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高中英语必须修读五Unìt05B.ppt 48页
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高中英语必须修读五Unìt05B
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Discovering useful words and expressions
When do you need to use your knowledge about _______? When somebody suddenly ______ or has an accident.
What is the ____? It is an organ which acts as a ______against disease, poisons and the sun’s harmful ____.
Why are the functions of the skin described as ________? It ke it prevents your body from losing too much water and provides you with your _____ of touch.
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What can hurt _____ of the skin? Hot ______ from pans on the stove, electric shocks, radiation, fire and the sun.
What is it ____ to do if you have third degree burns? Go to the hospital.
What are the _________ of first degree burns? They are dry, red and mildly _______.
Emma had a mild accident. She burned her ____ when she knocked some hot liquid over herself. At first the pain was __________ but fortunately Luke knew what to do. He immediately provided some ________ treatment using some cloths from the _______. He wetted them, ___________ the cold water and then placed them over her ankle. He did this _________________ until the pain disappeared. Then he dried the ankle gently to prevent ______ from forming. Finally he took a pair of _______ and cut a _______ to the right length. Then he tied it tightly so that it would stay ________. Emma was very grateful to Luke for what he had done for her.
unbearable
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over and over again
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2《And　Now，　And　Here》_牛宝宝文章网
《And　Now，　And　Here》正文 Chapter
&&&&SeeingLifeasaDream&&&&29October1969aminMeditationCampatDwarka,Gujarat,IndiaAfewquestionshavebeenaskedaboutlastnightstalk.&&&&Question1&&&&ONEFRIENDHASASKED:ONECANDIEFULLYCONSCIOUS,BUTHOWCANONEBEINFULLCONSCIOUSNESSATBIRTH?&&&&Actually,deathandbirtharenottwoevents,theyaretwoendsofthesamephenomenon——justliketwosidesofthesamecoin.&&&&Ifamancanhaveonesideofacoininhishand,theothersidewillbeinhishandautomatically.&&&&Itsnotpossibletohaveonesideofacoininmyhandandthenwonderhowtogettheotherside——theothersidebecomesavailableautomatically.&&&&Deathandbirtharetwosidesofthesamephenomenon.&&&&Ifdeathoccursinaconsciousstate,thenbirthinevitablytakesplaceinaconsciousstate.&&&&Ifdeathoccursinanunconsciousstate,thenbirthhappensinastateofunconsciousnesstoo.&&&&Ifapersondiesfullyconsciousatthetimeofhisdeath,hewillbefilledwithconsciousnessatthemomentofhisnextbirthalso.&&&&Sincewealldieinastateofunconsciousnessandareborninastateofunconsciousness,weremembernothingofourpastlives.&&&&However,thememoryofourpastlivesalwaysremainspresentinsomecornerofourminds,andthismemorycanberevivedifwesodesire.&&&&Withbirthwecannwhatsoeverwecandoispossibleonlyinrelationtodeath.&&&&Nothinwhatsoeveristobedonemustbedonebeforedeath.&&&&Apersondyinginanunconsciousstatecannotdoanythinguntilheisbornagain——hewillcontinuetoremainunconscious.&&&&Hence,ifyoudiedbeforeinanunconsciousstate,youwillhavetobebornagaininanunconsciousstate.&&&&Whatsoeveristobedonemustbedonebeforedeath,becausewehavelotsofopportunitiesbeforedeath,theopportunityofawholelifetime.&&&&Withthisopportunityaneffortcanbemadetowardsawakening.&&&&So,itwillbeagreatmistakeifsomeonekeepswaitinguntilthemomentofdeathtoawaken.&&&&Youcantawakenatthetimeofdeath.&&&&Thesadhana,thejourneytowardsawakening,willhavetoapreparationwillhavetobemadeforit.&&&&Withoutpreparationoneissuretoremainunconsciousindeath.&&&&Although,inaway,thisunconsciousstateisforyourowngoodifyouarenotyetreadytobeborninaconsciousstate.&&&&Around1915,therulerofKashihadanabdominaloperation.&&&&Thiswasthefirstsuchoperationeverperformedintheworldwithouttheuseofanesthesia.&&&&TherewerethreeBritishphysicianswhorefusedtoperformtheoperationwithoutgivinganesthesia,sayingitwasimpossibletohaveamansstomachopenforone-and-a-halftotwohoursduringamajoroperationwithoutmakingthepatientunconscious.&&&&Itwasdangerous——thedangerwasthatthepatientmightscream,move,jumporfallbecausanythingmighthappen.&&&&Hencethedoctorswerenotready.&&&&Buttherulermaintainedtherewasnocauseforconcernaslongasheremainedinmeditationandsaidhecouldeasilyremaininmeditationforone-and-a-halftotwohours.&&&&Hewasnotwillinhesaidhewishedtobeoperateduponinhisconsciousstate.&&&&Butthephytheybelieveditwasdangeroustohavesomeonegothroughsuchpaininaconsciousstate.&&&&However,seeingnootheralternative,thephysiciansfirstaskedhim,asanexperiment,togointomeditation.&&&&Thentheymadeacutinhishand——therewasnotevenatremor.&&&&Onlytwohourslaterdidhecomhedidnotfeelanythingfortwohours.&&&&Subsequently,theoperationwasperformed.&&&&Thatwasthefirstoperationtobeperformedintheworldwherephysiciansworkedonapatientsopenstomachforanhour-and-a-halfwithoutgivinganesthetic.&&&&Andtherulerremainedfullyconsciousthroughouttheoperation.&&&&Deepmeditationisrequiredtobeinsuchawareness.&&&&Themeditationhastobesodeepastomakeonetotallyaware,withoutaniotaofdoubt,thattheselfandthebodyareseparate.&&&&Eventheslightestidentificationwiththebodycanbedangerous.&&&&Deathisthebiggestsurgicaloperationthereis.&&&&Nophysicianhaseverperformedanoperationasbigasthis——becauseindeaththereisamechanismtotransplanttheentirevitalenergy,theprana,fromonephysicalbodyintoanotherphysicalbody.&&&&Noonehaseverperformedsuchaphenomenaloperation,norcaniteverbedone.&&&&Wemayseveronepartofthebodyoranother,ortransplantonepartoranother,butinthecaseofdeath,theentirevitalenergyhastobetakenfromonebodyandenteredintoanother.&&&&Naturehaskindlyseentoitthatwebecomefullyunconsciousattheoccurrenceofthisphenomenon.&&&&Iwemightnotbeabletobearthatmuchpain.&&&&Itispossiblethatthereasonwhywebecomeunconsciousisbecausethepainofdeathissounbearable.&&&&Itisinourowninterestthanaturedoesnotallowustorememberpassingthroughdeath.&&&&Ineverylifewerepeatalmostthesamemistakeswehaverepeatedinourpastlives.&&&&Ifwecouldonlyrecallwhatwedidinourpastlives,wemightnotfallintothesameditchesagain.&&&&Andifwecouldonlyrememberwhatwedidthroughoutourpreviouslives,wecouldnolongerremainthesameaswearenow.&&&&Itisimpossiblewecouldremainthesame,becausetimeandtimeagainwehaveamassedwealthandeverytimedeathhasmadeallthatwealthmeaningless.&&&&Ifwecouldrecallthis,wemightnotcarry,anylonger,thesamecrazeformoneywithinusaswedidbefore.&&&&Wehavefalleninloveathousandtimes,andtimeandtimeagainithasultimatelyproventobemeaningless.&&&&Ifwecouldrecallthis,ourcrazeforfallinginlovewithothersandforhavingothersfallinlovewithuswoulddisappear.&&&&Thousandsuponthousandsoftimeswehavebeenambitious,wehaveattainedsuccess,highposition,andintheendallofithasturnedouttobeuseless,allofithasturnedtodust.&&&&Ifwecouldrecallthis,perhapsourambitionwouldloseitssteam,andthenwewouldnotremainthesamepeoplewearenow.&&&&Sincewedonotrememberourpastlives,wekeepmovinginalmostthesamecircle.&&&&Mandoesnotrealizethathehasgonethroughthesamecirclemanytimesbefore,andthatheisgoingthroughitonceagaininthesamehopehecarriedwithhimsooftenbefore.&&&&Thendeathruinsallhopes,andonceagainthecyclebegins.&&&&Manmovesincircleslikeanoxonawater-wheel.&&&&Onecansaveoneselffromthisharm,butitrequiresgreatawarenessandcontinuousexperimentation.&&&&Onecannotstartwaitingfordeathallatonce,becauseonecannotbecomesuddenlyawareduringsuchabigoperation,undersuchagreattrauma.&&&&Wewillhavetoexperimentslowly.&&&&Wewillhavetoexperimentslowlywithsmallmiseriestoseehowwecanbeawarewhilegoingthroughthem.&&&&Forexample,youhaveaheadache.&&&&Atoneandthesametimeyoubecomeawareandbegintofeelthatyouhaveaheadache,notthattheheadisinpain.&&&&Soonewillhavetoexperimentonthelittleheadacheandlearntofeelthat,&ThepainisintheheadandIamawareofit.&&&&&&&&&WhenSwamiRamwasinAmericapeoplehadgreatdifficultyfollowinghiminthebeginning.&&&&WhenthepresidentofAmericapaidhimavisit,hewaspuzzledtoo.&&&&Heasked,&Whatlanguageisthis?&——becauseRamusedtospeakinthethirdperson.&&&&Hewouldnotsay,&Iamhungry,&hewouldsay,&Ramishungry.