Sometimes in my meditations I feel afraid; I'm about to break through the Light.

    You see Light. What color?

Bright.

    The further thing is to learn to look into the middle of the bright Light not the whole - That will burst.

Sometimes I feel the Light start to break and I become afraid.

    Don't worry, just look into the middle and that will open, break. You'll pass through - you'll find Master's form at the back. Perhaps you may think you are dying. You won't die, I'll give you that in writing. Rest assured that you won't die. But you will learn to die. What is death? It is only a matter of transference. I have left that place - I am dead there and alive here. But I'm the same man, am I not? You won't die. Sometimes a man is afraid, sometimes breathing is involved. If breathing is not involved or you are not conscious of the body - then there is no fear. If you're conscious of the body-you sometimes are conscious of the breathing going on and you say, "I'm going to die." So when you sit for meditation consider you are dying. These outer entanglements won't let you go up. There is nothing to be afraid of, you see. If you find the Master there, then won't you be pleased? Won't you be pleased? But you have to take cross daily. Taking cross daily - what does it mean? Do you know? What is a cross like? It is just like: (Master outstretches His arms in a cross-like position.) This is a cross. Take up your cross daily. (Master makes a vertical portion of the cross going up.) You are taking cross, are you not? You are simply carrying that symbol. That's a symbol. Taking cross daily. It does not say to carry the cross daily, no. It's not carrying the cross but it is taking the cross. You'll rise up.
    This is what is meant to die while alive. That is why they said, The Kingdom of God cannot be had by observation, so long as you are outside - observing from outside; it is within you. It is a very glorious thing. It is joyful. Why don't you go? Why are you afraid? Your attachments outside won't let go. You'll have to pay the price: take cross daily, that's all. But at the same time, I assure you, you won't die. The reason is that the Karmic link with which we are bound with the body, called the Silver Cord; is not broken. Unless that is broken, you cannot leave the body and go forever. Do you follow this point? Then be joyful. Go and meet your Lord There.
    Mira Bai, a Saint in India, says: "My Beloved is awaiting me, but you have to take the cross shuli." Shuli means, there is a cross - the cross is like that. Shuli is like that, learning to rise above. We have to sacrifice by coming to the cross. And SEE. If you find your friend beyond this wall, this hedge, won't you plunge? You will plunge - that's all. That is plunging into the Beyond.
    Take the case of a child. He's sitting on top of the roof. He sees his mother - he plunges. Then, do you think the mother would let him fall down? She'll catch him. It is a plunging into the Beyond, that's all.
    I think you don't like to meet the Lord within? Yes, Then you must pay the price. And what is the price? Take cross daily. No money is to be paid. Take off the dirty clothes and go up. This earth, physical body, are only the clothes we are wearing, that's all.
    In Gita, Lord Krishna says: "We have to change our clothes." Take this off, then take off the second layer, take off the third layer, then you are There. So we are identified with outer forms so much that we have forgotten ourselves. You have got the tickets and you don't like to go to the other world. It is just like that. Train is waiting for you, God is giving the train signal, "Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up" and you don't even like to entrain yourself? An airplane leaves only at the airport, not at any other place. And this is the airport. (Master points to the region of the third eye.) You have got the ticket. Those who have been initiated, they have been given a ticket, now it is for you just to go. You've not to be anxious or worry, no effort, nothing. Simply hear, come in contact. All worries will go. When you put any filth into the fire, all is burnt. All worries, disappointments, hopelessness, everything is burnt away when you come in contact. But we don't like to remain in the Light - that's all.

When Light comes, darkness will go.

