श्रीरामSatsang with Ananta
Awareness & Attention

What Are You Taking Yourself to Be Now?' Is the Fundamental Question

True seeking requires wanting Truth more than mind's desires, and simply noticing distractions without self-judgment is sufficient - self-criticism only amplifies the ego.

Seeker

Namaste and thank you.

Ananta

Welcome, welcome.

Seeker

Yesterday, I was hearing a very beautiful talk of Guruji [Sri Mooji] and he saying that if you really want to meet the Master, you really have to want it. And I feel sometimes that maybe I don’t want it enough.

Ananta

Achha, yes. So, Guruji’s beautiful words—if you really want to meet the Master, then you really have to want it—let me help you with my perspective on these words. Of course, I am nobody to be able to interpret Guruji’s words in any way, but the way I hear them at this moment is that the meeting with your true Being, your true Divinity, your divine Presence cannot be you holding something else in one hand. So, if we’re holding attachments, if we’re holding duality, if we’re holding desire in one hand, then the true meeting with the Master is not possible. So, want it more than you want other things—that much is more than enough. Another metaphor I use, which somehow weirdly fits in with this, is that you cannot board an aeroplane and keep the other foot on the ground, you see? [Smiles] Either you board the plane or you don’t. You can’t get into a relationship with the Master and your mind. So, the mind is proposing various ideas to you about how your life should be, what it should have, what you must want, but you must want the Truth, your Divinity, your Satguru, more than the mind’s propositions.

Seeker

For me, I feel that it’s the only thing in life I want, is to be free.

Ananta

That’s it, then you’re good! [Smiles]

Seeker

But…

Ananta

But? [Laughs]

Seeker

But somehow I get distracted, you know?

Ananta

That’s okay. But you’re still here. That’s okay. Maya is not a tame animal. [Laughs] She will tempt you. So, it’s fine. You’re still here. As long as you’re still here, and that means here in your heart, here in Satsang, which is your own presence, and you have—you as Consciousness—now are playing this game of letting go of your duality and desire and coming to your true nature, it’s very good, it’s very good. So, spot things but don’t judge yourself on that basis; just that you notice them is enough. You’ve noticed something: Ah, this tendency is there. But then, if you start beating yourself up with it and say, “Oh I still have this, when will I change, I’m not good enough, I’m unworthy,” remember that no Master has ever said anything to make you feel unworthy. They’re just giving you the tools with which you can spot ignorance. So, you’ve spotted it, that’s all, that’s all you can do and that’s all you have to do. You noticed it, it’s enough. But if you make it then personal that “Okay, I’m still not there yet, I’m not devoted enough, I don’t want the truth enough,” then these kind of ideas can amplify the non-existent ego. The idea of the non-existent ego can seem bigger, not stronger, because of these ideas. So, neither pride nor humility.

Seeker

Okay.

Ananta

Yes? Okay. Good, good, good. [Smiles] This itself conveys a lot of openness, no? To come in an open Satsang with so many and to be able to expose this. It doesn’t look like hiding to me, it looks like openness.

Seeker

Yeah, I was feeling that the point is coming. Yes.

Ananta

Very good, very good [Smiles]

Seeker

Thanks a lot.

Ananta

So welcome, so welcome.

Key Teachings

  • You must want Truth, your Divinity, more than the mind's propositions and attachments - full commitment is required, not half-measures
  • Noticing your tendencies and distractions is enough - don't judge yourself or make it personal, as self-criticism only amplifies the ego
  • The meeting with the Master (your true Being) cannot happen while holding duality, desire, or attachments in one hand
desiremayasurrenderself-judgmentcommitmentegoopenness

From: 'What Are You Taking Yourself to Be Now?' Is the Fundamental Question - 26th November 2019