Easter Intensive: Online Satsang of April 21, 2025

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, and welcome to the second Satsang of the Easter Intensive on this Easter Monday.

I am delighted that you are here. I am delighted that you are all here.

For those of you who are joining one of my Satsangs Online For the very first time, I would like to repeat the invitation: if you have any questions about your spiritual path or your life, you are welcome to ask me here in Satsang via the chat in YouTube or in Zoom. You can also talk to me in Zoom. I will try to answer your question from my perspective.

I have been a disciple of my spiritual Master Soham for 25 years. For seven years, I have been a discpile of my Guru Swamiji, from whom I learned Samarpan Meditation seven years ago. And although I am a completely normal person, just like you — there is nothing special about me —, I have somehow learned happiness from these two media of God, as I like to put it.

And that is something that every person can learn. It is, so to speak, our birthright, our heritage, or — I would like to put it another way: it is basically completely natural to be happy and to arrive at what Jesus always spoke of. This is the Easter Intensive, and it is the time when Jesus is especially close to us, if we want this.

And he spoke about it all the time.

And that is why I am sitting here trying to share at least a little of what I am experiencing and what I have learned from Soham and Swamiji. And I invite you, too, if you feel the energy and desire to do so, to contact these media of God directly. I am of course very happy when you are here, but we are living in a very special time, where Jesus is alive, so to speak. Someone like Swamiji is not always here, and that is a great blessing.

Of course, you can only turn to him, only turn towards him, if you want to – if it happens. It's like falling in love with a woman or a man. You can't decide that, it just happens, and it's the same with a Master and a Guru: it just happens. And when it happens to you, I can tell you: it's good when it happens to you. There's no need to worry, on the contrary. And if it doesn't, then I am just happy that you are here. Yes, so much for the introduction.

The revolution of the inner

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I have received a question... No, I haven't received a question – I received a very short email yesterday from a woman who was unable to attend yesterday, and I would like to read it out briefly and say a few words about it.

"Beloved Mikael, today I am being unfaithful to myself and going to my family's Easter coffee. I can feel how much it hurts, but tomorrow, I will be in Satsang. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your stubbornness in telling me about your path again and again. I am currently experiencing a crisis of trust and faith, but I am trying to recognize myself in it and to love myself just as I am right now."

Thank you. Thank you for your email – it fits so well with Easter.

It's funny, you know, because I see exactly the opposite of what you see. You say that you are being unfaithful by going to the Easter coffee with your family instead of being in Satsang, as if Satsang were an obligation, and you are having a crisis of trust and faith, but the most important and beautiful thing is to be true to yourself and simply do what you do without knowing whether it is right or wrong. There is no right on Easter Sunday.

We just celebrated Easter, and Jesus was crucified because he fundamentally questioned the existing rules of Jewish society at that time — the religious rules. He said... They had and still have very strict, very precise, detailed rules for everything in everyday life.

And Jesus brought about a revolution – but not the revolution his disciples were waiting for, a revolution against the oppressors, against the Roman rulers, but rather he brought about a revolution within. He said: "These rules are not important. What is important is that you love God – in your heart; that is where you will find your way. Only you know what that looks like."

Jesus was crucified because he questioned religious rules. He brought about a revolution — not an external revolution against oppressors, but an internal revolution. He said, "It's not these rules that matter. What matters is that you love God — in your heart; that is where you will find your path. Only you know what that path looks like."

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And I do exactly the same as you.

There is something that I think would be the right thing to do, but I realize that I cannot do it. I have to do something else now, otherwise I will not be at peace with myself.

I always say: the most important thing is to be true to yourself. But what does that mean? It doesn't mean doing what you think is right. It also doesn't mean doing what you want, but rather doing what life wants from you right now, in this moment. And you can tell by... And if you want to know what that is, you can easily tell by what is possible for you. I know exactly what you mean. I am familiar with the situation you describe.

I have described it many times in videos, always with examples, because it is so important for us to learn. You have some idea of what would be right, or you want something, but you know exactly: "I can't do that right now. It just doesn't fit. I wouldn't feel comfortable sitting in Satsang right now. I have to go to my family for Easter coffee. When I do that, I am at peace with myself." You went there because you couldn't stay at home and be in Satsang. It just wasn't possible for you.

The most important thing is to be true to yourself. But what does that mean? It doesn't mean doing what you think is right. It also doesn't mean doing what you want to do, but rather doing what life wants you to do right now, in this moment. And you can easily recognize this by what is possible for you.

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And that's okay. And that's how we learn. That's how we learn to be more and more true to ourselves. That's how we learn to forgive ourselves again and again. That's how we learn to forget what we believe is right and to always live in the moment. Life is wild and vibrant.

And we feel... And I feel exactly the same as you: I also feel wrong. I actually always feel wrong, no matter what I do, but that doesn't matter. We only do what we can – and we do it with surrender.

This teaches us to forget what we believe is right and to live in the moment. Life is wild and vibrant. And I feel exactly the same as you: I feel wrong, but that doesn't matter. We only do what we can — and we do it with surrender.

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The predicate of the mature soul

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And you say you are having a crisis of faith and trust. You have that when you are divided, you know... When you believe that you should do something... You believe, "Jesus wants me to do this," or "Swamiji thinks I should do that now." But you realize that it's not possible, you don't feel like doing it at all, you want something completely different, and then you think you have a problem. But in reality, the problem only exists up here; only there.

We are always the black sheep, we are always the prodigal son, the lost daughter, over and over again. But God never believes that, and Swamiji never believes that — only we ourselves do. Then we are divided; we feel wrong; then we can no longer believe what we know.

You have a crisis of faith and trust when you are divided; when you believe you should do this or that, but realize that you want something completely different. And then, you think you have a problem. We are always the black sheep. But God never believes that, and Swamiji never believes that — only we ourselves do.

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That's why I like to talk about myself so much, because I feel exactly the same way, over and over again.

Only you know what your next step is. Only you know where you want to be on Sunday morning, on Easter Sunday morning, and only you can find out. And then, your feet don't carry you where you think you should be, and then, you say yes to that: 'yes'. And then, you feel wrong, and then, you say 'yes' to that. And that's how we learn and grow and become stronger and stronger.

Only you know what your next step is. Only you can find out. And then, your feet don't carry you where you think you should be, and then, you say 'yes' to that... And then, you feel wrong, and then, you say 'yes' to that. And that's how we learn and grow and become stronger and stronger.

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It is a sign of the mature soul, that it feels wrong; a hallmark. Jesus... Jesus' disciples were the wrong, the simple, the clueless. Those who came to him were sinners, the outcasts, those whom others believed to be wrong, and who themselves were completely convinced that they were wrong. These people who suffer from themselves, are open to the doctor, to healing.

It is a sign of the mature soul that it feels wrong. Those who came to Jesus were sinners, outcasts, people who believed, along with others, that they were wrong. These people, who suffer from themselves, are open to the doctor, to healing.

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And the people who are convinced that they are doing everything right — that was back then the scribes, the Pharisees, the respected people, all those who do things right— they are not open. They don't need help. They don't know that they need help. Jesus put it this way: they don't know that they are spiritually dead.

But when you are in that role yourself, like you, like me, then it feels difficult and wrong. But that's a good thing! That's why you can find God, that's why you can find your soul, that's why you are awake and your eyes are open.

I'm not afraid of anything – except of the day when I believe that I am right and good and doing everything right. Then, I am trapped in my ego.

I'm not afraid of anything – except of the day when I believe that I am right and good and doing everything right. Then, I am trapped in my ego.

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And the crisis of faith and the crisis of trust actually only come about because we don't understand the Master, the Guru, the living Jesus.

We simply cannot understand. We take everything personally and believe... We interpret everything we hear and always find something somewhere that supposedly says: "See, I am doing it wrong. There's something wrong with me. There's something difficult about me, something is messed up and hopeless."

And that's just how it is. We have to live with it. That's not how it's meant – but that's how we understand it. I experienced this again and again in Satsang with Soham. I sat there for 20 years, every day... Every day, where there was Satsang, I sat in Satsang and witnessed how Soham spoke to people. And I followed the conversations and felt the love and acceptance with which Soham spoke to each individual.

And then I often witnessed the reactions of the people afterwards, when Soham had left, or I noticed how they later came back to him and told him about it. And I witnessed time and time again how people interpreted what they had heard, what I had witnessed, as a judgment, almost as condemnation, as a negative assessment, as proof that something was wrong with them. I didn't hear anything like that. The conversation I witnessed was completely different. But we often can't hear it the way it's meant because we're simply trapped in our programming, in our ego.

Yes, that's just how it is. I do it this way... Yesterday, I had a question from a lady who asked me about something Swamiji wrote in his autobiography, where he talks about souls that become demonic.

And I thought about it for a long time afterwards.

I feel the same way you do, that I often just don't understand things – and then I just forget them. Soham gave me that advice decades ago. He said, "If you don't understand something, just forget it. If something doesn't resonate with you, of what I say," he told me, "then it's not for you. Just forget it."

Sometimes I've experienced that many years later I've heard the same thing from him again, and then it resonated with me. Then I was ready. Then I could understand it — but not before. And that's good advice. Everything you don't understand, everything that seems negative — just forget it. But sometimes you hear something, and it is as if someone has placed a gift in your lap, you have such a resonance with it. That's for you.

Everything you don't understand, everything that seems negative — just forget it. But sometimes you hear something, and it is as if someone has placed a gift in your lap, you have such a resonance with it. That's for you.

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Swamiji often talks about this, from his own experience, by the way. He often talks about how the disciple hears at his level, but the Guru speaks at the Guru's level, somewhere else entirely, up there. And Swamiji says that understanding is not possible between the two. And he says this because he experienced it himself with his Gurus. In his autobiography, he describes this beautifully in many places; when he was with one of his Gurus and they explained something to him, he knew that it was something wonderful – and he didn't understand a word. He just felt totally stupid.

For me, that's a great example: that it's allowed; that it's okay.

And to conclude this introduction, which is of course already very long, I would like to tell you something else that I was reminded of now, at Easter. Jesus spoke to his disciples before his crucifixion. He spoke to them and said: "All of you will forsake me.

All of you will abandon me." He told Peter that he would deny him. He told them all sorts of things they would do, even though they didn't want to do them at all and even though they thought it was completely wrong. And then Jesus said, "I am telling you this so that later you will understand that it had to be this way and you will not blame yourselves."

He simply loved them. He knew that they were like that. He knew that they had to be that way — that's why he had chosen them — every single one of them, including Judas. We are the way we are supposed to be, right now, and we feel totally wrong. The Guru knows that we are not wrong, but we don't know it.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will forsake me." And then he said, "I am telling you this so that later you will understand that it had to be this way and you will not blame yourselves." He knew that they had to be this way — including Judas. The Guru knows that we are not wrong, but we do not know it.

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And when the Guru tells us, "Everything is fine with you," we can't believe him. But gradually we discover it for ourselves – very gradually. So, enough of the preamble. Thank you for your email yesterday.

Ignoring the AI in your head

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Simone, do you have anything you'd like to read out?

[Simone:] Oh yes, a lot.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Oh, that's nice. Hello, Simone. It's nice to have you back.

[Simone:] You are very welcome.

Hello. Maria asks: "Dear Mikael, my question is: what will it be like for us humans, when AI arrives? Will it be bad? Can you say anything about that? Thank you."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Don't worry – really. Just go with what's happening for you right now. That's all you need to do.

I think AI is a great thing. I was just thinking about it. I use software to write my newsletter and the morning messages that go out every morning. Basically, it is a service provider that allows me to send these emails to lots of people every day, and they offer AI assistance to make the texts and the whole process much easier to write. Of course, I don't use AI for things like that.

I write every word myself. Every sentence I write has to come entirely from me, and anything else would be impossible for me. But we are now in an age where a lot of texts are written automatically. And if you are a person who still writes your own texts, if you are someone who still writes your own letters, then you have a huge advantage – because people can sense that.

Everyone senses authenticity. And when the world becomes fake and you remain real, oh, then you are rich. People sense authenticity.

Just worry about how authentic you are. Make sure that your AI doesn't take over – the one up there. That up there is AI. The mind is AI. The mind is an algorithm that uses existing data — your memories — to draw conclusions about the present and the future that have nothing to do with what is actually happening. Those are your thoughts, and you simply learn to ignore them. AI — learn to deal with it.

The rest is not important.

And I really mean it.

You know... How your life is depends entirely on what you believe.

If you know that God can be found within you, and you only need to turn inward, then everything will be right, even if you can't feel it at all in the beginning... But somehow you know it. You know it's true. When you hear someone who knows this say it, you know: "Yes, he is right." That's why you are here — not because I am so great, but because you know it yourself.

And when you know that and then do it, when you turn your consciousness inward, then... Jesus said it so beautifully. These are simply words that could never be said better. He said: "...and everything else will follow." Yes, when you turn inward, everything else that is necessary comes to you automatically.

You don't need to worry about it at all. But if you believe that what is important and what you need comes from outside and that everything is important and that it is important that everything out there is right, then your life will be like that. That is a hard life, because what you find out there is unpredictable.

There is no security, there is nothing permanent, there is nothing lasting, there is nothing eternal.

And your AI constantly tells you: what's out there is important. And your friends say the same thing, and your partner says the same thing, and all the people you know say the same thing.

Only a madman like Jesus says, "No, it's all completely different." Then you hear that and you know: "That's true." And your heart bursts, you are so moved. But then to live that, that's the challenge. And to live that means, in concrete terms: to practice ignoring your thoughts – meditating; that's a particularly good way to practice. And then, little by little, everything changes. More is not necessary. If you ignore your AI, then the AI out there can't harm you.

And as I said, I think it's great because the few people who remain authentic become even more visible, even more valuable, even... I don't know; it's just easier, everything. Thank you, Maria. Thank you for your question.

Meditation – the cleansing purgatory

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[Simone:] The next question comes from Bernhard.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Good evening... oh, good evening? Hello Bernhard. I am happy you are here.

[Simone:] "Hello Mikael. When I pray every day with humility and surrender and deep gratitude, I feel more inner peace and longer lasting happiness than when I meditate, which I practiced unsuccessfully for six months. Is praying the same as meditation? Thank you."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Mhm. Thank you for this wonderful question.

Yes, Samarpan Meditation — I assume you are referring to Samarpan Meditation — is exactly what you do in prayer. If you pray as you described — surrendering yourself in humility — that is Samarpan Meditation. 'Samarpan' means surrender. The only problem you probably have with meditation is that you believe that you have to do something, do something right. You say you have tried unsuccessfully.

That cannot be. You can't do Samarpan Meditation successfully, and that's why you can't do it unsuccessfully either. It doesn't work because you sit there and do nothing and have no goal. The only thing you do is ignore everything you think you have to do, everything you think is important, and just let it be. And you just surrender. In principle, it's a silent prayer.

Your only problem with meditation is that you think you have to do something right. You say you have tried unsuccessfully. That cannot be. You cannot do Samarpan Meditation successfully, and therefore you cannot do it unsuccessfully, because you have no goal. In principle, it is a silent prayer.

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In Samarpan Meditation, for me, I turn directly to God, immediately — to the God who is here, in me — and he can be found where there is silence and where I no longer want anything and where I no longer try anything and where I just surrender. That is meditation.

For me, it is the highest form of prayer. That is exactly what you describe.

In Samarpan Meditation, I turn directly to God, who can be found where there is silence, where I want nothing more, where I try nothing, and where I simply surrender myself. That is meditation. For me, it is the highest form of prayer.

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And you know, when you do Samarpan Meditation, it is as if you voluntarily expose yourself to what is your inner truth – the noise up here. You go with your attention into the silence, into the crown chakra, and your thoughts do not allow that and keep pulling you out again.

But that's not a bad sign.

I think it could be that your only problem with Samarpan Meditation is that you believe something specific has to happen. Many people believe they have to be thoughtless, and if that doesn't happen, then they're doing something wrong. I experience it differently. Of course, I also experience thoughts, but for me it's like this: by being willing to be still and then experiencing all these parts of myself that want to pull me out of it... By being willing to experience that and then returning to the crown chakra again and again, something happens – if I don't judge it.

