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"I was going to change my whole dress, shave my beard and cut my hair... and just to be respectable, to look rich, just to take an award. And your house -- I have been many times in your palace. Your whole life's collection of great paintings and other art pieces are on fire, and you are not disturbed at all.
"That's why I say you have saved me: I am going tomorrow just the way I am. You have taught me the greatest lesson of my life: that one can take everything easily, one just needs a certain acceptance that whatever is happening is happening, and whatever people can do they are doing. What more can I do?"
The man completed his evening walk, and then he went towards his home, but with the same pace. Vidyasagar followed him just to see what else would happen. There was a big crowd; almost everything was burning. All their efforts had failed.
The rich man also stood in the crowd, just as others were standing. Others were very tense, in great anxiety, in a great hurry -- what to do? how to save? -- and he was standing there, just a witness, as if it were somebody else's house and somebody else's art collection that was burning.
This is not laziness. This is a tremendous centering of being, such a groundedness that you can take everything at ease.
There is no need to think that "there must be something wrong with me." Just change that word "laziness" and everything is right with you.
Words mean much. Just a few days ago, I was informed that in the Soviet Union there are many Mohammedan countries... and religion is banned by the communist party of the Soviet Union. Each child is taught atheism from the very beginning. So the Mohammedans have been in trouble -- what to do?
The month of ramadan comes, when for thirty days they fast in the day and eat in the night. To do it will be a sure indication that you are acting against the government -- you are still following a religion. They have simply changed the name; they call it "the month of dieting," and now there is no problem. Dieting is not prohibited. Fasting is prohibited.
A Mohammedan is expected by his religion to pray five times a day. And his prayer is such
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