I too was once like you―attracted to the worldly Maya―but O! with what powers (Lila) did my guru show me the Pearl of Realization!

       "Constantly repeating Thy Name, I became one with thee. Nothing was left of 'me'. How              can I sing Thy praise, O Guru mine? Wherever I cast my eyes, I perceive Thee and              Nothing else!"

Who did all this? The guru. And that too, how easily: only through his kind grace! The guru's grace is required.

You are all undergoing the same process towards the Path of Realization, and are advancing in the direct line. Realization shall be given to those who deserve it, and to whom it is due to be given! If there is the guru's grace, it is the work of a moment―a tap on the head--and ah! bliss and eternal Bliss! You can never get even an idea of that Bliss! Even if I explain it to you verbally or in writing, for ages on ages—it cannot be understood without EXPERIENCE!

For instance, take this makan (dormitory) and take it to be Realization. In it are so many boxes, vessels, lanterns, etc. etc. Now suppose you have not seen these things—lanterns, boxes, vessels, etc. before nor do you know anything about them. Now, how could you get an idea of all of this? Either by explanation or by seeing (experience). Of these two methods, the second, [sic] that of explanation, is very difficult and lengthy. As said, it would require not years but ages for you to understand these secrets of Realization. But suppose, instead of all this bother, you were brought here with your eye bandaged, then the bandages were removed, you would see at a glance into this makan what a box is like, a lamp, a vessel, and so on. The things that can barely be understood in a glance, by experience.

There are other examples of the same kind. Suppose a villager of Arangaon who has never been out of his village is taken with bandaged eyes to one of the great cities of Europe or America, and there his bandages are struck off. He would be simply amazed! Carriages, motors, trams and trains and all such hum-drum of a city life would simply make him stare blankly and with amazement all around. But if you had tried to explain to him beforehand, even for years, about all this heavy traffic, he wouldn't get an idea of it, least of all a clear idea—but that clear idea he would get at once through personal experience.

It is the same with Realization—its explanation, and experience. You have bandages around your eyes NOW—you have no idea, no knowledge of Realization. You do not even understand and realize the difference between the refuse (Narka) and the Pearl! For though I sincerely offer you the priceless Pearls (Sat-Marga), you go and dip your mouths in the Narka, you are attracted by and get attached to the worldly Maya. So the duty of the guru is first of all to free you from the various clutches of this Maya, and then to give you the experience—Realization.

Once you have surrendered yourself to a guru, he has to do his duty to you—he cannot escape that. It is only your unbounded love and unswerving faith that is required thereafter, and that will encourage him in his duties towards you. So—take your guru to be your God, and with as much love and faith, surrender and serve him, and you will be saved!

Love, Desire and Bindings

The explanations commenced from the talk of 'tea'. Tea is a universal drink, liked by one and all, by all peoples and countries. This tea is called in Gujerati, "chaha," which is the equivalent of "chaha" meaning "love". Both these "chahas" are useless. In the eyes of a Realized One "chaha", or tea, taken in excess, is injurious to health, and the other