ON LUST AND ANGER



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Jan. 28, 1964 in Washington, D.C., - the Master's last public talk in

America

on His Second World Tour.

 

 

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In a few words: man is the highest in all creation, and the highest aim that is before us in the manbody - as given out by all Masters who came in the past - is to know God. To know God, we must know ourselves first. God cannot be known by the outgoing faculties, nor intellect nor by vital airs. It is the soul alone that can know God. But our soul is under the control of mind, and mind is under the control of outgoing faculties. Our attention, which is the expression of our soul, is diffused into the world through the outgoing faculties and identified with them so by so that we have forgotten ourselves.

 

As I told you, it is the soul alone that can know God. Like knows the like. Soul is conscious entity; God is all consciousness. So first thing is that we should know ourselves. All the Masters, whenever they came, they gave out the same thing: Know thyself.

 

How can we know ourself? By liberating ourselves from the clutches of mind and the outgoing faculties; or, you might say, by analyzing yourself from mind and matter; or, still further you might say, to rise above body-consciousness. When you know, youŽll see that very God whom you find is already there.

 

The man body is a wonderful house we live in. We are living in this manbody, and we are also controlled in the manbody on account of some higher Power overhead: otherwise, we could run away out of this manbody. There are so many apertures in this wonderful house we live in, but we are controlled: we cannot go out. Breathing goes out, some Power cannot remain outside; some Power is bringing it back into the body. That Power which controls us in the body, that very Power controls all universe. That is what is called God-Power: Or by so many names given by various Masters, by different names. God, Wordless or Nameless, when it came into being, that is called Name, Shabda, Word. That God-into-Expression Power is the cause of all creation.

 

So you reside in this very manbody, and also Whom you are after. For which purpose you have joined various schools of thought or religions. He also resides within you: "The Kingdom of God is within you." If you would like to find or enter in there, you will have to enter in the laboratory of your manbody. You may be seeking outside for years and years; you may be observing so many rites and rituals, which are performed at the level of the outgoing faculties; and you cannot find a clue of that. All, Guru Nanak says, "So long as you do not know yourself, you are in a grand delusion."

 

So it is a pity: we are the indweller of the manbody, that very Power which we have to find is also already there: a fish living in the water inquires where water is. In the scriptures youŽll find a description of the findings the Masters had in their lives when they come in contact with that God-Power. There is only a description given by reading which that can flare up an interest in you to know Him to have those very experiences what the Masters had in their lives and are recorded in the scriptures. There their scope end.

 

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What do the scriptures say? "God is within you; body is the temple of God." All Masters say so: in their own words, of course. So, if the God is within you, you must try to find Him where He is. If you try to find Him in the outward things, outward places, then you cannot find Him. We have regard for all scriptures, for they give a beautiful, fine records of the experiences what the Masters had in their lives. We have respect for all places of holy worship, for the reason theyŽre made models after the manbody: Dome-shaped Hindu temples like head within body; cross-shaped, or nose-shaped: all churches. Within the symbols representing God: God is Light, God is Music of the Spheres. So these are two symbols kept in those to show that suchlike Light of God is shining within you and suchlike Music of the Spheres, or the Voice of God, is reverberating within you: that can be heard. You can have a contact with those when you rise above senses, above body-consciousness. Which is a matter of practical self- analysis.

 

How can you rise above body-consciousness? If you can rise above of your own efforts, you are welcome. If  not, you can seek the help of somebody who goes up and has the competency to raise your soul, liberate your soul, from the clutches of mind and outgoing faculties, and is able to give you an experience of opening the inner eye to see the Light of God and opening the inner ear to hear the Voice of God. Call him by any name you like. He is a man like you by outward appearance; but inside he has developed that way. He has analyzed his soul from mind and outgoing faculties; he rises above body-consciousness daily. This is what is meant when the scriptures say: "Learn to die so that you may begin to live." That is what is meant when Saint Paul said, "I die daily." So this is what is meant by, "To be born anew." This is what is meant when it is said: "The Kingdom of God cannot be had by observation; it is within you.“

 

In the outworldly subjects, we do need the help of somebody who is expert in that way. All the subjects have to do with the outgoing faculties: if you there need somebody to guide you, help you, why not in a case, in a subject which starts when you rise above body or outgoing faculties? It is a matter of common sense. If you can, well and good. A blind man needs two eyes to see. So we need somebody: "Son knows the Father and others to whom the Son reveals Him." And that Sonship continues.

