New Year Intensive: Online Satsang of January 1, 2025

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello, welcome to the Satsang. Welcome to this second Satsang of the New Year's Intensive.

I am very happy that you are here.

If this is your first time in Satsang, I would like to welcome you and briefly explain what we are doing here.

If you have a question about your life or your spiritual path, you can ask me a question here, either in the Zoom chat or in the YouTube broadcast chat. And then, Simone will read out the question and I will try to say something about it. You can also talk to me directly via Zoom if you want. The secret of Satsang is actually not what is spoken, but that this spiritual path is about something that you cannot do yourself, that's why they talk so often about letting go and surrender.

You can't do it yourself, and no one else can do it for you either, but when you come into contact with someone who has already made progress on this path, it's as if it is contagious – and suddenly, you feel things that you wouldn't feel on your own. Suddenly, things are understandable to you that were previously incomprehensible. And that happens here behind the scenes, so to speak, without me doing anything and without you doing anything. It just happens by itself.

This spiritual path is about something you can't do yourself, and no one else can do it for you either. But when you come into contact with someone who has already made progress on this path, it's as if it's contagious – and suddenly you feel things that you wouldn't feel on your own.

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Only one decision is needed

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I said yesterday at the beginning of the first Satsang that I was inviting you to end the old year with gratitude, and to be grateful for everything you have experienced – even for the things that were difficult for you; even for the things that you may not understand at all. And I said that I invite you to start this new year without plans, without expectations, but with openness, with openness to life, with openness to what life brings you. And it is common, especially at the beginning of the new year, to make New Year's resolutions that you then try to implement during the year.

And I said that I don't do that, and that I don't recommend it either. But there is one exception, and I would like to point it out now. And that is what Swamiji reminded me about tonight. Tonight, Swamiji gave a discourse on the occasion of the New Year, and it was a wonderful discourse. If you are interested in Samarpan Meditation, I encourage you to listen to this discourse. Swamiji spoke in Hindi of course, but there was also an English translation, so you can listen to what Swamiji said in English if you know English.

On my website, on the Samarpan Meditation page, you can find the links to the transmissions of this discourse of tonight. And in this discourse, Swamiji said: you should decide on one thing, and meditate every day – no matter how you feel, no matter whether you have time or not: meditate every day. That is a good intention. And he said in the discourse that he sees so many people around him that he already knows, that he has seen for years, but where he can clearly see that they are not making any progress in their lives; that their lives are not changing.

And he sees that it's because they don't meditate regularly; only now and then, as it suits them. That is the one important thing in this life: that we meditate regularly every day. Swamiji says two things are important: regularity and collectivity. That you meditate alone every day, and, frequently, preferably once a week, in community, in a group. And these two things together ensure that you make spiritual progress. You don't know how this happens. It happens by itself. But this one thing: meditating every day is important. And it's quite interesting.

Meditation is basically about us gradually leaving behind this identification with the body and discovering our soul; we feel so identified with this physical level on which we feel so at home; that is: I believe, I am this body and I believe that I do not exist without this body.... and to we gradually realize that this is not true and that we are actually something else, namely a soul that has nothing to do with this body. The soul lives in this body for a certain amount of time, but apart from that, it has nothing to do with this body.

And in this half hour of meditation every day, we turn to this soul. And it's quite exciting, because we're so used to looking after the body. We feed it three or four times a day, we wash it, we shave it and whatnot. We take care of this body, of its well-being. We make sure it is well. But we don't take care of this soul at all. And when someone says: "meditate for half an hour a day", some people say: "but I don't really have time for that." Yet this is the one important thing.

And Swamiji reminded us of this in this discourse, and of course he did it much more beautifully than I do, and I can only recommend this discourse to everyone.

We are so used to taking care of the body, of its well-being. But we don't take care of the soul at all. And when someone says: "Meditate for half an hour a day", some people say: "But I don't really have time for that." But this is the one important thing.

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And I would like to say something else about meditation, because people keep writing to me: "I've been meditating for a few weeks now, or for forty or forty-five days, but my life hasn't changed yet."

And I'd like to say what the most important thing about meditating is. When you do Samarpan Meditation, it's about focusing your attention on this crown chakra for half an hour, and without any expectations.

We let the thoughts go. We ignore thoughts as best we can, and rest with the attention up here, at this point in our body, without any expectations – otherwise, it is not meditation. If you sit down for this half hour because you want something very specific to happen at some point through this meditation, then you are not meditating. Then your thoughts will sneak back into you through the back door, so to speak, through your expectations.

When you do Samarpan Meditation, the point is to focus your attention on this crown chakra for half an hour without any expectations – otherwise, it's not meditation. If you want something specific to happen as a result of this meditation, then you are not meditating.

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It's a paradox. You hear from me that meditating is the one important thing in life, the most important thing, and that it will solve everything else. All your problems will be solved. You will be satisfied and happy. You will go to Heaven – as I like to put it. And yet, the secret is to meditate and live without any expectation; without waiting for problems to dissolve; without waiting to become happier than you are, but to be completely and utterly where you are right now – without any expectation.

You hear from me that meditating is the one important thing in life. All your problems will be solved. And yet the secret is to meditate and live without any expectation; without waiting for problems to dissolve; without waiting to become happier than you are.

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Because this expecting, this wanting, are also just thoughts. It is therefore paradoxical. You let go of every expectation while meditating without any expectations of the meditation. That is the decisive factor. And by letting go of expectations, it becomes very easy to accept. You begin to accept everything – in yourself and in your own life. And as a result, you relax, you become content and your whole life changes as a result.

By letting go of expectations, it becomes very easy to accept. You begin to accept everything – in yourself and in your own life. And as a result, you relax, you become content and your whole life changes as a result.

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But there are many people who can't do that, who don't want to. They say: "Why should I sit down and meditate if it's not going to help me, if I can't expect anything?" But that's the hurdle you have to jump over: meditating every day without expecting anything. And then you keep hearing reports from me in between about what meditation does, and you hear that and it motivates you, but then: meditate without expectations, live without expectations.

There are many people who can't do that, who don't want to. They say: "Why should I sit down and meditate if it's not going to help me, if I can't expect anything?" But that's the hurdle you have to jump over: meditating every day without expecting anything.

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That is the great secret, that is the great paradox of the spiritual path.

And then you keep hearing reports from me in between about what meditation does, and you hear that and it motivates you, but then: meditate without expectations, live without expectations. That is the great secret, that is the great paradox of the spiritual path.

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Meditating and living without expectations

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And I would like to conclude my introduction to this Satsang with a final note. Occasionally, people have told me – and again this morning, which is why I am coming to it now – that they feel they lose their grounding when they meditate.

And if you meditate with expectations, if you want anything when you meditate, even if it's just a nice experience, then you lose your grounding; then you'll get lost in thought without realizing it. I would like to give you an example. When you sit down to meditate and you have the imagination, if you meditate properly, then you will get a very specific feeling or some particular experience that you imagine, then you will, somehow, have that experience, but not through meditation, but through your expectation; through your imagination.

I've occasionally had people tell me that they feel like they lose their grounding when they meditate. If you meditate with expectations, if you want anything, even if it's just a nice experience, then you lose grounding; then you will get lost in thought without realizing it.

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And that is not necessary, and that is not beneficial.

If you have the idea: if you meditate properly, then you will get a certain feeling or some special experience, then you will have this experience, but not through meditation, but through your expectation; through your imagination. And that's not necessary, and that's not beneficial either.

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I don't have the experience at all that meditation detaches me from the earth. For me, it's exactly the opposite. By getting out of my thoughts and just resting here, I feel more rooted to the earth, more connected to life today than ever before. And this morning, as I was reflecting on this a little after hearing a report about it again just today, it dawned on me what is the strange thing and the blessing in my life: I had no expectations in this life.

By getting out of my thoughts and just resting here, I feel more rooted in life today than ever before. And today it dawned on me what the blessing in my life is: I had no expectations in this life. But that was always so normal for me that I didn't even realize it.

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But that was always so normal for me that I didn't even realize it. I only ever noticed that the people around me were actually all dissatisfied. Even as a teenager, I noticed that, even as a schoolboy, and I didn't understand what their problem was. And it's only now, slowly, that I realize how normal it is for people to have expectations – and I never had them.

I noticed that people around me were all dissatisfied. Even as a schoolboy I noticed this, and I didn't understand what their problem was. And only now, slowly, am I realizing how normal it is for people to have expectations – and I never had them.

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I had relationships, I had marriages, and I had always enjoyed everything as it was, and I had no expectations that I was aware of. Of course I was psychologically messed up like everyone else, but I somehow lived differently. And when I came to Soham, to my spiritual Master, I had no expectations at all of him or of the spiritual path.

I wasn't looking for anything. And in spite of this, everything continued on towards Heaven. And today I know: not only 'in spite of this', but precisely because of this – precisely because I had no expectations, I was able to discover everything, in a very easy way.

When I came to my spiritual Master, I had no expectations of him or of the spiritual path. I wasn't looking for anything, and in spite of that, everything continued towards Heaven. Today I know: not only 'in spite of that', but precisely because of that – precisely because I had no expectations, I was able to discover everything, in a very easy way.

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And that's how it was for me too with meditation when I came to meditation. Then I meditated without expectations – I always have.

And that's simple, and I would also like to suggest this to you: meditate without any expectations – and live without expectations. We also talked about this yesterday in Satsang about relationships and how harmful expectations are. Expectations destroy your happiness and your life. So, that's all the preface. I am delighted that we can be here together again today. The Satsang will now go on until four o'clock. I am happy that we can start the year together.

And that's how it was for me too with meditation when I came to meditation. Then I meditated without expectations – I always have. And that's simple, and I would also like to suggest this to you: meditate without any expectations – and live without expectations.

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Simone, do you have something to read?

Expectations destroy your happiness and your life.

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[Simone:] Yes, I do, dear Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Ah, how nice. Thank you very much.