    Yes, surely. But we don't make the best use of the thing we have got. This is a privilege you have got. It is said, "One Saint had pity on some very poor man. He gave him one touch stone, which when rubbed on any metal, would turn it into gold. He gave it to him and said, `All right, you have it for one month; make as much gold as you like.' So he went to the market to find out the price of iron. `Oh, it has become dearer. All right, we will wait, let it become cheaper.' After a few days again he went. But the rate went up further. `This is still very dear.' Then he would wait. `It is dear.' He was waiting and waiting for the metal to become cheaper, but the one month time of allotment was over. He did not make the best use of this touch stone so now he had to return it; it became an ordinary stone."
    This is something like we are doing. What do we have to pay? Leave off all attachments. That's all. If you cannot leave off all attachments, come in contact and these will be burnt away. Daily dyings, worldly worries ... won't let us go There. We think, "Let these worries be over then I will go," is it not? This isn't true. These worries will continue until you leave the body. Why not make the best use of that time now.
    You follow me now? Time is passing. Time and tide wait for no man. Someone brought a horse to a water wheel. When the machine is going and the wheel goes around, there's noise ... and water comes out. He was standing by that water pump. The man in charge said, "Why don't you have your horse drink the water?"
    "No, when this noise is over, only then will I water the horse." The man replied, "When the noise is over, there will be no water." So these things go on. We never dream this will happen; that we will have to leave all these things. The only price we have to pay is to take cross daily.
    These are different ways of making you understand what is what. The only thing: you have to come in contact. You have to entrain yourself at the railway station, or you can sit in the plane at the airport; not in your streets. You have to go There. You'll cash the check only at the window. That's the window here. (Master again points to His third eye.) Try some day ... all worries will leave you. Truly speaking, we have not realized the value of this Truth we have got. So fortunate we are! With all that, still we are worrying, wringing our hands, nodding. So I think the course is not difficult. Only we do not put in regular time. If, say for one, two, three months you put in whole time ... cut off from all outer things - even from your attachments to your body; you will have It. There's no question of where, it's already there - we have to invert, that's all. All worries will be over. What is worldliness? It is when you forget the Lord, that's all. Money, family, other things are delusion of Maya. Maya is when you forget God.
    If you can take cross hundreds of times a day it would be better. The hanging of the cross - well, this is a symbol to show that you must take cross daily. It is quite a model of the man-body, when you stand like that - is it not so?

Master, do you advocate that men should get their hair cut when they become Satsangis? Should you get your hair cut if you have long hair?

    No, I don't say that. Whether you have long hair or not, that makes no difference for spirituality. It is only the social life which may be affected. If the social life is affected, then you can't have an easy time. People of the world will be pointing out: "Oh heretic, heretic" - they may even hate you. When you've got no social life, what to do ... that's a social matter, not a spiritual matter. For spirituality whether you have long hair or not that makes no difference.
    But there's some principle behind having long hair. Saints are the worshipers of Nature. They don't destroy Nature. When the leaves are dried, they fall down from the trees; the green leaves don't fall. So we are the worshipers of Life. When you comb hair all dead hairs go out. Even if you cut your hair, even then it will grow. That's Nature's Law. In this age, there's a question of hippies. They are not taken on good terms now - everywhere they are hated because they have been taking drugs. The Indian government doesn't like them. This is a bad habit they have got - otherwise the word hippie means peaceful life - lover of Peace. But are they lovers of Peace?
    Intoxication of the soul comes by coming in contact with higher consciousness. They take, they borrow and that goes to mar their consciousness. We have to become more conscious. If you come in contact with the outer intoxicants, naturally your consciousness is affected and you will have to go back to the lower strata of life. Do you follow what I mean to say?
    Because you people are stuck fast in the social customs and don't think of the outer things-you simply see from your own angle of vision. Even if you cut finger nails they will grow; that's Nature. If they don't grow, that's all right. So Saints are worshipers of Life. That's all. They leave things to Nature. Any dead hair comes out by combing.
    And we are all worshipers of Life: Consciousness. That's the principle behind what I am telling you. Whether you keep hair long or not, that has little to do with your spiritual life.
    But for spirituality you have to rise above the physical body. You've got a ramp to learn how to cross - take cross daily - then whether you have hair or not, what difference does it make. You are not the body.

    Why do you go by hearsay? One is led away by hearsay. First, don't believe unless you see for your own self or hear with your own ears. Don't believe anybody. He may have some purpose behind - some selfish motive, some mischief. Believe only when you see, not only see, but hear too. Seeing also sometimes misleads a man. Suppose a daughter is sitting by the father. People say, "Oh what is it - they are sitting both together." But hear them - what sort of talk they are having. People see from their own angle. Those who have got clear cut view ...

