Sometimes we go for vipassana for 10 days, for 7 days, or 21days.
In those days, in the old days when I was young, minimum was 21 days, now they cut down.
Go for vipassana and then you come out from the retreat, and you feel that you are somebody.
Every single person that you meet on the street, you tell them I have been to vipassana. Nobody is interested whether you’ve been to vipassana. But you make a point to tell them, “I’ve been to vipassana”.
And if you listen to Buddha. Coming back to buddha when He used the word ‘vipassana’. It was used as a generic term. He did not use in the way we’re using it now. He didn’t use in that way. Vipassana was go within. Have an inside, look within!
It was a generic pointing to the way, just look within. It was not the matter of 10 days or 21 days. Look within, go inside!
Same word. You know we are bored of Jesus. So Buddha is very much syllable in the west now, because you’ve got used to Jesus for 2000 years. So we want something a nobelty. So now buddha is trendy. But what buddha said, exactly the same word Jesus said.
Metanoia: turn around. The sufis uses another word, touba. Touba is turn around.
Jesus never said conversion. He said, “Turn around, turn within”. And the word metanoia from the greek bible has been translated, mistranslated in English as conversion. He never said conversion. He said, turn around, go within! Buddha said the same thing. The sufis says the same thing, go within.
So when we understand, we understand what is the inner significant of om.
You are made of om. I am made of om. We are all made of om. We are all made of om. There is absolutely no difference and yet the difference is there. On the physical level there is a difference, on the mental there is a difference, on the intellectual level there is a difference, on the social level, financial level of course.
We are different on so many other layers, but so many other levels. But within, when you come to the pranava. The cause of life. The cause of life force. Then we are all one. If you understand that nityam dhayanti yoginaha.
If you keep reminding yourself that essentially we all are one.
om karam bindhu samyuktam. You see bindhu, digits. You are made of so many digits. I am made of more digits perhaps, because I am big.
But it doesn’t make much difference. Difference of 100 pounds does not make much difference, it’s flesh and all is digits.
So, digits different. You have got so many digits, I may have got more, or you may have got more, or I may have got less.
Digits wise – we are different.
But pranava wise – life force wise, omkar wise, we are the same. If you remember this in Bhagavad Gita. Krishna says , “if you know the secret that all the differences which are apparent which you can see on the outer layer. All the differences means nothing actually. Because essentially you are one. If you know this through the practice of yoga, then your ultimate desire for moksha is attained. You can reach that ultimate freedom”.
It is a beautiful prayer.
Those of you are staying here (Anand Ashram Ubud) make a point to attend the chanting in the morning. It’s a very good time to do chanting.
And try to memorise those prayers, those chants. I think there’s a small book upstairs (Chapel). You can follow those prayers/chants.
We have chosen some of the most essential. Some of the most important.
They are not actually prayers. They are affirmations.
Like the one I am explaining to you now. Omkaram bindu samyuktam.
Transcripted by Ray / Edited by Tara Galih