Part 3
dyva vileenam
Seeker: Is the goal of prayer to lose our individuality and dissolve into oneness with God?
Sadhu: We have been created in the image of God. Our destiny is to be restored into that image. God came to us in the Master to restore us to God's divine nature. In this way, the Master transforms us into flames of spiritual fire. To become spiritual fire means to become like God. Even the smallest flame of fire is fire and has all the qualities of fire. This does not mean that our spirit is God's spirit, as some pantheists and philosophers suppose. We are not fragments of God's spirit. We are not God. God is distinct from us, but our souls can only find peace in oneness with God.
A sponge lies in the water and the water fills the sponge, but the water is not the sponge and the sponge is not the water. It is the same when I immerse myself in God. God fills my heart and I am in complete union with God, but I am not God and God is not I. We are distinct though not separate.
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People are very different from one another – in character, temperament, and abilities – even though we are all created in the image of God. Indeed, if all the flowers in the world were of the same color and scent, the very face of the earth would lose its charm. When the sun's rays pass through colored glass, the color does not change, but the sun highlights and
reveals its varied hues, its true charm. So the sun of righteousness shines through the varied characters of spiritual men and women, revealing God's boundless glory and love.
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contemplation dhyanam
Seeker: Sadhu-ji, some say that to encounter God we must fulfil some special devotional exercise of contemplation. What does contemplation really mean?
Sadhu: The wonderful peace and calm we experience in prayer does not come from our own thoughts or imaginations, but from the presence of God in our souls. The vapor rising from one small pond is not enough to form large rain clouds and drench the thirsty land. Such large clouds can only come from the mighty ocean. Peace cannot be found in our own subconscious minds, our own concentration, but only in the boundless ocean of God's love.
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God is love and freely gives everything we need, both for our material and for our spiritual existence. But because the blessings of God's spirit are so freely given, we often take them for granted. If all people had open and receptive hearts, they could see and hear God's voice at all times and in all places. But we have
lost this awareness. Through prayer, we learn to ap preciate spiritual gifts, gifts that are at least as impor tant for life as air and water, heat and light. Those who are focused on this material world foolishly waste the spiritual blessings offered to them, while those with a focused prayer life obtain true wisdom.
Dolphins can live in the deepest water without dan ger because they regularly come to the surface and take in the air that sustains them. We, too, must rise in prayer into the spiritual realm. To pray is to breathe in God's life-giving spirit that gives life and peace, even in this world.
The new-born child needs no instruction in drink- ing, but instinctively turns to its mother's breast for nourishment. For her part, the mother withholds no good gift from her child, but still the child cannot re ceive the mother's milk without effort. In the same way, we are carried at God's breast, but we must turn to God in prayer for the spiritual milk that sustains our souls.
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The root tips of trees are so sensitive and respon sive that they instinctively turn away from places where there is no nourishment and spread themselves instead in places where they can drink in moisture and life. I have seen green and fruitful trees standing in the
middle of a dry and barren desert. These trees survive and flourish because their roots have driven down and discovered hidden streams of flowing water.
Some people live in the midst of evil and misery but still radiate joy and lead fruitful lives. Through prayer, the hidden roots of their faith have reached down to the source of living water. They draw from it energy and life to bear spiritual fruit. If we lead active lives of prayer, we will also gain the spiritual discern ment to turn away from illusion and evil and to find the truth we need for life.
Seeker: You speak of discernment. Can you explain further what you mean?
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Sadhu: Human consciousness is very subtle and sen sitive. We can receive impressions from the unseen, spiritual world that express themselves in ideas and concepts familiar to us. Poets, artists, and musicians may experience these impressions in the form of rich colors, beautiful music, or other wonderful sights and sounds that come to expression in their artwork. Some people experience such things through dreams, some through visions, others during wakeful mediation. In
prayer, light streams out from God, illuminating and guiding our innermost conscience. The discerning power of prayer enables us to distinguish the useful from the useless among such experiences. If we spend more time in meditation, we can recognize the rela tionship between the visible and invisible world ever more distinctly and clearly.
No thought, word, or deed is ever extinguished. They are forever imprinted on our souls – recorded in the book of life. Meditation provides the atmo sphere for us to grow in fear and love of God so that these impressions are refined to contribute to our spiritual bliss. In meditation, the true condition of the soul is exposed, and God can reveal our failings in or der to heal and bless us.
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Seeker: Why doesn't everyone readily embrace this truth?
Sadhu: Once a woman was travelling along a moun tain path carrying her child in her arms. The child caught sight of a pretty flower and lunged forward so unexpectedly from its mother's arms that it fell to its death on the rocks below. Isn't it clear that life and se
curity were to be found at its mother's breast, not in the fascinating flowers? Many who set out seeking truth do the same thing. Catching sight of some fleet ing and fascinating pleasure, they forget the spiritual milk God provides, an offering that comes with greater love than any mother can give, and they leap out into the world and are lost.
If we do not tend and care for a tree or a bush that bears good fruits or beautiful flowers, then it will grow wild and in the end it will be neither beautiful nor useful. It is the same with people of faith: if we neglect prayer and allow our spirits to grow sleepy, we will wither, fall back into our old evil ways, and die. Once ten bridesmaids went out to meet the groom and lead the wedding procession. Five of them were wise and took extra oil in case he might be delayed. The others were foolish and took only their lamps. The groom was delayed in arriving, so the lamps burned low and the bridesmaids fell asleep. In the middle of the night they were awakened by the cry that the groom had arrived. They all rose, trimmed their lamps, and prepared to begin the procession, but the foolish ones noticed their oil was used up. They asked the wise ones for oil, but these knew there was not enough oil in their flasks to keep all ten lamps
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burning all the way to the banquet hall, so they told the foolish maids to go, awaken a merchant, and buy their own oil. They frantically tried to find someone to sell them some oil, but by that time the procession had arrived at the hall and the wedding feast had be gun. The doors were locked, so the foolish brides maids missed the feast as well as the procession. Let us now follow the example of the wise maidens and fill the vessels of our hearts with oil of the Spirit. Other wise, nothing will be left for us but grief and despair.
Seeker: What is this oil of the Spirit and how can I obtain it?
