You	could	focus	in	on	any	given	minute
and	see	destruction,	or	you	could	stand	back	and	see	a	glorious	vision	of	life
triumphing	over	all	obstacles. I	have	a	very	personal	story	to	tell	about	that. My	father	died	very	suddenly	a	few	years	ago;	he	was	more	than	eighty	and
had	led	a	full	and	happy	life. But	it	was	a	shock	not	to	have	said	good-bye,
and	when	I	flew	to	India	for	his	funeral,	I	felt	full	of	grief. The	day	of	the	funeral	came;	it	was	bright	and	hot. I	was	part	of	a	procession
taking	my	father	out	of	the	house	for	the	last	rites,	which	in	India	include
burning	the	body. I	looked	around,	and	here’s	what	I	saw:	Some	people	were
crying,	others	looked	peaceful	and	calm. Little	children	ran	up	to	grab	the
flowers	that	fell	as	we	passed. They	were	laughing	and	looked	on	this
procession	as	a	big,	curious	event. Strangers	glanced	our	way	for	a	second	but
paid	little	attention. A	mother	carried	her	baby	across	our	path;	an	old	manslept	in	a	doorway	in	the	sun. Suddenly	I	realized	something:	
I	am	not	in	a	funeral	procession. I	am	in	the
procession	of	life
. All	around	me	was	the	whole	cycle	of	life,	and	instead	of
feeling	grief,	I	suddenly	felt	very	expanded	and	free. It’s	that	same	feeling,
which	can	surprise	you	when	you	least	expect	it,	that	makes	evil	vanish. You
realize	that	life	is	going	to	triumph,	despite	everything,	and	close	to	your	soul
a	voice	is	saying,	
I
	am	
life
. This	voice	is	telling	the	truth. Goodness	is	eternal,
evil	is	temporary. What’s	the	best	answer	to	the	problem	of	evil? Don’t	curse	the	darkness	and
struggle	against	it. Light	a	candle,	because	light	automatically	drives	darkness
away	It’s	not	the	good	deeds	you	do	that	make	you	good,	it’s	who	you	are. And	who	you	are	is	a	soul	walking	around	in	a	body,	not	a	body	walking
around	hoping	it	has	a	soul. Once	you	link	up	with	that	eternal	part	of
yourself,	evil	can	no	longer	make	you	afraid.Loving	Yourself
I
t	was	getting	close	to	dusk,	a	time	when	the	whole	world	seen	from	the
hillside	started	to	fill	with	golden	light. “Look,”	I	once	heard	a	traveler	say. “The	gods	have	come	out	to	play.”	It	was	just	like	that. Every	house	and	tree
and	cloud	shimmered	as	the	last	heat	waves	rose	in	ripples	from	the	valley. “Our	third	day	is	ending,”	said	Baba	as	we	looked	out	over	the	view. “Now
I’m	going	to	tell	you	the	most	difficult	thing	about	love. But	don’t	laugh	at
me.”
“Why	would	I	laugh?”	I	said. “Because	I	have	a	nursery	rhyme	for	you,	and	you	might	think	I’m	being
childish,”	he	said. “Or	mystical. I	know	you,	remember?”
“You	think	so?”	Baba	chuckled. “But	you’re	right:	Things	are	always	more
mystical	with	me	than	with	other	people. Sometimes	even	a	nursery	rhyme
hides	great	wisdom. This	one	is	Humpty	Dumpty.”
“Who	sat	on	a	wall	and	had	a	great	fall?”
“Yes,	him,”	said	Baba. “But	do	you	know	why	all	the	king’s	horses	and	all	the
king’s	men	couldn’t	put	him	back	together	again? It’s	a	riddle.”
“Not	about	eggs,”	I	said. Baba	shook	his	head. “If	you	go	back	in	time,	there	have	always	been	myths
about	a	golden	age,	when	peace	reigned,	everyone	felt	love	for	one	another,
and	life	was	perfect. But	that	golden	age	fell	apart,	and	everyone’s	been	trying
to	figure	out	how	to	put	it	back	together	again.”
“This	is	your	theory	of	Humpty	Dumpty?”	I	asked. Baba	smiled. “It’s	good	to	stretch.”	He	sounded	very	definite. “What	really
fell	apart	was	love. There	was	never	a	golden	age,	at	least	not	as	far	as	any
historian	can	tell. But	deep	in	the	human	heart	a	memory	lingers	of	how	loveshould	be. It	should	extend	to	everyone;	it	should	leave	no	cause	for	suffering. It	should	be	innocent	and	bring	joy	every	day. “Can	that	kind	of	love	be	put	back	together	again? Your	soul	thinks	so. Now
we	come	to	the	most	important	step,	which	is	this:	You	must	love	yourself.”
I	said,	“Why	is	that	difficult? I	love	myself,	at	least	I	think	I	do.”
“Really?”	asked	Baba. “Which	self	did	you	pick? There’s	you	as	a	baby,	you
playing	with	paper	dolls	when	you	were	three,	you	when	you	are	angry	or
sad,	you	when	you	believe	in	yourself,	and	you	when	you	don’t. Which	one
are	you	going	to	love?”
He	was	trying	to	stump	me,	but	I	felt	pretty	confident. “Those	aren’t	me
anymore. I	love	the	me	who’s	right	here,	now.”
“But	he	will	be	gone	tomorrow,	just	as	those	others	are	gone. Then	what?”
asked	Baba. “You	see,	the	nursery	rhyme	is	right. We’re	all	trying	to	put
ourselves	back	together	from	bits	and	pieces. But	all	the	king’s	horses	and	all
the	king’s	men	won’t	be	able	to	do	it.”
Baba	must	have	seen	a	downcast	look	on	my	face,	because	his	voice	softened. “Don’t	be	dejected. When	you	met	me	in	the	cabin	today,	didn’t	I	tell	you	that
I	was	laughing	at	a	cosmic	joke?”
“Yes,”	I	remembered. “And	you	promised	to	tell	it	to	me.”
“Well,	now’s	the	time. The	cosmic	joke	is	that	Humpty	Dumpty	never	fell	and
was	never	broken. The	real	you	is	perfectly	loved	and	always	will	be. No	evil
or	harm	can	ever	come	to	that	you,	and	when	you	find	it,	you	will	be	laughing
with	joy	and	relief,	just	as	I	do.”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
Loving	yourself	can	be	a	good	feeling	that	hits	you	when	you	are	on	top	of
the	world	and	everything	is	going	right. It	can	also	be	feeling	like	a	good
person	who	deserves	the	best	out	of	life. But	Baba	had	a	more	cosmic	idea	of
loving	yourself. He	pointed	me	to	the	place	where	myths	are	born. Every	person	has	a	mythic	level. It	lies	deep	in	our	imagination;	it’s	where	we
go	for	heroes	and	the	quests	that	heroes	follow. Whether	you	pick	a	knight	ofthe	Round	Table,	Wonder	Woman,	Joan	of	Arc,	Gandhi,	or	Abraham	Lincoln
isn’t	just	a	personal	choice—you	are	connecting	to	your	mythic	level. “I
always	ask	people	to	tell	me	who	their	heroes	are,”	Baba	said. “I	can	tell	a
great	deal	about	someone’s	whole	life	from	who	they	secretly	want	to	be.”
In	fact,	you	may	want	to	do	that	for	yourself. Write	down	three	people,	real	or
imaginary,	who	are	your	heroes. Then	list	three	qualities	you	admire	in	each
one,	such	as	courage	or	superpowers,	deep	wisdom	or	great	sacrifice	for
humanity. Look	at	your	list. Do	you	know	what	those	nine	qualities	really
are? They	are	a	mission	from	the	mythic	level. Your	soul	wants	you	to
perform	this	mission	in	your	lifetime	by	displaying	the	qualities	you	listed. Since	they	come	from	the	mythic	level,	each	one	is	in	you,	planted	like	a	seed
for	the	future. As	the	years	unfold	you	will	be	given	opportunities	to	learn	each	quality. People	who	admire	courage	are	magnetized	to	situations	that	require	bravery. People	who	admire	wisdom	will	be	magnetized	to	completely	different
situations. Never	fear,	your	soul	isn’t	going	to	forget	your	mission. And	what
about	superheroes	with	supernormal	powers? Every	kid	admires	them,
because	what	they	really	stand	for	isn’t	flying	or	turning	invisible. They	stand
for
	freedom. A	supernormal	power	is	like	a	hint	from	the	soul	that	you	are
more	than	human—you	are	a	free	spirit. If	you	want	to	love	yourself,	grasp
every	opportunity	for	growing	into	your	own	hero. We	were	born	to	be	the
heroes	of	our	own	story. I	cherish	a	story	about	two	old	men	sitting	together	in	a	room	waiting	for	a
meal. One	was	considered	very	wise	and	had	gained	fame	in	many	countries;
the	other	was	a	visitor	who	had	come	to	find	out	what	this	wisdom	was	all
about. But	the	famous	wise	man	didn’t	say	anything	particularly	wise	all	day,
and	finally	the	visitor	got	frustrated. “Forgive	me,”	he	said. “But	I	don’t	see	how	you	and	I	are	any	different. You
have	shown	me	hospitality,	but	let’s	be	honest. Aren’t	we	just	two	old	men
sitting	at	a	table	waiting	for	our	supper?”
“You	are	wrong,”	the	wise	man	said. “You	have	spent	your	whole	life
guarding	your	own	private	world. It	is	made	up	of	past	memories	and	your
many	likes	and	dislikes. It	is	populated	with	a	few	people	you	love	and	is	shut
tight	to	anyone	else. My	inner	world	isn’t	like	that. It	is	open	to	everyone. All
may	enter	and	are	welcomed. When	I	look	inside,	love	is	all	I	see,	so	I	have
nothing	to	hide	and	nothing	to	guard.”I’ve	returned	to	this	little	story	many	times	over	the	years	because	it	tells	me
that	the	place	where	love	never	fades	is	real. I	believe	this	is	the	only	vision
worth	living	for.Day	Four
:	
How	Can	I	Change	the	World?Chasing	Rainbows
T
he	next	morning	I	didn’t	have	to	search	for	Baba	anywhere. When	I	went
down	to	the	kitchen	for	breakfast	I	caught	a	glimpse	of	wispy	white	hair	just
peeking	up	over	the	windowsill. I	ran	out	to	greet	him. He	was	sitting	beside
the	back	door	looking	at	the	sky	as	if	waiting	for	something	to	happen. “Baba,	come	inside	and	eat	a	bowl	of	rice,”	I	said. “Would	I	become	more	real	if	your	parents	saw	me?”	he	asked. “I	know	you’re	real. I	don’t	need	any	proof,”	I	protested. “Then	you’re	assuming	too	much,”	he	said. “Most	people	think	they’re	real
but	have	never	proved	it	to	themselves.”	These	may	sound	like	weary	words,
but	Baba	looked	as	fresh	as	ever. If	I	had	imagined	him	from	stories	about
wizards,	he	wasn’t	one	of	the	dour,	glum	ones. He	said,	“I’ve	thought	of	an	excellent	project	for	us	today. We’re	going	to
chase	a	rainbow.”
This	sounded	like	something	you’d	say	to	a	five-year-old,	but	I	knew	he	had
something	else	in	mind,	so	I	rushed	back	inside,	stuffed	some	food	in	my
pockets,	and	was	back	out	the	door	in	two	minutes. Baba	was	still	peering	at
the	sky. “It	doesn’t	look	like	rain,”	he	said. “Not	much	chance	for	a	rainbow,	then,”	I	said. Baba	had	already	started	to
stride	away	quickly	in	his	usual	fashion. “We	don’t	have	to	rely	on	chance,”	he	said	over	his	shoulder. “Not	that	much
happens	by	chance.”