 

So this is what is before us, for that purpose we have joined various schools of thought. And youŽll find: Who can withdraw from outside? Who is not attached outside. Who is attached outside, given up to outward pleasures and lives a sensuous way of living, such a man is not fit. There are five senses or outgoing faculties, but two of them are the most dangerous: The first is lust. The second is anger.

 

All are dangerous, but these are the most dangerous, you see. And even within these two, the first is most dangerous. Kabir says, "I forgive all sins; but not who are given up to unchaste life." These are his words.

 

Naturally the question will arise: what to speak of those who are married? Well, all scriptures tell us what does marriage mean. Marrige means taking a companion in life to be with you in weal or woe in this earthly sojourn; and help each other to know God, that is the highest aim before us. And one duty may be  of begetting children; not hundred per cent. Such a marriage, Christ gave out: "Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church." They should have chaste lives. One duty, as I told you, is begetting children. When you got one or two children, all right; you set your example and make their lives sublime.

 

So first thing, you see, it is called a life of continence. Life, having a life of continence is called the rishis to observe brahmcharya. "So, brahmcharya means control of all the organs of sense. It does not mean mere control of animal passions. If a man controls only one organ and allows all the others to have free play, is bound to find his effort fruitless. To hear suggestive stories with the ears, to see suggestive sights with your eyes, to taste stimulating food with your tongue, to touch exciting things with the hands etc. and then expect to control the only remaining organ, it is just like putting the hand in fire and expecting that it should not burn."* (* Quoted from Mahatma Gandhi; see Self-Restraint vs. Self-Indulgence, p. 92.)

 

So youŽll find perhaps palate is the chief of all. So brahmcharya means: the word charya means "the course of conduct"; and Brahm means "God." So brahmcharya means to have such a conduct of life adapted to the search for God. So it is, therefore, the control of all the senses; and it will become easy to anyone who controls his passions, his bad palate. Diet has to do very much about our lives. Whatever sort of food you have, you get that very same effect. If a dog is kept on mere vegetables, That is very amiable. If you keep him on meat etc., he is howling and growling. Any diet which goes to flares up passions, we have to eliminate.

 

So for that purpose you will find: In both this diet flares up, I tell you. Maulana Rumi says, "Well it is not the love which arises out of eating bread etc.; but love is of the soul, charity." Love attached with the physical body, you see, is called lust. So for that reason, you see, you will find: animals observe brahmcharya more than men. Any animal, you see, when he goes sick gets sick, he does is not eat, first thing. There is a time for their mating; and man has no time. It is a pity of a state, I would say. So that is why we are born not to eat; but eating is made for us, so that this body may be maintained. This is the golden opportunity that we have got: maintain it; keep it as long as you can. What for? Not for eating; but eating is for you to maintain it, so that you may know God.

 

Similarly, all other organs of desire are required to be controlled. All Masters have laid great stress on that very subject. So these are the two things  specially. What is all that, you see? All these five senses practically mean the same thing; and they hinge on only desire. So to be desireless is to cut off, to exterminate, the very root of other things. So Many Masters have come who said that. Lord Buddha said, "Be desireless." The tenth Guru said, in his own language, "Be desireless." When you have no desire, there is no question of anger. What is anger? When you want to do something or have something and someone appears to be standing in the way - direct or indirectly - that very impediment in the achievement of your desire is called anger.

