Maharaji: Cotonou 1996

You've got most of the people sitting up there. Uh (clears thtroat) Anyways, this is a wonderful chance to try to listen, try to absorb something. Because what is being said and what is being presented, is something to do with this existence. Not about the ideas and the philosophies, because there's already too many of those, too many people in this world, going around telling people things should be this way, things should be that way. But what about what we have been given as this life? What does it mean when this powerful miracle of breath touches you? What does that mean? And for most people, it means nothing. You're alive, you assume you're alive, you create your business, you create your responsibility, create your families, and that's it. Become better at that desire, want, create a dream, and then use every resource you have to try to fulfill that dream. And then when the dream is fulfilled, you have to go back to sleep so you can have another dream. And the wonderful opportunity that comes our way is to recognize for once in our life, because you see, for most people, we judge by not what we have, but with what we don't have. It's a balance that has been upset. We say, I don't have that house, I don't have that car, I don't have that status, and that's what I would like. And these are the things that our dreams are made of. Our dreams are made of that maybe someday, maybe someday, if I work hard, I will have those things that I desire. But what is it that I really desire? Something that if I have, I can be content. Something that if I have, I can feel, I can experience. The joy that I want to feel, that I need to feel, because what is taking place within me is the greatest magic. Something that pushes me to be happy. Not sad, but to be happy. When I am sad, a power that comes and says, move, you must be content, you must be happy, you must be satisfied. So, we embark on a journey, looking to find the satisfaction. In our own little way, maybe it's not like a big banner, a big sign. Maybe it's very simple, maybe it's very subtle, maybe it's every day that we live and breathe, and we think, and we wish, I want to be happy. Situations come and go, situations change, maybe the situation comes and we say, ah, maybe this will make us happy. It comes, it goes, nothing, nothing changes. And the desire increases, prevails, pushing, forcing every human being on the face of this earth to be content, just to be content. This is our magic. This is our power. In this is our success. In this is our realization. In this is our understanding.

And most of us, it's like this story. One day, this man hears a knock on the door. He opens the door, and somebody is standing there, and he says, ah, I have something for you. And he takes something out of his pocket, and he says, here, this is for you. This is a wonderful thing. If you rub this on metal, it'll turn into gold. And you can have it, but I will come back. And he gave him a certain date, a certain time, and he said, I'll come back, and I'll take this back. Up till then, you can have it. The man was very excited. Now I can be rich, now I can have whatever I want. So, he immediately thought, well, I must order some metal. So, he picks up his phone, calls the broker, says, I need metal, lots and lots of metal. How much is it? And the broker says, ah, today, the price has gone up just a little bit. And so, the man, he thinks, well, maybe I'll wait. Maybe tomorrow, the price will come down. So, he waits. Next day, he calls. How much is the metal now? The price has gone higher. So, he says, I'll wait. Calls the next day, I'll wait. Calls the next day, I'll wait. Same thing. Price keeps going higher, and higher, and higher, and higher, and higher, and higher. Then one day, the man hears another knock on his door. And it's the same man. Give me back what I gave you. The man says, one minute. One minute. And he started searching for some metal around in his house. And he went, and he looked at his scales to weigh. And he had been so cheap, he had been so, such a miser all his life, that his scales weren't made out of metal. They were made out of leather. He went to look for weights, not out of metal, out of stone. Searching frantically, trying to find some metal so he can turn it into gold. Nothing. And the man at the door, give it to me. Time is up.

