What Does a Caterpillar Have to Do to Become a Butterfly? - 30 Apr 2015

Cosmic joke, yeah. How the Supreme Lord could confuse himself to be just this person. That is the divine play, the cosmic joke, isn't it? You know, I was talking to my friends yesterday and it's just... that's all I feel moved to talk about, if I do talk, is that the confusion people have. And just looking at them, I was like, 'You don't have to be confused,' but I understand why they are. And I was telling somebody they felt like they had to be on a path to awaken and that they had to do something, and I just laughed because I see now that even my pretend doing... I said the way the best way that I can describe it was that I felt like a caterpillar metamorphosing into a butterfly. And there was this little 'me' thinking that I was making this all happen by doing this and doing that, and it was just all happening by itself. Even the supposed journey, everything was just happening. The only difference was that there was this little 'I' that thought it was doing it. And since I've got it out and out of the way, it's just happening. It's just... there's nobody doing anything. Nothing.

It's a very beautiful example. What does the caterpillar have to do to become a butterfly? Nothing. Just pretending to be the caterpillar wanting to become the butterfly. Yeah, by pretending to be the caterpillar wanting to become a butterfly. So I have the easiest job in the world: just to remind you that you've always been only that, always been the butterfly. So the only thing I have to do, if it seems like something I'm doing, is just to remind you to look. Just check: are you really a caterpillar? Or are you just pretending? Are you just giving too much energy to your thoughts? That's all. Basically, that's all. Because not even intellect is needed, not even knowledge is needed. What book must a caterpillar read to become a butterfly? '101 Steps to Butterfly-dom'? That could be a bestseller, usually, because as long as you feel that you are this caterpillar and somebody gives you a book which tells you how to become a butterfly, that could become a bestseller. 'To Butterfly'.

I think what's so beautiful too is that anything can happen. You know, I used to think that an enlightened being lived a certain way and was on a certain path and he had to do these things to awaken, and I really had this story in my head and I believed it very much. And I don't see it that way at all. It's just... and no matter what happens... I thought, 'Oh well, suffering doesn't happen and pain doesn't happen and, you know, only goodness and joy and unconditional love.' And then I realized through this understanding and getting rid of the 'me' that unconditional love means no conditions. That anything can happen, and it's my interpretation. I thought your example with the baby was perfect; just, it cries when it's in pain and then it forgets about it. It doesn't attach to anything.

Exactly. And anything can happen and yet nothing is happening to 'me', you see? Because there never is a 'me'. When this is seen, then what can really trouble us? I like this example very much: caterpillar and butterfly. I feel we can have a lot of fun with it.

Yeah. Everybody was talking at our book study about awakening and, you know, the belief in how that happens. And I thought about all the teachers that I've met or read about their journey, and there was no specific way. You know, there's no specific way that that happens. It happens when it happens, and then you find out it didn't really happen.

Yes. The mind can have lots of lots of concepts about how one should be. If they're free, they should wear only white clothes or saffron clothes. Yes, all of that. 'How can he wear comic book t-shirts and superhero t-shirts and, you know, come to Satsang like this?' But I feel it's very important because what's happened in the past, at least in India, is very much of this aura creation. And not all of it was disingenuous, or actually there was something in that, but it sort of created this sense of distance, you see? That freedom is at a distance and is only available for those who are now swamis and have taken the vows, celibacy or something like that, and it's only available for those kind of people. So I wanted to... the feeling here was to show you that it's completely regular. Completely regular. That's why I have no trouble talking about the fact that I want to learn programming. Last year I took my kids for the Avengers movie. All of this is just regular stuff. So whatever feels good is fine. So sometimes like when I went to... it did not feel appropriate for me to sit in Arunachala and then wear a very casual t-shirt or something like that, so I wore another shirt. But it doesn't mean that anything else changes. So all these are just concepts which the mind can pick up and say, 'But he's like this, he wears these kind of clothes, he has work, he's into investing.' All of these things can be barriers for the mind and you can say, 'What kind of being is this doing Satsang?' But I feel to convey to you that it's completely regular. What happened here is completely regular and therefore it is completely possible for everyone. Nothing at all needs to be renounced, no path needs to be followed. Just a little openness. Just a little openness to check: what am I in reality? And this little openness I can work with. I can work with very beautifully and very quickly. Like all of you are sharing, then when you share, then your words will sound like Satsang, you see? With no attempt to sound spiritual or anything like that. I don't feel any of you are making an effort to speak like this. It is just that these words are flowing, isn't it? So the regularness of life continues and yet your mouth is speaking words which are so beautiful, from the Satguru himself, all of you. And you all continue to shine in this way and bring many, many beings who come to your presence to this simple understanding.

Thank you, Father. Thank you so much.

I love you too. I'm so happy.