&&&&&Hewouldnotsay,&Ihaveaheadache,&hewouldsay,&Ramhasasevereheadache.&&&&&&&&&Inthebeginningpeoplehadgreatdifficultyfollowinghim.&&&&Forexample,heoncesaid,&LastnightRamwasfreezing.&&&&&Whenaskedwhohewasreferringto,herepliedthathewasreferringtoRam.&&&&Whenhewasasked,&WhichRam?&hesaid,pointingtohimself,&ThisRam——thepoorguywasfreezingcoldlastnight.&&&&Wekeptlaughingandasked,HowsthecoldRam?&&&&&Hewouldsay,&Ramwaswalkingonthestreetandsomepeoplebeganswearingathim.&&&&Wehadabellylaughandsaid,Howdoyouliketheswearing,Ram?Ifyouseekhonor,youareboundtomeetwithinsult.&&&&&Whenpeopleasked,&Whoareyoutalkingabout,whichRam?&hewouldpointtohimself.&&&&Youwillhavetostartexperimentingwithminorkindsofmiseries.&&&&Youencounttheyarepresenteveryday——notonlymiseries,youwillhavetoincludehappinessintheexperimentalso,becauseitismoredifficulttobeawareinhappinessthanitistobeinmisery.&&&&Itisnotsodifficulttoexperiencethatyourheadandthepaininitaretwoseparatethings,butitismoredifficulttoexperiencethat,&Thebodyisseparateandthejoyofbeinghealthyisseparatefrommetoo——Iamnoteventhat.&&&&&Itisdifficulttomaintainthisdistancewhenwearehappybecauseinhappinessweliketobeclosetoit.&&&&Whileinmisery,weobviouslywanttofeelseparate,awayfromit.&&&&Shoulditbecomecertainthatthepainisseparatefromus,wewantittostaythatwaysowecanbefreeofit.&&&&Youwillhavetoexperimentonhowtoremainawareinmiseryaswellasinhappiness.&&&&Onewhocarriesoutsuchexperimentsoftenbringsmiseryuponhimself,ofhisownfreewill,inordertoexperienceit.&&&&Thisisbasicallythesecretofallasceticism:itisanexperimenttoundergovoluntarypain.&&&&Forexample,amanisonafast.&&&&Byremaininghungryheistryingtofindoutwhateffecthungerhasonhisconsciousness.&&&&Ordinarily,apersonwhoisonafasthasnttheslightestnotionofwhatheisdoing——heonlyknowsthatheishungryandlooksforwardtohavinghismealthenextday.&&&&Thefundamentalpurposeoffastingistoexperiencethat,&Hungeristhere,butitisfarawayfromme.&&&&Thebodyishungry,Iamnot.&&&&&Sobyinducinghungervoluntarily,oneistryingtoknow,fromwithin,ifhungeristhere.&&&&Ramishungry——Iamnothungry.&&&&Iknowhungeristhere,andthishastobecomeacontinuousknowinguntilIreachapointwhereadistanceoccursbetweenmeandthehunger——whereInolongerremainhungry——eveninhungerInolongerremainhungry.&&&&OnlythebodystayshungryandIknowit.&&&&Isimplyremainaknower.&&&&Thenthemeaningoffastinthenitdoesnotmeanmerelyremaininghungry.&&&&Normally,onewhogoesonafastkeepsrepeatingtwenty-fourhoursadaythatheishungry,thathehasnoteatenanyfoodthatday.&&&&Hismindcontinuestofantasizeaboutthefoodhewilleatthenextdayandplansforit.&&&&Thiskindoffastingismeaningless.&&&&Thenitismerelyabstainingfromfood.&&&&Thedistinctionbetweenabstainingfromfoodandfasting,upvasa,isthis:fastingmeansresidingcloserandcloser.&&&&Closertowhat?Itmeanscomingclosertotheselfbycreatingadistancefromthebody.&&&&Thewordupvasadoesnotimplygoingwithoutfood.&&&&Upvasameansresidingcloserandcloser.&&&&Closertowhat?Itmeansclosertotheself,residingclosertotheselfandfurtherawayfromthebody.&&&&Thenitisalsopossiblethatamanmayeatandyetremaininthestateoffasting.&&&&If,whileeating,heknowsfromwithinthateatingistakingplaceelsewhereandtheconsciousnessistotallyseparatefromtheact,thenitisupvasa.&&&&Anditisalsopossiblethatamanmaynotreallybefastingeventhoughhemayhforhemaybetooconsciousofbeinghungry,thatheisdyingofhunger.&&&&Upvasaisapsychologicalawarenessoftheseparationoftheselfandthephysicalstateofhunger.&&&&Otherpainsofasimilartypecanalsobecreatedvoluntarily,butcreatingsuchvoluntarypainisaverydeepexperiment.&&&&Amanmaylieonthornsjusttoexperiencethatthethornsonlyprickthebodyandnothisself.&&&&Thusamiserycanbeinvitedinordertoexperiencethedisassociationofconsciousnessfromthephysicalplane.&&&&Buttherearealreadyenoughuninvitedmiseriesintheworld——noneedtoinviteanymore.&&&&Alreadymuchmiseryisavailable——oneshouldstartexperimentingwithit.&&&&Miseriescomeuninvitedanyway.&&&&If,duringtheuninvitedmisery,onecanmaintaintheawarenessthat&Iamseparatefrommysuffering&thenthesufferingbecomesasadhana,aspiritualdiscipline.&&&&Onewillhavetocontinuethissadhanaevenwithhappinesswhichhascomeonitsown.&&&&Insuffering,itispossiblewemaysucceedindeceivingourselvesbecauseonewouldliketobelievethat&Iamnotpain.&&&&&Butwhenitcomestohappiness,amanwantstoidentifyhimselfwithitbecausehealreadybelievesthat&Iamhappy.&&&&&Hencethesadhanaisevenmoredifficultwithhappiness.&&&&Nothing,infact,ismorepainfulthanfeelingthatweareseparatefromourhappiness.&&&&Actually,amanwantstodrownhimselfcompletelyinhappinessandforgetthatheisseparatefromit.&&&&Hmiserydisconnectsusandsetsusapartfromtheself.&&&&Somehow,wecometobelievethatouridentificationwithsufferingisonlybecausewehavenootherchoice,butwewelcomehappinesswithourwholebeing.&&&&Beawareinthepbeawareinthehappinesswhichcomesyourway——andoccasionally,justasanexperiment,beawareininvitedpainalso,becauseinit,thingsarealittledifferent.&&&&Wecanneverfullyidentifyourselveswithanythingweinviteuponourselves.&&&&Theveryknowledgethatitisaninvitedthingcreatesthedistance.&&&&Theguestwhocomestoyourhomedoesnotbelongthere——heisaguest.&&&&Similarly,whenweinvitesufferingasourguest,itisalreadysomethingseparatefromus.&&&&Whilewalkingbarefootathorngetsintoyourfoot.&&&&Thisisanaccidentanditspainwillbeoverwhelming.&&&&Thisunfortunateaccidentisdifferentfromwhenyoupurposelytakeathornandpressitagainstyourfoot——knowingeverymomentthatyouarepiercingthefootwiththethornandwatchingthepain.&&&&Iamnotaskingyoutogoaheasitis,thereisenoughsufferingalready——whatImeanis:firstbealertingoingthroughbothsthenlater,oneday,invitesomemiseryandseehowfarawayfromityoucansetyourconsciousness.&&&&Remember,theexperimentofinvitingmiseryisofgreatsignificance,becauseeveryonewantstoinvitehappinessbutnoonewantstoinvitemisery.&&&&Andtheinterestingthingisthatthemiserywedontwantcomesonitsown,andthehappinessweseeknevercomes.&&&&Evenwhenitcomesbychance,itremainsoutsideourdoor.&&&&Thehappinesswebeckontonevercomes,whilethehappinessweneveraskforwalksrightin.&&&&Whenapersongathersenoughstrengthtoinvitemisery,itmeansheissohappythathecaninvitesufferingnow.&&&&Heissoblissfulthatnowthereisnodifficultyforhimtoinvitesuffering.&&&&Nowmiserycanbeaskedtocomeandstay.&&&&Butthisisaverydeepexperiment.&&&&Untilwearepreparedtoundertakesuchanexperiment,wemusttrytobecomeawareofwhateversufferingcomesourwayonitsown.&&&&Ifwegoonbecomingmoreandmoreawareeachtimewecomeacrossmisery,wewillgatherenoughcapabilitytoremainconsciousevenwhendeatharrives.&&&&Thennaturewillallowustostayawakeindeathtoo.&&&&Nature,aswell,willfigurethatifthemancanstayconsciousinpain,hecanalsoremainconsciousindeath.&&&&Noonecanstayconsciousindeathallofasudden,withouthavinghadapreviousexperienceofthekind.&&&&AmannamedP.&&&&D.&&&&Ouspenskydiedsomeyearsago.&&&&HewasagreatmathematicianfromRussia.&&&&Heistheonlypersoninthiscenturywhohasdonesuchextensiveexperimentsinrelationtodeath.&&&&Threemonthsbeforehisdeath,hebecameveryill.&&&&Thephysiciansadvisedhimtostayinbed,butinspiteofthis,hemadesuchanincredibleeffortitisbeyondimagination.&&&&Hehetraveled,walked,ran,wasalwaysonthemove.&&&&Thetheysaidheneededcompleterest.&&&&Ouspenskycalledallhisclosefriendsnearhimbutdidnotsayanythingtothem.&&&&Thefriendswhostayedwithhimforthreemonths,untilhisdeath,havesaidthatforthefirsttimetheysaw,beforetheireyes,amanacceptingdeathinaconsciousstate.&&&&Theyaskedhimwhydidhenotfollowthephysiciansadvice.&&&&Ouspenskyreplied,&Iwanttoexperienceallkindsofpain,lestthepainofdeathbesogreatthatImightbecomeunconscious.&&&&IwanttogothroughthatcancreatesuchastaminainmethatIcanbetotallyconsciouswhendeathcomes.&&&&&Soforthreemonthshemadeanexemplaryefforttogothroughallkindsofpain.&&&&Hisfriendshavewrittenthatthosewhowerefitandheartywouldgettired,butnotOuspensky.&&&&Thephysiciansinsistedthathemusthavecompleterest,otherwiseitwouldcausehimgreatharm——buttonoavail.&&&&Thenighthedied,Ouspenskykeptwalkingbackandforthinhisroom.&&&&Thephysicianswhoexaminedhimdeclaredthathislegshadnomorestrengthlefttowalk——andyethekeptwalkingthewholenight.&&&&Hesaid,&Iwanttodiewalking,lestImightdiesittingandbecomeunconscious,orImightdiesleepingandbecomeunconscious.