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| Shun
the Company of the Past
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The
past is stronger than the present in the mind because you cannot see
the present. Everybody speaks to you of the past. Do you find anyone
among your friends and relations who is speaking of the present? Everyone
speaks to you of the past; therefore it has become very strong. You
will have to seek out the company of those who speak to you of the
present moment, then this will also become much stronger and you will
shun the company of the past. To get rid of the past keep company
with those who are trying to live in, or who have tasted this moment
of present, who are speaking about this present life. Satsang means
association with those who live in Truth. Here everyone is speaking
everyday of this present moment, of peace and love and happiness.
The enemy is very
strong: Mind is your enemy. You have to be very strong and tight fisted
with your decision not to be lead away by those friends who trouble
you. Shun their company, even if they are related to you.
There was a young
princess in India, still in her teens. She had great love of freedom
but the royal family would not allow her to meditate. They said that
it was not the right way to live in a royal palace; that you have
to live as queens live. Her mind was very serene and peaceful, and
she had no one to turn to for guidance. In the royal palace there
was the king and all his relations, but no one who could be a guide
for her or a friend.
She heard of someone
whose advice she could seek. She wrote a letter and gave it to a runner
to get advice. She wrote in the letter:
"My dear father,
I do not know which behavior will be better for me. These people threaten
me, saying that I have to live in such-and-such a mold to suit the
palace. But this behavior doesn't suit me. I want to meditate. I have
to win freedom in this life. But these people threaten me and
give me trouble. Please advise me what to do."
The reply came back:
"Shun everyone, whosoever they may be, maybe near and dear to
you - husband, relations, parents, whosoever. Walk out.” That was
all he wrote. Then he quoted different stories of a son disobeying
their father, a wife disobeying her husband, to find freedom. He gave
many examples. The queen walked away from the palace and is still
remembered today.
You will have to
decide for your own good. You can't please the world. Who has ever
pleased the world? If you have won freedom perhaps everyone will be
happy with you. We still remember people who lived a life of freedom,
even thousands of years ago. We don't remember our relations. We forget
even those who have been dead for ten or twenty years. A person who
worked for himself and won enlightenment and gave advice to others
is still alive.
You have to make
up your mind. Nobody can trouble you if you decide for freedom. You
have to make a firm decision then nothing can trouble you. If you
are weak everybody will trouble you. If you simply keep quiet I don't
think any thought can come. Simply decide to sit quiet. This will
be a fire - nothing can touch you. Until now it is only that your
decision has been weak.
18 January, 1992
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