Not	when	I’m	with	you,
	I	thought. We	walked	down	the	road	and	then	cut
across	a	broad	field,	where	it	was	cooler	and	more	lush. “What	do	you	think	a
rainbow	is?”	he	asked. “It’s	sunlight	that	has	been	bent	by	the	raindrops. Each	one	acts	like	a	tiny
prism.”	I	knew	this	from	grade-school	science.“Or	it’s	a	little	hint,”	said	Baba. “A	hint	about	what?”
“How	the	universe	was	made,”	he	said. “In	a	rainbow	you	can	see	the	whole
universe. What	is	the	universe? Light	and	space. Some	of	that	light	has
become	matter,	and	some	of	that	matter	is	water. So	everything	the	universe	is
made	of	shines	through	a	rainbow. Every	particle	in	creation	contains	the
whole.”
We	were	still	climbing	the	hill,	going	higher	than	we	had	anytime	before. It
was	getting	hard	to	hike	and	talk	at
	the	same	time. “Then,	we’re	actually
chasing	the	universe?”	I	asked. “In	a	way. But	I	think	the	hint	that	we’re	following	is	even	bigger,”	said	Baba,
who	gave	no	sign	that	he	noticed	how	tired	I	was	getting. “What’s	bigger	than	the	universe?”	I	asked. With	every	foot	we	climbed	I	saw
that	Baba	was	working	himself	into	a	better	mood,	and	now	he	was	wearing
his	I	know	a	secret	smile. “Someone	who	can	change	the	universe,”	Baba	said. “And	who	can	do	that?”
“You,”	he	said. “Nobody	else	but	you.”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
A	lot	of	the	time	spirituality	is	about	the	impossible,	and	this	fourth	day	was
no	exception. I’m	sure	you’ve	heard	it	said	that	youth	is	the	most	idealistic
time	of	life. Kids	want	to	change	the	world,	and	by	the	time	they	grow	up,
they	realize	that	they	can’t. The	world	is	just	going	to	be	the	way	it	is,	and
there’s	nothing	one	person	can	do	about	it. Baba	didn’t	subscribe	to	that
belief. Yet	he	was	very	far	from	being	a	starry-eyed	idealist. To	him,	changing
the	world	is	the	most	natural	thing	anyone	can	do. In	fact,	it’s	impossible	
not
to	change	the	world. So	he	went	a	step	further	and	told	me	I	could	change	the
universe. The	secret	is	invisible,	as	always. Look	at	a	distant	galaxy	whose	light	takes
millions	of	years	to	get	to	Earth. Do	you	feel	far	away	from	that	galaxy? Youreyes	say	that	you	are,	but	beneath	the	surface	there	is	no	distance	at	all. Physics	tells	us	that	a	single	electron	cannot	vibrate	without	making	the	whole
universe	shake. Every	particle	is	part	of	a	single	field	that	stretches	to	infinity
in	all	directions;	this	field	feels	and	senses	every	single	event	instantly,	no
matter	where	it	happens. As	one	witty	physicist	said,	“If	you	tickle	the
universe	over	here,	it	laughs	over	there.”
Imagine	a	small	compass	with	its	needle	pointing	north. It	has	no	idea	that	a
huge	magnetic	field	is	causing	this,	because	the	field	is	invisible. But	if	you
move	the	compass,	the	field	will	pull	the	needle	back	in	line	without	a	pause. There’s	no	need	to	send	a	signal	to	the	magnetic	North	Pole	and	then	receive
one	back. The	field	has	sensed	the	compass	and	changed	it;	and	in	return	the
compass	has	changed	the	field,	because	no	tiny	part	can	shift	without	shifting
the	whole. You	are	part	of	the	cosmic	field. Your	body	flows	with	magnetism,	just	like	a
compass,	along	with	chemical	and	electrical	energy. So	your	every	thought	is
taking	place	not	just	in	your	head,	but	in	the	field. Your	mind	is
eavesdropping	on	the	universe. Spirituality	is	a	step	ahead	of	science	in	one	small	way:	It	believes	that	the
field	is	alive	and	intelligent. The	whole	universe	
thinks
. There	are	some	hints
at	this. Several	years	ago	a	colorful	experiment	was	conducted	using	nonsense
words. Children	from	Japan	were	shown	a	poem	in	Japanese	and	other	words
that	formed	nothing	but	nonsense. They	could	easily	pick	out	which	one	was
the	poem. Then	the	same	words	were	shown	to	Western	kids	who	only	spoke
English. Strangely,	they	also	showed	an	ability	to	pick	out	which	words	were
a	Japanese	poem	and	which	ones	were	nonsense. How	did	they	do	it? It	was
as	if	they	picked	this	knowledge	out	of	thin	air—or	as	we	would	say	out	of
the	field. Does	the	field	know	Japanese? Maybe	it	knows	a	lot	more. Albert	Einstein
himself	said	that	when	he	plunged	deep	into	the	laws	of	nature,	he	was	trying
to	figure	out	how	God’s	mind	worked,	which	is	the	same	as	saying	that
creation	has	a	mind. I	think	it	does,	and	so	did	Baba. Your	intelligence	is	the
same	as	cosmic	intelligence. The	eye	keeps	fooling	you	into	thinking	that	the
world	is	huge	and	you	are	small. But	Baba	never	stopped	trying	to	get	me	to
stop	believing	my	eyes. There	was	once	a	great	teacher	who	had	many	devoted	followers. One	day	a
young	man	came	to	him	feeling	very	dejected	and	said,	“You	are	so	far	aboveme	that	I	can	never	rise	that	high. Lying	in	bed	at	night,	I	think	of	Jesus	and
Buddha	and	all	the	great	masters. How	can	anyone	as	weak	as	me	find
enlightenment?”
The	teacher	thought	for	a	moment	and	said,	“You	see	yourself	as	small	and
weak	because	you	look	with	physical	eyes	and	not	the	eyes	of	the	soul. I	see
the	light	in	you,	and
	it	is	the	same	light	that	was	in	Jesus,	Buddha,	and	all	the
saints. Today	it	may	be	a	small	light,	but	its	size	doesn’t	matter. Your	light
makes	you	one	with	the	enlightened. Just	keep	working	until	your	full	glory
fills	the	world.”Out	of	My	Way! B
aba	was	serious	about	taking	me	on	a	search. It	was	starting	to	feel	like	a
safari. We	trudged	uphill	and	down	without	saying	a	word. I	got	the	idea	that
he	wanted	me	to	think,	so	I	ruminated	until	I	got	sick	of	that. “What	are	we
doing?”	I	blurted	out. “What	do	you	think	we’re	doing?”	he	asked. I	wiped	the	sweat	from	my	eyes	and	looked	up	at	the	blazing-hot,	clear	blue
sky. “We’re	not	looking	for	a	rainbow,	that’s	for	sure.”
“Don’t	get	irritated,”	said	Baba. “Let’s	look	for	something	easier. How	about
God?”
“God?”	That	was	a	word	Baba	hardly	ever	used. “Why	do	you	think	God	is
easy	to	find? Most	people	think	just	the	opposite,”	I	said. “That’s	because	God	has	done	such	a	good	job	of	obeying	us. Long	ago
people	turned	to	God	and	said,	‘Get	out	of	our	way,	we	know	how	to	run	the
world,’	and	so	he	did. God’s	not	getting	in	the	way	anymore.”
“Baba,	you’re	saying	particularly	strange	things	today,”	I	said. “You	think
God	left	because	we	asked	him	to?”
“Without	a	doubt. I	told	you	that	you	could	change	the	world. God	wouldn’t
have	left	the	scene	if	that	weren’t	true. He	would	have	stayed	around	and	run
things	himself.”
“So	he’s	really	not	here?”
“I	didn’t	say	that. It	was	almost	impossible	for	him	to	find	a	way	to	leave. Then	he	came	up	with	something	clever. He	vanished	without	vanishing.”
Instead	of	marching	on,	Baba	came	to	a	halt. He	produced	a	small	clay	jar
filled	with	water. He	handed	it	to	me	and	watched	while	I	gulped	it	down. “Don’t	you	want	any?”	I	asked. “No,	I	want	the	jar	empty.”	Baba	took	it	from	my	hands. “Take	a	closer	look.You	see	the	clay	walls	of	this	jar? And	you	see	the	space	inside?”
Suddenly	he	took	a	rock	clenched	in	his	other	hand	and	smashed	the	jar	to
bits. “Have	I	smashed	the	space	inside?”	he	asked. “No.”
“Now	you	see	where	God	went. He	may	have	erased	the	visible	evidence	that
he	was	ever	in	this	world,	but	he	is	just	as	present	as	the	space	inside	this	pot. Everywhere	you	look	is	a	space	for	spirit. God	is	letting	us	make	all	the
decisions	because	nothing	we	do	can	take	his	spirit	away.”
“Do	people	have	to	believe	in	God?”	I	asked. “It’s	a	choice,”	said	Baba. “We	all	want	to	keep	running	our	own	lives,	and
some	people	feel	better	with	God	by	their	side,	while	others	feel	better
thinking	they	are	totally	on	their	own. But	that	doesn’t	mean	you	made	God
disappear. He	just	disappeared	for	you. The	divine	plan	could	be	working	just
fine,	but	you	wouldn’t	know	it.”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
Baba	was	showing	me	something	about	who	runs	the	world. If	God	is	running
it,	he	must	be	doing	it	with	us	or	without	us. If	without	us,	then	there’s
nothing	for	people	to	do,	really,	but	worship	the	Almighty	and	hope	to	please
him	(or	her). But	if	God	is	running	the	world	
with
	us,	we	need	to	step	up	and
take	our	part	seriously. Baba	believed	that	there	is	a	divine	plan,	but	God	isn’t	showing	us	the
blueprint,	much	less	himself. So	how	are	we	meant	to	cooperate	with	his
plan? Baba	taught	me	that	God	is	here	in	spirit. When	I	contact	my	spirit,	I
am	helping	the	divine	plan. Creation	keeps	going;	it	didn’t	happen	just	once. When	I	have	a	creative	idea,	God	is	having	it	through	me. God’s	work	is	not
like	a	final	blueprint	that	no	one	is	allowed	to	touch. “If	you	really	want	to	see
your	maker,”	Baba	said,	“become	a	maker	yourself. It’s	like	catnip. God
won’t	be	able	to	resist	helping	you.”
