What is Ego?

If you want to understand what is ego, initially you have to understand something about the mind. There are different conditions of the mind. When you work on a particular subject, when you are doing certain calculations; at that time you have focused your mind on a particular subject and this condition is known as Intellect or Buddhi. The most beautiful condition of mind is intellect.But most of the time there are certain thoughts going on in your mind and you have no control on them. Certain waves of thoughts go on rising and falling. It means all the time that you are awake, certain thoughts keep on moving in your mind without any control. This is most common condition of mind called as Chit or you may call it the accumulated mind stuff. There is a third condition of mind, in which you consider yourself separate from the existence. In somebody's presence this condition of mind arises. The intellect or Buddhi and Chit are not much associated with the presence of other. But in the third condition of mind, when somebody else exists, you start protecting yourself, you start making your different existence from others. This condition of mind when you start considering yourself as different is known as ego. The condition of ego does not have its independent existence. As the shadow cannot exist individually without light, similar is the case with ego. At the time when you are alone in your room or when you are in the bathroom where there is nobody else at that time, ego does not exist. In those moments you are very simple or casual. Thus, ego means an artificially created condition, which is unnatural, which is created by presence of others.


God's design is Perfect

You are saying: WHY DOES GOD CREATE EGO?

Ego is essential, that's why he creates it. If God has designed certain thing, it must be necessary. That is why he has made it. Once I had thought if God gave me the power to re-design or make certain changes in His design - I wished there should be no institution of death. I would wish that death happened to none. And just imagining the situationof Earth 20 years later of this wish being granted, I saw how this world would look like. I could foresee that Earth would be full of old men and women. What I could see everywhere would be just wrinkles. Looking at this scene, I was tensed. I said - God, your design is correct, the design of the world is perfect the way it is. The option or wish that I wished should never come true. As such, if God has given us ego, it is utterly important. There must be some use of it. It has a use of protecting oneself from the exploitation done by others. If there was no ego then anyone could come and exploit you.
What does ego mean? Ego simply is the power to say 'No.' But remember one thing. When you say 'no', mostly it is just for the sake of ego. It does not have any use for the existing situation. You must know to say 'No' only when it is of need; this shall protect you from exploitation done by others. Everything is good at a base level. But when something goes to its extremes it becomes harmful. I mean to say if you say 'No' due to need till then it is fine. But when you start to say 'No' in every situation, then it would be an extreme; it will not be tolerable. Thus, ego is necessary for self-protection from exploitation. But when you always start feeling insecure, when you are always caught up in a fear of somebody trying to hurt you, then it's the situation of being mentally sick. In such case, anyone will say anything and that would be enough for you to be hurt. You should have ego to a certain extent, which is not harmful. Till the time you do not enjoy saying 'No' to others is acceptable. But after that it is sheer game of ego.


Extremes are Harmful

For an example: When you have a tonsil infection, your throat may become sore and there can be cough. You can say that why does God give us tonsils. No, it is essential because when the germs attack you at that time, tonsil acts as a safeguard; it tries to protect your throat. It catches hold of those germs so that they do not enter into your lungs and do not cause any harm to some vital organs of your body. It is the duty of a guard to keep a check on the visitors or stop the thieves to enter and cause any harm. But it is not right on his part to stop all the people who come into the house. In a similar way, when tonsils grow up they start working more than their job, which in turn becomes harmful. In such situation, we remove the guard. But this is not a good situation because now the germs have directly a free entry to our vital organs, which can be more dangerous. Just like the guard and tonsils is our ego. Ego is essential to the extent that it safeguards us from the attacks of others. But when it overgrows it is never welcomed.
So, I would conclude it in one line that ego is that condition of mind where you start considering yourself distinct from the existence.

The Supereme Knowledge

Swami Vivakanand used to quite often say this phrase ‘Get up, wake up and obtain the True Knowledge’. Whom is he talking to? Are we sleeping? Why does a saint say – wake up?
Narsingh Mehta says –

“Uth jaag Musafir Bhor bhai,
Ab Rain kahan jo sovat hai,
Jo sovat hai so khovat hai,
Jo Jagat hai so pavat hai,
Tuk neend ki Aankhiya khol jara
O Gafil, Rab se Dhyan Laga.
Yeh preet karan ke reet nahin,
Rab Jagat hai tu sovat hai.”
Which means -
“O dear traveler, get up, it is already dawn.
It is no more night time, then why are you sleeping.
The one who sleeps is the loser.
The one who wakes up is the winner.
Just open a bit your eyes.
O you ignorant, Remember God.
This is no way to love –
God is awake and you are sleeping.”

