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only by hearing we would have understood long ago. If it was possible to understand something only by hearing there would be no shortage of people with understanding in the world and an ignorant person would be difficult to find. But as it is the world is full of only the ignorant.
Nothing is understood only by listening. By listening we only close our fists on words. Not by listening but by doing one understands. So listen to find the way of doing, not for the understanding. Listen in order to do, do in order to understand. Do not come to the conclusion that just by listening you have understood. That intermediary link of doing is necessary. There is no other way. But our mind says, "I have got it; now where is the need to do?"
Destinations are reached by moving towards them. You may have understood everything, the whole route of your journey may have been memorized by you, you may have a detailed map in your pocket; still, without moving no one ever comes to their destination. But it is possible to dream of having arrived. A person may be asleep right here and can dream of having arrived anywhere. The mind is an expert in dreaming.
Do not think that only you see such dreams; even those whom you call very intelligent also go on having these dreams. Your saints, your monks and sannyasins -- those who have been searching for years -- have not come even an inch closer to anywhere. They have not even begun their journey at all and they have been searching for years!
Their whole search has been circular. In the mind a circle has been created -- a sort of whirlpool. And in that whirlpool they move round and round and ultimately everything gets lost -- all the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Korans, the Bibles, everything gets lost, but there is not even an inch of movement.
We will discuss the Upanishad -- not to make you understand the Upanishad, but for you to become the Upanishad. If by listening you memorize something and begin to repeat it, it means I have harmed you; I did not prove to be your friend. Your repeating what you have heard is of no value. When I can see that the same happens to you as has happened to me, that your eyes
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