by Gurani Anjali
Name is very powerful, like the name “philosophy,” like the name “water.” Name is an honor designated to a particular power, or a particular being in time. Take the name “fire.” When you hear the name “fire”: a lot goes with it. Fire purifies and destroys. Water blends and cleanses and moves. Every time you hear a name, think of what that name is all about. For example, the word “earth” is a name. We live through it, we step on it, we survive through it. It has become us. The “Earth” has become this apple. But there is more to this apple. This is an apple, a name. But what is it? A being in time.
To the seeker of truth, every named thing is significant, even the particle of dust on the floor. It is so difficult for us to live without names. We use names to communicate; to bring to mind all there is to know about the sacredness of life. There are all kinds of names, and all names are given. The name that you have was given to you. It was given to you because you were important. You are to be recognized. You are to be uplifted, upheld, personified. What is in a name? Plenty. Who has the name? How did that name get there? Who gave it? The seeker of truth must understand all their aspects in order to pay reverence, in order to acknowledge, in order to say “I see,” “I hear,” “I smell,” “I taste,” “I touch.”
What is in a name? There are so many sacred scriptures of the East, the Yajur Veda, the Rig Veda, the Atharva Veda. There are so many Vedas, sacred books of the East. There are so many sacred books from the West, as well. All kinds of philosophies —Descartes, Heidegger, Plato, Socrates—these are all names, but these names stand high. They are known and respected. Name is significant, auspicious and beautiful. We must know the name in its entirety. Your name was given to you. Your parents gave you your name to give you a place of belonging, a place to be seen and heard. This place is an “ashram” (a refuge), a name. How did that name come to be? Everything is given. You cannot do anything unless it is given to you. Therefore, we have to wait. We have to wait upon the Lord. Everything you have is given. Ultimately, you really have nothing, except everything that was given to you. Honor that! Be thankful that you have a place and you have a name. Honor that name until it changes. As you evolve with consciousness, things will change. What’s in a name? When I open up the Upanishads, I first look at the name. And I honor that name, the Chandogya, the Katha, and there are many others. First we look for the name. The attention goes there first. Then I acknowledge the writer of that particular book. Then I say, “Om shanti,” then I bow, saying, “Thank you for giving me these beautiful words so that I may read.” Without honor, devotion and respect, it is not possible to penetrate.
There are so many names. Just look around. You will see so many names. Each name has a form; and that form performs for the continuity of existence, knowledge and bliss. We have to perform so that existence will continue to be a vital part of our life. Through that existence we may come to have knowledge and understanding. Finally we may be filled with joy, which is anandam, which is bliss. What is in a name? Plenty. Without the name given to you, you couldn’t be. So we have to wait. Just like the fruit on the vine waits until it is ready to drop off, we have to wait. In the waiting, we must ready ourselves to be taken into another realm. Movement is part of life. But we find ourselves, from time to time, wanting to hold on to that which must move. That’s why it is wonderful to have cats in the family. You cannot hold them too long, because they will give you a scratch to tell you to let go. A lesson is learned for the seeker of truth. You buy beautiful plants for the house, and they also teach you a lesson. If you don’t feed or water them, they will die. In that a lesson is taught.
You cannot hold on to that which must change, you must move on. We try to hold onto things which must change. In trying to do that, we create a lot of suffering for ourselves and for those around us. Anything that is moving, don’t hold it. Watch its dance, see its performance, enjoy its constantly changing nature and allow it to move on. As you go from this place today, look closely at every word you use. Every word you use will be a name. “Pass the salt. Give me a glass of water. I am going to bed. I am going to work.” We are wrapped up with words. They are all names and each name wraps us up. We are constantly wrapped up in names: my friend Suzy, my friend James, my this, my that, my wife, my husband, my child—all names. Each name carries with it a reason for its being. So honor that name, and honor the person who has that name.
Some names are very important and very strong and very powerful, like “the President of the United States.” Now his name is very important. The whole world knows about his name and knows him, or Mother Teresa, or Jesus Christ, Mahatma Gandhi, Buddha, Mohammed, Moses. These are names that are held high in history. These names have been world movers. These are names that have come away from the masses. When a name is drawn out and made known to all, it becomes a mighty force because infusion takes place and power is transmitted, just like a connection with electrical wires. Name, what is in a name? Work on yourself so your name can be great, so you may also become a powerful being in time, a name that will cause all heads to turn and look, a being that is drawn out of the masses.
From time to time in history, you have the masses and then you have a leader. The masses are of a herd mentality. They go in groups. They cannot help it; they have to because they are not ready to come out. They cannot just come out on their own. They will be killed, trampled on if they try to. Therefore, a name is drawn out of the crowd and transformation takes place. Leaders are born that way, coming out of the masses. But while in the masses, one has to perform. One has to be educated; one has to learn to live within the masses. One has to learn to compromise and know one’s place. But eventually, one is drawn out of the herd and made to lead the masses. Just see what is happening today in the world. Not so nice. But that is what is happening. So wait upon the Lord. Do a lot of waiting. While running, wait. While driving your car, wait. While speaking to someone, wait. Wait so that you may hear the voice of the Lord. Om shanti.