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he cannot live without chains。
the kind of man he is； he will create new chains。
all religions strive to break these chains； and every religion creates a new chain …… so things remain the same。
the world has seen so many religions。
they were all founded to bring about reforms； they all proclaimed their intent to eradicate all prevailing superstitions； but in the process of destroying superstitions nothing ever really gets destroyed。
of course； those who are fed up with the old superstitions replace them with new ones and are very happy； feeling they have brought about change。
in fact； an intelligent man never holds on to anything …… not even to any belief； let alone to superstition。
he lives intelligently； he doesnt hang on to anything。
he never creates any chain because he knows there is immense joy in living in freedom。
dont create any chains。
so the real question is to awaken enough consciousness in each individual that will create a desire in him to bee free； to bee intelligent； to bee self…realized； to be filled with awareness。
if the tendency to live blindly …… to bee a follower； a pursuer； a believer in somebody …… could be reduced； all superstitions would crumble。
but in that case it would not be that one kind of superstition would break down and another would survive …… all would collapse； they would leave all at once。
otherwise； they will remain forever。
actually； what needs to be understood is that nothing happens by merely changing clothes。
let anyone wear whatsoever he pleases。
if someone wants to wear ochre…colored clothes； let him do so； why stop him？ if someone wants to wear black clothes； let him do so。
what one needs to realize is that a change in clothes does not equal a change in ones life。
once this is realized； then there is no need to change clothes； because the man who will make you change your clothes will immediately replace them with clothes of a new kind。
a sannyasin； wearing ochre clothes； went to see gandhi and told him he was very impressed with his ideas and would also like to serve the country。
what gandhi told him was highly significant。
he said； 〃thats fine； but first you will have to give up your ochre clothes； because they will e in the way of your service。
generally； people serve those who wear ochre clothes rather than being served by them。
〃 this was very true。
but then gandhi； having made him drop the ochre clothes； made him wear clothes of khadi； of handspun cotton。
now those who are wearing khadi are doing things even the people wearing ochre clothes never did before。
what difference has it made？ now the khadi people are accepting service。
the poor ochre people never accepted as much service as those who are wearing khadi are doing now。
so khadi has proven to be very costly for this country。
the sannyasin was very happy that his superstition about ochre clothing had dropped …… but now he wears khadi； now he is holding on to the superstition of khadi。
whats the difference？
the real question is not of letting people drop one thing and making them take on another。
the question is to e to understand that very mentality which holds on to things。
gandhi did not sharpen that mans intelligence； he remained as stupid as ever。
he simply made him change his clothes； and the man felt very happy to do so。
but what difference did it make？ this is how it has always been。
for the last five thousand years the story of humanity has been one of great misfortune。
by an effort to break down a superstition we never change the man； we simply do away with the superstition …… but then he creates a new superstition。
whatever we offer； he seizes upon it。
〃all right；〃 he says； 〃let it be this。
ill drop the other superstition and hold on to this one！〃 and we feel very happy because he has accepted our superstition。
a young man used to visit me。
day and night he used to talk about the scriptures。
he knew the upanishads； the gita； the vedas； by heart。
i told him； 〃stop all this nonsense。
you will gain nothing from it！〃 he became very angry with me； but nevertheless he continued to visit me。
someone who gets angry with you never stops visiting you； because anger also brings you into a relationship。
he was certainly angry at me； yet he still kept ing。
as the days went by and as he heard me more and more； something touched him。
one day he came to me and said； 〃i bundled up the gita； the upanishads； the vedas； and threw them all in a well。
〃
〃when did i tell you to throw them away？〃 i asked。
〃i had to empty my shelf in order to make room for your books。
now i fully agree with your books；〃 he said。
i said； 〃but this has made things more difficult。
nothing has changed。
i was merely telling you not to agree with a book。
i never asked you to throw that book away and grab on to my book。
what difference has your doing so made？〃
the so…called gurus feel very happy if their kind of superstition is held by people。
this is how； even though superstitions keep changing； man himself continues to remain superstitious。
so i told the young man to throw my books into the same well too。
he said； 〃how can that be possible？〃 he could never do that； he asserted。
so i said； 〃then the whole thing has remained as it was。
now my book has bee your gita。
what was wrong with poor krishnas gita？ if you needed to carry something； his gita was sufficient …… it served your purpose； it was much thicker than my book； it added enough weight to you。
how are things different now？ when did i ever blame krishna？ when did i ever say that krishna was at fault？
this is how it has always been …… and still is。
what simply happens is that man remains the same； only his toys change。
i feel very happy if someone takes my toy； i feel delighted that at last someone has taken my idea。
my ego finds satisfaction in seeing that someone has started to believe more in me than in krishna。
but this does not bring about a change in humanity； humanity can never be benefited by this。
what we need to be concerned about is how to break； from within； this human m