WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA
TAOSHOBUDDHA ON
MASTERS RADIO TALKS 97.5 RADIO SHAKTI TRINIDAD, W.I.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA
‘WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN’ TAOSHO BUDDHA ON MASTERS THESE ARE RADIO TALKS OF TAOSHOBUDDHA ON RADIO SHAKTI 97.5 FM STEREO, HERE IN TRINIDAD IN WEST INDIES.
These are available on CDs
TALK 1: ON MASTERS Question: Who is a master? And how to find a master? First let me rephrase the question. Never ask who is a master. Ask what is a master? And how is a master? From language point this seems absurd. But this is how the question should be asked.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Never ask who is a master? Because master is not a person! Master is not a person. Master is a state of awareness. Then how can you ask who is a master. Sufis say master is Roohani Meraj-- inner state of emptiness – or awareness. For this you have to ask what a master is. Masters have used many ways to explain the role of a master. His effort is to wake you from your deep slumber. Master is one who wakes you up. Let me take a Zen koan. One master called his disciple. Kokushi called his disciple Hoshin At the voice of the master Hoshin responded, ‘yes master’ Again Kokushi called “Hoshin” Second time again Hoshin responded saying, ‘yes master’ Third time when Kokushi called, “Hoshin” And Hoshin responded saying, ‘yes’ Kokushi said, “Hoshin I need to ask your forgiveness for calling you again and again.” Sufis and Zen have unique way of explaining subtle matters. Man is in a state of deep slumber. It is not proper to call sleep either. It is unconsciousness. It matters not how many times you call; the sound never crosses the veil of
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA slumber. Man is in his dreams. No noise can really wake him. Master is one who wakes you up from your slumber. Master is one who shatters your dreams; and brings you to a state of total wakefulness. This is difficult. Not only difficult but the disciple thinks master is disturbing his sleep. So there is resentment. That is why Kokushi asks for forgiveness. Certainly the work is difficult. And disciple feels master is constantly disturbing. To receive any help form the master the disciple has to be ready. Sufis say master appears when disciple is ready. You should not even ask what a master is; instead you should explore how to be a disciple. When the master wakes you, resentment is necessary. Master’s effort is to hit your ego and keep you awake so that wakefulness becomes your nature. It seems Hoshin is not a disciple as yet that is why master has to ask for forgiveness. When some one tries to wake you from ordinary sleep you feel the person is your enemy not the friend. Sleep is good. Maybe you are dreaming. And want dream to continue. You want to sleep longer. And this man is constantly disturbing you. Mind means laziness. That is why you do not like anyone who tries to wake you. You like the one who consoles you, put you to sleep and sing for you. You want consolation not truth. In this world of consolation you will find ninety-nine percent masters who are ready to
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA fulfill your desires. This is simple demand and supply, law of economics. If thousands of people want consolation someone will be ready. Look at yourself. For how long you are going to your place of worship! Praying ardently! Doing yagnas! Chanting scriptures! Following various priests! What inner change has all this brought to you? Are you getting less angry? Are you more loving? Have you grown in awareness? Omar Khayyam says, “What shall you gain O fool by talking about those who are full of bliss?” Another yardstick, in the last decade; churches, temples have mushroomed. More and more Yajna and religious activities are taking place on a daily and weekly basis. Has all this made your life any better? Are you really more religious? If it is not so, then certainly your approach is wrong. You have to investigate. Only then a new enquiry can begin. A real master will not console you. Anyone in whose presence your sleep or unconsciousness grows will not help you in any way. Master will shake your basic structure on which you are standing. One of Jesus’ statements is, “People say I brought peace into this world. But no! I say to you I came with a sword.” This statement has just put Christians into trouble. On one hand Jesus says, if someone hit you on one side of your cheeks then turn the other side towards him. Now he says he has come with a sword. What kind of sword is this? If you try to understand the message of master literally, as usually happens, you are bound to be
