The only time we suffer is when we don't listen to our Higher Nature. The only time we are peaceful is when we are true to our soul, when we are real to the core. Whenever we are phoney we are insecure, because we have lost our center. The only time we lose our center is when we are out of focus, and the only time we are out of focus is when we fail to control our mind, ego, and emotions.

Mind wants 'things' and after getting what it wants, mind wants more, or something else. The fickle mind can never be trusted. When we entrust ourselves to our mind we are doomed, because we are setting ourselves up for betrayal. Anyone who betrays his own conscience is bound to be betrayed. We cheat ourselves when we ignore wise advice and listen to our ego.

When the mind is muddled with materialistic trappings, it presents many images that misrepresent the truth. In other words, when we are caught up in mundane pleasures and attached to our comfortable feelings, the mind is out of focus and our perception is distorted. We begin to imagine that we have everything figured out, and we become complacent and haughty. Our false sense of security eventually dissolves and we bottom out. The panicky feelings set in and we feel helpless and hapless. This is the story of the mind that is caught up in gross unreality.

What is real? You are Real, but not if you imagine yourself to be something you are not. The key is to stop imagining things. We need to simplify our thought processes and think in simple positives, and follow up every positive affirmation with affirmative action. Life does not have to be complicated, and a complex mind is not a sign of intelligence or wisdom. Simplicity brings both peace and prosperity. Unnecessarily complicating our mind with images and cluttering our life with material junk only leads to frustration and annoyance.

Real love, real wisdom, real peace, real happiness---these are the really important things in life. We do not attain them by chance or by wishful thinking. We attain them only by direct experience. "Awareness does not exist for its own sake, but for the sake of enlightenment." We are aware of the changes we need to make. When we make those positive changes we manifest our soul potential and bring out our true qualities. Our real nature is to be happy and peaceful, to be sensitive to the deep things of life---like wisdom and divine love. When we manifest our true nature, only then are we truly happy. But it is impossible to manifest our real nature without wisdom, because only wisdom can bring light to the mind and remove all the doubts and confusion. With wisdom, the faculty of discerment is sharpened and the mind can distinquish the real from the false, the right from the wrong, and the helpful from the harmful. Without wisdom no one stands a chance.

The highest blessing is the blessing of wisdom. There is no greater boon in this world than to come in contact with the Wise. Through their guideance and instruction one can learn how to control the mind and direct it inward. Those who follow the ways of the wise become the real leaders in this world, because they no longer follow the dicates of their mind and ego. They are the true initiates, who take the initiative to explore the core of consciousness and realize the Ultimate Truth, the Absolute state of Being, called GOD.

The realm of conciousness is the final frontier. Those who explore the depth of being are never exploited by their mind and ego. But those who only put up a front, who pretend to be enlightened yet remain engrossed in the small self, are imprisoned in their mind and body. Their perception is confined to their mental images and they are unable to see beyond their own personality or go beyond their body-consciousness.

To become real we need to give up our preoccupation with unreality. To establish the mind in the perspective of eternity (in the state of samadhi), we need to stop pursuing those things that are temporary and unimportant. So long as we are motivated by ego (including so-called spiritual ego), we are going to miss the mark, regardless how many people we impress or friends we make.

To find total freedom and complete peace we need to free ourselves from all our images and expectations and become totally at peace with ourselves. We can never find peace by appeasing our ego and mental images—instead, we will find the opposite of peace—we will become more restless, anxious, insecure, and unhappy.

We need to relax and calm the mind by keeping our ego in check. The moment we let our ego assert, peace of mind deserts us. Whenever we lose peace of mind, it is a tell-tale sign that we have given control to our ego. When we make it a habit to be in our ego, it will become our habit to be annoyed, angry, and distraught. The only way to remove these flaws in our nature is to give up our ego. Ego fades away only when we stop feeding into it. But if we feed into our ego (or anyone's ego) it will grow into a monster.

It is not necessary to impress anyone. It is unimportant whether or not anyone knows you. When you have a total control over your mind and ego, you will influence others by your example, not by showmanship. Those who put on a show for others but don't practice, only win fans, not hearts. To win the hearts of others we need to win over our own mind and ego.

Within every heart is a diamond. To find that diamond, one has to look in the right place. One can never find enlightenment by chasing after the images of one's mind, ego, and personality. Those who chase after images (who are enmeshed in the interplay of personality) continue to suffer from mental poverty (lack of wisdom). We don't have to suffer anymore. We can embrace the undiluted Truth and realize that the greatest wealth, love, wisdom, happiness—everything—is within our own heart. Having discovered the Truth, having found the diamond of the soul, one is no longer distracted by the temporary wealth, imitation love, intellectualized knowledge, and make-believe happiness. Only then are we established on the path of righteousness (Dharma) that will lead us back to our eternal abode, the source of Absolute Conciousness.