Certainly, we are all sleeping, unaware of that Supreme knowledge. But, what is that Supreme knowledge, that True Knowledge?
The knowledge that gives us the understanding of the world is called education and the knowledge that leads to communion, to the unison with the Existence is the True Knowledge, the Supreme Knowledge.

The saint poet says –
“Get up, wake up and obtain the True Knowledge.”
The True Knowledge means the knowledge that brings bliss and good education means the knowledge that brings you money.
The Supreme Knowledge can’t be obtained from books. The knowledge we get from books is just the education or the understanding of the world. Reading the book of one’s own life will lead to the Supreme Knowledge, the True Knowledge. The Gyan Yoga means to experience this True Knowledge.
The Gyan Yoga means experiencing the Supreme Absolute after which no other knowledge is left unknown.

God is beyond intellect

Saint Dariya was a disciple of Premji, one of the disciple’s of Saint Dadu. Before leaving His body, Dadu had made a declaration to the people, “After 100 years of my leaving the body, a great saint will be born at Rannagar in the province of Rajasthan.”
And these words came true when Saint Dariya was born at Rannagar in Rajasthan. He was a saint of great caliber and helped to bring light to a number of people. Today we are going to discuss one of His padas – “Dariya dhan we sadhwa” In this, Dariya Saheb reveals the secrets of Samadhi to us.

“Man, Buddhi , Chit…”
· Mind - refers to that part of our consciousness where we think and make decisions.
· Buddhi/Intelligence - refers to that part of our consciousness where we focus our attention or concentrate on a particular thing.
· Chit/mindstuff - refers to that part of our consciousness where we have no control on ourselves. It is aimless wandering of our thoughts.
Neither of these three will lead us to our own ultimate core of being. It is only possible in our “Antar Gufa – Inner Cave.” In this cave there is no duality, there is no one to speak and to listen. The word is not needed there. There exists the “Anahad Nad – The soundless Sound.” The Holy bible describes it as “Logos.” It is also called as Naam, your inner self, Omkar, the Ultimate sound. Omen, Amen, Om Mani Padme Hum are the different names of the same reality. To talk of it is not possible but each of us can experience it.
Lao Tzu rightly says, “The Ultimate Truth cannot be said and what is said is not the Ultimate Truth.”
To know more about Inner cave its better to understand certain terms,
· Outer Space- the entire cosmos, the biotic as well as abiotic factors, living as well as non-living, stones, rocks, mountains, seas, animals, birds, humans, sky, water, air and so on.
· Outer World- our world of relations, our home, workplace, friends, where we have made our connections.
· Inner World- is the world of thoughts, our imaginations. It is the factory of ideas, thoughts, creations and desires.
· Inner Space- is our cave Antar Gufa, where everything disappears and merges with the Supreme One.
Man, Budhi, Chit Pahunche nahin, sabda sakai nahin Jai;
Dariya dhan ve sadhava, jahan rahe lau laya.
Says Dariya, those disciples are great who reside in this cave, and let samadhi dawn on them.
Buddha says: “Appo Deepo Bhava” Be a light unto Yourself.
A poet says it in such a beautiful way:
“Easy is to brighten your home with lights,
But worth is to kindle a lamp within,
Easy is to die for someone you love,
But worth is to reincarnate,
Easy is to praise someone,
But worth is to have it in you.
Easy is to listen to a Master who passed,
But worth is to be around a living Master.”
Don’t just be stuck to words, clothes, place of the Master. Be in search of a living Master, so that his lamp can kindle your one too.
The poet further says:

“Easy is to remember your Beloved,
But worth is to be his shadow.
Easy is to go to temples,
But worth is to have a pilgrim within.”
The first step towards the journey within is “Sakshi” The term Sakshi has been nicely termed as double arrowed consciousness by Osho. It means being aware towards the scene as well as the seer.
Dariya Sahib breaks our misconception by stating:
Dariya sota sakal jag, jagat nahin koye;
Jage me phir jagana, jagat kahiye soye.
This means:
All are sleeping. Even those who seem to be awake are actually sleeping.
We all are so deeply engrossed in our thoughts, beliefs, and imaginations and thus are unaware of the fact that is happening or taking place around us. We are like Robots functioning according to our conditioned mind.
Here arises a question — How to be aware?
It’s through the way of Sakshi, witnessing.
· Firstly, If you see a cricket match between India and Pakistan – it’s a Scene, Drishya.
· Here you are the audience – Viewer, Darshak
· Third comes Observer, Drashta —while seeing the match you notice that in the last ball India needs to score 3 runs. There is some wavering in your mind, something shakes, certain feelings arise and if you are aware of all this or either you can feel it then you are a Drashta or in Objective awareness.
· And a step ahead, being aware of the one who is watching this turbulences and the match is Sakshi or double arrowed consciousness.
Dariya says to make us understand this witnessing consciousness –
“Jaage me Phir Jaagna..”
The entire revolution of Vipassana has been stuck, as many people don’t understand what Sakshi is but are stuck at Objective Awareness. And the result of all this is forgetfulness.
I would like to tell you a joke: once a couple went for shopping, the husband was a strict follower of Vipassana, so after lots of shopping he returned home and started searching each bag. His son who was looking at him from back was amazed and finally asked him, “Papa, what are you searching?” The father replied I have missed something but don’t remember what it was. After a while the son inquired about the mother and then the father jumped and said: “Now I remember I just forgot your mother there.”
This is the result of being unaware of the self. The intention of Buddha was along with the breath, in the gap between two breaths witness the self, know thy self. The main theme is left by us and rest all is being practiced.

Dariya Sahib further instructs us to –
Taj vikar akar taj, nirakar ko dhyay;
Nirakar me pathkar, niradhar lou lay.
What does he mean by Vikar – the ego is the only problem.
Ego refers to that part of our consciousness, which actually does not exist, but we consider it to be there. It is a pseudo part or else just our phobia that it is.
It is just as thread considers itself different from the Blanket and having a separate identity. Similarly, a droplet may consider itself different from the ocean.
Body is physical form; mind also belongs to the form though it is more of fluid part.
There is Omkar beyond the form; it is the formless. The journey is from form to the formless and feeling the oneness with it.
It means go within in the cave closing all your senses. Your subjectivity will know and feel what is within the inner cave. That inner cave is beyond time and space. Just listening to Naad, and being one with it is Sahaj Yog.
Hariom Tat Sat.

The Musical Light of Divine

Adi Granth says –
“Antar jyot nirantar vani,
Sache sahib siu lib layi”
That means God is always present in the form of divine sound and divine light and by its remembrance you get an association, affection and love with God.
While describing the divine light Saint Paltudas says –
“Ulta kuva gagan mein, tis mein jarey chirag.
Tis mein jarey chirag, bina rogan bin bati.
Cheh ritu barah maas rahat jhartey din rati.
Satguru mila jo hoye tahi ki nazar mein aave
Bin satguru kou hoye, nahi voko darsave.
Nikse ek awaz chirag ki jyotihi mahi.
Gyan Samadhi sune aur kou sunta nahi.
Paltu jo kou sune ta ke purey bhag
Ulta kuva gagan mein, tis mein jarey chirag.”
This means when you constantly look at the divine light, it seems like the upside down well. In this a burning flame of the lamp is seen at the centre. This is such a lamp which is burning since ever without oil and lamp. But it can be seen only by the luckiest disciple with the grace of his master. This light is musical which can only be seen and heard in Samadhi. Paltu Sahib says-
“Deepak bara naam ka mahal bhaya ujiyara
Mahal bhaya ujiyara naam ka tel biraja
Shabad kiya prakas mansar upar chaja.”
That means the light of omkar spreads in the inner sky. This light is musical. It seems that the river of luminous music is flowing from the Mansarover of divine sound and divine light into the whole consciousness.
Gorakhnathji says –
Gagan sishar mahi sabad prakasya
Taha bujhe alakh binani.
That means in the gagan gufa – In the cave of the self, there is musical light, by knowing which you know God. Gorakhnathji says –
“Shabad bhaya ujiyala”
While describing this in Maro he jogi maro, Osho says – “This is an important sutra. You will be able to find it in very few saints - Shabad bhaya ujiyala. Music is luminous. There is light within sound, as if there is sparkling light in the core of the Sound; as if Sound is glorified by the Light. Not only the raga is resonating but even the light is coming out from raga.”
Saints have described the divine light as colorful.
Kabir says –
“Lali mere lal ki, jit dekhu tit lal.
Lali dekhan main gayi, main bhi ho gayi lal.”
That means I see the divine light inside, outside, and everywhere. By looking constantly at the divine light of God even I have become godly.
Dharamdas, the disciple of Kabir sahib describes the divine light as follows –
“Sahib teri dekhu sejariya ho.
Lal mahal ke lal kangura, lalin lagi kivariya ho.
Lal palang ke lal bhichona, lalin lag jharliya ho’
Lal sahib ke lalin murat, lal lal anuhuriya ho.
Dharamdas binve kar jori, guru ke charan balihariya ho.”
Adi Granth says–
“Kaban bani re teri leeli”
That means Oh God, where is the source of your light?
Osho describes the divine light in the blue sky. In the 12th chapter of Atmapuja Upanishad discourse he says–
“Light itself is colorless. All colors are of light but light has no color of its own. Like the outer light gets divided into 7 colors on passing through the prism. Similarly the divine light splits into 7 colors on passing through the prism of mind”.
Seekers see red, white, green, blue, violet, yellow, orange, gold and many other colors while meditating. Some times even sun, moon and stars are seen. The visualization of different color depends on the fact that consciousness is situated on which chakra.
In Ratna Sagar Tulsi sahib says –
“Khas khas ke dane ke andar shahar khuda ka basta hai
Kasd kare aeno ke til mein vahi toh uska rasta hai”
That means Shiv netra - third eye is like poppy seeds, by looking into which the city of God situated there is seen.

