Easter Intensive: Online Satsang of March 31, 2024

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, welcome to the Easter Intensive. I'm glad you're here. Welcome.

As always, I'd like to start by briefly telling you what we do here.

If you have a question, please feel free to ask me by writing into the chat on YouTube or Zoom. Your question will then be read out by Simone, and I will try to answer it. You can also speak to me directly via Zoom. You can simply give a hand signal in Zoom, then Simone will see it and organize it so that you can then come on and ask me your question directly, and then I will also say something about it if I can.

Yes, and I think it's incredibly beautiful, this coming together here and talking to each other about life and about trying to be happy in this life. I'm looking forward to these two Easter days, and I'm very happy that you and all of you are here. Yes, that should be enough of a preface. Perhaps one more addition: at the end of this Satsang we will meditate together. If you want, you can just join in. We will now do Satsang until 3:30 pm, and at 3:30 pm, we will start the meditation together, for half an hour until 4 pm.

And then, at the end of the meditation at 4 pm, it's over, and tomorrow at 2 pm we'll continue. What we're doing there is the Samarpan Meditation, at 3:30pm... if you don't know it yet and haven't done it, but would like to join in, you're welcome to do so. I will say a few words about it just before we start so that you know how it works. It is very simple. But more about that later, before we start meditating. So, I am ready to begin. Simone, do you already have something from your side that you would like to read out?

[Simone:] Yes, I have.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Oh, how lovely.

The Kundalini energy

Link to topic in video at 2m41s

[Simone:] Helga writes: "Dear Mikael, could you say something about the Kundalini energy? I am currently experiencing its rise very strongly, along with the blockages and pain."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you. Thank you.

I am not a Kundalini expert. There are people who know a lot about it. I'm not one of them, but I can tell you what I know about it from my own experience. And I am a human being... I like it when I know as little as possible about such things, because then I don't worry about it. It's like this: if you do the Samarpan Meditation... I don't know, maybe you can write briefly in the chat whether you do the Samarpan Meditation or not. I would be interested in that for my answer.

If you do the Samarpan Meditation, then the following happens: during the meditation, we have our attention here, on the top of the crown chakra. So, we don't work on the individual chakras in the body, but our attention simply rests at the very top, at the highest, last chakra in the body. But as a result, without us knowing anything about it, something happens to the entire energy flow in the body, to all the chakras. The Samarpan Meditation draws the Kundalini energy upwards, but as I said, this happens of its own accord.

In most of the meditations I do in the morning, towards the end of the meditation I can clearly feel how this energy rises, and it pulls my whole body straight .... then it's as if I no longer need to worry about sitting or my body at all, and I really enjoy that.

And the meditation... When we focus our attention on the crown chakra, as I just said, the entire energy flow of the body through all the chakras is gradually normalized, healed and cleansed. And in the process, of course, all the blockages that we as humans carry in our bodies are touched. Some things are shifted and straightened out.

It all happens by itself. If you feel something, you can simply perceive it, but you don't have to worry about it, and you don't have to believe that you have to do anything with it now. It really does happen by itself, at least that's my own experience with my body.

[Simone:] Mikael, may I interrupt you for a moment?

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please.

[Simone:] Helga wrote that she has been practicing Samarpan Meditation for a long time.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Oh, how nice. Thank you very much. Thank you, Simone. Yes, then you can rely on these things happening by themselves. And they happen slowly, very gradually. That's the special thing about Samarpan Meditation, that these things happen by themselves and only as fast as it is natural; has it is possible with maintaining a balance. That's the great thing about it. And it takes time.

Many people are impatient with these things, but Swamiji, who brings this meditation to us, the Indian Guru who brings this meditation, says: it's very important that it happens slowly, very gradually. You know, you have to imagine it like this: we have all kinds of shifts in our energy field, our chakras are knotted and messed up, and all of that can be straightened out.

But every correction, every dissolution, all that requires a lot of changes in our being. It all has to fit together so that we can not only continue to be stable, but also become more stable and more rooted, so that we don't lose our balance, but on the contrary are more and more in balance. Things have to happen in many different places. This all happens by itself. It just takes time. So... my advice is: be patient with it.

Yes, that is what I can say about this from my own experience. Thank you. Thank you, Helga.

Does it help to meditate more often?

Link to topic in video at 8m03s

[Simone:] Mikael, may I read out a supplementary question from Helga?

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes please.

[Simone:] She asks whether it helps to meditate more often.

[Dhyan Mikael:] More often during the day, I suppose... I recently read a beautiful Zen story.

A boy from the village that was below the mountain where the Zen Master lived... the boy was very curious, and he knew that a Zen Master lived up there, and one day he dared to go up there. He wanted to meet this Zen Master. He was a very bright boy, unlike the other boys in the village. He really wanted to know what life was all about. And so, this boy, ten years old or so, came to this Zen Master.

He asked him: "Master, how long will it take me to reach Zen?" And the Master grinned and said: "Ten years!" The boy was a little disappointed and said: "And if I really make an effort, how long will it take?"

And the Zen Master closed his eyes for a moment and then said: "Twenty years." The boy was really shocked and said, "But if I give it my all... if I really do everything I can for it, how long will it take?" The Zen Master looked at the boy for a long time and then said: "Then it will take thirty years."

