net。
leave the old net behind。
〃
the fisherman must have really been a courageous man。
there are very few courageous people like him。
right there； he dropped the net filled with fish。
a desire must have occurred in his mind to at least pull out the net that was already filled； but jesus said； 〃only they can throw the new net into the new ocean who have the courage to leave the old net behind。
drop your net right there。
〃 the fisherman let go of his net and asked； 〃tell me where i have to go。
〃
jesus said； 〃you seem to be a man of courage。
you have the potential to go some place。
e with me！〃 as they reached the outskirts of the village； a man came running。
he caught hold of the fisherman and said； 〃you madman； where are you going？ your father； who was ill； has died。
where were you？ we went looking for you at the lake and found your net lying there。
where are you going？〃
the fisherman said； 〃please let me take leave for a few days to perform my fathers last rites。
then ill e back。
〃
jesus words in reply to the fisherman are tremendously wonderful。
he said； 〃you fool； let the dead bury the dead！ what need is there for you to go？ e。
follow me。
now one who is dead is already dead； why even bother to bury him？ these are all tricks to keep him alive。
so one who is now dead； is dead forever。
and there are many dead people in the village。
they will bury the dead。
you e with me。
〃
the fisherman hesitated for a moment。
watching him； jesus said； 〃perhaps i wrongly understood you could leave your old net behind。
〃 the fisherman paused for a moment and then followed jesus。
jesus said； 〃you are a courageous man。
if you can leave the dead behind； you can indeed attain to life。
〃
actually； that which has died in the past should be dropped。
you sit in meditation but then you always e and tell me it never happens； that thoughts keep ing。
thoughts dont e like that。
the question is； have you ever left them？ you always keep holding on to them； how can they be at fault？ if a man keeps a dog； feeds him； ties him in his house and then suddenly one day sets him loose； turns him out； if the poor dog es back to the man again and again； would the dog be at fault？
all these days you fed the dog； petted him； loved him； played with him； tied a collar around his neck； kept him in your home。
and then all of a sudden you decide to meditate and tell the dog to get lost。
how can that be？ the poor dog has no idea what has happened to you so suddenly； so he wanders around for a while and then es back to you。
he thinks maybe you are having some kind of fun with him； hence the more you drive him out the more playful he bees； the more he keeps ing back to you。
he feels something new is happening； that maybe the master is in a good mood； so he takes more and more interest in the game。
you e and tell me thoughts wont leave you。
how can they？ you have nourished them with your own blood。
you have tied them to yourself； you have put a collar around their necks with your name on it。
just tell someone that what he thinks is wrong …… he will jump back at you saying； 〃what do you mean； what i think is wrong？ my thoughts can never be wrong！〃 so the thought with a collar with your name on it es back to you。
how is your thought supposed to know you are meditating？ now you say to your thought； 〃get out！ scram！〃 the thought is not going to go away like this。
we nourish thoughts。
we nourish thoughts of the past； we keep tying them to ourselves。
and then； one day； you want them to leave you all of a sudden。
they wont leave you in one day。
you will have to stop feeding them； you will have to stop rearing them。
remember； if you want to drop thoughts； stop saying； 〃my thoughts。
〃 how can you leave something you claim as yours？ if you want to get rid of thoughts； then stop taking interest in them。
how will they depart unless you stop taking interest in them？ otherwise； how will they know you have changed； that you are no longer interested in them？
all our memories of the past are thoughts。
there is a whole network of them we are holding on to。
we dont allow them to die。
let your thoughts die。
let the dead remain dead； dont try to keep it alive。
but we are keeping it alive。
this is also a part of the art of dying。
keep this key in mind too： if you want to learn the art of dying then let the dead be dead。
let the past be past。
it no longer exists； let it go。
there is no need even to preserve it in your memory。
say goodbye to it； let it depart。
yesterday was finished yesterday； now it is no more …… and yet it keeps its hold over us。
there is another small question。
a friend has asked：
question 3
what is a mind filled with illusions？ what is a very confused mind？ what is clarity of mind？
this needs to be understood； because it will be useful for meditation as well as in learning the art of dying。
he has asked a very significant question。
he asks； 〃what is a confused mind？〃 but here we make a mistake。
we say； 〃disturbed mind；〃 〃confused mind。
〃 this is where the mistake is。
what is the mistake？ the mistake is we are using two words …… confused and mind …… and the truth of the matter is that there is no such thing as a confused mind。
rather； the very state of confusion itself is mind。
there is nothing like a confused mind。
mind is confusion。
mind is another name for confusion。
and when there is no confusion does not mean that the mind has bee peaceful； then there is no more mind at all。
for example； there is a storm at sea； the sea is restless。
would you call it a 〃restless storm〃？ would anyone call it a 〃restless storm〃？ you would simply call it a storm； because a storm is just another name for restlessness。
and when the storm dies down； do you now say the storm has bee peaceful？ you simply say the storm no longer exists。
in understanding the mind； remember too； mind is just another name for confusion。
when peace descends it does not mean the mind bees peaceful； rather； the mind does not exist at all。
a state of no…mind appears。
and when the mind is no more； then what remains is called the atman。
the sea exists even when there is no storm。
when the storm disappears； the sea remains。
when the confused mind ceases to exist； then what remains is atman； soul。
mind is not a thing； it is a state of disorder； a state of chaos。
mind is not a faculty； it is not a substance。
the body is a substance； the atman is a substance …… and existing as a state of confusion that bees a link between the two； is mind。
in a state of peace； the body remains； the atman remains； but the mind is no more。
there is no such thing as a peaceful mind。
this error in expression is because of the language we have created。
we say an 〃unhealthy body；〃 a 〃healthy body。
〃 this is okay。
there is an unhealthy body； of course； and there is a healthy body as well。
with the disappearance of unhealthiness； a healthy body remains。
but this is not true in the case of the mind。
there is no such thing as a 〃healthy mind；〃 an 〃unhealthy mind。
〃 mind by itself is unhealthy。
its very being is confusion。
its very being is unhealthy。
its very being is a disease。
so dont ask how you can save the mind from being confused； ask how you can get rid of this mind。
ask how this mind can die。
ask how you can do away with this mind。
ask how you can let go of this mind。
ask what can be done so that the mind will exist no more。
meditation is a way to be finished with the mind； to part with the mind。
meditation means to step out of the mind。
meditation means to move away from the mind。
meditation means cessation of the mind。
meditation means to stay away from where the confusion is。
by moving away from the confusion； the confusion stills …… because it is our very presence that creates it。
if we move away； it ceases to be。
say； for instance； two people are having a fight。
you have e to fight with me and the fight is on。
if i were to step aside； how would the fight continue？ it would stop； because it can only continue if i make myself a part of it。
we live on a mental plane； we are present right where the disorder； where the trouble is going on。
we dont want to get away from there； and yet we want to bring peace there。
peace cannot be there。
just be kind enough to step aside； thats all。
as soon as you step aside； the turmoil will e to an end。
meditation is not a technique to bring peace to your mind； rather； it is a technique to move away from the mind。
meditation is a means to slip away； to turn away from the waves of confusion。
yet another friend has asked a question which is related to the previous one。
it would be good to understand that as well。
he has asked：
question 4
what is the difference between to be in meditation； and to do meditation？
it is the same difference i am already explaining to you。
if a person is doing meditation； he is trying to make a confused mind peaceful。
what will he do？ he will attempt to make his mind quiet。
when an