I am afraid of enlightenment.

Beloved Master, I have been meditatin... Chakras (boundless energy centers)

I am afraid of enlightenment.

Beloved Master,

I know that the question that I am going to ask is foolish, but it has been lingering within me for some time now.

What comes after enlightenment? What do we do after the goal of life is finally reached? What am I aiming for? As of now, I just feel like I am falling into an endless pit. I literally feel like I am falling with no bottom, with no goal at all.

What exactly am I aiming for? What is beyond the goal?

This is a nice question!

See: it is not just you who is scared of enlightenment; the whole of humanity is. Why else do you think that so few people have attained?

And these few people who have attained have been spreading this message to the world. They have been preaching about this bliss for thousands and thousands of years. But what do we do? We simply ignore them! We have been ignoring their messages for so long. Humanity has simply not paid any attention to their message. And your question comes from the deeper core of humanity.

It is not only that you alone are afraid, but all of humanity is; everyone is afraid of enlightenment. It is very obvious why. It is because we are all scared of losing ourselves. And this is what enlightenment is, just losing yourself.

This is the same reason why we are all scared of love. This is the reason why we are scared to trust. It is all for the same reason; we will lose ourselves. But this doesn't happen while we are in depression, while we are in anxiety. At this time, we have complete control over ourselves. At this time, we will not be lost. Do you understand? The more difficult your life is, the more you feel yourself. The more comfortable you are.

Just look at the kids, how beautiful they are! Why do you think they are like this? It is for the simple reason that they lose themselves. They are just lost in their joy.

Have you seen children whirling? They practically lose themselves in their own bliss. They offer themselves to Existence. It is such a small activity, whirling, but they do it totally. That is the beautiful thing.

But you fellows – what do you do when you see them whirl? You get uncomfortable and shout to them to keep quiet, to simply sit. 'You will fall. Sit down!' you say.

Actually, you want to make them buffalos just like you! And when they finally do become buffalos, you feel that you have done your job! You feel that they have become mature! Nonsense!

You have become so fully suppressed that you feel uncomfortable when someone else is expressing themselves. That is the truth.

It is your very nature to lose yourself. It is your birthright. The only way to find your 'Self' is to lose your 'self'.

But you are afraid of what might happen next. On one hand, you want whatever is being offered to you. On the other hand, you are afraid.

It is like this: you are stuck in a prison. You are trying all possible ways to get out, but the bars are too strong; the prison simply does not want you to leave. And understand: you are the bars; you do not want yourself to leave. You are the prison. This is why you are afraid to get out of it. You yourself have created this prison and at the same time, you want to escape.

Just imagine: you are afraid of the same thing for which you have a deep longing! And not only this; you start consoling yourself by saying, 'This is where I belong.' Just see the game that your mind is playing on you!

So it is like you have simply become accustomed to suffering. Although it may be painful, it is familiar to you; it is nice and cozy. Actually, the only reason why you are not able to live in a peaceful way is that you are afraid to come out of your cozy environment. The idea of coming out creates a sort of insecurity within you because you are not familiar with the free feeling at all. Just imagine: you are not familiar with being peaceful!

But there is one thing that you are very clear about: you know that there is something beyond your personality. Then why are you watching on the sidelines? All that is needed is to take the plunge into the mainstream, that's all! Don't think before you jump because if you think first, you will never jump! Your thinking takes the very juice out of what has to be done. The moment you think, the juice in it is lost.

Again and again I am telling you that before you do anything, you must lose yourself. Again I am telling you: you must lose yourself to find yourself.

A small story:

A disciple asked his master, 'What is enlightenment?'

'It is right before your eyes,' the master replied.

'Then why can't I see it?' the disciple asked.

'Because of your 'I,' the master said.

'If I don't have this idea of 'I', will I reach It?' asked the disciple.

'If there is no 'I', who wants to reach enlightenment?' the master asked.

Do you understand? First lose yourself before worrying about enlightenment. Only when you have lost yourself will enlightenment dawn on you. Enlightenment is all about losing yourself.

It is all about becoming Nothing. How can you become nothing when you are still something?

I am reminded of something that happened while I was speaking in a college.

During the questions and answers session, one girl raised her hand and asked, 'What is the difference between you and me? Why should you sit on the throne and all of us here on the floor?'

I just smiled at her and said, 'You are right. There is no difference between you and me. It is just that you are something, and I am Nothing.'

This is what I mean when I say 'lose yourself'.

Don't bother about what will happen next. Only when you worry about the next step, the step will never be taken.

Just jump!

Nothing more is needed!

Yes.

The only way out is in