(Sri Swamiji’s discourse during the Kriya Yoga Camp, USA, 1986)

This is a story about Ramakrishna, a great saint who lived in Calcutta. One day Ramakrishna and a Yogi friend were going to visit a temple on the far side of the Ganges river. Ramakrishna hired a boatman for one rupee to ferry him across the river. At the same time, the Yogi crossed by walking across the water. On reaching the other side, the Yogi said very proudly, "Swami, you came by boat. I came by walking across the water. See my power." Ramakrishna replied, "you are a big power, and a man with beautiful vibrations. I am very happy to know you. I am nothing. I am an ordinary man. But I will ask you one question. How much did energy did you use to walk on the water?" The Yogi said, "I used a lot of power." Then Ramakrishna said, "But I used only one rupee by coming by boat. You are using so many years of energy. You are a big Yogi, but your energy is wasted. You waste fifteen days of energy. But I use only one rupee of energy in my body. The one rupee I gave to the boatman.

Swamiji gives one talisman and vibhooti (holy ash). They have healing powers. That is something. Sometimes I don’t know. I retain that power and I don’t show all the time. It is not for exhibition. It is not hypnotism. It is not a trick. There is power. Sometimes, Swamiji uses that power for healing purposes. See, last night in this class, so many friends, devotees and followers became happy for five minutes. It will give good energy. When you are happy for ten minutes, you will earn ten years of strength.

Swamiji gives gifts to only some particular people. There’s some purpose behind that. You are thinking, "I want something, but Swamiji doesn’t give. He gave only to that person. It is not good. Why does Swamiji do that?" The doctor knows which patient needs which medicine. The mother knows how to look after the child. Things are not necessary. We want only love and affection. That’s all. We want to grasp Swamiji’s heart, not things. If Swamiji gives something, it’s O.K. It is a gift. But don’t feel jealousy, "Oh, this person is very lucky, I am very unlucky." Don’t feel like that. Grace is also very important. Swamiji gives out of love. Talismans are not important. We can go to the market and get them for a few dollars. So many talismans. So many chains. It is not important.

Instead of thinking how much you have been healed, think of how much power has been used. Don’t think, "Oh, yesterday I had much pain in five fingers. Today one finger is good. Tomorrow another finger should be healed". Instead, think, "Oh, how much power Swamiji used to heal this finger." Think about that. Automatically, tomorrow the other fingers are also good. Don’t depend. Don’t ask, "Oh, Swamiji, yesterday you healed this finger very nicely. Today, heal this one also." Swamiji heals one finger. Automatically, the other finger is also healed. Swamiji gives some energy to you. You protect it and give some support. A farmer has some seeds. He does not eat them all. He eats half and keeps the remaining half for cultivation. Now, you are a lazy fellow and eat everything, and tomorrow you ask Swamiji to give you something. You say, "Yesterday felt very good. I don’t know what happened today." Swamiji does not give always. It is impossible. He gives only one time, or two times. That’s all. In this lifetime, you increase that energy.

"Oh, Swamiji, yesterday your face was very bright, and my face was bright and I was happy. Today your face is bad, and my face is also very bad." It is not correct. Swamiji is always happy, because your mind is always happy. With Swamiji there is no up and down. Your face is not good today. Your mind is not good. Your receiving station is not good today. Yesterday, your receiving station was good. Your mind was good. Your mood was good. Your thoughts were good. The sun is always sun. If you think, "Ah, the sun is dark today", you are wrong. The sun is not dark. It is the clouds. The sun is always bright. You are all thinking, "Oh, the sun is very dark today. Why is there no sun?" Because of the clouds: our ignorance and our ego. Yesterday, you had no ego, and you surrendered out of love. You needed Swamiji’s help. You needed something. That is why you prayed yesterday. Today you are selfish and stubborn. Today you are egoistic. Yesterday you were happy and thought Swamiji is also happy. Today you are crying. You are thinking the whole world is not good, that the whole world is crying. So, Swamiji also appears unhappy to you. Like a mirror, Swamiji reflects your unhappiness.

Be happy always. Energy is unlimited. I want to give that energy to you. The intellect is also a dark cloud. That is why I said yesterday that the intellect is not good certain times. You practice. You become like the Guru. That’s why Guru is special. He wants to give everyone His vibration. He wants everyone to experience His vibration. There is no jealousy in the Guru. There is jealousy in worldly relationships. Guru always wants his disciples to come to his level. He is trying in so many ways: teaching, crying, chastising, pinching, pricking, hitting, hammering, cheating. But the final idea is that He wants the disciple to come to His level.