Quietude - Ashtavakra Samhita Ch.10 | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 249

Register your free place for the live online meditation and Q&A with Babaji: https://www.shivarudrabalayogi.org/online-satsang 

Quietude - Ashtavakra Samhita Ch.10 | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 249
Recorded on 4 May 2025 with worldwide participants

0:00 Intro
0:24 What is the nature of quietude?
4:35 With meditation, by just watching, it brings the mind to silence and everything disappears, and only the Self that you are remains?
9:03 Does a Yogi have a thoughts?
12:30 Chapter 10, Verses 1 and 2 "Give up desire, wealth, even the scripturally commanded good works..."
14:20 Not to hold onto things in the mind
14:50 Meditation, the tool that can turn off the mind
15:09 Chapter 10, Verse 3 - "Wherever here is desire, there is the world."
15:29 Chapter 10, Verse 4 - "Bondage is made from desire alone, the destruction of desire is liberation."
17:35  So is the problem that consciousness, through mistaken identity, imagines itself as the body or the mind, and it gets stuck in that and desires are arising as a result of that bondage?
21:28 Chapter 10, verse 4 - "Only by detachment to the changing world does one attain the unceasing joy of realization of the Self."
21:45 Even wanting good for other people, you get attached to that too. 
22:20 "It's better if you don't need anything of this world and do not entertain any desire to obtain such prosperity."
24:29 Is Babaji advocating indifference?
27:58 "There is no peace ever in obtaining worldly objects."
34:49 Chapter 10, Verses 5 - 8 "For how many births you have worked hard and painfully with your body, your mind and speech? So today, finally, let it cease."
38:50 "The Self, as Pure Consciousness, is the real intelligence. It has the power to imagine, which is creativity."
44:57 "Only those alive, keep remembering the dead and experience emotions of sorrow and misery. Get rid of this imagination and become aware of the Self by coming by becoming quiet in consciousness."
47:45 "Mental attitude gives rise to more births and deaths."
52:02 What can we do besides meditation to develop a loving, life supporting attitude towards life, and people?
56:07 "It's time to stop this process of consciously undergoing births and deaths. Now work one last time to get liberated"
1:00:03 Babaji's closing words

___
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Transcript

Quietude - Ashtavakra Samhita Ch.10 | In Quest of Truth - Babaji Q&A, No. 249
 
YouTube: https://youtu.be/frY6Ka4BCko

Recorded on 4 May 2025 with worldwide participants.

Question:   Well, Baba, this chapter deals a lot with the nature of desire, and overcoming desire, developing detachment, indifference to the world in order to have peace, real peace. But first, what do you mean here, what's the nature of quietude? What's meant by that? It's not just being in a silent... 

Shri Babaji:   Quietude?

Same Questioner:   Quietude. First thing you think of, maybe, if you live in a busy world, just being in a room where it's not noisy. But I hear it's making the mind not noisy.

Shri Babaji:   Ah, quietening the mind. Such are the words I might have used, or, silencing the mind. In the beginning, for a beginner, this would appear as impossible, “What does this idea of quietening mean?” Whereas the body needs to be active in the world, if you have adopted a way of life. But if you need to enjoy a peace, and enjoyment needs to be there, the more non-violent, and then next stage is total quietening the mind; if that is possible, then maximum peace can be derived. You can be active in the world, like a Yogi achieves this. For that I have given an example; through this body, I might be talking. I am able to communicate using this physical body, but in me, as the consciousness, which was earlier mind when it was into imaginations, it is totally silent. It doesn't reverberate, and doesn't picturize, or doesn't go on thinking into any cravings. Such a thing doesn't happen. It remains silent. Even when you talk to me, or I talk to you, it always remains silent. Mechanically, this body can function. So, this is what is the quietening. 

And another important thing that can be achieved through quietening the mind is, if the mind becomes quiet, then it starts going towards its Ultimate Truth, the Divinity. Otherwise, it is extrovert, imagining always, picturizing and dramatizing things, so it won't go introvert. It will be away from its Real Self, in consciousness, in illusion of course. So, that is why in sadhana we try to teach meditating, just watch in between eyebrows. When you are just watching you can become silent, because when you are just watching you stop thinking gradually. Mind has these two aspects – you can watch, you can think. But if you are thinking, hundred percent you may not be able to watch. Your eyes might be seeing, looking into it, gazing even, but the mind could be running away anywhere else. Sky is the limit for the mind when it goes into imaginations. But when this mind becomes quiet, then it goes introverted. It goes into itself to settle down composedly. That is when we call it as the Self Realization. You realize who you are, how you exist, and then you settle down peacefully.

Same Questioner:   The journey then goes from existence…  existence becomes Consciousness of Existence, and that becomes mind as it begins to imagine, and then time and space appears, manifests, temporary existence appears. And so, meditation, by just watching, it brings the mind to silence, and all that disappears, and just the Self that you are remains?

