their bliss and their high state but also of their body, of the state of the world and so on, and can greatly benefit the world through their service to it. They are like Paramatma.

If only you give up the great attributes of Maya—Kama, Krodha and Labha—passion, anger and greed—you also acquire something—some deservedness towards the attainment of that great goal of Truth. For those who have no guru or spiritual guide, they may repeat the name of God with real love. Those who stay and work in the world, doing their duty towards their family and others, who always remember God and lead a pure and virtuous life, who do not grieve or grumble at the loss of their spouse, children or relatives, remaining contented with the consolation that these were given by God's will and taken by God's will,—they are no less worthy. Their preparedness and deservedness are great indeed,―at least better than those make-believe sadhus who wander about conferring their blessing on those that give them alms—"Give me alms, O Mother in the name of God, and your son will live long!" etc. This mode of living is for those who have no guide or guru.

As for those who do, it is quite a different case. They have only to surrender to the guru heart and soul, obey and carry out his order to the letter! That's all they have to do, though that's difficult enough. For they are generally in a very awkward position. Worldly Maya attracts them from one side and the guru from the other towards himself. Their state is like the man with two wives! Of course it's the guru who eventually succeeds, who forces them out of the clutches of Maya, and frees them, but nevertheless the powers of Maya are NOT small.

For example, suppose even after all these explanations I have been giving you for so long to train your mind, a very beautiful woman comes and just stands at the door; all eyes would be eager to have a look at her and be attracted by her. Because you all have the body and the understanding of Maya and are attracted toward it. Now, suppose this same beauty stands before a child or perhaps a heap of gold is placed by the child:—would the child be affected? Not at all. Why? Because it has no knowledge (consciousness) of Maya, that is, of Kama, Krodha , Lobha—passion, anger, and greed, although it has the same body as you, subject to pleasure and pain as you are. So try to free yourself from the bindings of Maya.

Take another example. Suppose a man has no teeth. If he is given a fine sugar-cane what would he do? Although he cannot enjoy chewing the sugar cane, he surely would say "Would to God I had teeth!" The same as an old man, seeing a beautiful woman standing nearby, will feel attracted and say "Would to God I were young!" This is Maya! How to be free of its clutches? Only by the grace of the guru! If the aspirant surrenders to him and serves him heart and soul, the guru will burn up all his Maya in a moment in as much time as it takes to light and burn a match!

Such great powers the guru has! But one must be prepared for and deserve his grace. Otherwise, you may go on for ages in your round of births and deaths, and there will be not even a smell of truth to you! Not only would the guru destroy all the Maya, but he would free you from these ceaseless rounds of births and deaths, and would enable you to see God in an instant—with just a tap on the head! What idea have you of the powers of a guru! Nothing! Your hands are now tied by the bindings of Maya; these must be released.

     "If one in chains, meets another in chains, he can never be freed. Associate yourself with            the free one; you be freed in a split second."

A swine always lives in refuse (Narka); you may throw it the best of foodstuffs, it will prefer the filth, leaving the best to the last. The refuse comes first. Even if you threw pearls before it, it would say "let me eat the refuse first, then I'll see to those pearls."

Here the pearls mean the Path of Realization, and you human beings are in a state like the swine, preferring refuse to pearls. For in spite of showing you the Pearls (the Path of Realization) you are attracted towards the worldly Narka (filth) of Maya. For whom are these Pearls destined, then? For the swan!