This makes me stronger: by daring to do it again and again. And then I am pulled out again, and then I return again, as equanimous, as stubborn, as quiet as I can be.

Swamiji says: when you meditate, it is important that you do not judge your meditation; that you do not think: "Ah, I am doing it wrong. Ah, it's working. Ah, it's not working." And that's because you don't know at all what's important.

In reality, the task is very simple: you sit down and rest your attention here (in the crown chakra), and whenever you are no longer there, you simply return there as best you can. There is nothing wrong with that. I do this thousands of times every half hour. And at some point, it dawns on you: "Ah! It just is about me coming back again and again."

It doesn't matter that you stay there – you can't. Just keep coming back, like in prayer.

In reality, the task is simple: you rest your attention in the crown chakra, and whenever you find yourself elsewhere, you return there as best you can. There is nothing you can do wrong. It is not important that you stay there — you cannot. Just keep returning, as in prayer.

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For me, Samarpan Meditation is the purest form of prayer. You burn. For me, it is what Christians call purgatory. By being willing to become still — and that happens when I go up here — I begin to feel everything within me that is not still.

And being ready for that – and then returning again and again to the crown chakra, returning again and again to silence; being ready again to hear the noise inside me, to be seized again by thoughts, and then returning again, again and again – that is the highest form of prayer for me.

For me, Samarpan Meditation is purgatory. By being willing to become still, I begin to feel everything within me that is not still. Then returning to the crown chakra, to stillness; being willing again to hear the noise within me, to be seized by thoughts, and then returning again and again — that is the highest form of prayer.

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Of course, I don't know what your head is telling you, why this doesn't work for you; what the specific reason is. But that doesn't matter. It can't be true.

Let me put it this way: in the eyes of God, you can't do anything wrong – only in your own eyes.

In the eyes of God, you can't do anything wrong – only in your own eyes.

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Thank you, Bernhard. I am very happy you are here.

“Subdue the Earth“

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[Simone:] Now I'll read the next question. It's from Gabriella.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Gabriella, hello. Nice to have you here.

[Simone:] "Yesterday during our Easter walk, we came across the Bible quote: 'Subdue the earth.' Can you say something about this or translate it, dear Mikael? Thank you for today's Satsang. Gabriella."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for this beautiful question. Yes, I'd like to say something about that. Look, it's as if you were... In reality, you are a soul, and you are here on Earth, in this body, to experience that you are a soul and not the body. You can only experience it with the body – which you are not. The body is the Earth. The soul is who you really are. But you are completely identified with the body. The body rules you. The desires of the body, the fears of the body, the thoughts of the body rule you. You have no say.

And that is completely upside down, because you are the soul that has the body.

You are not a soul, owned by a body, but you are the soul that is allowed to use the body. The servant is the Master in the house, normally, for all people. The body rules.

The soul is who you really are. But you are completely identified with the body. The desires of the body, the fears of the body, the thoughts of the body rule you. You have no say. And that is completely upside down. The servant is the Master in the house, normally, for all people. The body rules.

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And when it is said, "subdue the earth" – that is your earth: this body. This you have to subdue. And that means, translated: it is not the body that rules, but you.

You say where to go, not the desires and cravings of the body. Sure, the body is hungry, it should get its food. But if that is what runs you and what worries you, then something is wrong. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says: "Why do you worry about what you will eat? Why do you worry about how you will clothe yourselves? Concern yourselves only with the Kingdom of God" – he is speaking of the inner.

When it says, "subdue the earth," that is your earth: this body. This you have to subdue. And that means, translated, that it is not the body that rules, but you. You decide where you are going, not the desires and cravings of the body. Of course, the body is hungry, and it should get its food. But if that is what runs you and what worries you, then something is wrong.

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And if you do that, then, the other things will take care of themselves without you having to worry about them. The only thing you should really worry about is being close to your soul, to the sacred part of yourself, to the Heaven within you. And the earthly part of you, this body – everything it needs will then take care of itself. But we only care about the earthly part.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, "Why do you worry about what you will eat or drink? Worry about the Kingdom of God" – he is talking about the inner. If you do that, the other things will take care of themselves without you having to worry about them. The only thing you should worry about is being close to your soul.

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Yes, and "subdue the earth" simply means: become the soul. The body must become a servant again, not a Master.

And you realize how difficult that is when you meditate. The earth pulls you – your body with its thoughts, everything you have out there... By earth, I mean the world, everything out there.

If you are a King, you don't run after your subjects. You sit on the throne. The subjects come to you. You serve them as King, but you don't run after them. But we run after our bodies and have forgotten ourselves.

"Subdue the earth" means: become the soul. The body must once again become the servant, not the Master. You realize how difficult this is when you meditate. The earth pulls at you — the body with its thoughts. When you are a King, you do not run after your subjects. We run after the body and forget ourselves.

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But you can't do that mentally. That would just be "mind fuck" again... I really like this English word. It's so apt.

You have to do it practically, and there are a lot of misunderstandings about that. There are people who deliberately torture their own bodies... In the Christian tradition, this was often the case: people who flagellated their bodies as if the body were bad or guilty of something. By flagellating their bodies, they want to break their identification with the body. But in reality, this is a completely sick way of doing things, because it actually reinforces the problem.

The only way out is not to take it seriously – just turn away from it. If something isn't important, then you just don't think about it. You simply don't pay any attention to it. You don't torment it, you don't neglect it, but you are not panicking about it, and it's not at the top of your priority list. At the top of your priority list should be: "I turn inward" – what Jesus called the Kingdom of God.

And when you practice that in meditation by simply ignoring your thoughts, the world loses its power.

That's how you subdue the world: simply by putting it in its place, where it belongs.

You take care of what's important. When you become able to turn your attention to what's important and no longer to worldly things, which is mainly this body, then everything changes.

And once you have understood what it is really about and you give your attention to what is important, then it becomes very easy to take care of this servant — our body is our servant —, much easier than it is when we identify with this body.

When you become capable of turning your attention to what is important and no longer to worldly matters, everything changes. And when you give your attention to what is important, it becomes easy to take care of this servant, our body, much easier than when we identify with this body.

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Of course, like everything else, it is completely misunderstood. "Subdue the earth" does not mean exploiting the earth or exploiting or dominating this body. It simply means that you return to the throne, to your throne: it is inside you – your soul. That is where you belong.

And when you focus your attention on that... You can recognize such a person by the fact that they are gentle with themselves, with their body and with the world, with animals, with nature. You are simply full of appreciation for these things. So, it's exactly the opposite of what you would normally think if you don't know what it means.

"Subdue the earth" does not mean exploiting the earth or this body. It means that you return to the throne: it is inside you – your soul. That is where you belong. And when you focus on that... You can recognize such a person by the fact that they are gentle with themselves, with their body and with the world, with animals, with nature.

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Yes, and you can discover that by meditating.

Thank you, Gabriella.

I am happy you are here.

Meditating without ambition

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[Simone:] Dear Mikael, Christopher has raised his hand, I assume because you want to talk to Mikael. I'll put you through now.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, thank you very much.

[Christopher:] Hello, Mikael

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Christopher. Hello. How nice of you to join us.

[Christopher:] Yes, I think so too. I am happy.

So, my question. You once said in a video that you tried meditating in the evenings for a while or sometimes during the day, I don't remember exactly. But then you stopped and said that half an hour in the morning is just right, and more is not good or necessary. And now you also talked about silence.

And silence is actually what we are, and where Samarpan Meditation leads us to. And I wonder in situations like this, when I notice during the day that I am lost in thoughts or emotions: isn't it helpful to then send my attention to the silence, for instance to the crown chakra, or even just to think about silence?

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, thank you for your question. That is very helpful, of course. I do that all day long – whenever I feel the way you just described. When I notice: oh, I've lost myself, I am lost in my thoughts or I am stressed right now, or whenever I think of it, I return to silence while I am doing something.