The same situation applies to us. Somebody also knocked at our door, and gave us this precious human life. Possibilities endless. Endless. And said to us, I will come back one day, and I will take it. Now how do we know this? How do we know that one day we have to go? Look around. Look around anywhere. People dream of immortality, but they haven't achieved it. The law of life has been very simple. You come, you stay, you go. No exceptions. In this world, we have classes, we have differences. We look at rich people differently, we look at poor people differently. We look at educated people differently, we look at uneducated people differently. So many differences. But to the law, there is no difference. We look at differences. You're an American, you're an African, you're a Chinese, you're an Indian. But to this man, there are no differences. None. You come, you stay, you go. No difference. No class. Nothing. And there are people in this world who think and think and think and think and think. And they think. Through their thought, through thought, they want to be happy. They want to create a formula for happiness. So, they can say, well, now I have a good job, I have a good wife, I have good children, I have a good car, I have a good this and that. I am happy. But happiness does not work that way.

Either you are, or you're not. You cannot look at, by a formula, and say this is what happiness is. You cannot look by a formula and say this is what God is. And why not? It's very simple. Too simple. When you are thirsty, you want to read about water, or do you want to drink water? When you are not thirsty, you can afford to read about water. Because you have time, you're not thirsty, you don't care. But when you are thirsty, you must drink water. That is the only thing that will satisfy you. Not an explanation, not a lecture, not an idea, not a picture. When the sun goes down, and it gets dark, you think that the picture of a sun in your pocket can produce light? It's not possible. When there is light, when the sun is up and shining, you can pull the picture out and look at it. But when it's dark, even the picture of the sun becomes invisible. You cannot see it. What we need in our life is not the picture, not the explanations.

But we need the real water. We need the real experience. And that's, when that is available to us, that's when an opportunity starts to become an opportunity. When we, as a human being, say yes, I do want that in my life. It is a challenge. It's not easy. Because even what I say has been said before. I'm not the only one. Many have come before me and said exactly the same thing. And in the ocean of explanations, it all gets lost. Because everybody wants to explain it away. Explain it away. Nobody wants to say, wait, I have this breath, I have this time, I am alive. You know, a thief comes and he steals something from you. And we say, oh, this was bad luck. Bad luck. The thief came and he stole this. This is bad luck. Even somebody's house burns down. And people are like, oh my God, that was bad luck. Does anybody in that moment look at themselves and say, this was great luck that I wasn't in the house. I'm alive. I'm living. I'm breathing. Thank you.

No. Because the house becomes more important than me. Than me. Until one day. Until one day. And you see the irony of it. It's amazing. Because up till that day, until that day, if my house burnt down, oh my God, this is terrible. If somebody stole my suitcase, this is terrible. If my son got lost, oh, this is terrible. Then comes one day. Where there you are, lying on the bed, trying to breathe. Trying. Every breath, it's coming harder and harder. Harder and harder. And if somebody comes to you and says your house burnt down, don't talk to me right now. I'm trying to breathe. I'm trying to live. I'm trying to exist. Somebody stole your suitcase. Shh. I'm trying to live. I'm trying to breathe. I'm trying to be. I'm trying to exist. It's not a miracle, till the time comes. That same thing, that same power says, it's time to give it back. Then we too start looking for something substantial. For something real.

And we search and search and search and search. But in our house, not the physical house, in our house, we created nothing real. Everything is dreams. Everything is wishes and wants. And I wish this could be this way. And I wish it could be that way. And I wish this was that way. So somebody comes to awaken, to say wait. Wait. Put your hope, put your hope within you. Not away from you. Till now, everybody puts their hope in something else. Something else. Maybe the world will become a better place. Keep waiting. Keep waiting. I have been listening to this statement for an extremely long time. I remember when I was young. Maybe this will change and it will become better and this will change and it will become better and this will change and it will become better. It doesn't. And this goes back to the time of Kabir, who also said, it doesn't get better out there. It gets better in here. Within you is the infinite ocean. Within you is the unsung song. Within you is the unlit light. Within you. Experience that. Feel that.