Master, most of us here, before we came on the Path, have taken drugs. Will the fact that we have taken drugs adversely affect our spiritual progress?

    Surely. I tell you, we are conscious beings. We have to become more Conscious. Anything which has gone to mar our consciousness - that will take you to the lower strata of life. That is killing yourself, I would say.

A lot of us became aware of the spiritual life through drugs ...

    Leave it, that's all. Don't take more poison, that's all. A little poison taken can be ...

But our progress now will be affected by what we did before ...

    Only if you put in more time (in spiritual practices) these things will be cleared. Put in more time. Don't leave off that effort. That's all right. Whatever poison you have taken in your stomach can be washed out. But stop taking more poison, that's all. What more is there?

    Social life is only a way of living. There was one atheist in Lahore, I think forty, fifty years ago. He challenged all heads of the different religions there to prove that their religion is necessary. Generally, people take the word "religion" as social religion, not that "re" means back, "ligore" to bind - they don't dream of it. They came up - that's a very interesting question. I also joined in to find out what was what. I was sitting in the front row. All heads of other religions stood up to prove their social way of life. Sikhs said there should be long hair, and this and that thing. Hindus spoke up for their own outer forms; Christians came up with their own thing; Mohammedans came up ... All were finished and that atheist stood up and said: "Look here, dear friends. If you want to marry, stand before some man of God, through the hands of some pious man, maybe a Bishop, maybe a Pundit, maybe some other pious man ... before 100-200 people - From today onward their connection is legal ... is right. Now that girl goes with the husband and nobody points out. Before that everybody: `Oh, what is going on?' Then he added, "What difference does it make?" I was sitting in front. I stood up: "Dear friend, now you are denouncing all forms of social religions." "Yes," he replied.
    "Suppose you have got 10,000 people of your way of thinking. You'll have to form a society. You will lay down certain rules to go by, is it not so? After some time you will see that this rule was not correct - you will amend it. You know life is very precious-every moment of life. Would it not be well to remain in your own social customs, which have been proved by time, AND take up the cross, rise above body, know oneself, and know our Overself?"
    "You are right." he admitted.
    So we are stuck fast. Social bodies were formed only that so many people may derive the benefit of the teachings which were given under the guidance of some awakened man. But for want of awakened people the whole thing goes wrong. And ever since this paid preaching has started in all religions, there is havoc. I think this is a very clear talk, no dubiousness.
    Masters come from time to time to revive that very old thing. I am not giving anything new.
    Social religions have found a certain way of living and consider this is the end-all and the be-all. The casing is meant to safeguard the kernel. God has provided all fruits with a casing. But if the casing deteriorates with no thought or care of the kernel, what is the point? We are only wearing the badges of some social form of living, that's all. This is no religion - this is 'social order you might call it. True religion - "re" means back, "ligore" to bind-to bind back your soul with God-that's all - that is religion. That will come when you take cross. If you cannot take cross daily yourself, someone should give you a boost - to have something. Then, go on under His guidance.
    So Masters come to preach to all the world over. They don't look to the labels or the badges we are wearing on our body. They say, "You are a man first, born with the same privileges from God, outer and inner. You are not the body - you are having the body, you see. Golden opportunity is to know yourself and to know God, Who is controlling you in the body." That's all.
    Does it not appeal to you?
    Very common sense, no philosophy required, no inference to be drawn. So remain where you are. That's all right. For want of practical people all this deterioration resulted. So People again come to preach to you from the level of man. The Manav Kendra, what does it mean? It is a center for man - not of religions. Religions were meant to turn out perfect men. You have seen that definition of perfect men in the Manav Kendra brochures? Then... Remain where you are - in all churches they have lights outside, but the Light is within you - invert and see. What is the use of having symbols outside unless you see the real thing of which they are models.
    This is called Apra Vidya. All methods relating to outgoing faculties, limbs, or intellect - They are all Apra Vidya, exoteric not esoteric. What you have been given, that is esoteric. There is no need of changing your outer form. Because you are stuck fast, you have the narrow angle of vision from which you see. Rise above!
