Smile Back

Smile Back

A smiley person is one whose heart seems to radiate through their teeth. ..

And when they smile, it's almost impossible not to smile back....

So even if you don't feel like it, smile anyway. It'll make you feel better.

And when you smile, chances are, the person receiving your smile will smile back, and you'll feel even better.

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Q: You said that the knowledge of sleep brings freedom. What does this mean?

Guruji: Knowledge of sleep and dreams can take you into a different state of samadhi. It is one of the techniques mentioned in the Yoga Sutras by Rishi Patanjali. Maharishi Patanjali has said the sutra, 'Swapnanidrajnanalambanam va' this is one of the samadhis that he mentions while describing the different types of samadhis.

If you are aware of how sleep is dawning on the mind, in between the sleep and waking state, there is a spark of total stillness. I am saying only spark of stillness because stillness is so dynamic, so alive. That is what he is talking about.

So if you notice, just before falling asleep, or as soon as you wake up, you are neither fully asleep nor fully awake, in that gap, there is certain peace, a certain quality of consciousness which is so beautiful, so soothing and so healing. That is what is mentioned there.

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Why is Spirituality Essential

See, when you are hungry, the only way to satisfy hunger is to eat. If you say, “I am thirsty”, there is just one solution to quench the thirst, you need to drink liquids. But what type of liquid you should drink? I say you have many choices. From water to juice to milk, anything can quench your thirst. But liquid is what can quench the thirst. Similarly to enrich your life, you need spirituality.

What does spirituality really mean?

All that the spirit represents, i.e., love, peace, happiness, compassion, commitment and understanding. These are all the qualities of the spirit.

You need to nurture your mind, you need to nurture your emotions, you need to sharpen your intellect, and you need to do whatever is needed to make your behavior better. So anything that nurtures the spirit is spirituality. Proper rest, some knowledge, an expansion of your vision, all this is part of spirituality. And all of this is needed for a civilized happy life.

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If you see through my eyes you will find that there are good people all over the planet in every profession. And even those whom we consider as not so good, I tell you, inside them there is goodness which is sleeping and wanting to be awakened.

Om Namah Shivay