 

When there is anger, you see, what happens? You cannot speak slowly. Take the example of one little rivulet or ordinary canal you might say going strong in a narrow channel. When it is there no impediment in the way, that goes on smooth. But if you put a big stone in it, the water retards and strikes against the stone, and two things happen: one, froth and foam, by striking; and the other, there is noise. So even those  man who become angry cannot speak slowly, and there is foam in their mouths. Then when there is any wish: "Oh, I must have it; there is no reason why I should not have it." He puts in all efforts in having it; he makes parties, this and that. When he achieves it, he does not to want to leave it; he is attached. This is called attachment. And then he enjoys it.

 

So all five senses hinge on the one thing: desire. Out of these, as I told you, two are the most important, or the strongest ones controll us in the body. All Masters have been telling like that. So whenever you go to the - everybody, you see, they say, "Chastity is life" - here we lack very much,you see - and "Sexuality is death." Those who are not married should observe strict chastity. Those who are married they should regulate their life according to what the scriptures say. And what the scriptures say, I have just laid out before you. So the Mohammedan and almost every scripture, they say the same thing.

 

So, "The abandonment of sensual desires draws the soul towards heaven." The more you control this, the more you are near to God; because on this very power depends the health of mind and body both: your intellect, your brain, your physical body. And further if this thing is developed very wonderfully - They say, what you eat that forms chyle; from chyle, blood is formed; from blood, fat is formed; from fat comes the bones; from bones, the pith in it; and from the pith, this thing is formed - how valuable things! As I told you, animals observe more celebacy than men: thereŽs time. So all Masters laid: "Any unchaste look, thought or act, and all profanity of speech is declared to be unpardonable." We don't pay attention to these things. "A perfect man must be pure in every word and in every action in his own life. The Holy Spirit comes to him from the day one becomes pure." You know how - what is the utmost necessity of being pure in thought. That is why Christ said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (* the rest of the sentence is interrupted) - not others.

 

So all Masters have been laying stress on. Shankaracharya - amongst in the Hindu religion you say, "When a man follows the way of the body, the true wisdom is not born within him." When you are attached to the sensuous way of living, where is the divinity? Similarly, "Lust and temptations are like the sharks in the river of life." Sharks - they eat up the man! Kabir says, "Lust and anger, they just eat away the body, just like, you see, when you put some -what is it called- aqua regia, gold is melted." So on this: "As the dawning of the day is simultaneously with the passing of the night, so the dawning of true knowledge follows simultaneously with the dawn of, you see, control over the self." Do you see how important it is, and how we have let these things loose?

 

So all Masters, whether they came in one religion or the other, they have been very particular about this point. And nowadays, how dangerous it is, you see! Young men and women - I don't know whether you take it ill or not; I donŽt think IŽm telling you-  I have pity on the state of affairs that we are having nowadays. They are let loose, going like anything: wild animals, running here and there. It does not mean Marriage is a sacrament, as I told you; it is not a contract. As I told you, Christ said, yes, "Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church." This is the main thing. "He who is affected with passions cannot obtain liberation." This is what Shankaracharya said. Not one, each religion says so. We belong to one religion or the other; but we don't follow the teaching. "So fascination with by the body is a great debt for him who is seeking liberation." I am quoting you these things from the scriptures. These are not my words. To whosoever, whichever religion you belong, well it is there. Chinese philosophy tells us, "To be guileless and pure: this is the way to nourish the spirit. When lust and desires are deep, the springs of the heavenly are shallow." What more do you want them to tell you? What we are doing? These every things are given great stress, but we people don't care. That's the pity. Buddha says: "I proclaim the annihilation of lust. I teach the doing away with lust. Nirvana means the subsiding of all human passions. When inner fires of lust are extinguished, then one enters into the Nirvana. This is the lesson of lessons."

