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First Lesson 179
the kitchen? That is like listening. Then we take the food to the dining table and put it on the table. But does just putting the food on the table satisfy our hunger? Preparing it in the kitchen and transferring it into the dining hall—these are the first two stages, like listening and thinking. But they do not satisfy the hunger. The eating and then the proper digestion in the body—the taking action—that’s what satisfies the hunger. So if you want to derive spiritual strength you must develop all three functions: hearing, constantly thinking about the merits, and then putting into practice. Without these three aspects one can’t attain spiritual strength or the spiritual bliss, which follows as a result.
Take, for example, what is happening now in this hall. We are all seated and listening to Swami. But after listening, you’ll leave the hall and forget. What kind of an attitude is this? What kind of confidence in Swami’s teaching is this? If you immediately forget, then what a waste of time it is for all of us! What an effort has been wasted on Swami’s part! Think of what you are asking of Swami, the kind of spiritual gift you wish to receive from me. Do you have the confidence—are you willing to give the kind of attention and practice needed to achieve your dream? Only when you think about what you have heard, and put it into practice— at least one or two of the items that Swami is talking about— only then will you be consecrating your life and finding some meaning in your life by coming here.
I was struck by how much time and emphasis Baba gave to this point. What a sorry state to see that even when we are with the Avatar, we’ve lost an appreciation of the importance of his words. Bombarded by so many “wise men,” we’ve lost confidence in anyone really knowing answers—and what’s more, we’ve lost confidence in ourselves and our own grand potential. Consequently, words go in one ear and out the other. But just what was the message that Baba wanted us to hear and do something about? He went on to say:
We must develop a sense of oneness and brotherliness. If we are to win the vision of our atmic reality, if we are to experience the unity and love that is the basis of all creation, we must practice brotherliness. But man has fallen into a sorry state. He says one


































































































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