I once followed in the Himalayas a group of monks.
It was a beautiful country, wild rhododendrons, lilies...
...the flowers of the alps of that altitude, and the great pine trees...
...shooting into the heavens, blue skies and the birds were singing.
It was a lovely day.
And these monks never looked up, never looked at the trees...
...the flowers, the skies and the wonder of the world because they were...
...concerned about their own ritual, their own mantras repeating.
And they think through that way they will find the heaven.
Here, if one may point out, the meaning of the word 'mantra'
...probably you all know about it.
It is a Sanskrit word which means - please listen...
...which means consider, meditate, ponder over not becoming...
...and also put aside all self-centred activity.
That word 'mantra' means that.
Consider, go into your own becoming and put aside every form...
...of selfish activity - that is the real meaning of that word.
And look what these yogis have done to that word!
You understand?
So seeing all this, the various forms of physical torture...
...in order to find enlightenment, various forms of rituals, robes...
...repetitions, and these have not in any way changed human being...
...and his relationship so that there is a new good society.
We mean by that word 'good' not the nursery meaning, 'Be a good boy'.
It is not a respectable word, it is not a word that you can say...
...'Well, that is old fashioned, throw it out,'...
...but that word 'good' has an excellent meaning, significance.
And man through all these endeavours has never brought about a good...
...society where people live happily, without conflict, without violence...
...with a great sense of responsibility, with care, with affection.
That is what we mean by that word 'good'.
Man has not been able to achieve it.
One of the main reasons for this ugliness in the world is that all of us...
...most human beings, probably 99%, are fragmented, broken up.
And when one realises this, that one is in a state of fragmentation...
...one is cognisant of it, aware without any choice - it is so.
It is not that the speaker is imposing this on you, but it is a fact.
And can that mind which is fragmented...
...can that heart which is also caught up in various romantic...
...emotional, sentimental, illusory nonsense, can that mind...
...ever come to this, to find a solution that is everlasting?
You understand my question?
Right?
How shall we find it?
Is it dependent on another?
Follow this carefully.
Can another, however much he may think he is lord...
...and this and the other, can another lead you or help you to that?
Right?
Please ask this question.
Can a group, can a community...
...can a series of ideas, conclusions, help you to that?
Or one must be a light to oneself, not the light which...
...has been kindled at the other's lamp or candle, or fire.
You are following this?
Please, give your heart to understand all this!
Which means not only your heart, your mind, your brain.
Freedom is not acting according to whatever you like.
That is too childish, which is what is happening in the world...
...because everybody is doing what they want.
And any prevention, any restraint on that is considered lack of fulfilment.
Therefore permissiveness in every direction...
...religiously, socially, morally, is encouraged.
And this permissiveness, that is doing exactly what one likes, or saying...
...'It appeals to me, I feel good in that', denies freedom...
...we are talking psychologically not freedom from law...
...from the policeman, from taxes - but freedom from the dependence...
...on another psychologically, because the other, when he instructs...
...you from his knowledge, from his position, from his status...
...that knowledge is still part of ignorance, because knowledge...
...can never be complete, therefore it is always part of ignorance.