&&&&&Ashewalked,hetoldhisfriends,&Justalittlebitlonger——tenmorestepsandallwillbeover.&&&&Iamsinking,butIshallkeepwalkinguntilIhavetakenthelaststep.&&&&Iwanttokeepondoingsomethinguntiltheveryend,otherwisedeathmaycatchmeunawares.&&&&Imayrelaxandgotosleep——Idontwantthistohappenatthemomentofdeath.&&&&&&&&&Ouspenskydiedwhiletakinghislaststep.&&&&Veryfewpeopleonthisearthhavediedwalkinglikethis.&&&&Hthatis,hefellonlywhenhisdeathoccurred.&&&&Takinghislaststep,hesaid,&Tthisismylaststep.&&&&NowIamabouttofall.&&&&ButbeforedepartingletmetellyouIdroppedmybodylongago.&&&&Youwillseemybodybeingreleasednow,butIhavebeenseeingforalongtimenowthatthebodyhasdroppedandstillIexist.&&&&Thelinkswiththebodyhaveallbeenbrokenandyet,inside,Istillexist.&&&&Nowonlythebodywillfall——thereisnowayformetofalldown.&&&&&&&&&Atthetimeofhisdeath,hisfriendssawakindoflightinhiseyes.&&&&Apeace,joyandradiancewerevisiblewhichshinethroughwhenoneisstandingonthethresholdoftheworldbeyond.&&&&Butoneneedstomakepreparationsforthis,acontinuouspreparation.&&&&Ifapersonprepareshimselffully,thendeathbecomesawonderfulexperience.&&&&Thereisnootherphenomenonmorevaluablethanthis,becausewhatisrevealedatthetimeofdeathcanneverbeknownotherwise.&&&&Thendeathlookslikeafriend,foronlyattheoccurrenceofdeathcanweexperiencethatwearealivingorganism——notbeforethat.&&&&Remember,thedarkerthenight,thebrighterthestars.&&&&Theflashoflightningstandsoutlikeasilverstrand,thedarkerthecloudsare.&&&&Similarly,when,initsfullform,deathsurroundsusfromallsides,atthatmomenttheverycenteroflifemanifestsinallitsglory——neverbeforethat.&&&&Deathsurroundsuslikedarkness,andinthemiddle,thatverycenteroflife——callitatman,thesoul,shithesurroundingdarknessmakesitluminous.&&&&Butatthatmomentwebecomeunconscious.&&&&Attheverymomentofdeath,whichcouldotherwisebecomethemomenttoknowourbeing,webecomeunconscious.&&&&Henceonewillhavetomakepreparationstowardsraisingonesconsciousness.&&&&Meditationisthatpreparation.&&&&Meditationisanexperimentinhowoneattainstoagradual,voluntarydeath.&&&&Itisanexperimentinhowonemoveswithinandthenleavesthebody.&&&&Ifonemeditatesthroughouthislife,hewillattaintototalmeditationatthemomentofdeath.&&&&Whendeathhappensinfullconsciousness,thesoulofthepersontakesitsnextbirthinfullconsciousness.&&&&Thentheveryfirstdayofhisnewlifeisnotadayofignorancebutoffullknowledge.&&&&Eveninthemotherswombheremainsfullyconscious.&&&&Onlyonemorebirthispossibleforonewhohasdiedinaconsciousstate.&&&&Thereisnootherbirthpossibleforhimafterthat——becauseonewhohasexperiencedwhatbirthis,whatdeathisandwhatlifeis,attainsliberation.&&&&Onewhohastakenbirthinawareness,wehavecalledhimavatara,tirthankara,Buddha,Jesus,Krishna.&&&&Andthethingthatdistinguishesthemfromtherestofusisawareness.&&&&Theyareawakenedandweareasleep.&&&&Havingtakenconsciousbirth,thisbecomestheirfinaljourneyonearth.&&&&Theyhavesomethingwedonthave,which,painstakingly,theycontinuetobringtous.&&&&Thedifferencebetweentheawakenedonesandusissimplythis:theirpreviousdeathandthebirththereafterhappenedinastateofawareness——hencetheylivetheirentirelifeinawareness.&&&&PeopleinTibetdoalittleexperimentcalledbardo.&&&&Itisaveryvaluableexperiment,carriedoutonlyatthetimeofdeath.&&&&Whensomeoneisabouttodie,peoplewhoknowgatheraroundhimandmakehimdoBardo.&&&&ButonlyhewhohasmeditatedinhislifecanbemadetogothroughBardo——nototherwise.&&&&IntheexperimentofBardo,assoonasapersondies,instructionsaregivenfromtheoutsidethatheshouldremainfullyawake.&&&&Heistoldtokeepwatchingwhateverfollowsnext,becauseinthatstate,manytimesthingshappenwhichthedyingpersoncanneverunderstand.&&&&Newphenomenaarenotsoeasytofollowrightaway.&&&&Ifapersoncanstayconsciousafterdeath,forawhilehewillnotknowthatheisdead.&&&&Whenpeoplecarryhisdeadbodyandstartburningitatthecremationgroundonlythenwillhecometoknowforcertainthatheisdead——becausenothingactuallydiesinside,justadistanceiscreated.&&&&Inlife,thisdistancehasneverbeenexperiencedbefore.&&&&Theexperienceissonovelitcannotbegraspedthroughconventionaldefinition.&&&&Thepersonmerelyfeelsthatsomethinghasseparated.&&&&Butsomethinghasdied,andthatheonlyunderstandswhenpeopleallaroundhimstartweepingandcrying,fallingoverhisbodyingrief,gettingreadytocarrythebodyawayforcremation.&&&&Thereisareasonwhythebodyisbroughtforcremationsosoon.&&&&Thereasonforburningorcrematingthebodyassoonaspossibleistoassurethesoulthatthebodyisdead,thatitisburnedtoashes.&&&&Butthisamancanknowonlyifamandyinginanunconsciousstatecannotknowthis.&&&&SoinorderforamantoseehisbodyburninginBardo,heisprompted,&Takeagoodlookatyourburningbody.&&&&Dontrunormoveawayinhaste.&&&&Whenpeoplebringyourbodyforcremation,makesureyouaccompanythemandbepresentthere.&&&&Watchyourbodybeingcrematedwithperfectattention,sothatnexttimeyoudonotgetattachedtothephysicalbody.&&&&&&&&&Onceyouseesomethingburningtoashes,yourattachmentforitdisappears.&&&&Otherswill,ofcourse,seeyourbodybeingcremated,butifyoualsoseeit,youwillloseallyourattachmentforit.&&&&Normally,inninehundredandninety-ninecasesoutofathousand,themanisunconschehasnoknowledgeofit.&&&&Ontheoneoccasionwhenheisconscious,hemovesawayfromwaheescapesfromthecremationground.&&&&SoinBardoheistold,&Look,dontmissthisopportunity.&&&&Watchyjustwatchitonceandforall.&&&&Watchthatwhichyouhavebeenidentifyingyourselfwithallalongbeingdestroyedtotally.&&&&Watchitbeingreducedtoashesforcertain,sothatyoumayrememberinyournextbirthwhoyouare.&&&&&&&&&Assoonasapersondiesheentersintoanewworld,oneweknownothingabout.&&&&Thatworldcanbescaryandfrighteningtousbecauseitisneitherlikenorunlikeanyofourexperiences.&&&&Infactithasnoconnectionwithlifeonearthwhatsoever.&&&&Facingthisnewworldismorefrighteningthanitwouldbeifamanweretofindhimselfinastrangecountrywhereeveryonewasastrangertohim,wherehewasunacquaintedwiththeirlanguage,withtheirwaysofliving.&&&&Hewouldobviouslybeveryperturbedandconfused.&&&&Theworldweliveinisaworldofphysicalbodies.&&&&Asweleavethisworldtheincorporealworldbegins——aworldwehaveneverexperienced.&&&&Itisevenmorefrightening,becauseinourworld,nomatterhowstrangetheplace,howdifferentitspeopleandtheirwaysofliving,thereisstillabondbetweenusandthem:itisarealmofhumanbeings.&&&&Enteringintotheworldofbodilessspiritscanbeanexperiencefrighteningbeyondimagination.&&&&Ordinarily,wepassthroughitinanunconsciousstate,andsowedontnoticeit.&&&&Butonewhogoesthroughitinaconsciousstategetsintogreatdifficulty.&&&&SoinBardothereisanattempttoexplaintothepersonwhatkindofaworlditwillbe,whatwillhappenthere,whatkindofbeingshewillcomeacross.&&&&Onlythosewhohavebeenthroughdeepmeditationcanbetakenthroughthisexperiment——nototherwise.&&&&Lately,IhaveoftenfeltthatthosefriendswhoarepracticingmeditationcanbetakenintotheBardoexperimentinsomeformorother.&&&&Butthisispossibleonlywhentheyhavegonetotherwise,theywouldnotevenbeabletohearwhatisbeingsaidtothem.&&&&Theywouldnotbeabletohearwhatisbeingsaidatthemomentofdeath,orfollowwhatisbeingtoldtothem.&&&&Inordertofollowwhatisbeingsaid,averysilentandemptymindisneeded.&&&&Astheconsciousnessbeginstofadeanddisappear,andasallearthlytiesstartbeingsevered,onlyaverysilentmindcanhearmessagtheycannotbeheardotherwise.&&&&Remember,itcanbedoneonlyinrespecttodeath,nothingcanbedonewithrespecttobirth.&&&&Butwhatsoeverwedowithdeath,itconsequentlyaffectsourbirthaswell.&&&&Weareborninthesamestateinwhichwedie.&&&&Anawakenedoneexerciseshischoiceinselectingthewomb.&&&&Thisshowsthatheneverchoosesanythingblindly,unconsciously.&&&&Hechooseshisparentsjustasarichmanchooseshishouse.&&&&Apoormancannothaveahouseofhischoice.&&&&Youneedacertaincapacitytochoose.&&&&Oneneedsacapabilitytobuyahouse.&&&&Apoormanneverchooseshishouse.&&&&Oneshouldsaythatactuallythehoapoorhousechoosesapoorman.&&&&Amillionairedecideswhereheshouldreside,whatthegardenshouldlooklike,wherethedoorsandwindowsshouldbefixed——thesunlightshouldenhowtheventilationshouldbe,howspaciousthehouseshouldbe——hechooseseverything.&&&&Anawakenedonechthatishischoice.&&&&IndividualslikeMahaviraorBuddhaarenotbornanywhereandeverywhere.&&&&Theytakebirthafterconsideringallpossibilities:howthebodywillbeandfromwhichparewhattheenergywillbelike,whatkindoffacilitieswillbeavailabletohim.