The	more	you	stretch	your	mind	into	the	unknown,	the	more	help	your	soul
will	offer	(this	whole	book	is	one	long	mind	stretch,	and	I	hope	you	will
receive	a	flood	of	spiritual	help	from	now	on). I	have	learned	to	live	by	apiece	of	advice	I	read	many	years	ago:	“Start	a	great	project,	and	with	the	first
step	you’ll	be	amazed	at	the	invisible	forces	that	will	come	to	your	aid.”	What
this	means	is	that	when	you	have	a	new	thought,	you	are	actually	causing
invisible	forces	to	go	on	the	alert;	they	notice	you	and	try	to	help. Your	choice
is	either	to	block	them	or	to	go	with	the	flow. Here’s	what	it	takes	to	go	with
the	flow. A	Game	Plan	for	Accomplishment
Focus	on	what	you	want	to	accomplish,	let	it	sprout	and	grow	in	your	mind. Ask	your	soul	for	help	and	encouragement. Let	go	and	allow	the	results	to	take	shape. Act	when	you	feel	clear. Don’t	take	any	action	when	you’re	in	doubt. Don’t	spread	confusion;	have	faith	in	your	purpose. Don’t	act	on	anger,	anxiety,	or	other	negative	impulses. Expect	the	best. Accept	every	result	as	the	best	you	can	do	at	that	moment. Don’t	blame	yourself	for	setbacks	and	obstacles. Don’t	shrivel	up	and	go	tight	inside	when	something
goes	wrong. Be	open	to	the	lesson	that	every	setback	contains. Don’t	blame	others. Know	any	outcome	is	possible. Put	the	past	behind	you. Trust	in	a	better	future. Don’t	accept	bad	outcomes	passively—change	whatever	has	to	be	changed
within	yourself. Don’t	force	or	control	the	situation.Don’t	go	off	in	fantasy. Try	to	be	as	present	as	possible,	without	distraction. Feel	safe	and	centered	inside. Check	all	around	you	for	signs	that	you	are	on	the	right	path. Be	responsible	for	your	own	destiny. The	flow	comes	down	to	one	thing:	Spirit	can	accomplish	anything	once	you
get	out	of	its	way	When	you	are	truly	in	the	flow,	there	is	much	less	struggle
and	stress. You	don’t	have	to	try	so	hard. Yet	I	mostly	go	back	to	this	list	when	I’m	
not
	in	the	flow,	when	I	need	a
reminder	of	all	the	blocks	that	make	life	difficult,	such	as	negativity,	criticism,
losing	trust,	getting	tense	and	tight	inside,	and	so	forth. These	are	just	the
opposite
	of	what	the	list	tells	me	to	do. When	you	stop	blocking	yourself,	you
can	get	back	to	your	calm	and	confident	center. When	you	run	into	problems,
turn	them	into	spiritual	lessons,	such	as	learning	to	be	patient	and
	courageous. Nobody	grows	if	everything	comes	too	easily	all	the	time. But	you	shouldn’t
consider	struggle	to	be	the	normal	or	right	way. God	is	asking	for	cocreators,	not	soldiers. As	spirit	grows	with	you,	you	will
find	that	being	a	creator	is	much	easier	and	hugely	more	fun	than	winning	any
fight.Pure	Gold
D
o	you	talk	to	God?”	I	asked	Baba. “Does	he	talk	to	you?”
“In	a	way,”	he	said. “I	don’t	hear	his	voice,	but	I	know	what	God	wants
anyway. That’s	the	easiest	thing	in	the	world.”
“Really?”
Baba	had	decided	that	we	could	rest	for	a	while	from	our	tramping. He	found
a	stream	deep	in	the	woods,	and	we	were	dangling	our	feet	in	it	to	cool	off. “Nobody	seems	to	think	it’s	easy	to	figure	out	what	God	wants,”	I	said. I
wondered	if	Baba	had	another	of	his	tricky	answers	up	his	sleeve. “No	tricks	this	time,”	he	said. “Who	could	fool	God? Although	everyone	tries
to,	all	the	time.”
I	thought	he	was	going	to	launch	off	on	that	subject,	but	he	gazed	into	the
water	for	a	long	time. “This	whole	situation	is	muddy,”	he	said. “So	maybe
you	can	tell	me,	what	could	God	want	if	he’s	all-powerful—not	to	mention
that	he’s	not	talking?”
“He	could	want	a	lot	that	I	haven’t	figured	out	yet.”
“Don’t	look	so	nervous,”	Baba	said,	smiling. “Maybe	God	isn’t	like	a	tough
boss	who	demands	more	than	you	can	give,	even	working	overtime.”
“That	would	be	a	relief,”	I	admitted. “But	I’d	rather	hear	what	you	were	going
to	tell	me.”
“God	can	want	only	one	thing,”	said	Baba,	who	then	told	me	the	following
story:
One	day	in	a	rich	man’s	house	nobody	was	home,	and	all	his	expensive	things
started	an	argument. “I’m	the	most	precious	thing	here,”	a	gold	ring	declared	proudly.“No,	you’re	not,”	a	gold	necklace	said	even	more	haughtily. “Look	how
complicated	and	beautiful	I	am. No	simple	little	ring	can	compare	with	me.”
“You’re	both	wrong,”	said	a	gold	watch	with	disdain. “I’m	ten	times	more
complicated	than	any	necklace,	and	besides	that,	I’m	useful,	too.”
The	argument	only	got	worse,	until	a	grandfather	clock	in	the	corner	broke	in. “You’re	all	wrong,”	he	said. “A	ring	isn’t	the	same	as	a	necklace,	and	a
necklace	isn’t	the	same	as	a	watch. But	you	are	all	made	of	the	same	pure
gold,	and	that	makes	you	equal.”
Baba	looked	at	me	when	he	finished	his	tale. “Do	you	see	what	it’s	about?”	he
asked. “God	is	like	the	grandfather	clock,	who	sees	everyone	as	spirit,	but	we
go	around	seeing	differences. We	think	that	what	we	look	like,	what
	we	say
and	do,	determines	who	we	are. That’s	why	God	wants	only	one	thing:	He
wants	us	to	drop	our	disguises. Once	you	see	yourself	as	he	sees	you,	there	is
nothing	more	that	God	could	ever	want.”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
This	lesson	made	me	breathe	a	sigh	of	relief. I	used	to	worry	a	lot	about	what
God	wanted	me	to	do,	and	even	more	about	what	he	might	do	to	me	if	he	got
angry. It	seemed	incredibly	difficult	to	figure	out. Being	“holy”	and	yet	a
normal	kid	at	the	same	time	didn’t	seem	possible. But	Baba	taught	me	that
being	spiritual	has	nothing	to	do	with	pretending	you’re	holy	or	trying	to
imitate	someone	you	think	is	holy. You	are	spiritual	when	you	stop	pretending
that	God	is	anywhere	but	in	you. That’s	what	Baba’s	parable	was	about. The
pure	gold	in	the	story	is	the	most	valuable	thing	on	Earth,	and	so	is	spirit. The
only	thing	that	comes	close	is	air,	which	you	can’t	put	a	price	on,	even	though
it	sustains	all	life. I	have	heard	people	say	that	human	beings	are	angels	in	disguise. Each	of	us
has	been	given	a	mission	here	on	Earth,	but	after	we	get	our	orders,	God
erases	the	memory	at	birth	so	that	we	can	have	the	adventure	of	finding	out	on
our	own	what	we’re	meant	to	do	down	here. I	like	that	idea,	but	a	person	can
have	a	divine	mission	without	being	an	angel. The	following	story	may	strike
close	to	home:
When	God	created	the	world	he	summoned	his	angels	and	said,	“I	am	making
human	beings	in	my	image. They	will	be	creative,	intelligent,	and	good.Everything	divine	will	be	theirs	by	birthright.”
The	angels	said,	“But	if	they	know	the	truth	about	themselves,	their	lives	will
be	too	smooth	and	boring.”
“Then	I’ll	hide	the	truth	on	the	highest	mountaintop,”	said	God. “Human	beings	can	easily	figure	out	how	to	climb	the	highest	mountain,”	the
angels	said. “Then	I’ll	sink	it	in	the	deepest	ocean,”	said	God. “Human	beings	will	figure	out	how	to	dive	into	the	deepest	ocean,”	the	angels
said. The	discussion	raged	about	where	the	truth	could	be	hidden	from	such	clever
creatures. In	the	clouds? On	the	moon? Among	the	distant	galaxies? Then
God	had	a	brilliant	idea. “I	know,”	he	said. “Ill	put	the	truth	in	the	human
heart. That’s	the	last	place	they	will	ever	look.”	The	angels	applauded,	and
that’s	exactly	what	he	did. The	story	is	funny	and	sad	at	the	same	time. As	long	as	people	keep	wearing
disguises,	the	truth	will	remain	well	hidden	in	their	hearts. In	a	way	Baba’s
lesson	was	strange,	because	if	you	think	about	it,	the	creator	of	the	universe
couldn’t	really	want	anything. God	is	already	everywhere. He’s	not	an	old
man	sitting	on	a	throne	in	the	sky. God	isn’t	even	a	he	or	a	she. God	is	spirit
itself. But	if	you	imagine	him	as	a	human	being,	God	would	want	us	to
appreciate	one	truly	amazing	fact:	Our	essence	and	his	are	exactly	the	same. Spirit	is	spirit,	whether	you	find	it	in	a	human	being	or	in	the	creator. Go
ahead,	take	a	closer	look—the	resemblance	is	unmistakable.The	Sweet	Life
I
	must	have	dozed	off	beside	the	stream,	because	the	next	thing	I	could	feel
was	warm	grass	under	my	cheek. I	sat	up,	rubbing	my	eyes. “Are	we	ready	to
go?”	I	mumbled. “We	don’t	have	to,”	said	Baba. “I	found	what	I	was	looking	for.”	It	took	a
second	for	me	to	realize	that	he	was	staring	at	the	sky,	and	when	I	looked	up,
it	was	there. A	rainbow. “But	that’s	impossible,”	I	exclaimed. The	sky	was	as	clear	as	before,	but	there
was	no	denying	that	a	perfect	arc	of	a	rainbow	was	hanging	over	us. I	felt	the
grass	all	around	me. “The	ground’s	dry. What’s	happening?”
“I	can	give	you	two	explanations,”	Baba	said	quickly. He	wanted	to	head	off
any	idea	that	he	had	performed	some	kind	of	magic	trick. “Sometimes
rainbows	can	appear	in	a	clear	blue	sky	because	moisture	is	trapped	in	the	air. The	moisture	forms	tiny	droplets	that	bend	the	light	just	right. It’s	rare,	but	it
happens.”
“What’s	the	second	explanation?”	I	asked,	thinking	that	the	first	was	good
enough. “A	rainbow	appeared	because	we	were	looking	for	one.”
I	said,	“That	explanation	is	a	lot	harder	to	believe.”
Baba	shrugged. “Then	why	not	pick	both?”
“Because	only	one	can	be	right,”	I	said. “If	you	learn	to	see	beyond	the	surface,	both	can	be	right. Moisture	had	to
form	that	rainbow. But	my	soul	also	knew	that	I	was	looking	for	one.”	Baba
sounded	too	certain	for	me	to	argue	with,	and	I	was	beginning	to	believe	him,
as	I	did	on	so	many	occasions	when	he	said	something	impossible. He	went	on. “I	told	you	that	God	doesn’t	seem	to	be	around,	but	he	is	doing
what	we	want	anyway. Spirit’s	assignment	is	to	turn	our	thoughts	into	reality
And	God	never	leaves	anyone	out. Looking	at	a	rainbow,	some	will	see	waterdroplets	bending	light,	others	will	see	a	moment	of	delight	provided	by
spirit.”