And I didn't really say it exactly as you remember it, with not meditating for more than half an hour. If I felt that I needed to meditate right now, because I was completely frazzled or because I had lost myself, then I would do that.

What I was talking about was something else. I was talking about how I noticed at some point that I enjoy meditating for a long time and that I had turned it into a kind of sport. I realized that I had developed an ambition. I would meditate, then look at the clock and think, "Oh, I've been meditating for an hour and 10 minutes — that's really good." I was proud of myself for meditating for longer.

And there I realized: "Wait a minute – that can't be right." Meditation has nothing to do with pride or doing it right. "Meditating longer" doesn't mean "being better." That's when I realized: "Wait a minute, I am going down the wrong path here." And that's why I was grateful for Swamiji's very clear statement: half an hour is enough; you don't need more. You never need to feel that longer is better.

And he says that because he knows us and our minds, which are always ambitious and always try to make us feel wrong. But if at some point during the day I feel distressed and think, "Oh, now it's time to meditate...", then I would do it. And as I said, I do it all the time. Whenever I think about it, I return to the crown chakra. That's where I feel at home, of course.

[Christopher:] Great, yes. Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you, Christopher. It's nice to have you here.

[Christopher:] See you in May then.

The magic of retreat

Link to topic in video at 52m30s

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, I am really looking forward to it. Christopher just mentioned it. He mentioned May. He's referring to the retreat that takes place there, and I am really looking forward to it. At the end of May, the first retreat with me will take place in Upper Austria between Salzburg, Passau, and Linz. And if you feel like taking a few days off from your normal everyday life to just look at yourself, just look at your soul, then I invite you to come.

I have been very fortunate to be able to attend retreats with my Master Soham for many years through, many times a year, and even today I still go there sometimes when I am there to assist with the equipment or other things. When I sit there in retreat, it is an infinite gift. I can't explain what happens there, but you just get so close to yourself, and it just feels so good. And I would like to add something else. You don't need it, you know... Christopher, I am not talking to you specifically, but in general.

It's not that you have to buy seminars or retreats because it's necessary.

And I am just saying this because it's important to me to be really honest. No one needs "Retreat with Mikael," but it can be really wonderful, and it can do you good. And if you feel like you want to do it... If you feel like your soul wants to go there, then go for it. But if you don't feel that desire or that urgency, then it's not necessary. Follow your joy, follow your soul.

And in retreat... You know, it's not that I give you something. I can't do that. No human being can give you anything, not even a Guru, and certainly not me. But what happens is: when you get close to someone who is inside, for whom it is natural to be inside, then suddenly it happens to you too. And by going inside, you discover everything, and you get everything.

In retreat, you often feel so richly blessed, but that doesn't come from outside. It simply comes from getting much closer to yourself than you normally do, especially when you spend several days in this field where you can really get involved with yourself completely. And that's where the magic comes from.

And that's why I say: you don't need Mikael – because you already carry this 'inner' within you. It's already here. Everything you can discover in retreat is already here. That's why my job is so easy. I don't have to make any effort to give you anything. And yet I tell you: it is simply an infinite gift. If you feel like it, if you feel the energy and joy for it, then just come.

In retreat, you feel so richly blessed, but that doesn't come from outside. It comes from getting closer to yourself. That's where the magic comes from. That's why I say: you don't need Mikael – because you already carry this 'inner' within you. Everything you discover in retreat is already here. That's why my job is so easy.

Link to quote in video at 55m45s

Yes, Simone...

[Simone:] I'll read on.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please.

Just bring your peace with you

Link to topic in video at 56m58s

[Simone:] The next question is from Kati.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, Kati.

[Simone:] "How can I experience real peace in my family?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Forget it. You are looking in the wrong place. If you shorten your question, it's better: "How can I experience real peace? Period." When you say, "I want to experience real peace, specifically in my family," you are making it very difficult for yourself. It's like saying, "How can I find fresh water in the Sahara?" Then you are really making it difficult for yourself. That is not necessary. I want to tell you how it works. Find real peace – and then you have it. And when you go to your family, you simply bring your peace with you.

That is how it works, and only in this way.

You ask, "How can I experience real peace in my family?" Forget it. You're looking in the wrong place. It's like trying to find fresh water in the Sahara. Find real peace — and then you'll have it. And when you go to your family, you simply bring your peace with you. That's how it works, and that's the only way.

Link to quote in video at 57m03s

Jesus said, "I give you my peace." How did he do that? I just described it to you when I was talking about Gurus.

Jesus lived radically within himself, so radically that nothing else mattered to him.

And this power, this incredible strength to turn inward, is contagious. That's why you come, when you think of Jesus, inward — and there is peace.

Jesus said, "I give you my peace." How did he do that? He lived radically within himself, so radically that nothing else mattered to him. And this power, this incredible strength to turn inward, is contagious. That's why you come inside when you think of Jesus — and there is peace.

Link to quote in video at 58m15s

And you have to practice this, otherwise you'll fall right back out again. You do that when you meditate every morning. And then, over the years, you become more and more rooted there. You become more and more like Jesus yourself. Swamiji puts it this way: "I am not here to make you dependent on me. I am here to make your soul your Guru." Your inner peace becomes more and more stable, the foundation becomes bigger, stronger, and broader.

And at some point, you can go to your family, to the people who can most easily bring you into conflict, and you can remain within yourself and at peace — even when you are with your mother, even when you are facing your father, you can remain within yourself and at peace. That is the simple way.

It is not possible for you to bring peace. If you try to bring peace to people who do not know peace and do not want peace — they do not want peace, but they do not know it — you cannot bring them peace. It is not possible. They have to find it themselves. But if you have learned to live within yourself, and then you are there and have a cup of tea with them, then what happens to them is what happens to you when you are here in Satsang. You are with someone who is perhaps a little more inside than you are – and you fall more inward than you normally are, and you experience peace.

Then they drink a cup of tea with you, and then they experience something within themselves that they don't normally experience. But you can't talk about it, you can't give them tips, you can't point it out to them. The only thing you can do is take care of your own unrest, ignore your thoughts, pull the beam out of your own eye – as Jesus put it. Don't worry about the unrest of others. Take care of your own unrest, of the war within you. Then, your peace will be contagious. That's the only thing that works. But it works really well.

The only thing you can do is take care of your own unrest, ignore your thoughts, pull the beam out of your own eye — as Jesus put it. Don't worry about the unrest of others. Take care of your own unrest, of the war within you. Then, your peace will be contagious.

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Thank you. Thank you for that wonderful question. I love these real-life questions. Thank you.

About the introduction to Samarpan Meditation

Link to topic in video at 1h02m17s

Oh, by the way, one more note... I keep talking about Samarpan Meditation, which, as I said, has nothing to do with me. I just meditate, just like you. I discovered it seven and a half years ago. Today is Monday, and every Monday evening, I think tonight too... Right, Simone? Tonight is also the introduction, isn't it? Every Monday evening, you can take part in a German-language introduction to Samarpan Meditation online.

You can find the links on my website, on the Samarpan Meditation page. And if you don't know it yet, if you'd like to find out more, tonight is a great opportunity to join in. The introduction starts at 6:30 p.m., I believe, or 6:45 p.m. tonight. It's Online Via Zoom, and you'll learn a lot about Samarpan Meditation directly from the people who are authorized by Swamiji to officially teach others how to meditate.

I talk about it all the time, but it's important to me to point out that this is the official, approved information. The introduction lasts about 45 minutes to 7:30 p.m., then there's half an hour of news and updates from Swamiji, and then, between 8 and 8:30 p.m. tonight, we meditate together online. You can just join in. Yes, so if you feel like it – just a tip on the side. Simone, would it be possible for you to post the link in the chat later?

[Simone:] Yes, of course, I'd be happy to.

[Dhyan Mikael:] ...on YouTube and Zoom. Thank you. Then people won't have to search for a long time. Thank you very much. Okay, so much about this.

Feelings are no big deal

Link to topic in video at 1h04m15s

[Simone:] Then I'll read Elisabeth's question next.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Elisabeth, hello. I am happy you are here.

