|
Main Index
|
| |
| |
|
| |
statues were made of the tree, many pictures were made of the tree, many paintings were made of the tree, many temples were built, but there was no statue of Buddha just the Bodhi tree. Because Buddha was almost absent -- he had become formless, he had become as if he was not. His music is that of silence. Nietzsche would not recognise the beauty of it, no politician would recognise the beauty of it.
This king said, 'I TAKE NO PLEASURE IN MEN WHO PREACH MORALITY.' The basis of all morality is to love and the basis of all politics is to hate. The moralist says, 'Love even your enemy,' and the politician says, 'Hate even your friend.' If you want to see a contrast you can read Jesus and Machiavelli. Or, the Indian parallel, you can read Buddha and Chanakya. It is not just a co-incidence that the part of Delhi where Indian politicians live is called Chanakyapuri -- it is named after Chanakya, the Indian Machiavelli. Machiavelli says, 'Don't even trust your friend. Don't say anything to your friend which you would not like to say to your enemy.' Why? 'Because,' he says, 'who knows? Your friend may become your enemy tomorrow. So don't say anything that you would not like to say to an enemy.'
And look at Jesus. He says, 'Even if somebody slaps you on one cheek, give him the other too. Love your enemy as yourself.'
Naturally politicians cannot be ready to listen to the teachings of morality. Morality means love and politics means hate, hatred. Politicians may smile but hidden behind that smile is a horrible face. They may show a beautiful face but behind it they are preparing for hell. They may talk about peace but they prepare for war. Their whole life depends on destruction. Love is creation; hate is destruction.
Naturally the king was not interested in any kind of morality. He said, What pleases me is courage and strength.' Why courage and strength? Why strength?
Jesus says, 'Blessed are the meek not 'Blessed are the strong', no. 'Blessed are the meek, blessed are the humble. blessed are the poor in spirit.' Not the strong, not the strong-headed but those who have soft hearts; not people like rocks but people like flowers -- they are
|
|
|
|
| |