If you want to meditate more often during the day, you are welcome to do so, if you do it because you enjoy it. Sometimes I have days like that when I think: "Now I just want to meditate", and then I sit down and meditate again.

But if you meditate because you want to work on something, because you want something to happen, then it's not meditation. And if you are meditating so that something not only happens, but happens even faster, then it is certainly not meditation.

My advice to you would be not to want to change what you are sensing, even if it is difficult, but on the contrary, to perceive it and accept it as if it were what is here now forever and should be there forever.

You don't need to want to change it for it to change. The desire to change it prevents healing, rather than promoting it. What is conducive to healing, to coming into balance, is to truly accept yourself and everything you perceive within yourself as it is now. And that means: it can be like this forever. Loving it as it is now, that is acceptance.

Acceptance does not mean: "Okay, you can be there", but rather: "Oh yes, please... Thank you for being there. Stay." That is acceptance. And that's the most helpful thing. The less you want to change, the faster what you want to happen will happen. That's why Swamiji also advises: "Don't change, but meditate."

We've been brought up like that, and we've grown up like that, and you read that everywhere, in all the books, that it depends on your own will, this being purposeful, wanting to go somewhere, and then something happens.

And that's not the truth, that's not how it works. Thank you, Helga.

Thank you for these beautiful questions.

[Simone:] Helga says: "Thank you, that helps me a lot, the acceptance thing."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, we often misunderstand the acceptance thing, you know.

Maybe it's not the right word to use here either. In everyday life we tend to use acceptance as: "Okay, I accept that, I agree."

But I mean something different. I don't mean this 'tolerating something' for a certain amount of time because I know that it will then go away. Of course, that doesn't really have anything to do with acceptance. Perhaps I should rather say: loving it.

Love it the way it is now. If you love someone, you don't want them to change. They don't have to go away. She can just stay. Like this. And that's the very best thing. Thank you, Helga.

[Simone:] May I read out the next question?

[Dhyan Mikael:] Oh yes, please do. Thank you, Simone.

Crucifixion and Resurrection

Link to topic in video at 15m45s

[Simone:] Dagmar writes: "Hi Mikael. What do crucifixion and resurrection mean to you? Kind regards."

[Dhyan Mikael:] I can say a lot about this, so much so that I made a video about it yesterday. I don't know if you've noticed: I published a video yesterday and also made it yesterday morning, called "The Miracle of Easter", and I talk a bit about what happened, from my point of view, at Easter.

But of course I would still like to say at least a little about it here.

I can say two things about it. First, I would like to say something about this metaphor, this dying and being born again, independently of what we celebrate today at Easter.

People usually believe that this metaphor, this image, refers to the body that dies and then rises again. But usually, it refers to something that has nothing to do with the body, but with the inner life.

We are born as a human being, as a body. We begin to live normally, just like everyone else, and at some point, the spiritual path, the inner path, begins for some people, and on this spiritual path the ego dies. And when the ego dies, something new is born. This new thing was already there before, but we don't know it.

This is what is called the 'virgin birth' in the ancient scriptures. There are two births in a person's life. One is the physical birth, when we are born from our mother as a body. And at some point, when we embark on the spiritual path, we are reborn. Until then, we were almost like a kind of robot, a sheep among many other sheep, without knowing who we really are.

And on this spiritual path, a new birth takes place, but not the birth of a body, but something inner is born. And this birth, this second birth, the actual birth, is called a virgin birth because it has nothing to do with the body.

It is the second birth, and in order for it to happen, the ego has to die first.

This is what happens very gradually on the spiritual path.

So, 'virgin birth' has nothing to do with the fact that there are actually bodies that were born to a woman who has never had sex. That's not what it's about. That's mixing two things together that have nothing to do with each other.

And then, of course, there is the crucifixion and resurrection at Easter, the crucifixion of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus.

And I'm experiencing my own little crucifixion right now, because the video I made yesterday... I'm just talking then... When I make a video, even when I speak here, I just speak what wants to come.

And I know that what I'm saying is meant to be said, and I know that it's right in a certain way, even though I can't prove it, but sometimes I think afterwards: what did I say there? Because what I told you about the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is very different from what you have probably heard so far.

I believe that the spiritual path and everything that happens on this path is in fact normal, meant for every human being; nothing supernatural; nothing that only a very, very, very few, very special people can do, but not everyone else. But normally, when something happens that people don't understand, they make stories around it in a sincere attempt to somehow understand it. And that's what happened with Jesus. I talk about this in the video from yesterday morning.

Jesus was a very extraordinary, very special Guru. Jesus was one of these great saints who are called 'Guru' in India, and they can do things that normal people can't do. We in the West, and also the Jews in Judea at that time, knew nothing about all these things.

But one of the things that some Gurus can do is that while they are meditating, they step out of the body with their spirit and go somewhere else. There are people who have experienced such a Guru visiting them while sitting somewhere else, and there are witnesses to this. And in our culture, such a thing is completely alien. We know nothing at all about these things. But in India, for example, there are countless reports, books about it, people who have experienced something like this. Swamiji also talks about such things.