[Simone:] "Hello Mikael. Since May last year, I've been suffering from severe anxiety. You already wrote to me that these are old fears and that I should let them in. Can you say anything more about that?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, words are always tricky. They make you imagine difficult things. Look, it's very simple. You feel the fear, somehow, everyone feels it differently, and every fear is different. And by "let it in," I simply mean to let it be here. You don't need to do anything special with it, on the contrary. You don't need to pay much attention to it... just let it be here. You feel the fear: "Okay, the fear is here, that's fine." Maybe you are sweating with fear, maybe you are shaking with fear: "Okay, I am shaking."

Or you are nervous: "Okay, I am nervous." Then you do the washing up, and the fear is allowed to just be here. And you meditate; you simply take the fear with you to your crown chakra, like a child who is simply present. You don't need to constantly focus on it; it's just here. Just let it be here – it's that simple.

Look, it's quite simple. You feel the fear, and you don't need to do anything special with it. On the contrary: just let it be here. Then you do the washing up, and the fear is allowed to be here too. And you meditate; you simply take the fear with you to your crown chakra, like a child who is just there.

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We want to do something with our feelings so that they go away. And I mean to simply stopping with this 'wanting to get rid of it' – nothing more is necessary. Everything else happens by itself, quite naturally, quite simply, with time. It just takes time.

You don't need to dwell on fear; it's just here. Just let it be – it's that simple. We want to do something with our feelings so that they go away. But just stopping with this 'wanting to get rid of it' is all that's necessary. Everything else happens by itself, quite naturally, quite simply, with time. It just takes time.

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And I told you that the fear is old, and I told you that because we normally tend to want to know where such intense feelings come from which determine our everyday life and which keep coming back. And then, of course, there is some kind of trigger in our lives today. Maybe you had a situation in your relationship that triggered this fear, or at work, or somewhere else. But you have known this fear for much longer.

This means that the fear actually has nothing to do with the trigger you are experiencing in your life right now. And I told you that the fear is old, so that you don't think about the trigger that caused the fear today. You simply know that the fear is part of you, and has been for a long time. You've forgotten where it comes from, but it's here – and it's allowed to be here.

I told you that the fear is old, so that you don't think about the trigger that caused the fear today. You simply know that the fear is part of you, and has been for a long time. You've forgotten where it comes from, but it's here – and it's allowed to be here.

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What doesn't help is thinking about it: Where does it come from? What is it trying to tell me? What should I do about it now? How can I let it go? How can I resolve it?

Feelings don't like the spotlight. They just want to be here, nothing more.

Just keep them company. Soham once put it beautifully. He said, "When you stop sending the fear away and just allow it to be here, then the fear is no longer afraid." Then it's just fear that's allowed to be here. It's much easier than we imagine. The only thing you need is patience. You just let it be here and forget any ulterior motive to get rid of it.

What doesn't help is thinking about it: Where does the fear come from? What is it trying to tell me? What should I do about it now? How can I let it go? How can I get rid of it? Feelings don't like being in the spotlight. They just want to be here, nothing more. Just keep them company.

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You know, if you let the fear be here now because you know that it will go away, that's not very kind. No. Let the fear be there as if it were a part of you. It's allowed to be here. You don't send your right arm away, or your big toe. And just as they are allowed to be here, so is the fear, and all the other feelings too.

Soham said, "If you don't send the fear away, but simply allow it to be here, then the fear is no longer afraid." Then it is simply fear that is allowed to be here. It is much easier than we imagine. The only thing you need is patience. You simply allow it to be here and forget any ulterior motive to get rid of it.

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It's no big deal.

If you let the fear stay because you know it will go away, that's not particularly kind. No – let it be here as if it were a part of you. You don't send your right arm away, or your big toe. And just as they are allowed to be here, so too is the fear, and all the other feelings. No big deal.

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And I don't mean that the fear itself isn't big. I know fear can be very big, but in reality, it's no big deal. Fear doesn't mean that there's something really important behind it that you absolutely have to deal with. Everything you need to deal with comes to you in small bites, gradually, naturally.

I know this myself. I am a scaredy-cat. I know fear well. But once you've made friends with your fear and allowed it to be here, you'll find that it's actually completely different from what you thought. Let yourself be surprised. And feel free to ask again if anything is unclear. These are things we never learned, you know. The whole world says different things. If you have any questions or find anything difficult, I'd be happy to hear from you again. Thank you, Elisabeth. I am very happy you are here.

I know fear can be very big, but in reality, it's not a big deal. Fear doesn't mean that there's something important you need to take care of. Once you make friends with it and allow it to be here, you'll find that it's not what you thought it was. Let yourself be surprised.

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Practicing devotion continuously

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[Simone:] The next question is from Tim.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, Tim. Greetings. Nice to have you here.

[Simone:] "Dear Mikael, is it possible for a spiritual teacher to lose his essence and no longer act from his pure source, but from his ego? Thank you for your answer."

[Dhyan Mikael:] I can only speak for myself, and I know that I can fall out of my essence at any time; that I can lose myself in the ego at any time.

What you call "being in the essence" is a state of surrender. It's not something you do once and then you are there. It's an inner attitude that you cultivate and practice continuously. And the moment you don't do that, you are out again.

So, it can happen at any time. And knowing that is very important to me.

What you call "being in the essence" is a state of surrender. It's not something you do once and then you're there. It's an inner attitude that you cultivate and practice continuously. And the moment you don't do that, you're out of it again. So, it can happen at any time. And knowing that is very important to me.

Link to quote in video at 1h11m52s

I think you asked a question about spiritual teachers yesterday. I am happy to answer general questions, of course, but perhaps it would be more helpful for you if you could simply tell me exactly what your question is.

I am happy you are here. Thank you, Tim.

Grief takes time

Link to topic in video at 1h13m07s

I would like to quickly answer an email question.

A few days ago, a woman wrote to me whose husband had died. He was very ill, and I assume she knew he was going to die, but then everything happened very, very quickly, much faster than she thought. She wrote to me and I replied, advising her to allow herself to feel the grief that was there. I then received the email that I will now read out and respond to.

"Dear Mikael, thank you for your reply. I have seen your videos on the subject of death, but what I am experiencing are feelings and thoughts that are causing me great pain. The feeling of not having said everything, of not having given enough love, my feelings of guilt for not having been there enough, and for not having let down the wall around my heart towards him. The questions about how he was in the last hours and minutes before his death. My grief at never being able to see him again. Even though I believe that we will be reunited, it does not comfort me.

The grief that I cannot fully experience because I want and need to be there for my little four-year-old daughter, and because a normal everyday life is so important to her. I am sure that he is fine now, but that does not comfort me either, probably because comfort is not important right now. I am realizing how desperate I am and how everything in me is resisting the feelings that are coming up. It's so hard to feel this. It's too beautiful to hear that it's my soul sending these feelings."

Thank you for writing. Thank you for being there.

You write that it is important for your daughter to have a normal everyday life, and that is true. And it is also important for you to have a normal everyday life. It is good that life is forcing you to just keep going. It is good that you are busy.

What you are going through right now takes time. It is not necessary for you to sit down right now and spend hours and days doing nothing but trying to feel whatever emotions are overwhelming you right now. That's not what it's about. That's not how you deal with feelings at all.

Just keep living, keep breathing, cry if you need to cry, feel pain if you need to feel pain, and keep breathing, just keep living. That will help you. You are not ready to feel feelings yet. And that's not necessary at all.

It is not necessary to spend days doing nothing but trying to feel emotions that overwhelm you. That is not the point. That is not how you should deal with emotions. Cry when you need to cry, feel pain when you need to feel pain, and keep breathing, just keep living. That will help you.

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Look, there is this old tradition... When a woman's husband dies or a man's wife dies, there is a year of mourning. This is a very wise institution. People in the past knew that this takes time. It takes many months before you are even able to feel what is happening. And when that time starts, you need a long time to come to terms with it and gradually feel it and love it and let it go – and very gradually, very, very slowly, over the months, it lifts like fog, and then the sun comes out again. But right now, you are in the middle of the fog, it's just dark, and that's good this way.