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA in trouble. Jesus’ sword has nothing to do with the sword you see hanging from the waist of a soldier. Jesus’ sword is that of a master. It is invisible. It will kill you as you are without any drop of blood. Only then you can be resurrected. It will chisel out the superfluous in you. It will burn your impurities so that gold may shine. You would certainly have heard the name of Italian sculptor Michelangelo. He used to visit a shop quiet often. At the back of this shop there was a huge piece of marble. For years it remained lying uselessly. One day while cleaning the shopkeeper decided to throw that piece of marble. When Michelangelo heard of this, he asked for that piece of marble. The shop owner felt grateful that at least someone wants that piece of marble. So he arranged to get that piece to Michelangelo’s home. Few years went by, and then one day Michelangelo asked the shop owner to visit his place as he wanted to show him something. The shop owner went to see what Michelangelo wanted to show him. It was a beautiful sculpture of Jesus and Mary. Jesus’ body when taken down from the cross lies on the lap of Mary. No one can imagine the beauty and splendor of this sculpture – Jesus lying with his head resting on Mary’s lap. Tears began to flow from the eyes of the shop owner. Michelangelo told him it was the same piece of useless marble behind his shop. The shop owner could not believe his eyes. He asked Michelangelo how he did that. Do you know what Michelangelo told him?
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA The sculpture was in the piece of marble. But it was hidden. I could see. To you huge piece of marble was useless. All I did was chisel out the superfluous marble that was hiding the beauty of the sculpture. This reply is that of a master. Every master has to chisel out the superfluous in you. This is the meaning when Jesus says he has come with a sword. You cannot understand the words of masters in their dictionary meaning. You have to know the art of decoding the message of the masters. Every master carries a sword. He wants to wake you. Master is your death as you are. And he is your resurrection as well. Such a person will appear to be an enemy. And your sleep is very old. Your sleep is not your ordinary sleep. That sleep contains your greed, lust, anger, attachment, love, hate, jealousy. The roots of these are deeper. Master has to be careful while waking you. He not only wakes you, instead he has to destroy all roots and old structures before something can be poured into you. Remember when you wake up from your slumber, not only your world will vanish, all that you have known as God in your sleep and dream state will also shatter. What is the significance of all that you have known in a state of unconsciousness? Neither your businesses will remain nor your temples. If your state of unconsciousness is wrong; then all that you have done or known in that state will vanish.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA So when a master takes away your sleep he will take away everything that comes out of this. All your understanding of religion, Moksha, scriptures is wrong. In Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna shatters everything, all structures on which Arjuna’s life was based. He asked him to abandon all religions and ritual and come to him alone. SARVA dharmaan parityaijya Maam ekam sharanam vraja Aham twaam sarva paapebhyo Mokshayishyaami maa shucha! “Abandoning all religions and rituals of body mind and intellect come to me. I shall liberate thee of all sins of thy mortal existence.” Only a master can say this. What is the religion of body mind and intellect? Body follows rituals. This is gross. Mind follows Gyana. Krishna tells Arjuna to abandon all dharma through meditation; and come to me alone while in a state of meditation, and stop worries. Then I shall liberate you from all sins. To renounce implies severing all connections with your existing structure and understanding. Only then is there a possibility that you may not fall again into this state of identification with outer envelops of matter around us. This is what happens when you go in the company of a master. If in his company you still remain as you were? If your original religious structure remains; you are in the
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA company of a counterfeit. Krishna’s statement explains the role of a master who has the capability to transform you. Religion is blind man’s stick. He uses stick to feel. Scriptures happens in state of consciousness beyond human understanding. To understand the message of scriptures your level of consciousness has to undergo transformation. In the company of a master all your religions, religious belief everything will vanish. To be in the company of a master requires great courage. And to stay with a master when he starts using his sword of many dimensions requires even greater courage. People come and run away when their sleep is being hammered. In Bhagavad-Gita you see how many times Arjuna gave arguments to escape from what Krishna was doing. But in front of a master like Krishna all his arguments prove futile. People remain pleased when you do not destroy their structure! Or deepen their slumber! A Hindu is allowed to remain a Hindu! But the moment you start shaking, trouble starts; society does not want its structure to be shattered. Jesus was not crucified unnecessarily. Socrates was not poisoned just like that. Jesus was crucified because he was waking people from their slumber. You are so restless, and troubled that you want a bit of comfort. And when someone wakes you up resentment starts from organized traditions. Jesus was crucified by the organized traditions, not by the criminals. So was Socrates. If you really understand, the entire search of
