KAYR
About the Path and Travelers
Written down by Anna Zubkova, M.A.
Edited and translated from Russian by Dr.Vladimir Antonov
Written down by Anna Zubkova, M.A.
Edited and translated from Russian by Dr.Vladimir Antonov
Many lives I had to live to overcome the entire Path. And not everything in them was smooth. But both achievements and mistakes — they taught the main thing: I have managed to achieve the fullness of Mergence with the Creator — and this is the greatest Victory! It is called Nirvana, the fullness of Enlightenment or Self-Realization.
However the development of even Divine Souls continues endlessly. All We continue to improve Ourselves now.
How? What do I mean?
What I would like to explain now, is that what I was cognizing in not only my past when I was incarnate and followed the spiritual Path, trying — not once — to go through it to the end. But even now, I continue to collect experience and wisdom, participating in life and work with promising embodied disciples of God.
Many other Great Spiritual Masters take part in this work. They are Those Who have reached the cognition of the One Creator of the entire universe. Their Perfection, Their experience, Their knowledge are the basis of what I want to tell all people of the Earth.
Much of what, I describe now, was cognized by Me in My own incarnations. Much — I still watch and currently cognize.
I believe that it is very useful to know — for the travelers on the Great Path of Merging with the United We.
I am very pleased with the opportunity to share My knowledge! It is much easier to overcome the Path — for those travelers who already know about what to encounter on it! After all, all the obstacles, which they encounter on the Path, are similar, and the ways of overcoming them are also similar.
However the development of even Divine Souls continues endlessly. All We continue to improve Ourselves now.
How? What do I mean?
What I would like to explain now, is that what I was cognizing in not only my past when I was incarnate and followed the spiritual Path, trying — not once — to go through it to the end. But even now, I continue to collect experience and wisdom, participating in life and work with promising embodied disciples of God.
Many other Great Spiritual Masters take part in this work. They are Those Who have reached the cognition of the One Creator of the entire universe. Their Perfection, Their experience, Their knowledge are the basis of what I want to tell all people of the Earth.
Much of what, I describe now, was cognized by Me in My own incarnations. Much — I still watch and currently cognize.
I believe that it is very useful to know — for the travelers on the Great Path of Merging with the United We.
I am very pleased with the opportunity to share My knowledge! It is much easier to overcome the Path — for those travelers who already know about what to encounter on it! After all, all the obstacles, which they encounter on the Path, are similar, and the ways of overcoming them are also similar.
Contents
● How to Take Our Lives in Our Own Hands >>>
● On the Commandments of God and Purification of Souls
● On Desires and Happiness
● How to Choose Master — and Doubts
● On the Value of Time >>>
● Sculptor
● On Disputes
● On the Ups and Downs
● On the Commandments of God and Purification of Souls
● On Desires and Happiness
● How to Choose Master — and Doubts
● On the Value of Time >>>
● Sculptor
● On Disputes
● On the Ups and Downs
How to Take Our Lives in Our Own Hands
“Every intention is blind when there is no knowledge.
All knowledge is vain when there is no work.
All work is fruitless when there is no love!”
Khalil Gibran “The Prophet”
All knowledge is vain when there is no work.
All work is fruitless when there is no love!”
Khalil Gibran “The Prophet”
There were once two young men who were living in one poor village. They were friends. Their sad, almost beggarly existence among similar unhappy inhabitants, did not gladden them.
The soil in that area was not fertile. And moreover — year after year — droughts ruined almost the entire crop. Many people died due to diseases and hunger. And some men began to engage in robbery in order to feed their families.
But our young men were raised by their parents in good faith and did not want to offend other people.
However, a depressing existence in poverty, without hope for change to the better, was oppressing.
Their parents have already died, and so even caring for the elderly did not give meaning to their lives. And they did not hurry up their own families, seeing poverty and a sad existence around.
“So all life can pass... And nothing will change in it, if we ourselves do not begin to act! It depends on us: what we spend our efforts and time on!” — one day one of them said to the other.
... And they decided to go on a journey — to seek happiness and a better life.
The soil in that area was not fertile. And moreover — year after year — droughts ruined almost the entire crop. Many people died due to diseases and hunger. And some men began to engage in robbery in order to feed their families.
But our young men were raised by their parents in good faith and did not want to offend other people.
However, a depressing existence in poverty, without hope for change to the better, was oppressing.
Their parents have already died, and so even caring for the elderly did not give meaning to their lives. And they did not hurry up their own families, seeing poverty and a sad existence around.
“So all life can pass... And nothing will change in it, if we ourselves do not begin to act! It depends on us: what we spend our efforts and time on!” — one day one of them said to the other.
... And they decided to go on a journey — to seek happiness and a better life.
* * *
They walked for a long time. The settlements they met on the road — although slightly richer than their own — were not very different from it. Our young men wanted to find a place where they could really become happy.
They reached the big city. Noise, bustle, vast wealth of some people — and poverty of others — here were very close to each other.
Young men found employment — and they received money, which seemed to them even quite large. But it had to be quickly spent on housing and food — and it was necessary to earn money again and again through hard labor.
And happiness in their lives here was no more, than it was in their poor native village.
But now they had no time to be bored: they were always worried about how to make money, or how to spend less of it, or not being cheated or robbed.
And they have seen enough of cheating and deceit! And on themselves, it was not once experienced... Fortunately, their wealth was not great, so there were not great losses.
... One day, they witnessed the death of a young man: a fight broke out in the market due to some deception — and it cost the life of one of the contenders...
Looking at the body of someone who has died being still so young, the young men thought that with them at any moment the same could happen. Death does not necessarily occur in old age. And therefore, it is not guaranteed at all that they have a lot of time to realize all their desires.
They have understood that from life in the big city they could not become happier. But they have become only... fussier.
... We have already discussed that our young men were raised in piety and good faith. They offered regular prayers to God, followed other religious rules and regulations, which were instilled from childhood. And now they began to think among themselves:
“Maybe we ask God for something wrong?
“Maybe we do not understand what He wants — both from us and from all people?
“Why are prayers unfulfilled for most people?
“Why is so much unjust and ugliness, if God is Justice and Beauty?
“Why so many sick, unhappy people?
“Why do some people bathe in luxury, while others drag themselves into a beggarly existence?
“Why does injustice reign everywhere, even among judges in courts, where only the pure truth should triumph?
“Why, for some, death occurs at a young age — but others live to feeble old age?
“And what is really worth wanting and achieving in life?”
They began to ask their questions to people who seemed to them clever. They turned to the gray-haired old men, asking what they had learned in their long years in this land: about the meaning of human life, about the purpose of good and evil, about the causes of inequality between people in material prosperity, in health or illness, in luck or failures.
But those old men could not explain all this to them. They said only that in all this is the Will of God...
... But one day, they were advised to go to the wise Master, who, most likely, would be able to answer all their questions.
They reached the big city. Noise, bustle, vast wealth of some people — and poverty of others — here were very close to each other.
Young men found employment — and they received money, which seemed to them even quite large. But it had to be quickly spent on housing and food — and it was necessary to earn money again and again through hard labor.
And happiness in their lives here was no more, than it was in their poor native village.
But now they had no time to be bored: they were always worried about how to make money, or how to spend less of it, or not being cheated or robbed.
And they have seen enough of cheating and deceit! And on themselves, it was not once experienced... Fortunately, their wealth was not great, so there were not great losses.
... One day, they witnessed the death of a young man: a fight broke out in the market due to some deception — and it cost the life of one of the contenders...
Looking at the body of someone who has died being still so young, the young men thought that with them at any moment the same could happen. Death does not necessarily occur in old age. And therefore, it is not guaranteed at all that they have a lot of time to realize all their desires.
They have understood that from life in the big city they could not become happier. But they have become only... fussier.
... We have already discussed that our young men were raised in piety and good faith. They offered regular prayers to God, followed other religious rules and regulations, which were instilled from childhood. And now they began to think among themselves:
“Maybe we ask God for something wrong?
“Maybe we do not understand what He wants — both from us and from all people?
“Why are prayers unfulfilled for most people?
“Why is so much unjust and ugliness, if God is Justice and Beauty?
“Why so many sick, unhappy people?
“Why do some people bathe in luxury, while others drag themselves into a beggarly existence?
“Why does injustice reign everywhere, even among judges in courts, where only the pure truth should triumph?
“Why, for some, death occurs at a young age — but others live to feeble old age?
“And what is really worth wanting and achieving in life?”
They began to ask their questions to people who seemed to them clever. They turned to the gray-haired old men, asking what they had learned in their long years in this land: about the meaning of human life, about the purpose of good and evil, about the causes of inequality between people in material prosperity, in health or illness, in luck or failures.
But those old men could not explain all this to them. They said only that in all this is the Will of God...
... But one day, they were advised to go to the wise Master, who, most likely, would be able to answer all their questions.
* * *
They have reached that place late at night and asked to spend the night in the Master’s house, where many of his disciples lived.
They were allowed to spend the night.
... How did they like everything here: both the cleanliness, and friendly smiles of the disciples, and the fact that they were sheltered without demands for payment! And calm and benevolent Master perceived by them as the height of perfection!
“How lucky we are! It’s like in paradise, we have found ourselves! This place is — where it really is worth for living! We will stay here and become disciples of this Master!” — so they said to each other.
Next morning, after a meal, they asked Master some of their questions: about the misfortunes and injustices of this world, about the meaning of a person's life...
Master answered them:
“The body belongs to the ‘desert’ of this world. People here often spend their lives in pursuit of the mirage of wealth and glory, in the thirst for power and pleasure...
“But after all, man-soul, leaving this ‘desert’, cannot take even a handful of sand with him or her — no matter how much material wealth is accumulated in the world of matter!
“Only how a person has transformed him/her/self-soul, and that, which he or she has learned, that, he or she has mastered, — will remain with him or her in the ‘other world’.
“Lives of people on the Earth — with their ups and downs — are only at first glance full of injustice. But the destinies of people depend on so many facts and are intertwined into intricate patterns of many lives.
“How the fate of each person is formed — it is a long story. But the main principle is simple: ‘You always reap in your destiny the fruits of what you sowed and nurtured!’
“The fruits of some actions return to the person quickly, but the ‘ripening’ of others can be expected for a very long time. Sometimes this happens only in the next incarnation of the soul into a new body.
“Every time when the life in the body ends and a soul leaves it — a soul does not disappear and does not die. Life of a soul does not end with death of a body, but continues in the intangible world — until the time for a new birth in the body comes.
“And the true meaning of life of a soul on the Earth is not to pursue the mirages of the material world, but the Path to God, Who is the One Lord of all worlds. This Path consists of cognition and of other aspects of perfecting.
“The soul is able to learn and master a lot of knowledge and skills.
“There are those qualities of a soul, which are useful in both worlds: material and immaterial. These are, above all, love, tenderness, care, forgiveness, gratitude, willingness to learn.
“All useful qualities can be developed in ourselves. Namely for this, each of us is in this world: in order to improve ourselves as souls.
“There are also those qualities that should be eradicated in ourselves. Because both in life on the material plane, and in life without bodies — these vices of the soul will bring nothing but troubles. These qualities are anger, irritability, violence, envy, resentment, desire to take over another’s, gluttony, deceit, lack of will, laziness, pride, and other manifestations of egocentrism. There are also smaller vices: for example, non-observance of esthetic norms of behavior.
“And one, who aspires to become better before the Face of God, can try to eliminate in oneself all those qualities of the soul that prevent this one from approaching God!
“We will understand that the events that surround us, into which we are involved or which we create ourselves, — can serve the main thing: it is our study from God.
“Yes, man can make the right choice in the purpose and direction of his or her life — and take his or her development and destiny in his or her own hands.
“After all, what purpose man will outline, — there the forces of the soul flow. And the more he or she strives for that goal, the faster the progress.
“Life only for the sake of entertainment and the satisfaction of whims — can seem simple and pleasant... But its result — if the whole lifetime was wasted on trifles — will be complete ruin...
“Each of the days of life on the Earth is a treasure, received from God! And you should not live without using it for developing you-soul and helping to improve other souls!
“Let us try to see the whole Path: from a small human soul — to the Divine Soul, living in Unity with the Creator!
“To get closer to God, it is necessary to advance namely consciously on this Path!
“The Path opens before those, who choose as the purpose and the meaning of their lives — God and service to Him.
“But, in order to be ready to enter the Path, one must first understand very much. Including, it is necessary to develop in oneself the ability to distinguish between good — and evil, necessary — and useless in life.
“And we must become sufficiently confident in the correctness of the made choice.
“In order to follow this Path, it is not necessary to ‘renounce the world’ and live in a monastery or in a single cell. Because the more experience the soul acquires, the better!”
... The young men listened to the Master’s response and were amazed at the opportunities opened before them. They asked permission to stay in order to learn from Him.
Master said that He allows them to stay for a while to understand: whether they really want and are ready to follow the Path of the Heart and whether their intention is firmly established. And at the end of the trial period, He will say whether they should stay at His house and strive to become His disciples.
They were allowed to spend the night.
... How did they like everything here: both the cleanliness, and friendly smiles of the disciples, and the fact that they were sheltered without demands for payment! And calm and benevolent Master perceived by them as the height of perfection!
“How lucky we are! It’s like in paradise, we have found ourselves! This place is — where it really is worth for living! We will stay here and become disciples of this Master!” — so they said to each other.
Next morning, after a meal, they asked Master some of their questions: about the misfortunes and injustices of this world, about the meaning of a person's life...
Master answered them:
“The body belongs to the ‘desert’ of this world. People here often spend their lives in pursuit of the mirage of wealth and glory, in the thirst for power and pleasure...
“But after all, man-soul, leaving this ‘desert’, cannot take even a handful of sand with him or her — no matter how much material wealth is accumulated in the world of matter!
