Being Christmas holidays, there is a great rush of visitors from far and near. A group of them sat down and two among them asked as follows:
D.: Do you know English?
Prompted to ask questions, he continued:
D.: Have you realised your Self?
Sri Bhagavan smiled and said, “Go on, continue.”
D.: Have you experienced Nirvikalpa Samādhi? He was asked to finish his questions.
D.: Can you enter into Nirvikalpa Samādhi at will? Is it not necessary that sages should influence their surroundings?
Another man asked:
Can Sri Bhagavan help us to realise the Truth?
M.: Help is always there.
D.: Then there is no need to ask questions. I do not feel the ever-present help.
M.: Surrender and you will find it.
D.: I am always at your feet. Will Bhagavan give us some to follow? Otherwise how can I get the help living 600 miles away?
M.: That Sadguru is within.
D.: is necessary to guide me to understand it.
M.: That is within.
D.: I want a visible Guru.
M.: That visible Guru says that He is within.
D.: Can I throw myself at the mercy of the ?
M.: Yes. Instructions are necessary only so long as one has not surrendered oneself.
D.: Is no particular time necessary for meditation?
M.: Meditation depends on strength of mind. It must be unceasing, even when one is engaged in work. Particular time is meant for novices.
D.: Will place His hand on my head to assure me of His help? I will have the consolation that His promise will be fulfilled.
M.: A bond will be the next requisition and a suit will be filed if you imagine no help forthcoming. (Laughter).
D.: May I come near, Sir? (for blessing).
M.: Such doubts should not arise in you. They contradict your statement of surrender. is always on your head.
D.: Surrender comes after effort.
M.: Yes, it becomes complete in due course.
D.: Is a teacher necessary for instructions?
M.: Yes, if you want to learn anything new. But here you have to unlearn.
D.: Yet a teacher is necessary.
M.: You have already got what you seek elsewhere. So no teacher is necessary.
D.: Is there any use of the man of Realisation for the seeker?
M.: Yes. He helps you to get rid of your delusion that you are not realised.
D.: So, tell me how.
M.: The paths are meant only to de-hypnotise the individual.
D.: De-hypnotise me. Tell me what method to follow.
M.: Where are you now? Where should you go?
D.: I know ‘I am’; but I do not know what I am.
M.: Are there two ‘I’s then?
D.: It is begging the question.
M.: Who says this? Is it the one who is, or is it the other who does not know what he is?
D.: I am, but do not know what or how?
M.: ‘I’ is always there.
D.: Does the ‘I’ undergo any transformation, say in death?
M.: Who witnesses the transformation?
D.: You seem to speak jnāna yoga. This is jnāna yoga.
M.: Yes, it is.
D.: But surrender is bhakti yoga.
M.: Both are the same.
After some time the man continued:
Then I have to conclude that I am Consciousness and that nothing occurs except by my presence.
M.: It is one thing to conclude it by reasoning and another thing to be convinced.
The other man continued:
I shall wait three months and see if help is forthcoming. Now, may I have the assurance?
M.: Is this what is asked by one who has surrendered?
Four visitors retired. The same man continued to say “Fulfil your promise”. (Laughter).
He also said:
God has given me enough for bread and butter and I am happy. In addition I want peace of mind. Hence this request.