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA the world is the search of slumber; so that you can forget your agony. Someone finds in wine, others find in music, next one finds in sex. Still more find in meditation or religion. Master will wake you. He will break your structures and states of intoxications. He will take away your bhajans, your mantra, in fact all religions of body, mind and heart. You will have to wake from your slumber. Only then you will know who you are. Or what is your potentiality. With this understanding old will vanish and you are reborn, resurrected. This new state is Moksha. Not a dream seen during sleep. When you wake up from your slumber then whatever is in front of you is God. When you wake up then your state of awareness is your prayer. Prayer is the state of your wakeful awareness. Not that which you utter in deep sleep. Now the Zen sutra! It is indicative of the way of a master. Certainly the disciple would have known what the master is doing. Only this much for now! So long then to you!
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA
TALK 2: ON MASTERS Master will wake you. He will break your structures and states of intoxications. He will take away your Bhajan, your mantra, in fact all religions of body, mind and heart. You will have to wake from your slumber. Only then you will know who you are. Or what is your potentiality. With this understanding old will vanish and you are reborn, resurrected. This new state is Moksha. Not a dream seen during sleep. When you wake up from your slumber then whatever is in front of you is God. When you wake up then your state of awareness is your prayer. Prayer is the state of your wakeful awareness. Not that which you utter in deep sleep. Now the Zen sutra! It is indicative of the way of a master. Certainly the disciple would have known what the master is doing. The master called once, “Hoshin�. Calling some once is understood. Maybe the master has any reason to call. But remember no master calls for any reason. Even if he is asking you to do something that is a mere excuse to call you. Remember, a master calls you for no reason. When your wife or the husband calls you there is a reason. When your child calls you there is a reason. Even an innocent
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA child does not call you without any reason. In every call there has vested interest. I have heard a man returned home after day’s work. His wife was crying non-stop. Without being worried he sat down to read the newspaper. At this the startled wife told him to enquire the cause of her crying. The man responded, crying certainly there would be any demand. And just by asking the cause of your crying I am getting bankrupt. So now I have stopped asking. Man is laughing, crying, praying etc. everything has a reason. You do not wish anyone without any reason. In this whole world only master’s voice is for no reason. There is a qualitative difference. First he is calling for no reason. He is calling you to wake. So when Kokushi called Hoshin he responded in the affirmative, ‘”yes”. He would have thought that the master called for any reason. He would have waited. Master became silent. He did not say the cause of calling. Maybe Hoshin had gone back to sleep. A little while later the master calls again, “Hoshin”. Again the startled Hoshin responded, “Yes”. He would have thought probably the master has a reason. But the master became silent. Hoshin would have gone to sleep again.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA When third time Kokushi called “Hoshin”, certainly there would have been surprised why he is calling again and again although Hoshin responded, “yes”. The old mind continued. No one calls without any reason. “I wonder if the master has gone insane. He calls but does not tell the cause. I wonder if he only wants to disturb my sleep.” The old mind functions. Master’s call is not out of desire. His call alone is complete in itself. It is indicative of a deep process. If you can really understand the ways and means of a master that alone will become your meditation. His call will wake you from your slumber. Maybe for a moment Hoshin is plunged in a state of thoughtlessness. His response comes from that inner state of thoughtlessness. Master feels your response and state from where it comes. If Hoshin was lost, he would not know when the master calls. But Hoshin is attentive to the ways of the master. He is on the path but not arrived as yet. Hoshin is not fully lost or awake. He gets startled each time but responds. Also he gets worried why is master calling again and again but does not say. Very often a master will appear to you a madman. Out of the old mind Hoshin would be thinking what has happened to the master. What kind of call is this? He calls and calls alone and then a pause. A state of dilemma dawns within.