Maharaji in Fort Lauderdale PWK-036 2007-06-30

Maharaji in Fort Lauderdale, June 30, 2007
EVOLVING DVD PWK-036

These events are a little bit different than what you're used to. Definitely the first one we had in Anaheim took everybody by surprise. They were hoping a video will come on, and all over the place, and then boom, the event started. But for a long time, events were happening a certain way, and I kept insisting that they change, but nobody wants to touch them. So they just kept adding little modules, little this, little that to it, until it became very, very complicated to actually have an event. But I guess we're all just creatures of habit, and so far, that's all that happens. Everything is okay. But there always comes a time when it is time to evolve, and this whole tour that is happening is really to try to evolve out of those habits. So before this all began, I was sitting in my office and talking to some people and feeling just the frustration of how it needs to be and how it is, and what is. It's like so cookie-cutter. There's that movie, The Groundhog Day, Groundhog's Day, where it's just like every day is exactly the same day. And pretty soon, when you do all the events and all the events are the same, you even know where you are, you even know what's going on.

But to try to evolve, to look at the need of each area and how the event should cater to that area. So these events, these series of events, have been very, very different. And let's see how it goes, because there's still a lot of tweaking to be done to fully realize the potential of what each event can be.

And I'm constantly fighting people's concepts, because I've got emails from Europe saying, you know, is this how we're going to do the events? And it's like, no, no, no, no, no, this is not how we're going to do the events. But it's always very, very interesting, especially when the time comes to try to evolve, to try to get to that part, because it takes, well, you know, if you ever get into your life and you go, well, this is it, it's no good. Not for me. It's no good. There's always room for improvement. Things can be better. And they should be. And whatever it takes to make that happen. And that's an effort.

So I just want to thank the aspirants. (polite applause) I really enjoyed yesterday talking to you, because I haven't talked to aspirants for a long time. And a lot of times the aspirants are shy, and, you know, there was all these talks about should we put the aspirants in the front, and I said, listen, why make things complicated, you know? Because then it becomes very complicated. And eventually, hopefully, they will receive Knowledge. And once they receive Knowledge, then what do you do? Then it's like, no, no, no more privileges for you. I remember this doctor from the Carolinas once told me that. He said, you know, "I want to receive Knowledge. I mean, as an aspirant, I get to sit in the front and all of this." And I was like, "You know, you got a point there. You really do." But everybody should feel welcome to these events, at least from my side. You know, I cannot say it from the side of security or the people who give you all the information. That's not mine. But I try to make everybody feel welcome who want to be here.

You know, if you want to be here, you shouldn't be here, period. Because this is not some other kind of session or some this or that. This is about, this is what I'm going to talk about is Knowledge. What I'm going to talk about is this life. I'm not here to push my ideas on people. You know, one thing I was saying in the trailer I'll share with you, and I'll abbreviate this. What is the difference between BS and truth? And I said it's a fine line. BS is not verifiable. Truth is. That's the difference. (failed applause) And so I talk about the truth because it is verifiable. Knowledge is very verifiable. Go inside and feel it.

In any case, one of the events that we will be doing at some point in time, I know when, is a, what I jokingly called it as a Warranty Event. Anybody having problems with the techniques can come and talk to me. No, I mean, I'm serious. You know, it's like, because it was stuck at Knowledge Reviews. It was like, oh yeah, we're going to have Knowledge Reviews. I said no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I have made Knowledge Reviews very simple. Anybody who wants a Knowledge Review should be able to get it in their community on an ongoing basis. And it is available. I said "No, point isn't Knowledge Review. It's just little things that we get stuck on. Little things that we forget. Little things that distract us from the main purpose of why we practice, why we are here, why we are here, period." And so those kind of events, I mean, basically there's three kinds of events now.

• One is the Warranty Event.
• And one is going to be the Flex Event, which is this, the flexible, whatever the need is in the community, that's what the event will be for.
• And then the third will be the Intro Events, people who have never heard me, who want to hear me for the first time introduce Knowledge.