Shiv Netra is even called as third eye, tenth door, Agya chakra, sixth chakra, and Divya chakshu. Mainly all the meditation techniques are related to Shiv netra. Shiv netra can even be experienced in Shiv netra meditation given by Osho. Shiv netra can be awakened even by practicing Gouri Shanker Meditation, Tratak and Mandal Meditation. Due to the awakening of Shiv Netra and experience of divine light the doors of divine darshan are opened. The experiences of the past births are stored in the Soul Mind. In the depth of Samadhi those pictures start rising and seeker can see his present and future life and see the order of occurrences of the event.

Even the visions of masters, deities, divine saints, acharyas begin. Like dreams are seen while sleeping, similarly divine vision is experienced in Samadhi. The only difference is that dream makes sleep shallow, whereas divine vision deepens Samadhi.

From Duality to witnessing

Only in duality, it is possible to be a witness. When something within is calm and something is agitated only then one arrow faces inside you and the other outside. Hence, witnessing is possible only when you are experiencing pain. How would you be a witness without pain, without agitation? In other words, this agitation, this hurt, this pain and pleasure facilitates to become a witness.

Sometime back, someone asked that why did God make ego? It is so that you can become a witness. If God does not make ego, then how would one feel pain, pleasure, agitation?

Then how else would you embark on the inner journey? Therefore, He has actually done a great favor.

I am reminded that when Mother Teresa died, Nirmala Devi became in-charge and made a statement. I was stunned at the statement. It was a unique as well as an honest statement. While addressing the nuns she said, “O God! You are very merciful that you give birth to orphans and poor children. If you do not do that, then how would we earn our living? How would our work carry on”? She told nuns to thank God because if He had not made orphans then whom would have they served. How did we have had a chance to serve them? God does a favor to us serve by giving birth to orphans . Thus He gives us an opportunity to serve them.

It sounds very strange but she has made an apt point. Similarly, thank God that He has made ego so that we feel pain. It is because of pain that path to become a witness is clarified.

Knowing and Witnessing Kabir says-
DUKH MEIN SUMIRAN SAB KARE SUKH MEIN KARE NA KOYE You remember God during painful times and are impelled to go into meditation in such times. SUKH MEIN SUMIRAN JO KARE TO DUKH KAHE KO HOYE
However, if you begin the process of remembering Him in times of happiness then pain does not arise because you take a leap from happiness to Bliss.

Hence, thank God that He has made pain.He has given ego, because of ego there is pain, and hence you are able to be a witness. You are able to watch all that which is calm within you and are able to watch the waves of agitation, which emerge because of ego. This is because if you embark the boat of witnessing then it takes you to peacefulness and one day it takes you to nothingness.

