Remember why you are here on Earth: to find the Self, and you are going to come back and back and back and until you do. So you might as well do it now and get it over with. You can find the Self in one of two ways. You can either go in and in and in and in and in and in and in…there it is!§
Or, you can do it the artichoke way. You can say: The Self is not the emotions, it’s not the body. It is not this thought and it’s not that thought. It’s not this thought and it’s not this thing that I want, and it’s not this and it’s not that, and not this and not that. Why, it’s not even awareness. Uh oh! You’re right there. §
Do you like the artichoke way? If you tried the other way and it didn’t work, try this way. You have all discovered your emotions, right? You have all discovered your physical body. You have all discovered your thinking mind. You have all had intuitive flashes—“Oh, yes, I see!” You have discovered your superconscious mind. §
You have all discovered your subconscious mind. That’s the part you drag along with you; it’s called the past. Get that past behind me. Then the past is pushing you along. It is still there. Then it goes over to this side. “Let’s get that past behind me. Let’s get on with my life.” And you have all discovered getting rid of the past by putting your problems at the feet of the Deity, putting your problems in the homa fire, putting your problems in the sacred river. They go away.§
You’ve all discovered your infinite energy. The energy in your body, which is the same energy in my body and every body and every animal and every living thing in every planet in this whole universe. Same thing. Just keep discovering that and you get right to the core of existence itself. It’s that easy.§
Only you can do it. Nobody can do it for you, nor can anyone give it to you. Why can’t they give you the Self? Because it’s already there. You already have it. You can’t take it from one person and give it to another. The guru can’t take the Self out of him and give it to you. It’s already in you. It’s always been in you. It’s just all the outer stuff that keeps our attention occupied so much that we forget and become insecure in the outer. We forget the dynamic security of the Self which is stronger and more powerful than a neutron star. It has never, ever changed, never shall change, cannot ever change. You are that. §
So, concentrate on the all-pervasive energy. Every time your mind wanders on something else say: “Well, it’s not that!” Take that silly little thing off that enormous artichoke there. Put on a little mayonnaise. Mmmm!§
And finally, you will arrive right at the Self. First you intuit its existence. Then finally you realize that you have always been That. §
Give it a try. Promise? Give it a try? §
The yoga of action is comprised of austerity, scriptural study and japa, and devotion to Isvara. This yoga has the purpose of achieving samadhi and lessening the causes of afflication.§
Sage Patanjali, the Yoga Sutra, 2.2.1-2§
