Be natural, truthful as it needs more effort to be unnatural

In a similar way, purity does not have to be spoken about, and love also does not have to be spoken about. Speaking about these things brings down to a lower level. Qualities radiate naturally. Yet often our intellect interferes, and we debate internally: “Should I do this or that?”

When my inner nature is to emit purity and love all the time, where is the question of limiting myself by saying, “Okay, I should be doing just one thing at this particular time?” It is not natural. It is like those artificial perfume pumps that recognise your presence and emit a burst of fragrance when you pass by. Compare that to the rose.

Here is another simple analogy: Suppose we are sitting on the riverbank, relaxing. Suddenly a really silly idea strikes: “Let’s count how many waves are passing by.” We then waste time doing that instead of relaxing and taking in the beauty of the surroundings and, as a result, we end up with a headache. Likewise, when we meditate, we can also try to be perfectly natural. There is no need to use any force to become thoughtless, or to try to recall the best meditation session that we had previously, or to think, “I must have the lightest condition!” We will only waste time. It is better to be natural, and then we can be immersed in purity.

Otherwise, the condition we crave for will only be given to satisfy our desire. It will not be natural. There is no need to presuppose anything in meditation, or to meditate with the idea that we will be going deeper, or to want the experience of a particular state. Be absolutely open. The moment we say, “I would like to feel like this,” we are lost, because we are putting conditions. Even in mundane human relationships, the moment we put conditions we no longer have a relationship.

For example, imagine saying to your boyfriend, “I will marry you only if you take me to movies every week.” What sort of a relationship is that? Why put conditions? So it is with God also. Why cheapen the relationship? With God there has to be no condition whatsoever. We just need tobe ourselves.

It is often difficult to be completely truthful, even with loved ones, because we worry that they will not love us if we show them our true selves. If we remain artificial, however, we will never have proper relationships with family members and friends, because we will always be trying to impress or please them. There is no need to impress anyone. Whom are we fooling by doing so?

Mostly ourselves. It requires a lot more effort to be unnatural. To tell a lie needs effort, because we have to remember it. To lie, we must be creative, whereas to speak the truth we need only to be simple. The truth is pure, coming straight from the heart. Truthful people are content in their simplicity and purity. They are not trying to impress anyone, because they know who they are. They are what they are.