Therefore, your experience is correct. It is authentic. You say that you even witness the situation and yet the pain remains in its place. It should remain. If it does not stay then you will not be able to remain a witness. Moreover, if you were not able to be a witness then you would not be able to progress into the Knowing. What is the meaning of Knowing? Knowing means that you have reached where now there is no more agitation, where there is no pain, you have reached the shore.

One sadhika informed us that when she prepares to do active meditation in the morning, her neighbors start to abuse her and her husband. She asked us to do something, such that her neighbors are transferred to other place. I said that for her I would pray. But I asked her that before that, she must do an experiment. When pain arises due to her neighbor’s abuses and derogatory remarks, then she must witness that pain. She called up 3-4 days later stating that something unique had occurred. She informed that for active meditation one has to do activities like hoo-hoo, jump, jog and generate energy. Now she does not have to do any of these because when her neighbor arrives and starts to abuse them the energy just raises on its own and she witnesses the pain, the sorrow, the insult and thereafter peace dawns upon her. Meditation dawns upon her. She revealed that now they look forward for the neighbors to arrive and facilitate the meditation. In addition, she requested us not to pray to God for their transfer from our neighborhood.

Difference between a Sadhak and a Siddha
This is why Kabir says:
NINDAK NIYARE RAKHIYE AANGAN KUTI CHHAVAY,
BIN PAANI SABUN BINA NIRMAL KARE SUBHAY.
It means: “Do not distance away critics”, do not alienate your rivals. Keep them close to you. “Do not alienate them; instead give them respect”.

Do not let them go away from you. Hence, if such an arrangement is made which brings sorrow, agitation, then do not try to escape it because something favorable is happening. This is the reasonwhy saints never ask you to flee to the Himalayas. In the Himalayas, there are no provisions for Sadhana and hence I have not seen anyone being integrated with the Divine Sound. They were able to become SIDDHA, but not saints. They became ARHAT but they could not become Masters. Among the saints from Himalayas, no one has been able to become a Master. Why was this? Because, somewhere in their Sadhana there is escapism. Kabir, Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak, Dadu, Dariya, Raidas, Meera, Sahjo, Daya all these are saints. No Dadu could emerge from the Himalayas. It could not deliver any Kabir. The Himalayas could not raise a Buddha. I have many a times met with the sages of Himalaya. They are more like sadhaks and not like saints, not like Buddha, they are not masters. If one wants to be a Master then know that the Master emerges from a market place. True Sadhana, correct Sadhana, Right Sadhana, balanced Sadhana is possible only in amidst market place.

Ram Krishna Paramhans says:
VEER SADHAK KAHA KE BOLE
JIN SANSAR MADHYE THAKE
SADHNA KARTE PARE TEENI VEER SADHAK.

He is a brave sadhak, who is able to do Sadhana inthe heart of the world. In addition, I say that the Sadhana of witnessing is far more easier for those who do it in the world. Hence, your Sadhana is absolutely on the right track. Let agitation happen, let pain occur, let it hurt, you continue with your witnessing.

Be witness, not just the Doll

Saint Ravidas was a unique saint of his times. By profession he was a cobbler. But had just one thing important in life – Remembrance of The Divine. In this pada, he describes the condition of human and at the end also provides us an opportunity to overcome the tragedy of our life.
Describing Man Ravidas says: “Mati ka Putra kaise Nachat hai, “
We have been seeing movies, plays or the puppet shows. In each of them there are 3 roles to be played namely – the director, actors moving according to the direction of director and the audience – the watchers.
One thing is sure – God, That Ultimate name, Omkar, the Existence is the director.
But yet we are left with the choice to be those puppets/actors or the watchers/ audience. You can either be Sakshi the witnessing consciousness or just dolls in the hands of directors. You can be the part of this entire huge drama show going on or else a witness – the observer.
But most of us are just those puppets doing their entire daily chorus and being unaware of the self.
He further makes fun of human condition and says:
“Dekhe dekhe sune bole, doryo firat hai kaise nachat hai…”
What is that a human being does and a puppet can’t? The puppet or in today’s day the Robots are much more efficient than the humans in performing their daily tasks and performing their duties. Computer and several machines have replaced humans in most of the fields. Puppets also dance, sing, laugh and cry like us. What can create a difference between the puppets and us –The difference is the factor of awareness. Our consciousness can make us stand apart from those mechanical devices.
Describing the pitiable condition of mankind Ravidas informs us:
“Jab kuch mile tab garva karat hai, maya gai tab rovan lagat hai…”
When we get something prestigious, the prizes, the rewards, appreciation we also feel enchanted in the similar way as of those puppets and when we lose something, we cry or feel bad.
Like an onion, we can peel off the layers over layers; there are certain layers in us too.