Shri Babaji:   Yes, that's what happens. So, when, in the beginning, see, the Ultimate Truth is not into any imagination. The word used for that is ‘Mahasamadhi’, a supreme stillness, firm stillness. That is how the Ultimate Truth exists in itself. This is one thing. And as I have told, in the beginning an enormous amount of consciousness arose and started imagining. When it imagined, creation happened. Such was the potency power of that consciousness. In the beginning, that concept of creating, it remained in itself, it did not get involved with its creation; whatever it created, or whatever it imagined, it further did not go into a craving. But the next generation, next, when the mind went on getting diluted, it got involved into its own creation. 

So, just like now, in the mind, a human being, generally what happens, goes into imagination. When they go into imagination, they get involved with their own imagination, thereby experiencing the dualities of good, bad, happiness, unhappiness, fear, tension, all these things keeps happening simultaneously, one after another – happiness, and then followed by unhappiness, then followed by happiness. So, this thing, to stop this is the teaching of silencing the mind – because it is the mind which is working and making all these things happen – so that you can overcome all unhappiness, dualities of fear, stress, everything can be over; permanently you can achieve a peace. 

So, this watching is taught so that you can silence. If you just watch and do not get involved, do not analyse. ‘Watch’ means do not analyse any thoughts. Do not try to define the thought, and do not try to find any reason why this is there, why not there, any such thing. Totally silently you just watch, then you become silent. Eventually your thinking effect all reduces and vanishes. When it disappears, you will see all the thoughts and visions that were in your mind disappearing also. It all dissolves. 

So, then what remains is the Pure Consciousness of Existence. That's what we try to address, ‘Pure Consciousness of Existence’. So thus, slowly as you progress, in that same status if you continue, that is when you will be able to do tapas, long hours of holding on the mind silently into its Self. So then practice happens, practice happens, practice happens, then totally it becomes the Pure Consciousness. 

So, whenever I address it as ‘mind’, the same thing when it is into imagination, it is known as ‘mind’; the same thing when it becomes quiet, it becomes known as ‘Pure Consciousness’. That means, wherever you apply the consciousness, you can become aware. So, when it gets applied to itself, you become aware of your Self. This is just before the merger all these experiences happen.

Same Questioner:   So, Baba, a Yogi, He’s aware that He’s this Pure Consciousness all the time but You seem to have thoughts, but thoughts are in addition to being aware that You're the Pure Consciousness all the time? They just arise, or do You not have…?

Shri Babaji:  You see, here, thoughts; I would not be holding the thoughts and I would not become a victim of my own thoughts also, because I am totally aware this is simply an imagination that is coming up. Suppose, when I have to answer a question, talk to you, it fluently comes most of the time, I don't even have to think. Those thoughts just doesn't arise, picturize, or show me anything in the mind. I experience only a silence, but fluently through the mouth, the sound goes on coming. So, many times I myself would wonder afterwards if I listen to the recording of what I would have spoken or the question or the answer that I would had given; I would be wondering from where did this come? This knowledge and the ignorance, how does all these things happen? It is such a wondrous thing. That is why I insist in asking a question. If the question is clear and sharp, then the answer fluently comes out. So, about experience, about the truth, that is easy for me.

During my sadhana, I did observe all these things a little bit, but when final merger happens, everything disappears. All experience disappears there, so thus there is no craving of holding, even if at all I have to use some imagination, a little bit of my consciousness is in touch with the brain, applying the brains. When I have to teach, I have told that I use the nearest imagination possible. Even if a Yogi like me needs to teach, I have to use the nearest imagination possible to give a clue to the student, “This is what you have to achieve.” See, every word is an imagination. When I tell you, “Just watch”, that ‘watch’ also is an imagination. “You have to watch” – imagination. But that is the nearest clue for you to become quiet.

Same Questioner:   So, Baba, is it something like, You're the stillness, You are the silence, and out of the silence, those answers to our questions just appear spontaneously?

Shri Babaji:   Yes. Exactly.

Same Questioner: So, You don't really have to think, they just appear? Kind of like what's really happening in reality anyway, this whole manifest existence is just appearing in Consciousness?

Shri Babaji:   Yes, exactly. That's how it happens.

Same Questioner:   Okay Baba, I'm going to go back to the text and go through Ashtavakra's comments. So, Verse 1, Chapter 10, I'm going to summarize. Ashtavakra speaks, "Give up desire, wealth, even the scripturally commanded good works. Become indifferent to everything, everywhere. Look on friends, land, wealth, property, prosperity, gifts, worldly good fortune as a snare in a dream, or a magician's show lasting only a few days.

