Turn around and live

Good morning.

Today is Friday, 20th December, just a few days away from Christmas. And this morning, I would like to speak about something which I never understood in the basic message of Christianity.

My old misunderstanding

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There was something where I always wondered: what does this mean?

And it's this... You know, I'm not a scholar. I'm not a Bible expert. So, often, I don't know where exactly I read something or who really said it, so maybe I make a mistake there. But I believe it was John the Baptist who said: "Turn around! Repent!" And he was walking the whole country, up and down, yelling at everybody: "Turn around! Repent!"

And then, in Christianity, you learn that we are all sinners and that we need to repent, and then, then we can enter the kingdom of God.

And I always wondered what that means. Usually, the way we understand this, is in a moral way: "I am a sinner" means: I am doing something wrong. I am a bad human being, and I need to learn how to be the right human being, how to do things right. And when I'm a good person, when I'm a good human being, then I can enter the Kingdom of God. This is how I understood it, and I guess, this is how most people understand this.

But then, something happened in my life. 20 years ago, 25 years ago, time flies, I came to my spiritual Master, Soham, and with him began a time in my life where, for the first time in my life, I started to turn inwards. At that time, it meant: I learned to feel my feelings. I learned to get to know myself, to accept myself.

And then, 7 years ago, Samarpan Meditation came into my life, and this Indian Guru, Swamiji, whose disciple I am since then. And with the Samarpan Meditation and with Swamiji came a completely new magnitude of turning inwards, of discovering who I really am.

And with this, I began to understand what these old words of John the Baptist really mean. You know, everything Jesus said, everything John the Baptist said, had nothing to do with the outside world. These saints, these Guru, they were talking about the inside, but they didn't have the words for it. People didn't know words like 'thought'. People didn't talk about their feelings and their thoughts. It wasn't part of their vocabulary. They were only living outside.

Everything Jesus said, everything John the Baptist said, had nothing to do with the outside world. These saints, these Guru, they were talking about the inside, but they didn't have the words for it.

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So, these people, John the Baptist, Jesus, they tried to tell people something, they tried to tell people about something they didn't know and they didn't have any words for it. And now, where I am today in my life, now I understand John the Baptist. Now it's like: "Ah! That is what he was talking about!" When he said: "turn around", he meant: "Don't look out there in the world. Turn inside!" I always thought he means: "Okay, don't go West, go East! Don't do this, do that!"

But his turnaround was a much bigger dimension. He was talking about: "No, don't go anywhere out there. Everything you do out there is the wrong thing because you walk and because you look in the wrong direction. Look inside. Turn inside." That was his "turn around!"

Now I understand John the Baptist. When he said: "turn around", he meant: "Don't look out there in the world. Turn inside!" I always thought he means: "Don't do this, do that!" But his turnaround was a much bigger dimension: "Don't go anywhere out there. Look inside. Turn inside." That was his "turn around!"

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But because people at that time and people today do not know anything about this 'inside', because of that, we interpret these words in the context of our outside living.

You know, the original meaning of the word 'sinner' means "someone who walks the wrong way", "someone who just took the wrong turn". It has nothing to do with morality. It has nothing to do with judgment. If you want to go from A to B, but then on the way you take a turn towards C, you're on the wrong path. It has nothing to do with right or wrong or good or bad. It has only meaning in the context of: "where do you want to go?"

The original meaning of the word 'sinner' is "someone who walks the wrong way". It has nothing to do with morality, with judgment. If you want to go from A to B, but you take a turn towards C, you're on the wrong path. It has nothing to do with good or bad. It has only meaning in the context of: "where do you want to go?"

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That's the original meaning of the word sinner. And the word 'repent', the original meaning of the word 'repent' is: to turn around. That's what John the Baptist said: "Turn around. Repent." It's the same. It's the same.

So, once you discover that you took a wrong turn, that you go in the wrong direction, you turn around. It's only natural. It's common sense. It has nothing to do with doing something wrong or being a bad person. But because nobody ever understood this dimension of the teaching of John the Baptist and also of what Jesus said, we interpreted it in a moral way, but this is nothing they ever talked about.

Once you discover that you go in the wrong direction, you turn around. It's only natural. But because nobody ever understood this dimension of the teaching of John the Baptist and Jesus, we interpreted it in a moral way, but this is nothing they ever talked about.

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So, you live your life, and you want to become happy. You want to be fulfilled. You want to reach the purpose of your life. And if you want this, then, John the Baptist says: "Turn around. You go the wrong way" – you look outside. You try to be a human being.

You try to do everything right, you try to please your neighbor and your fellow human beings, you try to do everything right, you try to become rich or famous, and he says: "This is the wrong direction. Nothing you do there will make you happy. Nothing you do there will bring you to Heaven." He said: "Turn around. What you are looking for is inside. It's on a totally different level of being."

You want to become happy. And if you want this, then, John the Baptist says: "Turn around. You go the wrong way" – you look outside. You try to do everything right, and he says: "This is the wrong direction. Nothing you do there will bring you to Heaven." He said: "Turn around. What you are looking for is inside. It's on a different level of being."

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You know it yet you know nothing about it

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Now, the funny thing is: you hear this, and you have no idea what this is, this 'inside'. That's why John the Baptist couldn't say anything about it practically, but it's the same today. When I speak about 'inside', most people don't know what this means. I'm not talking about feelings. I'm not talking about your thoughts and your wishes and your dreams. I'm talking about something which has nothing to do with this, which is beyond that. But this... you cannot imagine what that could be.

When I speak about 'inside', most people don't know what this means. I'm not talking about feelings. I'm not talking about your thoughts and wishes and dreams. I'm talking about something which has nothing to do with this, which is beyond that. But this... you cannot imagine what that could be.

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So, this is the challenge and the funny thing about this path, this spiritual path: you turn around and you look towards something, you go into the direction of something you have no idea about. You can't see it. You can't feel it yet. You're totally blind. That's why it feels so strange to do that. That's why, in the beginning, when you start meditating the Samarpan Meditation and when you let go of your thoughts and you just rest in your crown chakra, sometimes it feels really funny, like naked, because you know nothing.

