Getting closer to the Divine

When a person learns how to control himself correctly, right deeds are the result. You achieve every thing when right deeds manifest themselves. Just having theories and not putting into effect the right way to control ourselves brings agitation. An agitated person moves aimless day and night. Because of this agitation, the great power that comes knocking at our door cannot settle down inside us and we become inconstant, unstable and inwardly we never find a moment of deep calm. In this situation where will divine light manifest itself? That great power appears inside us in the very moment we are able to keep calm; in this circumstance the body becomes Guru’s settlement, it becomes the settlement of Shakti and our soul urges us towards good deeds. But when our mind is confused and unable to take rest, it exposes us to many troubles. So, dear brothers, we should try to save ourselves from this unsteady and agitated mind; if we cannot do it for twenty four hours, we try to do it for twelve hours, or six hours, even for one hour if this is not possible for us, finally we should try to save ourselves for at least five minutes a day. Practising Bhuta Shuddhi (a kind of purification which consists in drinking a little water placed in the right hand  and vivified with the energy of a particular Mantra, able to deeply calm down the mind), we remove from our depth all those thoughts which take our calm and concentration away and, through our uncontaminated light, we become bright. Then we should perform pranayama inhaling from the left nostril and holding the breath for some time, and in succession slowly exhaling from the right nostril. Even pranayama practice is part of Bhuta Shuddhi (cleansing of mind and body) and practising it regularly fills our body with energy and pure light; our thoughts get cleaned up with this practice: so we cultivate good thoughts, for ourselves and for others. About Mantra repetition, whether the tongue is moving or not, it will be performed until Mantra subtle sensation remains in our throat and its flow has no obstacles. About meditation, attention is much more recommendable than  meditation with our eyes closed. Between what has form and what has no form, it rises a conflict when we start to meditate with our eyes closed. An old saw says “The one who has been able to understand how things are, does he need to meditate with his eyes closed? In this case meditation becomes secondary.” The one who sees the Almighty everywhere and in every being has a link with the saying “God, you are everywhere.” Rather than meditating, for such a person it is better paying attention. The one who knows how to pay attention can understand the truth. The one who meditates, causes a separation between himself and God, he draws a veil between himself and God. It shouldn’t exist a separation between ourselves and the Almighty. When our reflection centres on this thought, with this realization, we are in condition to pay attention. When our attention gets activated, many things become clear, many things are resolved by themselves. What we should pay attention to, while we are sitting in a meditation pose, it’s that our mind is concentrated on our Mantra, and all the other sense organs remain absorbed inside themselves, introverted, because they are never satisfied and, if we start feeding them, they keep wanting more and more. Their craving for anything is inextinguishable. The ones who try to satisfy their own senses always remain unsatisfied. In their lives there is a constant sense of dissatisfaction and, because of that, they always feel empty inside, they are not able at all to savour real joy. In the beginning keeping senses under control can seem a hard task and it requires discipline, but the benefits are many. Destiny’s course gets changed by determination, resolution and great care.

Together with personal effort, we try to be disciplined and so we become a repository where our family members and our friends pour their love and affection. We become a source of inspiration for the others. If we are not careful and we waste our time and our resources in immoral efforts, we become the target of the others’ mockery. Our family members  and friends shun us and sometimes we also have to face sarcasm’s arrows. Brothers, we are householder, we are part of the society and we have certain responsibilities. It is our duty to work hard for our earnings: one part should be saved and another one spent in good deeds. Which sort of persons are those who never save anything nor use their money for good deeds? They waste everything in worthless activities. We must give more importance to  personal effort than to other activities of life. If this effort is made to earn our living or do good deeds, and it is made to lead ourselves on a good path, certainly it will have a successful conclusion. Together with effort we must pay attention to actions. This practice will enable us to understand the meaning of our birth on this earth, because we know very well that the effects of our actions (karma) don’t spare anyone, whether he is a saint, God or God’s representative, no one is exempted from it. Even Krishna had to face the consequences of his actions, of what he did. Effects of our actions (karma) are like a shadow following us. We should give the proper value to all those things that are important, everywhere and every moment. Only then our inner being will bloom as a wonderful flower and we will be able to welcome anyone the proper way. In such a state, we will be regarded as evolved beings and we will be worth remembering. It is for this reason that we lovingly get closer and contemplate the Almighty in this profitable occasion. Our satisfaction is God’s blessing. The Shakti we contemplate in this occasion has these qualities. We must aim to this qualities and have them. We indicate Shakti with the respectful name of Mother. Mother is always kind with her kid. Sometimes we dare to take advantage of her kindness, and we ask her to give us tasty sweets in dirty hands. To prevent the kid from falling sick (if he eats with dirty hands), Mother can deny these things, for his own good, and when the kid’s hands are clean, whether he’s been asking or not, very lovingly she puts sweets in his hands.

Brothers, we must pay attention to these things: if our hands are clean enough or not, if our actions are clean enough, if someone led us astray or we are leading others on the wrong way. We must be alert towards the wishes of our sense organs. Disguised as friends, they keep leading us astray every second. Since we have been led astray and distracted  by them, the whole existence looks as surrounded by darkness. Every loving attempt to get closer to divine, contemplations and observances we undertake during this occasion, never go to waste. All these things will bear fruit  and in due time we will find comfort and gratification. We should never underestimate what our loving approach to divine and contemplation can give. I am deeply convinced that everything you undertake is welcome. This will bring us days of happiness in lifetime.

With these words I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to talk to you and I take my leave.