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Sadhu: To obtain the blessings of a spiritual life, we must be ready to believe and obey without doubts and questions. Once the Master was in a temple where people were gathered for worship. Among the people was a man with a crippled and withered hand. The Master called to the man, "Stand up and come here to me." There the man stood in front of all the people, and the Master looked at him and said, "Stretch out your hand!" Without hesitating, the man held out his hand, and it was completely healed in that instant.
Imagine if the man had said: "If you are a prophet then you know my hand is withered and that I cannot lift it. First heal my hand and then I will be able to stretch it out." Or he might well have been embar rassed to put his hand on show in front of so many people and quickly run away in humiliation. Such re actions would have been reasonable and understand able, but the man's hand would not have been healed. Whoever wants to encounter God must be obedient. We must lift up in prayer our weak and withered hands, and then we will receive complete healing and new life – all our needs and longings will be fulfilled.
There was once a woman caught in adultery and brought by an angry crowd before the Master. Now, the law prescribed that she be stoned to death. Instead of addressing the crowd, the Master wrote quietly in the sand with his finger. Finally he lifted his head, looked at the crowd and said, "Let the one who has no guilt throw the first stone." Then he continued to write quietly in the sand. One by one the crowd dis persed – oldest to youngest – until only the accused woman was left. Then the Master lifted his head again, spoke to the woman and said: "If none of these people accuse you, then neither do I. Go, then, and lead a life pleasing to God."
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With his finger, the Master had quietly written on the ground the sins and failings of each of those in the crowd who stood ready to condemn the woman, until each one left in shame and humility. With the same finger, he points to the secret wounds of sin in each person who seeks the truth. Then, with that same fin ger, he heals our wounds. As children hold a parent's finger to walk without falling, we, too, can grasp the Master's finger and walk securely the road to spiritual peace.
As the earth moves, we experience the changes of day to night and summer to winter. But with the sun, there is perpetual noon and perpetual summer. Like- wise, the sun of righteousness is the same yesterday and today and forever. If we experience the exuber ance of joy or the gloom of despair, it is only because our position shifts in relation to God. If we open our hearts in prayer and meditation, the warming rays of the sun are always there to heal the wounds of our sins and give us perfect spiritual health.
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P A R A B L E
three seekers
The story is told of a wise man who met
three pilgrims on the road. The first was pale and withered and
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cringing with fear. The wise man asked him, "Why are you in
such a frightful state?" Haltingly, the man answered: "All that I
have ever done wrong haunts me. I fear the consequences of
all the evil I have done knowingly or unknowingly. I am afraid
that I will suffer the eternal punishment of naraka, what men
call hell." The wise man spoke to him, saying: "It is sad and dis
tressing that you do not turn your heart and thoughts to God,
who alone is the source of all wisdom. Instead, you live in con
tinual fear of hell. So your pilgrimage is not genuine. You are
trying to offer your pilgrimage as a bribe to God, so that you
will not be punished for your sins. You will never find peace
along this path."
The second pilgrim was consumed with worries and
doubts. The wise man asked him, "Why do you seem so sad
and worried?" The pilgrim answered, "I desperately want to
find the bliss and peace of the heavenly realm, but I fear I will
not find it." The wise man rebuked him sharply, saying: "It is
shameful that you fail to think of God's creative power and
love. This alone should fill your heart with great awe and
thankfulness. Instead, you are consumed by your own desire
for peace and joy. You only pray in order to gain fulfillment of
your own selfish desires. Such prayer is worthless and will
never lead you to peace."
Afterward, the wise man turned to the third pilgrim who
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radiated joy and contentment. "Friend," he asked, "what is
the secret of your joy and peace?" The pilgrim answered: "My
heart is filled with joy, and I am filled with thankfulness to God
who has opened the way for me to know his presence and find
unity with him. May he open my heart more and more so that
I can love and serve him with heart and soul and strength and
so that I can worship him for love alone."
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Seeker: Sadhu-ji, your call to prayer and contemplation is compelling. Should everyone then abandon the distractions of the world to live the life of a hermit?
Sadhu: It is true that prayer is the means by which we experience the reality of God. But once God has be come a living reality for us, we simply have to love our fellow men. We cannot do otherwise. Once we receive the new life of the Spirit, we begin to live in love. And living in love, we are moved quite naturally and joy fully to serve others. God is love and if we live in union with God, we have the strength and longing to love others. Service is a spiritual activity, the natural fruit of love. God, who is love, is ever serving and caring for Creation. Human beings are made to be like God and so they too should never tire of serving others.
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Prayer without work is as bad as work without prayer. A broody hen satisfies its instinct by continu ing to sit in some dark corner even after its eggs have
been removed. So it is with those who remove them selves from the tasks of life and spend their time wholly in prayer. Such a life is as fruitless as the hen that sits on an empty nest.
Remember, there is a great difference between those who worship God with their lips only and those who do so with their hearts and lives. All too often, people pray to God in the name of the Master, but they do not really know him. They take God's name into their mouths and onto their lips but not into their hearts and lives. The Master guides us to recognize what will glorify God and benefit others. If we live in the Master and the Master lives in us, then our prayers bear fruit. Once a man served his king with great faithfulness and courage and thus enjoyed the king's favor. But this man's son led a corrupt and selfish life. So when the son appeared before the king asking for some fa vor in the name of his father, the king replied, "Do not appeal to me in your father's name until you first go and live a life worthy of his example. Carry your father's honor in your heart, not only on your lips, and then I, too, will honor your request."
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Anyone who has received help from another and yet is unwilling to offer help in turn is ungrateful and undeserving of any further help. Unless we offer all
our gifts and abilities in service to God, who has given us life and breath and all we have, then we can not expect to receive the spiritual help that God alone can give.
Seeker: We are weak and sinful – mere mortals. What help or service can we possibly render to God who is eternal and almighty?
Sadhu: God has no need of help from us. Our very existence is entirely dependent on God's constant help. However, if we offer ourselves in service, God
blesses our efforts and adds his help.
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When the Master approached Lazarus' tomb, his power and help was not needed to move the stone away. That was a task for others. Once they obeyed and removed the stone, however, then the Master did what was beyond human power: he called the dead man back to life. Afterward, there was still work left for others: they removed the burial clothes so that Lazarus could walk about in perfect freedom.
It is the same with those who are spiritually dead. We can roll away the tombstones of doubt and igno rance, but only God can breathe new life into them.
Even then, they may still carry the burdens of bad habits and evil company, so we have the continuing duty to help free them from these entanglements. For this task, we must remain ever alert in heart and soul.
