There was a great sage who would not initiate anybody, who would not make anybody a disciple. And his fame spread far and wide, and thousands of people would come every year to his hilltop and they would touch his feet and they would cry and weep and they would say, “Accept us! Initiate us into the truth you have achieved! Open the door of your temple to us also — we are thirsty.”
But he would say, “You are not worthy, you don’t deserve. First become worthy of me!” And his conditions were such that nobody was ever able to fulfill them: Be truthful for three years, not a single lie; for three years be celibate, not even a thought of a woman or a man — and so on and so forth.
Those conditions were impossible! And those conditions are such that the more you try to fulfill them, the more you will feel it is impossible. You can be a celibate if you don’t bother too much about it; but if you think too much about celibacy then you will be surrounded by many, many women in your mind.
Many people had tried and nobody was successful, so nobody was initiated.
Then the man was dying. Just three days before he died, many people had gathered and he told his closest people, “Now you go, and whosoever wants to be initiated I will initiate — only three days are left!”
The people knew him well and they said, “What about your conditions?”
He said, “Forget all about those conditions! In fact, I was not ready to initiate anybody; hence, I was insisting too much on the conditions. Now I am ready! and I am full and I want to share. Now forget all about the conditions — whosoever wants to come, fetch them! And be in a hurry because only three days are left.”
He initiated any and everybody, whosoever came. People could not believe it! They asked, “What are you doing? We are sinners!”
He said, “Forget about it. I was not a saint up to now — that was the only trouble. I had nothing to initiate you into. There was no door — I was standing outside the door myself. But now the door has opened — now I have to share. Now there is no question of any conditions.”
When you are aware, you are not in need of love. When you are not in need of love, you become capable of love. This is the paradox. When you are in need you are not capable.
Be Giver
Conditions For Initiation, is saying when we are ready to give.
Ask yourself when you can give? If you have one.
The Law of Giving & Receiving
The universe operates through dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the flow of energy in the universe. And in our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.
This means an abundance consciousness is not what you can manifest, but it is about what you can give and deliver through your act.
Put the Law of Giving and Receiving into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:
1. Wherever I go, and whomever I encounter, I will bring them a gift. The gift may be a compliment, a flower, or a prayer. Today, I will give something to everyone I come into contact with, and so I will begin the process of circulating joy, wealth, and affluence in my life and in the lives of others.
2. Today I will gratefully receive all the gifts that life has to offer me. I will receive the gifts of nature: sunlight, the sound of birds singing, spring showers, or the first rain of monsoon. I will also be open to receiving from others, whether it be in the form of a material gift, money, a compliment, or a prayer.
3. I will make a commitment to keep wealth circulating in my life by giving and receiving life’s most precious gifts: the gifts of caring, affection, appreciation, and love. Each time I meet someone, I will silently wish them happiness, joy, and laughter.
So learning from the story Conditions For Initiation: Be Giver.
Experience Learning
The universe operates through constant and dynamic exchange . . . giving and receiving are different aspects of the same flow of energy in the universe. In our willingness to give that which we seek, we keep the abundance of the universe circulating in our lives.
Practicing the Law of Giving and Receiving is simple: if you want joy, learned to give joy to others; if you want love, learn to give love; if you want attention and appreciation, learn to give attention and appreciation; if you want wealth, help others prosper.
The basic idea behind the Law of Giving and Receiving is to consciously participate in the dynamic flow of Abundance that is the nature of life itself. Here are five keys to applying the Law of Giving and Receiving in your life:
1. Give daily:
Giving needn’t be reserved for birthdays and other special occasions. We have countless opportunities every day to give. Whenever you meet someone in your daily travels, offer a gift. This may be a compliment, a flower, a prayer, or a genuine smile. The best gift you can give is to leave someone feeling a little lighter than they felt did before your interaction. Silently wish everyone you encounter happiness.
2. Give freely:
When we give from the limitless joy and abundance of our heart, we increase the circulation of abundance and love in our lives. If we feel diminished when we give or we give grudgingly, then the gift is not truly given. Anything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given. The monetary value of the gift doesn’t matter; it is the intention behind your giving and receiving that is the most important thing.
3. Receive gratefully:
Every act of receiving is an act of giving. When you happily accept a gift, you give pleasure to the giver. Think about giving something to someone you love. Imagine the happiness and opening that unfolds as a result of your gift. Now imagine that your friend or loved one refused your offering. You would most likely feel disappointed, sad, and empty. Therefore, gratefully receive all the gifts life has to offer: nature, sunlight, food, and friends. Be open to receiving gifts from others, whether it is a material gift, a compliment, or a kind gesture.
4. Replenish your well:
The Law of Giving and Receiving presupposes that we have something to give. Giving is based upon being, for we can only give of what we have . . . what we are. Spiritually speaking, this means we must go within to tap our infinite reservoir of inner intelligence, power, and joy.
Let all your activities be aimed at bringing you into alignment with your essential being. Give yourself the gifts of daily meditation; restful sleep; a healthy, balanced diet; regular exercise; loving relationships; laughter; and play. Celebrate the body that allows your soul to express its meaning and purpose in life.
5. Be present:
Life’s most precious gifts are the intangible ones, including attention appreciation, and affection. When we pay attention to someone, we are fully present and listen deeply, without stopping to answer a phone call, check emails, or engage in other increasingly common multitasking behavior. We can share our compassion and be with another person’s happiness, sorrow, excitement, or pain, offering the incomparable gift of open-hearted presence.
