hat was his mistake。
once you see the mistake； the matter is over。
would that man then say； 〃how can i get rid of five？ now i see two and two are four； but before； i had added them up as five。
how can i be free of five？〃 the man would not ask for such freedom； because as soon as one finds out that two plus two equal four； the matter is over。
there is no five any more。
then what does one have to be free of？
one neither has to be free from death nor does one have to triumph over it。
one needs to know death。
the very knowing it bees freedom； the knowing itself bees the victory。
thats why i stated earlier that knowing is power； that knowing is freedom； that knowing is victory。
knowing death causes it to dissolve； then suddenly； for the first time； we bee connected with life。
thats why i told you that the first thing about meditation is that it is a voluntary entry into death。
the second thing i would like to say is that one who enters into death willingly； finds； all of a sudden； entrance into life。
even though he goes in search of death； instead of meeting death he actually finds ultimate life。
even though； for the purpose of his search he enters the mansion of death； he actually ends up in the temple of life。
and one who escapes from the mansion of death never reaches the temple of life。
allow me to point out to you that the walls of the temple of life are engraved with the shadows of death。
may i also point out to you that the maps of death are drawn on the walls of the temple of life； and since we run away from death we are also； in effect； running away from the temple of life！ only when we accept death will we be able to accept these walls。
if ever we could enter death； we would reach the temple of life。
the deity of life dwells within the walls of death； the images of death are engraved all over the temple of life。
we have simply been running away at the very sight of them。
if you have ever been to khajuraho； you must have noticed a strange thing …… all around its walls scenes of sex have been sculpted。
the images look naked and obscene。
if； after seeing them； a man simply runs away； then he will not be able to reach the deity of the temple inside。
inside is the image of god； and outside are engravings； images； of sex； passion； and copulation。
they must have been a wonderful people who built the temples of khajuraho。
they depicted a profound fact of life： they have conveyed that sex is there； on the outside wall； and if you are to run away from there； then you will never be able to attain to brahmacharya to celibacy …… because brahmacharya is inside。
if you are ever able to get beyond these walls； then you will also attain to brahmacharya。
samsara；the mortal world； is displayed on the walls； and running away from it will never bring you to god； because the one who is sitting inside the walls of samsara is god himself。
i am telling you exactly the same thing。
somewhere； someplace； we should build a temple whose walls have death displayed on it and the deity of life would be sitting inside。
this is how the truth is。
however； since we keep escaping from death； we miss the divinity of life as well。
i say both things simultaneously： meditation is entering voluntarily into death； and the one who enters death voluntarily attains to life。
that means： one who encounters death ultimately finds that death has disappeared and he is in lifes embrace。
this looks quite contrary …… you go in search of death and e across life …… but it is not。
for example； i am wearing clothes。
now if you e in search of me； first you will e across my clothes …… although i am not the clothes。
and if you bee frightened of my clothes and run away； then you will never be able to know me。
however； if you e closer and closer to me； without being frightened of my clothes； then beneath my clothes you will find my body。
but the body too； in a deeper sense； is a garment； and if you were to run away from my body； then you would not find the one who is seated inside me。
if you were not to bee frightened of the body and continued your journey inside； knowing that the body is a garment too； then you would certainly e across that one who sits inside； that one everyone is desirous of meeting。
how interesting it is that the wall is made of the body and the divine is seated graciously inside。
the wall is made of matter and inside is the divine； the consciousness seated in glory。
these are contrary things indeed …… the wall of matter and the divinity of life。
if you understand rightly； the wall is made of death and the divine is made of life。
when an artist paints a picture he provides a dark background to bring out the white color。
the white lines bee clearly visible against the dark background。
if one were to get scared of the black； he wouldnt be able to reach the white。
but he doesnt know that it is the black that brings out the white。
similarly； there are thorns around the blooming roses。
if one bees frightened of the thorns he wont be able to reach the roses； if he goes on escaping from the thorns he will be deprived of the flowers too。
but one who accepts the thorns and approaches them without fear finds to his amazement that the thorns are simply meant to protect the flower； they merely serve the purpose of being the outer wall for the flower …… the wall of protection。
the flower is blooming in the middle of the thorns； the thorns are not the flowers enemy。
the flowers are part of the thorns and the thorns are part of the flowers …… both have emerged from the same life…giving force of the plant。
what we call life and what we call death …… both are part of one greater life。
i am breathing。
a breath es out； a breath goes in。
the same breath that es out goes back in after a while； and the breath that goes in es out after a while。
breathing in is life； breathing out is death。
but both are steps of one greater life …… life and death； walking side by side。
birth is one step； death is another step。
but if we could see； if we could penetrate inside； then we would attain the vision of the greater life。
these three days we shall do the meditation of entering into death。
and i shall speak to you on many of its dimensions。
tonight we shall do the first days meditation。
let me explain a few things about it to you。
you must have understood my point of view by now： we have to reach a point within； deep inside； where there is no possibility of dying。
we have to drop the whole outer circumference； as happens in death。
in death the body drops； feelings drop； thoughts drop； friendship drops； enmity drops …… everything drops。
the entire external world departs …… only we remain； only the self remains； only the consciousness remains aloof。
in meditation too； we have to drop everything and die leaving only the observer； the witness within。
and this death will happen。
throughout these three days of meditation； if you will show the courage of dying and drop your self a phenomenon can occur which is called samadhi。
samadhi； remember； is a wonderful word。
the state of total meditation is called samadhi and a grave built after a persons death is also called a samadhi。
have you ever thought about this？ …… both are called samadhi。
in fact； both have a mon secret； a mon meeting point。
actually； for a person who attains to the state of samadhi； his body remains just like a grave …… nothing else。
then he es to realize that there is someone else within； outside there is only darkness。
following a persons death we make a grave and call it a samadhi。
but this samadhi is made by others。
if we can make our own samadhi before others make it； then we have created the very phenomenon we are longing for。
others will have the occasion to make our grave for certain； but we may perhaps lose the opportunity of creating our own samadhi。
if we can create our own samadhi； then； in that state； only the body will die and there will be no question of our consciousness dying。
we have never died； nor can we ever die。
no one has ever died； nor can anyone ever die。
to know this； however； we will have to descend all the steps of death。
i would like to show you three steps we shall follow。
and who knows； that phenomenon might occur on this very seashore and you may have your samadhi …… not the samadhi others make； but the one you create of your own will。
there are three steps。
the first step is to relax your body。
you have to relax your body so much that you begin to feel as if your body is lying far away from you； as if you have nothing to do with it。
you have to withdraw the whole energy from your body and take it inside。
we have given the energy to our bodies …… whatever amount of energy we pour into the body goes into it； whatever amount we withdraw gets pulled inward。
have you ever noticed something？ when you get into a fight with somebody； where does your body get the additional energy from？ in that state of anger you can lift a rock so big that you couldnt even budge it when you were calm。
although it was your body did you ever wonder where the en