Meditating in a group online

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[Simone:] I am reading out a question from Shantam.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Shantam, good morning. Ah, good morning... Greetings to you! Nice to have you here today.

[Simone:] "Hello Mikael. I saw the Shibir tonight, but I can't speak English either. Thank you for your words. Here is my question. I don't have the opportunity to meditate in a group except online. The groups are just too far away. I would have to drive almost an hour and a half one way to get to Jena or to see you on Saturday. I hardly ever drive in winter. Is it enough to meditate online in a group until something opens up for me?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for this beautiful question. Thank you for bringing up the topic of the group again, because it's really important. And it's the same for me as it is for you, Shantam. The nearest opportunity for me to meditate in a group is about an hour and a half's drive away – one way, mind you – and I can only manage that very, very rarely in my everyday life. We occasionally drive to the place of meditation and meditate there together. But I've made it a rule to meditate online and I find it incredibly helpful. And you can try a trick, I do that here at home.

You can start to regularly join a group meditation online, and there is one every day. There are several opportunities to join a group meditation online every day. And if you know people who are somewhere near you who also appreciate Samarpan Meditation, you can invite them, and then you can just sit together and meditate online with the others. That's how I do it here at home.

I don't have an official meditation group here, but I invite people, including from the town and the surrounding area, to come here, and then we meditate. We sit here in front of my computer and we are connected to an Online Meditation group at the time when this Online Meditation takes place, and then we meditate together. And that is such a beautiful experience, every time. And if that doesn't happen, if no other people come, then I just sit there and meditate online with them. And that's just so helpful.

I can't explain to you how that's possible, but it's helpful. And I find meditation in a real group, when I am really sitting with people, even more intense, even more helpful. But you know, I live the way my Master Soham taught me. He said: he always takes the best – the best of what is available to him. And I like this way of living. I simply take the best that is available to me. And for me, that's meditating online here, and from time to time, quite rarely, in a real group. So, don't worry about it. I am happy you are here.

I live the way my Master taught me. He said: he always takes the best – the best of what is available to him. And I like this way of living. I simply take the best that is available to me. And for me, here, it is meditating online, and every now and then, quite rarely, with a real group.

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Why I am not stressed

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[Simone:] Then I have another question from Sabine that I'd like to read out.

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

[Simone:] "Hello Mikael. How do you live your everyday life? How do you deal with stressful situations, for example arguments with your partner about raising children? Teenage children are so difficult, you can't allow everything."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for the question. I am very reluctant to say anything about my lifestyle, and there is a very specific reason for that. I do it on purpose.

You know, it's like this: different things are right and good for different people. There are a few things that are good for everyone – meditation, for example. But even there... the meditation that I love might not be good for everyone. And there are also a few people who might not be ready for meditation yet. That's why you have to be very careful with what you say, because other people will quickly think: "Ah, I should live like that too."

And that's not true when it comes to these many practical things. When I look at my own life... You know, I could tell you how I eat, what my daily routine is like. But these things have changed so often over the last few years and decades. What I would tell you today might not even be true in six months or a year's time. But other people then heard this at some point and think: "That's how you live when you are spiritual." But it has nothing to do with that at all.

I read in this Madhuchaitanya magazine by Swamiji – it's an English magazine that is published every two months in India, it's in English – and in each issue, a great saint of the world is introduced, and there's a little bit about him or her – there are also women among them. And that's really exciting, because once you've read a few issues and got to know some of these saints, you realize that each of these god-like beings was completely different, lived completely differently, spoke completely differently.

Yes, so much for that. That's why I am being deliberately cautious with practical details from my everyday life.

But I can say something about the two things you mentioned specifically. I don't have any stress, simply because... As soon as I notice that I am getting even a little stressed, I notice it and I realize: "Wait a minute, what's going on here?"

Sometimes I work very intensively, sometimes there are lots of things to do at the same time. But that doesn't mean that you have to be stressed. Stress is a state where I think I should be somewhere else than where I am right now. For example: you are driving, and you are stuck in traffic, and you have an appointment or an important meeting. And you see you are running out of time. And now you think you should be there, on time. And if that doesn't happen, then you'll have a big problem and you'll get stressed.

I don't have stress, because as soon as I get even a little stressed, I notice it. Sometimes I work very hard, sometimes there are lots of things to do at the same time. But that doesn't mean you have to be stressed. Stress is a state where I think I should be somewhere else than where I am right now.

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But it's different for me. When I find myself in a situation like that, the first thing I do is: I am where I am. "Okay, I am here, I can't go any further. That's how it is." Maybe I then inform the person I have an appointment with and say: "Listen, I can't make it."

But I don't worry that this is bad or that I should be there after all. On the contrary: if something happens to me where something doesn't work out the way I thought it would, then I think: "Ah, interesting. That's really interesting. Obviously, life doesn't want me to be there now." I don't understand why, I actually think it's a problem, but I know: if it doesn't work out, then there's a reason – even if I might not even understand the reason at that moment.

If something doesn't work out the way I thought it would, then I think: "Interesting. Obviously, life doesn't want me to be there." I don't understand why, I actually think it's a problem, but I know that if it doesn't work out, there's a reason for it – even if I don't understand the reason yet.

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Or I realize: I get stressed because I've simply taken on too much, and that happens very quickly. In my brain, in my head, I can do everything very, very quickly, but in reality, everything I do takes much longer than I thought it would – everything, even the most trivial things, and you may know that from your life too. And as soon as I realize: "Wow, I can't do all those things what I set out to do" or "I can't do what I thought would be important", then I am just here and realize: "Okay, I am here, I am not faster than I am.

I have to drop something." And then I drop some things, and then it just is like that. And sometimes, I feel wrong – but I am willing for that. Sometimes, my head thinks: "Ah, but that won't work out", and then I am ready to feel the feelings that go with it: this wrongness or perhaps this worry that something won't work out in the future. And then, something relaxes again. It's a surrender to life, so to speak. And when I notice that I am getting stressed, then I realize that this dedication to life is lacking. That is the indicator for me.

If I surrender my life to life and simply say 'yes' to what life brings me, there is no reason for any kind of stress at all.

That's a big secret. It's really... If you watch my videos or know me from Satsang, then you know that I keep talking about this surrender. That's the one big secret that all the Gurus have talked about – all of them. And it's the one thing that the normal person can't even imagine. That's why I often say it's easy – once you start to let life do it. And you mentioned the teenagers and how I manage to not have any stress in the relationship, because of arguments about child rearing.

When I get stressed, I realize that there is a lack of surrender to life. That's the indicator for me. If I surrender my life to life and just say 'yes' to what life gives me, there is no reason for any kind of stress at all. That's a big secret.

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And that's quite simple. I don't have any stress in the relationship at all. I can just see who knows better here, and that's the mother of these children. She knows ten times more about the children than I do. She is ten times more closely connected to the children than I am as a man. It's simply her territory. She knows it better. It's just the way it is.

I keep talking about this surrender. That's the one big secret that all the Gurus have talked about. And it's the one thing that the normal person can't even imagine. That's why I often say it's easy – once you start to let life do it.

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And sometimes, very, very rarely, she comes to me, very carefully, very respectfully, and tries to explain something to me where she has experienced that I have said or done things a few times that are not at all beneficial for the child. And when she comes up with something like that, which is very, very rare – not because I am not doing anything wrong, but because she's simply very wise and held back – then I listen, because I know she's right. And then it's easy with the children.

I mean, with children it's always difficult and easy at the same time. But I leave it to her, and then there's no friction between us. We pull together: she pulls, and I pull with her.

And to be honest, I don't know how you could do it any other way with children.

Yes, that's how it is here with me.

Thank you for your question, Sabine.

It's not your expectations

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[Simone:] I'll read a comment from Nicole next. Nicole writes: "I wonder, though, if expectations just happen without the 'me' being able to do anything about it."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you, Nicole. Yes, you are absolutely right, of course. Expectations happen; thoughts happen. If you have ever done the Samarpan Meditation, then you know what I am talking about. You sit there, you go into the crown with your attention, you want to ignore the thoughts, but the thoughts don't care, they come – one after the other, again and again, all the time. And it's the same with expectations. You start to meditate, and then, over the weeks and months and years, you discover what your expectations are.

You don't even know where they come from. It's not that you sit down and think: this is what I want to expect now, but all these expectations I am talking about are usually just kind of there. They're not even yours. They're collective expectations, they're expectations that we've learned, that we've adopted, that's how normal they are. That's true. That means it's not your fault. It's not that you've done something wrong and therefore now have expectations. It's more of a discovery, a 'wow'.

It's not that you think: this is what I want to expect now, but these expectations I am talking about are simply there. They are not yours. They are collective expectations that we have taken on: it's not your fault. It's not that you've done something wrong and therefore now have expectations.

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You know, once you take a closer look, once you start trying to meditate, once you start trying not to give attention to thoughts, then you start to discover how many thoughts you have all the time, whether you want to or not, and how many expectations. And there are many people who believe that Samarpan Meditation is about sitting there for half an hour without thoughts, without expectations – but that's not true. That is not possible. You can't set yourself that goal.

What you can do is: you sit down with the intention, with the willingness, with the sincere willingness to ignore the thoughts and rest up here. That's all you can do. And then you will get to know yourself. Then you will get to know your state. Then the thoughts come, and then you let them go again, as best you can. Then you will feel your expectations and then you will let them go. Then you ignore them. Then you don't take them personally and rest in the silence again. And then the next thoughts come, then the next expectations appear, and you notice them.

Many people believe that Samarpan Meditation is about sitting there for half an hour without thoughts, without expectations – but that's not possible. What you can do is sit down with a sincere willingness to ignore your thoughts and rest up here. That's all you can do.

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Swamiji even goes so far as to say that most thoughts have nothing to do with you at all. And in the discourse this morning he suggested an experiment. He says: sit down in a room where you are all alone and where there are no other people around you; where you are as far away as possible from other people. And sit there without doing anything, just like that, and you go inside and become still. And then you will realize that you have thoughts, but relatively few.