Shri Babaji:   Exactly.  You see, in short, I have always told, one important thing if you all have observed. When you call this world as “Very good”, then also you get involved. If you call this world as “Very bad”, then also you get involved. The idea here is to rise above these dualities, neither good nor bad, nothing of this universe. However, as a drama, you can continue living in this world in a normal way, any way of life that you would have adopted. You might be a householder, you might be a business person, you might be a monk, whatever it is, some activity will definitely go on, so you continue that. But when you practice sadhana, meditation, your mind will not absorb any imprints, it will not take anything as serious. It will remain quiet, at peace; simply happening. So thus, there is no desire at all.

Same Questioner:   Baba, a lot of what Ashtavakra seems to be saying in this chapter and in other chapters is kind of preparing your mind mentally, not to hold on to things, to allow life to happen. 

Shri Babaji:   Exactly, exactly. This is what we also try to emphasize. So, you live any normal life, but take care that your mind doesn't pick up anything as serious.

Same Questioner:   The meditation is like the tool that can really turn off the mind.

Shri Babaji:   Turn off the mind, and it will not absorb any imprints. It will not take anything seriously. It will remain in itself, at peace.

Same Questioner:   Right. So, Verse 3. "Wherever there is desire, there is the world. Adopting firm detachment, be free of desire and be happy and contented.” Verse 4. "Bondage is made from desire alone. The destruction of desire is liberation."

Shri Babaji:   Yeah, I have told about this point also. As long as you need something, you are binding itself and you depend on somebody, something. Then you are not free. The bondage is there, and the contentment also can never come. Always there is a need, and that need can go into greed also, anything can happen. But once the need ends, all need ends, that is when you are independent, totally, because for your existence, you don't have to depend on anything. But this body depends on so many things. It needs oxygen, it needs water, it needs food. This, that, urges, everything happens. So, it cannot be independent ever, at all, impossible. Only the Self can be independent because the Self exists in Itself. That is the first thing. It doesn't need anything else for its existence, just like the space does not need anything for its existence. Whereas all matter needs space for its existence. Without space, it cannot exist. Without space, it couldn't have come into existence at all. So that is the greatness of the space. It has enabled everything to remain in That. That’s when we used to read in high school, any surface which allows the matter to pass through it, is also known as space. That is the special quality of space. It allows the matter to pass through its surface. Whereas matter cannot allow without getting affected.

Same Questioner:   So, Baba, the problem is then that Consciousness, through Maya or mistaken identity, imagines itself as the body or the mind, and it gets stuck in that, and the desires are arising as a result of that bondage?

Shri Babaji:   Yes. You see, when you’re in this world, when your mind gets connected, then your peace can get affected. See, when you are sitting at your home, in the whole world, good, bad, everything is happening. Suffering is happening. Conflicts are going. Wars are going. People are getting killed; all these things are happening. But if you are not aware of any such thing, and if you are not connected mentally to anybody, if it is not your friend, you don't know what that person is, then you will not be that much affected. But mentally, when you are connected to somebody, if it is a friend of yours, you are so much attached, a relative or somebody. When something happens to that somebody, then mentally you will be affected. You also lose your peace. You also may suffer. You feel sad, miss something. All these things happen. Whereas in reality, there is no connection at all. There is no matter, no wire that has connected, but simply in imagination, mind undergoes all these experiences. So that's what Ashtavakra is trying to tell. If you can just, do not get attached to anything mentally. 

Physically… for this also I have explained, just by worrying you cannot help anybody. If you stop worrying, maybe physically you might be able to help somebody, or you might be able to give a counselling to somebody. Will be possible. Physically you help, you work out anything, but mentally you don't have to get involved. This may appear very weird for common people, but when you achieve strong meditations and eventually go into tapas, this is possible to get achieved. 

This is how we live in this world. I might appear living in this body, normally eating like anybody, “I like this one. I don't like this one,” I might be talking even, but inside me, I am not affected at all. I don't suffer really for anything. If it is there, it's okay; if it is not there… But outside I have to show so that people don't take me granted. I have to behave normally. That is important. So, otherwise they will think, “Oh, you don't give Him a glass of water. You don't have to bother. He also doesn't have anything about it.” So, for that I have to show a little bit of hissing noises sometimes. So, these things keep happening. So that is what Ashtavakra is trying to tell, if you can remain detached mentally, then you can be happy and contented. When you are detached, you don't need anything, you are contented.

Same Questioner:   So, that happens spontaneously as you realize that you are the consciousness?

Shri Babaji:   Exactly, that is the point now.

Same Questioner:   You need nothing. There's nothing you need, so you are content.

Shri Babaji:   When you realize there is nothing that you need.

Same Questioner:   Okay, all right. Verse 4. "Bondage is made from desire alone. The destruction of desire is liberation. Only by detachment to the changing world does one attain the unceasing joy of Realization of the Self." Now your commentary, Baba, it says “It is important to cultivate detachment, not get attracted with any desires for worldly prosperities. Everybody in this world is selfish and operates based on their wishes." It's true. I mean, even wanting good for other people, you get attached to that too. You can get pretty upset if your children are not behaving properly.   

