| |
only count the thorns in a rose bush and, amongst so many thorns, naturally they forget the beautiful roses. Looking positively, affirmatively, looking with love they should first count the flowers; they should become engulfed by the perfume of the flowers.
And then those thorns would appear in a totally different context. Those thorns would appear as bodyguards, as protective armor around the rose; that is their function. The same life juice that becomes the rose becomes the thorn. At their source they come from the same roots; they cannot be enemies. But all the religions were afraid of one thing: that religion may become a changing, moving, alive river. The fear was that if religion remains a flowing river... who knows, people may change tomorrow.
Mahavira closes the door on anything else being added. He is the twenty-fourth tirthankara. That is the last number; now nothing can be added to Jainism. It is a very tricky game.
Mohammed is the last prophet. Why this insistence on being last? Why not be first? But being last means you are closing the doors. Now the Holy Koran will remain, forever and forever, the only directions and guidance for the followers. It cannot take note of the changing circumstances; it cannot take note of the changing consciousness of man, his changing and deepening insight into reality. Christians are waiting for Christ. These are the tricks -- one day Christ will come and he has promised them, "Soon." The "soon" seems to be very long... He cannot come again. He can only come in those same circumstances that existed in Judea two thousand years ago. Now, declaring oneself the only begotten son of God... any child will laugh.
Two small children were sitting on the steps of their house. The small one asked, "I wonder why these Christian bishops and cardinals are called `father.' They don't have any children."
But the question, although it has come from a small child -- and what is always being done to children's questions is, "Just wait. In time, in your maturity, you will know" -- even Jesus never asked it. And if you are the only begotten son of God... is God so miserly? And at that time I don't think
|
|
|