And then you do the same experiment in another place, where you are surrounded by people. There you will realize how much is going on inside you, because you pick up the thoughts of all the other people around you all the time without realizing it. It feels like your own thoughts, like your own expectations. It's like we literally become like the people who are around us all the time, because we pick up their thoughts as if they were our own, and we can't distinguish: is this my thought, or is this the thought of my neighbor or my partner?

We become like the people who are constantly around us, because we take in their thoughts as if they were our own, and we can't tell the difference: is this my thought, or is this the thought of my neighbor or my partner?

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But ultimately it doesn't matter where the expectation comes from, and why it is there. It also doesn't matter who the thought belongs to.

You rest in the crown chakra, and then a thought comes, and then you have to ignore it, very gently, very non-seriously. And then you rest inside yourself again.

In the end, it doesn't matter where the expectation comes from. It also doesn't matter who the thought belongs to. You rest in the crown chakra, and then a thought comes, and then you have to ignore it, very gently, very non-seriously. And then you rest within yourself again.

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Thank you for your question. Thank you so much.

[Simone:] Nicole writes: "thank you for your words".

[Dhyan Mikael:] you are very welcome, Nicole. I am happy you are here.

True attractiveness comes from within

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[Simone:] The next question I would like to read out is from Panama.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Panama. Nice to have you back. I am delighted.

[Simone:] "I am wishing I had a partner by my side again. I am probably standing in my own way. Many people say I am attractive and don't understand why I don't have a partner."

[Dhyan Mikael:] The attractiveness you can see from the outside is not the attractiveness that attracts people. You may know this too. You see a person, a woman, who looks beautiful, but she is not attractive. And then there are other people who are perhaps not so title picture-worthy, but they have something about them that is simply attractive, appealing.

The attractiveness you can see from the outside is not the attractiveness that attracts people.

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And, look, you are a human being, you have everything you need. You have a wonderful life in one of the richest countries on earth. You live better than kings lived a hundred years ago.

It is unimaginable. But you are discontent – and that is not attractive.

But when you don't need anything, when you are content, when you are simply happy, as you are: that is attractive; that is beautiful. Such people are so beautiful.

You have everything you need and live better than the kings of a hundred years ago. But you are dissatisfied – and that is not attractive. But if you don't need anything, if you are content, if you are just happy the way you are: that is attractive; that is beautiful. People like that are so beautiful.

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That much I can say about attractiveness.

I would like to give you two more things.

One won't do you any good, the other might. I'll say both anyway.

I am saying one thing so that you can understand yourself better at some point in the future. A man will not make you happy. You long for a partner because you feel with every fiber of your being that this will give you something you need and that will make your life better. This is not true, but you feel this way, and because you feel this way, you will have to find out for yourself that this is not the case. And that is something everyone has to discover for themselves.

You long for a partner because you feel with every fiber of your being that this will give you something you need and that will make your life better. This is not true, but you feel this way, and because you feel this way, you will have to find out for yourself that this is not the case. And that is something everyone has to discover for themselves.

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I am telling you this today, because soon you'll have another partner and you'll love him and everything will be great. And then, two months later or a year or two years later, you'll discover that he's not the one who makes you happy after all. And then remember what I am telling you today: he can't make you happy. No man can make you happy. It's like this: in the entire history of mankind, there has never been a woman who was happy because of a man. You won't be the first.

I am telling you this today, because soon you'll have another partner, and two months or two years later you'll discover that he's not the one who makes you happy after all. And then remember what I am telling you today: he can't make you happy. No man can make you happy.

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Happiness comes from somewhere else.

In the entire history of mankind, there has never been a woman who was happy because of a man. You won't be the first. Happiness comes from somewhere else.

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And it's usually like this: we try to find our happiness out there, in relationship. For you it's relationship, for other people it's career or wealth or power or recognition.

And only when you've tried again and again... You've reached the goal again and again, and you keep realizing: "yes, but that's not it." And then you think: "I've got the wrong man". But when this has happened to you five or six or seven times, at some point you realize: "Wait a minute. Something's wrong here." That's how I felt. You know, I was like you. I am a relationship person. I like being in relationships. And I used to crave a relationship when I didn't have one, like you. I couldn't be alone.

We're trying to find happiness out there. For you, it's relationship. And only when you've reached your goal do you realize: "but that's not it." Then you think: "I've got the wrong man". But when it's happened to you five or six or seven times, you realize: "Wait a minute. Something's not right here."

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And I tried again and again. And then, something didn't work out at some point, and then I was alone again. And of course, I thought I was doing something wrong. Of course, I thought I was messed up. So, I went to therapy and worked on myself and all the things one does. It still didn't help. Other people don't think they themselves are wrong, but their partner is.

And then you realize every time: "That was the wrong partner again; he was wrong again". But it both comes down to the same thing, regardless of whether you tend to blame yourself or your partner: you won't find what you are looking for. That's simply not what partnership is for, but you'll discover that for yourself. I think you already know that too. But maybe not quite yet. Maybe there's still some hope left. You'll discover it for yourself.

And the second thing I want to tell you, and this is something that will be useful to you right now, by the way also for your next relationship: when you start to meditate, something quite peculiar will happen. You will begin to discover a world, the inside, as I call it, of which you know nothing at the moment. And the closer you get to your own inner self, your soul, the less important you take the outer world, your body and everything that has to do with it.

And that's where you start to find true contentment – as I described at the beginning when I talked about expectations. When you go within, you have no expectations. You learn to accept yourself and your life, and you become content. In your world, in your life, nothing has changed, but inside you, everything has turned upside down, and you become content. You become happy. You don't even know where it comes from.

The closer you get to your own inner self, your soul, the less important you take the outer world. And that's where you start to find true contentment. When you go within, you have no expectations. Nothing has changed in your life, but inside you, everything has turned upside down and you become content.

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And it happens completely independently of what happens in your life. Whether you have a partner or not, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are healthy or ill, whether you smoke or not, none of this matters. It is up to you to discover this, simply by starting to turn inwards, without expectations and with patience. And when you have a partner – you will have a partner because you will become more and more attractive; they won't leave you alone, the men – you won't need anything from him.

You will be happy regardless of what happens in your life. Whether you have a partner or not, whether you are rich or poor, whether you are healthy or ill, none of this matters. It's up to you to discover this, simply by starting to turn inwards, without expectations and with patience.

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You've already found everything you need within yourself. You are satisfied. And then you are not only attractive to others, but then, relationships become really easy because you are no longer looking for anything in the relationship that can't be found there. And then it becomes easy. Then you get along with men as they are.

And when you have a partner, you don't need anything from them. You've already found everything you need within yourself. You are satisfied. Then you are not only attractive, but then relationships become really easy because you are no longer looking for anything in the relationship that can't be found there.

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And partnerships and relationships are so incredibly fruitful for us humans because there is nothing better to disillusion us. There is no other area in life where we enter with such high expectations, with such dreams, with such illusions.

And there is no other area in life where these illusions and dreams are destroyed so quickly and so thoroughly, time and time again. And that is healing, that is good, there is nothing wrong with it, because it makes you ripe so that at some point you realize: "Wait a minute, I think I am looking in the wrong place. Something's not right here." Thanks for your question.

Partnerships are so fruitful because there is nothing better to disillusion us. There is no other area in life where we go in with such high expectations, with such dreams and illusions. And there is no other area where these illusions and dreams are destroyed so quickly and thoroughly, time and time again.

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Don't worry, but accept

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[Simone:] Mikael, I am going to read out the next question. It comes from John.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello John. I am happy you are here today, too. How nice.

[Simone:] "Hello Mikael. How should you react when you are not feeling well? For example, when you are sleep deprived and your thoughts keep turning to body sensations, exhaustion and worry."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, sleep deprivation is an interesting experience.

I live with a partner who also has this experience. She has a hard time sleeping. She's been meditating for fifteen years longer than I have, which is why it's so easy with her, living together, it's wonderful, but she has a hard time sleeping. She has a funny body. Sometimes she sleeps wonderfully, but most of the time, she has a really hard time sleeping and just sleeps far too little, and she feels it during the day.

The most important thing when you experience this is to make sure that you don't pay any attention to thoughts. Because when the body is exhausted, it is particularly easy to start paying attention to your thoughts. The thoughts then get more energy; they get a bit crazier the more tired you get.

I can't tell you what helps with your type of insomnia. I don't know. But I can tell you that the best and most productive way to deal with it is to accept it completely for what it is. That doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. But if you can do that, then the solution to it will come to you, if there is one. And if not, then you say: "Okay, God – if this is how I am supposed to live, this is how I live now."

The best and most productive way to deal with it is to accept it completely for what it is. That doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. But if you can do that, then the solution will come to you, if there is one. And if not, then you say: "Okay, God – if this is how I am supposed to live, this is how I live now."

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That's the best and easiest way to live with it. Everything else makes it hard for you. Everything else makes you completely crazy. And most people think: "Wait a minute, if I accept something, then it can't change at all." But that's not true. The exact opposite is true, but almost no one knows that. I myself have experienced it countless times in my life with the things that have plagued me.

Most people think: "Wait a minute, if I accept something, then it can't change at all." But that's not true. The exact opposite is true, but almost no one knows that.

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If you accept your situation for what it is.... I mean, of course you do what you can. You've tried all the obvious things; you've probably been to doctors and tried countless tips. And that's normal. We try whatever we can think of. Anything that seems like a good idea, we just try it out. But at some point, you run out of wisdom. And then, at that point, accept: "Okay, I don't know what to do. It's like this. Okay. Then I am going to accept it without thinking about it any further." And through this acceptance, you are as open as you can be.

And if there are any ways to make it easier for you, then those ways will come to you because that's when you are most open. But if you fight it and struggle with it, then life will have a really hard time coming to your side and bringing you solutions. So, it's exactly the opposite than most people imagine. Most people are convinced: "if I accept this now, it means it will be like this forever and I mustn't accept it under any circumstances." But that's a dead end. Life works the other way around. I've experienced it time and again, time and again.

It's exactly the opposite of how most people imagine. They are convinced: "If I accept this now, it will be like this forever. There's no way I can accept this." But that's a dead end. Life works the other way around. I've experienced it again and again, over and over again.

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Thank you, John. And what you experience... You really need patience. You need a lot of patience, and I'll lend you my patience. I have a lot of it. And just keep reminding yourself, "It's like this – okay. It's not my business. It's not my life. God, if you want me to live like this for you, okay, I am ready. Your business." That's how I would deal with it. That's how I deal with everything that ails me. Thank you, John.

You need a lot of patience, and I'll lend you my patience. I have a lot of it. And just keep reminding yourself, "It's not my business. It's not my life. God, if you want me to live like this for you – I am ready. Your business." That's how I deal with everything that ails me.

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Not giving value to thoughts

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[Simone:] Mikael, perhaps you would like to read out a question of yours next?

[Dhyan Mikael:] I'd love to, I have quite a few here, too.

"How exactly does it work, this 'not giving value to thoughts', or rather not identifying with them?" And she has a second question, which I'll read right afterwards.

Yes, thank you. I like these practical questions.

Well, it's very easy. And that's what we practice in Samarpan Meditation, that's why it's so helpful. You just try to go with your attention to a point, to the crown chakra, which has nothing to do with thoughts. If you rest with your attention there, you can't think. But the next moment, you notice how you think again – how you are with the thoughts with your attention. And simply this act of taking your attention away from the thoughts and directing it elsewhere, where there are no thoughts, is this 'not taking thoughts seriously'.

How does that work, not giving thoughts any value? You simply try to go to a point with your attention that has nothing to do with thoughts. And simply this act of taking your attention away from thoughts, to where there are no thoughts, is this 'not taking thoughts seriously'.

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The opposite of this is this feeling: "No, this is important. I can't rest in the crown chakra right now, this is an important thought, I mustn't forget it under any circumstances." That's the feeling you get with many thoughts. And then to ignore this feeling and say: "No, I am not going to play along with that now. I am ignoring it. It's none of my business. I am meditating here. I am resting in the crown chakra now." It feels as if you no longer believe yourself – this 'self' that is made up of thoughts.

And once you've practiced this a little, you'll get a feeling for it very quickly. As long as you are identified with your thoughts, you have the feeling: "I am this. How am I supposed to ignore myself? I can't do that." But then you rest in the crown chakra and suddenly you realize: "Ah, there are thoughts." You are separate from them, you can observe them – and that is already half the battle. Then you can either pay attention to them or not. You can also direct your attention elsewhere.

As long as you are identified with the thoughts, you feel: "I am this. How am I supposed to ignore myself?" But then you rest in the crown chakra and you realize: "There are thoughts", and you can direct your attention elsewhere. And if you can do that, then you are no longer identified with these thoughts.

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And if you can do that, then you are no longer identified with these thoughts. And then you end up back in the thoughts without realizing it, and as soon as you become aware of it again, you have the choice again, and then you can decide again: do I want to give attention to the thought, or do I go back to the crown chakra? And that is again this step of letting go. This is the step of surrender: not taking thoughts seriously. Everything that I think is important – up there – to not take it seriously.

Then you end up in thoughts again, and as soon as you realize that, you have the choice again: do I want to give the thought attention or do I go back to the crown chakra? And that is this step of letting go, of surrendering: not taking thoughts seriously. Everything that I think is important, I just don't take it seriously.

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This is this not giving value to thoughts: you no longer believe that what you think is essential up there.

This is this not giving value to thoughts: you no longer believe that what you think is essential up there.

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And at the beginning it's a real adventure, because everything inside you thinks: "Something really terrible is about to happen. My life will fall apart" because you believe this thought so much, but quite quickly you realize: "Wow, my life didn't fall apart. On the contrary, I felt much better today."

In the beginning, everything in you thinks: "Something really terrible is about to happen" because you believe these thoughts so much, but you quickly realize: "My life didn't collapse. On the contrary, I felt much better today." And then you have your own experiences and realize: "they're really not important".

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And then you have your own first experiences with it, and then you realize: "Wait a minute – they're really not important." The thoughts still act as if they're incredibly important, but you've experienced for the first time that this isn't true at all. And then it gets interesting, then it gets easier.

The thoughts still act as if they're incredibly important, but you've experienced for the first time that this isn't true at all. And then it gets interesting, then it gets easier.

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How to meditate properly?

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And she has a second question in the same email.

"I would also like to ask you: how do you meditate properly?" These very short questions simply are the best. Yes, how do you meditate properly?

Unfortunately, I have to answer with a paradox. Meditating is when you stop trying to do something right. Meditating is when you stop asking yourself the question: am I meditating correctly or not? Meditating correctly is when you don't worry about whether you are meditating correctly or not. As long as there is someone who is looking at "am I doing this right or not?", you are not meditating.

Meditating is when you stop asking yourself the question: am I meditating correctly or not? As long as there is someone looking at "am I doing this right or not?", you are not meditating. But if you let go of the thoughts and these questions and just rest here, you have no idea whether you are doing anything right or not.

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But if you let go of the thoughts and let go of these questions, let go of these judgments, and simply rest here, you have no idea whether you are doing anything right or not. You don't even know where you are. You don't know if you are resting in the crown chakra or not. You don't know anything anymore. You are resting in God's lap, without knowing it. That is 'meditating properly'. But you know nothing about it because you no longer ask yourself the question. That's the paradox of meditation.

You don't even know where you are. You don't know if you are resting in the crown chakra or not. You don't know anything anymore. You are resting in God's lap, without knowing it. That is 'meditating properly'. But you know nothing about it because you no longer ask yourself the question. That's the paradox of meditation.

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That's why I said at the beginning of this Satsang that the essential thing about meditation is not to have any expectations – not to want to do it right, neither out there in life nor here in this half hour of meditation. You just sit down and rest in the crown chakra. Look, when you go for a walk, you do it because it's so beautiful out there. You love nature. Now, after this Satsang, later, at four o'clock, I will go out again because it is so beautiful right now. Everything is frozen and icy cold.

The essential thing about meditation is not to have any expectations – not to want to do it right, neither out there in life nor here in this half hour of meditation. You just sit down and rest in the crown chakra.

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But when you go for a walk, you don't try to go for a walk 'correctly'. You don't go out with the intention of somehow making it a really correct walk. You don't think about it at all. You just go out because it's beautiful and because it's simply wonderful to be in nature. Then you come back home, you are refreshed and tackle the next tasks and have much more energy than before and you are in good spirits. But you don't think: "Ah, I've done it really correctly, this walk. And I notice that I feel much better."

When you go for a walk, you don't try to go for a walk 'correctly'. You just go out because it's nice to be in nature. Then you come back home and you are in a good mood, but you don't think: "Ah, I've done it really correctly." No, nothing like that. And that's how you meditate. You just sit down because it feels so good.

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No, nothing like that. And that's how you meditate. You just sit down because it feels so good. When you take a walk, you go out into nature, here in the world. When you meditate, then you rest in your true nature, which is even more refreshing and even more energizing than nature out there in the world. Then you just rest here, and you don't have to worry at all about whether you are doing it right or wrong. On the contrary. Swamiji says: "Don't worry about how good your meditation is."

When you take a walk, you go out into nature. When you meditate, you rest in your true nature, which is even more refreshing and even more energizing than nature out there in the world. Then you just rest here, and you don't have to worry at all about whether you are doing it right or wrong.

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He says: he is responsible for it. And whenever a thought comes to you, "Am I doing this right? Was that good?", then you can know: "Wait a minute, this is not my business. It is Swamiji's business, I have nothing to do with it. I just meditate as it happens. The rest is none of my business." And that is 'meditating properly'. And that, by the way, is also 'living properly'. That's how you live. It's God's business. You just live with it. Then, everything becomes easy. Yes. Thank you for these beautiful questions.

Swamiji says, "Don't worry about how good your meditation is." He says: he is responsible for it. It is Swamiji's business. That is 'meditating properly'. And by the way, that is also 'living properly'. That's how you live. It is God's business. You just live with it. Then, everything becomes easy.

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When meditating doesn't work

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Simone, may I continue or do you have something?

[Simone:] Yes, Mikael, I have a question right now where it's also about meditation, which would fit. I would read it out if that's okay with you.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, of course. That's what I am here for.

[Simone:] Tanja...

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Tanja. I am happy you are here. How nice.

[Simone:] She writes: "Thank you. I've been reading your newsletters for about four months now, and I look forward to the quotes every morning. The only thing that doesn't work for me is meditating. Do you have to meditate at all?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for your question. These short questions are the best.

So, what you are saying here.... You say, meditating doesn't work for you. That can't be the case. That is not possible. That's like you just walking in the door and saying, "I just took a walk, and I did it wrong." That isn't possible. You can't do a walk wrong. You can't meditate wrong. You sit down with the intention of resting in the crown chakra – that's meditating.

You say meditating doesn't work for you. That can't be the case. That's not possible. It's like if you just walked in the door and said, "I just took a walk and I did it wrong." That is not possible. You can't do a walk wrong. You can't meditate wrong.

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What happens then is another story. Look, you have a very specific idea of what it would look like if meditation worked for you. You somehow, subtly, have an idea of what your meditation experience would be like, how you would feel afterwards or what would happen in your life. And none of that is true. You don't know at all what it's like when meditation works.

You have an idea of what it would be like if meditation worked for you. You have a subtle idea of what your meditation would be like, how you would feel afterwards or what would happen in your life. And none of that is true. You don't know at all what it's like when meditation works.

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There are people who sit down to meditate and then experience an incredible number of thoughts. These people are so aware and so present that they can perceive their thoughts while they are sitting there. That is an incredibly great step. But all these people think they are doing it wrong because they are aware of their thoughts.

There are people who sit down to meditate and experience many thoughts. These people are so aware and so present that they can perceive their thoughts while they are sitting there. That is an incredibly great step. But all these people think they're doing it wrong because they're noticing their thoughts.

