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this country of ours talks untiringly about the immortality of the soul； and yet is there anyone on earth more scared of death than us？ there is no one more afraid of death than us！ how can we reconcile these two？
is it ever possible for people who believe in the immortality of the soul to bee slaves？ they would rather die； they would be ready to die because they know there is no death。
those who know that life is eternal； that the soul is immortal； would be the first to land on the moon！ they would be the first to climb mount everest！ they would be the first to explore the depths of the pacific ocean！ but no； we are not among those。
we neither climb the peak of everest nor land on the moon nor explore the depths of the indian ocean …… and we are the people who believe in the immortality of the soul！ in fact； we are so scared of death； that out of the fear of it we go on repeating； 〃the soul is immortal。
〃 and we are under the illusion that perhaps by repeating it； it will bee true。
nothing bees true by repetition。
death cannot be denied by repeating that death does not exist。
death will have to be known； it will have to be encountered； it will have to be lived。
you will have to bee acquainted with it。
instead； we keep running away from death。
how can we see it？ we close our eyes when we see death。
when a funeral passes by on the road； a mother shuts her child behind closed doors and says； 〃dont go out； someone has died。
〃 the cremation ground is put outside the town so it rarely meets your eyes； so that death wont be there； right in front of you。
and if you ever mention death to somebody； he will forbid you to talk about it。
once i stayed with a sannyasin。
every day he would talk about the immortality of the soul。
i asked him； 〃do you ever realize that you are ing closer to death？〃
he said； 〃dont say such ominous things。
it is not good to talk about such things。
〃
i said； 〃if； on the one hand； a person says that the soul is immortal； but also he finds it ominous to talk about death； then this fouls up the whole thing。
he shouldnt see any fear； any omen； anything wrong in talking about death …… because for him there is no death。
〃
he said； 〃although the soul is immortal； i nevertheless do not wish to talk about death at all。
one should not talk about such meaningless and threatening things。
〃 we are all doing the same thing …… turning our backs on death and escaping from it。
i have heard： once a man went mad in a village。
it was a hot afternoon and the man was walking along a lonely road all alone。
he was walking rather fast； trying not to be scared： it is possible to be scared when someone is already there； but how can anyone be scared when there is no one around？ but we do feel scared when there is no one around。
in fact； we are afraid of ourselves； and when we are alone the fear is even greater。
there is no one we fear more than ourselves。
we are less afraid when acpanied by someone and more afraid when left all by ourselves。
that man was alone。
he became scared and began running。
everything was still and quiet …… it was afternoon； there was no one around。
as he began to run faster； he sensed the sound of running feet ing from behind。
he grew frightened …… maybe someone was following him。
then； afraid； he glanced behind out of the corner of his eye。
he saw a long shadow chasing him。
it was his own shadow …… but seeing that some long shadow was pursuing him； he ran even faster。
then that man could never stop； because the faster he ran； the faster the shadow ran after him。
finally the man went mad。
but there are people who even worship madmen。
when people saw him running like that through their villages； they thought he was engaged in some great ascetic practice。
except in the darkness of night； when the shadow would disappear and he would think there was no one behind him； he never stopped。
with daybreak he would start running again。
then he didnt even stop at night …… he figured that in spite of the distance he had covered during the day； while he rested at night the shadow had caught up with him and would follow him in the morning once again。
so even at night he continued running。
then he went pletely mad； he neither ate nor drank。
thousands of people watched him run and showered flowers upon him； or someone might hand him a piece of bread or some water。
people began worshipping him more and more； thousands paid their respects to him。
but the man became more and more crazy； and finally one day； he fell down on the ground and died。
the people of the village where he died made his grave under the shade of a tree； and they asked an old fakir of the village what they would inscribe on his gravestone。
the fakir wrote one line on it。
in some village； someplace； that grave is still there。
it is possible you may pass it by it。
do read the line。
the fakir wrote on the gravestone： 〃here rests a man who fled from his own shadow all his life； who wasted his whole life escaping from a shadow。
and the man did not even know as much as his gravestone does …… because the gravestone is in the shade and does not run； hence no shadow is created。
〃
we also run。
we may wonder how a man can run from his shadow； but we too run from shadows。
and that which we run away from starts pursuing us itself。
the faster we run； the faster it follows because it is our own shadow。
death is our own shadow。
if we keep running away from it we will not be able to stand before it and recognize what it is。
if that man had stopped and seen what was behind him； perhaps he would have laughed and said； 〃what kind of a person am i； running away from a shadow？〃 no one can ever escape from a shadow； no one can ever win a fight with a shadow。
this does not mean； however； that the shadow is stronger than we are and that we can never be victorious； it simply means that there is no shadow； that there is no question of being victorious。
you cannot win against that which does not exist。
thats why people keep facing defeat by death …… because death is merely a shadow