WHO WAKES UP FIRST? BY RAJYOGINI BRAHMAKUMARI NALINI DIDIJI

Who wakes up first - you or God? You wake up first - while God is still asleep! When you wake up, you experience pleasure and pain. You become aware of the beauty and the shortcomings of the world.

Then, when you seek the ultimate, your cry for help wakes up God. And when God is awakened in you, there is no " two". God is asleep in every particle of this universe.

God is in you in seed form. When he wake up, neither you nor the world remain.

The rishis made a mock practice of awakening God every morning. They call it Suprabhatam service. Many people find this ridiculous because they don't understand the depth of it. Only awakened God can see that God is everywhere asleep! Q: Why should we wake up? A: Because you are not asleep. If you are asleep, how can you ask the question? Q: Once you are awake, can you go back to sleep? A: If you have not had tea, of course.

Q: Who wakes us up? A: You figure that out.

THE VALUE OF CHANTING

When you sing Bhajans, the vibration of sound energy gets absorbed into every atom of your body. This enkindles the energy in you and brings up the consciousness. Your entire body gets soaked in energy. Transformation happens.

A microphone absorbs sound and converts it into electricity; the body absorbs sound vibration and converts it into consciousness.

If you sit and listen to gossip or violent music, then that energy gets absorbed by your body and does not give a nice feeling.

When you hear the Knowledge or chant with all your heart that elevates your consciousness.

An ancient proverb in Sanskrit says that the words of rishis and enlightened ones are translated into experience immediately.

- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar