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the prisoners had given up all hope of ever ing out。
some were imprisoned for twenty years； some for thirty； and some were in there for fifty years。
they had bee almost blind。
their chains had almost bee parts of their bodies； one could not say they were separate from their bodies。
there was no longer any separation left between their bodies and the chains。
do you think chains tied around ones hands for fifty years would remain separate？ they are bound to bee part of ones hands。
the man forgets the chains are not part of his body。
he takes care of them in the same way he does his hands。
he cleans and shines the chains every morning as he does his body …… after all； the chains are to stay with him his whole life。
if this is the case； then the whole matter is over。
so when the revolutionaries began cutting the chains off these prisoners； many of them objected。
they told the revolutionaries that without chains they will feel very unfortable outside。
but revolutionaries are always very pigheaded。
they havent learned yet that you cant be stubborn with people。
if you force people to give up their existing chains； they will put on new ones。
so the revolutionaries forcibly cut the chains and released the prisoners。
what followed was incredible。
by nightfall； more than half the prisoners returned； saying they didnt like it outside； they felt they were naked without their chains on them。
obviously； if you remove the many golden ornaments worn by a woman； she will feel naked； weightless。
she will feel as if she has lost something； as if she has lost weight。
so the prisoners said； 〃give us our chains back。
we couldnt take a nap in the afternoon without the chains on us； how could we？〃 even the sound of those chains became part of their psychological state。
the added weight of chains had bee so much a part of their psyche； their subconscious； that even while changing sides in sleep they felt it。
man bees so tied to the familiar that he feels hurt even breaking his chains。
we are caught in the familiar； which we take as life。
it is because of the grip of the familiar that we are so scared of death。
in the first place； we have no knowledge of death。
and the first principle for awakening is awareness of misery； so that one can know one is separate from the body。
the second thing is the ability to witness。
it has never occurred to us that
sometimes； walking in the middle of the marketplace； suddenly give a little jolt to yourself； and for two minutes just stand still。
just watch without doing anything …… simply be a witness。
the moment you stand as a watcher in the middle of the street； suddenly you will be severed from your surroundings and out of them。
the moment you bee a witness to something； you transcend it； you jump out of it。
but it is very difficult to stand on a street and be a witness。
it is not easy to be a witness even while watching a movie。
the darkness in the movie theater bees quite convenient for people watching the movie。
one can cry in that darkness without any feeling of embarrassment。
if we examine the handkerchiefs of people as they leave the theater； we can find out what went on inside； how many people cried。
we know very well nothing really takes place on the screen； it is just a screen。
we also know perfectly well that what we see on the screen is merely an appearance； that nothing is happening there。
it is simply a play of light and shadow； just a network of rays projected from the rear of the theater。
the screen shows nothing except pictures。
and yet； everything es off on the screen； and we dont remain a witness even to the screen； we bee a part of it。
dont be under the illusion that while watching the film you really remain a watcher。
dont be mistaken。
you bee a participant too； vou dont remain outside the film。
once you are inside the theater； for a short while you enter into the film as well。
you begin to like someone in the film； and you dislike someone else。
you feel sorry for somebody； while you feel happy about someone else。
after a little while you bee identified； you bee a participant in the film。
it will be indeed difficult to remain a witness in life if we cannot manage to do so while watching a film。
as such； life is nothing more than a film。
if you look a little deeper； life is not very different from a movie。
if you look even more deeply； you will find that just as the network of rays appears on the movie screen； the network of electricity appears on the screen of life。
life is made up of a profound network of electricity。
it is a great interplay of electrons。
if the human body were to be dissected in every way； at the end you would find nothing except electrons。
if we were to break down the wall of this room and look for the element it is made of； we would find that what is ultimately left is nothing but electricity。
then what is the big difference？
really； what is the difference between a movie screen and the screen of life？ we find the interplay of electrons on the movie screen too。
the only difference is； on the movie screen the pictures are two…dimensional whereas on the screen of life they are three…dimensional。
but thats not much of a problem。
it wont be too long before other dimensions； now lacking in films； will be met。
just as i see you now； someday one will be able to see people on the screen exactly like that。
without any difficulty； it will soon bee possible for an actor to step out of the screen and walk around in the movie theater。
it wont be too long。
its just a matter of developing the technique； which is not too difficult。
if a three…dimensional man can move around on the screen； his stepping just ten feet off the screen and walking around the hall is simply a matter of a little advancement in technology。
its not too difficult to foresee a film actress stepping from the screen； shaking hands with you； or caressing you。
now； the reverse is happening： the heroine does not step out of the screen； rather； you enter the screen and pat her。
you can be saved this trouble！ its not