Prem Rawat - Maharaji:

I was speaking on London, and I came and I gave them an analogy of practice. This is a little chinese story that it came across when I was in China.. and...there was an archer, he came to town, he was exhibiting his talents he was showing off...it was wonderful. He was right, incredible marchment, right, one arrow after one, right on the bow, There was a guy standing in the back of the crowd, instead of cheering him he keeps saying, ahhh, it's just a matter of practice, just a matter of parctice, just a matter of practice, Certainly this archer thought a lot of himself and did not like this comment, he was expecting praise and did not like the comment ohh, just a matter of practice just a matter of practice he got fairly turned off and went over to the guy and he said, : "What do you mean ? really upset, what do you mean by "it's a matter of practice"? Can you do what I can do ? then, he goes: "Well, no...but let me show you something" so, he took...because this guy used to sell oil... he took a bottle, which it has a very narrow opening long tube, then a bulb at the bottom. And he was able to take this big container of oil and pour the oil where it went right through that little opening right through that bottle, and not a drop spilled and he look at the archer and said : "Can you do that" ? (Laughter) And the archer realized No...he couldn't do that he hadn't any practice doing that, so, he goes:" you know, I can't shoot the arrows like you and you can't pour the oil like me, It's a matter of practice. Now...what's the point of telling that story? The next question is .... What do you practice ? because I really believe whatever you practice...you are going to get good at it . and this isn't a question of good or bad ... if you practice, shitting the seat you are going to get very good at shitting the seat if you practice complaining you are going to get very good at complaining I mean...you will be able to complain about everything (laughter) whitout batting an eye or having a second thought, It will be a flow (laughter) when all your friends are standing there looking at the big harvest moon beautiful night and everybody are almost in tears and odd of this beautiful, beautiful evening you will be able to pull out of you heart without a second thought something to complain about. "yeah..but it's so dark.." (laughter) So, what do you practice in your life ? because if you.... practice peace.... in your life you are going to get good at it. you are going to get very good at it. if you practice joy in your life, you are going to get very good at it, if you practice happiness in your life you are going to get very, very, very good at it If you practice knowing yourself then, you are going to get very, very, very good at it and you will know who you are.