Long time ago. Long time ago. Krishna is talking to Arjuna. Now, most of you may not know who Krishna was. And most of you don't know who Arjuna was. Some of you do. And I'm not going to try to validate who Krishna was and I'm not going to try to validate who Arjuna was. Because their validity comes from what was said. What transpired validates. And Krishna is saying to Arjuna, and don't look at me like I'm a scholar of this. I have not read Gita. I haven't. But I understand what was said. Not by any miracle. But by a simple fact that somebody opened those doors for me. And what was said? Is that Arjuna? You cannot find that with your thoughts, with your mind. This Knowledge, this feeling, this magic is beyond the realm of your mind. Not through thought, you cannot find it. Not through penance, you cannot find it. Not on top of the Himalayas, you can't find it. It resides within you. Within you. Within you. Within you too, it resides. And its beauty? Your own heart weeps. The thirst is within you. The water is within you. And you are the thirsty. And you are, within you is the well. And when the thirst is quenched, it will be you who will be quenched. Simple? Yet we separate. Separate that essence from ourselves.

This is the time, this is the time, in this lifetime, is the time of that magic. This is the time of that miracle. This is the time when a human being has to say to himself, I need to be awake. I lie in the sleep, a deep, deep, deep sleep of my dreams, of my ideas covering the real passions of my life. What was our need when we were little? What was our need? What language did we need to tell our mother, I'm hungry? None. It was enough. Now we have to know a name of thousands of different things so we can point to it and say, ah, this is what I want. Need has not changed. Maybe we can articulate well in this world, in the language. And maybe our focus has shifted to the language. But what about the need? That's what awakening is. When a person opens their eyes to the world within, within me, within you. When a person acKnowledges their thirst, that's the first step. That's the first step. Of course, to understand that somebody in this life makes that process possible. Somebody has water. That's what I do. I bring water to those who are thirsty. To say to them, ah, drink. Drink from this cup, which is your life. Fulfill yourself. No more the times of dreams and philosophies, but awake. Awake. Be thankful. Let your heart fill with gratitude, with thankfulness for what you have. How many people in this world turn to that feeling inside and say, you know, I want to tell you everything that is wrong. When a person has the possibility to turn within and to say, I understand all that is right. All that is beautiful. Going from one country to another country to another country to another country. Looking at people.

People are the same. Same thirst, same response. Whether it's India, whether it's Africa, whether it's Australia, whether it's South America, America, wherever it may be. Same response to that same quest, that same feeling, that same joy that every single human being is looking forward towards in this life. The rest, we're here. Remember, there were three things. Coming, stay, and go. Coming has happened. Stay is happening. And go is coming. And there's nothing, there's nothing you can do about it. It will come. You don't need to be afraid. You don't need to be in fear. You don't need to make an appointment. It will come. All you can do is fulfill your self. And that, to me, becomes the primary responsibility of each person. Those who have this gift of Knowledge are very fortunate because they have this opportunity to go within and feel. Feel that simplicity in their life and be filled. This is your joy. It's a simple feeling. Simple feeling because that's who I am. Turn me within and I will feel what is within me. The world, the world makes colors, makes billboards, makes balloons to attract my attention to the outside. And I look at those colors and I look at those balloons and I look at those things and it's like, look at that, look at that, look at that. And I forget to look within. Then the master comes and he says, no, look within. Be attracted to that beauty within because it is simple. Because it is you.