“Only how a person has transformed him/her/self-soul, and that, which he or she has learned, that, he or she has mastered, — will remain with him or her in the ‘other world’.
“Lives of people on the Earth — with their ups and downs — are only at first glance full of injustice. But the destinies of people depend on so many facts and are intertwined into intricate patterns of many lives.
“How the fate of each person is formed — it is a long story. But the main principle is simple: ‘You always reap in your destiny the fruits of what you sowed and nurtured!’
“The fruits of some actions return to the person quickly, but the ‘ripening’ of others can be expected for a very long time. Sometimes this happens only in the next incarnation of the soul into a new body.
“Every time when the life in the body ends and a soul leaves it — a soul does not disappear and does not die. Life of a soul does not end with death of a body, but continues in the intangible world — until the time for a new birth in the body comes.
“And the true meaning of life of a soul on the Earth is not to pursue the mirages of the material world, but the Path to God, Who is the One Lord of all worlds. This Path consists of cognition and of other aspects of perfecting.
“The soul is able to learn and master a lot of knowledge and skills.
“There are those qualities of a soul, which are useful in both worlds: material and immaterial. These are, above all, love, tenderness, care, forgiveness, gratitude, willingness to learn.
“All useful qualities can be developed in ourselves. Namely for this, each of us is in this world: in order to improve ourselves as souls.
“There are also those qualities that should be eradicated in ourselves. Because both in life on the material plane, and in life without bodies — these vices of the soul will bring nothing but troubles. These qualities are anger, irritability, violence, envy, resentment, desire to take over another’s, gluttony, deceit, lack of will, laziness, pride, and other manifestations of egocentrism. There are also smaller vices: for example, non-observance of esthetic norms of behavior.
“And one, who aspires to become better before the Face of God, can try to eliminate in oneself all those qualities of the soul that prevent this one from approaching God!
“We will understand that the events that surround us, into which we are involved or which we create ourselves, — can serve the main thing: it is our study from God.
“Yes, man can make the right choice in the purpose and direction of his or her life — and take his or her development and destiny in his or her own hands.
“After all, what purpose man will outline, — there the forces of the soul flow. And the more he or she strives for that goal, the faster the progress.
“Life only for the sake of entertainment and the satisfaction of whims — can seem simple and pleasant... But its result — if the whole lifetime was wasted on trifles — will be complete ruin...
“Each of the days of life on the Earth is a treasure, received from God! And you should not live without using it for developing you-soul and helping to improve other souls!
“Let us try to see the whole Path: from a small human soul — to the Divine Soul, living in Unity with the Creator!
“To get closer to God, it is necessary to advance namely consciously on this Path!
“The Path opens before those, who choose as the purpose and the meaning of their lives — God and service to Him.
“But, in order to be ready to enter the Path, one must first understand very much. Including, it is necessary to develop in oneself the ability to distinguish between good — and evil, necessary — and useless in life.
“And we must become sufficiently confident in the correctness of the made choice.
“In order to follow this Path, it is not necessary to ‘renounce the world’ and live in a monastery or in a single cell. Because the more experience the soul acquires, the better!”
... The young men listened to the Master’s response and were amazed at the opportunities opened before them. They asked permission to stay in order to learn from Him.
Master said that He allows them to stay for a while to understand: whether they really want and are ready to follow the Path of the Heart and whether their intention is firmly established. And at the end of the trial period, He will say whether they should stay at His house and strive to become His disciples.
On the Commandments of God
and Purification of Souls
In the first days of the young men’s life in the Master’s house, He began to tell them about the dif-ference between the rules of behavior invented by people — and the ethical Commandments of God:
“You asked me questions about injustice and suffering in this world. And today we will begin to search together for the answers to them.”
“Do you yourself not know the answers?” — the young men were surprised by the words of Master.
“I did not say that. But I would like you to make your own efforts to understand them, deeply think over it yourselves. And for this, it is not enough just to listen to Me and believe My words.
“Have you ever thought about the existence of those rules of behavior, which have been com-manded namely by God?
“These rules exist and they are common for all peoples on the Earth.
“There are also some rules that are invented on-ly by people. Such rules can be very different in the-se or those countries and in different religious tradi-tions.
“Many times God’s Commandments sounded for people, being expressed in different words. You probably heard about them at least partially. We will talk more than once about these Commandments, but, briefly, the main of them can be formulated as follows:
“Love God — the Creator of all that exists!
“Love your neighbors!
“Do unto others, as you would like them to do unto you!
“Love all beings — the creatures of God!
“Be grateful!
“Do good! Do not do evil!
“Do not kill!
“Do not steal!
“Do not lie!
“Do not want another’s!
“Do not envy!
“Do not be angry!
“Do not be jealous!
“Get rid — as far as possible — of violence against other creatures!
“These ethical Commandments of God, in-tended for all people, were repeatedly brought to Earth by the Divine Messengers. Most of the religious Teachings began this way. But gradually, after the departure of the Messiahs and prophets, the Teach-ings became inverted into the dogmas of some priests. The meaning of the Commandments was dis-torted.
“Moreover, sets of rituals and rules had their or-igins not at all from God, but from those priests... The invented by them prerequisites allowed the priests to receive income for the performing of rituals. And even terrible religious wars arose more than once — because the rules of worship to God, invented by dif-ferent groups of priests, were different. And this served as the basis for the seizure of lands and wealth by the rulers of certain people — from other people.
“Such a distortion by people of the Divine Laws, according to which everything in the universe should develop, leads to a very deplorable formation of des-tinies for individuals as well as for entire human communities.
“It should be noted that the performance of cer-tain rituals can be useful for beginners in religion. There are rituals that soothe the mind. There is also the benefit of overcoming fatigue, laziness, concern with the earthly: man accustoms himself or herself, performing rituals, to always remember God.
“Here, for example, for you, it helped not only to avoid becoming robbers, as some people from your village became, but it also prompted you to seek the Truth.”
“How do you know about this, Master? Can you see the past of any person?”
“It’s not difficult: God always opens the neces-sary knowledge before us!
“But now we will not be distracted from the top-ic. Believe only that what now seems surprising to you — will be very simple, when you yourselves learn this!
“This is similar to how a person, who does not know anything about the ability to write words with the help of letters and read them, will think that such skill is a miracle! But the one, who can read, does not see in this something surprising!
“Now we must think also about the following: why do people in most religious traditions, even knowing the ethical Commandments, do not execute them? Why do people not live as God commanded them?
“This happens, first of all, because the rules of behavior, created and prescribed by the priests, are very much at variance with truly virtuous behavior!
“There are, too, other reasons why the com-mandments of God are not fulfilled by many people. Even those, who would like to live righteously, do not always succeed. They cannot feel heart love to their neighbors, cannot resist the emotions of resentment or anger, condemnation or jealousy — even if they want to! They do not know how to defeat bad habits and emotions in themselves — and therefore they consider their sinfulness... natural and inevitable! And there is an opinion that ethical purity is the lot of only special persons: Saints and prophets, but not a rule for the life of everyone.