So this is, we simplified it, really, instead of this and this and this and this and this and this and this. And because of the flex events, wherever there's aspirants and they are going to be at an event, then I'll be happy to talk to them and they can ask me any questions that they have. So it's just a lot simpler and, of course, it gives me a lot more time to spend with you. (applause) You know, instead of people coming and waiting in the lobby for an hour and then, you know, an event is 45 minutes and then everything is over, these events are distinctly very different than that. And so far, so far the events are concerned, they have been very nice. All the other stuff hasn't, but maybe, God willing, it will change. So let us begin.

Hispanic woman: Yes? How are you, Maharaj? Yesterday at night I've been thinking of preparing my speech and I knew you were going to choose me. (laughs)

There you go. That's it.

No, no, no, because I'm going to talk about, I was so happy when I heard about that you are talking about to fix the area or the Pillar Fundamental of Service.

To me, this was very, very important because to me the Service Pillar was really not getting its due. Service was not an enjoyable experience. Well, this has changed. Earlier on, a few months ago, I actually did a training called the Service Area Management Training. And the whole point of the Service Area Management is to make sure that everybody who comes to do service has a great time.

Politics is gone out of it. And the reason why politics is gone out of it, because it is incumbent upon you to do what you can do. Nobody's going to tell you what you're going to do. It's gone. In the Service Area Management, you will be asked, what is it that you can do? Because for such a long time, there was this thing of we're going to tell them what to do. It's not like that anymore. The ideal situation in a service area is basically whatever is needed. And I'll give you an example. If there is a local community, and they're going to be doing an event.

And in this event, they need some people to come set up the screen. They need some people to come set up the chairs. They need some people to come set up the water. Okay. So what will happen is the Manager of that community, whoever the Service Area Manager is, will take that and put that as a list. This is what is needed for this event. Then people in the community can look at that list and go, I can do the chairs. Somebody can go, I can do the water. Somebody can go, I used to work at the factory where they made these screens. I can set up the screen. And then people come together. They're given a time when they are to come, do it, enjoy, and that's it.

Now, I know it sounds incredibly simplistic. How would that ever work? Slowly and slowly, it has started to work. And hopefully in the future, it will take on more and more and more. Whenever people were gathered for service, it became the place to have people's tug of war going on. Well, a lot of that used to happen. People would come to do service, and instead of doing service, they wanted to express their opinions. You see, by making a list of what is needed, no opinions are in there. This is what is needed. Now, if you can do it, fine. If you can't do it, fine. There will be other service opportunities. So not only is it about community, but it is about around the world.

What if somebody is really good at translation? Okay, here's one. Malaysians need translation in Tamil. Sri Lankans need translation in Tamil. Where do you think in Tamil, and Indians need translation in Tamil too, okay? Tamil Nadu is in India. Where do you think the translation for Tamil takes place? Toronto. Toronto, the premies in Toronto do the translation for the Malaysians and for Indians and for the Sri Lankans. This is a global network here. It's the world we are talking about, not just one place, but around the world. So people will be able to help, and this is what has been happening.

These trainings are ongoing. They have been happening in Europe. They have been happening in America. More and more of them are going to be happening. But the whole idea is to make, because the other two Pillars, listening has been made very comfortable. People can listen wherever they are. And this works. This really, really, really works.

I mean, right now, there's so much propagation happening in Cuba. (he paused but no applause)How much? Here we have just a little over 2,000 people. So basically take half the hall. This is how many people have received Knowledge from here or from here. This is how many people have received Knowledge. What's the big deal? Here's the big deal. They've never seen me in person. They have never seen me in person. A few did, but they had already received Knowledge. And they came to Quito when I went there.

So receiving Knowledge has become simple. Practice of Knowledge has become simple, very enjoyable. And listening to the Master has become very enjoyable, very, very simple. And then now it's the turn of the middle Pillar, the Service, to make it just as enjoyable and simple as the other two. And that's what's afoot. So I think that more than enough takes care of your concerns because it has been dramatically simplified. And the training is very interesting. It's very tough to be a service area manager, but it's a very nice training. And it's a cute little training because the first thing you see is an event being set up the new way.

Look, in Knowledge there is no room for doubt and all those other things that are so disgusting. And so trying to simplify, trying to simplify, because it's a big world and there's a lot of people. Teamwork, a lot of people like teamwork. They really, really, really, really like teamwork.

