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Post by Smithee on Jul 31, 2012 10:23:54 GMT 10
“I seek the meaning of existence,” said the stranger.
“You are, of course, assuming said the Master, “that existence has a meaning.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“When you experience existence as it is – not as you think it is – you will discover that your question has no meaning.” said the Master.
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Post by Smithee on Aug 1, 2012 15:03:39 GMT 10
The preacher was determined to extract an unambiguous declaration of belief in God from the Master.
“Do you believe there is a God?”
“Of course I do,” said the Master.
“And He made everything. Do you believe that?”
“Yes, yes,” said the Master. “I certainly do.”
“And who made God?”
“You,” said the Master.
The preacher was aghast, “Do you seriously mean to tell me that it is I who made God?”
“The one you are forever thinking about and talking about – yes!” said the Master placidly.
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Post by Smithee on Aug 2, 2012 11:16:57 GMT 10
Alarmed at the Master's tendency to destroy every statement of belief in God one disciple cried out, "I'm left with nothing to hold on to."
"That's what the fledgling says when pushed out of its nest!" said the Master.
Later he said, "Do you expect to fly when you are securely settled in the nest of your beliefs? That isn't flying. That's flapping your wings!"
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Post by Smithee on Aug 3, 2012 9:24:27 GMT 10
It scandalized people to hear the Master say that true religion was not a social matter. He said:
There was a little polar bear who asked his mother, “Mother was my daddy also a polar bear?”
“Of course he was a polar bear.”
After a while, “Tell me, mummy, was my grandfather also a polar bear?”
“Yes, he was also a polar bear.”
“What about my great grandfather, was he a polar bear too?”
“Yes he was. Why are you asking?”
“Because I’m freezing.”
The Master concluded: “Religion is neither social nor inherited. It is an intensely personal thing.”
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Post by Smithee on Aug 4, 2012 17:57:44 GMT 10
When the Master remarked on the irrationality of a visitor's beliefs, he replied grandly, "I believe because it is irrational."
"Shouldn't you rather say: I believe because I am irrational?" said the Master.
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Post by Smithee on Aug 5, 2012 11:00:34 GMT 10
"Name one practical, down-to-earth effect of spirituality," said the sceptic who was ready for an argument.
"Here's one," said the Master. "When someone offends you, you can raise your spirits to heights where offences cannot reach."
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Post by Smithee on Aug 6, 2012 9:36:25 GMT 10
"What does it mean to be enlightened?"
"To see."
"What?"
"The hollowness of success, the emptiness of achievements, the nothingness of human striving," said the Master.
The disciple was appalled. "But isn't that pessimism and despair?"
"No. That's the excitement and freedom of the eagle gliding over a bottomless ravine."
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Post by Smithee on Aug 7, 2012 9:40:39 GMT 10
“I pride myself on being a good judge of character.”
“Is that really something to be proud of?” said the Master.
“Isn’t it?”
“No. There’s one defect a good judge has in common with a bad judge - He judges.”
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Post by Smithee on Aug 8, 2012 11:24:57 GMT 10
“My life is like shattered glass,” said the visitor. “My soul is tainted with evil. Is there any hope for me?”
“Yes,” said the Master. “There is something whereby each broken thing is bound again and every stain made clean.”
“What?”
“Forgiveness.””
“Whom do I forgive?”
“Everyone: Life, God, your neighbour – especially yourself.”
“How is that done?”
“By understanding that no one is to blame,” said the Master. “NO ONE.”
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Post by Smithee on Aug 9, 2012 11:31:24 GMT 10
It amused the Master to hear the exaggerated claims of modern science to change the Universe.
“In a conflict between human will and Nature, back Nature,” he used to say.
“But can’t we change anything in the Universe?”
“Not until we have learnt to submit to it.”
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