按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
so he moves on ahead。
we can choose to regress in life； we can return to the unconscious state； we can find ways of being unconscious …… if thats what we want。
we dont even understand the language of the voices that e from afar because we have no idea what bliss is。
we dont even know what sort of thing it is that people call bliss。
we are familiar with what misery is …… all too familiar； as a matter of fact。
we also know the more we tried to attain happiness； the more we found misery。
now we are afraid lest； in our quest for bliss； we land ourselves in more trouble。
since we came across more misery trying to find happiness； we take the state of bliss to be more or less similar to the state of happiness …… perhaps as a little more intense state of happiness。
but we are afraid of facing trouble as well。
the fact remains that in attempting to gain happiness we encountered pain； so now； in an effort to find bliss； the fear is we may have to face even more trouble； even greater misery。
so we hear these voices ing from far away； and with folded hands we salute and say to the people of the other shore； 〃you are gods； you are avataras； you are tirthankaras； you are great！ we will worship you； but we want to go back！〃
we are afraid of the unknown。
the fear is we will lose whatever little happinesses we have collected； they seem to be dropping away as we move ahead。
the reason is we have built our houses on the very bridge that was only meant to be crossed。
we have started living there。
we have settled down there； we have turned it into our living room。
now when someone tells us to move ahead； we feel worried about losing the things we have gathered around us。
it bees obvious that moving ahead means leaving behind whatsoever we now have。
so we say； 〃let the time e。
when i am old； when death is at hand； when all i have begins to drop； thats when i will e forward right away。
then there wont be anything to worry about。
〃 but the closer we e to death； the stronger the grip bees。
as death approaches we close our fists more tightly。
thats why an old man bees utterly miserly； a young man is never so miserly。
an old man bees a miser in every way。
he holds tight。
at the time of his departure the old man bees paranoid lest everything he is holding on to might slip through his hands。
he holds his possessions firmly； lest his grip loosen。
this very clinging to things so firmly turns one into an ugly old man； otherwise； the beauty and grace of an old man can be matchless。
we are aware of beautiful children and we know of less beautiful young people； but beautiful old men are very rare to find。
only once in a while does one e across someone who has grown into a beautiful old man。
otherwise； ordinarily； with the increasing miserliness and holding fast to possessions； everything starts being uglier and uglier。
an open hand looks beautiful； a closed fist looks ugly。
freedom is beautiful； attachment is slavery。
everyone thinks he will give up his attachments sometime in the future； at the right opportunity。
he waits u
。。
Chapter 12
（／小｜说｜网）
the distance makes the difference
3 august 1970 pm in bombay； india
question 1
in order for one to stay awake at the time of death； or in order for one to successfully experience a conscious death in meditation； please explain in detail how a seeker should work on the following： the body system； the breathing system； the state of breathing； the state of ones being； celibacy； the state of ones mind。
before one can remain conscious in the moment of death； first one needs to prepare to stay conscious in pain and suffering。
ordinarily； it is not possible for one who bees unconscious even in misery to stay awake at the time of death。
one needs to understand what it means to bee unconscious when in misery。
that will make one understand what it means to be conscious in misery too。
being unconscious when one is in misery means one has identified oneself with the misery。
when you have a headache； you dont feel any distance between the headache and yourself； you dont remain just a distant watcher。
rather； you feel as if you are in pain。
when you have a fever； it doesnt feel as though the body is hot； somewhere at a distance from you； instead you feel as if you have bee hot。
this is identification。
when your foot is hurt and wounded； you dont feel just the affected foot； rather； you feel as if you are hurt and wounded。
basically； we dont feel any distance between ourselves and our bodies。
we live identified with the body。
when hunger arises； one doesnt say his body is hungry and he is aware if it； instead he says； 〃i am hungry。
〃 but this is not the truth。
the truth is； the body is hungry and he is aware of it。
he is simply the center of awareness …… continuously aware of whatsoever is happening。
if there is a thorn hurting the foot； he knows it； if there is a headache； he knows it； if the stomach needs food； he knows it。
man is consciousness； consciousness which is continuously aware。
he is not the experiencer； he is simply the knower。
this is the reality。
but our state of mind is not that of the knower； it is that of the experiencer。
when the knower turns into being the experiencer； when he knows not； but rather bees identified with the act itself； when he does not remain a witness watching from a distance； but rather bees the participant in the act； that is when the identification takes place。
then he bees one with the act。
this identification prevents him from waking up； because in order to be awake； in order to be aware； a certain distance is required； a space is needed。
i am able to see you only because there is a distance between you and me。
if the whole distance between you and me were to be removed； i wouldnt be able to see you。
i am able to see you because there is a space between us。
if this entire space were somehow eliminated； it wouldnt be possible for me to see you。
my eyes can see you； because there is a space in between but my very eyes are unable to see themselves。
even if i need to see my figure； i have to bee the other in a mirror； i have to be at a distance from myself …… only then can i see my reflection。
seeing the reflection in a mirror means my image is at a distance； and now it is visible to me。
all that a mirror does is present your image at a distance from you。
the intervening space thus created enables you to see。
in order to see； a distance is needed。
for one who lives identified with the body； or thinks he is the very body； there exists no distance between him and his body。
once there was a mohammedan mystic called farid。
a man came to see him one morning and raised the same question you have asked me。
he said to farid； 〃we have heard that when jesus was crucified he did not cry out； scream； or grow miserable。
we have also heard that when mansoors limbs were cut off； he was laughing。
how can this be？ this is impossible。
〃
farid didnt say a word。
he laughed； and from the coconuts offered to him by his devotees； he picked up one that was lying nearby and gave it to the man。
farid told him； 〃take this coconut。
it is not ripe yet。
break it open； but make sure you keep the kernel from breaking。
break the outer shell and bring me the unbroken kernel。
〃
the man said； 〃this is impossible。
because the coconut is unripe； there is no space between the kernel and the outer shell。
if i break open the shell the kernel will break too。
〃
farid said； 〃forget this coconut。
here is another。
take this one； it is dry。
there is a space between its kernel and the outer shell。
can you assure me you can break only the shell and leave the kernel intact？〃
the man said； 〃whats so difficult about this？ i will break the shell and the kernel will be saved without any problem。
〃
farid said； 〃tell me why the kernel will be saved。
〃
the man replied； 〃because the coconut is dry； there exists a distance between the shell and the kernel。
〃
farid said； 〃now dont bother about breaking open the coconut； set it as