Experiences and Visions Spiritual experience means the contact with the Divine in oneself (or without, which comes to the same thing in that domain). And it is an experience identical everywhere in all countries, among all peoples and even in all ages.  18 February 1935 * One must always be greater than one's experience. It is always better to control an experience of this kind rather than to be controlled by it. I mean that the experience in itself is good and useful, but it must come when we want it to come and not at any time when it chooses to come. It seems to me that it is better to allow this experience to come only when you are quietly

INSINCERITY, PRETENSION AND  SELF-DECEPTION Be perfectly faithful and sincere towards your true Self. Allow no deception to creep into your consecration to the Divine. 1 January 1934 * Insincerity leads on the path to ruin. In your sadhana what is important is sincerity at every point; if there is that, mistakes can be rectified and do not so much matter. If there is any insincerity, that pulls down the sadhana at once. But whether this constant sincerity is there or there is any falling off from it at any point, is a thing you must learn to see in yourself; if there is the earnest and constant will for it, the power to see will come. Sincerity

Love DIVINE LOVE             In the Divine's love we always find all support and all consolation.  7 May 1954 * When you reach the contact with the Divine's love you see this love in everything and all circumstances.  20 July 1954 * The Divine's love and knowledge must always govern our thoughts and actions.  24 July 1954 * May the Divine's love dwell as the sovereign Master of our hearts and the Divine's knowledge never leave our thoughts.  29 October 1954 * The Divine's love can generate in all peace and the satisfaction that comes from benevolence.                                                                 27 November 1

SERVICE TO THE DIVINE  No joy can be greater than that of serving the Divine. There is no greater joy than to serve the Divine.  14 May 1954 * We must be always, solely and exclusively, the servitors of the Divine.  31 October 1954 * We should be in no other service but in God's alone. Above all preferences we want to be at the service of the Divine. Page ― 110 To be at the Divine's service is the surest means of attaining realisation. (About service to the Divine and meditation) Both are equally good. Nevertheless, through service one can attain a fuller realisation than through meditation a

FALSEHOOD AND TRUTH Falsehood is the great ally of Death. Once falsehood is conquered, all difficulties will go. In all human beings is not falsehood always mixed with Truth? There is one Truth but a million ways of distorting it in the attempt to express it. Page ― 208 Hypocrisy and pretension are the homage ignorance pays to the truth. Hypocrisy and pretension are the first signs of the inconscient's aspiration towards consciousness. Simultaneous with the progress and intensification of the sadhana, there is increasingly felt the imperative need that all hypocrisy and compromise shoul

Enthusiasm and Straightforwardness Joyous enthusiasm: the best way of facing life. True enthusiasm is full of a peaceful endurance. Our courage and endurance must be as great as our hope and our hope has no limits.  2 August 1954 * A steady hope helps much on the way.  15 August 1954 * Our hopes are never too great for manifestation. We cannot conceive of any thing that cannot be.  22 August 1954 * Straightforwardness shows itself as it is, without compromising. Transparency can come only as a result of perfect sincerity. Page ― 186 Illumined transparency: an effect of the Divine Grace.

Opinions of Others You are quite right in not allowing the moods and fancies of people to effect you. You must soar above all that in the constant feeling of the Divine's Presence, Love and Protection. Don't let anything from outside approach and disturb you. What people think, do or say is of little importance. The only thing that counts is your relation with the Divine.  30 April 1933 * It is always regrettable when one is open to the influence of another person. One shouldn't admit any influence except that of the Divine.  22 March 1934 * To feel hurt by what others do or think or say is always a sign of weakness and proof that the whole being

Devotion and Self-giving DEVOTION Devotion: modest and fragrant, it gives itself without seeking for anything in return. Devotional attitude: moderate and self-effacing, it gives remarkable fruit. A devotion that keeps concentrated and silent in the depths of the heart but manifests in acts of service and obedience, is more powerful, more true, more divine, than any shouting and weeping devotion. Sincere devotion is much more effective than the Ganges water. WORSHIP Worship: the form or outer expression of your devotion. Page ―103 True worship: total and constant without demand or exigence. OFFERING Life must

PART FIVE HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS Judging Others The more a mind is ignorant, the more easily it judges everything it does not know or is incapable of understanding. I want the peace to come into your mind and also the quiet, patient wisdom which prevents one from jumping to hasty conclusions and judgments. It is always better to keep a quiet mind and to abstain from rushing to conclusions before you have the necessary information.  12 April 1932 * Tell your vital not to judge on appearances and to collaborate. All is well in the long run. You were wrong to be disturbed; that shows that suspicion was in your mind and heart. And if one is pe

You should not confuse a calm mind with a silent mind. You can calm your mind and stop its ordinary activity, but it may still be open to ideas coming from outside and that too disturbs the calm. And for the mind to be completely silent, you must not only stop its own activity but shut out all that comes from other minds. This is not easy. Moreover, you must learn to distinguish between a phenomenon of consciousness and a mental phenomenon. One can be conscious of an experience in such a way that this consciousness is not formulated into a thought or thoughts. This is very important if the mind is to remain absolutely quiet and silent. 26 September 1963 * But