This is the challenge about this spiritual path: you turn around and you go into the direction of something you have no idea about. You can't see it. You can't feel it yet. You're totally blind. That's why it feels so strange to do that. That's why, in the beginning, it feels really funny, like naked, because you know nothing.

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And that's why it's seemingly so difficult. It's like you give up everything you know, and it also feels like you give up everything you think is valuable and important, and you turn to something, you turn towards a direction you don't know anything about. The only thing you have is an inclination, some subtle feeling: "Yes. This is it." You don't know why you feel this.

And that's the only thing you have which guides you. It's really funny. I've been there. I know this.

And that's why it's seemingly so difficult. It's like you give up everything you know, everything you think is valuable and important, and you turn to something you don't know anything about. The only thing you have is some subtle feeling: "Yes. This is it." You don't know why you feel this. And that's the only thing you have which guides you.

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And the only way a human being can begin to turn into this new direction is by finding another human being who already knows this, who already lives there.

And then, you get a taste of it yourself, automatically – not through words, not through explanations. It's not that you know something. It's not that you understand something. No. It's like when I came to my spiritual Master 25 years ago... I remember how I was sitting in my very first Satsang with him.

The only way a human being can begin to turn into this new direction is by finding another human being who already knows this, who already lives there. And then, you get a taste of it yourself, automatically – not through words, not through explanations.

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I don't remember what he was speaking about, but I remember how I felt. I was sitting in Satsang, and for the first time in my life, I felt totally at home in myself. I felt as if I had just arrived at a place where I always wanted to be. I don't know how this was possible. It had nothing to do with what someone just said.

But when you are close to a human being who is there, in Heaven, in this inside, then, sometimes, you get a taste of it yourself. Then it's your own experience, for a short moment, and then you know: "Ah, that's it!" You don't know how you got there, but you had your first taste of it. That's how it happens.

When you are close to a human being who is there, in Heaven, in this inside, then, sometimes, you get a taste of it yourself. Then it's your own experience, for a short moment, and then you know: "Ah, that's it!" You don't know how you got there, but you had your first taste of it. That's how it happens.

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That's why John the Baptist went through the entire country telling everybody. Nobody could understand him, but they were touched. People started following him, and they didn't understand why. And it was the same with Jesus.

That's why John the Baptist went through the entire country telling everybody. Nobody could understand him, but they were touched. People started following him, and they didn't understand why. And it was the same with Jesus.

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The beginning of a new life

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Jesus came to the lake where his first two disciples were just getting ready to go out onto the lake to catch fishes, and he said: "Come. Follow me." And they came. They didn't know what they were doing, but there was something. They experienced something inside which made them know: "Ah, yes. That's the way."

And then you start turning around. You start turning to something new which you don't know anything about, out of your own accord, out of your own experience. And then, it's like a new life starts.

Jesus said to his first two disciples: "Come. Follow me." And they came. They didn't know what they were doing, but there was something. They experienced something inside which made them know: "Ah, yes. That's the way." And then you start turning around, and then, it's like a new life starts.

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That's why I make videos. You know, I always talk about the same things. I tell you: meditate, do the Samarpan Meditation – that's the easy and quick path to Heaven. But I cannot prove it. I cannot even explain anything. And if you are not being touched, it just sounds silly and nonsense. But some people are touched, and they know: "Ah, yeah. Yes. I know."

That's the magic of this spiritual path.

And in the beginning, it feels so strange, because you believe with every fiber of your being that the outside is important and that turning inside is stupid, dangerous, crazy.

Many people call themselves Christians. Many people admire Jesus. Many people love Jesus or Buddha or some other Guru who shared Heaven with people.

But when it comes to just do that what the Guru did, that's what Jesus did – to turn around, to not take the world important but the inside, that which you don't know anything about –, that, nobody wants to do. There, everybody says: this is crazy. This is stupid.

Many people love Jesus or Buddha or some other Guru who shared Heaven with people. But when it comes to just do that what the Guru did, that's what Jesus did – to turn around, to not take the world important but the inside, that which you don't know anything about –, that, nobody wants to do. There, everybody says: this is crazy. This is stupid.

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You love Jesus. You love whoever it is you admire or love or follow, because you know he or she is right. You just know it. But doing what they did feels impossible. And yet, that's the way: this turning around.

And it's so impossible. It just feels crazy. It just feels wrong. And that's why only when you come close to somebody who lives, somebody you can see, somebody you can listen to, somebody you can experience and feel firsthand, then you can feel it, then you then you can believe it: "Ah, so it's really true?" And your mind still thinks it's totally crazy, but you heard it, and you know, you knew while you were hearing it: "Yes. I know. This is true."

Yes, that's how it works, this turning around. And, practically, it's totally simple. You just start... That's why I like the Samarpan Meditation so much because this is, like, the practical way of learning this. You just sit there in the morning for half an hour, you close your eyes, you rest inside, and with your attention, you are just up here in the crown chakra for half an hour.

I don't want to go into details about the meditation, but you just do this, and you don't even know why. But while you're doing this, you can only do this when you ignore your thoughts. And, basically, this means: you ignore everything you know, and then, you rest at this magic spot up there, at the crown chakra. You rest inside of yourself – without knowing it, without knowing anything.

You can only do this when you ignore your thoughts. And, basically, this means: you ignore everything you know, and then, you rest at this magic spot up there, at the crown chakra. You rest inside of yourself – without knowing it, without knowing anything.

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And sometimes, it feels just lovely. Sometimes, it feels totally crazy. And slowly, slowly, it's like you get introduced to a new dimension of life. And then, you make your own experiences with this, and it still feels crazy, and the world still feels totally important, but you know: "Ah, that's the way."

And I just said: in the beginning, it feels like "I can't abandon life. I cannot not take care of all the important stuff." I mean, there's nothing wrong with taking care of things in life. This is why we are here. We just live our practical life, but we take it so important. We think: "This is where my happiness will come from.

This is my life. I must ensure that everything goes exactly the way I think it should, otherwise, I will be unhappy. Otherwise, I will die."

