S: We're sitting here tonight honoring our Selves, our nature. Basking in this nature which is pure love and nothing else. Love is often translated by society to mean "who are you in love with?" Personal. But when I talk about the power of love, I'm talking about the state of being in which everything lives and which you are. When you go to it, right inside your heart -- your spiritual heart, just to the right of your beating heart -- when you go to this center of your being, anything that's going on in your life is soothed. Your experience of yourself expands into this spaciousness and goodness and well-being because that's exactly what it is, your nature. Nothing else but goodness. Peace.

Another word for it is reality. When I say reality, what do you think of? What's the first thing that comes to your mind when I say "reality"? Your life? The world? Where you live? Your friends? Your family? Is that what came to your mind, Joe?

Q: The material world.

S: The material world. We call it reality -- we have to call it something. Reality means this is the truth, that which is real and never changes. We call it that and we're intrigued with it and we're busy with it. And it changes all the time. Sometimes it's good. Sometimes it's great. Sometimes it's going our way. And sometimes not -- and then we want to change reality. We want to alter someone else so that they treat us better, perhaps.

What I'm suggesting to you tonight is that the love that brought you here and the love that we're sitting in, is truly reality. This is what's real. The other is what's perceived to be real by some person who we think we are. If we take our attention and just remove it from that reality, that person, and just go a little bit deeper, then we enter that which is totally solid and unchangeable -- always This. Always, always perfect and peaceful. And silence is its nature. We haven't developed a language for silence yet, at least none that I've seen. We've got all the words for the other side, but not for the reality of being, the current. Robert Adams, my mentor, would call it "the current that knows the way."

As soon as we leave this current we inhabit something else; we inhabit the person with all of his beliefs, all of his rights and wrongs -- good and bad, justice and injustice. So where is the peace?

There's a measure of peace only when things go the way we think they should. All the lives you've ever seen in your existence are intertwined. Who's to know what experience everyone is supposed to have in all these trillions of interactions -- much more than trillions. Everybody is playing a part. But when we are fully inhabiting the part, without ego, just playing a part like an actor on a stage with no attachment, we know we're just playing a part, we're doing our best. Then the lovingness which we are comes through everything we do, without personal attachment.

So in satsang, anything that is felt, that is needed to be said, is welcome. Anything that feels more real than your true nature is welcomed to be expressed. Anything that needs to be shared from your heart is most welcome also.

Q: I'm here because I'm looking for help to be free of the troubles within myself. I've come to a point where I realize it's not really the outside world that's my problem, it's what's in my mind and what disturbs my heart -- the disturbances and the inability to stay and be at peace. I know that the disruptions and agitations, anxieties, etcetera, are unreal, but I can't seem to go deeper. For many years there's been a practice of meditation and an involvement in spiritual work; I'd come to a standstill until I met Neelam a few weeks ago, and I felt like this work could move on again. So I saw her twice. I really felt like I could start to work again. I knew something was different, some different kind of energy that would help me along. Then when I heard about you, I wanted to be in your presence so that I can learn more. I'm looking for that help and I know it's within me. I'm just open to whatever way I can become more free.

S: So what is it that's not free?

Q: Usually the distractions, the disturbances, the unhappiness arise when things don't go the way I think they should go, or people do things that upset me, things that I think aren't proper. My expectations are upset. Usually one of the biggest disturbances, lately, has been all the injustices in the world. I find it's hard to not get upset about them. But I also have a belief that if I was more at peace and in stillness that, as with the kind of work you do, this is really what really helps humanity. So I'm okay with continuing to work on myself and doing what good I can around me.

S: Yes. Very well said. Yes. A person has to take a stand on what's right and wrong. The only trap is that it doesn't always go the way it's supposed to, and then the stand gets stronger. Then, all of a sudden, you've left your Self. Right now you're not experiencing any injustice, are you? No, because your attention is home. True?

Q: Closer to home.

S: Closer, yes, a lot closer than you think. Right now you're sitting in your nature, even deeper. Right here. I call this reality -- and it's starting to get more real, isn't it? [phone sounds] And that reality is just a tune. [laughter] That's very interesting: The phone rang because we were sitting in our nature and we were getting quieter and quieter. And then the little bleeps of the other reality come in, and do you notice how gentle they are? That's a very good example about how the world tries to pull us back -- pay attention. We like to complete loose ends, learn what's going on, see how things work out, make sure that all is going well. There are so many things going on that get our attention -- some that intrigue us, some that we want to avoid but have to deal with -- so many injustices, as you say. Katie, do you meditate?

Q: I was initiated into TM (Transcendental Meditation).

S: Yes.

Q: I don't have the patience for it any more.

S: You did the TM to become more relaxed, I would assume?

Q: Yes.

S: Now you don't have patience for that which gave you patience.

Q: It just feels like an effort.

S: Yes.

Q: Sitting still seems more possible than repeating a mantra now, and I don't know if I'm right or wrong, or if I've gotten messed up. [laughter]

S: Yes. Everything has its place and everything comes when it's necessary. If I was to tell you once more that everything you've ever meditated for is already present, would you believe me?

Q: I do believe you. I guess I've been under the impression that you have to meditate in order to become self-realized. But I don't quite believe that's true any more because I can sit and become very still and that seems stiller than practicing a mantra right now. So my belief is displaced.

S: Good.

Q: I'm looking for direction. You probably just gave it, but I . . .

S: Have you heard of Ramana Maharshi? The practice of Self Inquiry? Are you familiar with this? His question would be, "To whom does this come?" -- particularly when you are experiencing injustice, when things are going in ways you know could be better, should be better. If you could catch yourself and ask, "Who is experiencing this? Who believes this?" These questions just put the attention on the witness, the one who's watching what is going on. They cut through the judgment. "I am." Katherine is. This removes the energy from having to change the situation, straighten people out or tell them what's right according to you. You're acknowledging that you are seeing the injustice -- that alone will get you quieter. Home, it brings you home.

Then follow that inquiry with the question, "Who am I?" That question brings you straight into reality because the answer is silence. If some thoughts come, simply ask, "To whom do they come," until the silence takes over. So really, your meditation is to remember who you are. Taste It. Be It. Enjoy It. And go deeper. When things go your way -- as they should -- and its joyous, enjoy the joy.

And when things don't go your way, don't react. Let it be. Just in the moment, take a breath and ask, "Could I let this be?" In that moment you have an opportunity to remember who you are.