&&&&Theytakebirthafterlookingintoallofthis.&&&&Theyhaveaclearchoiceofwhattochoose,hence,fromtheveryfirstdayoftheirbirththeylivethelifeoftheirownchoice.&&&&Thejoyoflivingalifeofonesownchoiceisaltogetherdifferent,becausefreedombeginswithhavingalifeofonesownchoice.&&&&Therecannotbethesamekindofjoyinalifewhichisgiventoyoubecausethenitbecomesservitude.&&&&Insuchcasesoneismerelypushedintolifeandthenwhateverhappens,happens——thepersonhasnoroletoplayinit.&&&&Ifsuchanawakeningbecomespossiblethenthechoicecandefinitelybemade.&&&&Iftheverybirthhappensoutofourchoice,thenwecanlivetherestofourlivesinchoice.&&&&Thenwecanlivelikeajeevan-mukta.&&&&Onewhodiesinanawakenedstateisborninanawakenedstateandthenheliveshislifeinaliberatedstate.&&&&Weoftenhearthewordjeevan-mukta,althoughwemaynotknowwhatthewordmeans.&&&&Jeevan-muktameans:onewhoisborninanawakenedstate.&&&&Onlysuchapersoncanbeajeevan-otherwisehemayworkhiswholelifeforliberation,yethecanattainfreedomonlyinhisnextlife——hewillnotbefreeinthislife.&&&&Inordertobeajeevan-muktainthislifeamanmusthavethefreedomtochoosefromtheveryfirstdayofhisbirth.&&&&Andthisispossibleonlyifonehasattainedtofullconsciousnessinthedyingmomentofonespreviouslife.&&&&Butatthispointthatisnotthequestion.&&&&Lifeishere,deathhasnotarrivedyet.&&&&Ithereisnothingmorecertainthandeath.&&&&Therecanbedoubtregardingotherthings,butaboutdeathnothingwhatsoeverisindoubt.&&&&TherearepeoplewhohavedoubtsaboutGod,thereareotherswhohavedoubtsaboutthesoul,butyoumayneverhavecomeacrossamanwhohasdoubtsaboutdeath.&&&&Itisinevitable——itisalreadyonitsway.&&&&Itisapproachingcloserandclosereverymoment.&&&&Wecanutilizethemomentswhichareavailablebeforedeathforourawakening.&&&&Meditationisatechniquetothateffect.&&&&Myeffortinthesethreedayswillbetohelpyouunderstandthatmeditationisthetechniqueforthatveryawakening.&&&&Question2&&&&AFRIENDHASASKED:WHATISTHERELATIONBETWEENMEDITATIONANDJATI-SMARAN,PASTLIFEREMEMBERING?&&&&Jati-smaranmeans:amethodofrecallingpastlives.&&&&Itisawaytorememberourpreviousexistences.&&&&Itisaformofmeditation.&&&&Itisaspecificapplicationofmeditation.&&&&Forexample,onemightask,&Whatisariver,andwhatisacanal?Ouranswerwouldbethatthecanalisaspecificapplicationoftheriveritself——wellplanned,butcontrolledandsystematic.&&&&Theriverischaotic,ittoowillreachsomewhere,butitsdestinationisnotcertain.&&&&Thedestinationofthecanalisassured.&&&&Meditationislikeabigriver——iitissuretoreach.&&&&MeditationwillsurelybringyoutoGod.&&&&Thereare,however,otherintermediaryapplicationsofmeditationalso.&&&&Likesmalltributariesthesecanbedirectedintocanalsofmeditation.&&&&Jati-smaranisonesuchauxiliarymethodofmeditation.&&&&Wecanchannelizethepowerofmeditationtowmeditationsimplymeansthefocusingofattention.&&&&Therecanbeapplicationswhereonesattentionisfocusedonagivenobject,andonesuchapplicationisjati-smaran——focusingonthedormantmemoriesofpastlives.&&&&Remember,meamemoryeitherremainslatentoritarises.&&&&Butthelatentmemoryappearstobeerased.&&&&IfIaskyouwhatyoudidonJanuary1,1950,youwillnotbeabletoanswer——whichdoesnotmeanthatyoumightnothavedoneanythingonthatday.&&&&ButsuddenlythedayofJanuary1,1950feelslikeatotalblank.&&&&Itcasitpassed,itwasfilledwithactivity.&&&&Buttodayitfeelslikeablank.&&&&Similarly,todaywillbecomeblanktomorrowaswell.&&&&Tenyearsfromnowtherewillbenotraceleftoftoday.&&&&SoitisnotthatJanuary1,1950didnotexist,orthatyoudidnotexistonthatday——whatisimpliedisthatsinceyouareunabletorecallthatday,howcanyoubelieveiteverexisted?Butitdidexistandthereisawaytoknowaboutit.&&&&Meditationcanbefocusedinthatdirectionaswell.&&&&Assoonasthelightofmeditationfallsonthatday,toyoursurpriseyouwillseethatitlooksmorealivethaniteverwasbefore.&&&&Forexample,apersonentersadarkroomandmovesaroundwithaflashlight.&&&&Whenheturnsthelighttotheleft,therightsidebecomesdark——butnothingdisappearsontherightside.&&&&Whenhemovesthelighttotheright,therightsidebecomesaliveagain,buttheleftsideremainshiddeninthedark.&&&&Meditationhasafocus,andifonewantstochannelitinaparticulardirectionthenithastobeusedlikeaflashlight.&&&&If,however,onewantstoturnittowardsthedivine,thenmeditationhastobeappliedlikealamp.&&&&Pleaseunderstandthiscarefully.&&&&Thelaitisunfocused.&&&&Alampmerelyburnsanditslightspreadsallaround.&&&&Alamphasnointerestinlightinguponwhatsoeverfallswithintheradiusoflightislitup.&&&&Buttheformofaflashlightislikeafocusedlamp.&&&&Inaflashlightwekeepallthelightandshineitinonedirection.&&&&Soitispossiblethatunderaburninglampthingsmaybecomevisible,buthazy,andinordertoseethemclearlyweconcentratethelightononeplace——thenthethingbecomesclearlyvisible.&&&&However,theremainingobjectsarelosttoview.&&&&Infact,ifamanwantstoseeanobjectclearlyhewillhavetofocushistotalmeditationinonedirectiononlyandturntherestoftheareaintodarkness.&&&&Onewhowantstoknowthetruthoflifedirectlywilldevelophismeditationlikealamp——thatwillbehissolepurpose.&&&&And,infact,thelampsonlyobifitcanshinethismuchitisenough——thatstheendofit.&&&&Butifsomespecialapplicationofthelamphastobemade——suchasrememberingpastlives——thenmeditationwillhavetobechanneledinonedirection.&&&&Iwillsharewithyoutwoorthreecluesastohowmeditationcanbechannelizedinthatdirection.&&&&Iwontgiveyouallthecluesbecause,mostlikely,hardlyanyofyouhaveanyintentionofusingthem,andthosewhohavecanseemepersonally.&&&&SoIwillmentiontwoorthreeclueswhich,ofcourse,wontreallyenableyoutoexperimentwithrememberingpastlives,butwillgiveyoujustanidea.&&&&Iwontdiscussthewholethingbecauseitsnotadvisableforeveryonetoexperimentwiththisidea.&&&&Also,thisexperimentcanoftenputyouindanger.&&&&LetmetellyouofanincidentsothatwhatIamsayingbecomescleartoyou.&&&&Forabouttwoorthreeyears,inrespecttomeditation,aladyprofessorstayedintouchwithme.&&&&Shewasveryinsistentonexperimentingwithjati-smaran,onlearningaboutherpastlife.&&&&Ihelpedhowever,Ialsoadvisedherthatitwouldbebetterifshedidntdotheexperimentuntilhermeditationwasfullydeveloped,otherwiseitcouldbedangerous.&&&&Asitis,asinglelifesmemoriesaredifficulttobear——shouldthememoriesofthepastthreeorfourlivesbreakthebarrierandfloodin,apersoncangomad.&&&&Thatswhynaturehasplanneditsowegoonforgettingthepast.&&&&Naturehasgivenusagreaterabilitytoforgetmorethanyoucanremember,sothatyourminddoesnothaveagreaterburdenthanitcancarry.&&&&Aheavyburdencanbeborneonlyafterthecapacityofyourmindhasincreased,andtroublebeginswhentheweightofthesememoriesfallsonyoubeforethiscapacityhasbeenraised.&&&&Butsheremainedpersistent.&&&&Shepaidnoheedtomyadviceandwentintotheexperiment.&&&&Whenthefloodofherpastlifesmemoryfinallyburstuponher,shecamerunningtomearoundtwooclockinthemorning.&&&&Sshewasingreatdistress.&&&&Shesaid,&Somehowthishasgottostop.&&&&Idonteverwanttolookatthatsideofthings.&&&&&Butitisnotsoeasytostopthetideofmemoryonceithasbrokenloose.&&&&Itisverydifficulttoshutthedooronceitcrashesdown——thedoordoesnotsimplyopen,itbreaksopen.&&&&Ittookaboutfifteendays——onlythendidthewaveofmemoriesstop.&&&&Whatwastheproblem?&&&&Thisladyusedtoclaimthatshewasverypious,awomanofimpeccablecharacter.&&&&Whensheencounteredthememoryofherpastlife,whenshewasaprostitute,andthescenesofherprostitutionbegantoemerge,herwholebeingwasshaken.&&&&Herwholemoralityofthislifewasdisturbed.&&&&Inthissortofrevelation,itisnotasifthevisionsbelongtosomeoneelse——thesamewomanwhoclaimedtobechastenowsawherselfasaprostitute.&&&&Itoftenhappensthatsomeonewhowasaprostituteinapastlifebecomesdeeitisareactiontothesufferingofthepastlife.&&&&Itisthememoryofthepainandthehurtofthepreviouslifethatturnsherintoachastewoman.&&&&Itoftenhappensthatpeoplewhoweresinnersinpastlivesbecomesaintsinthislife.&&&&Hencethereisquiteadeeprelationshipbetweensinnersandsaints.&&&&Suchareactionoftentakesplace,andthereasonis,whatwecometoknowhurtsusandsoweswingtotheoppositeextreme.&&&&Thependulumofourmindskeepsmovingintheoppositedirection.&&&&Nosoonerdoesthependulumreachtheleftthanitmovesbacktotheright.&&&&Itbarelytouchestherightwhenitswingsbacktotheleft.&&&&Whenyouseethependulumofaclockmovingtowardstheleft,beassureditisgatheringenergytomovebacktotheright——itwillgoasfartotherightasithasgonetotheleft.