We	lay	back	now	and	watched	the	rainbow,	which	was	getting	brighter	by	the
moment. Somehow	seeing	it	without	clouds	was	eerie	but	just	as	glorious. “Why	does	a	rainbow	make	me	feel	so	good?”	I	asked. “Because	life	is	meant	to	be	sweet,	and	when	you	see	something	as	sweet	as	a
rainbow,	it	makes	you	remember	that.”	Baba	said	nothing	more	as	the
rainbow	faded,	leaving	behind	no	trace	that	it	had	ever	existed. W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
That	rainbow	has	followed	me	a	long	time. When	I	grew	up	I	got	almost	all
my	college	training	in	science,	so	my	mind
	learned	the	kinds	of	explanations
that	leave	out	the	soul. But	Baba	taught	me	that	moments	of	delight,	the	times
when	life	is	truly	sweet,	come	from	spirit. I	had	to	teach	myself	to	look	under
the	surface	and	find	the	hidden	taste	of	sweetness. If	a	rainbow	can	be	hiding
in	a	clear	blue	sky,	then	who	knows	what	else	is	hiding	inside	an	ordinary
day? People	ask,	“How	do	you	define	God?”	Baba	had	the	simplest	answer	I’ve
ever	heard:	He’s	the	surprise	you	never	expected. He’s	the	rainbow	in	a	clear
blue	sky. That’s	a	colorful	way	of	saying	that	God	is	the	spirit	that	amazes	us
in	ordinary	things. God	is	not	as	distant	as	people	seem	to	think. To	find	him,
you	only	have	to	get	closer	a	day	at	a	time. Going	about	your	old	routine
won’t	do	it,	though. You	must	step	out	of	the	ordinary. Otherwise,	where’s	the
surprise? Better	than	any	rainbow	is	to	surprise	yourself. Beneath	the	surface	every	day
presents	at	least	one	chance	for	a	spiritual	surprise. You	are	very	different
beneath	the	surface	than	anyone	ever	thought. I	came	up	with	an	A-to-Z	list	to
create	moments	of	“Aha!”	every	day. Pick	any	letter	at	random,	and	under
that	letter	will	be	a	simple	way	to	see	yourself	as	you	never	have	before—as
someone	who	has	the	same	power	and	vision	as	your	soul.A	Soul	Alphabet
A
PPRECIATION
Today,	decide	to	appreciate	somebody. Appreciation	shouldn’t	be	silent. It’s
the	best	way	to	show	that	you	don’t	take	anyone	for	granted. I	can	remember
words	people	told	me	years	and	years	ago	that	changed	how	I	saw	myself. “You	are	a	good	person”	is	an	incredibly	powerful	statement	from	the	right
person,	someone	you	really	respect. “You’re	so	thoughtful”	or	“I	like	the	way
you	say	things”	or	“I’m	glad	I	can	count	on	you”	are	all	words	of	appreciation
that	someone	you	know	wants	to	hear. When	people	sell	a	house	and	get	more
than	they	expected	for	it,	they	say	it	appreciated	in	value. The	same	is	true	for
human	beings. If	you	appreciate	them,	they	will	increase	in	value	before	your
very	eyes.B
EYOND
Today,	decide	that	you	will	look	beyond	your	own	point	of	view. Say	to
someone,	“Tell	me	more	about	how	you	see	things.”	It’s	easy	to	find	a	time	to
do	that—just	wait	until	you	think	you	have	the	most	important	thing	to	say,
then	stop	and	let	someone	else	speak	instead. The	soul	takes	in	all	points	of
view,	and	the	more	you	imitate	that	habit,	the	more	spiritual	your	life	will
become. Baba	had	a	good	way	of	explaining	this. “Do	you	know	the	story	of	the	blind	men	and	the	elephant?”	he	asked. I	did. In	India	every	child	is	told	the	fable	about	how	six	wise	men	tried	to
describe	an	elephant,	but	each	was	blind. The	first	blind	man	felt	the
elephant’s	side	and	said,	“I	know	what	an	elephant	is,	it’s	very	much	like	a
wall.”	The	second	blind	man	felt	the	elephant’s	tusk	and	said,	“No,	an
elephant	is	very	much	like	a	spear.”	The	third	blind	man	took	hold	of	the
trunk,	so	to	him	an	elephant	was	much	like	a	snake. And	so	it	went. The	tail
felt	like	a	rope,	the	ear	like	a	fan,	the	leg	like	a	tree. None	of	them	got	it
completely	right,	so	there’s	a	moral:	If	you	know	only	a	little	bit	about
something,	you	don’t	really	know	it	at	all. “That	still	leaves	a	riddle,	though,”	said	Baba. “Why	do	you	suppose	they
picked	the	number	six? Why	not	seven	blind	men	or	three? Six	stands	for	the
five	senses	and	the	mind. We	use	these	six	things	to	figure	out	what	the
universe	is	like. For	the	universe	is	the	elephant,	and	the	real	moral	of	the	tale
is	that	you	cannot	trust	your	senses	to	tell	you	what	is	real,	no	matter	how
hard	you	think	about	it. It	takes	something	else—the	eye	of	the	soul—to	truly
see	the	elephant.”C
OMMUNICATE
Today,	tell	someone	about	a	feeling	you’ve	been	keeping	to	yourself. Be
brave	enough	to	communicate. Communicating	has	two	sides. There’s	what
you	say	and	there’s	what	you	don’t	say. Most	spiritual	feelings	fall	into	the
second	category. It’s	hard	to	talk	about	feeling	that	God	loves	you,	or	the
opposite,	that	he	doesn’t	love	you. It’s	hard	to	talk	about	your	deepest	feelings
for	your	family. But	spirit	doesn’t	like	to	be	trapped	inside,	so	don’t	keep
these	feelings	private	forever,	or	they	will	become	stuck. You	don’t	have	to	start	with	something	really	deep	and	personal. Find
someone	today	who	will	listen	to	just	one	feeling	you	haven’t	expressed
before. It	could	be	as	simple	as	“I	think	we’re	a	lot	alike,	but	I	never	told	you”
or	“I	feel	really	comfortable	around	you.”	As	a	start	this	may	sound	pretty
basic,	but	this	is	a	powerful	way	to	reach	your	soul. Revealing	what’s	in	your
soul	is	like	using	the	telephone. You	can’t	expect	to	reach	anyone	if	the	line	is
cut. People	think	they’re	being	put	on	hold	when	they	call	God,	but	actually
the	line	is	out. “Why	doesn’t	God	just	repair	the	line	himself?”	I	asked	Baba. “Because	he’s	not	the	one	who	cut	it,”	Baba	said. “If	you	begin	right	now	to
communicate	what’s	really	in	your	heart,	you	will	be	repairing	the	line,	bit	by
bit,	until	you	and	spirit	are	on	speaking	terms	once	again.”D
OING	FOR	OTHERS
Today,	decide	to	do	something	for	others. Pick	an	action	that	you’d	like
someone	to	do	for	you. At	home	this	can	be	as	simple	as	bringing	food	to	the
dinner	table	without	being	asked	or	making	the	bed	for	someone	(they’ll
probably	faint,	so	this	is	an	especially	good	choice). Or	you	could	save	a
place	in	line	at	the	movies	for	someone	who’s	not	already	your	friend. Whatever	you	choose,	do	it	in	the	spirit	of	unselfishness. How	do	you	know
what	that	feels	like? Baba	had	a	surprising	idea	about	that. “When	you	do
anything	for	another	person,	it	must	feel	as	if	you	are	doing	it	for	yourself.”
“That	sounds	strange,”	I	said. “But	true. At	the	soul	level	there	is	no	difference	between	you	and	another
person. The	feeling	you	get	from	helping	them	is	just	as	sweet	as	if	you	did
the	same	deed	for	yourself. Sweeter,	in	fact,	because	every	unselfish	act
allows	more	love	to	come	into	this	world. What	could	be	better	than	that?”E
XPAND
Today,	decide	to	expand	the	way	you	see. Explore	a	book—maybe	on
astronomy	or	medicine—that	everyone	else	would	think	is	too	difficult	for
you. If	you	go	to	a	football	game,	try	rooting	for	both	sides. If	you	are	a	boy,
spend	five	minutes	thinking	about	how	a	girl	would	see	a	certain	situation,	or
reverse	that	if	you	are	a	girl. Seeing	things	as	the	opposite	sex	does	is	always
expansive	because	we	spend	so	much	time	believing	that	the	man’s	way	or	the
woman’s	way	has	to	be	right. Baba	took	this	much	further. He	thought
everyone	should	expand	on	five	levels	every	day. Mind:
	You	are	expanding	mentally	if	you	understand	more	about	life
and	the	soul. Body:
	You	are	expanding	physically	if	you	feel	light,	carefree,	and
safe	in	the	world. Emotions:
	You	are	expanding	emotionally	if	you	feel	happier	and
more	positive. At	the	same	time	fear	and	anger	don’t	cloud	you	with
their	negativity. Psychology:
	You	are	expanding	psychologically	if	you	feel	more	free. Spirit:
	You	are	expanding	spiritually	when	your	vision	of	life	is
coming	true. I	apply	these	five	levels	to	myself,	and	only	if	I	am	expanding	on	all	of	them
do	I	feel	I’m	really	getting	closer	to	my	soul. F
ORGIVENESS
Today,	forgive	somebody	for	one	thing	that	hurt	you	in	the	past. You	don’t
have	to	talk	to	the	person	who	wronged	you	or	make	an	announcement. But
you	do	have	to	truly	forgive,	which	means	that	from	this	day	on	the	wrong
has	been	erased	completely. You	will	treat	that	person	as	if	the	hurt	never
happened. (I’m	sure	you’ve	met	people	who	say	“I	forgive	you”	on	Monday
but	somehow	manage	to	dredge	up	your	offenses	on	Tuesday—or	the	nexttime	they	get	irritated. If	you	find	yourself	saying,	“Remember	that	time	you
did	X	to	me?”	then	you	haven’t	really	forgiven	or	forgotten.) Even	if	somebody	in	your	life	needs	a	lot	of	forgiving,	you	can	find	one	small
thing	to	start	with. Baba	knew	that	even	this	was	a	challenge,	however. “Do	you	find	it	hard	to	forgive	people	who’ve	done	something	wrong?”	he
asked	me. “Sure,	especially	if	they	did	it	to	me,”	I	said. “Then	why	bother	to	try?”	he	asked. “Because	you’re	supposed	to.”
“Ah,	now	you	know	why	
not
	to	forgive,”	Baba	said. “Anything	you	do
because	you	are	supposed	to	is	forced. Remember	the	times	as	a	child	when
you	were	told	to	make	up	with	your	brother	after	a	fight? The	only	reason	you
did	was	because	your	parents	were	standing	over	you. That	kind	of
forgiveness	only	creates	more	resentment,	which	you	will	bury	because
resentment	is	supposed	to	be	bad. There	is	another	way. Forgive	because	it
makes	you	feel	better. Forgive	because	it	removes	toxic	memories	from	your
mind. Forgive	because	it	opens	the	door	for	accepting	yourself. In	the	end	you
cannot	accept	yourself	without	forgiveness,	because	in	your	heart	of	hearts
you	know	that	you	want	to	be	forgiven	too. Once	you	admit	that	to	yourself,
people	will	hear	the	sincerity	in	your	voice	when	you	forgive	them.”
G
IFT
Today,	decide	that	you	will	look	upon	life	as	a	gift. Take	a	moment	to	list	the
blessings	in	your	life. Maybe	that	sounds	corny,	but	Baba	found	it	very
important. “Do	you	think	every	day	is	a	gift?”	he	asked	me. “Well	…”
“I	thought	so. The	funny	thing	is	that	people	mostly	want	to	grab	at	life. They
want	more	and	more	for	themselves. With	that	attitude	life	isn’t	a	gift,	it’s
more	like	loot	that	you	are	robbing	from	someone,”	Baba	said. “To	make
every	day	feel	like	a	gift,	you	must	feel	deep	down	that	no	one	can	take	itfrom	you. Isn’t	that	what	a	gift	is—something	completely	yours	without
strings	attached? Life	seems	to	have	strings	attached. You	must	work	and
prove	yourself;	you	must	strive	for	love	and	approval	that	may	be	taken	away. “All	these	things	exist	in	the	mind,	however. To	your	soul,	life	is	purely	a	gift. It	is	ever	fresh,	ever	flowing,	like	water	in	a	fountain. This	attitude	is	also	the
key	to	giving. When	you	can	truly	say	to	yourself,	‘Everything	I	have	came
from	God	and	goes	back	to	God,’	then	you	can	give	to	others	in	the	same
spirit	that	life	was	given	to	you.”