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Master had seen this. And asks for forgiveness! I am breaking your sleep for no reason. I do not want anything from you. Yet still I keep on calling you. I must ask for forgiveness. You can understand when anyone calls for a reason. But you cannot understand that anyone can call you knowingly without any reason. People constantly enquire why god created the universe. There must be some hidden purpose behind this. Man sees things as he is. You do not do anything without a reason. So too you think God must have reason to create the world. Hindus had been very courageous. No one else has exhibited so much courage. Hindus say this creation is a play – Lila. It is not the creation of God. There is nothing in it to gain or lose. The world is not going any where. The universe is constantly playing. This is Hindu understanding, a profound view. They call this ‘Akhanda Brahmand’ – the ever expanding universe. I have heard a particular beggar was sitting by the side of the road. Some travelers who have lost the way enquired from the beggar where does this road go to. The beggar replied, “I am sitting here for many years and I have not seen this road going any where. Travelers come and go on this road. As far as my understanding goes, this road goes nowhere.”
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA So too God is not moving anywhere. Only you move towards God or away from God. Sometimes you travel in this direction or that. Otherwise you travel towards money, renunciation, yoga, etc. But you are constantly moving. You do not stop. And effort continues. You will be able to understand God only when you become like this road that goes nowhere. The day your desires drop; the day nothing will attract you – yoga, world, Moksha, status, money, etc. you will become a full stop. Then journey will come to an end. Wherever you are – a full stop will come. Kokushi called Hoshin. A total stop happens. This call is without any purpose. It is a mere play. Seeing the anxiety born in Hoshin, the master asked for forgiveness. This would have reduced Hoshin’s anxiety. It is right that the master is asking the forgiveness. Same time master said, “in fact you have to ask for forgiveness. I had to call you three times. You did answer but you went back to sleep. It is really you who need to ask for forgiveness. For your sleep and laziness only you are responsible”. Master never gets tired, even if he has to call you three thousand times. Whenever any one asks Buddha anything he used to repeat three times. All those who have compiled Buddha’s message had great difficulty because of this. So while compiling they used the sign repeat three times.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA The compilers of scriptures seem to be more intelligent that Buddha. But whenever anyone asked Buddha, he will repeat three times. And he said even if one can hear in the three times, it is unique. But no one listens. After asking the question you are only physically present. In your religious functions you see only bodies sitting there, and everyone remains in their inner dialogue. Maybe you have asked the question in dream. Have you seen a small child who is hungry and cries in sleep? Milk is given to him. He drinks milk. In the morning he denies of drinking the milk. He remains unaware of his hunger and when he drank the milk. A drunkard walks on the road unbalanced. Yet still he walks. Such is your state – shaking. This unique master on the surface asked for the forgiveness of unnecessary calling the disciple. But in fact it is the disciple who had to ask for forgiveness, because he has not understood the way of a master. Thus completes the story – a very unique one. Because in its womb it carries a deep understanding and the technique how a master works on the disciple. Whenever anyone asks Nanak, he would simply ask his disciple Mardana to start the music and then say ‘listen’, and the song would start. All of his messages are presented in the form of songs.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA I have heard a patient visited his doctor. The doctor listened to his complaint. Then asked if he takes enough rest! Further the doctor enquired, since Sunday is no work, how long does he take rest. At this the patient replied, “It all depends. It depends on how long does the sermon continues in the church. Only that long I sleep.� Temple and churches are the place to wake you from deep slumber. But people go there to fall back in deep slumber. Man has become so cunning that he uses the techniques of waking as tranquilizers to fall back in sleep. In your state of deep sleep you even incorporate temples and churches. Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram said she had seen cloud of black sky over these places of worship all over the world. This happens because instead of being places to wake you, these places put you into deeper slumber. So much for today! Until the whispers overflows again, so long then to you!
