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lately； i have often felt that those friends who are practicing meditation can be taken into the bardo experiment in some form or other。
but this is possible only when they have gone through deep meditation； otherwise； they would not even be able to hear what is being said to them。
they would not be able to hear what is being said at the moment of death； or follow what is being told to them。
in order to follow what is being said； a very silent and empty mind is needed。
as the consciousness begins to fade and disappear； and as all earthly ties start being severed； only a very silent mind can hear messages given from this world； they cannot be heard otherwise。
remember； it can be done only in respect to death； if anything； nothing can be done with respect to birth。
but whatsoever we do with death； it consequently affects our birth as well。
we are born in the same state in which we die。
an awakened one exercises his choice in selecting the womb。
this shows that he never chooses anything blindly； unconsciously。
he chooses his parents just as a rich man chooses his house。
a poor man cannot have a house of his choice。
you need a certain capacity to choose。
one needs a capability to buy a house。
a poor man never chooses his house。
one should say that actually the house chooses the poor man； a poor house chooses a poor man。
a millionaire decides where he should reside； what the garden should look like； where the doors and windows should be fixed …… the sunlight should enter from the east or west； how the ventilation should be； how spacious the house should be …… he chooses everything。
an awakened one chooses a womb for himself； that is his choice。
individuals like mahavira or buddha are not born anywhere and everywhere。
they take birth after considering all possibilities： how the body will be and from which parents it will be conceived； what the energy will be like； how powerful he will be； what kind of facilities will be available to him。
they take birth after looking into all of this。
they have a clear choice of what to choose； where to go； hence； from the very first day of their birth they live the life of their own choice。
the joy of living a life of ones own choice is altogether different； because freedom begins with having a life of ones own choice。
there cannot be the same kind of joy in a life which is given to you because then it bees servitude。
in such cases one is merely pushed into life and then whatever happens； happens …… the person has no role to play in it。
if such an awakening bees possible then the choice can definitely be made。
if the very birth happens out of our choice； then we can live the rest of our lives in choice。
then we can live like a jeevan…mukta。
one who dies in an awakened state is born in an awakened state and then he lives his life in a liberated state。
we often hear the word jeevan…mukta； although we may not know what the word means。
jeevan…mukta means： one who is born in an awakened state。
only such a person can be a jeevan…mukta； otherwise he may work his whole life for liberation； yet he can attain freedom only in his next life …… he will not be free in this life。
in order to be a jeevan…mukta in this life a man must have the freedom to choose from the very first day of his birth。
and this is possible only if one has attained to full consciousness in the dying moment of ones previous life。
but at this point that is not the question。
life is here； death has not arrived yet。
it is sure to e； there is nothing more certain than death。
there can be doubt regarding other things； but about death nothing whatsoever is in doubt。
there are people who have doubts about god； there are others who have doubts about the soul； but you may never have e across a man who has doubts about death。
it is inevitable …… it is sure to e； it is already on its way。
it is approaching closer and closer every moment。
we can utilize the moments which are available before death for our awakening。
meditation is a technique to that effect。
my effort in these three days will be to help you understand that meditation is the technique for that very awakening。
question 2
a friend has asked： what is the relation between meditation and jati…smaran； past life remembering？
jati…smaran means： a method of recalling past lives。
it is a way to remember our previous existences。
it is a form of meditation。
it is a specific application of meditation。
for example； one might ask； 〃what is a river； and what is a canal？ our answer would be that the canal is a specific application of the river itself …… well planned； but controlled and systematic。
the river is chaotic； unrestrained； it too will reach somewhere； but its destination is not certain。
the destination of the canal is assured。
meditation is like a big river …… it will reach to the ocean； it is sure to reach。
meditation will surely bring you to god。
there are； however； other intermediary applications of meditation also。
like small tributaries these can be directed into canals of meditation。
jati…smaran is one such auxiliary method of meditation。
we can channelize the power of meditation towards our past lives also； meditation simply means the focusing of attention。
there can be applications where ones attention is focused on a given object； and one such application is jati…smaran …… focusing on the dormant memories of past lives。
remember； memories are never erased； a memory either remains latent or it arises。
but the latent memory appears to be erased。
if i ask you what you did on january 1； 1950； you will not be able to answer …… which does not mean that you might not have done anything on that day。
but suddenly the day of january 1； 1950 feels like a total blank。
it could not have been blank； as it passed； it was filled with activity。
but today it feels like a blank。
similarly； today will bee blank tomorrow as well。
ten years from now there will be no trace left of today。
so it is not that january 1； 1950 did not exist； or that you did not exist on that day …… what is implied is that since you are unable to recall that day； how can you believe it ever existed？ but it did exist and there is a way to know about it。
meditation can be focused in that direction as well。
as soon as the light of meditation falls on that day； to your surprise you will see that it looks more alive than it ever was before。
for example； a person enters a dark room and moves around with a flashlight。
when he turns the light to the left； the right side bees dark …… but nothing disappears on the right side。
when he moves the light to the right； the right side bees alive again； but the left side remains hidden in the dark。
meditation has a focus； and if one wants to channel it in a particular direction then it has to be used like a flashlight。
if； however； one wants to turn it towards the divine； then meditation has to be applied like a lamp。
please understand this carefully。
the lamp has no focus of its own； it is unfocused。
a lamp merely burns and its light spreads all around。
a lamp has no interest in lighting up one direction or the other； whatsoever falls within the radius of light is lit up。
but the form of a flashlight is like a focused lamp。
in a flashlight we keep all the light and shine it in one direction。
so it is possible that under a burning lamp things may bee visible； but hazy； and in order to see them clearly we concentrate the light on one place …… it bees a flashlight； then the thing bees clearly visible。
however； the remaining objects are lost to view。
in fact； if a man wants to see an object clearly he will have to focus his total meditation in one direction only and turn the rest of the area into darkness。
one who wants to know the truth of life directly will develop his meditation like a lamp …… that will be his sole purpose。
and； in fact； the lamps only objective is to see itself； if it can shine this much it is enough …… thats the end of it。
but if some special application of the lamp has to be made …… such as remembering past lives …… then med