H
EART	AWARENESS
Today,	decide	to	see	the	world	with	your	heart	and	not	your	head. To	imagine
what	that’s	like,	think	about	how	a	mother	feels	toward	her	child. No	matter
how	many	ways	the	child	may	decide	to	be	bad,	its	mother	doesn’t	change	her
love. She	sees	her	child	with	heart	awareness. You	can	do	that	for	anyone	you
happen	to	pick. Overlook	their	faults	for	just	ten	minutes,	seeing	them	as
totally	good. Baba	was	very	clear	that	we	all	need	to	practice	this	because	we
use	our	minds	far	too	much. “Your	head	isn’t	shy	about	ruling	your	heart. It	will	remind	you	every	day
why	you	should	look	down	on	person	A,	resent	person	B,	never	forgive
person	C.	It	will	show	you	faults	and	imperfections	everywhere	you	look. The
heart	doesn’t	do	that. It	asks	one	simple	question:	
Am	I	feeling	love? If	the
answer	is	yes,	then	you	have	true	heart	awareness. If	the	answer	is	no,	you
must	get	back	to	heart	awareness. Most	of	spiritual	life	comes	down	to	letting
love	have	its	rightful	place	at	the	center	of	life.”
I
NSPIRATION
Today,	let	something	inspire	you. Allow	yourself	a	moment	when	you	go,
“Aha!”	If	possible,	look	at	a	work	of	genius,	like	a	great	painting,	or	listen	to
music	that	takes	your	breath	away	Baba	put	a	high	value	on	inspiration
because	he	traced	it	back	to	the	soul. “Inspiration	shouldn’t	be	mechanical;	it’s	not	like	throwing	a	switch,”	he	said. “Your	soul	knows	when	you	need	to	be	inspired. The	word	itself	means
‘bringing	in	spirit.’	When	do	you	need	to	bring	in	spirit? Who	can	say? It
might	be	five	seconds	from	now,	it	might	be	this	evening	when	you	see	thesunset	or	tomorrow	when	your	eye	is	charmed	by	a	baby	in	the	park. “But	always	know	this:	Inspiration	isn’t	optional. Your	soul	uses	it	to	get
through,	to	send	you	a	message. That	sunset	is	about	you,	and	so	is	that	baby
in	the	park. Inspiration	isn’t	reserved	only	for	great	deeds	and	great	works	of
art. Be	attentive,	appreciate	your	life	and	all	who	are	in	it,	set	yourself	a
vision. With	these	things	in	place	the	door	to	inspiration	is	always	open.”
J
USTICE
Today,	be	fair	to	somebody	who	needs	it. Justice	is	fairness,	and	the	opposite
of	justice	is	unfairness	in	all	its	forms. Unjust	treatment	turns	people	into
victims,	and	that	is	not	what	the	soul	wants. It’s	fair	to	be	told	the	truth. It’s
fair	to	be	seen	as	equal. It’s	fair	to	share	in	the	good	things	of	this	world. If	you	know	someone	who	is	on	the	wrong	end	of	fairness,	do	something	to
make	it	right. Share	your	time,	money,	food,	or	simply	your	respect	with
someone	who	lacks	these	things. You’ll	be	doing	exactly	what	you	think	God
should	do	for	you. Baba	once	asked	me,	“Have	you	heard	people	say	that	life	is	unfair?”
“All	the	time,”	I	said. “But	they	also	say	that	God	is	just. So	which	is	it? Some	spiritual	questions
make	a	huge	difference,	and	this	is	one. Either	life	is	unfair	or	God	is	just.”
“I	guess	people	
hope
	that	God	is	just,	but	no	one	can	prove	it. Anyone	can	see
that	life	isn’t	fair,”	I	said. “I	can’t,”	said	Baba. “Nobody	ever	handed	me	a	set	of	rules. For	all	I	know,
God	may	be	handing	out	cosmic
	justice,	but	I	don’t	have	cosmic	eyes;
therefore,	I	will	never	know. But	I	do	know	one	thing:	Sometimes	life	says
yes	to	me,	and	sometimes	life	says	no. If	you	really	look	at	it,	most	people
think	life	is	unfair	because	they	hit	a	no	when	they	wanted	a	yes. “If	you	could	get	life	to	say	yes	more	often,	you’d	think	there	was	justice	in
the	universe. Wanting	a	yes	is	natural. It’s	the	very	thing	your	soul	is	trying	to
achieve. I’ve	shown	you	many	ways	to	live	from	the	level	of	the	soul. Once
you	do	that,	life	will	begin	to	feel	much	more	fair.”“But	I	will	still	see	terrible	things	happening	to	other	people,”	I	said. “Everything	you	see	in	the	world	reflects	the	power	for	good	and	evil	that	is
inside	you,”	said	Baba. “Solve	the	question	of	whether	life	is	fair. Go	as	deep
as	you	can. Never	stop	asking	what	the	divine	plan	is. You’ll	never	find	a
complete	answer,	but	layer	by	layer	you	will	come	to	see	that	God	did	not
create	an	unjust	world. He	created	a	world	where	all	possibilities,	including
triumph	and	tragedy,	play	themselves	out,	exactly	as	they	do	in	our	hearts.”
K
INDNESS
Today,	take	a	moment	to	show	some	kindness. Treat	someone	better	than	you
are	used	to;	understand	the	feelings	of	someone	who	has	been	hurt;	spend
time	with	a	sick	patient	or	a	loner	at	school	who	is	dying	for	a	kind	word	and
rarely	gets	one. Baba	knew	that	kindness	can	be	difficult,	even	with	people
we	love. “Have	you	ever	been	mean	to	your	little	brother?”	he	asked	me. “He	thinks	so,”	I	replied,	hoping	to	dodge	the	question. “It’s	strange	how	mean	we	can	be	to	our	own	kind,”	he	said. “Did	you	ever
notice	that	
kind
	has	this	second	meaning? Those	who	are	most	like	you,	your
people,	are	called	your	kind. “Let’s	say	you	didn’t	have	a	little	brother,	but	a	twin	instead,	and	let’s	say
your	twin	was	so	perfect	that	he	did	everything	you	do. Would	you	always	be
kind	to	him?”	asked	Baba. “We’d	still	fight	sometimes,”	I	said. “Yes,	the	closer	people	are,	the	more	flaws	they	see	in	one	another,”	Baba
said. “But	if	you	can’t	be	kind	to	your	perfect	twin,	then	why	be	kind	to
anybody?”
“Because	you	just	feel	like	it,”	I	said. “Feelings	are	tricky. They	tend	to	turn	bad	when	you	aren’t	looking,”	said
Baba. “Your	soul	has	a	better	reason. Stop	looking	for	flaws,	and	kindness
comes	much	more	easily. You	always	have	that	choice. We	spend	a	lot	of	time
overlooking	our	own	faults. Spend	a	fraction	of	that	time	overlooking	thefaults	of	someone	else,	and	soon	you	will	see	that	other	people	deserve	the
same	kindness	you	want	them	to	show	to	you. The	minute	you	see	that
kindness	is	
deserved
,	you	will	not	be	casually	mean	to	anyone	again.”
L
OVE	AND	LIKE
Today,	take	time	to	like	someone	you	already	love. Does	this	sound	strange? Most	of	the	people	we	love	are	in	our	family. Loving	them	is	part	of	being
there,	while	liking	them	is	another	matter. Baba	talked	to	me	about	this. “Why	do	I	hear	people	say,	‘I	love	you,	but	I	don’t	like	you’?”	he	asked. “I	don’t	know. It	feels	peculiar	when	someone	says	that,”	I	replied. “Because	they	are	sending	two	messages	at	once,”	said	Baba. “#8216;I	love
you,	but	you	have	done	bad	things	to	me.’	It’s	very	hard	to	like	someone	who
doesn’t	do	what	pleases	you. If	a	friend	makes	you	jealous	or	resentful,	like
goes	out	the	window.”
“Until	you	get	over	it,”	I	said. “Your	soul	knows	a	different	way,”	said	Baba. “There	is	a	place	inside	you
that	has	never	been	hurt	and	never	will	be. If	you	lie	in	bed,	sometimes	you
can	feel	it	as	a	softness	in	your	heart,	a	warm	sense	of	belonging	that	nobody
can	take	away	from	you. You	don’t	have	to	struggle	to	find	that	feeling;	you
only	have	to	uncover	it. Once	you	do,	love	and	like	will	stop	being	such	a
problem,	because	you
	won’t	need	your	friends	to	act	just	the	way	you	want
before	you	can	like	them. And	those	you	love	will	be	likable	because	you
have	stopped	saying,	‘I	like	you	only	when	you’re	nice	to	me.’”
M
USIC	OF	NATURE
Today,	go	outside	and	discover	the	music	of	nature. Some	people	say	that
after	God	created	the	world,	he	felt	like	signing	his	work,	as	a	painter	signs	a
painting. So	he	left	behind	two	things	to	remind	us	of	heaven:	waterfalls	and
rainbows. I	like	that	idea,	but	Baba	took	it	even	further. “Did	you	know	that	there’s	a	kind	of	music	you	can	see?”	asked	Baba. 1
shook	my	head. “It’s	the	music	of	nature. Go	outside	sometime	and	try	to	seeit.”
“How?”
“Begin	by	letting	a	beautiful	sound	reach	your	ears,	such	as	the	singing	of
birds	or	the	rush	of	a	stream,”	Baba	said. “Now	open	your	eyes	and	take	in
the	scene. Don’t	focus	on	the	sound	or	the	sight	you	see,	let	them	blend. Imagine	your	vision	getting	bigger	and	bigger	as	you	take	in	the	trees,	the
clouds,	the	sky. It	all	hangs	together,	just	as	a	perfect	day	seems	to	hang
together. That	harmony	is	the	music	of	nature. It	isn’t	any	one	thing,	no	matter
how	beautiful. It	is	the	beauty	of	One. If	the	angels	really	play	music	for	God,
this	is	what	they	play,	an	eternal	song	in	praise	of	unity.”
N
EGATIVITY
Today,	avoid	the	temptation	to	be	negative. It’s	negative	to	criticize,	to	blame
somebody	else,	to	demand	perfection,	to	treat	someone	as	inferior	or	not	your
kind	of	person. How	many	times	have	you	heard	somebody	justify	these
behaviors? Perform	an	experiment	for	one	day. See	how	you	feel	after	not
being	critical,	not	blaming	anyone,	not	seeing	anybody	else	as	inferior. You’ll
find	a	lot	of	surprises,	such	as	how	often	people	are	negative	without	thinking
they	are,	and	how	good	it	feels	to	go	one	day	without	putting	a	single	person
down	in	any	way. “All	negativity	is	based	on	the	word	
no
,”	Baba	told	me. “When	you	say	no,
you	keep	life	from	flowing	where	it	wants	to	go. Your	no	blocks	the	flow.”
“Sometimes	you	have	to	say	no,”	I	pointed	out. “We’re	not	talking	about	saying	no	when	you	see	something	wrong,”	he	said. “If	a	baby	gets	too	close	to	the	fire,	then	no	is	a	way	to	protect	it	from	harm. But	for	every	time	that	kind	of	situation	comes	up,	people	say	a	hundred	noes
that	could	be	yeses. There	is	a	deeper	mystery	here	than	they	realize. “Life	is	always	positive. Its	power	is	used	to	create
	growth. So	if	you	say	yes,
you	harness	the	power	of	growth,	while	saying	no	makes	things	shrink	away
and	stop	growing.”
I	shook	my	head. “I	still	don’t	see	how	you	can	always	say	yes.”