And I'm dealing with a situation where there's these two people who just get along. And they're sending me e-mails like I'm their dad. And both of them are older than I am. (laughter) And I just want them, as adults, to sit down in one room and iron out their differences. That's what adults can do if kids can't. Kids can do it better, in my opinion, because they forget about their differences and then off they go. But adults, they're like, no, but he's (points finger) "90 years ago. He told me." (best laughter) And it's just really, really stupid. I think it's really stupid because, you know, somebody writes me an e-mail and says, well, "I can't do this, da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da." I mean, I am trying to help people in this world.

I have a gift. I have a gift. I can speak for half an hour from my heart, and those words can change a person's life (applause), not only in America, but in India, in Nepal, in Sri Lanka. In Malaysia, in Australia, in the Palestine (raises eybrow, no response), Syria, Pakistan, Israel. What would you rather have me do? Read the e-mail or change your life? Pick one. Now, if the issue warrants it, I am more than willing to read the e-mail and change the life. But the issue is so childish, so incredibly childish. I even expect that behavior from my own children. They do it. You're adults. Pick up the phone. You know the other guy's phone number. Pick up the phone and call him up and say, "I really hate this, this, and this about you. And now that I have said it, it's off my chest. Now I like you." Okay, it's over with. Get on with it. You know. Adults.

So, there's a beautiful thing that is going to be happening, and it is in its infancy, and that's the Service Area Management. So, we'll make a difference, and we'll make it so that everybody can participate, and not only everybody can participate, but everybody enjoys participating. And whatever it is, whatever you can do, you can do, whatever you can do. So, I hope you have something to look forward to. It will get better and better. Yes?

Neurotic woman: Thank you for you. Thank you for loving me so much and coming again and again to remind me of who I am and what's real. I just appreciate this Knowledge and my life and what you have given me.Thank you, and I love you very much.

Enjoy it. Enjoy Knowledge. That's the whole point of it. Enjoy this life. Like I said before, focus, because when you will be focused, you will enjoy your existence. Listen to that thirst. Listen to that heart, because if you do, you will enjoy this life. Oh, and when I say listen to the heart, the heart doesn't tell you which girlfriend to fall in love with. The heart doesn't tell you which car to buy. You know, that's that age-old problem we have. So many people, I ask them, so, you know, you got this car. How do you like it? Oh, I love this car. And I'm like, you cannot love this car. It's impossible to love a car. You can like the car. You can like the car a lot (shouts and uses funny voices - laughter). I mean, you could really like the car. But love, no. Big difference. And sometimes we get it all confused.

But focus so you can enjoy your existence. Focus so you can be aware. Be conscious so you can enjoy. All this is to enjoy. To enjoy, truly enjoy. Free from doubt. Because you see, in our lives, we actually train ourselves to enjoy ourselves in the status quo. So the toilet is leaking. And it's smelling really bad. So we burn incense. We teach ourselves to cope with it. It's noisy. Cars are running back and forth. It's noisy. We're not going to move. We'll get earplugs. Cope, cope, cope. This is what we do. You know, we know maybe our child is an idiot. But it's like, it's all right. He'll be all right. (laughter) We cope. We cope. This is what we do. We cope with it.

Knowledge is not in the realm of coping. Knowledge says, no, cope with this. Move. Go up a level higher. You have to live in doubt. You have to live in this state of confusion. Be clear. Be clear. Then it will be enjoyable. So whatever you do, enjoy. Enjoy this Knowledge. Enjoy this life. Yes?

Confident middle-aged woman: Thank you so much, Maharaji. I just want to let you know that the new trainings are definitely having the desired effect. Because in Anaheim, my experience of service was light and easy and joyful from start to finish. From the first call to the debriefing, which was brief. And I could feel the difference. I could feel like this giant, heavy grid had been lifted off of the entire experience. So I just wanted to tell you in person. Thank you.

Thank you. Well, you know, nobody gave me that feedback. You're the first one to give me that feedback. I've been trying to get that feedback. Hey, how did it go? How did it go? And they're like, I know. They want to sing a song. I want to hear them. So I'm glad that you said that. Go ahead.

Ditzy woman: I just want to say how proud I am to know you. And how proud I am of you. I see the e-mails that come in. And I see all the work you're doing. And I just feel so happy that not only in my life what you're doing, but all around the world. And you're helping people not only with Knowledge, but you're helping people with basic needs. And I just am so proud of you. And I want to thank you for everything. And I want to thank you for continuing to make this process simple. Because I think everybody would agree we all want that.