“... Souls come to the Earth many times... Long and hard they learn love and kindness, falling in love with each other, raising children, taking care of the destinies of the inhabitants of their country or of all humanity. They do a lot of mistakes that make their lives filled with suffering and disappointment...
“But there are ways to purify and transform the soul, which can help that person, who wants to begin the spiritual Path.
“Throughout the history of existence of man-kind on the Earth, there were such devotees, who — with God’s help — created methods that can quickly teach others to control their emotions and — as a re-sult — live in heart love.
“You have always aspired to be righteous be-fore the Face of God — and this is very commend-able! But in order to truly experience, what is love for Him, what is happiness of life with such love, — it is necessary to purify the soul and body, and also to open the spiritual heart. Only then — one can stand before God and not be ashamed!
“... The first and primary way to begin purifica-tion of the soul is the acceptance and execution of ethical rules, which are commanded by God.
“But, in addition to understanding and accep-tance of these rules, you can do simple exercises that will help in purifying bodily energies and in opening the center of heart love.”
Master offered to go out onto the terrace, from which a beautiful view of the neighborhood opened: the expanse, the beauty of nature! Everything was flooded with a gentle morning light, as if every small-est particle of air carried the energy of the rising sun!
Master continued:
“There is a very simple initial method of purifi-cation both of energies of the body, and the state of the soul.
“In many religious traditions, it is customary to perform ablutions. Yes, it is very useful to do this for the body — every morning!
“But it is possible to wash the body and soul in the same way with the Divine Light, similar to the morning sunlight.
“By this Divine Light, all the space is perme-ated! If you have not yet learned to see Him, you can ask God to help in this.
“Let us now ‘offer’ palms — and we will feel their fullness with shining Light, pouring as water! And, with the help of the hands of the soul, con-nected with the hands of the body, you can wash your face with this Light.
“Then the movements of the hands of the soul can become wider. And this Light, pouring from above, can be taken again and again by the palms and poured on the body: from the head — to the soles of the feet. Let streams flow gently, washing the body and soul!
“You also can stand under the waterfall of this Light, so that we are washed and ready to live and work for God on this day.
“You can also raise your hands up, catch this Light in the palm of your hands, then ask Him to flow through all the cells of the body, fill all the corners of the soul — so that no dirt and darkness remain!
“We are filled with gratitude and love for God — for the bliss He gives!
“Find the place in the body where this bliss is born: it is about where everyone feels the center of him or her during a breath in.
“Further — we will try to give away love, peace, gratitude, tranquility from these centers — to all be-ings: the children of God who are around us. At first, we will embrace by love and peace those who are close, and then — we will send the waves of love and peace to all further and further!
“To begin with, you can help by hands of the body to send such waves of love. And then — gradu-ally — it will be possible to learn to perform these ex-ercises, acting only with the hands of the soul, which will become larger, stronger, more tender!
“Such exercises are easy to perform, but this does not make them less important or less useful on the spiritual Path. Just do not be lazy in performing them every day.”
“And what: now we will have to do these exer-cises instead of the morning prayers?”
“You owe nothing! I suggest that you only mas-ter these exercises. And whether you need to con-tinue to habitually address God, uttering the standard words, — let everyone decide independently.
“When you can talk with God directly — then you can ask this question to Him yourselves!”
“Talking with God?! Is it possible for ordinary people? Only the great Messiahs and prophets could speak with God!”
“Ask those who live in this house! And at the same time, let them help you master these new morn-ing exercises,” — Master replied with a smile.
... The exercises were simple and surprisingly enjoyable! The young men mastered them with ease! Feelings of joy and purity in the soul after them were retained for a long time!
And when the older disciples showed and told how best to do all this, the young men were amazed that all this can be learned so easily! And that meant it is possible to master maybe even more! For exam-ple — to learn to hear and directly understand God! For this, we should transform ourselves as souls — and live such a wonderful life, as the disciples of Master live in this house!
On Desires and Happiness
One day a guest came to the Master’s house for advice. He was a distinguished and rich man. He brought refined treats. And there was a festive table for everyone who lived in the house.
To the simple yet delicious food, which was always served in the Master’s house, the delicacies, brought that day by the guest, were added in abun-dance.
The guest knew that both Master and his disci-ples were strict vegetarians, and therefore the treats that he brought were appropriate.
Our young men from poor families, who only recently began to live in the Master’s house, were so amazed by this luxurious treat that they could not stop eating, barely listening to what Master was say-ing.
Such an abundance they had never seen: they had previously lived in poverty all their lives.
And they ate as much as they could! The food was so delicious! And, in fact, no one considered, how much they ate! And no payment was charged for the treat!
The rest of the disciples and the guest were engaged in conversation more than the meal.
Master in conversation, glancing several times at the beginners, hinted that excessive food can be damaging, even if it is clean and nutritious. But the young men were so fascinated by the treats they had never seen before that they missed these words and continued to focus on delicious delicacies.
Master spoke with the guest and disciples about whether the satisfaction of earthly desires brings happiness:
“Earthly desires lead the lives of many people for a long time.
“Yes, there are natural needs: such, for exam-ple, as a desire to eat; and they must be satisfied. But life only to satisfy our own selfish desires — does not bring happiness!
“If a person experiences joy only from getting pleasure of something material — then he or she eas-ily gets used to this way of life. For example, the hab-it of having fun with wine drinking can lead to drunk-enness. Man wants more and more joy — and, as he or she gets used to it, he or she uses more and more spirits. So it happens also with other substances that temporarily change the state of consciousness. And, if a person begins to want to receive more and more pleasure in this way, then he or she becomes a pris-oner or even a slave of these desires. Such man can no longer resist drinking, smoking, gluttony, or other ways to appease oneself.
“How much people invented to get satisfaction from the material — you can not count! This is not only food made from the bodies of killed animals, not only stupefying and destroying the ability to think up things that can be either drunk or smoked, or taken otherwise.
“Objects of passionate desires are also jewelry made of gold and precious stones, palaces, ships, lands... And, if one wants for oneself more and more such, it always leads to sad outcomes.
“And this never leads to true happiness! Only a brief moment of satisfaction... — and a new desire seizes the soul!
“True joy can be born only from love, directed from the spiritual heart — outside: to other beings! It comes from the presence of God in the spiritual heart!”
“But, if a person is not yet ready to renounce the material world, what is to be done?” — the guest asked the Master.
“That’s exactly what we are talking about.
“Pleasures from delicious food and drink, from a clean and beautiful home, from harmonious sexual relations — are not harmful at all. They even give benefit, if moderation and harmony are observed.
“Agree that such satisfaction is incomparably better than poverty and a constant feeling of dissatis-faction because of it!
“There is also nothing wrong with having and bringing useful desires and intentions. But all such goals and desires should be pure and directed to benefit for this particular soul, as well as for other be-ings.
“And, if the implementation of such intentions brings good and joy not to oneself, but to other peo-ple — this makes a person even more happy!”