God often uses the least gifted people when some great service is needed. Why? Because people who know their own weakness are fully open to the power that God offers. When the Master fed the five thou sand, he did not use his disciples. They were too full of doubt and worry, wanting to send the crowds away to fend for themselves. Instead, he turned to a small boy who had barely enough to feed himself. His mother had wrapped some barley cakes and dried fish for him, but he was completely willing to give all that he had in perfect trust that the Master would supply the rest. There may even have been wealthier people there with dried fruit and cakes of wheat, but they were not ready to give them up in such simple faith. So the Master fed the multitude with the simple food of a peasant boy.
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Seeker: It requires such dedication to maintain an active prayer life. I do not see how one can find the strength to serve others as well.
Sadhu: The great gift of service is that it also helps the one who serves. Once when travelling in Tibet, I was crossing a high mountain pass with my Tibetan guide. The weather had suddenly turned bitterly cold, and my companion and I feared that we might not make it to the next village – still several miles away – before succumbing to the frost.
Suddenly, we stumbled upon a man who had slipped from the path and was lying in the snow. Looking more closely, I discovered that the man was still alive, though barely. "Come," I said to my com panion, "help me try to bring this unfortunate man to safety." But my companion was upset and frightened for his life. He answered: "If we try to carry that man, none of us will ever reach the village. We will all freeze. Our only hope is to go on as quickly as pos sible, and that is what I intend to do. You will come with me if you value your life." Without another word and without looking back, he set off down the path.
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I could not bring myself to abandon the helpless traveller while life remained in him, so I lifted him on my back and threw my blanket around us both as best I could. Slowly and painstakingly, I picked my way along the steep, slippery path with my heavy load. Soon it began to snow, and I could make out the way forward only with great difficulty.
How we made it, I do not know. But just as daylight was beginning to fade, the snow cleared and I could see houses a few hundred yards ahead. Near me, on the ground, I saw the frozen body of my guide. Nearly within shouting distance of the village, he had succumbed to the cold and died, while the unfortunate traveller and I made it to safety. The exertion of car rying him and the contact of our bodies had created enough heat to save us both. This is the way of ser vice. No one can live without the help of others, and in helping others, we receive help ourselves.
Once two women appeared before the wise king Solomon. The first said: "Your Majesty! This woman and I live in the same house. I gave birth to a son, and three days later she also gave birth to a baby boy. But in that same night, her son died. So she sneaked up to my bed while I was still asleep, took my child from my side and left the body of her dead son in his place. In the morning, I could see that it was her baby not mine."
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At that, the second woman interrupted, saying it was not so. Then the two women began arguing in the presence of the king. The king called for silence and, to the astonishment of all present, he called for a guard to come with a sword, cut the living child in
two, and give each woman half of the child's body. The second woman said, "So be it then!" But the first woman fell on her knees before the king and cried: "No, Your Majesty! Have mercy and spare the child's life. Rather give him to the other woman." In those words, King Soloman recognized the true mother's heart and so ordered that the child be given to her.
Seeker: Your examples are full of hope, beloved Sadhu, but I am too selfish and sinful to be of any service.
Sadhu: There was once a convicted murderer who, instead of being hanged, was sent into battle with the armies of the king. He was gravely wounded, but he fought with bravery and valor and returned from the war a hero. The king, seeing his wounds and hearing the reports of his valor, not only pardoned him for his previous crime, but also rewarded him richly and gave him a position of honor in the kingdom. So it is in our spiritual lives. If we fight to save the lives of those op pressed under the weight of sin and selfishness, we will not only find forgiveness, but we will also enjoy spiritual bliss.
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Some people are held back from serving others be cause they doubt their own abilities. They are like those recovering from a long illness. They receive nourishing food and rest and are no longer sick, but they remain weak and lethargic because they have not worked or exercised their muscles. We must simply set out in trust to bring the message of hope and faith to others. It is useless to take swimming lessons unless we are willing to enter the water and practice – first in the shallow water and then in the deep. In this way, we can gain strength and improve our technique. In order to help those who are struggling and sinking in the dark waters of inner need, we must enter the practical school of theology – prayer and spiritual union with God.
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Seeker: Why share our spiritual blessings with others, when so often people only mock and ridicule us?
Sadhu: The Master said, "Resist not evil." Once there was a devoted Indian Christian who was praying in his house alone, when three thieves stealthily entered and took away all they could get. When the man had finished his prayers he noticed that all his goods were gone, except for the box over which he had been bow
ing in prayer. This box contained all his money and valuables. He immediately took the contents and ran after the thieves calling: "Wait! Wait! You have left some valuables behind. Perhaps you need these things more than I." When the thieves heard this, they thought it was a trap. But when they saw that he had no weapon and that he was alone, they came back to him. The man said to them: "Why didn't you tell me you needed these things? I would have gladly given you whatever you needed. Now, come home with me, and whatever you need you may have." The thieves, seeing the strange life of this man of prayer, were so struck that their lives changed forever. If a blind man comes groping along the road, it is only right that we who can see should step aside and avoid bumping into him. And if he, by accident, bumps into us, we should not take offense, but rather help him find his way. If we get annoyed about it, it only proves that we are blinder than the blind man himself, completely lacking both common sense and human sympathy. Similarly, if anyone persecutes us because we follow the truth, we should – instead of being offended – forgive and pray for that person in love. If we continue to experience opposition, we lose
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nothing, since we experience for the sake of the Mas ter, the Truth, which is our reward.
If we serve in love, then our service will eventually bear fruit. If some people speak evil of us or hurl abuse and criticism, then we should love them all the more. They may yet taste the sweet fruits of our love.
When naughty boys see a tree with delicious fruit hanging heavy from its branches, they sometimes throw stones. But the tree does not respond by hurling stones back. Instead, it drops its delicious fruit for them to enjoy. The tree does not have stones to hurl, but it freely shares what it does have – the sweet fruit – without murmur or complaint. So do not be discouraged if some hurl abuse and criticism at you for following the spiritual life. It is a sign that they ac tually long for the fruit God has given you. And even if they attack you out of malice and spite, still you can offer spiritual fruits and reveal God's love.
