SHRI GANESHA
The Wisdom of Pure Innocence
11 September 1983 | Tivoli, Italy
Shri Ganesha Puja — The Birthday of Shri Ganesha
Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi
Salutations to Shri Ganesha,
who abides at the sacred root,
whose nature is innocence,
whose ornament is wisdom,
whose strength is purity,
and whose supreme wisdom is surrender to the Mother.
He is the child, yet the Ancient One.
He is innocent, yet none can deceive Him.
He is silent, yet from His wisdom arises right discrimination.
Know, therefore, that innocence is not ignorance.
“Innocence is the wisest thing.”
That which is ignorant may be deceived.
That which is innocent remains untouched.
As the lotus rests upon water yet is not stained by it,
so true innocence moves through the world without becoming bound by the world.
Shri Mataji teaches that Shri Ganesha resides within us.
Therefore seek Him not only in the image before the eyes,
but in the purity established within the Mooladhara.
Let the attention descend to the root.
Let the mind become humble.
Let the heart pray:
For where there is purity, discrimination awakens.
Where discrimination awakens, ego loses its throne.
Where ego diminishes, humility appears.
And where humility becomes natural, beauty enters conduct.
What is knowledge without humility?
A burden upon the intellect.
What is efficiency without love?
Power without fragrance.
What is spirituality without joy?
A lamp covered by its own smoke.
Therefore Shri Mataji teaches that one may be knowledgeable and yet humble, efficient and yet loving, aware and yet discreet.
This is the beauty of the complete personality.
Do not proclaim:
“I know.”
Do not declare:
“I am greater.”
The fruit-bearing branch bends low.
Therefore humility is not the denial of wisdom.
It is the fragrance of wisdom.
And beware of fanaticism, even in the name of the Divine.
For Shri Mataji says:
“There is no love in fanaticism.”
Where there is harshness, where there is the fever of superiority, where one continually judges another, there the sweetness of innocence has been obscured.
The awakened one becomes prasanna-chitta:
joyous, peaceful, unburdened.
For Truth is not made greater by anger,
nor does the sun require a sword to establish the day.
Now hear the secret of the Present.
“Innocence keeps you in the present.”
The past has departed.
The future has not arisen.
Between these two shadows shines the eternal Now.
There the innocent one abides.
When the mind runs backward, it meets memory.
When it runs forward, it meets imagination.
But when it becomes still in the present, it touches the Divine Power.
Therefore abandon the unnecessary burden of becoming.
Behold what is.
Witness the play.
Remain unattached.
Shri Mataji says of innocence:
“It sees the play, just sees, it enjoys the play, just enjoys.”
As the sky witnesses the passing clouds without travelling with them,
so let the Spirit witness the movements of thought.
When thought says, “Come with me,” answer:
“Not this, not this, not this…”
Neti, neti.
Not this thought.
Not this fear.
Not this pride.
Not this agitation.
Not this passing shadow.
Until that which merely watches remains.
And in that silence, innocence shines.
Yet do not mistake innocence for childishness.
Shri Ganesha appears as the Child,
yet He is the eldest.
Time has not aged His innocence.
Power has not corrupted His purity.
Wisdom has not produced pride.
Thus spiritual maturity is not the abandonment of innocence.
It is wisdom returning to innocence.
Guard also the sacred boundaries of life.
Let affection be pure.
Let friendship be healthy.
Let relationships remain within maryada.
For attachment says:
“You belong to me.”
But pure love says:
“May you belong to the Divine.”
And if another rises higher than you, do not become jealous.
Learn.
If another possesses virtue, do not merely adore him.
Become virtuous.
For jealousy sees another's light and chooses darkness.
Wisdom sees another's light and lights its own lamp.
Therefore Shri Mataji declares:
“Wisdom is your glory.”
Yet even wisdom reaches its perfection only in surrender.
Hear therefore the heart of this teaching:
“The greatest wisdom of Shri Ganesha was that he was surrendered to his Mother.”
What then remains to be conquered?
Not the world.
The ego.
What remains to be abandoned?
Not life.
The illusion that “I am the doer.”
Offer ego to the Mother.
Offer superego to the Mother.
Offer yesterday and tomorrow to the Mother.
And remain in innocence.
For when the wave surrenders its separate name,
it discovers that it was never other than the ocean.
When the ray ceases to claim its own brilliance,
it knows itself as the light of the sun.
And when the seeker lays the little “I” at the Feet of the Mother,
Shri Ganesha awakens within.
Then purity is no longer a discipline.
It becomes nature.
Wisdom is no longer thought.
It becomes vision.
Love is no longer effort.
It becomes existence.
And surrender is no longer an act.
It becomes freedom.
O Mother,
awaken within us the great power of Shri Ganesha.
Establish innocence in our Mooladhara,
discretion in our conduct,
humility in our knowledge,
maryada in our relationships,
joy in our hearts,
and surrender in our Spirit.
For he who becomes innocent becomes present.
He who becomes present becomes peaceful.
He who becomes humble becomes wise.
And he who surrenders to the Mother
becomes free.
Shri Ganesha Puja: The Birthday of Shri Ganesha