Shri Babaji:   That's when somebody said, there is really no such thing called charity. You would like to do it only if you are going to become happy.

Same Questioner:   Right. "It's better if you don't need anything of this world,” this is what you were taking about, “…and do not entertain any desires to obtain such prosperity. Only detachment to the world can give you peace. If you have detachment, you'll become spiritual to know the Truth of your existence and about the Ultimate Divinity. Even when you try to perform good works, you're likely to get sucked into a vicious circle of greed and anger, corrupting your mind, which is the consciousness of your existence.”

Shri Babaji:   So, this is exactly what we have been talking about many times, and in my teachings also. This is what happens if you get attached. So, to mentally becoming detached, only the sadhana, meditation, not simply by reading a book or listening to a talk. It will not come. These, listening to a talk, and reading a book, can be inspiring, can be motivating, but finally, you have to sit for sadhana, meditation. That's what workshop we try to do. We try to conduct retreats, and we try to do meditations, Zoom classes, so that people can practice and understand. While practicing, what you need to understand is, “Just you have to watch.” When you’re watching you’re not thinking anything, then that becomes the practice of the mind. It becomes quiet. It won't be thinking at all. It remains quiet. Everything will be going on. The world is going on, a higher consciousness, whatever has done. So let it do it. We don't have to go into a head on collision with this universe, world, “Why it is going this direction. Why not this direction?” When we try to do that one only, we get affected. If it is winter, it is winter. If it is summer, it is summer. If we don't like summer, we want it winter when it is summer, then we get affected mentally.

Same Questioner:   Baba, you're not advocating this indifference. You know, people have interpreted these type of sayings and scriptures as an indifference, and they're not Self Realized, they don't have much awareness of their Self. 

Shri Babaji:   Exactly. I have clarified for this question; several times it has come. Simply getting detached doesn't mean that you are indifferent. Physically, you can carry on your responsibilities, your work. Whatever way of life you have adopted, you fulfil all the responsibilities. Simply you would have detached the mind for the results. That is one important thing. Whatever goes on happening, you accept it graciously. That graciousness comes within you. You put an effort, whatever is in your capacity, capabilities. You don't give up anything till the last breath of life. But when the result comes, which is not in your hands, then you have to accept it, “After trying my best, this is what it is”, so accept it. So that's what is the meaning of this one. So, you are not actually indifferent. 

That's what even Vasistha tells, “A Yogi appears to be inert and indifferent when He is in His own Samadhi, because He always exists in Himself.” He is not into this world, always. But however, if anybody prays to the Yogi, He becomes compassionate. He will bless them. He will pray for them with the Divine. So, these things, He will also become affectionate, compassionate, everything, if somebody prays for that. He is not an inert. But however, He would appear as if He is indifferent. But indifferent is slightly a rude word in spirituality, as far as I am concerned. So, He is not indifferent. 

Like I am; I love all of you. I am not indifferent. But however, one hundred percent every moment, I cannot keep everybody in the mind. That is what happens. Like we have a communication thing. You write to me something, I will reply. But without writing to me, you don't expect that I will imagine and I will write to you something. That doesn't come to me. I don't know what it is. That is all. It is simple. So, when people have birthday, they have to write, “It is my birthday, Babaji, please pray for me, please bless me.” Readily I will pray and I will bless everyone. I am compassionate. 

So, I hope people will understand this. This is not indifference, but simply remaining in my Self. So, when you are deeply sleeping, you don’t mean that you want to be indifferent to the world, but you cannot help, you are deeply sleeping. That's how you are unconscious of the world. But once you are woken up, you are ready to attend to your duties.

Same Questioner:   Okay, thank you Baba. Continuing, "Properties, homes, wealth, and relations are all dreams that end up taking you to the desert of despair. They’re all temporary. Only Self-Realization leads to permanent, Supreme Peace. There is no peace ever in obtaining worldly objects."

Shri Babaji:   You see, these things are very important that we try to clarify. The present era is different. In olden days, those great masters were very blunt and, talking to their students they used to straight away, slapping like this. But we assure, to achieve Self-Realization, you don't have to give up your homes. You don't have to run to caves and forests. You don't have to give up your family life also. You be a family man. Instead, you modify your thinking. Look after each other, be affectionate to each other, be good, understanding to each other, love each other, accept each other as you are, as they are, like that in a family, all. Then the family can have harmony, peace. 

