Why does the mind not recognize its own limitations and believe it is indispensable?

Your first question, maneesha: "why is the nature of the mind such that it does not know its own limitations, that it thinks it is indispensable?"

Because we cannot prove that we are indispensable to the stars and to the moon and to the sun, we create small relationships: father, mother, wife, and husband, and friends. And we make clubs: Lions Club -- what will happen to the Lions Club without you? It will be simply a donkey club; you are the only lion! We create the illusion around ourselves that we are indispensable. One of my professors never in his whole life went on a holiday. I became his student just three months before he was going to retire. He was known all over the university as a man who had a great love for students -- he would not go on leave. Even if he was sick, he would come to teach. I asked him, "What is the matter? Why have you never gone on any holiday?" I did not expect the answer that…

We cannot accept ourselves as we are, because we are driven by the urge to appear otherwise. But whoever looks with open eyes will discover something simple: as one is, so one is—and other than that one can neither be, nor is there any real possibility. One can try to appear and live in illusion, but cannot be otherwise. A rose is a rose; a champa is a champa. There is no reason for champa to pretend to be a rose. No reason for a neem to strive to become a mango. There are small plants and great trees; small stars and large stars. If, throughout existence, each accepts where and what it is with a relaxed heart—there will be a revolution in life. Then something begins to happen, to develop—not around the center of ego, but as if Paramatma Himself is working within.

13. Devi, imagine the sanskrit letters in these honey-filled foci of awareness, first as letters, then more subtly as sounds, then as most subtle feeling. Then, leaving them aside, be free.

14. BATHE IN THE CENTER OF SOUND, AS IN THE CONTINUOUS SOUND OF A WATERFALL. OR, BY PUTTING THE FINGERS IN THE EARS, HEAR THE SOUND OF SOUNDS. For example, in any language the word `mother' is somehow related with `ma'. It may be `mater', it may be `Mutter', it may be `mata', it may be `ma', -- anything -- but somewhere it is related with the sound "ma" in all the languages, more or less. The child can utter "ma" most easily. The first sound which the child can utter is "ma." Then the whole structure is based on this "ma." A child utters "ma" because it is the first sound which is easy for the child to utter. This is the case anywhere, in any part of the world, in any time. Just because of the structure of the throat and the body, "ma" is the easiest sound…

Question: ATMAN CHITTAM KALADINAM TATVANAMAVIVEKO MAYA MOHAVARNAT SIDDIH MOHAJAYADANATTABHOGATSAHAJA VIDYAJAYAH JAGRAD DVITIYA KARAH. THE SOUL IS THE MIND. LACKING DISCRIMINATION OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL IS ILLUSION. THE YOGI CAUGHT IN ATTACHMENTS MAY ATTAIN POWERS BUT NOT SELF-KNOWLEDGE. AFTER CONQUERING ATTACHMENTS PERMANENTLY, SPONTANEOUS WISDOM IS ATTAINED. THE AWAKENED YOGI REALIZES THAT THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS AN EMANATION OF HIS OWN ENERGY. Mulla Nasruddin owned a dog. Its pedigree was unknown. It was a thin, ugly, weak creature that went about with its tail between its legs always scared, always trembling but the Mulla never tired of praising him. He had named him Adolf Hitler. When I asked him about the dog the Mulla would say, "There may be doubts about Hitler's family background, but my dog is a very valuable thoroughbred. No stranger can pass my house without our knowing it. Hitler lets me know immediately." "What does your do Hitler?

Chi hsing tzu was a trainer of fighting cocks for king hsuan. He was training a fine bird. The king kept asking if the bird were ready for combat.

'NOT YET', SAID THE TRAINER. 'HE IS FULL OF FIRE. HE IS READY TO PICK A FIGHT WITH EVERY OTHER BIRD. HE IS VAIN AND CONFIDENT OF HIS OWN STRENGTH'. AFTER TEN DAYS HE ANSWERED AGAIN: 'NOT YET. HE FLARES UP WHEN HE HEARS ANOTHER BIRD CROW'. AFTER TEN MORE DAYS: 'NOT YET. HE STILL GETS THAT ANGRY LOOK AND RUFFLES HIS FEATHERS'. AGAIN TEN DAYS. THE TRAINER SAID: 'NOW HE IS NEARLY READY. WHEN ANOTHER BIRD CROWS, HIS EYE DOES NOT EVEN FLICKER. HE STANDS IMMOBILE LIKE A COCK OF WOOD. HE IS A MATURE FIGHTER. OTHER BIRDS WILL TAKE ONE LOOK AT HIM AND RUN'. A small boy was visiting a zoo and there was a deer park, full of deer. He asked the keeper: What are these animals called? The keeper replied: The same thing as your mother calls your father in the morning, when they get…