按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and so； those we call religious people are often found to be unintelligent。
they lack intelligence； because what we call religion is something which has poisoned us before intelligence has arisen …… and even afterwards it continues its inner hold。
no wonder hindus and mohammedans fight with each other in the name of god； in the name of their temples and their mosques。
does god e in many varieties？ is the god hindus worship of one kind； and the god the mohammedans worship of another？ is that why hindus feel their god is desecrated if an idol is destroyed。
or mohammedans feel their god is dishonored if a mosque is destroyed or burned？
actually； god is 〃that which is。
〃 he exists as much in a mosque as he does in a temple。
he exists as much in a slaughterhouse as he does in a place of worship。
he exists as much in a tavern as he does in a mosque。
he is as present in a thief as he is in a holy man …… not one iota less； that can never be。
who else is dwelling in a thief if not the divine？ he is as present in rama as he is in ravana …… he is not one iota less in ravana。
he exists as much within a hindu as he does within a mohammedan。
but the problem is： if we e to believe that the same divinity exists in everyone； our god…manufacturing industry will suffer heavily。
so in order to prevent this from happening； we keep on imposing our respective gods。
if a hindu looks at a flower he will project his own god on it； see his god in it； whereas a mohammedan will project； visualize his god。
they can even pick a fight over this； although perhaps such a hindu…mohammedan conflict is a little far…fetched。
their establishments are at a little distance from each other …… but there are even quarrels between the closely related 〃divinity shops。
〃 for example； there is quite a distance between benares and mecca； but there is not much distance in benares between the temples of rama and krishna。
and yet the same degree of trouble exists there。
i have heard about a great saint。
。
。
i am calling him great because people used to call him great； and i am calling him a saint only because people used to call him a saint。
he was a devotee of rama。
once he was taken to the temple of krishna。
when he saw the idol of krishna holding a flute in his hands； he refused to bow down to the image。
standing before the image； he said； 〃if you would take up the bow and arrow； only then could i bow down to you； for then you would be my lord。
〃 how strange！ we place conditions on god also …… how and in which manner or position he should present himself。
we prescribe the setting； we make our requirements …… only then are we prepared to worship。
it is so strange we determine what our god should be like。
but thats how it has been all along。
what； up to now； we have been identifying as god； is a product based on our own specifications。
as long as this man…made god is standing in the way； we will not be able to know that god who is not determined by us。
we will never be able to know the one who determines us。
and so we need to get rid of the man…made god if we wish to know the god which is。
but thats tough； its difficult even for the most kind…hearted person。
even for someone we otherwise consider a man of understanding； its hard to get rid of this man…made god。
he too clings firmly to the basic foolishness as much as a stupid man does。
a stupid man can be forgiven； but it is difficult to forgive a man of understanding。
khan abdul gaffar khan arrived in india recently。
he is preaching hindu…mohammedan unity all over the country； but he himself is a staunch mohammedan； about this； there is not the slightest doubt。
it doesnt bother him that he prays in the mosque like a loyal mohammedan； yet he is going about preaching hindu…mohammedan unity。
gandhi was a staunch hindu； and he also used to preach hindu…mohammedan unity。
as the guru； so is the disciple： the guru was a confirmed hindu； the disciple is a confirmed mohammedan。
and so long as there are confirmed hindus and confirmed mohammedans in the world； how can such unity e about？ they need to relax a little； only then unity is possible。
these zealous hindus and mohammedans are at the root of all the trouble between the two religions； although the roots of these troubles are not really visible。
those who preach hindu…mohammedan unity do not have the vaguest idea how to bring it about。
as long as god is different things to different people； as long as there are different places of worship for different people； as long as prayers are different and scriptures are different …… koran being father for some and gita being mother for others …… the vexing troubles between religions will never e to an end。
we cling to the koran and the gita。
we say； 〃read the koran and teach people to drop enmity and to bee one。
read the gita and teach people to drop enmity and to bee one。
〃 we dont realize； however； that the very words of koran and gita are the root cause of all the trouble。
if a cows tail gets cut off； a hindu…mohammedan riot will break out； and we will blame ruffians for causing the fight。
and the funny thing is that no hoodlum has ever preached that the cow is our sacred mother。
this is actually taught by our mahatmas； our holy men； who put the blame for creating riots on hoodlums。
。
。
。
because when the tail does get cut off； then for the mahatmas purpose； it is not the tail of the cow； it is the tail of the holy mother！ when they bring this to peoples attention； the riots begin； in which the hoodlums get involved and are later blamed for starting them。
so the people we call mahatmas are in fact at the root of all such troubles。
were they to step aside； the hoodlums would be harmless； they would have no power to fight。
they get strength from the mahatmas。
but the mahatmas remain so well hidden underground that we never ever realize they could be at the root of the problem。
what is the root of the problem； really？ the root cause of all the trouble is your god …… the god manufactured in your homes。
try to save yourselves from the gods you create