And then, you start meditating. You start turning around. And the more you do this, the more you learn this, over the month, over the years, the more you discover something what I call "a new life". It's like, you still live your practical life, but it's like you live somewhere else. You started living inside. You don't even know when it started.

And then, you start meditating. You start turning around. And the more you do this, the more you learn this, over the month, over the years, the more you discover something what I call "a new life". It's like, you still live your practical life, but it's like you live somewhere else. You started living inside. You don't even know when it started.

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Let the dead bury the dead

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And the funny thing is: once you begin to experience that, this life you live when you are focused inside and not outside, then this feels so alive, so vibrant. It's quiet, it's subtle, and yet, it feels more alive than anything you ever experienced before.

Then, you have the feeling: "Wow. What I have lived in the past was nothing. I didn't live. I just started living."

There is this one scene reported in the Bible... that was when Jesus met his first two disciples at the lake.

And he told them: "Come, follow me", and they did. They followed him. But then, somebody from their village came running after them saying: "Hey, stop. Your father died. Come and bury your father." I think it was their father. You know, sometimes, I don't get the details right.

And they said to Jesus: "Master, let us return to the village, so we can bury our father, and then, we can come back and follow you." And Jesus said: "Let the dead bury the dead."

That's also something I never understood in the past, but now, I do. He said: "These people are all dead. They don't live. They know nothing about life. Let these people bury the dead. Let the dead bury the dead. But you, come with me. You get a new life."

And Jesus said: "Let the dead bury the dead." That's also something I never understood in the past, but now, I do. He said: "These people are all dead. They don't live. They know nothing about life. Let these people bury the dead. Let the dead bury the dead. But you, come with me. You get a new life."

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And now, I understand this out of my own experience. Now, it's not only that a new life started. It's like I just started really living.

Everything which was before wasn't really life. I didn't know anything about life. I didn't know anything about myself. Only now, life just started.

That's the new life Jesus was talking about.

And now, I understand this out of my own experience. Now, it's not only that a new life started. It's like I just started really living. Everything which was before wasn't really life. I didn't know anything about life. I didn't know anything about myself. Only now, life just started. That's the new life Jesus was talking about.

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And nobody can tell you anything about it. This, everybody has to experience for themselves.

All you can do is follow your inclination, follow your curiosity when you're being touched, and find out for yourself. Nothing else works. Nothing else helps. If you don't know what I'm talking about, but if you feel: "Wow, yes, yes! This is it", then start meditating, and sooner or later, this is all your own experience.

You know, Jesus never talked about something which is beyond this earthly life. He never said: when you are dead, when your body died, somewhere in the future, there... If you do everything right here, then, somewhere in the future, you will end up in paradise. No. He only talked about something a human being can experience here, now.

Nobody can tell you anything about it. This, everybody has to experience for themselves. All you can do is follow your inclination when you're being touched, and find out for yourself. Nothing else works. Nothing else helps. If you don't know what I'm talking about, but if you feel: "this is it", then start meditating, and sooner or later, this is all your own experience.

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And then, life starts.

Jesus never talked about something which is beyond this earthly life. He never said: when you are dead, when you do everything right here, then, somewhere in the future, you will end up in paradise. No. He only talked about something a human being can experience here, now. And then, life starts.

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It's like the old life dies, the life of thoughts, the life of ego, and then, a new life begins. But it doesn't mean that your body needs to die for this. It doesn't mean that somewhere in the distant future, in some new esoteric something, this will be given to you. No. This is something you need to discover now, while you are alive, in this body. That's why you are here. And it's possible, and it's easy, but it takes time. That's all.

The old life dies, the life of thoughts, of ego, and a new life begins. But it doesn't mean that your body needs to die. It doesn't mean that somewhere in the distant future, this will be given to you. No. This you need to discover now, while you are alive, in this body. That's why you are here. And it's possible, and it's easy, but it takes time. That's all.

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That's the message of Christmas, that's the message of Jesus, that's the message of Christianity: "Turn around. Repent."

And then, you walk towards Heaven. Then, you discover this new life. Then, you discover a life in the Kingdom of God.

That's the message of Christmas, that's the message of Jesus, that's the message of Christianity: "Turn around. Repent." And then, you walk towards Heaven. Then, you discover this new life. Then, you discover a life in the Kingdom of God.

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Yeah. That's my Christmas message, so to speak.

And now, I would like to answer a few questions which I received through emails and also through comments on my videos. And I like to do this because this makes it so practical then. When I get these practical questions, then, what I'm talking about earlier makes more sense, because then it gets more real, more tangible.

That's why I like this combination so much. And if you have questions, you can write to me. On my website, you can find my contact information. Just write me an email, and I will answer you. And I answer all the questions in a video or in a Satsang, so everybody can listen to the answer.

Meditation is lifeless for the mind

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So, what I read out now is not really a question. It's more like a comment, and I received it on YouTube as a comment, actually. "Although your message is a beautiful one, and I do see benefit in letting go of ego, surely, in its core, by doing this, you are numbing yourself and giving up on life. How can you compete with others, which is an essential part of life for us to become better? If you don't feel rage, anger, jealousy, how do we project our own ideas and good morals or even stop people who commit evil deeds?"

Thank you for this comment. Yes, this is exactly what I was talking about earlier. It feels impossible that this, what I'm talking about, could make sense in any way. It just feels totally wrong. Only when you experienced it yourself, then it all makes sense. But how to come from this one to the other? That's the question.

It feels impossible that this, what I'm talking about, could make sense in any way. It just feels totally wrong. Only when you experienced it yourself, then it all makes sense. But how to come from this one to the other? That's the question.

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There is a possibility that by misunderstanding meditation, you are numbing yourself, and most meditations I know have this tendency. It's very easy to be in nice thoughts, to escape into subtle "thoughts of meditation". This is entirely possible. That doesn't help.

But resting here and not looking for anything, not wanting anything, not giving any attention to any thought, no matter how subtle, that's safe.

And, yes, I agree with the commenter. When you don't know this out of your own experience, when you just hear the words, when you just hear what I say, the only thing you can imagine is: "if I do this, I give up on life. I would just sit in a corner, look at a wall, and ignore life."

And it's funny. I just tried to bring this across earlier... When you start meditating, when you do what Jesus suggested, when you start praying... 'prayer' was his word for meditation, for turning inwards, for becoming silent, for forgetting your own thoughts and your own wishes, but say: "Lord, thy will be done", by giving up ego, by giving up your identity... When you do this, then you discover, for the first time, that you are really alive.

You see, this awareness, this consciousness, this aliveness, has nothing to do with outward pleasures and with physical experiences, but you don't know this yet.

When you do what Jesus suggested, when you start praying... 'prayer' was his word for meditation, for turning inwards, for forgetting your own thoughts and wishes, but say: "Lord, thy will be done", by giving up ego, by giving up your identity, then you discover, for the first time, that you are really alive.

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And, in a way, when you discover this, it's more interesting and more alive to sit in a corner looking at a wall than joining in this nonsense out there in the world. This is not my way. There is no need to renounce the world, quite the contrary. It's helpful to be in the world, it's helpful to experience life, because it helps you to come back to yourself, again and again and again. It helps you to grow stronger in this inside.

But that's where real life waits for you.

But as I said earlier: there is no way anybody could prove to you that it is like this. Either you discover it for yourself, or you don't. It's entirely up to you.

All somebody else can say is: "Hey! I just want to tell you: this is what I discovered. This is how it really works." And if you feel resonance, then, you will find out for yourself.

There is no way anybody could prove to you that it is like this. Either you discover it for yourself, or you don't. It's entirely up to you. All somebody else can say is: "Hey! I just want to tell you: this is what I discovered. This is how it really works." And if you feel resonance, then, you will find out for yourself.

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And we are very convinced that it is essential for our own well-being and for the well-being of society that we have clear goals, that we have clear morals – otherwise, our own life goes down the drain and society goes down the drain because everybody will do bad things.

And, you know, it's very interesting... It's like this... When you live your life focused on the outside, when you look for happiness out there, when you expect fulfillment and happiness and safety and security out there in the world, everything you do, no matter how good, will be bad – in some way, in one way or another, because your motivation, where you are coming from, is wrong.

You are desperate. You are like a beggar. You are looking for something in the world which you cannot find there and which you will never find there, but you try, and by trying this impossible task, you will cause harm, no matter how well you mean. This is the truth.

When you live your life focused on the outside, everything you do, no matter how good, will be bad – in some way, because your motivation is wrong. You are like a beggar. You are looking for something in the world which you cannot find there, but by trying this impossible task, you will cause harm, no matter how well you mean. This is the truth.

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So, in a way, no matter how good you are, everything you do will cause some harm in some way.

And when you start getting in touch with your true being, when you, at some point, dare to turn around, do the impossible, and when you begin to discover your true nature, when you start living as a soul, when you are in deep contact with your true nature, then, it's like you cannot do anything wrong. Everything you do is, in some way, a blessing and a benefit for yourself and for everybody else.

And morals and laws are only a very poor replacement for this discovery of your true ground, your true nature. They don't really work. Morals don't work. Laws don't work, as you know.

When you dare to turn around and discover your true nature, when you start living as a soul, then, it's like you cannot do anything wrong. Everything you do is, in some way, a blessing and a benefit for yourself and for everybody else. And morals and laws are only a very poor replacement for this discovery of your true nature. They don't really work.

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They don't make people better. We don't have less people in the prisons. We don't have less crime. We don't have less bad people. They grow more and more and more, because the fundament is not right. If you don't address the root cause of the problem, the problem will keep growing, and that's what's happening in humanity. But it's my own personal experience: the closer you get to yourself, to God, the more impossible it becomes that you do anything that is bad. It's like you don't do anything anymore at all, it's just happening through you, and nothing bad happens through you.

It's my own personal experience: the closer you get to yourself, to God, the more impossible it becomes that you do anything that is bad. It's like you don't do anything anymore at all, it's just happening through you, and nothing bad happens through you.

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This is my personal experience.

But also this is something nobody can explain to you, nobody can prove to you. But at some point in this life or the next, you will discover it for yourself. This is how it really works. So, although it looks like meditating, turning around, not paying attention to the thoughts but fostering your soul and your inside, is neglecting the important stuff in the world, in reality, this is the only way which solves all the problems of humanity, of society, of mankind.

Although it looks like meditating, turning around, not paying attention to the thoughts but fostering your soul and your inside, is neglecting the important stuff in the world, in reality, this is the only way which solves all the problems of humanity, of society, of mankind.

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It's my personal experience: when I accept myself, when I truly say 'yes' to everything in my life, when I return home, everything becomes right. Nothing bad happens anymore. That's what people around Jesus experienced. That's what all the disciples of real Gurus experience. But you have to experience it yourself, in your own life, in you.

Nothing else counts. Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate you taking the time for this. Thank you.

When I accept myself, when I truly say 'yes' to everything in my life, when I return home, everything becomes right. Nothing bad happens anymore. That's what people around Jesus experienced. That's what all the disciples of real Gurus experience. But you have to experience it yourself, in your own life, in you. Nothing else counts.

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The ego: commentator on life

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So, let's see what else I have there.

"My question is, what are thoughts good for at all? Why are they here, if the point is to no longer pay any attention to them? What purpose do they serve? So, it looks like they're good for nothing and that they are simply a burden."

Thank you for this beautiful question. Yes, that's really the question. It's like thoughts seem to be everywhere. It even feels like I am my thoughts.

I forgot the name of this Greek philosopher who said... He wasn't a philosopher; he was a Guru. He said: "I think, therefore I am."

And that's how it feels. When I think, through my thoughts, I get this sense of beingness. That's 'me': my thoughts, my opinions, my plans, my wishes, my fears. All this is me: this mental activity.

And as soon as I stop paying attention to the thoughts, it really is as if I disappear. And that's why it's so impossible for many people to do this, because it feels like dying. It feels totally wrong. It's almost like the thoughts try to prevent you from not giving them attention anymore. It's like they have a life of their own.

