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| | | Book Name: The Dhammapada - The Way of the Buddha, Vol 6 | Previous Next | |
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first. So how to start the letter?
In India, if you are writing to an older person you have to be very respectful. So how to start? How to address the person? He is younger, physically, so you cannot show respect, you have to show love. But he is older as far as enlightenment is concerned, so you cannot talk to him as if you are talking to a young man, younger than you; you have to be respectful.
The mystic was puzzled. And if you cannot start the letter, how can you write it? So he sent the paper empty.
The other mystic received it. He read it, rejoiced in it. He was so happy that a disciple who was sitting close by asked, "You look so happy -- can I also read the letter?"
The letter was passed to the disciple, then he read it and rejoiced in it.
Then the third person who was present became interested -- there seemed to be something very mysterious! But this man was not a disciple; just out of curiosity he had come to see the man. He said, "Can I also have a look?"
Both the master and the disciple hesitated. They looked at each other -- what to say to this man? The man became even more intrigued. He said, "Is there something very mysterious in it?"
They said, "There is really nothing in it! It is a very rare letter, you will not understand its language. That's why we are hesitating. We don't want to offend you, but if you insist you can see."
The man looked this side and that side -- there was nothing at all. He returned the letter without saying anything and rushed out -- both these people seemed to be mad!
Buddhas cannot use silence with you, because then you will not understand; you will escape. They have to use words -- words which have YOUR meanings, so they have to be very very alert in choosing their words, but even then those words are inadequate.
The word 'path' is so inadequate that Lao Tzu always uses "the pathless path." Now what is the sense of saying "pathless path"? It is empty paper. "Gateless gate," "effortless effort," "action in inaction" -- WU-WEI: all these contradictions together, paradoxes together, are just to shake and shock you out of your sleep. Otherwise there is no
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