... Looking carefully at his guest, Master con-tinued:
“There is nothing destructive or sad, if man, for example, inherited huge treasures or power. But it needs to dispose of what has been received — rea-sonably and for the benefit not only to oneself but for many.
“After all, everything, we own here, is tempo-rary. It is given to us to improve ourselves and help others.
“It is not easy to use wealth wisely. But this should be learned.
“If you want, I will tell you, friends, the parable of the ‘lucky’?”
... All, anticipating the interesting, asked Mas-ter to begin.
“Once upon a time, there was one man who always and in everything was lucky!
“If he played cards or dice, he always won. If there was a disaster, he alone remained unharmed, while people around him received wounds and inju-ries. And everything, whatever he wanted, was very quickly implemented!
“For a long time, this man rejoiced at his luck and thanked God for patronage.
“But one day he thought about those who lost, when he won, about those who were injured when he was unharmed, about those who were close and yet could not find what they wanted...
“Good luck continued to fall on him, as from a cornucopia, but now it no longer pleased him the way he was before.
‘Maybe my luck can be used more profitably than just winning cards or dice, or achieving fame and success for any of my whims?’ — he thought.
“And the man decided to change his life!
“He came to the ruler of that country and said:
‘Apparently, I was born under a lucky star! I’m lucky in everything!
‘Great ruler, give me any difficult task — and I’ll try to fulfill it!
‘It’s not good that luck, falling on my lot, gives benefit only to me, and not all worthy!’
“... And he began to serve the good of the ruler and the whole country — as the ruler and his associ-ates understood it.
“For a while, the ‘lucky’ was happy that he had found a worthy use of his life.
“But then he began to see and hear that win-ning in the war for one country — brings misfortunes to people of another, or that, because of his luck and success in the affairs of the state, some people get benefit — but others suffer from disaster and misfor-tune...
‘God, Who has created and loves all beings, does He want what I do? For what has He given me luck?’ — he thought...
“And then the ‘lucky’ left the civil service and decided to find the Sage who would explain to him: how best to spend the rest of life?
“Many people tried to stop him: ‘Are you not happy with your beautiful position in society and are you tired of your luck? It is said that people are not looking for good — from the good! Why are you oth-erwise, when all desirable is given to you so easily?’
“But the man decided to continue searching for the meaning of his life.
“He walked from one teacher to another — un-til he has found the True Teacher.
“The ‘lucky’ asked Him:
‘Why is my life full of luck, but the more I get, the less satisfying is what I achieve? Perhaps the purpose of my life is in another, if luck has ceased to satisfy me?’
‘You were righteous in your past life and did a lot of good then. Now you are reaping the fruits of those good deeds. That’s where your luck comes from!
‘And in this life you, from some time, wanted to share your luck and happiness with other people. And so success did not leave you!’
‘What is it for?’
‘Perhaps, in order for this moment to come — and so that you would have the thought: where should be directed my main efforts in this life?
‘There is the true happiness, which is called Nirvana, Liberation, or Enlightenment. This happi-ness consists in obtaining the Unity with the Divine Consciousness. Then, when you achieve this, your help to others will become wise.’
“’Lucky’ decided to test his luck on the Path to the Divine — and stayed with the Teacher.”
“And what happened to that man? Has he at-tained the Perfection?” — the guest asked Master.
“He studied — and became the real Teacher himself!
“He, Who has cognized the Highest Happiness, always seeks to give it to others!
“But this, unfortunately, does not happen of-ten. Usually — only illnesses and other misfortunes lead people to understanding how they should change their lives...”
* * *
At night — because of the excess food — both young men had stomachaches...
One of them said to the other:
“It is for shame to Master: could not He have guessed what would happen to us?!”
His friend answered:
“We ourselves are to blame... We should not have attacked food so greedily! But Master during lunch just said that everything should be respected in every way. And about food — he also spoke!”
“But he did not tell us that!”
“Why do you think that he did not want to warn us specifically?”
... The next morning they were pale and could not eat anything.
Master gave them a drink of decoction from medicinal plants.
He did not scold them, but said:
“It’s not enough to hear useful advice! But it is necessary to apply it in practice in your life!
“Do you know about the great Chinese Sage Lao Tse? He said: ‘Excessiveness in everything — brings trouble!’”
“No…”
“Then, I think, you should read something in our library.
“If you continue yesterday’s conversation about desires, then the most useful are the desires to know and act.”
Master asked one of the disciples to take the young men to the library. One of the rooms in the Master’s house was reserved for this. There on the shelves were stored in a special order books and manuscripts in different languages.
Seeing such a huge number of books, the young men were upset:
“We will not have enough life to read and un-derstand all this! And then — time to implement the Teachings in practice will not be at all!”
“You do not have to read everything. But there are some books that every man must know, if he or she wants to cognize the Truth. It is important to have knowledge about different religious directions and to study the best books that set forth the Teach-ings of God. And it is very useful that the Teachings were set out in different books — in different words.
“And still — it is necessary to know a little about the device of the human body: about its inter-nal organs, also about what diseases are and how they should be treated.
“Today you will have a very successful day for starting such training! Because of the frustration of digestion, you will not have enough strength to prac-tice meditation.”
“How do you know what happened to us?”
“It’s very easy to see from your pained appear-ance. And today I have prepared for you, at the re-quest of Master, a decoction, which is good and quick to help in such cases.
“But do not worry too much about what hap-pened: after all, the experience of mistakes teaches us just like the advice of other people. The main thing is to try to avoid repeating mistakes twice!”
One of them said to the other:
“It is for shame to Master: could not He have guessed what would happen to us?!”
His friend answered:
“We ourselves are to blame... We should not have attacked food so greedily! But Master during lunch just said that everything should be respected in every way. And about food — he also spoke!”
“But he did not tell us that!”
“Why do you think that he did not want to warn us specifically?”
... The next morning they were pale and could not eat anything.
Master gave them a drink of decoction from medicinal plants.
He did not scold them, but said:
“It’s not enough to hear useful advice! But it is necessary to apply it in practice in your life!
“Do you know about the great Chinese Sage Lao Tse? He said: ‘Excessiveness in everything — brings trouble!’”
“No…”
“Then, I think, you should read something in our library.
“If you continue yesterday’s conversation about desires, then the most useful are the desires to know and act.”
Master asked one of the disciples to take the young men to the library. One of the rooms in the Master’s house was reserved for this. There on the shelves were stored in a special order books and manuscripts in different languages.
Seeing such a huge number of books, the young men were upset:
“We will not have enough life to read and un-derstand all this! And then — time to implement the Teachings in practice will not be at all!”
“You do not have to read everything. But there are some books that every man must know, if he or she wants to cognize the Truth. It is important to have knowledge about different religious directions and to study the best books that set forth the Teach-ings of God. And it is very useful that the Teachings were set out in different books — in different words.
“And still — it is necessary to know a little about the device of the human body: about its inter-nal organs, also about what diseases are and how they should be treated.
“Today you will have a very successful day for starting such training! Because of the frustration of digestion, you will not have enough strength to prac-tice meditation.”