One other thing that Krishna says to Arjuna, he says, whatever you remember the most in your life, Arjuna, is what you will remember when you go from this world. So, if all your life you have been bothered about your children, then when you start to go, you're going to think, my children. It's not unusual. It's not unusual. If in the morning your goat ran away and you thought about your goat all day long, where is my goat? Where is my goat? Where is my goat? The chances are very good that when you go to sleep, just before you go to sleep, you're going to think, I wonder, where is my goat? So, Krishna is saying to Arjuna, whatever you remember the most in this life is what you will remember at the very end. And then he says, Arjuna, if you remember me, you will get me. You will think of me. And if you think of me, you can have me. You will have me. So, Arjuna, start remembering me. Start remembering me. This is the opportunity. This is the opportunity to remember the one, that which has no religion. Because it's the only thing that doesn't have any religion. Everything else has a religion. It's the only thing that doesn't have a color. It's the only thing that doesn't have height, that doesn't have weight, that doesn't have age. It has nothing. And it has everything. It's the only thing that has nothing, that has everything. You carry such a thing within you. And when you feel like, when it is cold, the fire brings the warmth. When you're thirsty, water brings the satisfaction of quenching the thirst. Same way, feeling that beauty that is inside of you brings you joy. Joy, not grief, but joy. Not doubt, because doubts come. But to think and to feel about that beauty inside of you doesn't bring doubts. It brings joy. It's the only thing. It's the only thing. Everything else, everything else, man has doubted. That's his nature. And yet when you feel that feeling inside of you, it brings you joy, not doubt. The doubts are resolved, washed away, washed away, and joy settles in. So, those of you who have that gift of Knowledge, have that opportunity in your life to feel that, to feel that joy again and again and again. Not doubts, because this world will bring you doubts. That is its nature. Remember, begin to remember that, that resides within you. Remember, practice that Knowledge and feel that joy, and let your heart be filled with gratitude. That is your opportunity.

And those of you who don't have that Knowledge, who are aspiring to have that Knowledge, let the thirst grow in your heart. You see, there is a piece of advice you will not hear in this world. In this world, the advice will be, you're thirsty? Drink some water. Yeah, Coca-Cola quenches your thirst. If you're tired, sit down. Hungry? Eat something. This is the advice of the world. If you're tired of standing, sit down. You're tired of sitting, stand up. Hungry? Eat something. Thirsty? Drink some water. Tired? Go to sleep. And only in the realm of this Knowledge do you get an advice. If you're thirsty, keep the thirst going. Does it make sense? To a lot of people, that doesn't make sense. Well, if I'm thirsty, just quench it. No, no. When all other thirsts are removed, when all questions are gone, when doubt is no more, when the call of the heart is clear, then you begin to be ready for Knowledge. Nothing to sell. You see, that's the problem. If there was something to sell, then you say to somebody, oh, well, you want this? Okay, here. But there's nothing to sell. Because there is nothing to sell, there is nothing to buy. And because there is nothing to buy, all the formulas that work in this world will not work with this Knowledge. Well, I'll give you more money, so give me no. A long time ago, when I first went to America, I was in… I was staying in this house. I didn't know, you know, it was people who had made the arrangements, and I was staying at this house. In the morning, the house owner came and said, I would like Knowledge. And I said, well, listen, when you're ready, I'll give you Knowledge. And he went, well, wait a minute. I did you a favor. I'm letting you stay in my house. So, you do me a favor. You give me Knowledge. I said, thank you very much. I moved out. I left the house. No favors.

When that time comes for you, that you understand what this thirst is all about, that it is not a curiosity. When it transcends curiosity, when it transcends all those things, all those formulas that we usually apply in this world, when it becomes obvious to you. How many of you have gone and bought a hat, and when you were buying the hat, you said, this is what I want. And five days later, you don't want that hat. How many of you have gone shopping and said, no, I want to buy this. This is what I want. Six days later, you don't even want to look at it. So, you throw it away. Put it in a box. Put it in a trunk. Because it was not obvious. You wanted it. Why? Because the want-maker, the want-maker made you want it. You didn't want it. The want-maker made you want it. The want-maker is also the doubt-maker. The want-maker is also the doubt-maker, and the doubt-maker is also the hate-maker, and the hate-maker is also the anger-maker, and all those makers. Today, you can look at it and say, this is right. This is what I want. Two days later, it'll change you. No, I don't want that. I want something different. I want something new. When you go beyond the point of that doubt-maker, the want-maker, and it is just you, just you, stripped of everything else, and with that simplicity, you approach the realm of this Knowledge. Then, then, and only then, will you have this Knowledge. So, I'm sure a lot of people are like, well, I don't know. Well, if you don't know, you don't know.