From the family we come to the society. In a society, let us all accept each other. Let us all love each other. So, in the world, now finally, let in this world. So, you be a David. I be a Gopal. That shouldn't be a problem at all. There is no problem. So, we respect you, I respect you, you respect me. That is all. We love each other. We accept as you are. So, you have a beard in your own style. I have a beard in my own style. We both accept each other. Means, this might appear as a joke, but not a joke. Simply, that is what is needed in this world to live for each other, and there can be harmony. All wars and conflicts can come to an end if everybody behaves in this way, understanding each other. So, this is what is needed. 

So, this comes when you spiritually practice real bhakti marga or real meditative sadhana, it can enable. Ability is important, that's what I talk always. If you are not able to do it, you don't have the ability. That's why you were unable to do it. That is the meaning, right? But to gain ability, you need to do sadhana. You need to have this ability in the mind. If your mind is Pure Consciousness, that gains ability, you become a matured human being. You will always see a larger cause, like Lord Shri Krishna taught, larger cause, welfare of the entire universe. That's what I have told. When we pray to God, let us pray, "Let the whole world be happy." We are also in that, we don't have to separately tell God, "Please give happiness only to me," is not needed. If I ask that, “You give happiness to the whole world”, automatically I am also there. I will also be happy if the world is happy. If in a house, everybody is happy, everybody will be happy. If one loses the happiness, that may affect others’ happiness also. 

So, this is what as human beings, we need to understand. So, if we practice meditation, this must not be forgotten. If you do not practice, it will not come. I have seen practically in my life of seventy years in this world. So, people who have simply sat for meditation but have not practiced actual meditation, there has notbeen any transformation in them upholding any human values. They have behaved very selfish, narrow-minded, all things of greed. These things we have seen; I have wondered why. Because if you practice in the right sense of just watching, when the consciousness becomes purified, you will transform into a better human being. You will consider the whole world, a larger cause. That's what we need to understand. 

If we drop a nuclear bomb and break the whole earth into two pieces, we are also gone. That is the old saying, "When two people fight, two graves need to be dug". Who gets killed or who gets affected, we don't know. So that's what we have to realize. In these teachings, I have modified so that people don't have to worry what is it they have to sacrifice. Many people ask the question. There is one beautiful sentence, word that comes in Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna telling, "Tyaga Shanti Anantaram," the same thing which Ashtavakra has explained here, He has told in one word, “When you sacrifice, then only there will be peace.” But people get confused, “What is it that we have to sacrifice Babaji?” You don't have to sacrifice your house. You don't have to sacrifice your family life, nothing. Because if you simply run to caves, or if you go to an ashram, become a monk, if you are carrying all your desires and greediness, being a monk also, you will be a greedy person. You will not be a monk if you have not practiced meditation. That is very necessary. So, that you can do at home also. Being a householder, if you meditate, you can become a Yogi. 

So that is what is needed. Practicing is needed. Then the consciousness becomes purified, then we all can love each other. That's what as a youngster of ten years old, I used to wonder, “Why is it that humanity is not for each other? Why are they always against each other?” So, this is what we have to sacrifice, the desire in the mind. That's what is "Tyaga Shanti Anantaram." The peace comes to you only after you sacrifice. That is the meaning, literally. But then it could be confusing, “What is it that we have to sacrifice?” So, if you sacrifice the attachment in the mind, that is enough.

Same Questioner:   That brings quietude.

Shri Babaji:   Simply. That’s it.

Same Questioner:   So, four more verses, Baba. Verse 5, "You are One, Conscious, and Pure. The world is inert and unreal." Verse 6, "Birth after birth, on and on, you've lost kingdoms, children, husbands, wives, and comforts, even though you were so attached to them. Verse 7, "Enough of wealth, fulfilment of desires, and even good deeds. These have not brought the mind rested, peace, in this jungle of the world." Verse 8, "For how many births you have worked hard and painfully with your body, your mind, and speech? So today, finally, let it cease."

Shri Babaji:   See, those were the masters, great masters of that era. They used to speak very straightforward, bluntly. For today's person it might appear a little bit rude when we say, “You give up this one, you don't have this one.” But it is the truth if we see it. One it says, many times you have lost kingdoms. You are this, you are that. As long as this body is there, see, I have an ashram, when this body is there, I can be the chairman of that ashram, and that is mine. When this body goes, that ashram will not go with me anywhere, wherever I am going. In the next birth, this is gone. In my previous birth, I don't know what all I owned. I might have been a king, an emperor. I might have lost that one. But if I tell anybody, will anybody accept me as an emperor of that empire? Nobody will accept, that's over. That was in the previous life. 

That's what Ashtavakra is trying to tell. Understand, for which you become so much attached in this world, once the body goes, you lose that one also, that property of yours, that world of yours gets upside down, that relation, everything gone. Sometimes, to closer disciples I have told, see, you would have died so many times in your previous lives. In so many lives, so many dear ones might be still crying for you, but are you aware of that? If you become aware, you might go mad. But you have forgotten. This is the truth. As long as the body is there, all connections are there. So, “I am this, and I am that, and I am Guru, I am the disciple,” but once the body is gone, that is all forgotten. 