 

This is the most important thing and the most ignored. I tell you, when we were quite young and our brothers and sisters were born, we used to ask out of curiosity where come this- they have come. And we were told that "the midwife has left it here." So innocent lives we had! Our parents had so chaste lives. Children did not know how the children - where from they come. And now, small boys knows. Why? They see you. How can you expect that not to happen?

 

So this is the subject which is the most important and the mostly ignored; so this is one thing, with this everything follows. May I quote you history? Napoleon, whose name dreaded the whole of Europe, when he was caught at Waterloo, you see, history shows he had fallen down the night before. Indian history shows Prithvi Raj: invaders came, he repulsed them. But the day he fall down in this way, he was caught. Your own experiences will show, when you go in for that, the following day you are not happy; your spirits are down; your eyes are sunken.

 

Excuse me, I have just taken up this subject because some friend of mine was asking about it this day; that there has been one article issued in the papers on this very subject. They are recommending all these things, whereas these are deadly against the highest principles of spirituality.

 

So, as I told you, control of organs of sense is the first thing: a life of continence. You see, this lust assails us. How? Through eyes. Want you to save yourself? Don't look into the eyes of others. Anger is flared up through the ears. How can you control it? Leave that place. The more you hear, the more anger is to flared up; and you won't talk slowly. You go on talking like anything, loudly; and what will be the result? There will be foam in your mouth, you see,  and you cannot speak. Attachment comes through skin. There are centers in the bodys. When you are attached to any - to your son or daughter - you hug him, here, you see, [to your heart]. These are centers to the body.

 

So manbody, you see, the highest in all creation, we have it! Simply if we withdraw! How to control it, you see, best way? Just control your attention, withdraw it from outside, bring it up to the seat of the soul, which is at the back of the eyes. This is the best way. When youŽre full controled, this can be had by regular practice I would say. Practice makes man. You use your eyes and you may not see; with your ears you may not hear. When will this be? When your attention is controlled.

 

So I tell you, Prophet Mohammed, he says two things: "If you control two organs -  one, which is between the two lips and the other, which is within the two thighs - he says- I am responsible for your liberation at the court of God." Tulsi Das says the same thing: "If you are truthful, humble, humility and chaste, considers others as mothers, sisters and daughters, except your wife" (and that also for a wives; wives are not machines, mind that. Excuse me; I am a bit very clear today. They are not for that purpose. That is only one duty, not hundred per cent.) - He says: "I am responsible at the court of God for you." And Kabir says, "I will forgive all sins; not who is lusty." WeŽve got no chastity left anywhere, that's a pity.

 

So these are the basic things that are flared up; others follow. So to achieve God is just to have a pure heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

 

You are always thinking, mind that. Simply sit down, hear what others say. Either they will be speaking of lusty things - excuse me - or animosity. What does this do? Any thought, I tell you, any intention that considers somebody to be retarding us, to be putting an impediment in our way, turns into anger. That's all. So we must have life of contentment. This is a necessity all Masters say. So all scriptures tell us to love God and to love all humanity; God resides in every heart. So for that an ethical life is stepping stone to spirituality.

 

These are the two main things, othersŽre also there. But these are two main things. Here we are very much down. It is the tongue, you see, where you have no control for eating or saying anything. Think twice before you talk. "What will this word I am uttering carry an effect?" If there is any controversy, quietly follow what he says. If you are in anger, mind that, never say anything. Keep quiet.

 

These are the ways to save yourself from these. But the highest aim is another thing. If you have love for God, and God resides in every heart, and we are of the same essence as that of God, then naturally we will have love for all, no hatred. When you love everybody, you won't harm him, you won't usurp his rights, you won't tell lies, you see. All things follow. So love, God is love, and love is the way back to God. So for that, it is necessary,  you must have a life of continence.

