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Main Index
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that which is going to suffer. He knows that his innermost being is immortal, but he also knows that his body is mortal. On the cross he cries, prays, almost shouts at God,'What are you doing to me? Have you forsaken me? Why this much suffering for me?' And immediately he says,'But let thy will be done, not mine.'
These are the two opposites in him. On one point he is as human as any human being: fragile, weak, helpless. On another point he is as superhuman as any Buddha. That's why Jesus has a tremendous appeal. You can worship Buddha but you cannot become a fellow traveller with him. With Jesus it is different: you can take hold of his hand; you can become a fellow traveller with him. Jesus can be your friend, Buddha can only be your Master. Buddha has said that his next incarnation, sometime in the future, is going to be called'Maitreya' -- the friend. Jesus came after Buddha, five hundred years after. Maybe Buddha's indication was towards Jesus; MAITREYA, the friend. Jesus has a different quality: you can be friendly with him; you can sleep in the same room with him; you can eat on the same table with him; you can drink from the same pot. He is the friend, not only a guide. He is a friendly guide. He is almost like you, and these sentences, these sutras will show you.
'With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer, because soon I will be gone. This is going to be our last celebration together. And with desire I have desired to celebrate this passover, this feast.' With Mahavir, with Buddha, the word 'feast' will not suit;'fast', but not 'feast'. With Jesus it is 'feast', not 'fast'. It is always celebration, and celebrating SMALL things, celebrating small things. He does not create unnecessary problems. He does not force you to have a stony life, dry. He would like you to be green and flowering and alive, living an ordinary life. It is what Zen people call 'to be extraordinary in ordinariness'.
WITH DESIRE I HAVE DESIRED TO EAT THIS PASSOVER WITH YOU BEFORE I SUFFER.
Each suffering should be started in celebration. Then you change the quality of suffering itself. Each suffering should be welcomed through
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