So, this is what Ashtavakra is trying to tell. We don't want to be rude to people. Nobody should misunderstand. This is simply trying to make you understand the impermanence of this universe. That is enough. Just now, if you understand this world as impermanent and be alert mentally by doing sadhana, should be enough. We don't have to go so deeply, rudely, into this blunt teachings. Those were the days they used to teach closer disciples all these things.

Same Questioner:   I like that, Baba. I like direct. No beating around the bush.

Shri Babaji: (Laughing) Then I have to ask you to clean shave your head. Bluntly, direct means. Clifford is laughing here.

Same Questioner:   Okay, I'll continue Baba, reading your comments. "The Self, as Pure Consciousness, is the real intelligence. It has the power to imagine, which is creativity. This universe is unreal and unintelligent. Whatever knowledge we claim is only our own imagination of terms and criteria that we give them. When we observe our own consciousness, which has become the mind, it starts imagining phenomena and tries to define with other imagined criteria and terminology. Thus, both criteria and terms are our own imagination. These people really do not know the Truth of Existence.” 

Shri Babaji:   Here, the Self's real potency is discussed. Say, when generally people watch a movie, they will become excited in the acting talents and acting things, everybody. Hardly people may think about the person who would have directed that movie, produced that movie. So much of efforts, by such a big team, that would have been given, all these things. Like we become excited by looking into this universe, astronomically also. But if we try to think, “What about that amazing Supreme Energy, Supreme Consciousness, which would have created this?” That is the beauty of it. Like in your mind also, your mind itself might be excited about the matter that is in your mind, thoughts and stories, and build-up, everything. But if that can be so excited, imagine the power of the mind itself, how it can be. That's what they have tried to tell. Intelligence. Real intelligence comes from there. That is the Ultimate Truth. That is the intelligence from where this ignorance, knowledge, everything comes, and this creation has come. 

Always I have tried to tell, when you enter a room, space seldom attracts you. Only the matter attracts: there is a table, there is a sofa, there is a fan, and there are people sitting. Everything attracts. You try to identify everything. You want to know about everything, but you never bother about the space at all. Nobody bothers, anywhere, hardly. They simply neglect it, “It's a void place,” “The void place in between these two walls is known as space.” More than that, they don't want to think. But it is the space which is holding this universe. And that space doesn't need the universe for its existence, but the universe needs space for its existence. 

So, these type of things, when we try to think, when we understand the greatness of the space, that space is not ordinary, inert. That's what they have tried to tell in Gayatri mantras, "Tat Savitur Varenyam." ‘That’, ‘Tatva’ means ‘That’; that is not an inert ordinary object. It is as powerful like the Sun is powerful in its light, and in its rays, and its energies, everything, it is like that. That was the nearest object they have given as an example, and That is also Divine in nature, because that is the example of quietness. Even if you see, amongst the matter and space, space is the beautiful example of the silence, serenity, tranquillity. When your mind also becomes like space, then it achieves the Supreme Peace. That's why, when we adopt the remembrance of That, Truth, space, in our mind, that's what we are precisely trying to do when we try to meditate, just watching. When we are watching, means we are trying to connect our mind to that space that is all-pervaded, that is the Ultimate Divinity. Then that can give us Supreme Peace and wash away our unhappiness and sins. That sin that we committed by forgetting our Real Self. That's what it means, Gayatri mantras. So, that is the beauty of it. So, that is what is needed to remind that’s what the real intelligence is. You go to the root-cause. People want to go to the root-cause. 

So, as a youngster also I used to think this, another funny thing, it used to come to the mind, “If there is happiness, it is not enough if it is there for one hour, or half an hour, or two hours. It must be there at all times, twenty-four hours, twelve months. Why the fluctuation? Is there something wrong in me? Something wrong in this world? Sometimes there is excitement, there is peace, there is happiness, but sometimes an unknown fear, a stress comes. What is going to happen next? What is my future? Why is this happening?” So, based on these things only, what Ashtavakra is trying to tell, that as the real intelligence. Means, this is what it means. That's why it is recommended to go for Self-Realization. Quietening your mind is what is the first step you have to achieve, just by watching in between eyebrows. 

Same Questioner:   Thank you, Baba.  It says, "Only the Self is real, which is impossible to know. Self-Realization is to become aware of the Self. Truth is beyond all imaginations. Curiosity to know about the universe and creation has not given humanity any harmony or contentment. Only quietness of the mind and abiding in the pure consciousness of the Self is peace and contentment. With every birth…” – you addressed this a few minutes ago, Baba – "…With every birth you forget the previous birth and with all that all relationships and emotions. Only those alive keep remembering the dead and experience emotions of sorrow and misery. Get rid of this imagination and become aware of the Self by becoming quiet in consciousness.”