“How do you know what happened to us?”
“It’s very easy to see from your pained appear-ance. And today I have prepared for you, at the re-quest of Master, a decoction, which is good and quick to help in such cases.
“But do not worry too much about what hap-pened: after all, the experience of mistakes teaches us just like the advice of other people. The main thing is to try to avoid repeating mistakes twice!”
How to Choose Master — and Doubts
One day, Master invited the young men to go on a mission to a neighboring city to give his friend books and manuscripts.
“This walk will be very useful for you,” — Master said.
... When they were looking for the home of the Master’s friend, they asked the locals how to find it.
One man they met told them how to find that house.
Many people in those places considered the friend of their Master as one of the wise.
The man who showed them where to look for the house, also knew him, but did not share respect for the spiritual Masters.
He asked the young men such questions:
“Do you also decide to join the spiritual life? Naive! I want to warn you: you’re wasting time!
“Once, when I was young, I was indulging in such dreams... I dreamed of achieving the spiritual Perfection, I believed that I would comprehend the Higher...
“Who, in youth, did not burn with exalted desires and aspirations? Who was not overwhelmed by the dreams of the great ‘Straight Path’?
“It was with me too. I even found a mentor. We meditated year after year. It seemed that just a little more... — and the desired Enlightenment would be achieved... But alas...
“And time went by! Meditations have ceased to please us, and they have become a routine of everyday life in which nothing has changed day after day, year after year... Everything was the same as in the world: only — hard work, which, moreover, did not bring either progress, or satisfaction!
“But, with age, I grew wiser: I have realized that in my unattainable aspirations I almost wasted my whole life in vain!
“And that mentor and his disciples — up to this day — are searching for the ‘Higher’ all the time of their lives! They continue their monastic life in the hope of some ‘Enlightenment’, depriving themselves of pleasure and any entertainment!
“I realized that I was missing real life in empty dreams of the unreal and beyond...
“These tales of spirituality are only a consolation for those who have not been able to achieve anything in life! So they build illusions about the ‘spiritual Path’ and say that this is the meaning of life...”
“But what about God? How is love for God? Did your mentor not teach you this?” — the young men were surprised.
“It’s all just words!
“And who told you that people, who call themselves spiritual Masters, are right? They themselves? And look: how many are they — these ‘Masters’, each of which teaches that only he is right! And every one of them disagrees with the others, because they consider their own teachings to be absolutely true!
“And why have you, naive, decided that you should devote your lives for God? What for?
“Look: some preachers say that God Himself wants people to come closer to Him through worship and veneration, while others teach meditation and say that only in this way souls are perfecting, some others speak about cognition of God, others, on the contrary, say that God can not be cognized and people should only offer sacrifices to God and pray for His mercy... And there are even those who teach that you need only to believe that we are already perfect — and this will be namely Perfection!
“And which of them is right? Who knows what God wants from people — in reality? These teachers?... Or, maybe, God wants a very different thing: us to live here and just enjoy life?
“And do you believe in such ‘Masters’? Live with mine — and find out what really has a price!”
“And what about the Great Teachers Who have attained the Enlightenment?”
“That’s what they say — their so called achievements! And who told you that this is true? What can they — unfortunate ones — say when their whole lives are wasted? And those, who worship them, also make fairy tales about their miracles: because it is customary to worship something ‘holy’!
“Listen to my advice: live and enjoy, while you are young and healthy! Give up wasting time on nonsense and serving those who declare themselves ‘cognizant’!”
... The young men were confused... Doubts touched their minds...
Yes, their Master speaks beautiful and lofty words that seem fair and true. But how can we know, whether the Path that he talks about is true? What if they have found not a real Master? And what if all their efforts on the spiritual Path are not true and will not bring good results? And what if suddenly their Master himself is mistaken and will lead them to a deadlock?
“How to verify that we are not mistaken? How can we know that our Master knows the Path to the cognition of the Divine Consciousness? He does not demonstrate miracles that would prove His Divinity, but only speaks words that seem wise to us. We did not even listen to the other Masters and did not compare his words to what others teach...”
… So, immersed in doubts, they talked until they came to the right house.
* * *
A friend of their Master joyfully met the young men who were still in doubt and confusion.
He invited them to wash and rest after a long journey, and he himself began to prepare the meal.
When the host and his guests were seated at the table, the young men ventured to ask their questions.
“Tell us, did you study only from one Master or listened to the speeches of different mentors?” — they asked.
“Oh! I had to see a lot of them in this life! I tried to learn from different preachers!”
“And how did you choose the Master whom you believed?”
“I chose not the Master, but God,” — after a pause for a while, he answered.
“In my wanderings, I always observed people who worshiped God in different ways, performed rituals, practiced various methods of immersion in meditation...
“I looked at the crowds of admirers who caught every word of the mentor, admired him, and then heard of another guru — and fled to practice other methods to achieve Enlightenment, which supposedly would make them Perfect...
“I watched the faces, the light in the eyes of the meditators, the worshipers — and of those who taught them. I looked at how the words of the mentors and their students corresponded to how they live, say, keep silent, act in their lives.
“These observations taught me a lot: I have realized that the main Teacher for all is God! He is ready to help anyone who sincerely aspires for Him. And He helps in accordance with the sincerity of a particular person and his or her willingness to comprehend every new step of the Path.
“I was convinced that only heart love allows one to gradually develop the ability to feel the Guidance of God.
“It is God Who helps man, which has rushed to Him, to find that what corresponds to the readiness of the soul. God teaches us to doubt and choose, learn from our mistakes and failures, love and show our loyalty, follow worthy mentors and leave those who mix Truth and falsehood, or only make profit on their followers!
“For example, now you are full of doubts as to whether your Master is good. You want to hear from me the confirmation that you made the right choice, learning from Him, and not from the others.”
“Yes... And how did you know?”
“It’s not difficult — to understand other people.
“But my opinion will not make your choice right or wrong. Your choice is your decision based on your life experience! And, therefore, you should obtain namely this experience!
“Here — look: here is a variety of food in front of you. Now you will eat what you like, that is, what you choose. From this food, there will be energy for life — both bodies and souls. This food will become you.
“That’s the same — with spiritual food: it is transformed by the person who uses it. To one — it brings benefits aplenty, to others — less, and to some — it goes to the detriment. It depends on the choice of what we want to absorb from spiritual knowledge — and make our own knowledge. It depends also on the ability of each soul to realize the desired, and from diligence in mastering the received. Everyone chooses what seems to him suitable and desirable.
“Learn to think not lightly about the advice and teachings of others!
“And, including, do not take my words just for granted! Learn to distinguish between the good — and its opposite! Even your doubts will help in it!
“Do not follow even the most famous Master — just from imitating the crowd of his students!
“Gradually, gaining experience, each man learns to distinguish between useful — and harmful for directing the way of development that he or she has chosen...”
“You speak so wisely! Why do not you have students?”
“When my advice is useful to people, God leads them to me, just as he led you.