When someone dies, there is a year of mourning. This is a very wise institution. People in the past knew that it takes time — and very slowly, over the months, it lifts like fog, and then the sun comes out again. But right now, you are in the fog, it's just dark, and it's good this way.

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What you need is time. And I don't mean time where you don't have to do anything and can just be sad. That's not what I mean at all. I just mean that time passes.

Just let time pass. Be where you are. If you are numb, be numb. Be how you are. Just say 'yes' to it, even though you don't know how you are. You can't even describe it, and that's not necessary at all.

What you need is time. And by that I don't mean time where you have to do nothing and just be sad. Just let time pass. Be where you are. Be how you are. Just say 'yes' to it, even though you don't know what you're like at all. You can't even describe it, and you don't need to.

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Jesus said something incredibly beautiful on the cross. He experienced the moment of despair — even he. That's why he is such a gift to us, because he was human, and he always showed his humanity. He cried, he lamented, he rejoiced, he drank, he probably also had sex, but they don't tell us that. He lived everything.

And when he hung on the cross, he was desperate. And what did he do in his despair, when he felt completely abandoned? He turned to God: "God, why have you forsaken me?" He felt abandoned by God, his father. He lost his foundation. And yet in that moment he turned back to God – and then, everything was fine. And you can do that too.

Turn to what is inside you that can receive you. I don't know what you call it.

When Jesus hung on the cross, he was desperate. He felt abandoned by God, his Father. He had lost his foundation. And yet, in that moment, he turned back to God — and then everything was fine. And you can do that too. Turn to that place within yourself that can receive you.

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Sometimes, when I doubt or when I feel wrong or when I have feelings that I don't understand or that trouble me, then I meditate with it. And by that, I mean: I go to God with it, I go to my crown chakra — that's where I meet God, without knowing what God is — and then I say: "Look, this is how I am right now. This is how I am. Look at me. This is how I am, completely helpless, completely desperate, completely wrong. What are you doing to me? Here I am." Then everything is fine.

Sometimes, when I have doubts or feelings that trouble me, I meditate with them. I go to God, to my crown chakra, and say, "Look, this is how I am right now. This is how I am. Look at me. This is how I am, completely helpless, completely desperate, completely wrong. What are you doing to me? Here I am." Then, everything is fine.

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You are right: your husband is fine. You are the one in pain. Just be close to yourself, somehow, somehow, and give yourself lots and lots of time. And by that, I mean: be patient with all of this. I don't mean that you should give yourself time for something specific to do. That's not what I mean. Just be patient.

I know that's a lot to ask.

You are not alone.

You're right: your husband is fine. You're the one in pain. Just be close to yourself, somehow, and give yourself time. And by that, I mean: be patient with all of this. I don't mean that you should give yourself time to do something specific. Just be patient. I know that's a lot to ask. You're not alone.

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Thank you for writing.

How to deal with fear of loss

Link to topic in video at 1h22m45s

[Simone:] I am now going to read out a question that is also about feeling emotions.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please.

[Simone:] It's from Maik.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Maik. I am happy you are here.

[Simone:] "Dear Mikael, I always find it difficult to deal with my childhood fears of loss. It's very difficult to be with them when they arise. Can you help me?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] It's exactly the same as what I just said. You don't need to deal with them – just being here is enough. And yes, it's hard – and being ready for that hardness is the key: just letting them be here. You don't need to deal with them.

It's like when, you know... I don't know if you have children, but when a child comes running to you, panicked, afraid, in pain, in despair, in anger... You don't need to do anything with the child at all—just be there... As soon as you try to do something with the child, to comfort them or explain something to them or improve something, it becomes really difficult. But to simply be there and give the child space to be how they are right now – and everything is fine for the child. And that's how it is with feelings too: just let them be here.

When the feeling, when the fear of loss knows that it can come to you at any time, always, always, always when it needs attention again, then something slowly starts to get better. And of course you have no idea what to do with it. You don't need to do anything with it. But this willingness... Yes, you are completely helpless. You have no idea what to do. But if you are ready to just be that way, helpless, however you feel at that moment – that's enough. You don't need to do anything else.

When a child runs to you, afraid, desperate... just be there and give the child space to be as they are right now, and everything is fine for the child. And it's the same with feelings: just let them be here. When the feeling, when the fear of loss knows that it can come to you at any time, always, then, slowly, something will get better.

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And take it with you into your meditation. It does me a lot of good. Just take it with you. Fear of loss loves meditation – this peace and this blessing from God.

It's really easier than you think.

And meditate every day.

You know, when you meditate, something inside you becomes stronger. You don't notice it. It happens so slowly that you can't perceive it, but you become stronger. And when you are ready to just let the feelings be here, even though you have no idea what to do with them... But simply this act of allowing this difficult thing to be here, as willingly as you can, also allows something to grow within you.

Something becomes stronger, very gradually; not immediately, not overnight. And at some point, you realize that you are no longer afraid of the fear of loss because you have become stronger. Now you have become so strong that it can jump on your lap, and it doesn't knock you over anymore.

But that takes time.

We are in a hurry with these things, but if you can just give it time... Children just need time.

I experience this again and again with the children I am privileged to live with here. Every now and then, a child becomes really desperate. And I am not particularly talented with children, but I have a quality that I think children find pleasant, and that is that I have a certain equanimity within me, and I am patient. By patient, I mean that I don't need to be patient.

I don't wait for something to be over. I simply have time when it is needed. And then, this child comes and sits on my lap because they are completely distraught, the world is ending. I have no idea what to do, but simply by being there and having time... Everything else suddenly becomes unimportant. Now only that matters.

And then, after 5 minutes, after 10 minutes, after half an hour, the child jumps off your lap and laughs and lives on. And that's how it is with our feelings too. We don't need to do anything with them. We don't need to deal with them. We don't need to take them apart or heal them. We just give them time, as much as they want.

Then, this child comes and sits on your lap because they are completely distraught, the world is ending. And simply by being there and having time... soon the child jumps off your lap and laughs and lives on. And it's the same with our feelings. We don't need to take them apart or heal them. We just give them time, as much as they want.

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You can also do other things if you can... go for a short walk, ride your bike, work, cook. You just take them with you. You integrate them into your life, so to speak, instead of trying to get them out of your life. And I can't recommend this enough. I know we forget it all the time, but it really is very, very helpful.

Thank you for asking. I am happy you are here.

The blessing of addiction

Link to topic in video at 1h30m34s

[Simone:] The next question is from Ewa.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, Ewa.

[Simone:] "Dear Mikael, how can I deal with food addiction? I struggle with myself, I suffer from myself or from it, the addiction. Thank you."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Compulsive eating is so difficult because, at its core, this addiction is a certain behavior, namely that we judge ourselves: "I am wrong, I must be different." And that is completely hidden and very deep and very, very powerful.

I cannot give you any advice on how to deal with your compulsive eating in practical terms. There are experts who really know about this. All I can say is: if you feel helpless about it, that's not a problem at all.

There are many people who can give you good advice, but I would like to tell you how you can deal with what lies at the root of the problem, which has nothing to do with the eating addiction itself, and that is the fact that you feel wrong. Maybe you don't know anything about this, maybe you do.

And for that I can give you two pieces of advice, and maybe you will resonate with them. One is that you meditate.

I described this at the beginning of Satsang when I answered the question about meditation and prayer. I described how Samarpan Meditation is like purgatory for me, because it confronts me with what is really going on inside me.

When I meditate, I feel so wrong because this is the basic structure of my thoughts, and this comes to the surface. It becomes visible. And then I ignore it again and again and return to my soul, again and again... You cannot change the thoughts that you are wrong. That is a lifelong task that cannot be accomplished. But you can find within yourself what is beyond all this psychological and physical stuff.

And there you are safe. There you can relax. And when you get in touch with that through meditation, then, little by little, you discover what is beyond all judgment; where you are simply whole. But that takes time. And often it's good to deal with things in a practical way. You have a food addiction. You know it's difficult.

You cannot change the thoughts that you are wrong. But you can find what lies beyond them within yourself. When you get in touch with this through meditation, you will gradually discover what lies beyond all judgment, where you are simply whole. But this takes time.