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The truth is, we can't know what our meditation is like. You cannot know it. That's why the only way to meditate is to not worry about it at all, and that entity within you that asks itself these questions – "Am I doing this right? Was that good now?", or that thinks it knows what it would be like if it were right – ignore it. That is actually the essence of meditation: to ignore all that.

We cannot know what our meditation is like. Therefore, the only way to meditate is to not worry about it at all, and this instance in you that asks itself these questions – "Am I doing this right? Was that good?" – to ignore it. That's the essence of meditation: ignoring all that.

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You can also write to me about why you think your meditation isn't working. I would be interested. You'd be the first person I've met for whom meditation doesn't work, but I am curious, and you are welcome to write to me. But know this: the one up there telling you that it doesn't work is exactly the one we try to ignore. Yes, feel free to write me again if you like.

You'd be the first person I've met for whom meditation doesn't work, but I am curious, and you are welcome to write to me. But know this: the one up there telling you that it doesn't work is exactly the one we try to ignore.

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Taking responsibility means saying 'yes'

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Simone, do you have anything else?

[Simone:] Yes, I have another question from John.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, John; please.

[Simone:] "How can you take responsibility for yourself and your life? You also say that you can hand it over to God. Do you decide that for yourself intuitively? 'I can't do this now' and so on. That would be the exact opposite, i.e. handing over responsibility instead of taking it for yourself. I once knew someone, who decided early in the morning before getting up: 'Today I am steering', or 'I'll let myself be guided and let God think for me'. In principle: which leg do I get up with first today? Left or right leg? Do I decide for myself, or do I let God decide for me and guide me?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] The funny thing about this spiritual path is that, if you don't experience it yourself, it all seems so paradoxical. In reality, of course, it's not a paradox at all, but if you want to understand it before you experience it, it really does seem like such a knot. I understand.

The funny thing about this spiritual path is that everything seems so paradoxical if you don't experience it yourself. In reality, of course, it's not a paradox at all, but if you want to understand it before you experience it, it really does seem like a knot.

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And I will try to say something about it that is somehow understandable.

I don't make up my mind in the morning. It is absolutely clear to me: this day belongs to God. There is no question about it. And I make up my mind: everything that happens on this day, I am okay with that. It's mine – it's not anyone else's fault. My partner says something and I feel terrible: "Ah, that's my feeling, my fear, my anger, my disappointment". This is "taking responsibility": I respond to life. That is responsibility. Everything that happens in my life, I say 'yes' to. Everything that happens is mine.

I don't make up my mind in the morning. It is absolutely clear to me: this day belongs to God. There is no question about it. And I make up my mind: everything that happens on this day, I am okay with that. It's mine – it's not anyone else's fault.

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No one else is responsible for it. No one else is to blame – not even me, but I say 'yes'. And through this saying 'yes', through this acceptance, I take responsibility: I respond to life. Life calls – it gives me some feeling – and I answer and say: "Yes, here I am. Come!" That is "taking responsibility". Taking responsibility does not mean "I decide", but it means: "Yes. I say 'yes'. I join in. I play along. Here I am. Yes, God, I am here" – in every situation, no matter how beautiful, no matter how terrible.

And by saying 'yes', by accepting, I take responsibility: I respond to life. Life calls – it gives me a feeling – and I answer and say: "Yes, come!" Taking responsibility does not mean "I decide", but it means: "I say 'yes'. Yes, God, I am here".

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That is responsibility.

And it's not something I decide in the morning. At some point, a few lifetimes ago, my soul decided: "now I say 'yes'." And that's why it's like this now. There is no reason at all for me to decide that.

Responsibility does not mean that I decide: do I let this day be God's day, or is it my day that I can determine?

There is no such decision. You can only make a decision: "Do I play along or not? Do I say 'yes' – or 'no'?" You can make that decision in the morning. You can say, "Okay, today I am going to tell God how to do it."

Responsibility does not mean that I decide: do I let this day be God's day, or is it my day that I can determine? There is no such decision. You can only make a decision: "Do I play along or not? Do I say 'yes' – or 'no'?" You can make that decision in the morning.

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It won't work, of course, but that's how we normally live, and it's a hard life, it's difficult and very scary. Then you are very far away from God and therefore from yourself. You are very lonely and desperate. But as soon as you decide to say 'yes' and stop having expectations – saying 'yes' is the same as having no expectations – everything becomes easy.

You can say: today I am telling God how to do it. It won't work, but that's how we usually live, and it's a hard life, difficult and scary. Then you are far away from God and therefore far away from yourself. You are lonely, desperate. But as soon as you decide to say 'yes' and stop having expectations, everything becomes easy.

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And I'll say it again... There are so many people who call themselves Christians, and there are many people who don't call themselves Christians but they love Jesus or they love Buddha or whoever. But to do the one thing that these saints did – saying 'yes', playing along, taking responsibility: to say to God, "Yes, I am here.

I am living the life you are serving me. Yes! And I say 'yes' to everything, no matter what may come" – that's what they did. That made them so big, so incredibly godlike. And we can't imagine that. Yes, it's really paradoxical. People love Jesus and are so touched by everything, but they can't do what he did. They don't want to.

So many people call themselves Christians or they love Jesus or Buddha or whoever. But doing the one thing that these saints did – saying 'yes', taking responsibility: saying to God, "Yes, I am here. I am living the life you are serving me" – we can't imagine that.

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Jesus said something really interesting. I'll see if I can get it together in my memory now.

I'll have to read it again for the next video... It was something like... Jesus said: "Your birthright is to be God's son, God's daughter." The church later made him the only Son of God, but of course that's not true at all. Nor does it make any sense at all. He said it himself: "This is your birthright – to be the Son of God; to be like God." The only thing we have to learn is to say 'yes' to life: to live the life that opens up to me, without expectations of anything else. And then you are like Jesus.

Jesus said: "Your inheritance is to be God's son, God's daughter." The church has made him the only Son of God, but that is not true. He said it himself. The only thing we have to learn is to say 'yes' to life: to live the life that opens up to me, without expectations of anything else. And then you are like Jesus.

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You know, we've been told that he was an incredibly rare example, which will never happen again. I mean, that's true – but not because it's impossible, but because nobody starts to follow Jesus. Yet that was his only ambition. He said again and again: "Come, follow me. Do the same." He kept saying: "What I do is nothing special.

You can do it too." But his disciples were not even able to pray with him. It is so difficult for us to do this one simple thing. It is so difficult for us – because of our thoughts, because we believe them; because of our ego, because we believe it. Yes, that's how it is with making decisions. That is the one decision.

We have been led to believe that he was an incredibly rare example. That's true – but not because it's impossible, but because no one starts to follow Jesus. Yet that was his only ambition. He kept saying: "Come, follow me. You can do it too." But it is so difficult for us to do this one simple thing.

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Once you make it and stick to it, your life is easy.

Thank you very much.

You are lying to yourself

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Simone, I have a question here now that just fits in so well that I'd like to read it out now. It's another very short question. Today is the Satsang of short questions, which are simply incredible. This is not a question, but rather a comment that I received on YouTube. She writes: "It's always easy for you."

That's the entire comment, and it really touches me, because of course I keep hearing that from some people who say, "for you it's always easy. Not for me." Then they write: "You speak well... It's easy for you, but it's not easy for me."

They say: "I can't do what you do. It's hard for me." But you are lying to yourself. It's hard for you because you don't do what I do. It's not that you can't do it because it's hard for you. That's not true. If you do what I do, then it will be easy for you. If you do what Jesus did, then your life becomes easy. Then everything is easy.

You have to do it every day, in every moment, again and again – this "Lord, your will be done". This saying 'yes' to life, this having no expectations, is something you have to do again and again, in every moment, with every breath. It is a way of life. But if you make it your own, then it's easy. Then everything is easy.

This really touches me, because I hear it all the time: "For you it's always easy. Not for me." But you are lying to yourself. It's hard for you because you don't do what I do. If you do what I do, what Jesus did, then your life becomes easy. Then everything is easy.

Link to quote in video at 1h13m41s

But you don't want it to be. That is the truth. It's not that it's hard, but you don't want it. There's something in you that doesn't want that. And I understand you. I am not saying there's anything wrong with you. I know that too. Not today – it's no longer there for me, but I certainly know it. I still remember it well: this feeling bad. There's always something that finds all sorts of reasons why it's not a good idea after all and why it just won't work. But those are all lies.

You have to do it every day, in every moment – this "Lord, your will be done". This saying 'yes', having no expectations, is something you have to do over and over again, with every breath. It's a way of life. But if you make it your own, then everything is easy. It's not that it's hard, but you don't want it.

Link to quote in video at 1h14m41s

And as I said, I don't mean that in a negative way at all when I say: they're all lies. That's the nature of our mind. That is the nature of our ego. This is how it enslaves you: you believe with every fiber, "I can't do this, it's not easy for me". But if you just do what I am talking about and agree with how it is for you now – what could be easier? I am not asking you to change your life.

I am not asking you to change, to become smarter than you are or more surrendered or more spiritual or more successful or richer or more beautiful. I don't expect you to get your life together. Nothing like that. This one thing, right now, where you are in life, the way you are right now... You are like this anyway, life is like this anyway – and to say 'yes' to that now, to say 'yes' to the resistance in you, to say 'yes' to the messed up thing in you, to the crazy thoughts: okay, they are like this.

These are all lies, and I don't mean that negatively at all. That's the nature of our mind, our ego. This is how it enslaves you: you believe with every fiber, "I can't do this, it's not easy for me". But if you just do what I am talking about and you are okay with the way it is for you now – what could be easier?

Link to quote in video at 1h15m45s

You don't have to give them any attention, but don't fight against them. Let go of the wish for it to be different. Then, you can be here. Then, it becomes easy. And that's the one thing the ego doesn't allow: that you agree. And that's why you have a hard time. That's the only reason. There is nothing about your whole life that is difficult. That's the one thing that separates you from Jesus. There is no other.