So that's all. Thank you so much. Yeah. Well, that's great. And TPRF has been doing great work. Yeah, everybody wants it simple. So far it is their way. That's a big problem sometimes. You know, everybody goes my way or highway, my way or highway, my highway. And that's why there's so many people on the highway. That's why you get all these traffic jams. Because people go my way or highway. And everybody takes the highway. But, um, yeah, everybody has their own version of what is simple. You know? Um I mean, that's it. These events necessarily need to be done in venues like this. There's no reason for it. Absolutely zilch. Many, many possibilities had existed. But the possibility that ultimately gets chosen sometimes is what we have always done. Because nobody wants to go or move their head even from side to side. Everybody's like, this is what we have done. This is what we're going to do.

And just to have the events so close by, like Atlanta, and there's going to be a Gainesville, and there's Miami or Broward, and I know what is happening with Asheville. It just kind of evaporates and comes back and disappears. And, you know, there's all these other things. I know what's going on. I keep getting the e-mails. And I'm like, but what am I supposed to do, go build a hall in Asheville? But had this event not been like this, it would have been one event in Miami, one event in L.A., one event in Miami, one event somewhere in Montreal, and that would have been it. Boom. Finished. This is traditionally how the U.S. tours have been. Look at it from the past few years. And it took a lot to say, no, no, let's do it differently, so that people have the choice in this area where they want to come. And if they want to come to two, fine. They want to come to three, fine. They want to come to all of them, fine. But if they can only make it to one, that's fine too. And people are excited.

I mean, right now, this Southeast Region is just bubbling over. (applause) It's really bubbling over. People are very excited. That's how it should be. That's how it should be. If somebody is willing to take the time to talk to people, everybody should be excited. Instead of like, you know, look, we're alive. Videos will always be there. But right now, you and I are alive. And it means something to just come, listen, see, feel. It's a beautiful it's a beautifuldynamics. And this is what dynamics is all about, dynamic. Life is dynamic. Breath is dynamic. Learning is dynamic. Master is dynamic. And and and and when that answer hits you, that's really dynamic. When the questions leave, that's incredibly dynamic. When the doubts disappear, that's really dynamic. So just to have the dynamics of it, of what it means to be alive.

It should just be fun. So after this segment, I'm actually headed out to Europe. They're just about ready to announce the dates for Europe. I mean, right now, I got this e-mail saying the programs or the events are going to be 7 to 8 hours. So my last message back was "e do 7 to 8-hour events. 7 to 8 hours." (shakes head laughter) Just look at a watch. That's not even realistic. 7 to 8 hours. Oh, my God. And everybody's (makes snoring grunts - very strong laughter)… And I'm the only one who's pumping away the coffee. "Let me tell you about your life.(laughter and applause) 7 to 8 hours." This is supposed to be all very nice and gentle and pleasing, you know? Not like, yeah, what is it?" What are we here for, anyways? Let me give you the formula to save your existence, to save your life." (head falls - laughter) That's the formula you get.

I want any part of it. I want any part of it. If there's nobody to listen, I have an itch to talk, you know? So I'm here to talk to you and, you know, everybody to enjoy, the Europeans to enjoy. Just so far, enjoy this one. Yes?

Maharaji I didn't want to save the best for last, so I wanted to tell you that I love you very much. And I feel like the luckiest person in the world because I get to practice Knowledge every day. I really look forward to it every single day. And I wanted to thank you for generously providing your inspiration through the years and for helping me in the good times and the bad times. Many, many bad times and many, many good times, and you've been always there for me. And I'd like to ask you a question because I've been watching your videos and hearing you say one particular thing. And the more I hear it, the less clarity comes, oddly enough. I get more questions coming.

You said something like, when a person is feeling content, they naturally feel kind and considerate and nice to other people. And when I practice Knowledge and I feel really good, especially on a work day, then I start whistling and I'm really happy and I'm driving my car to work and I'm actually noticing that I'm feeling that breath and feeling, oh, somebody's trying to cut me off. And, wow, I actually let this person go without cursing them. And then there's a lot of nutty drivers on the way, so there's lots of these occasions where I get to see how kind I'm being. So then when I go to the elementary school in which I work, I'm really excited to see the kids. I really love them and I want to help them and I really put a lot into this job.