When I think, through my thoughts, I get this sense of beingness. That's 'me': my thoughts, my opinions, my plans, my wishes, my fears. All this is me: this mental activity. And as soon as I stop paying attention to the thoughts, it really is as if I disappear. And that's why it's so impossible for many people to do this, because it feels like dying.

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Thoughts are like a byproduct of our brain. Our consciousness has developed to such an extent that we became aware of ourselves. And with this amazing ability, a part of the brain started to interpret what we perceive and see and hear, and this part of the brain puts it into words and talks about it. And by commenting on everything which happens, one gets the feeling: "Oh, I did this. This is me.

I just did this. I just did that. I decided this." Maybe you know this: you watch a football game. You're sitting at home. You're drinking a few bottles of beer, eating one or two bags of chips, and you're cheering your team. And then your team loses, and you feel: "we lost", or your team wins, and you feel: "we won". And at the end of the game, you have the feeling that you had a great game.

You didn't do anything. You didn't play football, but it feels like you just experienced something fantastic: you did good, you won! You didn't do anything. You were just drinking a few beers. You really didn't do anything. But you observed the game, and by observing the game, you got the feeling of this great fight out there on the football field.

And that's what's happening in our brain with the thoughts. Our brain, our consciousness, observes what happens, observes what this body does, what the hands do, what happens around us, and by observing, the feeling is created: "I did this", just like in the football game, and you take it totally personal. In football, sometimes, the fans of the one team start fighting the fans of the other team, as if they have a fight.

It's all not real. It's only people observing a game, feeling: "This is my game. This is me." And it's the same with the thoughts. The brain observes everything in a fantastic way, but then there is this one part of the brain which starts commenting on this, and through this, we get this feeling of identity: "I did this. I just decided that I do this. I want this."

The fans of one team start fighting the fans of the other team, as if they have a fight. It's all not real. It's only people observing a game, feeling: "This is my game. This is me." And it's the same with the thoughts. One part of the brain starts commenting on this, and through this, we get this feeling of identity: "I did this. I just decided that I do this. I want this."

Link to quote in video at 52m21s

So, it's just a byproduct of a fantastic brain; a misunderstanding.

In the Bible, they warned us about this. In the story of the lost paradise. I like the story of Adam and Eve. That's where this is being explained. God told the humans: "Listen. You are so far evolved now; you have the ability to perceive yourself. But be warned. With this ability also comes the possibility that you start misunderstanding, that you think you are doing all this, that you think 'I am somebody'."

But, of course, we didn't listen, we fell into the trap, and then, we started perceiving our life as if we do this, and we started judging ourselves. We thought: "I did this wrong. I am wrong." And with this misunderstanding, paradise was lost.

I like the story of Adam and Eve. God told the humans: "Listen. You have the ability to perceive yourself. But be warned. With this comes the possibility that you start thinking you are doing all this, that 'I am somebody'." But we fell into the trap, and we started judging ourselves. We thought: "I did this wrong. I am wrong." And with this, paradise was lost.

Link to quote in video at 53m28s

And now, we learn to be this amazing being, this amazing vehicle for consciousness, but not listen to that part of the brain which comments on everything – that's what we call "thoughts", these comments –, but ignore this and experience life pure. Just be there and experience – that's the possibility.

And now, we learn to be this amazing being, this amazing vehicle for consciousness, but not listen to that part of the brain which comments on everything – that's what we call "thoughts", these comments –, but ignore this and experience life pure. Just be there and experience – that's the possibility.

Link to quote in video at 54m54s

So, thoughts are not good for anything, but they come with the territory.

When you have a great tool, this tool can be used in a good or in a bad way. And now we learn to use our brain, our amazing body, in the right way and watch out for the wrong way. That's all. You just need to read the manual and learn to operate this machine the right way and not press the wrong button. Thank you for your question.

Forget everything you know - every time anew

Link to topic in video at 56m33s

Now, the next email I received from a lady who first quotes something I said, and then she has a question about what I said. So first, I'll read these two sentences she quoted from my video. I said: "You are a holy and a pure soul. Give it your attention. And I mean this very concretely. It's a matter of feeling. Rest in the crown chakra and feel what you really are. I'm not talking about ideas but about feeling." So, this was the quote from what I said. And now, the question: "Dearest Mikael, how do I learn this, to feel this very concretely? Or what is your experience with this?"

Thank you for this lovely question. Thank you so much. Yes... in the beginning of this video, I said: you turn around, and you start looking into a direction, you start looking at something you have no idea about. You can't even perceive it in the beginning. That's why it feels so wrong or like nonsense in the beginning, because you turn around, you look into this new direction of the 'inside', but you don't see anything. You have not developed eyes for it.

You turn around, and you start looking into a direction, at something, you have no idea about. You can't even perceive it in the beginning. That's why it feels so wrong or like nonsense, because you turn around, you look into this new direction of the 'inside', but you don't see anything. You have not developed eyes for it.

Link to quote in video at 57m38s

And now the question is how to learn this? How to do this?

Well, when you do the Samarpan Meditation, the task is – and that's the only task –: you rest with your attention in your crown chakra, and you don't give attention to the thoughts. That's all you have to do. By letting go of the thoughts, it's like you're letting go of everything you know. You don't know nothing anymore.

You don't have to feel something specific. You don't have to know your soul. You can't know your soul. You can't feel your soul. This is not possible. What is possible for you is to give up all knowing, to give up all ability, and you just rest here, not knowing anything, being completely incapable. It's like being totally naked, like a newborn.

And like this, very subtle, very quiet, sometimes, if you're lucky, you feel your soul a little bit. But this 'little bit', this 'sometimes', is so profound, so amazing that it keeps you going.

You can't know your soul. This is not possible. What is possible for you is to give up all knowing, all ability, and just rest here, not knowing anything. It's like being totally naked, like a newborn. And like this, very subtle, sometimes, you feel your soul a little bit. But this 'little bit', this 'sometimes', is so profound that it keeps you going.

Link to quote in video at 58m59s

So, the secret is to meditate without being able to meditate, to become ready for God without being able to meet God or without being able to see God.

You ask: how can I learn this? I tell you: forget about learning this. Be the way you are now. Meditate the way you are now. Don't try to feel more than you feel now. No. You don't need to feel anything you don't feel right now.

The secret is to meditate without being able to meditate, to become ready for God without being able to meet God. You ask: how can I learn this? I tell you: forget about learning this. Be the way you are now. Meditate the way you are now. Don't try to feel more than you feel now. No. You don't need to feel anything you don't feel right now.

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It's like a hurdle you have to overcome when you want to meditate.

This hurdle is this feeling: "I can't do this. I don't know what I'm doing. I want to know how to do it." But this is exactly what doesn't work.

What works is: not knowing, having no idea, giving up all knowing, giving up all thoughts, feeling totally ignorant, feeling totally incapable, feeling like a total beginner.

And like this, you become capable of meeting your soul. That's the secret.

It's like a hurdle you have to overcome when you want to meditate. This hurdle is this feeling: "I can't do this. I don't know what I'm doing. I want to know how to do it." But this is exactly what doesn't work. What works is: not knowing, feeling totally incapable, feeling like a total beginner. And like this, you become capable of meeting your soul. That's the secret.

Link to quote in video at 1h00m53s

So, in a way, I could answer your question by saying: don't try to learn to feel this. Be the way you are right now. Nothing else is needed, really. Give up any desire to want to be different. Give up any desire to know more, to feel more. Be naked. I know it feels uncomfortable, but then you can meditate, and then you can be kissed by your soul.

Don't try to learn to feel this. Be the way you are right now. Nothing else is needed, really. Give up any desire to want to be different. Give up any desire to know more, to feel more. Be naked. I know it feels uncomfortable, but then you can meditate, and then you can be kissed by your soul.

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This is how it is for me. Before I meditate, I need to forget everything I know about meditation. I need to forget everything I experienced about my soul and about myself, and I have to sit there as if I meditate for the very first time, knowing nothing.

And that's how you meditate, and that's how you live. And I do the same with the videos.

Before I meditate, I need to forget everything I know about meditation. I need to forget everything I experienced about my soul and about myself, and I have to sit there as if I meditate for the very first time, knowing nothing. And that's how you meditate, and that's how you live.

Link to quote in video at 1h02m52s

For me, it feels really uncomfortable when I start a video, because I don't know anything. I have some subject I want to talk about, I have some questions which I want to read out and answer, but I have no clue what I will say. I have no idea what I'm supposed to say. I have no concept, and I need to forget everything I wanted to say. I need to forget everything I think I should do or be. I have to forget the desire to say something which makes sense, and be totally naked.

Every time I sit down in front of the camera, it's the same task, just this task I give you right now, too: not know anything. This is the hurdle we have, every time we meditate, every morning when we start the next day of life: being this newborn, being this beginner.

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And every time I sit down in front of the camera, it's the same task, just this task I give you right now, too: not know anything. This is the hurdle we have, every time we meditate, every morning when we start the next day of life: being this newborn, being this beginner. And being a beginner, that's easy. If this is my first video, I know nothing about videos, I know nothing about what I say – that's easy. That's fun. That's how you can live.

Being a beginner, that's easy. If this is my first video, I know nothing about videos, I know nothing about what I say – that's easy. That's fun. That's how you can live.

Link to quote in video at 1h04m41s

Thank you for your email.

Meditate - just as you are

Link to topic in video at 1h05m21s

So, now I have an email from a person who asks about alcohol. This person is drinking alcohol frequently, and here is his question. "It is always said that we should feel all the feelings that come to us, but isn't it the case that I blur my feelings with alcohol? From my experience, I can only say that there are many feelings – but under the influence of alcohol. I always thought I shouldn't drink because, otherwise, I couldn't feel the feelings properly, and I wouldn't get anywhere spiritually."

Thank you for your question. Thank you for your courage to ask me like this. I am touched.

Yes, this is what we believe, right? We believe: in order to progress spiritually, I have to become right. I have to do it right. I must not drink alcohol – then, I can meditate; then, I can feel my feelings. Other people think different things. For you, it's the alcohol because this is what's bothering you. Other people think they have to be more virtuous or more this or more that. We always have the feeling: the way I am right now, I can't come to God. The way I am right now, I cannot progress spiritually. First, I need to change, and then, I can come to God. Then I can meditate.

But it's exactly the opposite. It's exactly the other way around.

We always have the feeling: the way I am right now, I can't come to God. The way I am right now, I cannot progress spiritually. First, I need to change, and then, I can come to God. Then I can meditate. But it's exactly the opposite. It's exactly the other way around.

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But we really believe this, and there's a story about the disciples of Jesus. They thought the same. It's so lovely, because the disciples of Jesus were totally normal people, just like you and me. So, there was Jesus, and all these people who came to Jesus, they were the sick ones. I'm not talking about physically sick. They were the unhappy ones.

They were the wrong ones. They were drinking alcohol. They were sinners. They were outcasts. They were people who did things wrong. The tax collector came to Jesus. The prostitute came to Jesus. The drinker came to Jesus. The thief came to Jesus. And his disciples said: "Why are these people coming to you? Why do you speak to them?"

And if I remember right, Jesus said something like: "It's the sick who come to the doctor, not the healthy."

You go to the doctor when you are sick. You don't wait until you are healthy. You don't say: "I can't go to the doctor like this. First, I have to become well." No.

You are desperate in your life. You don't know what to do. You don't know how it works. You are totally lost.

And like this, you want to go to God, and you say: "God, I can't do it. Now, I put my life into your hands. Heal me." It's like what you do with the doctor. You go to the doctor and say: "Here I am. I don't know how to treat this body. Please, heal this body." And that's what you do with your life and God.

The tax collector came to Jesus, the prostitute, the drinker, the thief. His disciples said: "Why do you speak to them?" And Jesus said: "It's the sick who come to the doctor." You don't say: "I can't go to the doctor like this. First, I have to become well." You are desperate in your life, and like this, you go to God, and you say: "I put my life into your hands. Heal me."

