Gerald and Lena Shagedanov have come to see Maharaj. As usual they ask unusual questions. They have brought a book by a Russian philosopher who says that all humans are born to resurrect like Jesus and thus join God. Gerald also wants Maharaj’s advice about nuclear testing. Maharaj says,
All prophets have said, “You are Light—recognize your Source.” In you there is everything—Power, Love, and eternal Happiness of the One Who always enjoys, Who has no worry, no fear, no hatred, is not afraid of anyone nor gives fear to anyone. Until we go inside and see That, we will make mistakes. When I look inside, I will see the same Light that is in you. I will not say to you what I don’t want for myself.
If you destroy temple, church, or mosque buildings, perhaps we can rebuild them. But if you break someone’s heart, you may not be able to rebuild it. Always keep in mind that our mind is very tender, soft, and willing to serve. All religions have preached this.
[At the end of his life] Guru Gobind Singh said, “I have created a method. Prepare the fire [for cremation]. My horse and I will be dressed well.” He brought his horse and went into the fire. The sangat thought he had left. One person went to Maharastra. Guru Gobind Singh met him there on that horse and said, “Tell them I am not dead.” He gave him Prasad and told him to distribute it to everyone.
When Guru Nanak left his body, there was a lot of confusion. Muslims said, “We will do his last rites according to our traditions.” They wanted to bury his body; Hindus wanted to cremate him. When they went to find his body [under a sheet], it was not there.
There are many cases like this. If someone says you can become alive after death, there are many such examples in India.
Whatever is written in scriptures is so true—about science, about the cosmos, about human existence, human mind. One is amazed at what great enlightened wisdom is there. But people who became “religious” didn’t follow the scriptures, and philosophers and scientists didn’t pay much attention to what was written in them. If we compare science and the words of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh, we will feel that there will be much more forthcoming in the future of science.
The Gurus have mentioned that this is one earth that we can see, but there are crores of planets that are larger than this. Guru Nanak has written about the distance between stars in detail. He said it takes years for the rays of some stars to reach this planet.
The dervish has never indicated any limits, any end to the cosmos. The scientist also says that there is much more to be researched. Scriptures says that it is beyond our ability to describe. Both agree that there is a great Power in the cosmos that is going waste. The dervish also says that there is a great power in humans that is going waste. That Power is in you, too. You can talk with the trees. That Power in you is pervading everywhere. Prophets and dervishes have all said, “You are the form of Light. Why are you upset?”
If that Light, that Love is in us all, where has this atom bomb come from? It’s all ego: “Look at me!” To give fear to others is the greatest crime. To give love and happiness to others is the best thing. God taught us this, but we don’t listen to Him. If there is a needle on the floor, we are careful not to step on it. But look at us: We want to bomb their house. We are worried for us, but not worried about what pain we might give to others. The essential point is that our mind is out of control. Good thoughts will never hurt others or destroy this beautiful environment or cause fear.
Aren’t you sometimes amazed: What is this? We said, “Let’s clean the air. It is very polluted.” On the other hand, we create poisons which can upset the entire atmosphere.
If we sit and think: Some think that if there is peace, our weapons will not sell. Some say, “If the air becomes very polluted, our air cleaning products will sell.” Behind both of these is humans. We are spending crores to spoil the environment. At the same time we are spending crores on seminars to clean the environment. Are we mad or sane? These are not mental cases whom we put in the mental hospitals. Those are called “pure” who are creating armaments and talking of peace. Even an untrained child can question this.
Today I feel that we should live in peace, make all our brothers and sisters. The Love of God is in us all. Why shouldn’t we love each other.
These are such wrong things. Fools rejoice in creating fear in others to show, “I am here!” Wherever such a fool goes in the villages, people run away from him.
You can control the air and the water, but if man becomes mad, no one can control him. He just sits in his room and passes orders. Who can control him? That is why religion says we must control our thoughts.
Gerald asks, “God has created everything for a purpose. Cows give milk, etc. But why has He created humans?”
Maharaj replies,
To serve Creation. Humans are not all mad or all smart. There are many kinds of trees. There are plants with thorns that draw blood. Some pollens cause allergies. They are bothering people who don’t bother them. A rose is so lovely, but its thorns may prick. Everything has two personalities—good and bad.
Gerald jokes, “Then the bad in us is desirable and we shouldn’t improve?”
Maharaj answers,
Once we were going to see the sugarcane in Shiv Sadan. Balwant Singh said, “There is a disease caused by an insect for which there is no medicine. There is another insect that comes and eats them, but it will take a month or two for them to come.” We went back after a few days and Balwant Singh was shocked to see that they had already come. In the whole cosmos, there are bad things and things which cancel them. We don’t know what is good and bad.
There is a small bird that sleeps with its legs up toward the sky. They asked it why. It said, “If I put my legs down, the sky will fall.” They said, “Don’t worry.”