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A rebellious son once left his father's house and joined a band of robbers living along the road through the jungle. In time, he forgot his happy child hood and became as cruel and ruthless as the others. But his father never gave up hoping that one day he would abandon his evil ways and return home. In
time, the father called his servants and asked them to go into the jungle, find his son, and tell him that his father was waiting to welcome him home and forgive him, if only he would abandon his evil ways. But the servants refused to go. They were afraid of the wild country and the fierce robbers.
Now, the man's older son loved his younger broth er just as much as his father did. So, when no servant could be found to go, he set out himself into the jungle to find his brother and deliver his father's message. As he wandered through the jungle, the robbers spied him, attacked him, and wounded him to the point of death. Only then did his younger brother recognize him. Filled with grief and remorse at what he and his band had done, he embraced his dying brother and kissed him. With his last breath, the older brother was able to pass on the father's message: "Now my life 's task and love 's duty is done." So saying, he died in his brother's arms.
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The young man was so moved by the loving sacri fice of his brother, that his heart was instantly changed. He abandoned his life as a robber, asked for giveness of his father, and from that day on lived a new and upright life. When we think of how the
Master died in agony to pass on to us God's message of love, should we then not also be ready to give our lives in bringing this message of hope to others?
Often, we can share the message of God's love more effectively by prayer than by preaching. Spiritual power emanates silently and unnoticed from those who pray and reveal spiritual truths to others, just as unseen radio waves from a powerful transmitter can convey messages to those attuned to them. In this way, a seeking person may receive the greatest help from someone praying alone.
The firefly with its flickering light and certain small plants in the Himalayas brighten the dark jungle as best they can. There are also tiny fish in the depths of the ocean that give light into that gloomy darkness. All the more should we be lights for all those souls wandering in the darkness of this world. Even if it in volves risk or danger to ourselves, we should be eager to share our God-given light with those who are stumbling and in danger of losing their way.
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Seeker: But if we give all our strength in serving others, how will we ever find time or energy to praise God?
Sadhu: God has no need of our praise. Does God lack anything that we mortals could provide? Those who seek to follow the spiritual life are like salt in the world. Salt crystals cannot give flavor to food unless they dissolve. If we dissolve the salt in a pot, it disap pears but it does not cease to exist. Indeed, it can then give flavor to thousands of grains of rice.
It is the same with us. If we are not melted in the fire of love and spirit, if we do not sacrifice ourselves completely, then we cannot pass on to even a single soul the blissful experience of the spiritual life. If we do not sacrifice ourselves, then we are rather like Lot's wife who was turned to a lifeless pillar of salt. Yesu was melted in the Garden of Gethsemane and gave his life on the cross to open the gate of heaven for all. In the same spirit, we must be prepared to give up our own lives for the spiritual welfare of others. This is what will bring praise to God.
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The sword of justice hangs threateningly even now over many souls. We must be willing to sacrifice our own desires – even our lives – for the benefit of those in danger of spiritual death. Then the world will rec ognize that true love abides in us and that we are chil dren of the God who sacrifices himself for us.
Seeker: What happens if we fail to serve others?
Sadhu: If we repeat the same thought or word or deed over and over, then it becomes a habit. Habits determine our character. So we should carefully con sider the consequences and implications of our habits. If we become indifferent to doing good, our capacity to do good will diminish. It is difficult to do some thing well. It is still more difficult to put right some thing we have done wrong. But it is altogether easy to destroy something. It takes great time and effort to grow a tree, but it is easy to cut it down. When it is dry and dead, it is impossible to bring it back to life.
If we do not make use of the spiritual faculties we have been given, then we will lose them. This has hap pened to certain fishes living in the deep waters of dark caves. They have lived so long in darkness that they have become completely blind. The same thing has happened to certain hermits I have met in the caves of Tibet. Therefore, do not let your spiritual sight grow dull, but make full use of all your spiritual faculties and strengthen them so that you are able to sense God's presence.
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The pipe that carries fresh water is itself kept clean by the clear water that flows through it. In the same
way, we are kept clean and pure if we allow God's spirit to constantly flow through us for the benefit of others.
There are many people who waste precious chances to serve God and their fellow human beings. They should rouse themselves and make full use of the time that is given to them. Once a hunter picked up some pretty stones by a river in the jungle. He used them to shoot at birds with his slingshot, and so one by one they disappeared into the water and were lost. Some time later, he was in a city and wandered through the market absent-mindedly tossing and catching the one stone he still had left. A jeweller caught sight of it, marvelled at such a precious gem and offered to buy it for several thousand rupees. When the hunter recog nized the value of his stone, he cried out: "Woe is me! I have been carelessly shooting gems into the river. I could have been a millionaire. But thank God I have saved at least this one."
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Every day of our lives is like a precious diamond. We may have wasted countless days already in idle and selfish pursuits, so that they are now lost in the depths of the past. But let us at least awake now, see the value of the days that remain and use them to ac quire spiritual wealth. If we use them in selfless ser
vice to God and if we use them to warn others who are still frivolously throwing away their days in pur suit of fleeting pleasures, then we will gain the bound less treasure of heavenly bliss.
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suffering
Seeker: Sadhu-ji, you speak much about the blessings of the spiritual life, but why do so much pain and suffering exist in the world?
Sadhu: It is difficult to understand the mystery of pain and suffering in the world. Ultimately, the root of suffering is found in sin, in separation from God. Still, God uses suffering to call us into the peace of his presence. If God could not use pain and suffering for our good, then he would not allow such things to re main in the world. The grain of wheat must lie in the dark womb of the earth before it can be called forth into the open air by the light and the warmth of the sun. Then it grows into a healthy plant and bears fruit.
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Rain and windstorms wreak destruction, but they also cleanse the land of pests and disease. In the same way, the wind of the Spirit shakes us with its power, but its force brings spiritual health and blessings. Just as an earthquake can cause sweet springs to erupt in the desert making the land lush and fruitful, suffering can
disrupt our lives and expose in our hearts springs of life-giving water. Then refreshing streams of thankful ness and joy flow where before there was complaining and grumbling.
When a sweet branch is grafted onto a bitter tree, both feel the knife and both suffer. But only in this way can the bitter tree bear sweet fruit. God himself suffered pain in order to introduce good into our evil nature. In this we see God's great love and in turn faithfully suffer the agonies of this world. We can then bear good fruit forever.
Seeker: So is suffering necessary for the spiritual life?