“But I do not consider myself to be someone who has the right to tell others — how to live. I have seen too much in my life of those who, by their violence and ‘compulsion to righteousness’, pushed people away from the Truth. And also, I saw a lot of those who self-confidently preach the truth and lie — mixed. The words about Truth are intertwined so closely with misunderstanding and with lie — that it is not easy to understand!
“One wise mentor suggested to spiritual seekers to be like ants who only can choose sugar from a mixture of sugar and sand.
“I myself follow that, what I feel with my heart to be the Truth, and I try to understand the guidance of God in everything. Over the years, I have learned this.
“I’ve seen a lot of mentors. It’s impossible to follow many of them at once. This is similar to the fact that it is not possible for a person to sail across the sea at once on several boats, even if they are sailing to the same place. Tinkering between the ways and trying one or another from the many practices — is so far only learning to distinguish.
“Anyone, who seeks the spiritual Master, should choose — as if choosing the captain, to whom this one is ready to trust in everything. A boat cannot make a successful journey, if the sailors do not follow the commands of the captain and are not obedient to his leadership!
“To choose that captain, who will lead the boat to the desired goal without getting lost on the way, without stranding, without crashing — it’s not easy. But in the team of such an ‘ark’ — it is easier to achieve the desired goal.
“It is also important to remember that Master, Who has reached the Goal, does not at all make His disciples Enlightened. He only indicates the methods of perfecting.
“It is only in the world, visible with the bodily eyes, — if a certain vessel has reached the opposite shore, then all, who have been on it, have arrived.
“In the spiritual world, things are different. Usually the great Master manages to ‘take with Him’ only a few disciples. And the rest receive help only on a certain part of their personal developmental path. But with the next birth in the bodies — they have more opportunities. They can then very successfully continue and complete their evolution, or even become themselves gradually Masters who help others.
“Personally I — am not ready to entrust my spiritual progress to another man. I myself build my ‘boat’... Perhaps someday, I will want to recruit my own team... But, for the time being, I’m not ready to take responsibility for the fates of other seekers.
“Here — you brought me new books of your Master, and this for me is a great joy! I will read them with pleasure, and they will give me an opportunity to explore and build my own Path to the Goal, to comprehend the Divine Consciousness, Which is Uniform, despite the differences in names and religious teachings. But I do not call anyone to follow me, to do the same as I do.”
“Have you ever regretted that — instead of worldly pleasures — you have chosen the life of a spiritual ascetic?”
“There are people, for whom, what you call worldly joys, is the apex of their dreams. Such people do not yet need to master in-depth meditations. It is appropriate for them to live according to the laws of kindness, listening to their conscience, rejoicing in everything beautiful in life, and striving to bring feasible help to surrounding people and other beings. It is better, if a person is just a baker who likes to bake bread, or a potter who enjoys his work — than an unfortunate imitator of those, who have dedicated their lives to the spiritual, serving God!
“If the monastic life does not bring joy and satisfaction in the comprehension of God, then the road that you have chosen is not yours, or you entered it prematurely!
“It is much more joyful for God to look at those who are happy from their feasible help to people and other beings in all goodness — than to those who fan their lives in fanatical sermons or bitter prayers!
“But those, who are already overcome by spiritual thirst, — they are striving for another! I myself have never regretted my choice. But this does not mean that you will not regret your choice too.
“Think for yourself: do you need God? Do you want to live for Him, not in a momentary rush, but all your life until the last breath? Do you want to master that, which you need for understanding and feeling Him always?
“If such knowledge is not dear to you, if souls do not burn with love for Him, — then you do not need to continue trying to learn it!”
“Oh no! We so like the practices that we learn! We really felt that there is a Living God — and it’s so cool! We want to cognize Him, to come near to Him!”
“Then why you have so many doubts?”
“It’s clear, we got infected with them, talking with one gentleman, when we were searching for your house. We were overwhelmed by doubts not about having to go through the spiritual Path, but about the fact that we are going correctly... We are still so inexperienced, we only recently started to learn!”
“I think I know who you are talking about. His story is very sad but not original. His self greatly grew and strengthened, he ceased to feel love and God’s Presence in his life. He did not want to see in himself those problems and vices that were intensifying in him! And so, he began to struggle, with all his strength, to prove to himself and others that everything around was wrong! And now, he is disappointed with everything in life and tries to find for himself at least some excuses and consolations. That’s why, he condemns everyone and tries to forget himself in momentary pleasures! Unhappy, in offense at the whole world, — he now preaches that there is no sense to work on the transformation of the soul!
“But also appreciate how much good the meeting with this person and his speeches have brought you! You were thinking — due to it — about many so important things!
“So everything that comes into your lives, according to the Will of God, you can use for your progress, purification, for the cognition of the vast world in its entirety and other souls developing in it!”
He invited them to wash and rest after a long journey, and he himself began to prepare the meal.
When the host and his guests were seated at the table, the young men ventured to ask their questions.
“Tell us, did you study only from one Master or listened to the speeches of different mentors?” — they asked.
“Oh! I had to see a lot of them in this life! I tried to learn from different preachers!”
“And how did you choose the Master whom you believed?”
“I chose not the Master, but God,” — after a pause for a while, he answered.
“In my wanderings, I always observed people who worshiped God in different ways, performed rituals, practiced various methods of immersion in meditation...
“I looked at the crowds of admirers who caught every word of the mentor, admired him, and then heard of another guru — and fled to practice other methods to achieve Enlightenment, which supposedly would make them Perfect...
“I watched the faces, the light in the eyes of the meditators, the worshipers — and of those who taught them. I looked at how the words of the mentors and their students corresponded to how they live, say, keep silent, act in their lives.
“These observations taught me a lot: I have realized that the main Teacher for all is God! He is ready to help anyone who sincerely aspires for Him. And He helps in accordance with the sincerity of a particular person and his or her willingness to comprehend every new step of the Path.
“I was convinced that only heart love allows one to gradually develop the ability to feel the Guidance of God.
“It is God Who helps man, which has rushed to Him, to find that what corresponds to the readiness of the soul. God teaches us to doubt and choose, learn from our mistakes and failures, love and show our loyalty, follow worthy mentors and leave those who mix Truth and falsehood, or only make profit on their followers!
“For example, now you are full of doubts as to whether your Master is good. You want to hear from me the confirmation that you made the right choice, learning from Him, and not from the others.”
“Yes... And how did you know?”
“It’s not difficult — to understand other people.
“But my opinion will not make your choice right or wrong. Your choice is your decision based on your life experience! And, therefore, you should obtain namely this experience!
“Here — look: here is a variety of food in front of you. Now you will eat what you like, that is, what you choose. From this food, there will be energy for life — both bodies and souls. This food will become you.
“That’s the same — with spiritual food: it is transformed by the person who uses it. To one — it brings benefits aplenty, to others — less, and to some — it goes to the detriment. It depends on the choice of what we want to absorb from spiritual knowledge — and make our own knowledge. It depends also on the ability of each soul to realize the desired, and from diligence in mastering the received. Everyone chooses what seems to him suitable and desirable.