And I read this in Swamiji's autobiography, how he describes it somewhere, that such a Guru can step out of the body, and while he does that, the body appears to others as if it were dead. The body is not dead, but one has to take good care of the body, because otherwise it could be considered dead by some people.

I remember a story I read where the Guru who did this said to his disciples: "Listen, I'm going into deep meditation now, I'm going on a journey. Take care of this body so that nothing happens to it. I'll be back." But he has to come back after three days. That doesn't just apply to Jesus, it applies to all Gurus who do this.

And this Guru from this story that I read, he said, "If I haven't come back after three days, then you can bury my body, but not before. I'll come back." And he came back into his body within those three days, woke up from meditation and was back there, completely normal, as if nothing had happened. Of course, this is not something that normal people can do. You have to be very advanced on this path of meditation, so it really is something special.

I can't do anything like that, at least not willingly. And I've always asked myself about the story of the resurrection of Jesus: "What does that really mean?", because I know that all of this has a root somewhere in human beings, in human existence; that Jesus was not someone who was fundamentally different from you or from me; one who was further along on his spiritual path, no doubt, much further, much further than I will ever get to, I suppose, but still not fundamentally different.

And Jesus said that himself again and again. He said: "I am the Son of Man." That is his way of saying: "I am like you." And he said: "I am the Son of God." He lived only inwardly. He had completely become a soul. He no longer had anything to do with this body, and yet he lived in the body and he was human, and he emphasized this again and again.

And I would like to say two more things briefly about the crucifixion and the resurrection, otherwise it will be too long for today, but you are welcome to watch the video I mentioned earlier.

I can imagine that it was like this: Jesus was crucified, and he knew what was coming. He could have run away; it would have been easy. He just wouldn't have had to take the road to Jerusalem but simply go in the other direction. He knew what was coming, but he also knew: this is his way. And he knew: he was ready. He knew how it would go. Even the very old stories in the Old Testament, even they described this.

And then he hung on the cross, and he left his body, but the body was still alive, even if it looked like it was dead. And the story then continued in such a way that Jesus' body was not harmed. The other two crucified men had their legs broken, they were almost desecrated, so that it was clear that nothing would happen to them. But this was not done with Jesus. Fate had arranged for his body to be preserved.

He was taken down from the cross by his friends, who had received permission from Pontius Pilate to do so, and was brought to safety. And within three days he returned with his spirit into this maltreated body - something incredible, something unimaginable for normal people, and yet something that is not unheard of. This is something that has been described by many other great Gurus. It makes total sense to me. It doesn't take anything away from the greatness of Jesus, on the contrary, it makes total sense to me.

Now I understand why Jesus allowed this at all; why God allowed this at all. He has shown what is possible if you take the path inwards. He said, so to speak: "If you walk this path, nothing can happen to you, nothing can happen to you. You are ready for anything." Of course, this does not mean that you will be crucified. But someone like Jesus, his task back then was to show people what is possible. That was his gift, but of course people didn't understand it back then.

Yes, this I can say about the crucifixion and the resurrection; a bit different from what you normally hear these days.

I don't believe that Jesus was someone who was different from you. He was further, much further, but not different.

Thank you for your question.

Wanting children, separation and relationship

Link to topic in video at 30m43s

[Simone:] There is another question. This one will take a little longer to read out.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please, go ahead.

[Simone:] Michael also apologizes for the long message. I'm very happy to read it out.

[Dhyan Mikael:] What was the name?

[Simone:] Michael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Ah yes, okay. Hello Michael.

[Simone:] "I've been following you for a while now and would like to ask you a question about my relationship or rather my separation. I always thought that even if a relationship isn't easy and my partner and I keep triggering each other, there's no such thing as the wrong partner. But last week it hit me, and my partner ended the relationship. I was blindsided. We both had dreams, we planned our wedding three weeks ago and we always wanted children together.

These dreams have now been shattered and this is very painful for me. I still can't accept it and keep asking myself: why? She says she still loves me, but it was partly due to our age difference of fifteen years and her wishes for professional fulfilment, school and studies, which kept delaying our joint plans in the relationship. I didn't want to be an old father, so I put a lot of pressure on her. Although she said last week that we were separating, she is still very close to me.

She wants hugs, cuddles and intimacy. This confuses me a lot. I realize that distance is good for me and at the same time her closeness. Next week we are going on our last vacation together. Maybe I have hope, but on the other hand I don't see any way forward for us. Then I'll have to look for a new apartment and start all over again, live alone for a while and then...? I don't feel like it, and I probably won't have any more children at the age of forty-eight. This is very sad, because it was a great wish of mine.

I think I was afraid to end the relationship before then because I had the idea of a stable partnership, children and family, so I thought it would be okay if we got together. Maybe I just didn't want to be alone. You see, there were a lot of dreams and ideas, which were probably also linked to role models from my family of origin that didn't have much to do with the reality. I am tired and powerless to start again. And what does that mean: I love you, but I can't go any further? My ego finds that hard to accept.

It holds on tight and believes it has failed. Does God have a different plan for me instead of becoming a father? I wanted to do better, to pass something on. This makes me sad, and I also feel ashamed that I didn't get it right. And I'm finding it difficult to love myself right now. Do I and my ideas have any influence on my life at all? And what is it about this hurt, my feelings of shame, guilt and having failed? Have I done something wrong, or is this a test?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you, Michael. Thank you for your touching email and your trust in asking me this question.

