a world class executive, or an elite

performing artist, understanding his mind through the process of Atmamunallowshimtobecompletelyfreeofanxiety.AndliveinTotalClarity.

Hisworkcanbefoundatwww.SiddhaPerformance.com

WebsitesandMedia

Forworldwidespeakingengagements,corporatetraining,orcorrespondence...Dr.Guptacanbereachedviahiswebsites:www.KapilGuptaMD.comandwww.SiddhaPerformance.comHehaswrittennumerousdiscoursesonthesewebsitesandprintpublications,

includingothers suchasTinyBuddha,Lifehack,DumbLittleMan,ElephantJournal,HighExistence,andCommonGroundMagazine.

Hehasalsoservedasa regularcontributor to theOnTheMark showwithMarkImmelmanonPGATourRadio.

Twitter:@KapilGuptaMDFacebook:www.facebook/KapilGuptaMDFacebookFanPage:https://www.facebook.com/KapilGupta-MD-1435690079979645/