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Om Bholē Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai, Śrī Śrī Devpurījī Mahādeva Kī Jai, Dharma Samrāṭ Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Maravānanda Purī Mahārāj Kī Jai, Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Maheśvarānanda Purī Satguru Deva Kī Jai, Hari Om. Firstly, today is Mahāprabhujī’s Mahāsamādhi according to the solar calendar. Before we start, on behalf of everyone here in Jadan, we send praṇāms to Gurujī. And of course, from all of us here to all of you around the world in the āśramas, our Hari Oms and praṇāms. Have a wonderful Barasī Mahāsamādhi day. Here in India, we celebrate more according to the lunar calendar, so today is a celebration. However, our main celebration and the big function here in Jadan will be on the 14th of December. On that day, there will be a large gathering, and people will come from all over India for bhajans and satsaṅg. We are still praying that Gurujī will also be present. It’s a special day because we can take the opportunity to remind ourselves about Mahāprabhujī and what he gave us—what he gives us, and will give us, if we remain open to receive it. I’m not sure I can quote it exactly, but always remember that you are simply an ordinary bhakta of Mahāprabhujī. There is no more special place to be. He makes the way clear, and we just have to humbly put that into practice and work with it in our own lives, applying it day by day and moment to moment. We all know there are times when it’s very hard—not because of the teachings, but because of ourselves and our ego, and its desire to go in the opposite direction. Perhaps one has had a wonderful experience with Sultan, one of our horses. It happened here near the tin shed in Jadan, where we hold satsaṅgs. At that time, Sultan used to live near the workshop; actually, he was the only horse in Jadan then. I was learning to ride—I had been learning for about six months or a year. I took him out for a ride one morning, but when we reached the point near the tin shed, he didn’t want to go any further. I think he knew breakfast would be waiting for him back in the stable. He has an energy that just needs to go out, and for him, being ridden or running provides that release. It keeps him balanced and also aids his digestion. I suppose for us, that is karma yoga—it helps us digest what we’re going through more easily and releases energy we might not otherwise be able to control. Anyway, we stayed at that spot for about half an hour. I would turn Sultan’s head in the direction I wanted to go, and he would continue turning until his head was facing back the other way. From a distance, it must have looked like some kind of dance—we’d go around ten times in one direction, then I’d try to change it and we’d circle the other way. It was so frustrating. But I had been taught by people more experienced than me that when riding, no matter what, you must be mentally firm about where you want to go. I knew this would be a defining moment for later rides. So round and round we went for that half hour, and eventually he went further—about twenty meters. Then he started the same routine again. But this time it lasted only about five minutes. We got further, and once we passed a certain point onto the straight road, he was happy and just started running. The next day, the same thing happened at the same place, but only for five minutes. The day after that, it happened again, but we just did one circle. After that, he would only turn his head slightly toward the stable, and I’d just guide him back straight, and it was fine. From then on, mornings became much easier and the rides were beautiful. Somehow, it’s the same with our own quest, our journey, our sādhanā. At certain points where our mind doesn’t want to go, it always wants to return to the comfort of breakfast—whatever that might be for us. But if we make a decision to follow a path, we have to commit to it; we should try to see it through. There will always be moments when doubt arises. Sometimes, there will be a time when it does. But then it’s a question of what the doubt is about. So much of the time, it’s just the mind trying to avoid something difficult. If, at those points, we can be firm—firm in our conviction and firm in our bhakti, and trust that Swāmījī and Mahāprabhujī will guide us in the right direction—then afterward, that relationship with our own mind is established, and it becomes so much easier to stay on the path when the same issue arises again. I was reading Mahāprabhujī’s golden teachings today, on his Mahāsamādhi. Somehow, I feel it’s always a good day to remind myself of them. There are a couple I’d like to read: ‘Do not let yourself be discouraged by problems. Earthly life constantly flows between the banks of fortune and grief. Always fulfill your duties with inner certainty and faith.’ When I saw the second one, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s for me today’: ‘Complete your tasks immediately. Do not postpone them until tomorrow. Realize your good intentions now, because one moment is never like the next.’ And then one more, which reminds me of the story with Sultan: ‘Do not give up what you have already started. There will always be obstacles in the way, just as roses always have thorns. Remove those obstacles with self-confidence. And by God’s grace, your path will lead you to the goal.’ For me, today, these three jumped out and seemed to say, ‘Listen to me, listen to me.’ Or better to say, Swāmījī, Mahāprabhujī, and Gurujī have gathered us and placed us on the path, and how beautifully it is laid before us. For me, it’s so precious at this time, on this day, to remind ourselves not to give up what we’ve already started. It is such a beautiful thing when someone begins a sādhanā and continues, and Swāmījī complements it with his blessing. All of this blooms and grows into the building of our life. But it is so, so important to be aware of how easily we can destroy that. It doesn’t require much—just some awareness from outside to keep it going. Likely, as we get past certain points—the same way as with Sultan at that spot near the tin shed—there are some points that are very difficult to pass. But the next day, and every day after, one still has to be aware when passing that point. Sultan was always ready to jump back for breakfast. Afterward, it didn’t take a big fight to keep going, but every time we went past that spot, every time I rode him, I had to make sure his head was straight as we passed it. And for all of us on the path, it is so important to keep our own heads straight and be aware of those things that are truly important: Mahāprabhujī, Paramparā, Swāmījī, Mantra, Sevā, and Satsaṅg. They are the jewels toward which we should head. They are the path on which we must keep our focus. We know of Mahāprabhujī; we’ve all read about him, we’ve all learned from Swāmījī about him. Our part is simply to be the bhakta, and he will take care of the rest. Om Bholē Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai, Śrī Śrī Devpurījī Mahādeva Kī Jai, Dharma Samrāṭ Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Maravānanda Purī Jī Mahārāj Kī Jai, Viśvaguru Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Paramahaṁsa Śrī Svāmī Maheśvarānanda Purī Jī Satguru Deva Kī Jai. Brother, wake up, your opportunity is passing by. Brother, wake up, your opportunity is passing by. Brother, wake up, the shadow of slander and ignorance remains. The shadow of slander and ignorance remains. You are receiving sorrow life after life. Brother, wake up… “Terā avasara bītā jāya bhāī, tum jāgo re, lāk corā sīme, jā bolā, lāk corā sīme.” What a chance we’ve got, what an opportunity we have to be with Swamijī. Let’s not waste it. Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇa Bhagavān Kī Jai, Satguru Dev Kī Jai.