You know, it's like this: There is only one way we can meet another person in truth: in love. But what does that mean: in love? 'In love' means: wanting nothing, no ideas, no plans, no wishes.

And then, all kinds of things are possible. Then, the most beautiful of things, what is possible with two people, happens by itself, out of this togetherness.

But this kind of togetherness is actually unknown to us. We approach another person, and we have ideas about how we want to use this relationship to realize our wishes.

But it doesn't really work. Look, it's like when you get together and dance. There is of course a dance step that you do together. You know whether you're going to waltz or rumba or whatever.

But this togetherness is a constant looking together: where is the other person? Where am I? And you can only turn and twist and swing together. As soon as one person says: "I want to go this way now", the other stumbles.

It's quite magical in dancing. Even the man, who is usually the leader in the dance... Leading does not mean 'controlling'. Leading only means perceiving where the other person is.

And then you can dance together beautifully. But we don't know that.

I'd like to try to explain the whole thing by... The usual level where problems arise most quickly is in sexuality, and that's where it's particularly painful, this level.

One person has lust, the other doesn't, the other part.

Then one person says: "yes, but that's part of it", or: "if you'd love me, then..." It's actually almost like rape for me when I hear something like that. Every wish I have towards my partner is too much. Every single one. My partner is not responsible for my dreams. My partner is not here in my life to fulfil my dreams, nor my needs, nor my desires. That's not what a partner is for. But we usually think just that, of course. What I say here is not what people think.

What you're experiencing right now, Michael, is, and you can be grateful for what you're experiencing right now... this is like an incredible learning experience: "Ah, this is what happens when I put pressure on my beloved woman.

Then she runs away." She can't help it. That's a very healthy reaction and also good for you, because you then realize: "Yes, it doesn't work like that." She could have stayed, but then you would separate in ten years, then there would be three children, and everything would be much, much more painful and much more complicated.

You know, the bottom line is this: this person you love or have loved is not here to make you happy. She is not there to find fulfilment in your life, you have to take care of that yourself. This other person is there to have fun together, to do things together that you can't do alone; to make life wider and higher and further and deeper; but what that means, we don't know. It only happens when you come together without planning anything together, so to speak.

And then you can be happy together for a lifetime. But you have to take care of being happy yourself.

That's one thing I would like to say. The other is: we have these dreams that you mentioned so beautifully.

It was important to you to have children, to become a father.

My advice is to live without dreams. If children happen, then it's a wonderful thing. But wanting children when there are none is just painful. Dreams are good for nothing, really nothing. And I think you're right: you're dreaming something that isn't your dream at all. All the dreams that we have actually come from somewhere else entirely. These things come from the collective, they come from our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, from tradition, from society, and we don't even know where they come from. We believe they are ours. I also experienced this when I was very young.

So, if you feel these dreams and these desires inside you... the best thing you can do with them is to recognize what they are: "Ah, a dream." meaning: watch out.

We glorify these dreams, we sanctify them. We think: "Ah, that's a good dream." There's nothing wrong with having children, you know... Nothing at all - if it's meant to be.

Yes, this much about that. And finally, I'd like to give you a suggestion, or two actually. I have two suggestions for you. One is for yourself. I just said: you have to take care of your own happiness.

And my suggestion would be: start meditating. It may look like nothing, but it will help you to discover where you can actually find happiness. And the other suggestion I would have is: if you would like to have children with your beloved girlfriend or future wife, if you would like to have a future with her because you simply like her, then you could try the following: accept her completely, without ifs and buts, inside yourself, just as she is. Instead of telling her what you would like her to do, namely, to have children for you... I'm putting this rather brutally.

Say to yourself: "Oh, what a beautiful creature. Yes, she doesn't want children. She'll know what's good for her. She doesn't want children at the moment. Of course, I would never suggest something like that to her..." You love her, just the way she is. Don't tell her what you want. Look at what comes naturally from her.

You'll discover a completely different kind of relationship.

I can't remember the last time I told my partner what I wanted.

I wouldn't even be able to. It would just be too painful.

Yes, and I just promised that these are the last two points, but I can think of one more that I would like to say at the end. You were just wondering about whether you did something wrong. You talked about being ashamed. You know, deep down we feel what's right and you know that it can't work like that, deep down, because you yourself know what it's like when someone wants something from you; when someone wants something from you and demands something from you. You know how terrible that is. But we are the way we are, and we can't help it.

I haven't said what I've said so far because I think you've done something wrong. I'm just telling you the truth about relationship, the truth about being together. But that doesn't mean that you can be different than you are. You are the way you are; so am I... I am completely stupid. It's not easy to love yourself.

I recognized myself in everything you just said, and I have a name that is almost like yours; so many similarities. I used to think that the woman would make me happy; that's how we humans are. And the way out of it is not to know that it doesn't work like that. You can't change. You are the way you are.

You can only do two things. One is to really love yourself the way you are; and: meditate. This is where you discover the way to become happy, and then, the whole thing changes from the root. Because when you start to become happy from within yourself, you stop looking for your happiness out there, all by itself. Then you no longer need anything from your partner.

