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Main Index
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ACT AIMLESSLY, AND SAGES ACT AIMLESSLY. That's why sometimes the sage looks like a fool and vice versa: the fool sometimes looks like a sage. There is one common thing between the sage and the fool, and that common thing is: both act aimlessly -- but for different reasons they act aimlessly.
The fool acts aimlessly because he has no consciousness; he is functioning mechanically, unconsciously. The sage acts aimlessly because he is so fully conscious, he is so totally conscious, there is no need to think about the aim. The very consciousness is enough to take him in the right direction, to the right goal.
But you are between the two: you are neither a fool nor a sage. Sages are rare just as fools are rare. Millions of people are just in between, in limbo. This sutra is for those who are in limbo, and that is the majority; ninety-nine percent of people are in limbo.
LET FOOLS ACT AIMLESSLY AND WITHOUT CAUSE, THOU SHOULDST, IN THE PRESENT, CONTEMPLATE THE FUTURE.
Act consciously, deliberately, choose, think of the consequences. Whatsoever you are going to do, think of the consequences. But remember: Pythagoras is not saying to become too much future-oriented. Hence he says:
... IN THE PRESENT, CONTEMPLATE THE FUTURE.
Remain in the present, remain present-oriented. Don't get too much involved into the fantasy of the future. But he is saying you cannot drop the future completely yet. That can be dropped only when you have become totally alert. So right now you have to do one thing: remain in the present -- that will help you to become more and more conscious -- and think of the consequences -- that will make you less and less stupid. And, slowly slowly, great intelligence is released by these two things: being in the present and always moving aimfully, with a target, with a direction.
Ultimately, direction and target, all disappear. That's why St Francis calls himself a 'fool of God'; Jesus Christ was also known as a fool, Ramakrishna is a fool -- but in a totally different sense. They are so innocent, they are again child-like. They act spontaneously, with no aim, with no idea of consequences. But their very awareness
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