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TALK 3: ON MASTERS Almost all the realized ones, emphasize that you cannot be enlightened without a master. To be in the company of a master is a unique event. Master implies one who keeps on knocking at your door. This is not aggressive. It is like water falling drop by drop on the rock. When the master Kokushi called Hoshin it was a soft gentle call. Master cannot be hard and aggressive. The call is water falling drop by drop. This will break even the hardest rock. The master will keep on calling, so that the rock of mind blocking enlightenment will break one day. Chinese master Lau Tzu, the founder of TAO, says master is like water and you are like rock. But remember in the end only you will vanish. The fall of water drops is not like the knock of a hammer. Water will keep on falling and the rock will one day break into particles and become sand. The knock of the master is sweet and deep. It is sweet not because it will put you to sleep. It is sweet because it overflows from the compassion of the master.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA On the other hand, all knocks of lust and desire is hard. Lust has no concern with you. Out of lust you use the other as an instrument or means. It matters not if it is between lover and beloved; mother and child; husband and wife. In this call the other is reduced as a means. You remain the end. No wonder friends remain restless. Lovers remain worried. The cause of this remains the exploitation of the other. The other is reduced to a mere object. And this is not accepted; the other feels insulted. The master’s call is out of compassion. The call of the master works like water drops. And if this is allowed to continue the process of transformation begins. The call of the master and the response of the disciple put together is ‘SATSANGHA’ or communion. If the disciple does not listen Satsangha cannot happen. The master is available but the disciple is not. If you have heard the master totally, disciple will be no more. But you listen only to fragments. Your sleep is disturbed. You open your eyes and then go back to sleep. Your response is there but again you go into sleep. You indicate this much that you have heard. Satsangha has begun. This is the story of Satsangha or communion or journey of transformation. The master is calling. Disciple is listening. But not understanding fully. Trust has grown. So when master calls, the disciple responds. At least at the call of the master he is not getting angry. Had you been in place of Hoshin anger was natural. Why is
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA this man calling unnecessarily? Say something or keep quiet. Let me sleep. This is not trust. One thing you have to understand. Certainly there is doubt in the mind of Hoshin. He tried to show but he could not escape the eye of the master. That is why having called Hoshin three times, the master asked for forgiveness. If the disciple had total trust then there was no need to ask for forgiveness. Hoshin is honest as he expresses his doubt. To express the doubt is courageous and this is only way one can grow into trust. You may hide your doubt but it will always find expression. No matter how much you talk of surrender, it will remain incomplete even if slightest doubt remains. And you will live in delusion. It may have happened you put doubt in the basement and trust on top. Your doubt will continue to destroy your trust. To exhibit your trust on the surface much effort will be needed on your part while your hidden doubt will continue to exert its force to surface. Any event and doubt can come on the surface. Have you seen two wrestlers in fight? One sits on top of the other and uses force to remain on top for a count of ten; while the other wrestler who is underneath uses his force to come on top before the count of ten. The one who is sitting on top has to use his force. The one below need not use any force to remain below. Sooner or later the one who is on top will get exhausted and then the one who is below will surface on top.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA
So too, you keep your trust on top and doubt remains below. Trust is getting exhausted doubt is resting. And it does not take long for doubt to surface. But Hoshin is not hiding his doubt. He does not get angry or say why are you calling unnecessarily? Then transformation can happen. Or you can do like Tertullian a Christian mystic. He used to pray everyday. And his prayer had one sentence included. I have trust in you. But you will have to take care of the doubt that is brewing in me. He was honest. He is not hiding the doubt. He openly accepts his doubt but prays to God to take care of this menace of doubt, while he maintains the trust. I have heard of a master who went to meet another master. There he saw much respect and trust among the disciples for the master. The first one confessed his disciples do not have so much trust and respect. Do something for this. The second mystic told the first one, he would come to his house for dinner then we will sort out the matter. The second mystic reached the house of the other for dinner. But his feet were full of mud because the day was rainy and full of mud. The host mystic asked his wife to bring some water so the feet of the guest could be washed. The wife replied from inside, “The water well is not far away. Take your guest there to wash his feet. And maybe give him a bath as well. And by the way where have you been in the morning when water was