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Sadhu: The divine order is established for our spiri tual health and happiness. Remember that spiritual anguish and physical pain are not the same thing. Physical pain is the result of illness or injury, but spiritual anguish is the result of sin and separation from God. When we defy God and rebel against his divine order, spiritual anguish ensues. It is similar to the discomfort an Englishman experiences in tropi cal heat, or an Indian in the bitter cold. God does not prevent us from opposing him; instead he uses the
resulting anguish to remind us that we are pilgrims and strangers in this world.
In the trenches dug during the First World War, flowers and fruit began to grow. Deep down the soil was richer and more fertile than on the surface. So it is when we suffer: the hidden riches of our soul come to light. Therefore, we must not despair when we see what appears to be a destructive process. This very process can set the hidden, unused powers of our soul to work.
The fruit inside the walnut is delightful, but the shell surrounding it is bitter. Suffering is unpleasant at first contact, but those who accept it for God's sake find within it the delight of spiritual peace. We do not attain real victory by escaping pain, but rather by dis covering the grace to change pain into ease, death into life, and evil into good.
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The silkworm struggles within the imprisonment of its cocoon, but this very struggle gives strength to its wings. If we open the cocoon and prematurely free the imprisoned creature, it will not have the strength for its new life and it will die. So God's children struggle in this world and in that struggle become strong and fit for the life that awaits them.
Our spiritual struggles in this world are a prepara tion for our eternal home. We can only really appreci ate the blessings of comfort if we also experience the agony of affliction; the pleasure of sweetness, only when we taste the bitter; the value of the good, only when we encounter the evil; the worth of life, only when we pass through death. Misfortune and hardships in this life keep our spirits wakeful so that we do not abandon our true destiny and become comfortable in this fleeting world. When we have all reached a state of perfect spiritual health, suffering will end forever.
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Seeker: Are you saying, then, that God deliberately inflicts suffering on us for our own good?
Sadhu: God has created everything in nature for a purpose, even if we cannot comprehend that purpose. Nearly every substance in nature that causes illness and death can also be used as healing medicine. We call them poisonous because we do not recognize their true qualities. In the same way, trials and afflictions can strengthen and deepen our spiritual lives if we make good use of them.
When we suffer, it may also benefit others in ways we can hardly imagine. By seeing our affliction and helping us, others may exercise their own spiritual gifts and grow toward perfection. God has no joy in our pain, but he sometimes uses pain and suffering as bitter medicines for the treatment of souls. If we turn against God and resist his help, then such trials be come deadly poison to our souls.
If a newborn child does not cry out and scream, then it must be slapped until it does. No one has joy in slapping a child – only the longing that it makes full use of its lungs and draws in life-giving air. So in per fect love, God may strike us with blows and stings of pain so that the breath of prayer flows freely through the lungs of our souls. This is the only way we can become strong and fit for eternal life.
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Look at the pearl. A pearl is a product of pain and suffering. Tormented by some foreign matter against its soft flesh, the oyster responds by embracing the ir ritant and transforming it into an object of great beauty. The creation of the pearl not only provides relief to the oyster but is also a source of wonder and pleasure to many others. But beware! The unique lus ter of the pearl can be easily destroyed. Ink or oils can contaminate and destroy its beauty. Pearls laid in
ancient tombs often decay with the corpse of their owners; the dust of the pearls is then mingled with the dust of the dead.
Spiritual life – like the pearl – grows out of pain and suffering. And even when the pain has been trans formed into a thing of beauty, the lustre of our spiri tual lives can easily become contaminated and decay. We must continually watch and pray and turn to the Master with thankful hearts.
Thousands of years of heat and pressure come to bear on black carbon before it is transformed into a precious diamond. Even then, diamonds do not dazzle unless they have first been cut. When cut and pol- ished, then the rays of the sun make them shine with wonderful colors. Scientists may manufacture artifi cial diamonds in laboratories, but careful examination exposes their inferiority. Likewise, we cannot attain spiritual perfection without passing through pain and suffering. We must live continually in the presence of God; then our trials will transform us into heavenly jewels, cut and polished by the Master's sure hand.
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Seeker: Why do people laugh and ridicule those who choose the way of suffering?
Sadhu: Do not be surprised or distressed if others oppress and slander you. Light and darkness cannot exist together. People who are attached to their own desires and pleasures will always misunderstand and oppose the spiritually minded. Resisting any challenge to their own selfishness, they often become confronta tional. Indeed, if you receive praise and compliments in this materialistic world, then beware that you have not abandoned the spiritual path altogether. Even if the unbelieving overcome their inclination to oppose you, this will only make it worse for you. Then they can begin to influence your spiritual life and hinder your progress. Once there was a man who courageously confessed his faith and challenged people to abandon their self ish desires. Angered by the challenge of his life and words, his enemies took him and hung him upside down from a tree. Even in this position, he had such peace of heart that he was not even conscious of the pain and disgrace. Turning to his tormentors, he said: "In this world, everything is upside-down and noth ing is upright. You think you have turned me upside down, but actually you have turned me rightside-up. I am like a transparency slide that casts its image cor rectly only when it is placed upside down in the
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projector. In your eyes I am upside-down, but in God's, I am forever upright."
Sometimes it is easier for the followers of God to die as martyrs than to daily give themselves as living sacrifices. We only experience physical death once, but if we faithfully follow God, we must die daily. The Master needs living martyrs who offer them selves for the sake of others. All those who are ready to give up their lives in faithfulness to God – be it in physical death or daily service to others – will live with God forever in the fullness of joy.
Seeker: But surely, if selfish people despise us, we can at least depend on other spiritually minded people to stand by us.
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Sadhu: Do not count on it! In order to rescue us, the Master renounced everything and was himself re nounced by everyone. When he entered Jerusalem the people cried out with one voice: "Lord! Lord!" But within three days, they were so offended by his chal lenges to their comfortable and selfish lives that they cried with the same voice: "Crucify him! Crucify him!" To put your hopes on the support of other
people is to build your house on sand. Today they will praise you and build you up, but tomorrow they will cast you down so that no trace remains.
Do not feel sorry for yourself even if those who lead spiritual lives turn against you. If you faithfully follow the leading of God's spirit, God and the hosts of the heavenly realm will stand by you. You should not get discouraged. The time will soon come when God will reward the unselfish love of the faithful.
Seeker: It often seems that those who are faithful to God and who seek the truth must suffer while others enjoy comfort and ease.