“Words	are	secondary,”	replied	Baba. “It	comes	down	to	allowing. Either	youallow	life	to	unfold	or	you	don’t. When	you	try	to	force	anyone	to	do
something,	when	you	manipulate	or	control,	beg	or	whine,	those	are	signs	that
you	don’t	trust	life	to	unfold. You	want	to	step	in	on	your	own. Any	time	you
feel	totally	alone	fighting	for	yourself,	some	kind	of	negativity	is	at	work. Yet
your	soul	would	never	leave	you	alone;	it	always	offers	the	support	of	life
with	all	its	infinite	power. “Learning	to	allow	takes	time. Be	on	the	alert	when	you	are	tempted	to	say
no. Ask	yourself,	‘Can	this	situation	work	out	if	I	just	allow?’	The	more	you
allow	spirit	to	solve	problems,	the	closer	you	will	come	to	harnessing	the
power	that	lies	at	the	very	heart	of	life.”
O
PEN
Today,	be	open	to	a	new	possibility. It’s	easy	to	close	your	mind	and	harder	to
open	it. But	your	soul	wants	you	to	be	more	open	every	day. “God	is	always	ready	to	be	surprised,”	said	Baba. “When	he	created	the
world,	the	first	thing	he	said	was,	‘Let’s	hope	it	works.’”
“That’s	a	joke,	right?”	I	said. “It	could	also	be	wisdom,”	said	Baba. “Water	can’t	flow	through	a	pipe	unless
it’s	open,	and	you	are	the	pipe	that	life	flows	through. If	you	want	more	out	of
life,	just	be	more	open—open	to	new	ideas	and	experiences,	open	to	what
others	think,	open	to	the	unknown	that	is	just	around	the	corner. Some	people
are	proud	of	knowing	what	they	know. They	shouldn’t	be. The	more	you	
don’t
know,	the	more	you	see	the	mystery	that’s	all	around	you.”
Being	open	scares	some	people,	so	they	try	to	keep	everything	under	control. But	when	you	are	open,	life	really	gets	much	sweeter. You	allow	things	to
happen,	you	let	other	people	be	themselves. “I	want	to	be	me”	is	a	desire
everyone	has	in	their	heart. Today	you	can	help	someone	be	themselves	with
the	following	steps:
Be	relaxed	in	your	attitude. Show	that	you	are	friendly	and	approachable. Even	if	you	are	used	to	the	way	boys	challenge	one	another	and	act
aggressive	to	show	that	they	are	part	of	the	gang,	give	that	behavior	a	rest. Give	your	competitive	streak	a	rest	too. Instead	of	competing,	find	a	quietplace	to	talk	about	what’s	happening	in	your	life. Listen. Turn	off	the	TV	and	computer. Get	the	other	person	to	open	up,	then
focus	on	what	they	want	to	say. When	you	listen,	you	immediately	bring	other
people	on	your	side. Test	it	out	for	yourself:	When	someone	quietly	listens	to
you,	don’t	you	feel	accepted? Today	you	can	give	that	same	feeling	to
someone	else. Share	a	secret. Nothing	is	better	at	showing	that	you	feel	trusting	and	open. Be	honest	but	not	critical. Openness	means	you	don’t	hold	back,	you	say	what
is	really	in	your	heart. But	being	negative	makes	others	tense,	and	today	that’s
the	opposite	of	what	you	want. These	are	simple	steps,	but	there’s	a	kind	of	magic	in	them. Without	saying	a
word,	by	simply	being	open,	you	can	have	a	totally	new	relationship	with
your	family,	for	example. You	will	instantly	be	perceived	as	no	longer	a	threat
to	anyone. And	these	steps	aren’t	just	for	now	They	will	serve	you	well	for
the	rest	of	your	life. P
ARENTS
Today,	imagine	that	you	are	a	parent. Pick	a	friend	and	look	at	him	or	her,	not
with	today	in	mind,	but	the	years	ahead. What	kind	of	future	would	you	tell
your	friend	to	work	toward? Listen	to	what	your	friend	is	saying	and	ask
yourself,	“What	kind	of	child	did	I	raise?”	Do	you	hear	the	values	you	hoped
would	be	there? Put	yourself	in	the	shoes	of	someone	who	has	to	worry	about
where	your	friend	goes	at	night	and	who	he	or	she	hangs	out	with. Parenting
isn’t	a	job,	but	a	state	of	mind. If	you	can	begin	to	see	one	other	person	like	a
parent	does,	you	will	get	a	hint	of	God’s	point	of	view. “Who	would	you	rather	have	for	a	father?”	asked	Baba. “Your	own	dad	or
God?”
“That’s	easy. I’d	choose	my	dad,”	I	said. “Why?”
“God	knows	everything	you	do. He	sees	every	bad	thought. There’s	not	a	lot
of	wiggle	room.”“But	isn’t	God	supposed	to	be	perfect?”	asked	Baba,	smiling. “Why	would
you	need	wiggle	room?”
“Perfect	creates	a	lot	of	stress. I	don’t	think	I	could	breathe	around	God,”	I
said. “Fair	enough. Parents	are	worried	about	being	perfect	too. They	are	trying	to
be	as	fair	as	love	can	be. But	in	truth	God	is	doing	that	as	well. Your	soul
doesn’t	push. It	knows	where	you	are	sensitive	or	self-conscious,	and	it
allows	you	to	keep	your	secrets	for	as	long	as	you	want. “If	you	see	things	this	way,	it	becomes	a	lot	easier	to	understand	why	parents
are	the	way	they	are. They	fit	into	what	your	own	soul	wants	you	to	hear. Begin	to	appreciate	your	parents	from	the	spiritual	level	whenever	you	are
tempted	to	do	battle. See	them	as	two	souls	working	in	cooperation	with	your
soul. Then	one	day	you	will	see	that	you	also	taught	them	many	things. Every
child	is	also	a	parent	at	the	soul	level.”
Q
UESTIONING
Today,	do	two	things	that	may	sound	like	opposites:	Ask	yourself	a	new
question	and	answer	an	old	one. The	new	question	is	easy	to	find. Pick	up	any
book	about	human	nature,	maybe	a	novel	or	a	book	on	psychology	or
relationships. Find	a	part	of	the	story	where	two	people	are	in	conflict,
perhaps	a	couple	who	are	fighting. Ask	yourself,	“If	I	had	to	decide	this
argument,	which	side	would	I	pick?”	Then	pick	the	other	side	and	ask	why	it
is	right	instead. Questioning	keeps	your	mind	sharp	and	focused. But	the	mind	also	needs	to	settle	on	answers. So	take	a	question	that	nobody
seems	to	know	the	answer	to:	Is	there	a	God? Does	Satan	exist? What
happens	after	we	die? Give	yourself	an	answer	and	watch	what	happens. The
instant	you	answer	a	question,	many	new	possibilities	come	to	mind. It’s	a
sort	of	reverse	psychology,	because	the	instant	you	are	sure	you	know
something,	a	little	voice	inside	can’t	help	but	chime	in	with,	
Maybe,	but	what
about	X
? Baba	taught	me	to	respect	both	sides	of	questioning. “People	say	you	should	never	stop	asking	questions,	but	I	only	half	believe
that,”	he	said. “You	should	also	keep	accepting	answers.”
“I	don’t	see	how	they	can	go	together,”	I	said.“They	can,	once	you	see	that	questions	aren’t	meant	to	last	forever. If
someone	spends	a	lifetime	looking	for	God	without	finding	him,	that	would
be	a	terrible	waste.”
“It	happens	all	the	time,”	I	pointed	out. “The	problem	is	doubt,”	said	Baba. “Doubt	doesn’t	lead	to	answers;	it	only
breeds	more	doubt. Many	people	would	like	to	know	that	God	is	real,	but	they
aren’t	willing	to	give	up	their	doubts	along	the	way	They	would	rather	keep
them	intact	until	God	gives	them	a	sign.”
“How	do	you	get	around	that?”	I	asked. “I	mean,	their	doubt	is	real.”
“Let	one	answer	unfold	at	a	time,”	said	Baba. “When	you	make	a	best	friend,
he	doesn’t	have	to	prove	himself	all	over	again	every	time	you	meet. Yet	you
make	God	go	back	to	zero	when	anything	goes	wrong. “Be	more	accepting. When	you	see	a	reason	to	think	that	life	is	good,	believe
in	that	reason	and	don’t	go	back	on	it. The	next	reason	will	be	more
convincing. Going	back	to	doubt	every	time	is	what	turns	life	into	one	big
question. Keep	your	eye	on	the	answers. They	are	coming	your	way	all	the
time,	in	small	hints	and	clues.”
I’ve	tried	to	live	that	way,	but	one	small	worry	keeps	returning,	so	I’ll	bring	it
up	here. I’ve	met	hundreds	of	people	who	don’t	believe	in	a	personal	God. Some	tell	me	that	they	believe	in	a	higher	self. Some	use	the	word	
spirit
,	and
they	pray	to	the	universe	the	way	other	people	pray	to
	God. All	of	them,
however,	feel	a	God. All	of	them,	however,	feel	a	higher	purpose. They	aren’t
willing	to	settle	for	a	world	without	spirit. So	I	stopped	saying,	“I	am	looking	for	God.”	I	don’t	often	hear	myself	saying,
“I	believe	in	God,”	or	even,	“There	is	a	God.”	To	really	know	the	truth	about
love	or	faith	or	the	soul	itself,	trust	in	small	answers	first. Let	them	grow
instead	of	being	smothered	at	birth	by	your	doubts. Then	an	amazing	thing
can	happen. You	can	wake	up	one	morning	to	discover	that	everything	God
stands	for	is	true. God	is	real	by	any	name	you	use,	or	none	at	all. R
ESPOND
Today,	give	somebody	a	response	instead	of	a	reaction. There	is	a	bigdifference	between	the	two:	Reactions	come	automatically,	responses	take	a
bit	of	thought. Most	of	the	time	you	can	handle	life	using	nothing	but
reactions. Want	salad	or	a	hamburger	for	lunch? Hamburger
. Got	time	for	a
video	game? Sure
. When	are	you	going	to	do	your	homework? Later
. A
reaction	is	like	putting	a	penny	in	the	slot	and	getting	the	answer
automatically. Each	of	these	questions	could	have	led	to	a	response	instead. Want	salad	or	a
hamburger	for	lunch? What	kind	of	salad	were	you	thinking	of? Got	time	for	a
video	game? Isn’t	there	something	new	we	could	do? When	are	you	going	to
do	your	homework? As	soon	as	I	have	quiet	time	when	I	can	think. Notice	the
difference? The	responses	aren’t	mechanical	like	reactions,	and	they	don’t	just
pop	out	automatically. Starting	today,	get	into	the	habit	of	responding. It	doesn’t	take	more	effort—
you	simply	pause	and	wait	to	see	if	a	new	response	wants	to	come	up. You’ll
get	the	reaction	first	because	it	pops	up	without	thinking. But	there	will	be
something	new	if	you	wait	and	give	yourself
	room	to	think. The	deepest
responses	come	from	the	soul. A	spiritual	life	never	comes	automatically,	so
by	pausing	to	see	what	is	really	inside	you,	you	are	making	a	connection	to
spirit,	with	all	its	invisible	gifts. S
EEING
Today,	practice	the	art	of	seeing. Anybody	can	see,	but	to	
really	see
	is	an	art. I’m	sure	you	see	a	flower	every	day. But	with	the	art	of	seeing,	here’s	how	a
daisy	looks:	It	has	a	swirling	yellow	center,	like	a	pinwheel. That	same	swirl
appears	in	the	shell	of	a	chambered	nautilus	deep	in	the	sea. It	shows	up	in	the
swirl	of	DNA	in	all	your	cells,	and	also	in	the	swirl	of	stars	billions	of	light-
years	away	in	distant	galaxies. So	if	you	really	see	a	daisy,	you	see	from	here
to	infinity,	from	the	smallest	speck	of	matter	to	the	vast	reach	of	outer	space. “I	have	taught	you	a	new	way	of	seeing,”	Baba	told	me. “But	really	it’s	an
eternal	way	of	seeing. In	every	speck	of	creation	there	is	the	entire	history	of
the	universe. And	beyond	each	speck	is	the	pure	place	that	holds	essence,
which	is	the	real	you.”