Let go of the desire for it to be different. Then you can be here. Then it will be easy. And that's the one thing the ego doesn't allow: that you agree. That's why you have a hard time. There is nothing about your whole life that is difficult. That's the one thing that separates you from Jesus. There is no other.

Link to quote in video at 1h17m33s

And I say it's easy because it's easy for me. And I continually invite you, in every one of my videos, in every one of my Satsangs, to do the same. And what I am saying here, it's not my wisdom, I am not that cool. A few lifetimes ago, I simply tried out what Jesus said, and now, my Master and my Guru have reminded me of it again. And now I just say: "Hey, guys, this is how it works. This is how life works."

That's why I say: it's easy – because it's easy for me. And it can be easy for you too. And then it's hard again. Today you say 'yes', and you experience, "wow, that's really a difference. Wow. I could never have imagined that"... And tomorrow you wake up and it's the same mess again. You are back in your old swamp. And then, tomorrow, to say 'yes' again: "Okay, God, yes. Today too: yes to this too." Always 'yes'. To never have an expectation in the morning. Every morning anew: yes – and your life will be completely different.

These are not my words of wisdom. A few lifetimes ago, I simply tried out what Jesus said, and now, my Master and my Guru have reminded me again. And now I say: "This is how it works. That's how life works." That's why I say: it's easy – because it's easy for me. And it can be easy for you too.

Link to quote in video at 1h18m21s

I have to do the same, in every moment.

Today you say 'yes' and you experience, "wow, that's really a difference." And tomorrow you wake up and you are back in your old swamp. And then tomorrow to say 'yes' again. To never have an expectation in the morning. Every morning anew: yes – and your life will be completely different. I have to do the same, in every moment.

Link to quote in video at 1h18m53s

Thank you for this comment. Thank you very much.

So, Simone... If you like, it's your turn again.

[Simone:] Yes. John wrote: "Thank you so much for your wonderful comments."

[Dhyan Mikael:] you are very welcome, John. Thank you for your wonderful questions.

Impatience – the ego's best trick

Link to topic in video at 1h20m04s

[Simone:] And Tanja has contacted me again...

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes.

[Simone:] ...and she writes the following. "I find it difficult to get into this moment, to calm down. My head gets heavy and tired. And then it takes too long. And that stops me. I would like to get involved."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for the clarification. Yes, that is very interesting. Please read that again, Simone.

[Simone:] "I find it hard to get into the moment, into the calm. Then my head gets heavy and tired, and then it takes too long. And that stops me."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you. Tanja, it's like this... You know, when you meditate, it doesn't mean that you have to go somewhere. You can't go into stillness. You can go with your attention here to this physical place, to the one that you can touch here. You can do that.

That's why we put our hand on it briefly at the beginning and make these three clockwise circles so that we can feel this physical place better. But what we then find there, how we then feel, is not in our hands. And it sounds to me like you are trying to to do something; to fight something. You don't find peace there; you find your thoughts and all sorts of other things.

And it's a delicate dance. You don't give attention to thoughts, you rest with your attention up here, but that doesn't mean that you are fighting against anything, that you are making any kind of effort. It's also not that you are looking for something else. You are simply with what is. You ignore your thoughts and rest up there, no matter what.

And the second thing I want to say is that the body and the mind, the ego, have many different tricks to stop you from meditating. The body is not used to sitting there for half an hour, and the mind doesn't like it at all if you don't give it any attention for half an hour. And it pulls at every nook and cranny. The body often tweaks and hurts somehow. But it gets used to it incredibly quickly if you simply ignore it.

And if your head, if your mind, can't get you with thoughts, then there are thoughts which are veiled; you don't perceive them directly as thoughts – and that is impatience. These are thoughts, you don't perceive them directly, but it's this "I don't feel like doing this at all" and "this has been going on for so long, when will it finally be over?" – but to stay seated despite this, regardless of how you feel, regardless of whether it's fun or not. The head up there wants to spoil it for you.

The head wants to spoil it for you. It will try anything to stop you from sitting down and ignoring it, and impatience is one of its best tricks. That's why it's so important to sit down and stay seated for half an hour, no matter what. If you stop before then, if you give impatience room, then it just gets harder.

Link to quote in video at 1h23m28s

It'll try anything to get you not to sit down and ignore it, and impatience is one of its best tricks. That's why it's so important to sit down and stay there for half an hour, no matter what. If you stop before then, if you give impatience room, then it will only become more difficult. Then you are going in the wrong direction. Just stay put. And I am radical about it. I don't set an alarm clock, I meditate for half an hour, and I usually open my eyes on my own after about thirty-three or thirty-four minutes.

But sometimes I open my eyes a little too early, then I look at the timer on my mobile phone, which is there in front of me, and then I see: "Ah, twenty-nine minutes and twenty seconds". And then I close my eyes again, out of principle. I just want it to be clear who's in charge here – and that's God. He wants me to sit here for thirty minutes, and that's what I do, no matter what great ideas or bad mood my mind has. I am radical about it. I don't give it an inch of space in this half hour.

Yes, and finally I'd like to tell you: if you sense impatience, that's a really good sign. Someone is rebelling, and that means you are doing something right. What we are ignoring, what we are dethroning, is resisting, and you notice this in different ways. Sometimes they are thoughts that seem incredibly important – and then, ignore them. But often these thoughts are on an emotional level, and that's where this impatience comes in.

I meditate, look at the timer and see: 29 minutes 20 seconds. Then I close my eyes again, out of principle. I want it to be clear who's in charge here – and that's God. He wants me to sit here for 30 minutes, and that's what I do, no matter what great ideas or bad mood my mind has.

Link to quote in video at 1h24m07s

And you might learn a few more tricks of your mind... quite funny feelings that you then get, something unpleasant that just ruins it for you – and to stay seated anyway, to say: "Yes, you come on. I'll stay seated. Screw you. I am the boss here, not you." That's what happens: for the first time, you start to decide where your attention is and how long you sit here. And that will change everything in your life. In my experience, it is particularly intense at the beginning.

You learn the tricks of your mind... Feelings you get, something unpleasant – and to stay seated anyway, to say: "I am staying seated. I am the Master of this house, not you." For the first time, you start to decide where your attention is and how long you sit here. This will change everything in your life.

Link to quote in video at 1h25m48s

Once you've meditated for a while, your body gets used to the fact that it has to sit there for half an hour and that, no matter how it itches and pinches, you don't give in, and then it mostly leaves you alone. And it's the same with the mind. At first, he pulls out all the stops, but relatively quickly he realizes it's no use, and then it just becomes easy. That's why I encourage you to just keep at it. Don't think about it at all. Just keep going. You know that's good for you. Just keep going.

Once you've meditated for a while, your body gets used to the fact that you are not going to give in, and then it leaves you alone. And it's the same with the mind. In the beginning, it pulls out all the stops, but it soon realizes that it's no use, and then it becomes easy. That's why I encourage you to just keep at it. Just keep going.

Link to quote in video at 1h26m26s

And you said in your first question that meditation doesn't work for you. Remember: you don't know what that means. Impatience is not a sign that meditation is not working – on the contrary. The right thing is obviously happening. Noticing a lot of thoughts does not mean that you are doing something wrong and that meditation is not working. Most people think that if I do it right when meditating, then I'll rest in silence for half an hour in a good mood and happy – and that's not true. Thank you, Tanja.

Impatience is not a sign that meditation isn't working – on the contrary. The right thing is obviously happening. Being aware of many thoughts doesn't mean you are doing something wrong. Most people think that if I do it right, I'll rest in silence for half an hour in a good mood and happy – and that's not true.

Link to quote in video at 1h27m20s

You have to want to meditate yourself

Link to topic in video at 1h28m02s

[Simone:] I have another question, Mikael, from Healing...

[Dhyan Mikael:] Hello Healing. Nice to have you here.

[Simone:] ...I'll read it out now.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, please.

[Simone:] "And why should I meditate if I am not supposed to want anything to change? I've been meditating for seven years and nothing has changed, at least not for the better – on the contrary."

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you. I don't know how you have meditated so far, but the thing is quite simple: if you know a better way, go for it. But if you know that this is the right way, then go this one – but fully.

You can meditate, and you can meditate. It's not meditating if you sit down for half an hour in the morning reluctantly. That's not meditating.

I meditate like this: I know this is the way. I know this is what I want – the one thing.

I don't care what it feels like. I don't care what happens in my life. I know: this is the way. If you know that too, then go for it.

If you know a better way, go for it. But if you know that this is the right way, then go this way – but the right way. I meditate like this: I know this is the way. This is what I want – the one. I don't care what it feels like. I don't care what happens in my life. I know: this is the way. If you know that too, then do it.

Link to quote in video at 1h28m32s

I can't give you that knowledge. You have to have it yourself. I would like to tell you how it was when I met Swamiji. I knew nothing about Swamiji. I didn't know anything about any Gurus. I didn't look for a Guru either. I was not looking for Swamiji either. I did not seek meditation either.

One day, seven years and three months and about two weeks ago today, Soham, my spiritual Master, told me about Swamiji for the first time. He had heard about him. And as I heard Soham's first sentences, as he told me about Swamiji, I was gripped by an energy inside me that I had never felt before in my life. I didn't know what it meant. I didn't know what this Guru was bringing and what it was all about. Soham just started talking about him and this wave of energy came over me and I knew: this is the way.

I didn't know what that meant, "this is the way". I didn't know what it meant practically, nor what it meant subtly. I only knew: "Ah, this is what I have been waiting for all my life." And even more: "This is what I have been waiting for so many lives". That was my feeling, even though I never thought about any past lives. I am actually a completely unesoteric person. But at that moment I knew: "This is it. This is what I've been waiting for." That was my knowledge. No one convinced me, no one persuaded me, no one told me great things.

One day my Master told me about Swamiji, and I was seized by an energy that I had never felt before in my life. This wave of energy rolled over me and I knew: this is the way. I didn't know what it meant. I just knew: "this is what I've been waiting for so many lifetimes".

