Part Two
‘You should note down what comes out of this mouth because one day many people will benefit from it.’
The teachings contained in Part II were compiled at Babaji's specific suggestion over a period of time during his meetings with a wide variety of visitors. They were always spontaneous utterances made to individuals in specific contexts and situations. It is hoped that the heart of the reader will recognize and extract what is useful and life-giving rather than taking each statement as general advice.
One of Babaji's favorite teaching mediums was parables, or fables. For him a story was not something fixed or rigid and he was a master at adapting it to the needs of his listeners, or perhaps to an individual. The stories were never told quite the same way twice. They served to consolidate a teaching as well as providing a single authentic focus of attention for his listeners, who each interpreted them according to his or her understanding.
This collection of teachings and parables has been compiled over a period of eight years of being in daily contact with Babaji and an attempt has been made to put them into a logical order and framework under specific headings, as well as to cover the main aspects of his teachings. As in Part I, the author's words are italicized, all standard text is Swamiji's words unless otherwise stated, and any Sanskrit words appearing for the first time are italicized.
Religious teachings are the crumbs left on the table after the great satpurushas have dined and left their bodies to return to God.
Real knowledge of God cannot be had just through written teachings which can be likened to crumbs compared to the bread of life which is God Himself. This bread or feast can only be granted by a direct contact or meeting between the individual Soul (Jivatma) and the Universal Soul (Paramatma). The jnani is a mirror of the Paramatma and facilitates this direct perception in the hearts of those he meets. Although in a sense this book can be no more than the crumbs left over after the feast, nevertheless, words have great power; especially the words of a jnani, which are imbued with the power of the Supreme Self, of the Guru Principle (Guru Tatva). The nature of the Guru Principle may be said to be the central pillar of Babaji's teaching.