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA being drawn from the well.” The two went to wash the feet. After dinner the host asked of the solution from the guest. At this the guest told him to come for dinner tomorrow by his house. Next day the mystic with the problem went to the other’s residence as was arranged. The host asked his wife to bring the pot of ghee to wash the guest’s feet as he has come for the first time. The wife used the entire pot and washed the feet. After dinner was over the host asked the mystic if he got the solution. The guest responded in affirmative. Trust is the shadow of love. Where love is, acceptance is, trust follows. Have you noticed when you are in love, you call your beloved again and again, each time she responds in affirmative with loving gestures. This does not mean that this wife’s mind does not have thoughts arising. Mind’s nature is to arouse thoughts. She would have certainly thought that ghee is expensive. Feet can be washed with water. Many such thoughts would have been arising. But in spite of all these thoughts, love for her husband came to the surface. Love never doubts. If he says… some reason must be there. So too when master calls thoughts stir in the mind. But a disciple knows when the master calls there must be a reason. The disciple may not know today but one day everything will reveal itself. Certainly there is doubt in his mind. Mind always doubts. It is natural. But if doubt is within do not hide. Try to understand the nature of
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA doubt. Do not allow doubt to activate. Do not allow trust to suppress the doubt. If the doubt is within, wait. Time will come when the doubt will vanish on its own. But you follow trust. Disciple means he has not grown fully in trust. One who has grown fully in trust is master. Now this partial trust can be used in two ways. One you can ride the doubt. This will even cripple your trust. Because you get bound by what you suppress. Inner conflict between your trust and doubt will arise. Your energy will dissipate. When your left hand and right hand fight, naturally your energy wastes. Activate your trust without hiding doubt. But wait for the right time. Do not focus on doubt. Instead you focus your entire energy on trust. When Hoshin responded to the master in affirmative, the response arose out of deep trust. Doubt is staring, but his response shatters doubt for that moment. In the beginning things happen like this. Master will create many such situations. Without any situation your Dhyana will not flow towards trust. Master will hit you many times. He will behave many times indifferent beyond your expectations and understanding. Master will not fulfill your expectations. If any one does so, know him as counterfeit. The master’s role is to transform you, not to fulfill your desires.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Only this much for now! Love!
TALK 4: ON MASTERS A master who moves according to your explanations will not be able to transform you. At present there is a great crowd of masters, but no ray of religion. These masters act as you want them to. They fulfill your expectations. Such masters are elected through the crowd. If a Jain muni is prohibited to walk in the night then Jain followers will be his watch dogs. A Hindu master has to fulfill the expectations of a Hindu crowd. He cannot act otherwise even if he wishes. So will a Muslim and also Christian master act. If a ‘crowd elected master’ acts contrary to the wishes of the crowd, the people who put him on the pedestal will pull him down from the same pedestal. Such a master will not help you if your search is for religion, not any organized religion. The crowd is always ignorant. The day crowd has to decide how the master should behave and master follows the crowd, then what will be the value of such a master. A real master is alone and does not follow the crowd.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA I am reminded of an anecdote about Kokushi. Kokushi’s commune (ashram or monastery) had many disciples. There are certain rules. One rule was the monks must take dinner once only before sunset. But there was something unique about Kokushi; he always had his dinner after sunset. Also Buddhist monks need to take their meals collectively so that no one can eat something else. But Kokushi used to have his meal alone in his hut, and used to eat whole night. This news reached the king, and he was a follower of the master. Human beings are blind. Not blind biologically. But blind to truth; blind to light; blind to understanding. No one could see the light of the master. No one could see the reflection of Buddha hood in the master. In the night Kokushi used to take his meals with room closed. The king doubted that Kokushi could be a master after all. The king decided to investigate the matter himself. He could not understand why the master closes the door. He wonders if the master eats food which is forbidden. We hide if we are doing something wrong. Naturally this is the rule of all of us. We hide what we consider to be wrong. This is just how we operate. But we have no way to understand the behaviour of a master. Ignorant hides the wrong and reveals the right. Or even if you have nothing to reveal then create the impression of doing good. And don’t let anyone know this.