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And then, you try to deal with it in such a way that you can survive for a few more years, so that you have time to meditate.

The second piece of advice I would like to give you – but it really is the second... The most important thing is meditation, because it allows you to discover the space within yourself that is immune to these judgments, to put it that way. They can't get there.

The soul is immune to it. It simply has nothing to do with it. The second thing is, that you are willing to be wrong. Once a year, I make a postcard that I send to the people who support me financially in my videos and Satsangs as a small thank you and gift. And last spring, I made the first of these annual postcards, on the first anniversary of the start of the videos, so to speak.

And this topic you are dealing with is so important that it's what's written on my first annual postcard. Here, this is the first annual postcard from last year, and it says: "Whenever you are true to yourself, it feels wrong. Fort that you have to be willing: to be wrong."

That is the big issue for all human beings. Every addiction, every illness, every war, every conflict, every illness is somehow connected to it.

And when you can make friends with the fact — it feels like a fact; you are not wrong at all, of course, but that's just how it feels... If you can make peace with the perceived fact that you are wrong, then, a struggle within you stops — and then, many things become easier.

And that's not something you can do in a day either. You can make peace with this feeling of being wrong if it's accessible to you, but tomorrow, it will come back, and the day after tomorrow too, and then again and again: "Yes, yes, I know, I am wrong. And I say, 'yes'. I am wrong. I am too fat, I am too thin, I am too stupid, I am wrong." I know what I am talking about. I am completely wrong, and I am not joking. After every Satsang, I feel so wrong – just like all of us.

If you can make peace with the perceived fact that you are wrong, then the battle within you will cease. However, this is not something that can be accomplished in a day. The feeling will return tomorrow, and then again and again: "Yes, I am wrong. I am too fat, I am too thin, I am too stupid, I am wrong."

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Addiction thrives on your desire to be different. Addiction thrives on your conviction that you are wrong the way you are and that something has to change. Then you try to be different, and you can't, and that creates addiction. But if you just are the way you are, as impossible and wrong and messed up as you are, then, miracles happen.

Addiction thrives on your desire to be different and your conviction that you are wrong and that something has to change. Then, you try to be different, and you can't, and that leads to addiction. But if you are just as impossible and messed up as you are, miracles happen.

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I don't know if you've heard this from me before. I once told something that Swamiji said about addiction. It touched me deeply. He wasn't talking about overeating, but about alcoholics, but basically, it's the same thing, deep down.

He spoke to alcoholics and told them: don't try to change – meditate instead.

That's the key.

That's why I am giving you these two tips. Don't try to change yourself. Accept yourself as you are – as messed up as you are, as thin as you are, as fat as you are, whatever, it doesn't matter at all – and meditate at the same time. These two things together will set you free.

Swamiji spoke to alcoholics and said, "Don't try to change — just meditate. That is the key. Accept yourself as you are — as wrong, as thin, as fat as you are, whatever you are, it doesn't matter at all — and meditate at the same time. These two things together will set you free."

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In a way, addiction is something very helpful. I know lots of people who are in Satsang and struggle with addiction, and there's a specific reason for that: because these people are open to change. These are the people with potential – even if they don't believe it themselves.

And addiction shows you that on this physical level, on this worldly level, on the earthly level, you are absolutely helpless. You are powerless. Every human being is powerless — but you know it. I said in the beginning, when I spoke about Jesus, that sinners, the wrong, the lepers, were open to his help because they knew: they cannot be any other way, they need help.

Addiction is something very helpful. Addiction shows you that on this physical level, on this worldly level, on the earthly level, you are absolutely helpless. You are powerless. Every human being is powerless — but you know it.

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But those who felt they were righteous, the scribes and the Pharisees and the respected citizens and those who did the right thing, they are just as blind, just as sick, just as lost as everyone else, but they don't know it. And that is why they are lost – not because God is angry with them, but because they themselves have closed the door to the light.

The sinners, the wrong, the lepers were open to Jesus because they knew they needed help. The righteous, the scribes and Pharisees, are just as lost, but they don't know it. And that is why they are lost – not because God is angry with them, but because they themselves have closed the door to the light.

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But someone who experiences addiction experiences their own powerlessness.

That's good. And then, you know: something has to happen here. I need help. I am powerless here. And then, you can surrender. Then you can meditate. Such a person is ready for meditation. Someone who is not addicted, someone who is not wrong, someone who has it all, is not ready to meditate, to let go of their desires, goals, and thoughts. They consider themselves capable. They believe they have life under control.

At some point, it dawns on these people that this is not true at all – but then it is too late. And that is why there are so many people in Satsang who are dealing with addiction: they are ready for meditation, everyone else is not. That is why so many sinners – a word for wrong people, for people who suffer from themselves – have come to Jesus. And his disciples didn't understand. They said, "Why are these people coming to you?"

Anyone who experiences addiction experiences their own powerlessness. Such a person is ready for meditation. Someone who is not wrong is not ready to meditate and let go of their desires, goals, and thoughts. And that is why so many people who struggle with addiction are in Satsang: they are ready for meditation, while everyone else is not.

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There was this one scene where he was having dinner with the tax collector. These were the dregs of society, the Jewish society – and he was with them. And then there were prostitutes eating and sinners and sick people. And the night watch comes by, the centurion, and he says, "Who are you hanging out with?" And he says, "It's the sick who need the doctor." And they come: us wrong ones, us lepers.

Jesus always talked about the inside, you know. He didn't talk about skin rashes; he talked about our inner pain. And we, who are forced by life to recognize that we are helpless, are softened by life to the point where we are ready to meditate, to surrender, to say, "Okay, God... everything I know, everything I want, doesn't help me. I let go of everything. Now I am here." Yes, that's why it's really tough for you, but it's a good sign.

And finally, I would like to quote my Master Soham in response to you. People like you often came to him and said, "Why is this so? Why does this have to happen to me? Why is this necessary? Why do I have to go through this? Why? Why can't it just be easy?" And he always replied: "Would you be here in Satsang without it?" And then, the answer was always the same: "No, of course not." Your addiction makes you ready for God. It just is this way. Everything we consider wrong is ultimately what enables us to become whole. Everything is just upside down.

That's why Jesus said, "The last shall be first," because the first are not open. They are at the very back, they just don't know it.

Your addiction makes you ready for God. It just is this way. Everything we consider wrong is ultimately what enables us to become whole. Everything is just upside down. That's why Jesus said, "The last shall be first," because the first are not open. They are at the very back, they just don't know it.

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Love yourself if you somehow can.

Love yourself if you somehow can.

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I myself experienced people like you... I also have a thing with food, but it's not particularly strong.

But I have family members who have experienced it themselves. I know people from my own personal circle who are extremely affected by it. And I know you are not having an easy time – but it's a blessing.

I know you are not having an easy time – but it's a blessing.

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Meditate – and make friends with how you are. Don't try to change yourself. It will happen on its own – if you meditate.

Meditate – and make friends with how you are. Don't try to change yourself. It will happen on its own – if you meditate.

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I am happy you are here. Thank you very much.

The soul guides you without understanding

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[Simone:] Mikael, the next question is from Zarey.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Zarey, hello. Nice to have you here. I am very happy.

[Simone:] "I wish I had a partner by my side again. Now I've noticed, when I've met a man, that I panic when I get close to someone. It's not on a sexual level. I don't understand it and I am confused."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for asking me.

I would like to suggest two things to you. Maybe you will find them helpful.

The only proximity that is really important to you is proximity to yourself – and that is difficult.

It is much easier to try to be close to another person. That's much easier. But getting close to yourself means, first of all – for a short time, it doesn't take long, a few years, two, three, five, ten years, then it's all gone... But in the beginning, when you start to get close to yourself, you get to know yourself as you are.

All the feelings you don't like, all the qualities you think are wrong... You learn how limited and restricted and incapable and powerless you really are as a human being. And we usually don't want that at all. We don't want anything to do with it – and that's why most people aren't close to themselves. And then, they seek closeness in other people, and that's very difficult and doesn't lead to anything good.

