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answer, to be meaningful, has to be particular. It has to be addressed to a particular individual in a specific way -- only then does it apply to you, otherwise not.
IT SEEMED TO ME THAT GRAMYA'S QUESTION WAS PRACTICALLY THE SAME AS MINE ON SUNDAY -- no, neither practically the same nor theoretically the same only worded differently. Don't deceive yourself. It was worded differently, true, but even if it had not been worded differently my answer would have been the same.
Even when we use the same words we don't mean the same thing. The meaning is not in the words, the meaning is in the mind that uses them.
Meditate on this anecdote.
The business executive was told by his doctor that he had a heart condition. On the same day he was advised by mail that if he didn't meet a heavy mortgage payment, his home would be seized. Driving nervously down the highway in a new car on which five payments were due, he rammed into the compact car of one of his best customers and made a sardine can out of it. Continuing to his office, he arrived at the factory just as the firemen were watering down the hot embers. There his book-keeper handed him a note informing him that all his insurance policies had lapsed.
Disgusted, he took a cab home, walked slowly into the living room and was greeted cheerfully by his wife. 'Darling,' she said enthusiastically, 'I hope you'll forgive me but I must run; tonight is my bridge night.'
'Just give me a chance to change my shirt,' answered the husband, 'and I'll jump with you!'
Her bridge night. But how can it mean the same thing to the husband? In that state it cannot mean the same. You speak the same words but still you convey different meanings. The meaning is given by the mind. The word is an outside thing, the meaning is an inside thing.
Because of the fog, the plane was in serious trouble. All the passengers were numb with fear, except the minister aboard. He took complete control of the situation.
'Let us kneel and pray,' he suggested to the passengers, and everyone kneeled except a small-time bookie.
'Why aren't you praying with us?' asked the minister.
'Because,'
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