I have water, but only for those who are thirsty. Not for those who want to wash their hands in it. This water is not for people to slap on their cheeks. This water is not to wash your face with. This water is not to put in your mouth and gargle with. This water is for thirsty. Only for thirsty. With thirst comes that time. There can be a time when, if I'm not really thirsty, I can say, if you bring me water, I can say, where is the glass? And if I say, where is the glass? I'm not thirsty. I'm interested in the glass. Then comes a time when my thirst keeps growing, when I don't care whether it's in a glass or not. If it's not in a glass, fine. I'll drink it like this. I'll drink it like this. If I have to get on my hands and knees, I'll drink it that way too. All formalities are pushed aside. All barriers are crossed. The only thing that remains is that sincerity of the student and the generosity of the master. That's it. Nothing else. Because if there's anything else in between, it will never work. And it's not right. It's not good. But when there is just that, the sincerity of the student and generosity of the master, then there's no limit. And as long as the student remains sincere and the master remains generous, the immeasurable wealth of this joy will be poured out again and again and again. The poor will get rich beyond belief. Beyond belief. That is when that beautiful miracle takes place. There is no other stand. There is no other stage. There is no other plan. There is no other anything besides. Let that be real. Then that is to take this heart that is in the cage of all those ideas that don't belong with you.

There was a time when you had the power of admiration. You could admire without an explanation. There was a time. Look at a child. Look at a baby. A baby, a child has the power of admiration. He can look at the skies. He can look at the sun. He can look at the stars. Don't you want to admire too? Don't you want to fill yourself with what that admiration does? You see, it's so amazing. The sun so far away from here. Oh, very far. Earth is rotating around and round and round. Clouds are way up above. And then the evening comes. You start to see the sun go down. The sun isn't really going down. But it looks like the sun is going down. And it looks like the sun is dimming. It's not really dimming. It's still shining just as bright as it was when it was overhead. So, all this is happening. And what is it doing to you? You look at it and you say, beautiful. Why? Because something inside of you can appreciate that. Something inside of you can enjoy that. Learn to enjoy that that enjoys that. If you can learn to enjoy that which enjoys all of that, then you will always be enjoying in your life. Then you don't need a sunset. You don't need a sunrise. And you don't need the stars. Because they reside within.

So, for those who have this Knowledge, practice and enjoy to the fullest. Participate. Take part in what is happening. Tell your friends. Come. Listen. You come. You listen. And those of you who are aspirants, continue to listen. Some of you, I believe, are going to Abwa. There will be a Knowledge session there. And we're also looking at whatever the possibility may be to be able to do a Knowledge session. Some people are poor. Some people cannot go there. So, we're looking at the possibility. Don't worry. If you're ready, you will have Knowledge. Whenever it happens, it will happen. This is what I do. I go around the world giving people this gift of Knowledge. Continue to grow. Continue to enjoy. Those of you who came here, to listen to what I have to say, are more confused than were before walked in here. What is this? What is this all about? What is the real message and what is it? Well, within you is something beautiful. I can show you what that beauty is. That's the message. The rest may sound like a very detailed process, and it is. One step at a time. Maybe all your life you have tried to take four steps at a time and six steps at a time. For this one, you'll have to take one step at a time. Begin with listening to that voice. Not here. Not here. But here. What does it say to you? What does it always say to you? One step. One. Learning to walk towards the journey inside. And it's fascinating. So thank you very much, and I hope that you all enjoy this event. There's a nice venue here now, and hopefully we can continue to come back. Enjoy! You see, that is such a beautiful thing to be able to come to people, not to say, and be careful, don't do this, and be careful, don't do that, and isn't this terrible, and isn't that bad. But that's not what I have to say. When I go to people, I say to them, enjoy. Enjoy this life. Not enjoy your radio, or enjoy your FM station, or enjoy your TV. Enjoy this life. You're so fortunate that you have it. So amazingly fortunate. Enjoy. So thank you very much. Good night.