Link to quote in video at 1h30m19s

Through the words of Soham, Swamiji touched me, and I remembered, and I knew: "Ah, yes, of course! This is my path. This is where I am." And that's how it is for me now. I have no question at all. Even if they nailed me to the cross, I would continue on this path. That's why Jesus... I mean, that's not going to happen, that's not my role in this life, but that's why Jesus went the way he did, because it was completely clear to him: this is the way, there's no doubt about it at all.

At that moment, I knew: "This is it. This is what I've been waiting for." That was my knowledge. No one convinced me, persuaded me or told me great things. Swamiji touched me, I remembered, and I knew, "This is my path." Even if they nailed me to the cross, I would continue on this path.

Link to quote in video at 1h31m35s

And all I can do here is to encourage you: if you know that too, if God has touched you, somehow... in everyone's life it happens in different ways. But if you know that: "Ah, that's the way"... But you forget, or you find it difficult. Then I am here to remind you. And then, my certainty infects your certainty – but it has to be there already, I can't give it to you. Your surrender to God will be strengthened by you feeling and experiencing my surrender.

All I can do here is to encourage you. When God has touched you, when you know: "Ah, that's the way", then I am there to remind you. And then my certainty will infect your certainty – but it has to be there already, I can't give it to you.

Link to quote in video at 1h32m28s

But you have to have it yourself. I cannot give it to you. That is your business. So, if you ask, "why should I meditate": you must know that. But if you want to meditate or if you want to go to Heaven, if you know "there's something that is possible, I know it's possible, although I can't imagine it at all", then I'll be happy to tell you about it again and again. But if you don't want it, then go your own way. I can't do anything about that, and neither can a guru.

You ask, "why should I meditate": you need to know that. But if you want to meditate, if you know "there's something possible, even though I can't imagine it at all", then I'll be happy to tell you about it again and again. But if you don't want to, then go your own way. I can't do anything about it, and neither can any guru.

Link to quote in video at 1h33m32s

Swamiji once said something quite interesting. He said... and this is perhaps the answer for you: "A Guru can bring about anything in the disciple's life, anything – only the desire to meditate, the disciple must have that himself.

Swamiji once said something quite interesting. He said... and this is perhaps the answer for you: "A Guru can bring about anything in the disciple's life, anything – only the desire to meditate, the disciple must have that himself.

Link to quote in video at 1h34m09s

Thank you for your question. I am grateful that I can talk about it. Thank you. And I am happy you are here, Healing. Welcome. And if you have any other questions, I look forward to hearing from you.

Meditate, no matter where, no matter how

Link to topic in video at 1h35m03s

[Simone:] I don't have any unanswered questions at the moment, Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Fine. I'll see what else I have here.

"Something is unsettling me. Namely, I live in a block of flats, and I can't expand seven meters without getting into other people's aura." This refers to the fact that I said, and Swamiji says it, that if you meditate alone in the morning, you should preferably sit in an area where there are no other people within seven meters, so that your own aura can expand unhindered while meditating. This is where this objection comes from, and now she continues: "I also work at a school and am surrounded by lots of people there."

The thing about meditating is that you just do it as best you can. The only important thing is that you sit down to meditate every day. And then there are lots of tips on how best to do this in practice. And one of these tips is, for example, that it is helpful if there is no one else around you within a radius of seven meters because then you are not sitting in their cloud of thoughts. Your own aura can then expand unhindered while you meditate.

But if that's not possible, then it's just not possible. The main thing is that you meditate. And Swamiji points this out again and again. There are all kinds of hints, for example about the time to meditate. It's most beautiful and easiest and best in the morning, at four, at half past four, at five. I usually can't do it that early. I usually go to bed at half past nine, and then I usually wake up by myself around five, half past five, and then I meditate.

But Swamiji says: if you can't do it at that time, for whatever reason, then just meditate in the evening or at noon or in the afternoon – the main thing is that you meditate. And then Swamiji sometimes just talks about the best way to sit, the most helpful way to meditate. That's all well and good. But if you can't do that: sit however you can – the main thing is that you meditate. That's the only important thing. Everything else is secondary.

And it really is. You can stand on your head and meditate. You can sit in the subway and meditate. If you can't do it any other way, do it. I heard of a person who was in prison, he was a felon, and he was in prison in the worst conditions you can imagine. Loud... his cellmates were shouting at him all the time. And that's when he meditated. That's when he woke up. So, you just take what you have. That's the beauty of this life: you don't need it any other way than the way it is for you right now.

So, you don't need to worry about that at all. And you say you are surrounded by lots of people during the day because you work at this school. And that's why you meditate in the morning, you know? That's not a problem, that's more of a help. In the morning you have the luxury of meditating alone for half an hour, where you can go all the way inside and no one bothers you – even if the neighbors are maybe only two meters away behind a concrete wall in your apartment block, but that doesn't matter.

Sit however you can – the main thing is that you meditate. Everything else is secondary. You can stand on your head and meditate, sit in the subway and meditate. You just take what you have. That's the beauty of this life: you don't need it any other way than the way it is for you right now.

Link to quote in video at 1h37m39s

And then you go into your everyday life with this seed of awareness. Then you are sitting in the crowded subway, then you are at the crowded school. And then you practice coming back to yourself again and again, as best you can. You know, none of this is serious. Nothing about it is a problem, otherwise it would be different. It really is.

In the morning, you have the luxury of meditating alone – even if the neighbors are only two meters away. Then you go about your daily life with this seed of awareness, sitting in the crowded subway, at the crowded school, practicing coming back to yourself as best you can. Nothing about this is a problem, otherwise it would be different.

Link to quote in video at 1h38m48s

Yes, don't worry about it. It's all okay. Thank you for your question.

Dealing with exhausting dreams

Link to topic in video at 1h39m52s

Simone, can I go on?

"How do I deal with energy-sapping and exhausting dreams? I put my hand on the crown chakra for better concentration, but I notice that I then concentrate on the hand and not on the crown chakra. Is that okay?"

She has a second question in the same email, but I would like to answer the first one first.

I know this too. Sometimes I wake up from dreams and I've been so involved in the dream that I am completely beside myself. I feel like I've just been working for hours. I am not recovered at all.

I can tell you how I deal with it.

I accept. "Ah, this morning is like that. Okay." And then I am extra gentle with myself. I am particularly mindful and aware because I know that when I am so exhausted and so beside myself, I am particularly likely to do stupid things or spill something. I accept that.

And the feelings that come with it... These dreams usually also have very intense feelings, and I accept them too. I simply take them with me into the day: "Yes, come on. While you are here, stay here. You are welcome."

So, in a way, I could say that I don't deal with exhausting dreams at all. It's just another part of my life where I just say, "Okay, this is how it is." Sometimes I have days when I am full of energy, everything comes easily to me. It's just a joy. Sometimes I have days when I am just exhausted and I don't know why at all, and everything is difficult for me. And then to say 'yes' to it, with the same joy and naturalness as the day where everything is so easy. That's how I do it.

Sometimes I have days when I am full of energy, it's just a joy. Sometimes I have days when I am just exhausted, I don't even know why, and everything is hard for me. And then I say 'yes' to it, with the same joy and naturalness as the day when everything is so easy. That's how I do it.

Link to quote in video at 1h42m00s

And I don't know what it's for, you know? We tend to think that a dreamless night, where you wake up refreshed and happy in the morning, that's good, but an exhausting dream, where you wake up exhausted in the morning and possibly sad or in a bad mood, that's bad. But are you sure about that? I sometimes have the impression that it's the other way around.

When I am particularly open and particularly accepting, then things can happen that I am otherwise not capable of. Then I can welcome them. It's a good sign. Then those old ghosts can come and be loved and accepted. And then I can come to peace with it. So I can say: it's a good sign. You are stronger, you have become more accepting, and now even such things are coming. I am just saying that you don't know what's good and you don't know what's bad.

I don't know what it's good for. We think a dreamless night where you wake up refreshed in the morning is good, but an exhausting dream is bad. I have the impression that it's the other way around. When I am particularly open and accepting, things can come that I am otherwise not capable of. It's a good sign.

Link to quote in video at 1h42m36s

Yes.

And you asked about the hand. Yes, we put our hand on the crown chakra precisely because then, our attention automatically goes to the hand. Our attention and our hands are linked. When you are working in the kitchen and you grab something, you automatically look in that direction and your attention is automatically there. That's why we do it. And if we then take our hand away, the attention remains there. And if you find it difficult to keep your attention up there, just leave your hand up there for a while, that's no problem at all. That's a good help.

Swamiji himself suggested something similar. There are people who sometimes find it very difficult to stay up there with their attention for a while, and the Indians have a very funny trick. They take a grain of rice and prick this grain of rice into the scalp up there. Then it stays there and you can feel this prick for a very long time. And then this prick points them in the direction of the crown chakra, so to speak, and then it is easier for them to go in this direction with their attention. It's not about perfection, you know. It's not about you having to do this right.

Take it easy. It is simply about going in this direction with your attention and not stopping one level lower with your thoughts. That's actually all there is to it. I know a woman who sews really great bean cushions. These are small cushions filled with beans, beautiful, for people who meditate, and they can put them on their skulls. And the weight of this small cushion then guides the attention towards the crown chakra through this feeling of heaviness up there. There are many people who find this very helpful. So, anything goes – anything that makes it easy for you.

The email also contains a second question.

"If mindlessness is the goal, what about reading? I read a lot, and in the meantime I am full of thoughts."

My advice to you is: don't worry about it. Really. Do what you like to do to relax. If you like reading, then read! Of course, you read and you are fully immersed in the story – that's why you read. That's the great thing. Don't worry about it. If it relaxes you, if you enjoy it, then just do it.

It's all much easier than we imagine, you know. And at some point, you might not feel like reading anymore, and then you just stop. And if you don't, then you just keep reading.

