One feels as if oneself is an emperor, as if one could do anything; but as soon as it is over, the stress and strain of life resume.
In nirvikalpa samadhi, which the Sufis call fana , and which means passing away from selfhood to Union with God, the soul identifies itself with God. This samadhi is the real samadhi. Here, one becomes God. God's Knowledge is his Knowledge; God's Bliss is his Bliss; God's Power is his Power; God's Beauty is his Beauty! During this samadhi, he has no consciousness of body, energy, mind, universe, but is only conscious of the Self as God. Very, very few get this nirvikalpa samadhi.
It is said, after cycles and cycles, one gets fana. This is called fana-fillah, meaning one who has been made one with God. Very few such persons regain normal consciousness. But One who does regain normal consciousness has sahaj samadhi. Sahaj samadhi is nirvikalpa samadhi in action, when one is fully conscious of the universe. Such a One, when he eats, speaks, moves about, plays or does anything, is enjoying nirvikalpa samadhi all the time. He is called a Qutub, which in Persian means the center of everything — the Pivot — what we name a Perfect Master. He is now on every plane of consciousness, one with God, even on the level of an ant; and simultaneously he is functioning in the gross, subtle and mental worlds. He is above everything.
Sahaj samadhi means effortless oneness. It is as simple as moving the hands or winking the eyelids.
Tomorrow, if you remind me — I don't promise — I will tell you how, when thinking of me, you can still do everything you need to do in the world. This is not sahaj samadhi, but sahaj dhyan. [natural meditation] Even while eating, drinking, working, while looking at motion pictures, or attending to your business, you will still feel that Baba is with you. This is sahaj dhyan.
Tomorrow, when we play the Indian records, I intend to explain many things, if I am in a good mood. Today, let us keep silence, but at the same time listen to some English recordings. I am very fond of music, but have not had time to listen recently. The girls [women mandali] made me bring these records. While the records are being played, be here in this room mentally, and not elsewhere. Kabir has said: "Any music is the seventh shadow of that Word." In God Speaks, I deal with this. As soon as I break my silence, that first Word will make your hearts vibrate."