&&&&Hence,inlifeitoftenhappensthatavirtuouspersonbecomesasinner,andasinnerbecomesvirtuous.&&&&Tthissortofoscillationoccursineveryoneslife.&&&&Donotthink,therefore,thatitisageneralrulethatonewhohasbecomeaholymaninthislifemusthavebeenaholymaninhispastlifealso.&&&&Itisnotnecessarilyso.&&&&Whatisnecessarilysoistheexactreverseofit——heisladenwiththepainofwhathewentthroughinhispastlifeandhasturnedtotheopposite.&&&&Ihaveheard&&&&Aholymanandaprostituteoncelivedoppositeeachother.&&&&Bothdiedonthesameday.&&&&Thesouloftheprostitutewastobetakentoheaven,andthatoftheholyman,however,tohell.&&&&Theenvoyswhohadcometotakethemawaywereverypuzzled.&&&&Theykeptaskingeachother,&Whatwentwrong?Isthisamistake?Whyarewetotaketheholymantohell?Wasntheaholyman?&&&&&Thewisestamongthemsaid,&Hewasaholymanallright,butheenviedtheprostitute.&&&&Healwaysbroodedoverthepartiesatherplaceandthepleasuresthatwentonthere.&&&&Thenotesofmusicwhichcamedriftingtohishousewouldjolthimtohisverycore.&&&&Noadmireroftheprostitute,sittinginfrontofher,wasevermovedasmuchashe——listeningtothesoundscomingfromherresidence,thesoundsofthesmalldancingbellssheworeonherankles.&&&&Hiswholeattentionalwaysremainedfocusedonherplace.&&&&EvenwhileworshippingGod,hisearsweretunedtothesoundswhichcamefromherhouse.&&&&&Andtheprostitute?Whileshelanguishedinthepitofmisery,shealwayswonderedwhatunknownblisstheholymanwasin.&&&&Whenevershesawhimcarryingflowersformorningworship,shewondered,WhenwillIbeworthytotakeflowersofworshiptothetemple?IamsoimpurethatIcanhardlyevengatherenoughcouragetoenterthetemple.&&&&Theholymanwasneveraslostintheincensesmoke,intheshininglamps,inthesoundsofworshipastheprostitutewas.&&&&Theprostitutealwayslongedforthelifeoftheholyman,andtheholymanalwayscravedforthepleasuresoftheprostitute.&&&&&&&&&Theirinterestsandattitudes,sototallyoppositeeachothers,sototallydifferentfromeachothers,hadcompletelychanged.&&&&Thisoftenhappens——andtherearelawsatworkbehindthesehappenings.&&&&Sowhenthememoryofherpastlifecamebacktothisladyprofessor,shewasveryhurt.&&&&Shefelthurtbecauseheregowasshattered.&&&&Whatshelearnedaboutherpastlifeshookher,andnowshewantedtoforgetit.&&&&Ihadwarnedherinthefirstplacenottorecallherpastlifewithoutsufficientpreparation.&&&&Sinceyouhaveasked,Ishalltellyouafewbasicthingssothatyoucanunderstandthemeaningofjati-smaran.&&&&Buttheywonthelpyoutoexperimentwithit.&&&&Thosewhowishtoexperimentwillhavetolookintoitseparately.&&&&Thefirstthingisthatifthepurposeofjati-smaranissimplytoknowonespastlife,thenoneneedstoturnonesmindawayfromthefuture.&&&&Ourmindisfuture-oriented,notpast-oriented.&&&&Ordinarily,ourmindiitmovestowardthefuture.&&&&Thestreamofourthoughtsisfuture-oriented,anditisinlifesintereststhatthemindbefuture-oriented,notpast-oriented.&&&&Whybeconcernedwiththepast?Itisgone,itisfinished——soweareinterestedinthatwhichisabouttocome.&&&&Thatswhywekeepaskingastrologerswhatisinstoreforusinthefuture.&&&&Weareinterestedinfindingoutwhatisgoingtohappeninthefuture.&&&&Onewhowantstorememberthepasthastogiveup,absolutely,anyinterestinthefuture.&&&&Becauseoncetheflashlightofthemindoncethestreamofthoughtshasbeguntomovetowardsthefuture,thenitcannotbeturnedbacktowardsthepast.&&&&Sothefirstthingoneneedstodoistobreakoneselfcompletelyawayfromthefutureforafewmonths,foracertainspecificperiodoftime.&&&&Oneshoulddecidethathewillnotthinkofthefutureforthenextsixmonths.&&&&Ifathoughtofthefuturedoesoccur,hewillsimphewillnotbecomeidentifiedwithandcarriedawaybyanyfeelingoffuture.&&&&Sothefirstthingisthat,forsixmonths,hewillallowthatthereisnofutureandwillflowtowardsthepast.&&&&Andso,assoonasfutureisdropped,thecurrentofthoughtsturnstowardsthepast.&&&&Firstyouwillhaitisnotpossibletoreturntoapastlifeallatonce.&&&&Andtherearetechniquesforgoingbackinthislife.&&&&Forexample,asIsaidearlier,youdontremembernowwhatyoudidonJanuary1,1950.&&&&Thereisatechniquetofindout.&&&&IfyougointothemeditationwhichIhavesuggested,aftertenminutes——whenthemeditationhasgonedeeper,thebodyisrelaxed,thebreathingisrelaxed,themindhasbecomequiet——thenletonlyonethingremaininyourmind:&WhattookplaceonJanuary1,1950?&Letyourentiremindfocusonit.&&&&Ifthatremainstheonlynoteechoinginyourmind,inafewdaysyouwillallofasuddenfindacurtainisraised:thefirstofJanuaryappearsandyoubegintoreliveeachandeveryeventofthatdayfromdawntodusk.&&&&AndyouwillseethefirstofJanuaryinfarmoredetailthanyoumayhaveseenit,inactuality,onthatveryday——becauseonthatday,youmaynothavebeenthisaware.&&&&So,first,youwillneedtoexperimentbyregressinginthislife.&&&&Itisveryeasytoritbecomesverydifficulttogobeyondthatage.&&&&Andso,ordinarily,wecannotrecallwhathappenthatisthefarthestbackwecango.&&&&Afewpeoplemightrememberuptothethirdyear,butbeyondthatitbecomesextremelydifficult——asifabarriercomesacrosstheentranceandeverythingbecomesblocked.&&&&Apersonwhobecomescapableofrecallingwillbeabletofullyawakenthememoryofanydayuptotheageoffive.&&&&Thememorystartstobecompletelyrevived.&&&&Thenoneshouldtestit.&&&&Forexample,notedowntheeventsoftodayonapieceofpaperandlockitaway.&&&&Twoyearslaterrecallthisday:openthenoteandcompareyourmemorywithit.&&&&Youwillbeamazedtofindthatyouhavebeenabletorecallmorethanwhatwasnotedonthepaper.&&&&Theeventsarecertaintoreturntoyourmemory.&&&&Buddhahascalledthisalaya-vigyan.&&&&ThereexistsacornerinourmindswhichBuddhahasnamedalaya-vigyan.&&&&Alaya-vigyanmeansthestorehouseofconsciousness.&&&&Aswestoreallourjunkinthebasementofahouse,similarly,thereisastorehouseofconsciousnessthatcollectsmemories.&&&&Birthafterbirth,everythingisstoredinit.&&&&Nothingiseverremovedfromthere,becauseamanneverknowswhenhemightneedthosethings.&&&&Thephysicalbodychanges,but,inourongoingexistence,thatstorehousecontinues,remainswithus.&&&&Oneneverknowswhenitmightbeneeded.&&&&Andwhatsoeverwehavedoneinourlives,whatsoeverwehaveexperienced,known,lived——everythingisstoredthere.&&&&Onewhocanremembertotheageoffivecangobeyondthatage——itisnotverydifficult.&&&&Thenatureoftheexperimentwillbethesame.&&&&Beyondtheageoffivethereisyetanotherdoorwhichwillleadyoutothepointofyourbirth,towhenyouappearedonearth.&&&&Thenonecomesacrossanotherdifficulty,becausethememoriesofonesstayinthemotherswombneverdisappeareither.&&&&Onecanpenetratethesememoriestoo,reachingtothepointofconception,tothemomentwhenthegenesofthemotherandfatheruniteandthesoulenters.&&&&Amancanenterintohispastlivesonlyafterhahecannotmoveintothemdirectly.&&&&Onehastoundertakethismuchofthereturnjourney,onlythenisitpossibletomoveintoonespastlifeaswell.&&&&Afterhavingenteredthepastlife,thefirstmemorytocomeupwillbeofthelasteventthattookplaceinthatlife.&&&&Remember,however,thatthiswillcausesomedifficultyandwillmakelittlesense.&&&&Itisasifwerunafilmfromtheendorreadanovelbackwards——wefeellost.&&&&Andso,enteringintoonespastlifeforthefirsttimewillbequiteconfusingbecausethesequenceofeventswillbeinthereverseorder.&&&&Asyougobackintoyourpastlife,youwillcomeacrossdeathfirst,thenoldage,youth,childhood,andthenbirth.&&&&Itwillbeinreverseorder,andinthatorderitwillbeverydifficulttofigureoutwhatiswhat.&&&&Sowhenthememorysurfacesforthefirsttime,youfeeltremendouslyrestlessandtroubled,becauseitisitisasifyouarelookingatafilmorreadinganovelfromtheend.&&&&Perhapsyouwillonlymakeheadsortailsofaneventafterrearrangingtheorderseveraltimes.&&&&Sothegreatesteffortinvolvedingoingbacktothememoriesofonespastlifeisseeing,inreverseorder,eventswhichordinarilytakeplaceintherightorder.&&&&But,afterall,whatistherightorreverseorder?Itisjustaquestionofhowweenteredtheworldandhowwedepartedfromit.&&&&Wesowaseedinthebeginning,andtheflowerappearsintheend.&&&&However,ifoneweretotakeareverselookatthisphenomenon,theflowerwouldcomefirst,followedinsequencebythebud,theplant,theleaves,thesaplingsandintheendtheseed.&&&&Sincewehavenopreviousknowledgeofthisreverseorder,ittakesalotoftimetorearrangememoriescoherentlyandtofigureoutthenatureofeventsclearly.&&&&Thestrangestthingisthatdeathwillcomefirst,followedbyoldage,illness,thingswilloccurinthereverseorder.