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And, you know, it's the illness which brings the patient to the doctor. And in your case, it's your life which brings you to God. At some point, you discover that your life is a pain. This is a point every human being comes to, sooner or later. And then you start looking: what can I improve? How can I become happy in this funny life with all this burden and all these difficulties? And you try and you try and you try, and then you find out: I can't do this. It's impossible.

It's like what you do with the doctor. You go to the doctor and say: "Here I am. I don't know how to treat this body. Please, heal this body." And that's what you do with your life and God. And it's the illness which brings the patient to the doctor. And in your case, it's your life which brings you to God.

Link to quote in video at 1h09m19s

And then, your life, as it is, your karma, as it is, brings you to the doctor. And the doctor is God. Then you turn inside – as you are.

At some point, you discover that your life is a pain. This is a point every human being comes to, sooner or later. You find out: I can't do this. It's impossible. And then, your life, as it is, your karma, as it is, brings you to the doctor. And the doctor is God.

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So, your life, your karma, your difficulties, are the help for you – otherwise, you wouldn't go to the doctor. The doctor is waiting for you, and as soon as you start turning around, as soon as you start meditating, as soon as you start praying, as soon as you start surrendering, as soon as you start giving up and putting your life into God's hands, then you start learning, then you start getting healed, then you start discovering this new life I was talking about in the beginning of this video.

Your life, your karma, your difficulties, are the help for you – otherwise, you wouldn't go to the doctor. The doctor is waiting for you, and as soon as you start turning around, meditating, praying, surrendering, giving up and putting your life into God's hands, you start learning, then you start getting healed, then you start discovering this new life.

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It's true: under the influence of alcohol, you don't feel the feelings as clearly as without the alcohol, but it doesn't matter at all. The goal is not to feel the feelings the best way. Feeling the feelings is just a little step. You don't have to feel feelings at all. You can forget this. If you can meditate the way you are, you don't have to do anything with the feelings.

For most people, it is like this that they are not able to meditate and to let go of their thoughts when they have strong feelings, because the strong feelings trigger very strong thoughts, and it's impossible for them to meditate.

It's true: under the influence of alcohol, you don't feel the feelings as clearly as without alcohol, but it doesn't matter at all. The goal is not to feel the feelings the best way. You don't have to feel feelings at all. You can forget this. If you can meditate the way you are, you don't have to do anything with the feelings.

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But when you start making peace with the feelings, when you feel them a little bit and you accept them, then, the thoughts connected to the feelings quiet down, the story quiets down, and then, it becomes easier for these people to meditate. But it's not about the feelings. Feeling the feelings is just a technique to make it easier for you to accept yourself, to be where you are, to let go of your thoughts, and to meditate.

Most people are not able to meditate when they have strong feelings, because they trigger strong thoughts. But when you start making peace with the feelings, when you feel them a little bit and you accept them, then, the thoughts connected to the feelings quiet down, the story quiets down, and then, it becomes easier for these people to meditate.

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But the actual help, the actual healing, that's the meditation, that's the surrender, the prayer. That's where the doctor waits. And that's why you don't have to worry at all that the alcohol might make it difficult for you to feel the feelings.

It's not about the feelings. Feeling the feelings is just a technique to make it easier for you to accept yourself and to meditate. But the actual healing is the meditation, the surrender, the prayer. That's where the doctor waits. And that's why you don't have to worry at all that alcohol might make it difficult for you to feel the feelings.

Link to quote in video at 1h13m20s

I want to tell you a story about Neem Karoli Baba. Neem Karoli Baba was an amazing Guru in India. He was a really crazy guy, and he lived in a very remote small village somewhere in India. And at some point, people from the west discovered him. And some people from the west, some hippies, were traveling to him, and these hippies, they were experimenting with drugs.

And when they came to him, they were asking him a question about drugs, about LSD, and he said: "The stuff you're talking about, do you have it with you?" And they said, "Oh, yes. Here." They gave him a little bag with their supply of LSD pills, and he took the little bag, emptied it into his hand. He took all the pills at once into his mouth, he swallowed this and was waiting. He was sitting there, waiting for the effects to start, and after a while, he said: "Interesting.

It's doing something with imagination. It provokes imagination. Funny. Very interesting." And these Americans, these Westerners, they couldn't believe their eyes. One of these little pills would have sent them on a huge LSD trip with all kinds of crazy experiences, and he was sitting there, completely sober, totally unaffected, because he was not connected with his body. He was a soul.

You are not your body, but you don't know this. He had taken an entire handful of LSD trips, but his consciousness, his soul consciousness, was so strong that he was totally unaffected. I don't know how his body felt. Maybe his body was totally upset, I don't know. I have no idea. But he was not touched by this. And it's the same with you. Whether your body drinks alcohol or not is not important. You take care of your soul.

Whether your body drinks alcohol or not is not important. You take care of your soul.

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Thank you so much.

It's not your life, not your decision

Link to topic in video at 1h17m14s

And I think I have time to answer one more question. Yes.

"I no longer feel any joy in my many years of self-employment as a nutritionist. I haven't written any more newsletters or given any more courses for months now. It's at a standstill. I currently earn my money as a gardener and housekeeper, and I just earn enough. I also think that it's a form of burnout or boreout. Now I'm still stuck with my company slogan: Satisfied &..." This is from German, and I try to translate this now into English so it makes sense.

Satisfied & happy, I would like to translate this. So, "Now I'm still stuck with my company slogan, Satisfied & Happy. The extensive website with numerous newsletter readers is waiting. But I don't want to and can't let go of it yet.

I used to pass on this form of nutrition that I have been using for 27 years now, and my head tells me that, logically, it's now time for the Happy part, for the blissful part of my company slogan. Maybe. But maybe it's going in a completely different direction, and I should let go of my life's work first, so that something new can come. Do you have any advice for me?"

Thank you for your email. Thank you so much.

Yes, it's often like this. You know, you live something, and if you live it the right way, if you really live it, if you really do it with your whole being, then, at some point, it's over. You lose interest – because you changed through what you were doing. You were changed by your wonderful work. You got everything out of it which was in there for you, and now, it changes. It's over for you, you don't need it anymore, but you have no idea what is supposed to happen now. And this is a very, very good point.

