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Now is the best time to begin

We must learn to find spiritual nourishment amidst life's constant noise. A rider and his thirsty horse find a well requiring a noisy generator. The frightened horse refuses to drink. The farmer states the horse must learn to drink with the noise or remain thirsty. This illustrates our own wait for life's problems to cease before spiritual practice. But the noise never ends. We must practice within it. Similarly, people wait for retirement to meditate, only to find new duties or emptiness, leading to shock and depression. Therefore, never wait for ideal conditions. Your life's situation is now. Your actions are your own.

"Either you teach your horse to drink amidst this noise, or you take your horse away thirsty."

"Therefore, never wait for anything."

Filming location: Sydney, Australia

A story came to my mind as a small example. There was a rider on his horse, traveling through a desert. The horse was beautiful—young, full of energy, and very gentle. The desert was long, and both of them were thirsty. After a great distance, a small farmhouse appeared. There was a tubewell, but there was no electricity. So, they used a diesel engine generator. The horseman asked for water, and the farmer started his generator. The generator began to make noise. The horse, hearing the noise of technology for the first time, was frightened and would not drink the water. The rider said, "Please stop the generator." He stopped it, but then there was no water. The rider asked again, "Please start the generator." He started it; it made noise and water came, but the horse, scared, still did not drink. He asked once more, "Please, can you stop it?" He stopped. When this happened a third time, the farmer said, "My dear friend, either you teach your horse to drink amidst this noise, or you take your horse away thirsty." This story means that we have so many different kinds of noises in our lives, so many problems. We think, "When all this is solved, then I will pray and meditate. When these noises of life finish, then I will begin." But the noises will not finish. So we have to learn to exist in this noisy world, and we must learn to bring forth the wisdom that can cleanse us for salvation. This is what life means. Many people think, "When I retire, I will go and have more time for my garden and for meditation." But after retirement, the children come and say, "Father, can you take care of the grandchildren?" The neighbors come and say, "Well, I am going on holiday; can you take care of my dog, please?" And then the next day, other neighbors come and say, "I am so busy; please, can you go to town and do this work for me?" So after retirement, there are often more duties. Suddenly, one feels empty. Depression comes because there is no work. While working, one becomes a workaholic. Suddenly one thinks, "Now I have nothing to do." And the big shock is this: "My God, I am so old. I am retired." Then one becomes older more and more quickly, losing all motivation in life. Therefore, never wait for anything. I wish for you that there will be a better and happier time in your life. But I doubt it. That is our life situation now in this modern civilization. Whatever you do, it is yours. Each and every step will be counted. Whatever you do, it is yours. Each and every step will be counted.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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