&&&&Or,ifyouweremarriedandthendivorced,whilegoingdownmemorylanethedivorcewillcomefirst,followedbytheloveandthenthemarriage.&&&&Itwillbeextremelydifficulttofolloweventsinthisregressivefashion,becausenormallyweunderstandthingsinaone-dimensionalway.&&&&Ourmindsareone-dimensional.&&&&Tolookatthingsinoppositeorderisverydifficult——wearenotusweareaccustomedtomovinginalineardirection.&&&&Witheffort,however,onecanunderstandtheeventsofapastlifebyfollowing,insequence,thereverseorder.&&&&Surely,itwillbeanincredibleexperience.&&&&Goingthroughmemoriesinthisreverseorderwillbeaveryamazingexperience,becauseseeingthedivorcefirstandthentheloveandthenthemarriage,willmakeitinstantlyclearthatthedivorcewasinevitable——thedivorcewasinherentinthekithedivorcewastheonlyultimatepossibleoutcomeofthekindofmarriagethattookplace.&&&&Butatthetimeofthatpastlifemarriagewehadntthefaintestideaitwouldeventuallyendindivorce.&&&&Andindeed,thedivorcewastheresultofthatmarriage.&&&&Ifwecouldseethiswholethinginitsentirety,thenfallinginlovetodaywouldbecomeatotallydifferentthing——becausenowwecouldseethedivorceinitbeforehand,nowwecouldseetheenmityaroundthecornerevenbeforemakingthefriendship.&&&&Thememoryofthepastlifewillcompletelyturnthislifeupside-down,becausenowyouwontbeabletolivethewayyoulivedinyourpastlife.&&&&Inyourpreviouslifeyoufelt——andthesamefeelingexistsevennow——thatsuccessandgreathappinessweretobefoundbymakingafortune.&&&&Whatyouwillseefirstinyourpreviouslifeisyourstateofunhappinessbeforeseeinghowyoumadethefortune.&&&&Thiswillclearlyshowthatinsteadofbeingasourceofhappiness,makingthefortuneled,infact,tounhappiness——andfriendshipledtoenmity,whatwasthoughttobeloveturnedintohatred,andwhatwasconsideredaunionresultedinseparation.&&&&Then,forthefirsttime,youwillseethingsintheirrightperspective,withtheirtotalimport.&&&&Andthisimplicationwillchangeyourlife,willchangethewayyouarelivingnowcompletely——itwillbeanentirelydifferentsituation.&&&&Ihaveheardthatamanwenttoamonkandsaid,&Iwouldbemuchobligedifyouwouldacceptmeasyourdisciple.&&&&&Themonkrefused.&&&&Themanaskedwhyhewouldnotmakehimhisdisciple.&&&&Themonkreplied,&InmypreviousbirthIhaddiscipleswholaterturnedintoenemies.&&&&IhaveseenthewholethingandnowIknowthattomakedisciplesmeanstomakeenemies,tomakefriendsmeanstosowtheseedsofenmity.&&&&NowIdontwanttomakeanyenemies,soIdontmakeanyfriends.&&&&Ihaveknownthattobealoneisenough.&&&&Drawingsomeoneclosetoyouis,inaway,pushingthepersonawayfromyou.&&&&&&&&&Buddhahassaidthatthemeetingwiththebelovedbringsjoyandthepartingoftheunbelovedalsobringsjoy,thatthepartingofthebelovedbringssorrowandthemeetingwiththeunbelovedbringssorrowaswell.&&&&Thithisishowitwasunderstood.&&&&However,laterwecometounderstandthattheonewefeelisourbelovedcanbecometheunbeloved,andtheoneweconsideredtheunbelovedcanbecomeabeloved.&&&&Andso,withtherecollectionofpastmemories,theexistingsituationtheywillbeseeninanentirelydifferentperspective.&&&&Suchrecollectionsarepossible,thoughneithernecessarynorinevitable,andsometimes,inmeditation,thesememoriesmaystrikeunexpectedlyaswell.&&&&Ifthememoriesofpastliveseverdocomeallofasudden——withoutbeinginvolvedinanyexperiment,butsimplykeepingonwithonesmeditation——donttakemuchinterestinthem.&&&&Jbeawitnesstothem——becauseordinarilythemindisincapableofbearingsuchvastturbulenceallatonce.&&&&Attemptingtocopewithit,thereisadistinctpossibilityofgoingmad.&&&&Onceagirlwasbroughttome.&&&&Shewasaboutelevenyearsold.&&&&Unexpectedly,shehadrememberedthreeofherpastlives.&&&&Shehadnotexpebutoften,forsomereasonmistakesdohappenallofasudden.&&&&Thiswasanerroronthepartofnature,insomewaynaturehaderredinhercase.&&&&Itisthesameasifsomeonehadthreeeyes,orfourarms——thisisanerror.&&&&Fourarmswouldbemfourarmscouldntworkaseffectivelyastwoarmscould——fourarmswouldmakethebodyweaker,notstronger.&&&&Sothegirl,elevenyearsold,rememberedthreepastlives,andmanyinquiriesweremadeintothiscase.&&&&Inherpreviouslifeshehadlivedabouteightymilesfrommypresentresidence,andinthatlifeshediedattheageofsixty.&&&&Thepeopleshelivedwiththenarenowtheresidentsofmyhometown,andshecouldrecognizeallofthem.&&&&Eveninacrowdofthousands,shecouldrecognizeherpastrelatives——herownbrother,herdaughters,andhergrandchildren——fromthedaughters,fromthesons-in-law.&&&&Shecouldrecognizeherdistantrelativesandtellmanythingsaboutthemeventheyhadforgotten.&&&&Herelderbrotherisstillalive.&&&&Onhisheadthereisascarfromasmallinjury.&&&&Iaskedthegirlifsheknewanythingaboutthatscar.&&&&Thegirllaughedandsaid,&Evenmybrotherdoesntknowaboutit.&&&&Lethimtellyouhowandwhenhegotthatinjury.&&&&&Thebrothercouldnotrecallwhehadnoideaatall,hesaid.&&&&Thegirlsaid,&Onthedayofhiswedding,mybrotherfellwhilehewasmountingthemarriagehorse.&&&&Hewastenyearsoldthen.&&&&&Theelderlypeopleinthetownsupportedherstory,admittingthatthebrotherhad,indeed,fallenfromthehorse.&&&&Andthemanhimselfhadnorecollectionofthisevent.&&&&Then,aswell,thegirldisplayedatreasureshehadburiedinthehouseshehadlivedinduringherpreviouslife.&&&&Inherlastbirthshediedattheageofsixty,andprevioustothatbirthshehadbeenborninavillagesomewhereinAssam.&&&&Thenshehaddiedattheageofseven.&&&&Shecouldnotgivethevillagename,norheraddress,butshecouldspeakasmuchoftheAssameselanguageasaseven-year-oldchildcould.&&&&Also,shecoulddanceandsinglikeaseven-year-oldgirlcould.&&&&Manyinquiriesweremade,butherfamilyfromthatlifecouldnotbetraced.&&&&Thegirlhasapast-lifeexperienceofsixty-sevenyearspluselevenyearsofthislife.&&&&Youcanseeinhereyestheresemblancetoaseventy-fivetoseventy-eight-year-oldwoman,althoughsheisactuallyelevenyearsold.&&&&Shecannotplaywithchildrenofherownagebecauseshefeelstooold.&&&&Withinhershecarriesthememoryofseventy-sheseesherselfasaseventy-eight-year-oldwoman.&&&&Shecannotgotoschoolbecause,althoughsheiseleven,shecaneasilylookuponherteacherasherson.&&&&Soeventhoughherbodyiselevenyearsold,hermindandpersonalityarethoseofaseventy-eight-year-oldwoman.&&&&Shecannotplasheisonlyinterestedinthekindsofseriousthingsoldwomentalkabout.&&&&Ssheisfilledwithtension.&&&&Herbodyandmindarenotinharmony.&&&&Sheisinaverysadandpainfulstate.&&&&Iadvisedherparentstobringthegirltome,andtoletmehelpherforgetthememoriesofherpastlives.&&&&Justasthereisamethodtorevivememories,thereisalsoawaytoforgetthem.&&&&Butherparentswereenjoyingthewholeaffair!Crowdsofpetheybegantoworshipher.&&&&Theparentswerenotinterestedinhavingherforgetthepast.&&&&Iwarnedthemthegirlwouldgomad,buttheyturnedadeafear.&&&&Todaysheisonthevergeofinsanity,becauseshecannotbeartheweightofsomanymemories.&&&&Anotherproblemis,howtogethermarried?Shefindsitdifficulttoconceiveofmarriagewhen,infact,shefeelslikeanoldwomanofseventy-eight.&&&&Thereisnoharmoherbodyisyoungbutthemindisold.&&&&Itisaverydifficultsituation.&&&&Butthiswasanaccident.&&&&Youcanalsobreakopenthepassagewithanexperiment.&&&&Butitisnotnecessarhowever,thosewhostillwishtopursueit,canexperiment.&&&&Butbeforemovingintotheexperimentitisessentialtheygothroughdeepmeditationsotheirmindscanbecomesosilentandstrongthatwhenthefloodofmemoriesbreaksuponthem,theycanacceptitasawitnessing.&&&&Whenamangrowsintobeingawitness,pastlivesappeartobenomorethandreamstohim.&&&&Thenheisnottonowtheymeannothingmorethandreams.&&&&Whenonesucceedsinrecallingpastlivesandtheybegintoappearlikedreams,immediatelyonespresentlifebeginstolooklikeadreamtoo.&&&&Thosewhohavecalledthisworldmayahavenotdonesojusttopropoundadoctrineofphilosophy.&&&&Jati-smaran——recallingpastlives——isatthebaseofit.&&&&Whosoeverhasrememberedhispastlives,forhimthewholeaffairhassuddenlyturnedintoadream,anillusion.&&&&Wherearehisfriendsofpastlives?Wherearehisrelatives,hiswifeandchildren,thehouseshelivedin?Whereisthatworld?Whereiseverythinghetooktobesoreal?Wherearethoseworriesthatgavehimsleeplessnights?Wherearethosepainsandsufferingsthatseemedsoinsurmountable,thathecarriedlikeadeadweightonhisback?Andwhatbecameofthehappinesshelongedfor?Whathappenedtoeverythinghesotoiledandsufferedfor?Ifyoueverrememberyourpastlife,andifyoulivedforseventyyears,thenwhateveryoumighthaveseeninthoseseventyyears,wouldthatlooklikeadreamorareality?Indeed,itwouldlooklikeadreamwhichhadcomeandwitheredaway.