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him. No, that was not what Jesus meant. What Jesus meant was that "These senseless people do not know that the person they are killing cannot die. Forgive them because they don't know what they are doing. They are doing something which is impossible -- they are committing the act of killing, which is impossible."
The man said, "It is hard to believe that a person about to be killed could show so much compassion. In fact, he will be filled with anger."
Fareed gave a hearty laugh and said, "You have raised a good question, but I will answer it later. First, do me a little favor." He picked up a coconut lying nearby, gave it to him and asked him to break it open, cautioning him not to break the kernel.
But the coconut was unripe, so the man said, "Pardon me, I cannot do this. The coconut is completely raw, and if I break open the shell the kernel will break too."
Fareed asked him to put that coconut away. Then he gave him another coconut, one which was dry, and asked him to break that one open. "Can you save the kernel of this one?" he asked.
And the man replied, "Yes, the kernel can be saved."
Fareed said, "I have given you an answer. Did you understand?"
The man replied, "I didn't understand anything. What relation is there between a coconut and your answer? What relation is there between the coconut and my question?"
Fareed said, "Put this coconut away too. There is no need to break it or anything. I am pointing out to you that there is one raw coconut which still has the kernel and the shell joined together -- if you hit the shell, the kernel will also break. Then there is the dry coconut. Now how is the dry coconut different from the raw coconut? There is a slight difference: the kernel of the dry coconut has shrunk inside and become separated from the shell; a distance has occurred between the kernel and the shell. Now you say, even after breaking open the shell, the kernel can be saved. So I have answered your question!"
The man said, "I still don't get it." The fakir said, "Go, die and understand -- without that you cannot follow what I am saying. But even then you will not be able to follow me
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