“Learn to think not lightly about the advice and teachings of others!
“And, including, do not take my words just for granted! Learn to distinguish between the good — and its opposite! Even your doubts will help in it!
“Do not follow even the most famous Master — just from imitating the crowd of his students!
“Gradually, gaining experience, each man learns to distinguish between useful — and harmful for directing the way of development that he or she has chosen...”
“You speak so wisely! Why do not you have students?”
“When my advice is useful to people, God leads them to me, just as he led you.
“But I do not consider myself to be someone who has the right to tell others — how to live. I have seen too much in my life of those who, by their violence and ‘compulsion to righteousness’, pushed people away from the Truth. And also, I saw a lot of those who self-confidently preach the truth and lie — mixed. The words about Truth are intertwined so closely with misunderstanding and with lie — that it is not easy to understand!
“One wise mentor suggested to spiritual seekers to be like ants who only can choose sugar from a mixture of sugar and sand.
“I myself follow that, what I feel with my heart to be the Truth, and I try to understand the guidance of God in everything. Over the years, I have learned this.
“I’ve seen a lot of mentors. It’s impossible to follow many of them at once. This is similar to the fact that it is not possible for a person to sail across the sea at once on several boats, even if they are sailing to the same place. Tinkering between the ways and trying one or another from the many practices — is so far only learning to distinguish.
“Anyone, who seeks the spiritual Master, should choose — as if choosing the captain, to whom this one is ready to trust in everything. A boat cannot make a successful journey, if the sailors do not follow the commands of the captain and are not obedient to his leadership!
“To choose that captain, who will lead the boat to the desired goal without getting lost on the way, without stranding, without crashing — it’s not easy. But in the team of such an ‘ark’ — it is easier to achieve the desired goal.
“It is also important to remember that Master, Who has reached the Goal, does not at all make His disciples Enlightened. He only indicates the methods of perfecting.
“It is only in the world, visible with the bodily eyes, — if a certain vessel has reached the opposite shore, then all, who have been on it, have arrived.
“In the spiritual world, things are different. Usually the great Master manages to ‘take with Him’ only a few disciples. And the rest receive help only on a certain part of their personal developmental path. But with the next birth in the bodies — they have more opportunities. They can then very successfully continue and complete their evolution, or even become themselves gradually Masters who help others.
“Personally I — am not ready to entrust my spiritual progress to another man. I myself build my ‘boat’... Perhaps someday, I will want to recruit my own team... But, for the time being, I’m not ready to take responsibility for the fates of other seekers.
“Here — you brought me new books of your Master, and this for me is a great joy! I will read them with pleasure, and they will give me an opportunity to explore and build my own Path to the Goal, to comprehend the Divine Consciousness, Which is Uniform, despite the differences in names and religious teachings. But I do not call anyone to follow me, to do the same as I do.”
“Have you ever regretted that — instead of worldly pleasures — you have chosen the life of a spiritual ascetic?”
“There are people, for whom, what you call worldly joys, is the apex of their dreams. Such people do not yet need to master in-depth meditations. It is appropriate for them to live according to the laws of kindness, listening to their conscience, rejoicing in everything beautiful in life, and striving to bring feasible help to surrounding people and other beings. It is better, if a person is just a baker who likes to bake bread, or a potter who enjoys his work — than an unfortunate imitator of those, who have dedicated their lives to the spiritual, serving God!
“If the monastic life does not bring joy and satisfaction in the comprehension of God, then the road that you have chosen is not yours, or you entered it prematurely!
“It is much more joyful for God to look at those who are happy from their feasible help to people and other beings in all goodness — than to those who fan their lives in fanatical sermons or bitter prayers!
“But those, who are already overcome by spiritual thirst, — they are striving for another! I myself have never regretted my choice. But this does not mean that you will not regret your choice too.
“Think for yourself: do you need God? Do you want to live for Him, not in a momentary rush, but all your life until the last breath? Do you want to master that, which you need for understanding and feeling Him always?
“If such knowledge is not dear to you, if souls do not burn with love for Him, — then you do not need to continue trying to learn it!”
“Oh no! We so like the practices that we learn! We really felt that there is a Living God — and it’s so cool! We want to cognize Him, to come near to Him!”
“Then why you have so many doubts?”
“It’s clear, we got infected with them, talking with one gentleman, when we were searching for your house. We were overwhelmed by doubts not about having to go through the spiritual Path, but about the fact that we are going correctly... We are still so inexperienced, we only recently started to learn!”
“I think I know who you are talking about. His story is very sad but not original. His self greatly grew and strengthened, he ceased to feel love and God’s Presence in his life. He did not want to see in himself those problems and vices that were intensifying in him! And so, he began to struggle, with all his strength, to prove to himself and others that everything around was wrong! And now, he is disappointed with everything in life and tries to find for himself at least some excuses and consolations. That’s why, he condemns everyone and tries to forget himself in momentary pleasures! Unhappy, in offense at the whole world, — he now preaches that there is no sense to work on the transformation of the soul!
“But also appreciate how much good the meeting with this person and his speeches have brought you! You were thinking — due to it — about many so important things!
“So everything that comes into your lives, according to the Will of God, you can use for your progress, purification, for the cognition of the vast world in its entirety and other souls developing in it!”
* * *
The young men returned to the house of their Master joyfully after a conversation with His friend.
One of them said:
“Look: we have received confirmation from God in the fidelity of our choice!
“And our Master — He foresaw all this! Do you remember, what He told us? He already knew in advance how useful this journey will be to us! Do you remember how He said that those, who have attained Enlightenment, do not necessarily have to demonstrate their Divine Abilities to other people? And the older disciples of our Master more than once mysteriously smiled when they talked about His skills! Now I understand that He does not demonstrate His Divine Abilities to attract disciples and bring up faith in them! He teaches us all — the love for God and the ability to perceive the Divine Guidance. He teaches us to think on our own, not blindly believe Him or anyone else.”
“Yes, how wonderful it is! And this friend of Him, whom we were visiting, after all is studying from our Master, although he does not live with Him! If such man, already so wise, looks for advice and instructions from God through the books of our Master, then how lucky we are that we are close to Him and can learn from Him every day!
One of them said:
“Look: we have received confirmation from God in the fidelity of our choice!
“And our Master — He foresaw all this! Do you remember, what He told us? He already knew in advance how useful this journey will be to us! Do you remember how He said that those, who have attained Enlightenment, do not necessarily have to demonstrate their Divine Abilities to other people? And the older disciples of our Master more than once mysteriously smiled when they talked about His skills! Now I understand that He does not demonstrate His Divine Abilities to attract disciples and bring up faith in them! He teaches us all — the love for God and the ability to perceive the Divine Guidance. He teaches us to think on our own, not blindly believe Him or anyone else.”
“Yes, how wonderful it is! And this friend of Him, whom we were visiting, after all is studying from our Master, although he does not live with Him! If such man, already so wise, looks for advice and instructions from God through the books of our Master, then how lucky we are that we are close to Him and can learn from Him every day!
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