The only proximity that really matters is proximity to yourself — and that's difficult. It's much easier to try to be close to another person. But when you start to be close to yourself, you get to know yourself as you are, with all your feelings, and we don't want that. That's why most people aren't close to themselves.

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But being close to yourself is what gives you everything you need.

And when you gradually learn to be close to yourself, you will find that you never have to worry about relationships again. People who are close to themselves are so attractive... And the second thing I would like to suggest to you is: don't doubt yourself; listen to yourself. When I get close to someone and feel panic at their closeness, I walk away. When I meet people and I feel amazingly comfortable and relaxed, then I stay.

Being close to yourself is what gives you everything you need. And when you gradually learn to be close to yourself, you will find that you never have to worry about relationships again. People who are close to themselves are so attractive...

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Trust yourself.

You don't understand yourself. You don't need to. The soul doesn't guide you through understanding, but directly and immediately, saying, "No, I don't want to go there." Then don't go there — it's that simple.

And you don't know why — but it doesn't matter.

Don't doubt yourself; listen to yourself. When I get close to someone and feel panic, I walk away. When I feel relaxed, I stay. The soul doesn't guide you through understanding, but directly, saying, "No, I don't want to go there." Then don't go there — it's that simple. And you don't know why — but it doesn't matter.

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You see... Every human being knows instinctively exactly what they want and what they don't want, and where to go and where not to go. But we have been trained not to do that.

Most people learn as small children to do what is expected of them. They are not asked, "What do you want right now?" Instead, they have to conform to the ideas of the adults, usually their parents. They say what's up right now.

And there's this classic situation that I know very well from my childhood... There's this relative you don't like at all, and then your mom says: "Now be nice to your uncle and say hello." So, you walk over there and are nice to your uncle, even though you don't want to be there at all. And that's how we unlearn to listen to ourselves.

And then, later... Whenever we don't want something, we think it's a problem, instead of just naturally knowing: "Ah, I don't like that, I am not going there. I don't want anything to do with that. I'd rather go somewhere else." That's a completely natural, simple reaction. But we're completely knotted up. That's why I am telling you: trust yourself, even if you don't understand yourself.

Yes. So, if you like, meditate. That will bring you closer to yourself. And then, the whole men problem will resolve itself. Then, you'll have the closeness that really gives you something, everything you ever need. And then, everything with men will be totally easy. And then, it will be really fun — because you won't need anything from them anymore.

And then, it will also be very easy to listen to yourself — because you won't need anything from men anymore. You also don't need anything from them right now, but it feels different, of course. That's my advice to you. And if you have any more questions, I'd be very happy if you got in touch again, somehow. Thank you. Thank you, Zarey.

The school is what it is

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Simone, shall we take another question? We have two minutes left...

[Simone:] Dorota has a question. I'll put you through. You can still say whether it's okay or not. It's open now.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, welcome.

[Dorota:] Hello. Hello.

Yes, I don't know if I have a question, but there's a topic, and I'd just like to share it and see what you think.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Go ahead. But keep it short if you can, because we don't have much time – but I am curious.

[Dorota:] Yes. So, my daughter goes to school, she's in first grade, and the teacher has a ritual of greeting all the children by shaking their hands. And, well... My daughter says she loves a situation where the teacher is a little busy and she can just sneak in and sneak out. And they justify it by saying that it's Waldorf education, they give certain reasons for it, and we've been doing it for over half a year now.

It's not a big deal, but lately it's become a big deal because I've noticed... Well, I am not saying anything. I am also afraid to talk to the teacher because I know she has her reasons, but I also know that it doesn't feel right to me when a child doesn't want to be greeted like that, but because everyone else does it, and... She can't enter the classroom without shaking hands and can't leave without shaking hands. That's how it is.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, I understand what you mean. I'd like to add something to that. You see, the thing is... I understand what you are saying. My older daughter also went to a Waldorf school for a short time, and she experienced exactly the same thing as you. She didn't want to go to a normal school, that was out of the question, and then we thought the Waldorf school was a good idea, but they have a very clear structure, and a certain doctrine, a certain orientation, and they consider exactly these things to be important.

And those were exactly the things our daughter couldn't stand. For you, it's simply important to know what your daughter wants and doesn't want, but you won't be able to change the school. There's no point in arguing with the teacher. We tried that back then, but it's no use. And it's not fair either. They do it the way they think is right, and it's the parents' decision whether the children go there or not. And that's what you need to know. You won't be able to change it.

And if you want to support your daughter... I mean, she's not going to die if she has to do it. That means: if you have no other option, then you can just accept it. But I understand you. I understand you and I understand your daughter. And if you have the opportunity to arrange something else, then do it. But don't waste too much energy talking to the people. There's no room for negotiation. They don't invite parents to help shape their doctrine. No – it's clearly defined.

That's what Waldorf is known for, and you have to live with it or leave. Our children are now at a school that isn't a Waldorf school, but a free school, and that's just wonderful for them. And it's chaotic, well, it's chaos... There, too, you can throw your hands up in despair about some things. Of course, that's the way it is everywhere. But there's no rigid adherence to principles there. And I feel that it's really, really good for the children, at least for our children.

So just know that you don't have to fight too much; that if you want to find a solution, you should just find another way yourself. That would be my tip. And I know exactly how you feel. I've been through that too. But there's nothing wrong with them. They're just doing what they think is right for the school, and you can't change that.

[Dorota:] Yes, that was my feeling too, and somehow, I wasn't sure if that was really the case: either we accept it or we have to leave.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Exactly. That's right.

[Dorota:] I just wanted to feel that this was really the case.

[Dhyan Mikael:] That's how it is. Either... If you accept it completely, then it becomes easier, also for the child. Then you can say to her: "Hey, I know it sucks, but that's just how it is." Or you can leave. These options are available. When I was in school, there was no Waldorf school... I don't know if there was a Waldorf school, maybe there was back then, I don't know... But I went to a hair-raising school.

But somehow, I survived. That means, this isn't a matter of life and death, you have to know that. You can't dwell on it too much. But if you have the opportunity and it's within your realm of possibility, then of course you can change something.

[Dorota:] Thank you very much. Thank you.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes. Thank you for asking. It's nice to have you here. Thank you. Yes, now we really have to stop, five past four. Thank you, and thank you all for this wonderful Satsang today and for these two Satsang days yesterday and today. I find this to be a very special energy and a very special intensity during these Easter days, because they simply transport you inward. At least that's how I experience it. Yes, thank you, for being here. If you would like more: I hold an Online Satsang once a month, and the first retreat will take place at the end of May.

I always look forward to hearing from you, and I am happy that you are here. I would like to thank Devasetu and Jetzt-TV for this generous opportunity to hold these two long Satsangs here at Easter. Thank you very much. And I would like to remind you that everything Devasetu does is voluntary and depends on donations. If you would like to support Jetzt-TV and his work, he would be very grateful. You can find information on how to donate on the Jetzt-TV website.

Yes, and I would like to say the same about myself... Apart from the retreats, everything I do is free of charge. And it is very important to me that it is like this. As I said at the beginning: you don't need me. I can only tell you about myself, and that will make it easier for you to get closer to yourself. And that happens automatically when you meditate – and there you will find everything you need. And that's why it's very important to me that everything I do is free – at least everything I do online.

But all my time and energy goes into it – I also work "on the side," which isn't always easy – and that's why I am incredibly grateful to people who support me so that I have the financial means to continue doing what I do. If you enjoy it and feel like supporting me, I would be very happy. You can find the relevant information on my website, on the donation page. And if you like, you can subscribe to my newsletter, which is free of charge; you can sign up on my website. And once a day, in the morning, I also send out what I call "Morning Moments for Your Soul."

These are very short quotes... every morning, a little quote from one of my videos. Recently, I've also started sending out a short video of one to two minutes in length. And some people like this little bit of inspiration in the morning to help them remember what's really important to them. And you can also sign up for free if you like. Yes, and finally, I would like to thank Simone for her loyal help in every Satsang, thank you very much. Thank you all. This Satsang and this energy that is so beautiful here comes from all of you. That's where it comes from. Thank you.

I love you.