Books and Spiritual Practice

In some Indian almanacs it is predicted when it is going to rain. Then the day comes when it is supposed to rain, and there is no rain. Even if you squeeze the book that says there will be rain, alas, you do not get even one drop of water.

Many people love to read about occult power and the Kundalini. If you are eager to get occult power, even if you squeeze all the books on Kundalini and occult power, occult power does not come. Books can guide you, but the book cannot meditate for you – that you have to know. The book can tell you that you have to do yoga, but the book cannot practise yoga for you. You have to do it.

Parents can tell their children to go to school. But if they do not go to school, are they going to learn anything? The parents have done their duty by telling the children to go to school. In exactly the same way, you have to read and read spiritual books and then practise what you read.

There is a story about one fellow reading the Bhagavad Gita who was shedding tears. A pandit came by and said to him, “Ah, I think you are finding it difficult to understand.” The scholar wanted to explain the philosophy, but the poor fellow said, “No, no, I am shedding tears because while I am reading, I am seeing Sri Krishna right in front of me in his chariot. So I am moved to tears.”

The scholar thought that the poor fellow did not know Sanskrit well, so he was coming to explain the Bhagavad Gita. The scholar was not seeing Lord Krishna, but the devotee was shedding tears because he was seeing him.

16 February 2007 Chiang Mai, Thailand