    Fly in a plane. You'll find all the outside things lose all importance, I would say. But it's all right to start, as ABC. I have not advised you to change your religious forms. Have you? That's all right.
    I'm only giving you what makes you have that which is underlying the teachings of all social religions.
    If you can do so of your own self, well and good ... A blind man needs two eyes to see. If not, let him seek help from someone else. And who will help you? The God in Him. He is not to unite you with His own Self but unites you to the God within you already. That's all. This is a digest of all scriptures I am giving you in few words.
    I wish you all to go jolly. Let your face shine - bright eyes, no brooding, no wrinkles.
    Learn to smile.
    Where's our friend Mr. Smiling? (a disciple who always had a smile on his face.)
    Joy, you see. It is just giving oil to the machine. If you get something - be thankful for what you
have got. Go on further. Time is passing. Your time is become short, has it not? Every day,
every minute brings you nearer to the end of the time that you have been allotted here.
    Always weigh: God first or the world first? Then you'll be all right. You say you love God. You
say so. But in a matter of living you love the world more than God. If you say something, but do
something else...?
    God wishes every man to come to Him all alone. No family, no attachments,
no worldliness. Even not your body, you see. All alone, He'll be pleased.
    When you go to Him you take your body. "Oh, I cannot sit. There is my brother sitting - my wife sleeping there." - So
many worries of the world. How will He be pleased? Do one thing at a time.
    Is it difficult to understand? Then live it. Live up to it, that's all. If you live like that for some days, then naturally you won't like to live the other way. When you do something for one day, two, three, four, ten days or a month or so, mind has a tendency to go that way like an ass or a donkey. If you lead a donkey around in a particular way for some days, after that even if you close his eyes he will go that way. So this regularity gives us a habit. Then mind will naturally like to go There. Now, it is too much attached outside. That is why it does not like to go There; because the twenty-four hours of the day we are attached outside most of the time. That has become a habit, and habit turns into nature and we have to unravel it, that's all, by attaching it to the other side.
    When you are attached to one thing, wholly and solely, for some time naturally you are detached (to all else) - that is true renunciation.
    So remain where you are; in whatever social life you are. Maybe as a worldly man, maybe a Sadhu, or anybody, then go up! All have to go up. Inner way is the same way for all. Of course there are some harder ways, difficult ways ... the Path you have been given is natural, even a child can do it. Only a little boost ...
    This is the Ashram. Body is the Ashram. He is waiting for you There. You have not to call Him. He is waiting for you.
    A man was addicted to gambling very much. His father was very ill at home. People said, "Well, will you come? Your father is dangerously ill, on deathbed."
    "All right, I'm coming," he said.
    But he was still very much engaged in gambling. "Just another game."
    Again they came: "Now he's having his last breath."
    "All right, wait, I'm coming."
    Then they said, "Your father has died."
    "All right, I am coming. Prepare the body."
    Still he was gambling.
    They said; "They are carrying the dead man to the cremation place."
    "All right, I will come when he will reach there."
    This is what we are doing, you see. We are so much engaged in gambling in trifling things that we say: "All right, we will do, we will do, we'll come. I will take off tomorrow, day after ... this work has to be done, that work is being done, only when it's finished will I come" ... until the last moment comes ... then you have to leave the body.
    Is it not something like that? Well, what remains now. You have understood it, live up to it. That's the only thing. Not by understanding only. That does not take you anywhere. It gives some intellectual satisfaction. But you remain where you are. You are to take the plane; go to the airport, that's all. You have got the ticket, nobody even lets you enter the airport without one. That is free for you and then, what do you do? - You say I have to take this, I have to do that - That is why Saints, from the very childhood, develop all around: physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Even the children have the right understanding. Why don't you? Children learn more. They copy you. Young or old - all should start. Who knows when life will end? The end may be in early life, maybe young life, maybe old life - we are not given any guarantee. The time is appointed, but we do not know it. It is already dated. Develop all around.
    We must take an example before us to follow. First learn to leave the body. That's all I would say. God bless you.