There Is Within You That Which Knows … That Is Your Teacher (May 2018)

So why do we act as though we are ignorant? Because that inner innate wisdom – called Prajna – is covered up. The Vashanas (habit energies) so cover the Prajna that it becomes impossible to shine through to the conscious mind, but it is there.

All through religious and spiritual literature we read “Know Thyself,” “The Kingdom of Heaven is within,” “The inner Guru,” etc. But we don’t believe this teaching and look outside ourselves, in the outer world we have created for ourselves, to find someone to worship, someone to follow and so forth. There are many teachers who use this fact to their own benefit, frequently financial in character. This is why Krishnamurti said the Guru system is “an exploitation.”

I have frequently told you the story of the Sufi teacher who was approached by a seeker, who said: “Teach me, Master!” “Are you ready to learn?” was the reply. “Teach me how to learn ” earnestly implored the seeker. “Are you ready to let me teach you how to learn?” was the cold water thrown on the seeker’s aspirations.

When Paul Reps met someone, he said, “Thank you for your Life!” When people asked questions as to proper diet, whether to have sex or not, etc., Paul called these “verbal delusionary.” This has deep meaning, and relates closely to the reply of the Sufi master “Are you ready to learn?” Unless the delusionary way of thinking is changed, no teaching is possible and changing it can be painful. Giving up delusions, often recognized as neuroses, is not as easy as wallowing in them. I have known people who had legs amputated because it was easier than stopping the tobacco habit. With such deep-seated habit energies, where is the possibility of shaking the delusionary way of thinking, the maker of suffering?

Prajna, your great treasure, the innate wisdom that you are never without, is often personalized as Prajna Paramita, the perfection of wisdom, and is thought of as a female. In spiritual experiences I have been told, “She will take you where you are meant to be.” In other words, you are being led.

One time I told a young yogi, who was actively seeking to be free from bondage, “The thing that binds you is the feeling that there is a goal to reach and you have not yet reached it. Actually, you are complete. If you have faith in Prajna, this inner wisdom, you will do and feel the right thing. It will almost do the right thing for you. Every word spoken to you will be a signpost to guide you, if you let it. But, can you have faith in this guidance instead of always trying to manipulate it?”

It means you must “Let go!” Every spiritual path simply asks you to “Let go!” But this means to ignore your habitual thought patterns, your ingrained energy patterns and that is difficult to consciously do. The circulation and balancing of these energy patterns in T’ai Chi Chih practice can do it for you effortlessly.

Editor’s Note: Stay tuned for the August issue for the continuation of Justin’s message.