The New Alchemy: To Turn You On
Discourses
Table of Contents
Surrendering to What Is
Surrendering to What Is. The first step—surrender to what is. Surrendering to what is: the new alchemy begins with surrender—not changing what is but accepting it. The alchemy: acceptance transforms the base metal (resistance) into gold (peace).
The Sense of Separateness
The Sense of Separateness. The illusion of separation—the ego. The sense of separateness: the ego creates separation—you feel separate from existence. The new alchemy: dissolve the separateness through awareness. You were never separate—the sense was the illusion.
The Desire for Sensation
The Desire for Sensation. The mind seeks sensations—endlessly. The desire for sensation: the mind is addicted to sensations—new experiences, new thrills. The new alchemy: sensation is external; transformation is internal. Turn from sensation to awareness.
Desiring the Unattainable
Desiring the Unattainable. The mind desires what can't be attained. Desiring the unattainable: the mind desires the unattainable—creating perpetual frustration. The new alchemy: the unattainable (truth) is not attained by desire but by dropping desire.
The Power That Shall Make You Nothing
The Power That Shall Make You Nothing. The power that makes you nothing—the ego's end. The power that shall make you nothing: the alchemical power that dissolves the ego into nothing. The new alchemy: becoming nothing is the ultimate achievement. Nothing = everything.
Seeking the Way
Seeking the Way. The search for the way—not a destination. Seeking the way: the master teaches—the way is not found but sought. The new alchemy: the seeking itself is the way. Not arriving but seeking—the seeker IS the way.
Fragments with No Coherence
Fragments with No Coherence. The mind is fragmented—no coherence. Fragments with no coherence: the mind is fragmented—contradictory desires, conflicting thoughts. The new alchemy: meditation brings coherence—fragments merge into wholeness.
The Silence That Follows the Storm
The Silence That Follows the Storm. After the storm of the mind—silence. The silence that follows the storm: after the mind's storm (thoughts, emotions), silence comes. The new alchemy: the storm is necessary—it prepares the silence. Don't fear the storm—wait for the silence.
Thou Has Reaped
Thou Has Reaped. You reap what you sow—karma. Thou has reaped: the law of karma—you reap what you sow. The new alchemy: your consciousness creates your reality. Sow awareness—reap enlightenment. Sow unconsciousness—reap suffering.
Obeying the Warrior Within
Obeying the Warrior Within. The inner warrior—obey him. Obeying the warrior within: the master teaches—obey the inner warrior (courage). The new alchemy: the warrior fights the ego—not the world. Obey the warrior—win the inner battle.
The Song of Life
The Song of Life. Life is a song—sing it. The song of life: the master's vision—life is a song. The new alchemy: don't just hear the song—sing it. The sage is the singer of the cosmic song. Life IS the song.
The Lesson of Harmony
The Lesson of Harmony. Harmony is the lesson—not conflict. The lesson of harmony: the master teaches harmony—not conflict. The new alchemy: harmony is the natural state; conflict is the mind's. Learn harmony through meditation.
Penetrating the Hearts of Men
Penetrating the Hearts of Men. The master penetrates hearts—not minds. Penetrating the hearts of men: the master works on the heart, not the mind. The new alchemy: the heart is the door; the mind is the wall. Penetrate the heart—and the being opens.
To Loosen the Bonds of Personality
To Loosen the Bonds of Personality. Personality is a bond—loosen it. To loosen the bonds of personality: personality is a cage—loosen it. The new alchemy: the personality (mask) is not you. Loosen it through awareness. Beneath is the real self.
The Path is Found
The Path is Found. The path is found—not sought. The path is found: the master declares—the path is not sought but found. The new alchemy: when seeking stops, the path appears. The path was always there—under the seeker's feet.
The Final Secret
The Final Secret. The final secret—revealed. The final secret: the master reveals—the final secret is that there is no secret. The new alchemy: the secret is you. Always was, always will be. The final secret is the seeker.