&&&&Ihaveheard&&&&Onceakingsonlysonlayonhisdeathbed.&&&&Foreightdayshewasinacoma——hecouldntbesavednorwoulddeathclaimhim.&&&&Ontheonehandthekingprayedforhislife,whileontheotherhand,awareofsomuchpainandsufferingallaround,hefeltthefutilityoflifeatthesametime.&&&&Thekingcouldnotsleepforeightnights,butthen,aroundfouroclockonemorning,sleepovertookhimandhebegantodream.&&&&Wegenerallydreamofthosethingswhichwehavenotfulfilledinlife,andsotheking,sittingbyhisonlyson,hisdyingson,dreamedthathehadtwelvestrongandhandsomesons.&&&&Hesawhimselfastheemperorofalargekingdom,astherulerofthewholeearth,withlargeandbeautifulpalaces.&&&&Andhesawhimselfasextremelyhappy.&&&&Ashewasdreamingallthis&&&&Tiinadreamtimingistotallydifferentfromourday-to-daytime.&&&&Inamomentadreamcancoveraspanofmanyyears,andafterwakingupyouwillfinditdifficulttofigureouthowsomanyyearswerecoveredinadreamthatlastedjustafewmoments!Timeactuallymmanyyearscanbespannedinonemoment.&&&&So,justasthekingwasdreamingabouthistwelvesonsandtheirbeautifulwives,abouthispalacesandthegreatkingdom,theill,twelve-year-oldprincedied.&&&&Thequeenscreamed,andthekingssleepcametoanabruptend.&&&&Heawokewithashock.&&&&Worriedly,thequeenasked,&Whydoyoulooksofrightened?Whyaretherenotearsinyoureyes?Whydontyousaysomething?&&&&&Thekingsaid,&No,Iamnotfrightened,Iamconfused.&&&&Iaminagreatquandary.&&&&IamwonderingwhoIshouldcryfor?ShouldIcryforthetwelvesonsIhadamomentago,orshouldIcryforthissonIhavejustlost?Thethingthatsbotheringmeis,whohasdied?AndthestrangethingisthatwhenIwaswiththosetwelvesons,Ihadnoknowledgeofthisson.&&&&Htherewasnotraceofhim,orofyou.&&&&NowthatIamoutofthedream,thispalaceishere,youarehere,mysonishere——butthosepalacesandthosesonshavedisappeared.&&&&Whichistrue?Isthistrue,orwasthattrue?Icannotfigureitout.&&&&&&&&&Onceyourememberyourpastlives,youwillfinditdifficulttofigureoutwhetherwhatyouareseeinginthislifeistrueornot.&&&&Youwillrealizeyouhaveseenthesamestuffmanytimesbeforeandnoneofithasenduredforever——everythingislost.&&&&Thenthequestionwillarise:&IswhatIamseeingnowjustastrueaswhatIsawbefore?&&&&Becausethiswillrunitscoursetooandfadeawaylikeallotherpreviousdreams.&&&&Whenwewatchamovieitappearstobereal.&&&&Afterthefilmhasended,ittakesusafewmomentstocomebacktoourreality,toacknowledgethatwhatwesawinthetheaterwasmerelyanillusion.&&&&Infact,manypeoplewhoordinarilyareincapableofgivingventtotheirfeelingsaremovedtotearsinamovie.&&&&Theyfeelgreatlyrelieved,becauseotherwisetheywouldhavehadtofindsomeotherpretextforreleasingtheirfeelings.&&&&Theyletthemselvescryorlaughinthetheater.&&&&Whenwecomeoutofthemovie,thefirstthingthatoccurstousishowdeeplyweletourselvesbecomeidentifiedwiththehappeningsonthescreen.&&&&Ifthesamemovieisseeneverydaytheillusiongraduallybeginstoclear.&&&&Butthenwealsoforgetwhathappenedtousduringthelastmovie,andonceagain,whenwegotoanewfilm,westartbelievinginitsevents.&&&&Ifwecouldregainthememoriesofourpastlives,ourpresentbirthwouldalsobegintolooklikeadream.&&&&Howmanytimesbeforehavethesewindsblown!Howmanytimesbeforehavethesecloudsmovedinthesky!Theyallappearedandthentheyvanished,andsowilltheonesherenow——theyarealreadyintheprocessofdisappearing!Ifwecancometorealizethis,wewillexperiencewhatisknownasmaya.&&&&Alongwiththiswewillalsoexperiencethata}lhappenings,alleventsarequiteunreal——theyareneveridentical,buttheyaretransient.&&&&Onedreamcomes,isfollowedbyanotherdream,andisfollowedbyyetanotherdream.&&&&Thepilgrimstartsfromonemomentandentersintothenextone.&&&&Momentaftermoment,themomentskeepdisappearing,butthepilgrimcontinuesmovingon.&&&&Sotwoexperiencesoccursimultaneously:one,theobjectiveworldisanillusion,maya——osecond,whatappearsisfalse——onlytheseer,onlythewitnessofitistrue.&&&&Appearanceschangeeveryday——theyhavealwayschanged——onlythewitness,theobserveristhesameasbefore,changeless.&&&&Andremember,aslongasappearancesseemreal,yourattentionwillnotfocusontheonlooker,onthewitness.&&&&Onlywhenappearancesturnouttobeunrealdoesonebecomeawareofthewitness.&&&&Hence,Isay,rememberingpastlivesisuseful,butonlyafteryouhavegonedeeperintomeditation.&&&&Godeepintomeditationsoyoumayattaintheabilitytoseelifeasadream.&&&&Becomingamahatma,aholyman,isasmuchofadreamasbecomingathief——youcanhavegooddreamsandyoucanhavebaddreams.&&&&Andtheinterestingthingisthatthedreamofbeingathiefislikelytodissolvesoon,whereasthedreamofbeingamahatmatakesalittlelongertodisappearbecauseitseemssoveryenjoyable.&&&&Andsothedreamofbeingamahatmaismoredangerousthanthedreamofbeingathief.&&&&Wewanttoprolongourenjoyabledreams,whilethepainfulonesdissolvebythemselves.&&&&ThatswhyitsooftenhappensthatasinnersucceedsinattainingtoGodwhileaholymandoesnot.&&&&Ihavetoldyouafewthingsaboutrememberingyourpastlives,butyouwillhavetogointomeditationforthis.&&&&Letusstarttomovewithinfonlythencanwebepreparedforwhatfollowsnext.&&&&Withoutthispreparation,itisdifficulttoenterintopastlives.&&&&Forexample,thereisabighousewithundergroundcellars.&&&&Ifaman,standingoutsidethehouse,wantstoenterthecellars,hewillfirsthavetostepinsidethehouse,becausethewaytothecellarisfrominsidethehouse.&&&&Ourpastlivesarelikecellars.&&&&Onceuponatimewelivedthere,andthenweabandonedthem——nowwearelivingsomewhereelse.&&&&Nevertheless,wearestandingoutsidethehouseatthispoint.&&&&Inordertouncoverthememoriesofpastlives,weshallhavetoenterthehouse.&&&&Thereisnothingdifficult,bothersomeordangerousaboutit.&&&&Question3&&&&ANOTHERFRIENDHASASKED:MYFRIEND,WHOISAYOGI,CLAIMSHEWASASPARROWINHISPASTLIFE.&&&&ISTHISPOSSIBLE?&&&&Itispossiblethatinthecourseofhisevolutionamanmayhaveoncebeenananimal,buthecannotbebornasananimalagain.&&&&Intheprocessofevolutretrogressionisimpossible.&&&&Itispossibletomoveaheadfromthepreviousformofbirth,butitisnotpossible,fromanadvancedformofbirth,tofallback.&&&&Thereisnothereisnochance.&&&&Thereareonlytwoways——eitherwemoveawecannotgoback.&&&&Itisjustaswhenachildpassesfirstgradehemovesontothesecondgrade——butifhefailsheremainsinthefirstgrade.&&&&Thereisnoway,however,topullhimbelowfirstgrade.&&&&Similarly,ifhefailsinthesecondgradewecanleavehimthere,butinnowaycanwebringhimbacktothefirstgrade.&&&&Wemayeitherremaininonespeciesforaverylongtimeormoveforwardintothenextspecies,butwecannotgobacktoaspecieslowerthanwhereweare.&&&&Itisindeedpossibleforsomeonetohavepreviouslhemusthavebeen.&&&&Buthowlongheremainedinthosespeciesisadifferentmatter.&&&&Ifwedelveintoourpastlives,wewillbeabletorecallthespecieswehavepassedthroughsofar.&&&&Wemayhavebeenananimal,abird,alittlesparrow&&&&lowerandlower.&&&&Oncewemusthavebeenatsuchapointofinertnesswhereitisdifficulttolocateanysignofconsciousness.&&&&Mouhowever,theycontainalmostnoconsciousness.&&&&Theycontainninety-ninepercentinertnessandonepercentconsciousness.&&&&Aslifeevolves,consciousnesskeepsongrowingandinertnesskeepsondecreasing.&&&&Godisonehundredpercentconsciousness.&&&&ThedifferencebetweenGodandmatterisofpercentage.&&&&ThedifferencebetweenGodandmatterisofquantity,notofquality.&&&&ThatswhymattercanultimatelybecomeGod.&&&&Itisneitherstrangenordifficulttoacceptthatamanmayhavebeenananimalinhispastlife.&&&&Whatisreallyamazingisthatinspiteofbeinghumanwebehavelikeanimals!Itisnotatallsurprisingthatinsomepastlifewehaveallbeenanimals,butevenashumansourconsciousnesscanbesolowthatwemayappearlikehumansonlyonthephysicallevel.&&&&Ifwelookintoourtendencies,itseemsthatalthoughwearenolongeranimalswehavenotyetbecitseemswearestucksomewhereinbetween.&&&&Assoonasanopportunityarises,wedontlosemuchtimeinrevertingtotheanimallevelonceagain.&&&&Forexample,youarewalkingalongtheroadlikeagentlemanandsomefellowcomesandpunchesyou,swearsatyou.&&&&Instantly,thegentlemaninyougiveswayandyoufindyourselfexpressingthesameanimalinyouthatyoumusthavebeeninsomepastlife.&&&&Scratchthesurfacealittleandthebeastemergesfromwithin——anditcomesoutsoviolentlythatonewondersifthepersonwaseverahumanbeingatall.&&&&Ourstateofbeingnowcontainsallwehaveeverbeenbefore.&&&&Thereislayeruponlayerofallthestateswehavebeenthroughinthepast.&&&&Ifwediginsidealittle,wecanreachtotheinnerlayersofourbeing——wecanevenreachthethattooconstitutesalayerinside.