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know in this state of mind, through something which you know. Trying to explain the unknown in terms of the known is myth -- bringing some understanding to you where you are.
The kingdom of heaven cannot be explained directly, immediately. It is impossible. Unless you enter it there is no way to say anything about it. Whatsoever is said will be wrong. The truth cannot be said. Then what are Jesus, Lao Tzu and Buddha doing continuously, for years? If the truth cannot be said, what are they doing? They are trying to explain something to you which cannot be explained, through some symbols which you know; trying to explain the unknown through the known. This is the most difficult thing in the world -- parables, myths, stories.
And there are foolish people who try to analyze a myth, dissect it and say, "This is a myth, this is not truth." They analyze and dissect, they do surgery on the myth and then they say, "This is a myth, this is not history." But nobody has ever said that myth is history. And myth cannot be dissected because it is simply symbolic. It is just as if there is a milestone on which there is an arrow and by the arrow it is written 'Delhi', and you dissect the stone, you dissect the arrow, the ink, the chemicals and everything, and you say, "Some fool has done this -- there is no 'Delhi' in it!"
Myths are milestones, arrows towards the unknown. They are not the goal, they simply indicate. That is the meaning of the disciples' question: TELL US WHAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE. We cannot ask what the kingdom of heaven is. Look at the quality of the question: we cannot ask what the kingdom of heaven is -- that would be too much. We cannot expect the answer for that either. We can only ask what it is like, which means: "Say something which we know; make some indications through it so we can have a glimpse."
It is just like a blind man asking what light is like. How can you ask what light is when you are blind? If you ask, the very asking debars the answer. It cannot be answered. Light can be known, but you need eyes. But "What is light like?" means: "Say something in the language of the blind."
All parables are truths
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