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Sadhu: In the bitter cold of winter the trees stand bare and seem to be dead. But in the spring, they burst forth into leaf and flower, and the first fruits begin to appear. So it was with the Master's death and resurrec tion. So it is with all of us who faithfully bear the bur den of suffering and death. Though we may seem crushed and dead, we will yet bear beautiful flowers and glorious fruits of eternal life.
Do not be jealous of those who lead a comfortable life. It is possible for sheep to wander away from the
fold and find good grass along the edges of the jungle. However, they are actually in great danger, and in the end wild animals will tear them to pieces. By contrast, those who stay with the flock may appear feeble and the grass may be less green, but there they are safe un der the shepherd's watchful eye. It is the same with the followers of God; those living in comfort and suc cess do not necessarily enjoy his blessing.
Whether we like it or not, we will encounter suffer ing and danger in our lives. If we do not bear the cross of the Master, we will have to bear the cross of the world – with all it's earthly goods. Those who bear the Master's cross know from experience that this cross bears them and takes them safely to their des tiny. But the cross of this world actually drags us down and leads to destruction. Which cross have you taken up? Pause and consider.
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The snake and the silkworm begin their lives with similar bodies. But as they grow, the snake remains a snake no matter how many times it sheds its skin, while the silkworm casts off its ugly form and emerges from its cocoon as a completely new crea ture, flying on the air with delicate wings. So the be liever casts off this material body and enters into
spiritual bliss, soaring forever in the heavenly realm while the sinner remains a sinner even after death.
The Master opened the gates of heaven for all who follow in faith. As soon as we follow in his footsteps, accepting in faith the way of suffering, we begin to experience unbounded joy. Only those who believe can understand and accept this joy. Heaven is closed to unbelief. God gives an enduring joy and deep hap piness even in the midst of pain. This joy can uphold us in the midst of suffering and lead us through the open gate of heaven.
Seeker: You speak of the Master – God incarnate – suffering. How is such a thing possible?
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Sadhu: The body and the spirit are distinct, yet they are so finely interwoven that the spirit is aware of even the slightest injury to the body. So the Creator is distinct from his creation, but wherever people expe rience pain and grief, God himself feels it.
A clean person cannot stand being in a filthy place even for a short time. Those who live in communion with God find it very unpleasant to live among ungodly
people. Indeed, some abandon the world to live as hermits in the desert or in caves. If we, as sinful people, cannot stand the company of evil doers, what agony must the Master have known. When we speak of his suffering, we often mean the six hours of the crucifixion. But his whole life as the embodiment of holiness among the defiled must have been a trial. He took this on himself to rescue us from death. It is be yond our comprehension. Even the angels cannot comprehend it. It is an amazing thing that God, out of love, should become one of us that we might gain eternal life.
Once, as I traveled through the Himalayas, there was a great forest fire. Everyone was frantically try ing to fight the fire, but I noticed a group of men standing and looking up into a tree that was about to go up in flames. When I asked them what they were looking at, they pointed up at a nest full of young birds. Above it, the mother bird was circling wildly in the air and calling out warnings to her young ones. There was nothing she or we could do, and soon the flames started climbing up the branches.
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As the nest caught fire, we were all amazed to see how the mother bird reacted. Instead of flying away from the flames, she flew down and settled on the nest,
covering her little ones with her wings. The next mo ment, she and her nestlings were burnt to ashes. None of us could believe our eyes. I turned to those stand ing by and said: "We have witnessed a truly marvel ous thing. God created that bird with such love and devotion, that she gave her life trying to protect her young. If her small heart was so full of love, how un fathomable must be the love of her Creator. That is the love that brought him down from heaven to be come man. That is the love that made him suffer a painful death for our sake."
God, who himself suffered anguish in this world, is able to protect and rescue those who suffer now. He gives relief when the time is right. Nebuchadnezzar threw three young men into the furnace, but God was with them, and its raging fire could not harm them. God is with all those who have received new spiritual life. They pass through the fires of physical pain and affliction and dwell in the peace and safety of God's presence.
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P A R A B L E
the king and the farmer
Once there was a good and just king who
loved his subjects and wanted to do everything he could to
the king and the farmer
help them. At times, he would wander about his kingdom dis
guised as a commoner in order to learn more about their diffi
culties and troubles. In this way, he hoped to find ways to help
them.
On one such journey he met an old man who was driving
his oxen into a field and struggling with a heavy burden on his
back. It pained the king's heart to see such a thing, so he went
to the man and said: "Come, Grandfather, can I not help you?
Give me your bundle and I will carry it to the field for you." The
startled old man looked up from beneath his load. He dropped
the sack to the ground, took a deep breath, and replied, "You
are very kind, my son, but I am poor and have no way to repay
such kindness."
The king quickly reassured him: "Don't worry about that,
Grandfather! It will be ample repayment if I can remove from
my heart the pain of seeing you toil under such a heavy load."
Saying this, he picked up the sack, threw it over his shoulders
and went with the old man and his oxen. When they reached
the field, the old man thanked him profusely and asked: "What
is your name, kind sir, and where is your home?" The king sat
down beside the man and did not answer at first. He was not
used to such heavy work and he had to catch his breath. After
a short rest, they spoke together.
King: Why do you ask my name and where I am from? I
do not want any reward for my service. But you, how can
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it be that you still work so hard in your old age?
Farmer, in tears: What can I say? It would be better for
me to remain silent. My heart aches to think about my
misfortunes, to remember all that I have lost.
King: What do you mean? Please tell me. My heart goes
out to you, and perhaps I can help in some small way.
Please tell me what has happened.
Farmer: I cannot think what good can come of telling
you my tragic story, but since you insist, I will tell you. I am
very poor. I had two sons, and in my old age I depended
on them very much. Last year there was a terrible famine
in our land, and it hit us very hard as we were already
poor. I sent one of my sons to the nearest market town –
some miles from our village – to buy wheat. Alas, my sec
ond son also went with him to help him. When they
arrived, they went to a big grain merchant, purchased the
wheat we needed, and at once left to return home.
While they had been bargaining with the merchant,
another man watched from some distance away. As it
turned out, this man was a robber and a bitter enemy of
the grain merchant. Apparently, the merchant had given
evidence against him years before, and he had been sent
to prison. So after his release, he was always looking for a
chance to take revenge.