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So with this in mind the king and his minister hid themselves with swords in their hands behind the hut of the master. The religion was in danger, and the concern was to save the religion. Very often the ignorant one who does not have realization of truth, take the responsibility of saving the religion. Those who do not have any glimpse of religion feel concerned about dangers to religion. And such people are really destroying the religion. So the king remained hiding. The master came hiding food under his gown. He closed the door. The king made a peep hole for this purpose of investigation. The master was so unique he sat with his back facing the peep hole then started the meal. This became unbearable to the king. To them the master appeared very cunning, so they decided to enter the room through the window. As the king and his minister entered the room the master covered the pot with his gown. The king insisted to see what the master was eating. The master said there was nothing for the king to see. But the king again insisted; and said he will not follow the master disciple tradition. The master said if you wish you can see. But king should not be bothered about such things. The king was astonished and ashamed to see that the pot from which master was eating had only boiled leftover stems and leaves of the vegetables discarded by the commune. The king got into difficulty. He could not understand the master. What is the use of eating such
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA food hiding? It was the cold night but the king started perspiring. The master said; “You think the wrong doings have to be hidden, but the right thing is also hidden. You hide the wrong. And master hides the right. This is the difference between you and a master. When you reveal the right your ego is nourished. But when wrong is revealed ego disintegrates. Master exhibit wrong and hides the right.” What was the need of eating such food hiding? Such is the device of the master to create a situation for your transformation. The master began to laugh and said, “I knew very well one day you will come, because your eyes can see only the superfluous. God is manifesting every moment but you cannot see. You do not have eyes. Tonight is my final night here. I am leaving this commune. Now you control and take care of the commune. I cannot fulfill your wishes and code of conduct. If I have to fulfill your wishes how can I transform you?” Only a master who does not follow your wishes can transform you. Do not ever make a mistake a master to judge the master through his behaviour. He is beyond all actions. His actions and behaviour are conscious devices to transform you. I shall tell you one more anecdote about another master. Junnaid was a Sufi master. The king was his disciple. At one time a message had reached the king about Junnaid. It was reported that Junnaid drinks and remains in the
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA company of wrong women. The king thought if it is so then I will kill Junnaid. Such persons consider themselves to be the real protectors of religion. Religion seems to be in the hands of such people. These people are ignorant and fanatics. In out present day terminology these powerful people are called terrorists. “The man in whom I put my trust seems to be wrong. If it is so then he will be killed by me.” The king told the informer. But he has to prove the allegation. The informer took the king by the lake. On the other bank of the lake Junnaid was sitting with a bottle of wine. And a veiled woman was pouring something into the cup from a bottle. Seeing this, the king pulled out the sword and asked the informer to go as everything was clear and there was nothing to prove now. As he moved forward fear gripped him. How could he kill Junnaid? The work can be done by soldiers, so he turned back. Same time a voice came. This was the voice of Junnaid. “When you have come so far then come a little closer. When you want to know something you need to come face to face.” Listening to this, the king could not leave. Frightened the king came close to Junnaid. Junnaid gave the bottle to the king, which contained nothing else but water. And when veiled was removed the woman was no one else but Junnaid’s mother. Then what is the use of such acting?
