THE DHAMMAPADA: THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA, VOL. 9-12 The ...

THE DHAMMAPADA: THE WAY OF THE BUDDHA, VOL. 9-12 31
Meaning seems to be imposed by the mind upon existence; significance seems to be part of existence itself. We
have lost contact with the language that can understand significance; we only understand meaning. Meaning is
intellectual, significance is existential. There is no meaning in love, but great significance; no meaning in God,
but great significance; no meaning in meditation, but great significance, great splendor.
I would like to say to my sannyasins, Asang, that my sannyasins have to be not only meditative, they have also
to be creative. And they have to create what Gurdjieff calls objective art. They have to create something which
can help a wandering humanity to come to a resting place. Yes, much can be created that can give shelter, that
can become a deep, deep experience of communion with nature.
That is the real function of art: helping people to commune with nature, because out of that communion arises
religion. Science is an intellectual effort to understand nature, art is an emotional effort to understand nature,
and religion is an existential effort to commune with nature. Art is higher than science, religion is higher than
art. Science has to be objective; if science is subjective it will be just fiction science fiction. Art has also to
be objective; otherwise it will be fiction. And that’s what modern art is fiction. And religion has also to be
objective, really authentic; otherwise it is speculation, philosophy.
The third question:
Question 3
BELOVED MASTER, I WANT TO GIVE UP SMOKING. WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT IT?
Mahendra, why? Why in the first place do you want to give up smoking? What is wrong in smoking? Yes, it is
a little stupid, silly just poisoning your breath, taking smoke in and out, wasting money, life. But it is not a sin,
it is not a crime either. You should not feel guilty about it. Maybe you will live a little less, two or three years
less than you would have lived. But what is the point of living three years more? What will you do by living three
years more? You will create a little more trouble in the world so better you go a little earlier. And the world is
too much populated.
Nobody had thought about birth control before. Now we are thinking constantly everywhere how to reduce the
population, how to prevent new children from being born. Sooner or later we will have to think about the other
end: how to help the old people to go faster, because that is absolutely logical, part of it. If we prevent children
from coming in just to keep the world a little less populated it is already too much populated sooner or later
we have to think about ways and means how to help old people to go quicker, faster. We will have to make it a
birthright.
If somebody decides to die, it should not be a crime. In fact, he should be supported, respected, because he
is creating space for new people to come. He is helping the world he is a great servant of humanity. You say,
Mahendra, ”I want to give up smoking.”
Why in the first place? because you have been reading that it is bad for your health? But what will you do
with your health?
There is a beautiful story about Jesus, not related in the Christian gospels. My feeling has always been that
it has been deleted somewhere down the centuries because it is a dangerous story. But Sufis have kept it intact,
recorded. There are a few Jesus stories which Sufis have guarded, and they should be thanked for it because they
are the most beautiful stories out of all the stories that the gospels contain. This one is a beauty.
Jesus came to a village. He saw a man lying in the gutter, shouting, talking incoherently, making noise. It was
difficult to understand what he wanted to say; he was completely drunk.
Jesus came close just to understand what he wanted to say maybe he needed some help. When he came close
he recognized the face. He shook the man. The man opened his eyes, and Jesus said, ”Don’t you recognize me?
I recognize you.”
The man said, ”I also recognize you, but please leave me alone.”
Jesus said, ”As far as I remember you were ill, very ill, almost on the verge of death, and I cured you. I have
done a miracle and I don’t see any gratitude in your eyes.”
The man said, ”Gratitude? I was going to die and that would have been a rest from this ugly life. You made
me healthy again and now I am suffering again. Who is responsible? Why did you make me healthy again? Who
gave you the right?”
Jesus was shocked he had never thought about it. Jesus said, ”But you are healthy you can use your health.”
And the man said, ”That’s what I am doing. When one is healthy one drinks, eats, enjoys the things of life.
What else can I do with my health?”
It is really a very pertinent question: What will you do with your health? Eat, drink, be merry! And the man
seems to be almost angry at Jesus.