That's why the path of meditation is so magical.

We do these things that are so counterproductive when living with a partner, not because we're stupid, but simply because we don't know any better. We want to be happy, and we believe with every fiber that happiness is out there, in the relationship, or in success, or somewhere else. And only when we begin to discover the true source of our happiness, and that lies within us, and we discover it through meditation... only when we have discovered that, only then do all these other things relax, because then the cause of the problem is, so to speak, eliminated.

And all along, the cause of the problem has been that we are looking for happiness where it isn't, and then we can try as hard as we want, it just doesn't work. So, and one last thing at the end: don't make any plans. You say you're starting your last vacation together. You don't know that. Hey, you're going on vacation together. Go on vacation together! Don't make the plan that this is your last one with her, you don't know that; she doesn't know it either, even if you decide that. Look forward to the vacation; enjoy the moment. Never ask yourself: what about tomorrow?

Never ask yourself: what about after this vacation? Don't ask yourself: what should I do with my life when I move out of here? You haven't moved out yet. Be where you are. Be ready for anything. Be ready to be alone if that's how it's supposed to be; then maybe living together can work. Who knows, you will discover it all. Don't think about tomorrow. Be here, with your feelings, with your despair, with your insecurity, with your love. It's a very, very intense but very fruitful time that you're having right now. I know it's not easy. I know it burns.

I love you.

Thank you, Michael.

Simone, I can't hear you. I see you talking though.... [Simone:] I have another question for you, Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Who has a question?

[Simone:] I'll read it out, and there's also some feedback on the Easter video. Kerstin says: "Thank you for yesterday's Easter video." And Gabi: "Dear Mikael, thank you for your translation of the resurrection story. I am deeply touched and moved."

Do you communicate with Jesus?

Link to topic in video at 53m21s

And Christopher also has a question about Jesus in this context. "Hello dear Mikael, do you communicate with Jesus, or do you feel him as a part of you? Best regards. Christopher."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you, Christopher, for this question. Yes, I'm happy to say something about that. I am a deeply unspiritual, unesoteric person, at least that's what I say about myself. So, it's not that I have the feeling that I'm talking to Jesus or communicating with him in any other way. I believe that it actually works quite differently. And for me it's like this... I meditate every day. I've been with my spiritual Master for twenty-four years.

I've been with my Guru for, I don't know, six or seven years. I meditate every day. I'm a silly guy, just like you. I don't have any incredible connections into any higher planes that one could tell about or write great books about, but what happens over time is that you suddenly start to understand things. You don't know where it comes from. It's not like someone whispers something to you or an inner voice speaks to you.

Sometimes, it's as if the scales fall from your eyes. Suddenly it's completely obvious to you: "Yes, of course! That's how it's always been meant." And that's how it's been for me with Jesus for many years.

Things just become obvious, more and more.

Swamiji, my Guru, once told me that the main difference between a Guru and a disciple is... it has to do with the field of vision, he says. He gives an example: the disciples sit on the floor, they can see ten meters, or fifteen or twenty. The Guru sits up in the tree and can see a few kilometers; much further. His gaze, his field of vision is much wider than the disciple's field of vision. He can see much more.

And the quieter we become, the more we come inwards and discover our soul, the more we are connected in a way that you can't feel directly. You actually have the feeling that you are getting dumber and dumber and know less and less, but you recognize more and more, and you understand more and more, even though you know less and less. And that's because, without you realizing it yourself, you gradually rise higher, and your field of vision widens.

That's my experience.

And don't listen to what I tell you, you know. The only understanding that helps you is your own, your own recognition. That's why I often say: I like it practical, very practical. I always wanted to know: "Okay, what can I do?" I was never interested in what any medium told me, but I wanted to know: "Okay, what can I do? How can I live?" That's why I like to talk about meditation, which has helped me and continues to help me every day, because then you become lighter and lighter, and at some point, life just makes sense.

Suddenly you realize: "Yes, that's how it is!" Then you read what Swamiji writes about and... Swamiji has written an autobiography, six volumes, beautiful. There are links to it on my website. And then you read it and you have the feeling: "I know that. I understand that", even though you don't actually know what he's talking about, but at some point, you know: that's how it is. As if you had experienced it yourself. And it all comes from yourself; in my case, through meditation.

There are certainly other ways, but of course, I don't know them. I always talk about my path. Yes, that's how it is with me. So, nothing esoteric at all, but it comes completely naturally. And I am convinced that this is how it is for every person, for every individual. Thank you. Thank you, I'm glad I could talk about it.

[Simone:] Mikael, there are currently no unanswered questions for you from the chats.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, fine. Thank you, Simone. I have a few emails here. I will read one of the emails and say something about it.

Yes, I'll just read out the email I have here.

Dealing with feelings and depressive moods

Link to topic in video at 59m53s

"I came to your videos, they really appeal to me because you come across as so normal, so human and honest. For years, I've heard again and again: don't do anything, don't change anything on the outside, stay still and just feel what is there. This works well with feeling and letting go when it comes to anger or rage, and these feelings then really do go away. However, I often have a latent feeling of listlessness, heaviness and listlessness, a depressive mood, without there being an external reason for it.