 

So this is, I think, the last I can give you. I have been referring to these things in my talks and just enjoining on you to maintain your diaries. Perhaps you have been thinking that these things where talked for someone else. This is the stony ground on which you can raise your building of spirituality; otherwise, you are raising your buildings on sand, mind that. I think the best IŽve knew and have found, I have given you. Man's highest aim is to know God, and whatever there are retarding factors we should eliminate. Whatever are helping factors, we should adopt in our lives. Whoever has to solve the mystery of life, naturally that is the greatest in his life when this question cannot be stamped out, must find solution sooner or later. There is food for the hungry and water for the thirsty; where fire burns, oxygen comes to help. Demand and supply is the law of nature. God sees: "My child is after Me." He makes some arrangement to bring you in contact - who has known himself and knows God: sees God as I see you and you see me. And he gives you how to control these outgoing faculties.

 

All outgoing faculties can be made stand still if you control your attention. That is what the Masters always gave: Surat Yoga - the way of attention, controlling your attention. They give you an experience how to withdraw, how to analyze yourself, how to rise above body-consciousness, how to be reborn: "Except ye be reborn, ye cannot enter the Kingdom of God." It is a matter of pure self-analysis. Blessed you are. With the grace of God you have been put on the way. Christ said to his disciples: "Blessed are ye who see things what the old prophets and righteous could not see. Blessed are ye who hear things what the old prophets and righteous could not hear." So you could see, you can hear. Is it not a great blessing of God? Go on further,you see. Just have self-introspection your of lives like a strict judge, like a hard taskmaster. Don't spare yourself. And go on with your meditations; weed out all imperfections; send your diaries at regular intervals. Have love for all; love God; love resides in every heart. Those who do not love, cannot know God.

 

These things, I think the best of things, in a few words I could give you. And the last day, IŽm be physically leaving you, tomorrow. So please keep it in your hearts, live up to that. The more you live, youŽll feel blessedness within you. Remain in any religion you like. Religions are our schools of thought, to know God.

 

All right, I thank you all for all the cooperation, you see, and help extended by you - not in words, but in thoughts and deeds, you see. You have been helping the cause of God: in other words, you have been helping your own Selves and helping me, too. My wishes are always with you, and the God-Power is with you, can never leave you. He will be extending all feasible help and protection.

 

I will be glad to hear from you about your spiritual progress at regular intervals, say, quarterly. Give in brief what you want. Long yarns won't do. Suppose you write a letter of eight pages-sometimes people write ten pages, twelve pages. So what I do? Those are small letters I reply the first. That is what I have to do. So write short, to the point, what you want. That Power is within you; that will compensate you, straight off. How you feel, what is your - any difficulty, you see, in your meditations, your diary shows everything. If there is anything special, you can put it. That will help you, you see, you also and I think I can attend to it more clearly. My correspondence is increasing, I know, by leaps and bounds, because the number of disciples is growing. And I wish each one of you to remain in contact, attend your group meetings, you see.

Those who are there, have love and respect for them. Love one another, for the sake of God and God in Master, that's all. I wish you, you see, best of my wish and love. Tomorrow I will be leaving at about, I think, ten or eleven.

 

COMMENT: Master has been a source of great blessing. Even if Master goes away, He has left so much.

 

THE MASTER: It won't be lost if you simply turn your face to that. It is always fresh. Remain in contact. God will help you.

 

COMMENT: He'll be coming back again, if all goes well.

 

THE MASTER: It is all in the hands of God.

 

COMMENT: We want to thank all those who started Satsang in the United States; without them, we

wouldn't be here.

 

THE MASTER: Do you know how much love I have for them? If you people have got any anger, send it to me. Don't throw it here. Anything which is not good, throw in to wastepaper basket: consider it sent on to me. Love one another; that will help you, you see. Be cordial and friendly when you see each other: when two disciples meet, intoxication comes up in the sweet remembrance of God and the Master, you see. I am very glad, you see....* All these nothings we should forgive and forget. These little daily dyings should be set aside. This is all, I think that will earn my pleasure....* All are on the same way, and how can the Father leave the children?

 

That's all right. Thank you so much.

 

 

*short personal words between Param Sant Kirpal Singh and his disciples