And then I notice, having this wonderful experience in the morning practicing, that all they have to do is start misbehaving and start acting like lunatics and I start finding myself more often than not feeling this negative anger and frustration and its too common, it happens too often. Why is this disparity between what you seem to have said and so… Can you clarify that for me?

No, no, it's true what I have said, you know, these guys cut you off and you're like fine and so on and so forth. But what… Well, there's two things. When you are in that feeling, it is beautiful and everything is fine. Further and further away you get caught up in what is happening outside, further and further you get removed from that feeling, more and more everything starts affecting you. Just remember one thing. When the kids start misbehaving and they become lunatic, they're trying to make you a lunatic. And so your job is not to become a lunatic. That's all. And there's an abbreviation for all those people that keep cutting you off, Alpha Hotel, A-H. And they're trying to make you an A-H. And your job is not to become one.

That's all it is. You know?

I just somehow… I'm trying to use all the strength that I have and conjuring all the strength that I have praying and sometimes I get overcome by these negative emotions. Not all the time, but enough that I say, why in the world can't I overcome this storm? And I was just wondering…

Oh, that's not a storm. Believe me. That's not a storm.

Well, it feels like a storm.

No, it's not. That's just a little drizzle. (laughter) I mean, you know, one thing might happen and all of a sudden you find you can't drive and you can't have that job. And half the frustration goes with it. You are alive. The outside environment and the outside circumstances will try to get to you. Sometimes it's fun. Sometimes it's not. You should make that decision. You should always make that decision. And, you know, I have made a decision after going through just the past few days of whatever, I'm not going to do that again. You know. It's for a good cause.

I care. I care. I do not believe in sacrificial lambs. (poor applause) There is no such animal as sacrificial lambs. Kindness is kindness. And you need to exercise kindness to your existence. There are no sacrificial lambs. So, yeah, Knowledge does work. So far you stay in that experience. The more away you go from it, the better off. You know? And so it's not to me, you know, be confused about it. It's just the nature of things. And yet you always have the decision of how much you allow those things to affect you. You always have that. They're loony bins, fine. Do I want to be a loony bin like them? Today? Yeah. Okay. Or tomorrow? No.

And this is the nature of the kids. The more they feel that you want to control them, the more they're going to do their thing. They can sense it from you. They can sense if they're frying you. And when they do, they get that little smile, that little smirk. And they've had training. They do this at home. You get this training like they have. They've been trained by their parents to do stupid things, which they learned from watching their parents. Oh, yeah. You know? So it just goes on. And people are people. People are people. I mean, there are people who completely, on the road, could drive me nuts. You know what I do? I get away from them. How? Slow way down. Let them go. And usually I find them getting a ticket. And then as you make that, you know, past the cop who's giving the ticket, you know, there is a guy. So, you know. It's just… What happens, a lot of people feel it is not in their control.

But it is. And if a person who lives in prison can feel joy, he should have no limits. But it's your choice. It's your choice. Knowledge is to put you in touch with that feeling inside. Period. Solid can be. But all the other things will change. Will it make you Superman? You know, except for kryptonite, anything thrown at you won't affect you? No. That was never promised. And the analogy I gave was just in general. When a person is happy, you know, because they've just won the lottery, or, you know, their girlfriend has said yes, she will marry them, or something like that. I mean, they're just happy. Everything is going good. Then naturally a person becomes kind. But when that contentment is not there, when the happiness is not there, then a person becomes extremely, extremely mean.

But that's how it is. That's true for a rat, you know. A rat will do the same thing. Cornered, a rat will bite and fight and buck. Leave it alone, it probably will find its own place and go away. But in this life, you have a choice. You have to make that choice. And you have to make that choice every day. There is no automatic switch. There is no automatic switch. And there is anger. Use properly. Fine. How do you use anger properly? Be angry with anger. That's a good one. You can do it. Be angry with anger. Be angry with that which you want around you. But never forget to invite that that you do want around you. And what is it? It's that feeling. It's that simplicity. It's the feeling of joy.