And I have the feeling that the more I surrender to this feeling and let it be and observe it, the heavier the mood becomes. What is the difference between letting a feeling be and letting yourself fall into it? The second is not good for you. And how do I deal with depressive moods?" And then she writes at the end: "I started the Samarpan Meditation three days ago and I hope I can keep it up."

Yes, thank you for your email.

I would like to start at the end, to roll things up from the back. I'm glad that you wrote that you started with Samarpan Meditation a few days ago. And you know, it's not a question of sticking with it. Meditating is so easy because there is nothing at stake for you. You can't do it wrong; you don't have to do it right; you just sit down for half an hour and enjoy the fact that you don't have to worry about anything for half an hour. Nothing has to come, you don't have to reach a certain state, nothing has to go away, not even the depression.

This half hour is simply a blessing. And my advice would be that you just do it for forty-five days. That's not really my advice at all. Swamiji advises us to do that. He says: "When you start the meditation, just do it for forty-five days." Then you don't have to think every day about whether you really want to do it today or not.

And within these forty-five days, when you have meditated every morning, you will get a very good feeling for what it does to you, and then it will be much easier to continue. But the important thing is that meditation is nothing serious; it's more like a hobby. You do it because you enjoy it. And all the good things that come from it happen of their own accord. You don't need to wait for it, you don't need to do anything special for it. It comes gradually, over time, over the months and years.

And now to your question about feeling the feelings. Yes, there is indeed a difference. I know what you're talking about. Sometimes you have a feeling inside you and it's almost as if the feeling is inviting you to lose yourself in it... to go all the way in.

And I agree with you that that's not a good idea; it's really losing yourself.

I do it differently today, and that's why I express it differently when I talk about it. It's more like this: I pay attention to where I am with my attention, namely here with me, here... I come back here. The more difficult the feeling, the more I try to just stay in the crown chakra with my attention, but I don't ignore the feeling. I allow the feeling to be here, but I stay with myself.

The feeling can be there as long as it wants to be. I have no problem with the feeling. I don't fight against it. But I'm not afraid of it either. It can just be there, but I am with myself.

It's not so easy to put it into words, but perhaps you can feel the difference that I'm talking about, and you know it yourself. You've basically already said that yourself.

Feelings, including depression, come and go.

But it's best not to wait for them to go. You'll give feelings too much importance and too much power by doing this. Just let it be there, give the feeling the space it needs. You stay with yourself.

And about the depressive mood you mentioned... this is something I don't often experience myself in this form, but I know people who have to deal with it, and I know from them that it takes a lot of patience.

My personal experience is that when I need help with something... if there's something I can't deal with on my own, then I discover the help I need on my own, through meditation, and I mean that again in a very practical and not at all esoteric way. I have experienced this again and again in the seven years since I have been doing this meditation. I have something where I know: I need help somehow. I can't get anywhere on my own.

Mostly it was physical things, but maybe also with feelings. But I knew my task was simple: "I meditate". And then, as if by chance, at some point later, after a few days or a few weeks, I discovered exactly what helped me to find a good path in this matter.

Sometimes I've met someone who knew what to do; sometimes I've discovered a new method, or I've discovered that I can do something different in my diet, all seemingly by chance, but it all stems from this turning more and more towards yourself, and then this wisdom of life comes to you. I find it quite magical, very, very practical. That means you don't have to deal with everything on your own, but you will discover what really helps you and what is really good for you.

Yes, and I find patience very, very helpful with the whole thing, especially when it comes to these depressive moods. These like to be treated patiently. I don't know if that helps you in any way now, but that's what comes to mind. Thanks for your email.

Simone, should I keep reading, or do you have something by now?

[Simone:] I have something by now, Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please.

When the partner complains

Link to topic in video at 1h09m04s

[Simone:] And Christopher thanks you for your reply here. Kerstin asks: "Dear Mikael, if you were in a situation with a person who complains very often, would you leave the situation? But I think maybe the other person reflects something back to me. Thank you very much."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Who is this other person? So, what relationship do you have? Boss, partner, relative, mother, father? I would be interested to know.

[Simone:] I'll get back to you as soon as I have an answer, Mikael. "Partner."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you.

Yes, it's really, really funny with partners. We choose a partner, somehow, we don't even know how we do it. We fall in love, and then we want them to be different. It's just like that. That's what we humans do.

For me it is like this: if my partner even vaguely hints that she's unhappy because I'm not doing something or... then it pains me immensely.

It's really hard. It's very painful. I know what you're talking about.

I'm very sensitive about it.

And it used to be like that... it used to be a real problem for me. And the reason for that was that I used to believe that the other person who was criticizing me or asking me to do something more or less elegantly was right. I used to think: "Yes, I really should be like that", or: "I really should do that", or: "I really should do that differently", or: "I really shouldn't do that". I used to be convinced: the other person knows better how I should be.

And then I was very lucky to come to my spiritual Master Soham. He revealed a trick to me.

He told me: "Make peace with being wrong."

Of course, we can tell ourselves: "I don't need to change. I can be the way I am. I have every right to be like this. Who is my partner to tell me I should be different"... But none of that helps. It's all just up there in the head.

But what our partner says hurts us because we believe it ourselves.