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Masters use such devices to keep the ignorant away. Master waits for the right person and right moment before he can transfer his being to a deserving one. Never judge a master through his behaviour. This is outside. And the reality is within. If you follow the doubt you can never come to a master. Out of trust one day you will reach to that point when doubt will vanish. Life has law of waiting. If you can wait everything gets completed. Life wants everything to attain fruition. Do not pick unripe fruit. Wait! The fruits will ripe. When fruit ripe naturally, it must fall. You may not have to climb the tree even. If you are in a hurry you may pick the unripe fruit. For this you will have to climb the tree. And if you are not expert you may fall. And once the unripe fruit is picked, the chances of it getting ripe may finish. Pay attention to trust. Do not fight with doubt. When the master calls respond in affirmative. This will not mean your doubt has vanished. Doubts will remain there but you do not pay attention. You know doubt exists. You may hide from others but not from the master. In this Zen Koan, Hoshin replied three times. But the master alone spoke and asked for forgiveness, noticing disciple’s state of doubt. But seeing the state of growing trust said, “in fact you need to ask for forgiveness.” In the whole Koan these two sentences are very significant. First statement is for the arising doubt in
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Hoshin. I know there are doubts in you. And those doubts want an apology from me. This is disturbing your sleep. I am not letting you rest, and unnecessarily keep on calling you. To a doubting mind this is madness. Hence it requires an apology from the master. Thus this statement is significant. So the master proposes to ask for forgiveness. Maybe Hoshin is paying little bit attention to his doubting mind. But the proposal of the master for forgiveness worked as catalyst and awakened Hoshin. Immediately he became aware of the doubt. And with this awareness mind moves from doubt to trust. Master is noticing this inner happening. As the shift happens, immediately the master says, “in fact it is you who should ask for forgiveness. I called three times and still you did not wake. So now you ask for forgiveness. I am calling you for no reason, you should be grateful to me, hence the apology.� When desire calls there is a reason. When the call arises out of compassion there is no reason. So who should be grateful? The entire Koan explains two sides of your heart. As I said, in life everything is total. Only you have to wait for the right moment. And Dhyana is your life energy. Whenever you use this energy life begins to blossom. Now even the scientists have reached to a significant conclusion about plants. When you give your Dhyana to the plants, they tend to grow faster and healthier.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA Flowers and fruits begin to blossom faster. On the contrary, if you give everything to the plants in right proportion, but not your Dhyana, then their blossoming is delayed. A mother who gives all her Dhyana to a baby besides milk; the baby gets nourished faster and remains healthy. Milk is the food of the body. Milk nourishes the body cells. The other is the food of soul. Dhyana nourishes your soul. One who you love, your Dhyana goes towards him. No matter how busy you may be but your consciousness or surati continues to overflow towards that person. It matters not how far you are, your Dhyana remains towards him. Love your trust. From that will evolve you love for the master. Once you are connected to your trust within, your communion will happen with the master. If you are not connected to your trust within, no matter how much you try to be with the master, communion will not happen. Scientist says not only man, even animals strive for totality. You go to a chimpanzee in a zoo and make a three quarter circle around the animal and leave the chalk there. Chimpanzee will be restless that the circle is incomplete. And immediately he will pick up the chalk and draw the line that completes the circle.
WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN - TAOSHOBUDDHA You also remain restless because everything needs to complete. There are certain things you can complete. Also there are certain things you cannot complete. Only you will have to wait. This is the only difference between science and religion. Science searches those things that you can complete. You can complete the circle. You can fix a machine. Science can complete the objects. And religion completes human beings. There you cannot do anything. Only you will have to wait. Science is effortless. And religion is a wait, patience. You have nothing to do. Just be patient and wait. Grass grows by itself. Grass waits for spring to come. Face trust and turn your back towards doubt. You will find the energy of doubt converts into trust. And all energy will begin to flow towards trust. The day trust is total, and master calls you, you need not even respond. You will be awake. All this effort is for such a call. Then master will act as catalyst in your process of growth, and then you will realize doing leads to nowhere. Master’s presence alone does everything.