Sat Gurucharan

Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

V: Yesterday, you spoke about guru and sat-gurucharan - the feet of the sat-guru.

M: Yes, I did. Sat-gurucharan means the spontaneous appearance of consciousness when you know "you are." Everything dwells in this knowledge "you are", and it is limitless and all-prevailing. This state represents the sacred feet of the sat-guru.

V: I mean no offense at all when I ask a silly question. Why are there so many photos on these walls? I feel this goes contrary to your teaching.

M: They are the relics of the period of ignorance. To dispel the ignorance such aids are necessary. When the purpose is served, they are no longer required. This body which I use is also an outcome of the ignorance stage, but it is still in use though I have transcended the stage of ignorance. So let the photos remain to decorate the walls; there is no harm in that. Instead of changing the things outside, why not bring about a change within by removing your wrong identities?

You talk as if you have wisdom, but what knowledge have you actually? Your present capital is the cycle of waking, deep sleep and knowledge "I am". What else have you got? This cycle has appeared by itself without your asking; all else you have learned and acquired later. Anybody who comes here is like an ignorant child, in spite of whatever so-called knowledge he has gained from outside.

November 13th 1980.