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〃 only then would the people of that town e to me。
your town is just the opposite： you are residents of a town where no one wants to die； where everyone wants to live； where people want to cling to life so hard they can keep death away forever。
therefore； i am pelled to talk to you about death。
it has nothing to do with me； because of you i am calling it the art of dying。
i have been saying the same thing all along。
once buddha entered a village。
it was early morning and the sun was just about to appear on the horizon。
a man came to him and said； 〃i am an atheist； i dont believe in god。
what do you think？ is there god？〃
buddha said； 〃god alone is。
there is nothing but god everywhere。
〃
the man said； 〃but i was told that you are an atheist。
〃
〃you must have heard wrongly；〃 said buddha。
〃i am a theist。
now you have heard it from my own lips。
i am the greatest theist ever。
there is god； and nothing but god。
〃 the man stood there under the tree with an uneasy feeling。
buddha moved on。
another man came at noon and said； 〃i am a theist。
i am an absolute believer in god。
i am an enemy of atheists。
i have e to ask you； what do you think about gods existence？〃
buddha said； 〃god？ neither is there one； nor can there ever be one。
there is absolutely no god。
〃
the man couldnt believe his ears。
〃what are you talking about？〃 he exclaimed。
〃i heard a religious man had e to this village； so i came to ask whether god is。
and whats this you are saying？〃
buddha said； 〃a religious man？ a believer in god？ i am the greatest atheist ever。
〃
the man stood there utterly confused。
we can understand this mans confusion …… but ananda； a disciple of buddhas； was in a terrible suspense； he had heard both conversations。
he became very restless； he couldnt figure out what was going on。
it was all right in the morning； but by afternoon it became a problem。
〃what has happened to buddha？〃 ananda wondered to himself。
〃in the morning he said he was the greatest theist； while in the afternoon he said he was the greatest atheist。
〃 he made up his mind to ask buddha in the evening； when he would be alone。
but by evening ananda was in for yet another surprise。
by the time it was evening another person came to buddha and said； 〃i dont understand whether there is god or not。
〃 the man must have been an agnostic； one who says he doesnt know whether god is or not。
no one knows； and no one can ever know。
so he said； 〃i dont know whether there is god or not。
what do you say？ what do you think？〃
buddha replied； 〃if you dont know； then i dont know either。
and it would be good if we both remained silent。
〃
listening to buddhas answer； this man was confounded as well。
he said； 〃i had heard you are enlightened； so i thought you must have known。
〃
buddha said； 〃you must have heard wrong。
i am an absolutely ignorant man。
what knowledge can i have？〃
just try to feel what ananda must have gone through。
put yourself in his shoes。
can you see his difficulty？ when it was night and everyone had left； he touched buddhas feet and said； 〃are you trying to kill me？ what are you doing？ i almost lost my life！ never have i been so upset and restless as i have been today。
what is this you have been saying and doing the whole day？ are you in your right mind？ are you sure you know what you said today？ in the morning you said one thing； in the afternoon another； and in the evening you gave an entirely different answer to the same question。
〃
buddha said； 〃i did not give these answers to you。
i gave my answers to the people concerned。
why did you listen to them？ do you think it is right to hear what i say to others？〃
ananda said； 〃now this tops it all！ how in the world could i not hear？ i was present； right there； my ears were not blocked！ and could it ever be possible i wouldnt want to hear you speak？ i love to hear you speak； no matter who you talk to。
〃
buddha said； 〃but why are you upset？ i didnt answer you！〃
ananda said； 〃maybe not； but i am in a quandary。
please answer me； right now。
what is the truth？ why did you give three different answers？〃
buddha explained； 〃i had to bring the three of them to a point of balance。
the man who came in the morning was an atheist。
being an atheist only he was inplete； because life is made of opposites。
〃
keep this in mind： a truly religious person is both …… an atheist on one hand； and a believer in god on the other hand。
his life contains both aspects； but he brings harmony between the two opposites。
religion is in that very harmony。
and one who is only a believer in god lacks religious maturity。
he has not yet attained a balance in his life。
so buddha said； 〃i had to bring a balance to his life。
one side of him had bee very heavy； so i had to put some rocks on the other scale。
and besides； i also wanted to unsettle him； because somehow he had bee convinced there is no god。
his conviction needed to be shaken up； because one who bees certain； dies。
the journey must go on； the search must continue。
〃the man who came in the afternoon was a theist。
i had to tell him i was an atheist because he had bee lopsided too； he had also lost his balance。
life is a balance。
one who attains this balance attains the truth。
〃
the reason i say to you； you should learn the art of dying is because your life has bee lopsided。
you are sitting very solidly on the scale of life； and so everything has turned to rock。
life has bee solidified； the balance is gone。
go ahead。
invite death as well。
say； 〃e and be my guest too。
well stay together。
〃 the day life agrees to live with death； it is transformed into life supreme。
the day one weles death； gives it a hug； embraces it； the matter is over！ that day the sting of death departs。
the sting lay in our running away from death； in our being afraid of it。
when a person es forward and embraces death； death loses； death is conquered； because the man who embraces death bees immortal。
now death cant do anything to him。
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