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looking at all this； i feel i have also done something； i am not an ordinary man。
〃
a man who is evading death； who is scared of death； has bee so frustrated； so sad and bored that he is ready to indulge in anything。
the one thing he is not doing； however； is weling death。
as soon as a man weles death； accepts death； a new door opens in his life …… a door that leads him to the divine。
the word 〃die〃 is inscribed on the temple of god； whereas inside the stream of life is overflowing。
looking at the signboard …… 〃die〃 …… people turn back。
no one goes inside。
its a very smart idea； a very clever idea； otherwise there would be a crowd inside and it would be difficult to live …… so the temple of life has the signboard 〃die〃 hanging outside。
those who bee frightened looking at it； run away。
thats why i said one has to learn how to die。
the biggest secret of life is to learn how to die； how to accept death。
let the past die every day。
let us die every day。
we dont let the yesterdays past die。
a seventy…year…old man keeps the happy memories of his childhood alive。
his childhood is not yet dead。
he still carries the desire to return to his childhood。
the man is too old to move about； he is bedridden； but his youth is not yet dead。
he is still thinking about the same things。
he is still dreaming of the female movie stars of his youth； although none of them are the same now。
the pictures are still moving before his eyes； nothing has died。
in fact； our yesterday never dies。
we never gather the courage to die； we never let anything die； and consequently everything piles up。
we dont let the dead be dead； instead； we amass it like a heavy load。
and then it bees impossible to live under its weight。
so one of the keys to the art of dying is： let the dead be dead。
as jesus was passing by a lake； a wonderful incident took place。
it was early morning …… the sun was about to rise； the horizon had just turned red。
a fisherman had thrown his net in the lake to catch fish。
as he began pulling the net out； jesus placed his hand on the fishermans shoulder and said； 〃my friend； would you spend all your life catching fish？〃
the same question had crossed the fishermans mind many times before。
is there any mind in which it doesnt？ of course； the fish may be different； the net may be different； the lake may be different； but nevertheless； the question arises； 〃am i supposed to spend the whole of my life catching fish？〃
the fisherman turned around to see who the man was who was raising the same question he had in his mind。
he looked at jesus。
he saw his serene； laughing eyes； his personality。
he said； 〃there is no other way。
where else can i find a lake？ where else can i find fish and throw my net to catch them？ i also ask myself； will i go on catching fish the rest of my life？〃
then jesus said； 〃i am a fisherman too； but i throw my net in some other ocean。
e； follow me if you wish； but remember； only a man can throw a new net who has the courage to give up his old net。
leave the old net behind。
〃
the fisherman must have really been a courageous man。
there are very few courageous people like him。
right there； he dropped the net filled with fish。
a desire must have occurred in his mind to at least pull out the net that was already filled； but jesus said； 〃only they can throw the new net into the new ocean who have the courage to leave the old net behind。
drop your net right there。
〃 the fisherman let go of his net and asked； 〃tell me where i have to go。
〃
jesus said； 〃you seem to be a man of courage。
you have the potential to go some place。
e with me！〃 as they reached the outskirts of the village； a man came running。
he caught hold of the fisherman and said； 〃you madman； where are you going？ your father； who was ill； has died。
where were you？ we went looking for you at the lake and found your net lying there。
where are you going？〃
the fisherman said； 〃please let me take leave for a few days to perform my fathers last rites。
then ill e back。
〃
jesus words in reply to the fisherman are tremendously wonderful。
he said； 〃you fool； let the dead bury the dead！ what need is there for you to go？ e。
follow me。
now one who is dead is already dead； why even bother to bury him？ these are all tricks to keep him alive。
so one who is now dead； is dead forever。
and there are many dead people in the village。
they will bury the dead。
you e with me。
〃
the fisherman hesitated for a moment。
watching him； jesus said； 〃perhaps i wrongly understood you could leave your old net behind。
〃 the fisherman paused for a moment and then followed jesus。
jesus said； 〃you are a courageous man。
if you can leave the dead behind； you can indeed attain to life。
〃
actually； that which has died in the past should be dropped。
you sit in meditation but then you always e and tell me it never happens； that thoughts keep ing。
thoughts dont e like that。
the question is； have you ever left them？ you always keep holding on to them； how can they be at fault？ if a man keeps a dog； feeds him； ties him in his house and then suddenly one day sets him loose； turns him out； if the poor dog es back to the man again and again； would the dog be at fault？
all these days you fed the dog； petted him； loved him； played with him； tied a collar around his neck； kept him in your home。
and then all of a sudden you decide to meditate and tell the dog to get lost。
how can that be？ the poor dog has no idea what has happened to you so suddenly； so he wanders around for a while and then es back to you。
he thinks maybe you are having some kind of fun with him； hence the more you drive him out the more playful he bees； the more he keeps ing back to you。
he feels something new is happening； that maybe the master is in a good mood； so he takes more and more interest in the game。
you e and tell me thoughts wont leave you。
how can they？ you have nourished them with your own blood。
you have tied them to yourself； you have put a collar around their necks with your name on it。