&&&&Deepdownithatswhywhensomeonepushesustothatlayerwebehavelikearock,wecanactlikearock.&&&&Wecanalsobehavelikeanimals——infact,wedo.&&&&Whatliesaheadofusaremerelyourpotentialities——theyarenotlayers.&&&&Hence,attimes,althoughwetakeajumpandtouchthesepotentialities,wedropbacktoearthagain.&&&&Wecanbegodssomeday,butatpresentwerenot.&&&&Wehavethepothowever,whatwearenowconsistsofwhatwehavebeeninthepast.&&&&Sotherearethesetwothings:ifwedigwithinwecomeacrossourvariandifwearethrownforwardinthechainofbirths,weexperiencethestateswhichlieaheadofus.&&&&However,justaswhensomeonetakesajump——forasecondhegoesoffthegroundandintotheair,buttheverynextmomentheisbackontheground——attimeswejumpoutofouranimalstateandbecomehumanbeings,butthenwereverttothesamestateagain.&&&&Ifyouobservecarefully,youwillfindthatinatwenty-four-hourperiod,onlyonceinawhile,atcertainmoments,arewetrulyhumanbeings.&&&&Andweallknowthisonlytoowell.&&&&Youmusthaveobservedbeggars.&&&&Theyalwayscometobeginthemorning.&&&&Theynevercomeintheevening,becausebyeveningthepossibilityofsomeoneremainingahumanbeingisvirtuallynonexistent.&&&&Inthemorning,whenamangetsup——refreshedbyagoodnightsrest,freshandcheerful——thebeggarhopeshewillbealittlehumane.&&&&Hedoesnotexpectanycharityintheeveningbecauseheknowswhatthemanhasgonethroughthewholeday——theoffice,themarketplace,theriotsandprotests,thenewspapersandthepoliticians——allmusthavecreatedamessforhim.&&&&Everythingmusthaveaggravatedandactivatedtheanimallayersinsidehim.&&&&Byhehasturnedintoabeast.&&&&Thatswhyyouseebeastsinnightclubs,displayingbeastlytendencies.&&&&Man,tiredofbeingahumanthewholeday,cravesforalcohol,fornoise,forgambling,fordancing,forstriptease——hewantstobeamongotherbeasts.&&&&Thenightclubscatertotheanimalinman.&&&&Thisisthereasonwhymorningsarethebestforprayer,whytheeveningisill-suitedforit.&&&&Inallthetemplesthebatnightthedoorsopentothenightclubs,thecasinos,thebars.&&&&Prostitutesareunabletoinviteanyoneinthemorning,theyinvitetheircustomersonlyatnight.&&&&Afteraharddayswork,hencetheworldofnightisdifferentfromtheworldoftheday.&&&&Themosquegivesthecalltoprayerinthemorning,andthetempleringsitsbellsinthemorning.&&&&Thereissomehopethattheman,upandrefreshedinthemorning,willturntowardsGthereislesshopeforthistohappenfromamanwhoistiredintheevening.&&&&Forthesamereason,thereismuchhopethatchildrenwillturntowardsGod,butthereislesshopeforoldpeople——theyareinthelifemusthavetakeneverythingawayfromthembynow.&&&&Sooneshouldstartonthejourneyassoonaspossible,asearlyinthemorningaspossible.&&&&Theeveningissuretodescend——butbeforeitdescends,ifwehavesetoutonthejourneyinthemorningitispossiblethatintheeveningwemayfindourselvesinthetempleofthedivineaswell.&&&&Soourfriendisrightinaskingwhetheritispossiblethatamanmayhavebeenananimalorabirdinhispastlife.&&&&Whatweneedtobeawareof,though,isnottocontinuetobeabirdorabeastinthislife.&&&&Beforewemoveintothemeditation,letusunderstandafewthings.&&&&Firstofall,youhavetoletyourselfgocompletely.&&&&Ifyouholdyourselfbackevenatinybit,itwillbecomeahurdleinmeditation.&&&&Letyourselfgoasifyouaredead,asifyouhavereallydied.&&&&Deathhastobeacceptedasifithasalreadyarrived,asifallelsehasdiedandwearesinkingdeeperanddeeperwithin.&&&&Nowonlythatwhichalwayssurviveswillsurvive.&&&&Wewilldropeverythingelsewhichcandie.&&&&ThatswhyIhavesaidthatthisisanexperimentwithdeath.&&&&Therearethreepartstothisexperiment.&&&&Thefirstis,second,rthird,relaxationofthought.&&&&Body,breathingandthought——allthesehavetobeslowlyletgoof.&&&&Pleasesitatadistancefromeachother.&&&&Itispossiblethatsomebodymayfall,sokeepalittledistancebetweenyourselves.&&&&Movealittlebackorcomealittleforward,butjustseetoitthatyoudontsiotherwisethewholetimeyouwillbebusysavingyourselffromfallingoversomebody.&&&&Whenthebodybecomesloose,itmayfaloneneverknows.&&&&Youcanbesureofitonlyaslongasyouhaveaholdoverit.&&&&Onceyougiveupyourholdonthebody,itautomaticallydrops.&&&&Onceyouloosenyourgripfromwithin,whowillholdthebody?——itisboundtofall.&&&&Andifyouremainpreoccupiedwithpreventingitfromfalling,youwillstaywhereyouare——youwontbeabletomoveintomeditation.&&&&Sowhenyourbodyisabouttofall,consideritablessing.&&&&Letgoofitatonce.&&&&Dontholditback,becauseifyoudoyouwillkeepyourselffrommovinginward.&&&&Anddontbeupseletitbeso.&&&&Ifsomeonesheadliesinyourlapforawhile,dontbebotheredbyit.&&&&Nowcloseyoureyes.&&&&Closethemgently.&&&&Relaxyourbody.&&&&Letitbecompletelyloose,asifthereisnolifeinit.&&&&Drawallttakeitinside.&&&&Astheenergymoveswithin,thebodywillbecomeloose.&&&&NowIwillbeginmysuggestionsthatthebodyisbecomingloose,thatwearebecomingsilent&&&&Feelthebodybecomingloose.&&&&Letgo.&&&&Movewithinjustasapersonmovesinsidehishouse.&&&&Moveinside,enterwithin.&&&&Thebodyisrelaxing&&&&Letgocompletely&&&&letitbelifeless,asifitisdead.&&&&Thebodyisrelaxing,thebodyhasrelaxed,thebodyhascompletelyrelaxed&&&&Itakeitthatyouhavetotallyrelaxedyourbody,thatyouhavegivenupyourholdoverit.&&&&Ifthebodyfalls,ifitbendsforward,letitbend.&&&&Letwhateverhastohappen,happen——yourelax.&&&&Seethatyouarenotholdinganythingback.&&&&Takealookinsidetobesurethatyouarenotholdingyourbodyback.&&&&Yououghttobeabletosay,&Iamnotholdingbackanything.&&&&Ihaveletmyselfgocompletely.&&&&&&&&&Thebodyisrelaxed,thebodyisloose.&&&&Thebreathiscalmingdown,thebreathisslowingdown.&&&&Feelit&&&&thebreathinghassloweddown&&&&letitgocompletely.&&&&Letyourbreathinggotoo,justgiveupyourholdonitcompletely.&&&&Thebreathisslowingdown,thebreathiscalmingdown&&&&Thebreathinghascalmeddown,thebreathinghassloweddown&&&&Thebreathinghascalmeddown&&&&thoughtsarecalmingdowntoo.&&&&Feelit.&&&&Thoughtsarebecomingsilent&&&&letgo&&&&Youhaveletthebodygo,youhaveletthebreathinggo,nowletthoughtsgoaswell.&&&&Moveaway&&&&movewithintotally,moveawayfromthoughtsalso.&&&&Everythinghasbecomesilent,asifeverythingoutsideisdead.&&&&Everythingisdead&&&&everythinghasbecomesilent&&&&onlyconsciousnessisleftwithin&&&&aburninglampofconsciousness——therestisalldead.&&&&Letgo&&&&letgocompletely——asifyouarenomore.&&&&Letgototally&&&&asifyourbodyisdead,asifyourbodyisnomore.&&&&Yourbreathingisstill,yourthoughtsarestill——asifdeathhasoccurred.&&&&Andmovewithin,movetotallywithin.&&&&Letgo&&&&leteverythinggo.&&&&Letgototally,dontkeepanything.&&&&Youaredead.&&&&Feelasifeverythingisdead,asifallisdead——onlyaburtherestisalldead.&&&&Everythingelseisdead,erased.&&&&Belostinemptinessfortenminutes.&&&&Beawitness.&&&&Keepwatchingthisdeath.&&&&Everythingelsearoundyouhasdisappeared.&&&&Thebodyisalsoleft,leftfarbehind,faraway——wearejustwatchingit.&&&&Keepwatching,remainawitness.&&&&Fortenminuteskeeplookingwithin.&&&&Keeplookinginside&&&&everythingelsewillbedeadoutside.&&&&Letgo&&&&betotallydead.&&&&Keepwatching,remainawitness&&&&Leteverythinggoasifyouaredeadandthebodyontheoutsideisdead.&&&&Thebodyisstill,thoughtsarestill,onlythelampofconsciousnessisleftwatching,onlytheseerisleft,onlythewitnessisleft.&&&&Letgo&&&&letgo&&&&letgototally&&&&Whateverishappening,letithappen.&&&&Letgocompletely,justkeepwatchinginsideandlettherestgo.&&&&Giveupyourholdcompletely&&&&Themindhasbecomesilentandempty,themindhasbecometotallyempty&&&&Themindhasbecomeempty,themindhasbecometotallyempty.&&&&Ifyouarestillholdingbackalittle,letthatgoalso.&&&&Letgototally,disappear——asifyouarenomore.&&&&Themindhasbecomeempty&&&&themindhasbecomesilentandempty&&&&themindhasbecometotallyempty&&&&Keeplookinginside,keeplookinginsidewithawareness——everythinghasbecomesilent.&&&&Thebodyisleftbehind,themindisleftfaraway,onlyalampisburning,alampofconsciousness,onlythelightisleftburning&&&&Nowslowlytakeafewbreaths.&&&&Keepwatchingyourbreath&&&&Witheachbreaththesilencewillgodeeper.&&&&Takeafewbreathsslowlyremainawitnesstothebreathingalso.&&&&Themindwillbecomeevenmoresilent&&&&Takeafewbreathsslowly,thengentlyopenyoureyes.&&&&Ifanyonehasfallen,takeadeepbreathfirstandthengetupslowly.&&&&Dontrushifyouareunabletorise,dontrushifyoufinditdifficulttoopenyoureyes&&&&Firsttakeadeepbreath,thenopenyoureyesslowly&&&&riseverysoftly.&&&&Dontdoanythingwithasuddenmovement——neitherrisingnoropeningyoureyes&&&&Ourmorningsessionofmeditationisnowover.&&&&