After my sons left the shop, this robber saw that the
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grain merchant was alone. He attacked him, murdered
him, and ran away with all his money. A short time later,
one of the servants of the murdered merchant arrived
and found his Master dead in a pool of blood. He imme
diately cried for help, and a large number of people hur
ried to see what was the matter. The police also arrived
and immediately arrested the poor servant.
Of course, the servant told the police how a few mo
ments before he had seen a couple of young men with
his master. Judging by their dress and accent, he assumed
they were from our part of the country and had come to
buy grain. Shortly afterward, he returned and found to
his great distress that his master had been brutally mur
dered and that the murderers had run away with all the
money in the shop. The servant urged the police to go
after the two men and arrest them. As soon as he told his
story, the police sent a contingent of five men after my
sons. They quickly caught them and took them back to
the shop where they had purchased wheat.
Being quite innocent and ignorant of all that had hap
pened, my sons went with them quite willingly. They
hoped to ask the merchant to testify on their behalf that
they were not thieves or robbers, but simple, honest vil
lagers who had purchased grain at his shop. They had
neither weapons nor bloodstains nor any of the stolen
money.
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When they returned with the policemen and saw the
awful scene, they were dumbfounded. Never in their lives
had they seen anything so horrible, and they couldn't
even utter a word. So most of the people standing around
assumed they were the culprits, although a few more ex
perienced and educated men said that it was rather a
sign of innocence. But the cruel policemen would not lis
ten to these cautions. They beat my sons mercilessly, and
my eldest son was so badly injured from the blows that
he fell unconscious. His clothes were stained with blood
from his own wounds.
As soon as I heard this terrible news, I left my oxen and
goods with a neighbor and hurried to the town where it
had happened. When I arrived, I went straight to the gov
ernment officials and with great humility and deference, I
begged them to have pity on me and my sons. But they
raged against me, treating me harshly and ordering my
arrest as well, saying: "Are you so blind and stupid, old
man, that you do not see the merchant's blood all over
your son's clothes? Do you not hear how his blood cries
out for justice?" So you see, dear friend, how blind our
government is and how cruel are the police. People cry out
for justice, but there is no justice. The cruel and wicked
prosper while the poor and innocent suffer terribly.
Well, after cursing and threatening me, they finally let
me go, but they beat my sons again and dragged them to
the king and the farmer
court where they were to be tried. My poor sons said re
peatedly that they knew nothing of what had happened
and that they were innocent, but their words fell on deaf
ears. The police twisted the facts and fabricated evidence
against both my sons to show that my elder son had
killed the merchant and that his younger brother had
been an accomplice. On the basis of this false evidence,
they were both found guilty. My elder son was sentenced
to death, and the younger sentenced to seven years hard
labor. I wept bitterly and cried for justice, but who listens
to the pleas of the poor?
A few days later, the robber who had actually mur
dered the grain merchant, attacked and killed another
shopkeeper. This time there were many witnesses so he
could not escape. He was tried and sentenced to death,
and when he realized that his own death was inevitable,
he confessed to the murder of the merchant as well.
On hearing the dying man's confession, the magistrate
sent two officers to the prison with orders that my sons
should be released. But alas, my elder son had already
been hanged, and the younger had died from despair
and from the wounds he had received in custody. After
burying my two sons – the joy of my life and my comfort
in old age – I returned home broken-hearted and weak.
King: Your story breaks my heart, Grandfather. It is more
the king and the farmer
than a man can bear. Why did you not appeal to the king
for justice?
Farmer: My dear sir, I tried everything I could, but the
government officials would not permit me to approach
the king or appeal to him. In the end, I had no choice but
to drink the bitter cup of sorrow and tribulation. Our king
is good and kind-hearted, but his officials are cruel and
they do not tell His Majesty the whole truth. I hear that
our gracious king sometimes goes about in disguise to
discover the needs and woes of his subjects and to allevi
ate their suffering, but I do not know if it is true. So what
cannot be cured must be endured.
King: Indeed, what has been done cannot be undone. I
will help you if I can, but no sorrow or worrying will bring
back your sons. Sooner or later, all of us leave this world.
But tell me more about your life and your neighbors.
Farmer: Kind sir, there are some who weep and some
who sing. Usually, each man's home is his castle. From
what I have seen, the rich are no happier than the poor,
nor are the poor less satisfied than the rich. Indeed, those
ridden with worries and needs are less content than the
poor. Before this awful misfortune, I was as happy as the
king in his palace. Even now I try to willingly accept my
fate and live as happily I can. Truly blessed are those whose
hearts know the peace of God; otherwise, the poor and
the rich, the beggar and the king are all alike.
the king and the farmer
King: Would it give you pleasure, Grandfather, if the
king invited you to live in his palace?
Farmer: Is the king's palace safe from sorrow, suffering,
and death? There is more pleasure in one's own simple
hut with a simple meal after a hard day's work than in the
luxuries of a palace. In fact, my sufferings have taught me
so many valuable lessons, lessons that were unknown to
me before. I am happy wherever God places me. The
death of my sons was almost more than my heart could
bear, but now I am convinced that the separation is only
temporary. My days are also numbered, and one day I will
also cross the river of death.
Today, I will scatter these grains of wheat on the field;
in a few days' time they will begin to decay, but then new
grains will grow. In the same way, all of us will die, but
our souls will grow into a new form. Our mortal bodies
will decay, but our souls will rise to dwell in eternal bliss
with the Creator where there shall be no more death nor
sorrow nor pain.
King: Grandfather, you have more than repaid me for
my small service. Your words have been a greater help to
me than any help I have given you. It is now I who must
offer you thanks. Where have you found this divine
knowledge?
Farmer: When I was suffering so greatly, a man of God visited me. He sympathized with me but also helped me
the king and the farmer
spiritually and instructed me in divine truths. He told me
that just as our dear king goes about among his people
to help them, so also the heavenly king wandered the
earth to better know the condition of his people. He, too,
helped, instructed and comforted them. And in the end,
he showed the depth of his love by sacrificing his own life
for their sake. Ever since I accepted the truth taught by
this holy man, I have found new peace and thankfulness
for all I experience.
King: It gives me great joy to hear of this peace you
have found. But I must not keep you any longer from
your work. Perhaps I will have the pleasure to call on you
again sometime.