• The first layer is of ego, ‘I ness’, belongs to me.
• The second is that which is called as “Asmita” or amness.
• The third layer is Atma, our real self or isness.

Kabir says it well to explain this: “goongat ke phat khol re tohe piya milenge.” Similarly, He also says at another place: “khotri me khotri param khotri vichar.” It means within the room of ego is another room of amness or Individuality within these two is hidden our True self.

There are many uncertainties in life but one thing is certain from the day you are born that you will die one day or the other. Sooner or later death will knock your door. If someone you like, love or is a near and a dear one to you passes away or leaves you, betrays you then we will get unhappy or sad. Same is the case with those puppets. Or that’s all is happening in the movies. To an incident or rather to a fact we add many fictions of ourselves to it.

Each incident has three parts of it – fact, fiction and the truth.

• Fact – tathya, or the incident that took place. For an example - Death of your parents is the fact that took place.


• Fiction – kathya, or our prejudices for or against the situation. It is our fiction that the person met an untimely death. For us death at any age whether childhood, youth or old age is always untimely. It’s also our fiction that what happen if that would not have taken place then it would have been far better. If our parents wont have died, it would be possible for us to serve them in much sophisticated manner. Ask those whose parents are yet alive do they serve them well or till the time your own parents were alive did you serve them the best. If not in the present, then how about the future.


• And third part of an event is Truth- satya, the moral or the lesson we learn from it. Each incident can teach us something. In this case, you can take a lesson that death will also come at your doorstep. And one day you will also leave others and go away. So before that it’s better to search if there exists something immortal. Some bliss that the mystics have talked about. If you learn from an incident you are free from its bondage and it can’t ever make you sad again.
  If you are still sad about the incident that took place in the past means that you haven’t learnt anything from it and it will trouble you still in the future by coming to you again and again. But when you learn from it, know the essence behind it then you are left with happiness as your companion. Our life is just the combination of various events.

An intelligent person is one who not only learns by committing mistakes in his own life. He also grasps ideas from the things that occur in other’s life.
As there is a story of Gautama Buddha: On a round in his chariot he sees a sick person, a dead body, and a sannyasin. Similarly, in the life of Master Osho – His grand father’s death shook him and started a journey for the unknown in his life at the age of 7 years.

Guru Ravidas further tells us:“Man bach kram ras kasahi lubana, binas gaya jai kahu samana…” We get fascinated in the new releases, or as there are toys for kids so are for elders. Money, fame, prestige, name are toys for us and we get engrossed in them and forgetting the reason for being in this life. It’s just the same cycle takes place – birth, teenage, youth, old age and then the death, a new birth again and it goes on… At the end Ravidas concludes:

“Kahe ravidasa baji jag bhai, Bajigar sau mohi preeti bani aai.” Life is like a magic. If you want to know its tricks you need to be friendly with the magician. To know about the syllabus you need to work according to the teachers. So is the role of Guru. If you want to know Gobind – the Existence, you have to be friendly with a Living Master.

Kabir says: bazigar dank bajai,sab khalak tamase aai. The word dank means ‘Damru’. It is symbolic. It’s an indication about that song of infinite the sound of silence that is happening on its own accord always. Be Witness not the Doll. To be in love and friendliness with the director of our life – omkar, moving on his path and being in gratitude to your Master is the pathof Sahaj Yoga.

From Madness to Godliness

During His lifetime Guru Nanak Dev ji, illuminated the world with his inner light. Let us explore His teachings whereby He says:
“Bin nave jag kamla phire”

The entire world is getting wild and crazy. Do you know the reason behind it?
Ask yourself the answer for the basic questions like who are you, where did you come from, where you have to go and so on. You will be left completely blank without an answer for yourself.

The human race is getting mad because you don’t know the True Name – Ek Omkar Satnam. It is our only source and the destination. But here most of us are spending lives without even knowing the basic goal behind our life. We are simply vegetating. We are living lives as if dragging the heavy load on ourselves.

