Expressions
Expression of Candice Wilmore in May 2008
Here is another inspiring history that I must put in practise too.
One time someone asked Charnanand what was the best way to
spread the word about Knowledge. He said, "Learn to listen".
I have thought about that so much, especially lately. I am a terrible
listener. I want to learn, so, I have been practicing the teaching of Maharaji — "What you practice
you become good at" —, trying to keep my attention inside and
just listen more, especially in situations where I would normally think:
"This is a great time to talk about Knowledge!"
What a blast. I feel like I am being shown the absolute incomparable
power of simply staying in a place of consciousness, remembering the
technique that takes me there and just keeping my mouth shut for a
change. It works. I do not know how, but it does. (Not that I am now a
non-speaking robot who never says a word, but you get the gist.
Another person that practices knowledge and I are encouraging each other on this listening
bit. We both had "success stories" on the same day this week.
My success story:
I had taken a young friend to the bookstore that
carries “Peace is Possible: The Life and Message of Prem Rawat”. We had been
talking about "life" and I wanted to show him the book since we were in
the neighbourhood. We sat down, I handed it to him open to pages with
photos of Maharaji. I am ready to go at it, assuming it is my turn to talk
since I had already been practicing listening to him for an hour or so,
with occasional "yeps" and "nopes"...and enjoying hearing about his
life, etc. Now, though, it was my time, right? Wrong.
He held the book and launched in again about his own beliefs, ideas
about peace, how he would find it this way and that way, his religious
interests, etc. Again, very interesting person and I did enjoy what he
was saying but I was still antsy to let him know what I knew! He was
flipping through the book, still talking and talking so I finally sat
back in my chair, laughing inside myself, thinking, "Well Wilmore, you
said you wanted to practice listening..."
After about 40 minutes, during which I did get a few zingers in about
Maharaji and Knowledge — but not much —, the person became quiet, looked
down at the book, up at me and said "God, I hope I can see this man
someday."
Now how did that happen? I did not even do my thing. Guess there is
more going on in here than me telling folks where it is at...you think?
My friend’s success story:
He had taken new DVDs to the cable company showing Words of Peace
broadcasts. The guy who runs the place has been airing W/P for over 3
years and has always been super nice about it but this day, my friend had
decided to practice listening, and the cable guy started going on
about the studio, the station, all the other shows they air, etc. My
friend did the "stay inside and listen" bit the whole time, almost
like a test.
The cable person finally looks at my friend and unexpectedly says,
"There's no one like Maharaji though..." and goes on and on about how
he listens to every episode as it airs, is totally blown away and
makes copies of the tapes for his father who does not live where these
are shown. The dad is hooked as well and keeps bugging his son for
more.
My friend gave the person Designed for Joy for the dad and suggested they
both watch Discovering More since they have heard so much already.
Guess I will have to take all that energy in me that wants to share my
thoughts and feelings' with the world and try letting something else
work its magic...at least for a while...