You know, if you were completely aware that what your partner is saying is total garbage, then it wouldn't affect you at all. Then you would say: "What are you talking about? Forget it." But of course, it's not like that. And back then, my Master said to me: "Make peace with it... with this certainty, with this conviction: I'm wrong."

And that was tough for me at the beginning. I think it took me ten years before I was finally really able to do that. As I said, even today it still affects me when my partner even hints at it, but these days, I'm ready to be wrong. That's why I don't need to argue with her.

And today I can... it never really happens because she knows me and because she's a good partner, a loving one... But you just said: what would I do if? If I were in a situation like the one you just described, I would first of all feel my feelings, secretly, inside myself. And I would say to this partner: "Listen, I understand you. I understand what you're saying. I'm weird. You're probably even right. You're probably even right, and it would be better if I were different. But you know: I'm like this.

If you like being with me the way I am, then I'm very happy, but I can't change myself. I've tried it and it doesn't work. Nothing against you, but I am like this." Soham, my spiritual Master, from whom I learned this, expressed it differently... He always said... If someone said something like that to him in a relationship, he said: "You know what? If you don't like the way I am, then... there's the door! What do you want here?" That's one way to do it. But that's not my way.

Everyone has to do it their own way. Everyone finds their own way of dealing with it. You may find a different way for yourself; you will discover it yourself. But at the core is one task: to make peace with the fact that you are wrong. Because this conviction doesn't come from your partner. It is not the case that a partner makes you feel that you are wrong. He or she only addresses something that meets receptivity in you, otherwise it would have no power over you; otherwise, you wouldn't even need to ask.

Be prepared to be wrong in the eyes of your loved one. This is a big homework assignment, and if you are willing to do it, it will defuse the situation.

If you try to tell him that what he's saying to you is total nonsense... it won't get you anywhere. Of course, what he's telling you is total nonsense, but it's not your job to tell him that; he has to discover that for himself.

What you can do is make peace with your own wrongness, and amazing things will come out of that, I promise you. It really is a very fruitful path. That's what I can advise you to do today. Thank you for your question.

[Simone:] I have one more question, Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please, Simone.

Why meditate on the crown chakra and not on the heart?

Link to topic in video at 1h18m16s

[Simone:] Erdborn asks: "Why is it in Samarpan Meditation that the attention is on the center of the head? Why not the heart, for example? Thank you."

[Dhyan Mikael:] I'm going to do something now that I never do. I'm going to say to you: "Don't ask. Try it out."

This is something you really have to discover for yourself.

You know, there are two ways to navigate this path. The spiritual path is really an emotional path, and that is: you hear something, you hear someone speak, and you know: ah, this is for me. You don't understand why. You don't know why he's advising you to do that. But you know: it's for me. And then you do it.

It's not that you trust these people. You trust your feelings, you trust yourself and your own openness, and then you do it. And then you are receptive, and then you discover things for yourself. If you ask why, it's because there's something in you that doesn't really want to do it. Do you understand what I mean?

When someone asks why, they don't want to.

There's a passage in the New Testament that I read today because today is Easter, and I didn't understand it for a long time.

Jesus had been crucified and then, a few days later, he appeared to his disciples again. He was among his disciples, and he spoke with them; he was among them. Eleven disciples were there, but one was not there.

And when the eleven later told the twelfth about it, he said: "I don't believe it. I will only believe it when I have touched his hands, the wounds in his hands; when I have put my hand into the wound in his side, then I will believe it, and not earlier."

And later this twelfth disciple met Jesus, and then Jesus said to him: "Here, look, here are my hands, you can touch them. Here is my side, you can put your hand in the wound on my side.

But this kind of..." How did Jesus express himself? It's worthless, he said. If you only believe... if you have the proof, if someone explains it to you: this is how it is... if you can understand it, then this belief, this understanding is completely worthless. This kind of love is completely worthless. But if you have something... Jesus called it: "But if you do it out of pure faith"... I think that was Jesus' way of talking about feeling: out of yourself.

You don't understand it at all, but you feel: "Yes!" That carries you, because it has to do with your openness, with your sensitivity. And that's why I don't want to go into why. Just go with your feelings. If you want to do it, do it; if not, don't. But if you want to do it, then you will discover the answer to your question. If I tell you the answer, from my own experience, it won't do you any good, but you will discover it yourself. Thank you for your question. Thank you very much.

[Simone:] Mikael, it's 3:24 pm. May I read out another question?

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, we'll try that.

When family triggers anger and pain

Link to topic in video at 1h24m02s

[Simone:] "Hi Mikael, I've only just been able to join," writes Lünefritz. "Contact with my family has brought up the most intense feelings in me again in the last few days. Deepest pain, anger, despair... It's not easy at all to feel all this, and unfortunately, I've lost myself in acting out and fighting again. The anger is really raging, and I feel like I keep swallowing it."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, thank you.

Be patient with yourself. Family is the biggest challenge of all. You know, you're dealing with your relatives, maybe your parents or siblings, and there you're dealing with the nest that you came from. You have to deal with the origin of all your conditioning, and that's where it's most difficult for us; that's where we're completely helpless.

It's not that these people are bad or stupid; it's just the way it is. And of course, we then behave in ways that we know are not particularly helpful or productive for us. But when you are alone again, like now, and Satsang is a wonderful medium for this, then, in a safe setting, when you are alone, you can simply feel it afterwards. Don't think about it, but just feel it, very, very slowly.

And these things will change. It just takes time. It's not like you have to become wise overnight. You say to yourself: "I know better. Why am I doing this again now? Why am I getting involved? And why am I reacting like this? I know better!" But none of this helps. Knowledge is of no use to us. We change, very gradually, by experiencing it again and again; by accepting ourselves again and again; by feeling the feelings again and again, again and again.

And we have the feeling that we are going round in circles, but that's not true. In reality we are performing a kind of spiral. We experience the same things again and again, again and again, but each time a little differently, a little higher, each time. We don't realize it; we think we're just as stupid as we were years ago, but that's not true.

And if you can withdraw, like now, then be as gentle with yourself as possible.

Love yourself in your inability to be different, better, more mature, wiser, smarter. You're in good company with me, I can tell you that.

Thank you for your question, and I'm glad you found your way here after your grueling family days. I'm very glad you're here.

Now we're meditating

Link to topic in video at 1h27m45s

And now it's time to stop with the questions, because the meditation is about to begin. But if there are still questions left: we'll continue tomorrow. Tomorrow, on Easter Monday at 2 pm, the second Satsang in this Intensive will take place, and if you would like to continue, I would be delighted. And if anything remains or new questions have come up: ask me, and I'll be happy to answer them.

And I'll say that now, and I'll also say a heartfelt goodbye right now, because after the meditation I'll only say a few words to you so that we can stay in this beautiful space and then not much more needs to be said. And now I would like to say a few words about meditation for those of you who don't know anything about Samarpan Meditation yet.

This meditation is basically a very simple matter, and there are people who officially spread Samarpan Meditation in Germany, that is Samarpan-Meditation Deutschland e.V., there is also a website... they offer so-called introductions to Samarpan Meditation. You can also do this online, usually on Monday evenings; it takes half an hour or three quarters of an hour. It's a great thing to do; you learn a lot about the meditation and also very practical instructions on how it works. And I can only recommend to everyone to take part in something like this.

On my website, there is a page called 'Meditation', and on this page I have put together the links you need. There you will find the link to Samarpan Meditation Deutschland e.V., and there are also links to the introduction I just mentioned. But for you to be able to join in now, I'll just tell you the few practical things you need to know right now so that you can join in. So, what we do is: you just sit down comfortably... basically you can sit down however you like. It's not all that important. I prefer to sit cross-legged with my back straight.

I like it best when I'm not leaning with my back, because that's nicer for the energy, but the most important thing is that you do it in a way that's comfortable for you and that you can do well. And then, after we have started the meditation, we simply sit there in silence for half an hour. There is no music, there is no mantra playing the whole time. We just sit there in silence for half an hour. And what we do internally during this half hour is that we are here with our attention, at the top of the crown chakra, where I have just placed my hand.

It's nothing particularly spiritual. If you put your hand up there, the flat hand up there on your head, then the hand is on your crown chakra. It's as simple as that. That's how you find it; very easily. And at the beginning of the meditation, we do exactly that. At the beginning of the meditation, you take the flat of your hand, place it on top of the crown chakra, because you can then feel the crown chakra so beautifully, and then you move the flat of your hand three times clockwise, a circular movement.

This activates this area at the top of the skull a little, so you can feel it better. And then you take your hand down again, close your eyes, and then you simply go with your attention to this spot that you have just touched, and then it stays there for half an hour. After we have done this and the hand has been taken down again, we say a very short mantra, three times, which is very easy. It says: "I am a holy soul. I am a pure soul." And we say this three times. I say it, and you can repeat it if you like.

If you don't want to, you can simply remain silent. And then this half hour begins, or, we have 27 minutes left right now, where we just sit there with our eyes closed. And then you stay here (at the crown chakra) with your attention. Then, of course, you realize that your attention is not staying there... You realize that in no time at all, you are back in thought again. And as soon as you realize this, don't blame yourself, don't think about it. Just go back up there, very quietly, very quietly.

And then you'll notice that your attention is somewhere else again, on some other thoughts or on your big toe, which is itching. Then you come back up here with your attention. That's it; it's that simple. It's not about the fact that you have to or should get into a certain state. That's not the point at all. You are completely free. You don't have to achieve anything. This exercise of gently going up there again and again with your attention is all we are doing. It sounds like nothing at all, but it's really something, if you do it every morning.

We're going to do this for half an hour. And if you're doing this for the first time and you have any questions, you're welcome to ask tomorrow and I'll say something about it. So, let's get started. In a minute, I'll say the mantra three times, then we'll be in silence until 4 pm. Then I'll just say one more sentence to bring you out of the meditation again, and then I'll say goodbye and I'll see you tomorrow.

Meditation

Link to topic in video at 1h33m53s

So, take your hand and, if you like, place it on the top of your skull, make three clockwise circles.... Now take your hand down again, very slowly, very slowly. Your eyes remain closed, and I now say this mantra.

I am a holy soul. I am a pure soul.

I am a holy soul. I am a pure soul.

I am a holy soul. I am a pure soul.

-Meditation-

Thank you for meditation. Thank you. You can now slowly open your eyes again.

Thank you for being here. I love you.