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If you are desiring to become a container for God, if you have invited him to be your guest and you want to be his host, then you will have to learn the ways of paradise.

You will have to live in such a way, herenow, that this very moment becomes a paradise. Only then can you invite God. Many people go on inviting without thinking if they are ready to receive him.

If he comes, will he find you ready? If he comes, will you be able to welcome him? Have you the golden cup ready if he pours down upon you? Where will you collect him? Is your heart ready, open to receive him? Are you receptive, sensitive?

Nobody asks this.

Many people come to me and they say, “Where is God?” – as if it is God’s duty to prove himself, to prove where he is. And if he cannot prove himself, then they cannot trust.

God is surrounding you, herenow. He is within and without. Nothing else is, only God is. But you are not ready. The golden cup is missing.

You don’t have the eyes to see him, and you don’t have the ears to listen to him, and you don’t have the hands to touch him. You are not ready, and you can receive only that for which you are ready.

Not even a single moment is lost. Once you are ready, immediately – not even a single moment’s gap, immediately the moment you are ready – he happens. Because he has already happened; only your readiness has to happen.

Even if sometimes we try to be ready, our efforts are very half-hearted.

The songwriter, Bob Dylan, gives us a modern parable that expresses quite well what I wish to say to you.

On the back side of his album, John Wesley Harding, we read of three kings who visit a man named Frank.

The first king explains their mission to Frank: “Mr. Dylan has come out with a new record. This record, of course, features none but his own songs, and we understand that you are the key.”

“That’s right,” said Frank, “I am.”

“Well then,” said the king in a bit of excitement, “could you please open it up for us?”

Frank, who all this time had been reclining with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them both as wide as a tiger. “And just how far would you like to go in?” he asked.

The chief of the kings replied, “Not too far, but just enough so we can say that we have been there.”

Even when people are seeking God, they want only to go this far – so that they can say to the world that we have seen him. But they don’t want to go far enough – because if you go far enough into God, you never come back.

They don’t want to take another step – because if you go deep, then there comes a point of no return. They only want to go a little bit, so that they can come back into the world and say to people that, “We have seen God also.”

But their whole interest is in the world and the respectability that the world can give to them. They have a big bank balance, they have a big palace to live; now they even possess God in their homes.

This parable is beautiful…replies the chief of the kings, “Not too far, but just enough so we can say that we have been there.”

When you go to the temple you are still not going; your face is towards the marketplace.

Have you seen this sometimes in you or in others? – if you are alone in the temple, you don’t enjoy your prayer very much. If there are many people watching, then there is great enthusiasm. Then you are so full of spirit. Then your prayer is great, you feel very high – not because of the prayer, but because the whole town is watching you. And they will think how religious, how virtuous, how close to God you are. You would like them to feel jealous. It is a performance.

But your performance is before the people; God is out of it. You are not contacting him.

Contact him alone, because it is not a performance. You are not to prove anything to anybody, you are just to open your heart.