You live something, and if you really live it with your whole being, then, at some point, it's over. You lose interest because you were changed by your wonderful work. You got everything out of it which was in there for you, and now, you don't need it anymore, but you have no idea what is supposed to happen now. And this is a very, very good point.

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You don't have to worry about letting anything go so something new can come. This is already happening. The energy for the old left you. You have no energy for the old anymore. This is the letting go. It happens automatically. You can't do it. You don't have to switch off your website or burn your mailing list. This is not needed. It can just sit there and wait.

But the energy is gone, and there is no energy for something new. And that's a good point. Use this time well where you are right now. Use it for just being where you are. You have time. You don't have energy for the old. You have no energy for anything new. You do a little bit of gardening. You do a little bit of housekeeping. Easy jobs.

You don't have to worry about letting anything go so something new can come. The energy for the old left you. This is the letting go. You can't do it. You don't have to switch off your website or burn your mailing list. But the energy is gone, and there is no energy for something new. And that's a good point. Use this time well where you are right now.

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Use this time. Be lazy. Rest. Know nothing. Just be ready forever. Don't wait for something. Just be ready. Every day, enjoy your day. It sounds like you have time... Love this time! Do beautiful things, things which are not holy, things which are not connected to some job or some grand goal. Just enjoy your time. And I tell you: before you know it, this time will be over, and you will have no time anymore.

Use this time. Be lazy. Rest. Know nothing. Just be ready forever. Don't wait for something. Just be ready. Every day, enjoy your day.

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At some point, there will be new energy for something new that you don't know anything about right now, and then, you will long for the time you have right now. You will long for rest. So, rest now, before the craziness starts again. This is my advice for you, and I tell you this out of my own experience, you know.

Just enjoy your time. And I tell you: before you know it, this time will be over, and you will have no time anymore. At some point, there will be energy for something new that you don't know anything about right now, and you will long for the time you have right now. You will long for rest. So, rest now, before the craziness starts again.

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I want to tell you a little bit about my own life.

I was traveling with my spiritual Master, Soham, for 20 years. For 20 years, I was part of his team, I was traveling with him throughout Germany and Switzerland and Austria, sometimes in other European countries, and I was totally busy. This was my life, and at the same time, it was also my spiritual path. It was intense. And I thought, this will go on forever until I die. And then, Corona came, and with Corona, Soham was not able to travel anymore, so he returned home.

And I came to his home with him, and we prepared a Satsang room so he could give Online Satsang from home because nobody was allowed to meet in person. And then, I noticed: this is over for me. This is not my place. Soham is still my spiritual Master, and I still do help him in some ways, but this is not my life anymore. I'm not living there anymore. I returned home, to my family, to my wife and the children, and I didn't know what to do. All I knew is: the old is gone. It's over. I didn't understand, why.

There was nothing wrong with it. I just knew: it's over. I had no idea what comes next. And then, I had the idea to do videos, but I wasn't ready for it. It was just an idea. So, I spent, I think, a total of three and a half years where I just... I can't say I waited. I was ready. I said every day to God: "Hey, God. This is your life. Use me the way you want." And for three and a half years, it felt as if I'm doing nothing. Of course, I was busy. I was preparing a website for the videos, so the videos could start.

I was buying a camera, and I was experimenting with making recordings, but the actual videos didn't start. I was starting to do some computer work, which I still do, so I have money to live off. I needed money, just like you. You do gardening. I do computer work. But that what I actually wanted to do, and I didn't even know what that is, that didn't happen. So, for three and a half years, it felt as if I am in a complete standstill. And then, one day, the energy changed. I still remember.

It was in March, one and a half years ago. The energy changed and I knew: "Oh, wow. Now, it starts. Now, it's time. The energy was so strong. I prepared the last few bits and pieces which needed to be prepared, and then, in the beginning of May, I started the videos. And since then, I have so much work. There's so much to do. I earn my money. I need to work, so I have money for a living. I have the videos and the correspondence, and there is so much to do, it's amazing. My life never has been as full as it is now. I'm glad I had these three and a half years of rest before that, I tell you.

And, of course, I take care of myself. Of course, I meditate every day. Of course, I just let life and every day happen by itself. I let every video happen by itself. I can't do it myself. But my time is spent. Now, God really uses me the whole time. It's a very blessed, very intense life, but it happens by itself, and it's like this for everybody. I tell you this to tell you: use this time. Don't wait for something new to happen. Be where you are. Enjoy this time. If you can, be lazy. If you can, do nothing. Meditate. Enjoy nature, spend as much time as you can in nature.

It will be over sooner than you think.

Use this time. Don't wait for something new to happen. Be where you are. Enjoy this time. If you can, be lazy. If you can, do nothing. Meditate. Enjoy nature, spend as much time as you can in nature. It will be over sooner than you think.

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Thank you for your letter. Thank you for your question.

Peace is inside

Link to topic in video at 1h28m28s

This is my Christmas video for you. This is my Christmas greeting to you.

Turn around and live. It's not about the outside. It's not what you do. It's all about what you find once you turn around. That's where life happens: in there. What you do on the outside is totally secondary. Whether you do gardening or spiritual videos, it's all the same.

Turn around and live. It's not about the outside. It's not what you do. It's all about what you find once you turn around. That's where life happens: in there.

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It's about turning around and discover your soul. Meditation is my tool for this. It's not my meditation. The meditation comes from Swamiji. But this is, for me, the path to live like this. So helpful.

If you have questions, I invite you to write to me. I'm always happy to receive questions, because it really inspires me to talk about the practical aspects of life. In a week from today, on Saturday, December 28th, I will have my first English language Online Satsang. If you're interested, come! Just join. It's on YouTube and via Zoom. If you're interested, you can find the information on my website.

And if you like my videos, if you like watching them, if they are beneficial for you, maybe you want to support this. I'm very happy if people feel joy to support what I am doing financially, because it takes a lot of time, a lot of energy and also money to do this. And I'm very grateful if somebody feels to support this. And if you want, you'll find information about this also on my website, on the donate page.

I'm very happy that you are here.

I love you.