Shri Babaji:   Yeah, beautiful truth is told in these teachings, and it is the reality, Truth. So, that’s what one has to understand. So, that is why when we are alive, we need to respect each other, love each other. When one of ours goes away, then we understand the value of it. It's always said, when you lose peace, you understand the value of peace. If you lose your money, you understand the value of that money. If we lose even one part of our body, even a nail we lose, we understand the value of that thing that has been given to this body. Like that. When we lose only, we understand the value. When it is there, we take it granted. When Babaji is sitting with you all in Dehradun ashram, everybody in Dehradun, “Oh, Baba has come to the ashram. He will be there. We can go next week, we can go next week. No rush to go.” So, they go. But if I don't go there for three months, then they start asking, “When are you going to come? We need to have a Darshan. We haven't seen you for long time. You haven't come to Dehradun. You have forgotten us.” I come and I keep sitting for one month and two months, then you don't come. When I am not there, you keep lamenting, then they understand the value, “Baba has gone.” They say, “You keep sitting, even if we don't come for Darshan, at least there is solace in our mind that Babaji is there in the ashram, there is peace and happiness for us always.” Some people express like that one. So, it is like that. Once it has gone, it's over.

Same Questioner:   Last two paragraphs, Baba. "Mental attitude gives rise to more births and deaths. In this life the mind goes on absorbing imprints when it recognizes the world, makes analyzations and judgments. Thus, absorbing imprints, it builds up an attitude for itself. These are acquired habits of the mind. When death happens, the brain dies, and the mind as infinite consciousness gets kicked off the reflections of the brain. At that time, attitudes form the intensity of thoughts and cause the next birth, life, destiny, and death, again and again. If we become quiet in consciousness, all these miseries come to an end with Liberation and abiding consciously in the Self."

Shri Babaji:   Yeah, this what is the commentary I have written. In my comments this is the language I have used often while talking to you all, to people, teaching, or any such thing. So, one simple criteria, if your mind is more violent, you can be belittling yourself in your next birth. You can become an animal. You can go into any other creature. Even if you become a human being also; simply by becoming a human being itself, one will not win of a better birth. A person is born as a human being, but has lost all culture and character, doesn't have anything. He behaves so selfish and narrow-minded. He is like a hooliganism. He goes, he doesn't know what is human values, nothing. And he has no proper education, nothing. Imagine such a human being. And another also is born as a human being to such a pious couple who train their child into better samskara, is the word used, means better characteristics and culture. And that person's observation, understanding capabilities also will be totally different from others. 

So much of difference – both are human beings, but yet their status, their thinking, their understanding, everything differs from person to person. We tell, “This person is a very bad guy, this person is very good guy”. It is the same human being, but what makes them? It is the mind, which thinks. One person's mind thinks, "Oh, this beautiful silver jewellery on the Divine’s idol. How beautiful. If I can rob this, I can earn, sell and earn so much of money.” The robber thinks like that. For another who is a devotee, he enjoys, “How beautiful the Divine is with His jewelleries.” He enjoys. He just enjoys. He doesn't need the jewellery of the Divine. He is happy to give more jewellery to God. Even if it is a stone idol, no problem, “It is my God.” So much of difference in two people thinking. 

So that's what they are trying to tell, keep the mind purified. So then, eventually, when you are able to totally silence the mind, you can get rid of being reborn. Why? If you come to the world, definitely you will be subjected to both good and bad, right and wrong. Because one is important because of the other. If you watch a movie, you want to see a hero, you will be subjected to watch the villain first, and then the hero enters. Something like that. So that's what happens. I have always jokingly told, you see, as long as the villain is alive, the movie keeps going, going, going. Finally, hero kills the villain and happy ending, the movie ends.

Same Questioner:   Baba, what can we do besides meditate to develop that kind of positive, loving, life supporting attitude towards life, and people?

Shri Babaji:   As much as possible, try to spend in the company of Saint, noble, good people, who will also motivate you into such things only, always. And then many other exercises are prescribed in bhakti marga. Chanting of a Divine name. Chanting in praise of Divine, that is known as prayers. It is always taught. And read such books, such scriptures, which has the spiritual meaning, Divine meaning, bhakti, devotional meanings. So, all these things can keep your mind tuned into such a thing. That's why we tell importantly, sixty, seventy years ago when we were kids, we very less got exposed to the world. The science and technology was not that much advanced. Even a telephone or a television were luxuries. If we owned a bicycle, that was a big thing for us. But imagine today's child. As soon as it is born, it gets exposed so much. So, when it is exposed, it crosses all limits. When it crosses limits, that is when the mind is likely to become corrupted. When it becomes corrupted, then the character of a person is gone. 