It's not as if you are reading a book and you are thinking seriously about your life and brooding about yourself and reproaching yourself. On the contrary: you completely forget yourself. You immerse yourself in a completely different world. And then you finish the chapter, and at some point you manage to close the book, probably much later than you actually wanted to because you had completely disappeared into the story. And then you have to look again: where am I anyway? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

My spiritual Master, Soham, doesn't read that much, but he used to watch DVDs back when DVDs were still available. That was a few years ago. He was or is a Star Trek fan, and he watched all the episodes up and down and countless other films. And he just loved it. He found it totally exciting and he was curious and enjoyed it.

Here's this spiritual Master, revered by thousands of people, and he loved watching one or two episodes of Star Trek every night. He just loved it. Nothing wrong. He knew: "I can be the way I am." And I learned it from him. I was never that interested in Star Trek, but that's okay too. Thank you for your question.

Become the Christ yourself

Link to topic in video at 1h48m51s

[Simone:] I have another question from John, Mikael.

[Dhyan Mikael:] Yes, John, please. I only saw it now. Here it is. "Are you a Christian yourself and do you live by the ten commandments? What role does Buddha play for you, or Christianity and Buddhism in general, in your life?"

[Dhyan Mikael:] Thank you for this beautiful question. I don't live by any commandments.

I am not a Christian. I love Jesus Christ. I feel one with Jesus and his Christ energy.

You are a Christian as long as you don't know Jesus. You are a Christian as long as you do not yet know your soul. The Christian religion is there for people who have no idea where to go.

But when you begin to discover yourself, then you leave being a Christian behind. Then you become Christ, little by little.

You are a Christian as long as you don't know Jesus, as long as you don't know your soul. The Christian religion is for people who have no idea where they are going. But when you begin to discover yourself, then you leave being a Christian behind you. Then you become the Christ, little by little.

Link to quote in video at 1h49m35s

And the ten commandments... that's very similar to religion. The ten commandments are indications for people who have no idea of what is right and good; who do not have this inner feeling; who are not close to their soul. These commandments are for them. But when you come close to your own soul, when you become a soul, when you live on the soul level and no longer on the physical level, and then, that controls youand takes over your life.

That takes over your life, which, at some time long ago, caused some wise man to write down these commandments, who knew for themselves: if you want to live well, then these are some good ideas for you – for people who don't yet know for themselves. But at some point, you will know for yourself. Then you will no longer follow any commandments or morals. It's all just a poor substitute for the real thing, for what you know yourself. And only that really helps.

You know that the ten commandments are of no use at all. You have to discover it for yourself. And then you know what is good. And then you know what is bad. Nobody needs to tell you that. And that's the only thing that helps. And to the extent that I meditate, to the extent that I live more and more on this soul level, the more natural it is for me to do the right thing. I don't need to remember any commandments. There is no other way. I don't even know how to describe it.

You know, it's like this: if you were to steal something from someone, it would hurt you so much, it would be so... that doesn't even occur to you. That doesn't work at all. You would run back, give it back to them and then give them a few more things, just to make yourself feel good again. Not out of a guilty conscience, but because it just doesn't suit you. Swamiji said like this: if you meditate and become a soul, then nothing bad can happen through your life, through yourself. It can't.

The Ten Commandments are for people who have no idea of what is right and good; who are not close to their soul. But when you become a soul, then you are guided by what long ago caused some wise men to write down these commandments.

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And the challenge is to become the Christ in life itself. It's not about being a good Christian at all. It's about being Christ. Jesus Christ: the man Jesus became open to the Christ energy – to God.

And you become John Christ. You meditate, you get closer and closer to yourself. You become more and more empty. You say more and more 'yes' to life, there is less and less 'I', less and less of yourself. And the emptier you become, the less 'I' there is, the more Christ comes into you. Christ has nothing to do with Jesus.

The challenge is to become the Christ in life itself. It's not about being a good Christian at all. It's about being Christ. Jesus Christ: the man Jesus became open to the Christ energy – to God. And you become John Christ.

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Christ is God – is what unites us all.

You meditate, come closer and closer to yourself, become emptier and emptier, say 'yes' to life more and more. There is less and less 'I', less and less of yourself. And the emptier you become, the less 'I' there is, the more Christ comes into you. Christ has nothing to do with Jesus. Christ is God – that which unites us all.

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And there is only so much space in there. Either there is the 'I', or there is God. And the more the 'I' disappears, very gradually, the more God takes possession of you. That is a completely normal thing. Then there is John Christ and Tanja Christ, Devasetu Christ, all the beautiful people. This is our heritage. That's what we're here for.

There's only so much space in there. Either there is the 'I', or there is God. And the more the 'I' disappears, the more God takes possession of you. That's a completely normal thing. Then there is John Christ and Tanja Christ, Devasetu Christ. That is our inheritance. That's what we're here for.

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Same with Buddha. You asked about Buddha. Gautama... the man Gautama became more and more empty. He became more and more ego-less, more and more in agreement with everything: a walking 'yes'. And then the Buddha energy came through him. That is exactly the same as Christ. Christ and Buddha is the same word. There is only one life energy, and it then took possession of him: Gautama Christ, John Buddha – it's all the same.

You asked about Buddha. Gautama became more and more empty, more and more egoless, more and more in agreement with everything: a walking 'yes'. And then came the Buddha energy. Christ and Buddha are the same thing. There is only one life energy, and it then took possession of him: Gautama Christ, John Buddha – all the same.

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And in a way, these role models like Buddha and Jesus take away our excuse. We love to say, "I can't do this. I have a hard time. I can't do it." That's not true. They could do it – completely normal people. You can do it too.

You can't transform yourself into Christ, but you can set out on the path. That's all it takes.

These role models like Buddha and Jesus take away our excuses. We like to say: "I can't do it. I have a hard time." That's not true. They could do it – completely normal people. You can do it too.

You can't transform yourself into Christ, but you can set out on the path. That's all it takes.

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Sometimes I am amazed myself at what I say.

I find it somehow very fitting for this New Year's retreat, because New Year also involves a new beginning, somehow, at least calendar-wise. And it really is like this: we are here in this life to realize what we are here for in the first place. It's a big game we're playing here.

One doesn't even dare to think it: I could be like Jesus? Of course, I can't do anything – and yet I can set out on this path and become like him. In the past, people were crucified and burned for saying such things. That is blasphemy. It's ingrained in us that I can't think that under any circumstances, let alone do it, because there is only one. But that's not true.

One doesn't even dare to think it: I could be like Jesus? Of course, I can't do anything at all – and yet I can set out on this path and become like him. In the past, people were burned for it. It's ingrained in us that I am not allowed to think that, let alone do it, because there is only one. But that's not true.

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In my next video, I'll talk about how very famous composers experienced God and where their inspiration came from. And one of them, whose name I don't have at the moment, I think it was Brahms, but I am not quite sure right now, told about a theologian who says – this is the common Christian teaching – that Jesus was and always will be the only Son of God. And then he said that – he called him "the Nazarene drunk on God": isn't that a great name for Jesus?

The man from Nazareth, Jesus, drunk with God – Jesus said that we are all daughters and sons of God, and that we can all walk this path; that this is why he is here: to tell us this. And then he said: how can this theologian be right when the person he is writing about has himself said that we can all be like that? And to just remember this: that puts everything in this life into perspective. Then you know what your task is. Then you know what your opportunity is.

This is the Christian teaching that Jesus was and always will be the only Son of God. And then he told us that "the Nazarene drunk on God" – isn't that a great name for Jesus – said that we can all walk this path. Remembering that puts everything in perspective. Then you know what your task is.

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And, of course, you don't know how to do it at all. You can't do it yourself, but you can simply set out in this direction. You just meditate every day, forgetting everything you know, just like Jesus. He didn't do anything else. He wasn't smart. He didn't have a big life plan. On the contrary – he kept saying: "God, not my will, not my expectations, not my wishes, but your will be done."

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And that's how we can live. That's all.

You can't do it yourself, but you can just set out. You meditate every day, forgetting everything you know, just like Jesus. He wasn't smart. He didn't have a life plan. On the contrary – he kept saying: "God, not my will, but yours be done." And that's how we can live. That's all.

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Thank you for this wonderful intensive. Thank you so much. Satsang does not live from me. Satsang lives from this energy that comes together when we meet here. It's like a big Online Meditation together. Everyone brings their treasures here. Thank you so much for being here. I would like to thank Devasetu and Jetzt-TV for this wonderful forum. I would like to remind you that Devasetu is very happy about donations so that Jetzt-TV is possible and so that this forum is possible here.

And I would like to remind you once again: everything I do here, online And in my videos, is free of charge. And it has to be, because none of what I share here belongs to me. And I also want you to feel completely free and just enjoy. Nobody has to pay anything here. But if you feel like supporting me financially, that would be of immense help to me. And if you feel like it: on my website, on the donation page, you will find instructions on how to do this. There are many different ways, and everything is just a great help. And thank you so much if you feel like it.

And it was brought up earlier by a questioner who said, she reads my newsletter every day. I send out my newsletter about every one to two weeks. You are welcome to receive it. You can sign up for it for free on my website. But I also send out a very short quote from one of the videos every morning, just as a reminder. I said earlier: I can't give you anything, but I can remind you, if you yourself have the desire to meditate, if you yourself have the desire to become Christ, then I can always remind you a little of what you yourself know; of what you yourself want.

And that's why I send out a little quote every morning, and these are of course free too. And if you'd like them, you can of course sign up for them on my website. And now, at the very end, I would like to point out that this year is the first time that retreats are taking place with me. Right now I am only present online through my videos and Satsangs, but I am very much looking forward to having the opportunity to spend a week in retreat for the first time twice this year together with those who would like to do so.

This is a wonderful opportunity and is open to both German and English speaking people. There will be two Satsangs a day in German and one Satsang in English. Of course, anyone can take part in all Satsangs, that's no problem at all. These retreats take place in Upper Austria, quite easily accessible from everywhere, and I am really looking forward to it. If you would like to give yourself this gift and treat yourself to a week of Satsang, then you are very, very welcome, and of course you will find all the information you need on the website. Thank you so much for being here.

I love you.