Saying this, the king took leave of the farmer and went on his
way. The farmer, of course, had no idea that the man with
whom he had spoken was actually the king in disguise. When
the king returned to his palace, he investigated the man's story
and found every word of it to be true. He ordered severe pun
ishment for the policemen involved, as a lesson to others. Then
the farmer received a summons to the palace, where the king
received him with honor and affection and granted him a gen
erous pension so that he could live out his days in comfort and
ease. Greatly amazed, the farmer returned to his home, prais
ing the kindness and justice of God and of the king.
the king and the farmer
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eternity
Seeker: Sadhu-ji, you say that one day all suffering will cease and that we will enjoy eter nal unity with God. What can you tell me about our eternal home?
Sadhu: We are never satisfied with one thing for long. We always want to change our circumstances and environment. This restlessness stems from our deep inner awareness that the fleeting things of this world can never satisfy our souls, can never give us a sense of stable and unchanging fulfillment. Only when we turn to the Master will our desires be trans formed, and perfect peace, the gift no one tires of, will reveal itself as the deepest longing of our hearts – indeed, the soul's only quest.
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There are many unhappy people who rejoice in the thought of entering heaven after death, yet who do not realize that heaven must begin here on earth. How will they ever enjoy being in a place to which they are not accustomed? I see so many people, even among
the devout, who cannot live together in harmony dur ing this short earthly life. How will they ever live to gether during the whole of eternity? I do not believe in a religion that offers a heaven only after this life is done. It is true that our dwelling place is not here; our real home is elsewhere. But many of those who wait for heaven will find the spiritual realm strange and not at all to their liking.
In the spiritual realm, heaven and hell are two op posite states of being. These states develop already now within each person's heart. We cannot see these two states of the soul any more than we can see the soul itself. But we can experience them just as clearly as we can feel physical pain or taste the delicious fla vor of a sweet fruit.
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The injury caused by a physical blow may fester and worsen until it causes tremendous pain or even death. And we know that fruit may nourish and sus tain us beyond the mere enjoyment of its sweet taste. Similarly, each sinful act carries with it painful conse quences, just as each good deed carries with it whole some consequences. Though we may not yet fully perceive the pain or pleasure of those consequences, we will when we wholly enter the spiritual realm.
Sometimes we experience a sudden sensation of spiritual peace or pain, something that comes to us from the spiritual world without any thought or desire of our own. This sensation is the beginning of heaven or hell. It may recur and vary, but gradually one or the other prevails according to our spiritual orientation. By repeatedly fostering one or the other, we deter mine our spiritual destiny. So the foundations of heaven or hell are laid within our hearts long before we pass on to the next world. When our life in this world ends, we enter into whichever spiritual state our desires or passions have prepared.
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Seeker: If we ourselves choose our eternal destiny, then surely no one would choose eternal death, would they?
Sadhu: God has indeed created the human heart with an inclination to accept his living Spirit. But many have developed such love and devotion to material things that their hearts are unable to turn to spiritual things. Think of the charcoal. It has a natural inclina tion to receive fire within itself, but without oxygen the fire cannot enter it. If we drown ourselves in
worldly distractions, the living fire cannot be kindled and we remain in darkness. Only if we turn to the Master will the temple of our hearts be cleansed. Only then will we be ready to accept his spirit into our hearts. Only then can we experience true bliss and lasting peace.
The fitness of our hearts and thoughts to receive God's spirit is like that of violin strings. If they are properly tuned, in harmony with one another, then the touch of the bow produces beautiful music. If not, then there is only discord. Whenever our hearts are truly ready to receive God's spirit, they will produce heavenly airs and joyous harmonies – both in this life and in the spiritual world.
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When the Master gave his own life on the cross, there were two thieves executed beside him. To all ap pearances, the three men suffered the same fate, but from a spiritual perspective there was a vast differ ence. One remained cynical and irreverent, even mocking the Master as he suffered. The other thief felt deep pangs of remorse and recognized the great injustice of the Master's execution. Opening his heart thus in love and in union with the Master, he heard the comforting words that he would that same day enter paradise. Paradise does not only exist beyond the
grave; it already begins in the human heart. Some glo rify the womb of Mary that housed God Incarnate. This pales in comparison to any heart into which the Master is invited, transforming it into heaven itself.
Once in a vision I saw a man arrive in the spirit world. He was in great distress, for in all his life he had never given a thought to anything but earning his daily bread. At the same time I saw another man die and enter the spirit world. He was a doubter, obstinate in his opinions. In love and compassion, saints and an gels met both of them and tried to guide them toward the heavenly light. But again and again they turned back toward the shadows, because sin had so warped them that they doubted and discounted everything. As I watched, I wondered what their end would be. One of the holy ones turned to me and said, "God may yet have mercy on them."
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Then I saw another man enter the world of spirits. He had led an evil life. When the angels and saints went to help him, he cursed and reviled them, saying: "God is altogether unjust. He has prepared heaven for such flattering slaves as you and then casts the rest of us into hell. And you call him Love!" Just then the mag nificent voice of a high angel called out, saying, "God gives this man permission to enter heaven." Eagerly
the man stepped forward. When he reached the door of heaven, however, and saw the holy, resplendent palace with all its glorious inhabitants, he began to feel uneasy. The angels encouraged him to go a little further to see the Master sitting on his throne. But when he did, the light of the Sun of Righteousness re vealed the impurity of his sin-defiled life. He turned away in an agony of self-loathing and fled in such haste, that he cast himself headlong into the bottom less pit.
Then I heard the voice of the Master saying: "Look, my dear child! I forbid no one to enter my kingdom. No one forbade this man, nor did anyone ask him to leave. It was he, with his impure life, that fled this holy place. Except you be born of the spirit, you cannot see the kingdom of God."
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Seeker: Is eternal bliss available to everyone?
Sadhu: Many long for it, but miss it through their own foolishness. Once a poor beggar sat for twenty-one years on top of a buried treasure without knowing it. He burned so hotly with desire for money that he even hoarded the pennies he received. Yet, he finally
died in utter poverty. Because the greedy man sat so long in that one spot, a rumor arose that he had hid den something valuable there. So the governor had the place excavated and the hidden treasure chest was found, filled with precious gems. The greedy beggar died in ignorance of the wealth that lay a few inches under him, and in the end the riches went instead into the royal treasury. God's promise of bliss is very near to us – in our mouths and in our hearts.