Seeing	is	an	art	when	you	can	start	anywhere	and	wind	up	with	spirit. That	is
what	it	means	to	see	with	the	eye	of	the	soul.T
HAT
Today,	go	on	a	hunt	for	the	legendary	creature	known	as	That. It	has	no
proper	name,	and	yet	people	are	sure	they’ve	seen	it. That	is	the	flash	of	joy
in	the	eyes	of	someone	you	love. That	is	in	the	way	your	heart	soars	over	the
open	water	out	at	sea. That	is	the	thrill	of	being	on	a	mountaintop	or	dreaming
that	you	can	fly	or	lying	in	a	meadow	and	knowing,	for	a	split	second,	that
you	can	touch	a	cloud. But	That	is	tricky	because	it	doesn’t	stay	around	for	long	and	is	always	on	the
move. Every	time	you	think	you’ve	caught	up	with	it,	you	find	that	it	left	five
minutes	ago. Even	so,	people	never	stop	looking	for	That. Once	in	its
presence,	you	never	forget	it. Which	is	why	some	people	claim	that	That	must
be	God. U
NITY
Today,	take	a	step	closer	to	unity. Unity	is	when	you	no	longer	see
differences,	but	feel	completely	one	with	everything. To	be	one	with	yourself
is	the	goal	of	life. But	today	you	only	need	to	take	a	small	step	in	that
direction. How? By	quitting	the	game	of	us	versus	them. We	all	know	that
game;	it	pits	one	side	against	the	other	for	no	reason	except	to	look	better. “Everyone	wants	to	feel	special,”	said	Baba. “That’s	why	it’s	so	tempting	to
claim	you’re	better	than	somebody	else	because	you’re	older	or	smarter,	or
you	hang	out	with	better	friends,	or	you	can	put	on	a	good	show	of	attitude. “But	this	game	doesn’t	really	make	anyone	happy. You’ll	always	be	afraid
that	the	tables	might	be	turned. What	do	you	do	when	‘them’	is	the	side	that
gets	the	power	or	becomes	superior? What	do	you	do	when	us	versus	them
stops	being	a	game	and	leads	to	war?”
The	game	of	us	versus	them	starts	fairly	innocently. You	begin	to	compare
yourself. Are	my	clothes	as	nice	as	hers? Can	I	lift	as	much	weight	as	him? Did	I	get	a	C−	when	my	friend	got	a	B+? You	feel	resentful	to	be	on	the	low
side	of	the	comparison,	yet	being	on	the	high	side	brings	no
	peace	either,
because	there’s	no	such	thing	as	being	better	all	the	time. So	this	is	a	great
game	to	give	up—you	win	by	walking	away. “If	you	want	to	be	in	the	joy	of	unity”	said	Baba,	“stop	comparing	yourselfwith	everybody	The	game	of	us	versus	them	only	makes	differences	worse. At	the	level	of	spirit	there’s	a	secret	people	don’t	like	to	see:	Us	and	them	are
the	same. As	soon	as	you	see	that,	fear	of	losing	goes	away. The	grand	prize
in	us	versus	them	is	that	somebody	gets	to	feel	special	for	a	while. The	grand
prize	in	the	game	of	unity	is	that	everyone	gets	to	feel	special	forever.”
V
OICE	OF	SILENCE
Today,	listen	to	the	voice	of	silence. You	already	know	how	to	listen	to	all
kinds	of	voices	(and	how	to	block	them	out). This	voice	is	different,	because
it’s	the	closest	thing	anyone	can	hear	of	God’s	voice. Spirit	doesn’t	need
words. It	can	help	you	in	other	ways:
Spirit	can	make	you	certain	that	you	know	something. This	is	called	intuition. Spirit	can	settle	the	mind	into	quietness. This	is	called	peace. Spirit	can	keep	you	from	being	stressed	and	overwhelmed	by	the	chaos
around	you. This	is	called	detachment. Spirit	can	remove	self-doubt. This	is	called	being	centered. All	these	gifts	are	brought	to	you	by	the	voice	of	silence. You	can’t	work	for
them,	run	after	them,	think	them	into	existence,	or	make	them	up. The	key	is
to	relax,	go	inside,	and	make	friends	with	the	silence. Use	some	time	today	to
do	that. Everyone’s	mind	is	very	active	and	noisy,	so	you’ll	notice	those
things	at	first. But	that’s	just	on	the	surface. Deeper	down	the	mind	likes
being	quiet. Think	about	how	soothing	those	moments	are	just	before	you	fall
asleep	or	just	after	you	wake	up	in	the	morning. The	voice	of	silence	speaks
clearly	in	those	moments,	and	you	can	ask	it	to	speak	anytime	you	want. In
time	it	will	become	the	voice	you	trust	more	than	anyone	else’s. W
EALTH
Today,	make	yourself	wealthy. In	one	day	you	can’t	give	yourself	a	pile	of
money	but	that	isn’t	the	secret	of	wealth. As	long	as	you	can	tap	into	the	flow
of	nature’s	abundance,	you	will	be	wealthy,	not	tomorrow	or	next	year,	but	at
this	moment. Your	wealth	will	come	as	new	life,	new	ideas,	new	reasons	to	be
joyful,	new	ways	to	fulfill	your	desires. God’s	plan	is	always	for	more	wealthand	never	for	lack. If	you	ever	feel	you	are	lacking,	look	around. Nature	is	lavishly	abundant
everywhere	you	look—in	every	seed	is	the	promise	of	a	whole	forest,	in	the
fertilized	egg	inside	a	mother’s	womb	is	the	promise	of	the	billions	of	cells	in
your	body	today. This	abundance	started	flowing	from	the	first	instant	of	the
big	bang	and	has	never	stopped. Creation	is	now,	and	so	is	wealth. “I	am	wealthy,”	Baba	told	me. “In	fact,	I’m	the	wealthiest	person	I’ve	ever
met.”
I	had	to	laugh. “Baba,	you	don’t	have	a	cent. You	get	to	eat	because	someone
invites	you	in	every	night. You	wear	the	same	clothes	until	they	are	worn	out. I	don’t	think	you	even	have	money.”
“But	somehow	the	universe	has	met	every	need	I’ve
	ever	had,”	said	Baba. “You	will	be	the	wealthiest	man	in	the	world	if	you	have	enough	money	to	do
what	you	need	to	do	
right	now
.”
I	wondered	if	I	would	ever	be	brave	enough	to	test	out	Baba’s	theory	I’ve
tested	it	enough	to	know	that	spirit	doesn’t	see	any	difference	between	a
penny	and	a	billion	dollars. It	gives	according	to	the	need	that	must	be	filled. Having	your	needs	met	should	be	as	simple	as	holding	a	bucket	under	a
flowing	faucet. But	the	flow	is	blocked	by	fear,	contraction,	self-doubt,	and
confusion. Every	time	you	remove	the	smallest	bit	of	blockage,	spirit’s
abundance	will	flow	a	little	more. The	most	important	thing	is	not	to	cling	to	money	as	if	you	have	found	true
wealth. A	person	who	hoards	money	is	saying,	“I	don’t	trust	the	flow	of
abundance. There	is	only	limited	wealth,	and	I	must	grab	mine	first.”
Wouldn’t	you	rather	be	someone	who	says,	“I	see	a	need	that	I	can	fulfill. I
trust	that	everything	will	come	to	me	from	the	source”? God’s	mind	is
infinitely	rich	with	ideas,	and	each	idea	takes	shape. Right	now	you	are	taking
shape	in	his	mind,	and	whatever	you	need	will	come	about	as	you	grow. X
	
FACTOR
Today,	give	in	to	the	
X
	factor,	which	is	the	unknown. Many	people	are	afraid
of	the	unknown. They	eat	the	same	food	today	as	yesterday,	hang	out	with	the
same	friends,	watch	the	same	shows,	and	play	the	same	games. Inside	theyare	also	thinking	the	same	thoughts—a	psychologist	once	estimated	that	if
you	took	every	thought	you	had	today,	90	percent	would	be	thoughts	you	had
yesterday. Creation	would	be	incredibly	boring	if	nature	did	that. So	the	
X
	factor	was
built	into	creation. It’s	the	creative	factor,	something	you	can’t	predict. “Would	you	like	an	exciting	life?”	Baba	asked	me. “Of	course.”
“Then	here’s	how	to	get	one,”	he	said. “When	you	wake	up	tomorrow,	say	to
your	soul,	‘Make	today	unpredictable.’	Once	you’ve	said	this	prayer,	forget
about	it;	allow	spirit	to	bring	you	something	you	never	expected.”
I	followed	his	advice	(and	taught	my	own	children	this	prayer)	because	any
time	things	don’t	go	the	way	I	planned,	I	can	say	to	myself,	“God	heard	my
prayer,	all	right. He	gave	me	something	I	would	never	have	predicted.”
There’s	no	better	way	to	get	over	your	fear	of	the	unknown. The	
X
	factor	is
the	most	creative	force	in	the	universe. You’ll	never	know	what’s	coming
next,	but	you	can	be	certain	that	a	surprise	is	on	its	way. Y
OU
Today,	make	some	time	for	the	real	you. The	other	you	is	used	to	getting	so
much	attention	that	it	never	stops	asking	for	more. But	the	real	you	has	asked
for	nothing. It’s	the	you	that	is	quiet,	happy	to	be	itself,	needing	no	one,	afraid
of	nothing. The	reason	it	doesn’t	speak	up	for	itself	is	that	it	has	a	lot	of
patience. The	real	you	is	who	you	want	to	be	once	you	try	out	all	the	other
models,	the	ones	other	people	want	you	to	be. Which	reminds	me	of	an	old	fable. A	man	was	walking	down	the	road	with
his	wife,	their	little	boy,	and	a	donkey. Seeing	them,	some	onlookers	said,
“Bad	man!
Fire_In_The_Heart_-_A_Spiritual_Guide_for_Teens_by_Deepak_Chopra.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        You	could	focus	in	on	any	given	minute
and	see	destruction,	or	you	could	stand	back	and	see	a	glorious	vision	of	life
triumphing	over	all	obstacles. I	have	a	very	personal	story	to	tell	about	that. My	father	died	very	suddenly	a	few	years	ago;	he	was	more	than	eighty	and
had	led	a	full	and	happy	life. But	it	was	a	shock	not	to	have	said	good-bye,
and	when	I	flew	to	India	for	his	funeral,	I	felt	full	of	grief. The	day	of	the	funeral	came;	it	was	bright	and	hot. I	was	part	of	a	procession
taking	my	father	out	of	the	house	for	the	last	rites,	which	in	India	include
burning	the	body. I	looked	around,	and	here’s	what	I	saw:	Some	people	were
crying,	others	looked	peaceful	and	calm. Little	children	ran	up	to	grab	the
flowers	that	fell	as	we	passed. They	were	laughing	and	looked	on	this
procession	as	a	big,	curious	event. Strangers	glanced	our	way	for	a	second	but
paid	little	attention. A	mother	carried	her	baby	across	our	path;	an	old	manslept	in	a	doorway	in	the	sun. Suddenly	I	realized	something:	
I	am	not	in	a	funeral	procession. I	am	in	the
procession	of	life. All	around	me	was	the	whole	cycle	of	life,	and	instead	of
feeling	grief,	I	suddenly	felt	very	expanded	and	free. It’s	that	same	feeling,
which	can	surprise	you	when	you	least	expect	it,	that	makes	evil	vanish. You
realize	that	life	is	going	to	triumph,	despite	everything,	and	close	to	your	soul
a	voice	is	saying,	
I
	am	
life. This	voice	is	telling	the	truth. Goodness	is	eternal,
evil	is	temporary. What’s	the	best	answer	to	the	problem	of	evil. Don’t	curse	the	darkness	and
struggle	against	it. Light	a	candle,	because	light	automatically	drives	darkness
away	It’s	not	the	good	deeds	you	do	that	make	you	good,	it’s	who	you	are. And	who	you	are	is	a	soul	walking	around	in	a	body,	not	a	body	walking
around	hoping	it	has	a	soul. Once	you	link	up	with	that	eternal	part	of
yourself,	evil	can	no	longer	make	you	afraid. Loving	Yourself
I
t	was	getting	close	to	dusk,	a	time	when	the	whole	world	seen	from	the
hillside	started	to	fill	with	golden	light. “Look,”	I	once	heard	a	traveler	say. “The	gods	have	come	out	to	play. ”	It	was	just	like	that. Every	house	and	tree
and	cloud	shimmered	as	the	last	heat	waves	rose	in	ripples	from	the	valley. “Our	third	day	is	ending,”	said	Baba	as	we	looked	out	over	the	view. “Now
I’m	going	to	tell	you	the	most	difficult	thing	about	love. But	don’t	laugh	at
me. ”
“Why	would	I	laugh. ”	I	said. “Because	I	have	a	nursery	rhyme	for	you,	and	you	might	think	I’m	being
childish,”	he	said. “Or	mystical. I	know	you,	remember. ”
“You	think	so. ”	Baba	chuckled. “But	you’re	right:	Things	are	always	more
mystical	with	me	than	with	other	people. Sometimes	even	a	nursery	rhyme
hides	great	wisdom. This	one	is	Humpty	Dumpty. ”
“Who	sat	on	a	wall	and	had	a	great	fall. ”
“Yes,	him,”	said	Baba. “But	do	you	know	why	all	the	king’s	horses	and	all	the
king’s	men	couldn’t	put	him	back	together	again. It’s	a	riddle. ”
“Not	about	eggs,”	I	said. Baba	shook	his	head. “If	you	go	back	in	time,	there	have	always	been	myths
about	a	golden	age,	when	peace	reigned,	everyone	felt	love	for	one	another,
and	life	was	perfect. But	that	golden	age	fell	apart,	and	everyone’s	been	trying
to	figure	out	how	to	put	it	back	together	again. ”
“This	is	your	theory	of	Humpty	Dumpty. ”	I	asked. Baba	smiled. “It’s	good	to	stretch. ”	He	sounded	very	definite. “What	really
fell	apart	was	love. There	was	never	a	golden	age,	at	least	not	as	far	as	any
historian	can	tell. But	deep	in	the	human	heart	a	memory	lingers	of	how	loveshould	be. It	should	extend	to	everyone;	it	should	leave	no	cause	for	suffering. It	should	be	innocent	and	bring	joy	every	day. “Can	that	kind	of	love	be	put	back	together	again. Your	soul	thinks	so. Now
we	come	to	the	most	important	step,	which	is	this:	You	must	love	yourself. ”
I	said,	“Why	is	that	difficult. I	love	myself,	at	least	I	think	I	do. ”
“Really. ”	asked	Baba. “Which	self	did	you	pick. There’s	you	as	a	baby,	you
playing	with	paper	dolls	when	you	were	three,	you	when	you	are	angry	or
sad,	you	when	you	believe	in	yourself,	and	you	when	you	don’t. Which	one
are	you	going	to	love. ”
He	was	trying	to	stump	me,	but	I	felt	pretty	confident. “Those	aren’t	me
anymore. I	love	the	me	who’s	right	here,	now. ”
“But	he	will	be	gone	tomorrow,	just	as	those	others	are	gone. Then	what. ”
asked	Baba. “You	see,	the	nursery	rhyme	is	right. We’re	all	trying	to	put
ourselves	back	together	from	bits	and	pieces. But	all	the	king’s	horses	and	all
the	king’s	men	won’t	be	able	to	do	it. ”
Baba	must	have	seen	a	downcast	look	on	my	face,	because	his	voice	softened. “Don’t	be	dejected. When	you	met	me	in	the	cabin	today,	didn’t	I	tell	you	that
I	was	laughing	at	a	cosmic	joke. ”
“Yes,”	I	remembered. “And	you	promised	to	tell	it	to	me. ”
“Well,	now’s	the	time. The	cosmic	joke	is	that	Humpty	Dumpty	never	fell	and
was	never	broken. The	real	you	is	perfectly	loved	and	always	will	be. No	evil
or	harm	can	ever	come	to	that	you,	and	when	you	find	it,	you	will	be	laughing
with	joy	and	relief,	just	as	I	do. ”
W
HAT
	I	L
EARNED
Loving	yourself	can	be	a	good	feeling	that	hits	you	when	you	are	on	top	of
the	world	and	everything	is	going	right. It	can	also	be	feeling	like	a	good
person	who	deserves	the	best	out	of	life. But	Baba	had	a	more	cosmic	idea	of
loving	yourself. He	pointed	me	to	the	place	where	myths	are	born. Every	person	has	a	mythic	level. It	lies	deep	in	our	imagination;	it’s	where	we
go	for	heroes	and	the	quests	that	heroes	follow. Whether	you	pick	a	knight	ofthe	Round	Table,	Wonder	Woman,	Joan	of	Arc,	Gandhi,	or	Abraham	Lincoln
isn’t	just	a	personal	choice—you	are	connecting	to	your	mythic	level. “I
always	ask	people	to	tell	me	who	their	heroes	are,”	Baba	said. “I	can	tell	a
great	deal	about	someone’s	whole	life	from	who	they	secretly	want	to	be. ”
In	fact,	you	may	want	to	do	that	for	yourself. Write	down	three	people,	real	or
imaginary,	who	are	your	heroes. Then	list	three	qualities	you	admire	in	each
one,	such	as	courage	or	superpowers,	deep	wisdom	or	great	sacrifice	for
humanity. Look	at	your	list. Do	you	know	what	those	nine	qualities	really
are. They	are	a	mission	from	the	mythic	level. Your	soul	wants	you	to
perform	this	mission	in	your	lifetime	by	displaying	the	qualities	you	listed. Since	they	come	from	the	mythic	level,	each	one	is	in	you,	planted	like	a	seed
for	the	future. As	the	years	unfold	you	will	be	given	opportunities	to	learn	each	quality. People	who	admire	courage	are	magnetized	to	situations	that	require	bravery. People	who	admire	wisdom	will	be	magnetized	to	completely	different
situations. Never	fear,	your	soul	isn’t	going	to	forget	your	mission. And	what
about	superheroes	with	supernormal	powers. Every	kid	admires	them,
because	what	they	really	stand	for	isn’t	flying	or	turning	invisible. They	stand
for
	freedom. A	supernormal	power	is	like	a	hint	from	the	soul	that	you	are
more	than	human—you	are	a	free	spirit. If	you	want	to	love	yourself,	grasp
every	opportunity	for	growing	into	your	own	hero. We	were	born	to	be	the
heroes	of	our	own	story. I	cherish	a	story	about	two	old	men	sitting	together	in	a	room	waiting	for	a
meal. One	was	considered	very	wise	and	had	gained	fame	in	many	countries;
the	other	was	a	visitor	who	had	come	to	find	out	what	this	wisdom	was	all
about. But	the	famous	wise	man	didn’t	say	anything	particularly	wise	all	day,
and	finally	the	visitor	got	frustrated. “Forgive	me,”	he	said. “But	I	don’t	see	how	you	and	I	are	any	different. You
have	shown	me	hospitality,	but	let’s	be	honest. Aren’t	we	just	two	old	men
sitting	at	a	table	waiting	for	our	supper. ”
“You	are	wrong,”	the	wise	man	said. “You	have	spent	your	whole	life
guarding	your	own	private	world. It	is	made	up	of	past	memories	and	your
many	likes	and	dislikes. It	is	populated	with	a	few	people	you	love	and	is	shut
tight	to	anyone	else. My	inner	world	isn’t	like	that. It	is	open	to	everyone. All
may	enter	and	are	welcomed. When	I	look	inside,	love	is	all	I	see,	so	I	have
nothing	to	hide	and	nothing	to	guard. ”I’ve	returned	to	this	little	story	many	times	over	the	years	because	it	tells	me
that	the	place	where	love	never	fades	is	real. I	believe	this	is	the	only	vision
worth	living	for. Day	Four
:	
How	Can	I	Change	the	World. Chasing	Rainbows
T
he	next	morning	I	didn’t	have	to	search	for	Baba	anywhere. When	I	went
down	to	the	kitchen	for	breakfast	I	caught	a	glimpse	of	wispy	white	hair	just
peeking	up	over	the	windowsill. I	ran	out	to	greet	him. He	was	sitting	beside
the	back	door	looking	at	the	sky	as	if	waiting	for	something	to	happen. “Baba,	come	inside	and	eat	a	bowl	of	rice,”	I	said. “Would	I	become	more	real	if	your	parents	saw	me. ”	he	asked. “I	know	you’re	real. I	don’t	need	any	proof,”	I	protested. “Then	you’re	assuming	too	much,”	he	said. “Most	people	think	they’re	real
but	have	never	proved	it	to	themselves. ”	These	may	sound	like	weary	words,
but	Baba	looked	as	fresh	as	ever. If	I	had	imagined	him	from	stories	about
wizards,	he	wasn’t	one	of	the	dour,	glum	ones. He	said,	“I’ve	thought	of	an	excellent	project	for	us	today. We’re	going	to
chase	a	rainbow. ”
This	sounded	like	something	you’d	say	to	a	five-year-old,	but	I	knew	he	had
something	else	in	mind,	so	I	rushed	back	inside,	stuffed	some	food	in	my
pockets,	and	was	back	out	the	door	in	two	minutes. Baba	was	still	peering	at
the	sky. “It	doesn’t	look	like	rain,”	he	said. “Not	much	chance	for	a	rainbow,	then,”	I	said. Baba	had	already	started	to
stride	away	quickly	in	his	usual	fashion. “We	don’t	have	to	rely	on	chance,”	he	said	over	his	shoulder. “Not	that	much
happens	by	chance. ”
Not	when	I’m	with	you,
	I	thought. We	walked	down	the	road	and	then	cut
across	a	broad	field,	where	it	was	cooler	and	more	lush. “What	do	you	think	a
rainbow	is.
The author believes that evil is temporary, and that it can be overcome by loving oneself and connecting with one's soul.
What is the author's perspective on the concept of evil?
The author does not explicitly state a view on God, but rather emphasizes the importance of connecting with one's soul and finding one's own inner guidance.
What is the author's view on the concept of God?
The author emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and the need to let go of negative emotions and focus on the positive. They also mention that forgiveness is not about justifying or excusing someone's actions, but rather about healing and moving forward.
What is the author's message about forgiveness?
The author suggests that unity is not about comparing oneself to others or trying to be like them, but rather about embracing one's own uniqueness and recognizing the oneness with the universe.
What is the author's view on the concept of unity?
The author does not explicitly discuss the concept of love, but emphasizes the importance of self-love and self-acceptance, as well as the need to let go of negative emotions and focus on the positive.
What is the author's message about the concept of love?