So, we were brought up spiritually at home. Every home used to have an altar, and our mothers used to do some prayers. As a small kid, we used to sit next to our mother, and we also picked up learning. So, our minds became non-violent because of this. This is important. You all need to understand. We chanted. We visited temples, places of worship. We loved that. Some peace always used to be there. This helped my mind to become more non-violent, remain contented, and eventually meditation became so easy because we never got exposed to the wrong things at all. Many wrong things which people of five years old would know, we did not know even at the age of twenty or twenty-five. Such bad things I had never heard about it. We never saw such a world. And luckily, we got a Guru and a monastery to stay inside, under the umbrella of the Master’s care. Means, example I am telling, how one gets influenced into good and bad. 

So thus, you can avoid the bad things. That is what is known as satsanga, one word used beautifully. When Adi Shankara tells, “Satsanga can be equivalent to tapas”. Means satsanga, you are always in the company of noble people, say for example, saintly and good guys who will invite you to go to a temple. They will invite you to do some singing of the God, who will invite you to learn some meditation, “Hey, there is a Babaji, come, you also learn meditation.” That is the company of the noble. Otherwise, if it is a bad company, “Come on, have some drink here. Why are you wasting your time? Enjoy the life. Smoke. You smoke and you enjoy, you do anything.” Like that, they will drag you into wrong things. So like this, you can keep yourself influenced into the right direction, good things, then your mind will get attracted to saints and a Yogi, easily.

Same Questioner:   Thank you, Baba. Just the closing summary, the last paragraph in chapter 10. "The Master gives a strong dose of advice that enough is enough. So many births you have done hard and painful work with the body. Every time after all that work, you had to lose that body in death and get another to start to learn, work and undergo all that pain again. It's time to stop this process of consciously undergoing births and deaths. Now work one last time to get liberated and regain your Supreme Peace of Awareness that you are Pure Consciousness and totally free from any bondage.”

Shri Babaji:   So, this is such an important thing, as we all realized as a youngster when I heard Adi Shankara's Bhaja Govindam, “Sing the glory of God, because when death comes to your body, none of your worldly powers can come to your rescue." The death will not ask, “Are you an emperor? Are you just a common, ordinary, begging alms. Whoever it is, it's time, let's go. Come.” The death will come and take it away. It won't tell, “He is an emperor, we can wait for ten more days.” A stay order will not come there. It will not work. The court stay order will not work in death. So, this is what happens. For this, in Bhagavad Gita also, it created such an impact to us: “Arjuna, before death shall claim thee, go to the knowers of such truth, sitting at their Lotus Feet, seeking their permission, having all reverence, putting such intelligent questions, adopt such methods as advocated and taught by such Masters, and then achieve that Truth to yourself." This is the word of Sri Krishna to Arjuna. See how important this is. 

Before death happens, we have one opportunity as a human being – to discriminate right and wrong, good and bad. This is such a big challenge for any common human being. You see, they have to live in this world. They may have to earn their livelihood also. Whatever responsibilities they have undertaken, as a householder, as a business person, as a monk, or whatever it is, they will have to fulfil such responsibilities. So, the world is always a big challenge. They have to undergo emotional problems, this, that, so many things. In the midst of all this, they have to undertake the spirituality. That is what is recommended. That's why spirituality was taught as a way of life in ancient India. It was never taught as a religion, or a doctrine, any such thing. Just a way of life. 

You get up in the morning, you have a shower, you remember. That's what Vishwamitra telling Sri Rama, "Kausalya Supraja, Rama Poorva Sandhya Pravartate.” “Oh Kausalyas, the lion, you understand that the evening and night is over. It's early morning. It's time that you get up, and having your bath, purify your body, sit down to remember the Divinity. Perform that duty, ‘daivam āhnikam’”. So, that's how they taught. All these things were taught as a way of life. Remembering God should be a way of life. Just like we would like to have a breakfast and lunch, it is a way of life, we need that to the body. We understand that we need it, otherwise we cannot sustain the body. In the same way, we need to understand that we need to remember God to sustain our mentalities, minds, purify, eventually achieve Self Realization. 

Nice. Today's session was very nice. You did a very good job of just asking questions and giving me such an opportunity, beautifully. Thank you. 

Same Questioner:  Baba, thank you. It was beautiful. Thank you so much, and everybody else that made it possible.

Shri Babaji:   We have spoken on a very beautiful topic of Ashtavakra, great Master’s teachings, and we don't want to dilute. I would like all of you participants who would have absorbed these teachings, keep these teachings. This is the most precious in your life. Think that all you have to do is every day without fail sit for one hour, practice. Just learn to watch. Do not get involved with the thoughts and visions that are in your mind, and then you can achieve this beautiful Truth to yourself. You can live a beautiful human life on this earth also. You continue living any way of life that you have adopted. Know that we always love you. My prayers and blessings are always with you all. 

End of Session