Grace of Master
Kabir says it rightly: Sabde guru Sabde chela
What is religion? It is the search for your True nature, to know that Omkar, what is True Name? To know the oneness with the Existence is our basic instinct.
How can you know the Ultimate Truth? It is possible only with the compassion of A Living Master, in His guidance when you follow his path.

Guru Nanak says in Japuji
Guru Prasad i.e we are blessed with the Self just by the grace of The Master.
Guru Nanak Dev ji further guides us on this inner voyage as:
Maya, Mamta mohini
Illusion-Maya – all are connections through the mind.

Where we are related due to the mind is Maya. In the religious books it was mentioned that the cause of sorrow is illusion (Maya).But Gautama Buddha said – mind is the only reason for our happiness and sadness; our joy and sorrow. Our pleasure and pain are due to the mind. Great controversies and confusions started on these two statements. After 2000 years, a man of equivalent caliber of Buddha came, that was Kabir and He said, mind and illusion (maya) are one and the same.

Mind is the compressed form of illusion and illusion is the expanded form of mind.
Mamta – it is the expansion of heart, of emotions, feelings. Attachment (moha) – is the fear of loosing whatever we consider to be of our own. Guru Nanak Dev ji says:
Jin bindanta jag sara. We want to derive pleasure from different things but this is never ending.
Gautama Buddha illustrates this: “trishna dushpoor hai”
We will be exhausted but our desires or craving for more will continue to grow.

There are 2 kinds of people

1. Guru Mukh- Living in accordance to the Master – those people float in the ocean. The ocean takes them to destination along.

2. Man Mukh – Oriented to the mind. In this case, mind is their master. They try hard to swim but the waves of the ocean drown them.

It’s not so that mind is not essential. It is, but priority is of experience. It’s like a horse followed by the chariot can move but not vice versa. So is with experience and mind.

In Hindi there are two terms namely – Chintan- thinking before you have ever experience, just philosophy. And the other is Manan – to know after you have experienced and accordingly decide. To know the self is Manan which can be helpful but not Chintan which is just philosophizing.

After your own experience you can know about the soundless sound. Others may tell you but until you don’t feel it, know it; it is unworthy for you. Only when you experience what Guru Amardas says:

‘Antar jyoti Nirantar vani’
Your life is sheer waste. Without the Name, the religion is mere business.

It’s as if you get diamonds then you will automatically leave the stones that you are holding. Unless we are in the grasp of divine, how can we leave the dead scriptures?

Moving from temples to mosque I didn’t found you,
But having a jump within I disappeared in you.

We light candles and lamps for celebration and feel the joy of festivity. But when your inner self gets kindled, life becomes a celebration. Seek for a master and he will guide you on the path, then only can you know bliss, benediction.

Guru Arjun Deo says perfectly:
‘Anand baya, sukh paya, mile guru gobinda’
You feel the shower of immense love and enjoy life after the master enters your life.

Guru Nanak Dev ji concludes it:
Nanak naam tina so milya
Only the chosen ones, those who search on the path know the Omkar.
There is a saying in china: if 100 go on the path only one finds him.
If you have the quest, you start doing efforts for it.
You can write your own destiny and be the blessed.
If you pray to him, longe for him, waiting just by the side He will be there with you.
Waiting in deep longingness is Sahaj Yoga. Hari Om Tat Sat.

self. The main theme is left by us and rest all is being practiced.
Dariya Sahib further instructs us to –
Taj vikar akar taj, nirakar ko dhyay;
Nirakar me pathkar, niradhar lou lay.
What does he mean by Vikar – the ego is the only problem.
Ego refers to that part of our consciousness, which actually does not exist, but we consider it to be there. It is a pseudo part or else just our phobia that it is.
It is just as thread considers itself different from the Blanket and having a separate identity. Similarly, a droplet may consider itself different from the ocean.
Body is physical form; mind also belongs to the form though it is more of fluid part.
There is Omkar beyond the form; it is the formless. The journey is from form to the formless and feeling the oneness with it.
It means go within in the cave closing all your senses. Your subjectivity will know and feel what is within the inner cave. That inner cave is beyond time and space. Just listening to Naad, and being one with it is Sahaj Yog.

Hariom Tat Sat.