A Million Thoughts: Learn All About Meditation from a Himalayan Mystic

“Where does God live?” the king of Kazakhstan asked his first question.

Birbal demanded a glass of milk in response. As soon as he got it, he dipped his fingers in the glass and started rubbing them. “Hmm…” he said shaking his head. “There’s no butter in this milk.”

Everyone in the court laughed out loud, and then the king said, “You have to churn milk to get the cream. Further the cream must be churned to extract butter.”

“Exactly, Your Excellency,” Birbal said. “The butter is in the milk but we can’t see it. The milk has to undergo a certain process before we can taste butter. Similarly, God lives in all living beings but an individual has to purify himself to experience the presence of God. He has to churn his consciousness and erase his ignoble thoughts, feelings and desires to extract the divinity.”

“Very well,” said the king, pleased with the answer. “What does God eat?”

A hush fell over the court.

“Clearly, if God lives then he must eat something too,” he added. “Indeed, Your Majesty,” Birbal replied instantly. “God does eat. He feasts on the false pride us humans have. Our history bears a witness to this. Eventually everyone is brought to justice in the divine court of law. Anyone who seeks God has to offer Him his ego.”

“Beautiful!” exclaimed the king. “And, what does God do?” “To answer this question, you’ll have to come closer to me,”

Birbal said.

The king was taken aback at the instruction but curious to find the answer, he stepped down from his throne and went where Birbal was standing.

“I can only answer your question by sitting on your throne,” Birbal said bowing his head.

The courtiers frowned at the suggestion and nervous whispers ran through the court.

“So be it,” the king said. “I must find the answer.”

With utmost grace, Birbal climbed the regal staircase and sat on the throne, a place where no one other than the king had ever seated.

Resting his hands on the two diamond-studded armrests, Birbal spoke like an emperor, “This is what God does, O king! In an instant, an ordinary mortal like me, born in poor family, gets to be the king where, on the other hand, you, a born king, is dethroned with least resistance.”

“You’ve proven beyond doubt, Birbal, that the wittiest man on earth serves in Akbar’s court.”

The king rewarded him amply and Birbal was given a royal farewell.

With this story, I don’t mean to say that some ‘person’ is calling the shots up there. I leave that to your individual belief.

Every now and then, people ask me how to feel God’s presence in their lives. I tell them to be grateful for what all they have been blessed with because gratitude is the quickest antidote of negativity. When you are positive and grateful, everything in this world looks divine. But, how to experience the divinity on a more constant basis? I say practice compassion consciously. If you think it’s not easy, then I suppose, the only way out is to undergo self-purification. The more you purify yourself, the greater sensitivity you develop to perceive what normally lies outside human perception.

Leading a virtuous life and a regular practice of meditation can purify anyone. Adopting virtues are even more important than meditation or any religious practice. Having said that, meditation does strengthen your mind, it makes you more mindful, so that you can stand up to your principles in the face of temptations (and there will be many). But, ultimately, it’s humility that keeps us grounded and real.

Reflecting on Birbal’s answers, humility keeps us in touch with our source. Otherwise, ego raises its hood far too quickly. The venom ego spits is enough to blind even the most sane person in a matter of moments. The most potent antidote of false ego is humility.

Overcome with spiritual ecstasy, an archbishop approaches the altar in great rush. He gets down on his knees and cries, “I’m nobody, Lord! I’m nobody! Nobody!”

The bishop in attendance sees the extraordinary humility and devotional sentiment of the archbishop. Overwhelmed with love for God, he too runs to the altar yelling, “Lord, I’m nobody! I’m nobody, Lord!”

It so happened that a janitor was mopping the floor nearby. He saw how two deeply religious people were one with God. He got goosebumps. Filled with piety and a fervent spirit, he drops his mop and also dashes to the altar, proclaiming, “I’m nobody! Oh Lord, hear me, I’m nobody! Nobody!”

The archbishop takes notice, turns to the bishop and says, “Look, who thinks he’s nobody!”

If our humility is false or pretentious like that of the archbishop and the bishop in the anecdote, it will only make us more egoistic. False humility fails all spiritual tests. There’s no room for exhibitionism and vanity on the divine path.

Guru Nanak differentiates most beautifully between false external humility versus true inner humility.

miṭhatunīvīnānakāguṇacaṃgiāīātatu.

sabhukonivaiāpakau para kaunivaina koi.