The Voice That Is Soundless
The Voice That Is Soundless. The soundless voice—the inner guidance. The voice that is soundless: the master teaches—the inner voice is soundless. The new alchemy: not the mind's noise but the being's silence. Listen to the soundless voice.
Meditation is Not an Effort. Meditation is not effort—it's surrender. Meditation is not an effort, it is not an activity. Rather, it is a deep surrender. The new alchemy: the mind is effort-oriented; meditation is being-oriented. Not doing—just being. Play, not work.
Breath is Brahman. The Vedas: breath is Brahman—your life is divine. Breath is Brahma: the Vedas say breath is Brahman. The new alchemy: breath is your connection to the divine. Watch the breath—and find Brahman. Breath is life; life is God.
Two Attitudes Toward Existence. Two attitudes—conflict or friendliness. Two attitudes toward existence: the master sees two attitudes—conflict (science) or friendliness (religion). The new alchemy: be friendly to existence—not a conqueror. You're part of it, not apart.
The Cosmic Harmony. The cosmos is harmony—tune in. The cosmos is a musical harmony, but we are not in tune with it. The new alchemy: tuning is needed. Tune to the cosmic harmony through meditation. You're an instrument—let existence play you.
The Desire to Be Transformed. The desire for transformation is dangerous—yet needed. The desire to be transformed: the master warns—the desire to be reborn is dangerous. The new alchemy: dangerous because it means the death of the old. But the death is the birth.
Kirtan—Singing and Dancing. Kirtan as a secret door—singing and dancing. Kirtan, singing and dancing, is one of the secret doors. The new alchemy: kirtan (devotional singing) is a meditation door. The body dances; the mind dissolves; the being sings.
Sex and Death. The relationship between sex and death. What is the relationship between sex and death? the master explores—sex is life's urge, death is life's end. The new alchemy: both are two sides of the same coin. Transcend both through awareness.
Tratak Meditation. Tratak—staring with unblinking eyes. Tratak meditation—staring at the master with unblinking eyes. The new alchemy: tratak is a looking meditation. The eyes focused; the mind stops. Through the eyes, the being sees.
The Zen Koan Question. A question that's a Zen koan—unanswerable. A beautiful question that is a Zen koan. The new alchemy: the koan can't be answered by the mind—it dissolves the mind. The question itself is the answer when the mind stops.
Mind and Consciousness. Are mind and consciousness separate? Are mind and consciousness two separate things? The new alchemy: the silent mind IS consciousness. Mind is noise; consciousness is silence. When the mind is silent, it reveals its true nature: consciousness.
Finding the Right Master. How to find the right master for you. How can I find a guru, a master? The new alchemy: the right master is not found by the mind—by the heart. When you're ready, the master appears. Don't seek—be ready.
Sheer Madness. The meditation seems like madness—it is, on purpose. The meditation seems to be sheer madness. It is—for a purpose. The new alchemy: the madness breaks the conditioning. Society made you mad; meditation makes you mad in the opposite direction—toward sanity.
Surrender vs Blind Faith. The difference between surrender and blind faith. What is the difference between surrender and blind faith? The new alchemy: blind faith is unconscious; surrender is conscious. Faith doesn't question; surrender questions and then lets go.
Not to Teach but to Awaken. The master doesn't teach—he awakens. I have come not to teach but to awaken. The new alchemy: teaching gives information; awakening gives transformation. The master is an awakener, not a teacher. He doesn't fill the mind—he breaks it open.
The Gesture of Hands. The master's hand gestures—their significance. The raising and bringing down of hands—the gesture's significance. The new alchemy: the master's gestures are energy transmissions—silent movements that transfer consciousness. Not ritual but transmission.
Halfhearted Effort. The effort is halfhearted—how to make it total. The effort seems halfhearted—how can it be total? The new alchemy: halfhearted effort comes from the mind. Total effort comes from the being. Don't push—let the being take over.
Back Home—Don't Feel Lonely. After the commune—back home, don't feel lonely. You have been doing the meditations courageously here. Back home, you may feel alone. The new alchemy: don't feel loneliness—feel aloneness. The commune is within you now. You carry it.