WITHDRAWAL "How shall I help the world?" "By understanding it," said the Master. "And how shall I understand it?" "By turning away from it." "How then shall I...
591
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May 5, 2008 11:58 pm
RECEPTIVITY "I wish to learn. Will you teach me?" "I do not think that you know how to learn," said the Master. "Can you teach me how to learn?" "Can you...
592
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May 8, 2008 4:30 am
CONVERSION To a group of his disciples whose hearts were set on a pilgrimage the Master said: "Take this bitter gourd along. Make sure you dip it into all...
593
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May 11, 2008 4:57 am
CAUSALITY Everyone was surprised by the Master's updated metaphor: "Life is like a motor car." They waited in silence, knowing that an explanation would not be...
594
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May 12, 2008 8:21 pm
COERCION The Master demanded seriousness of purpose from those who sought discipleship. But he chided his disciples when they strained themselves in spiritual ...
595
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May 13, 2008 3:13 pm
CALCULATION The Master would laugh at those of his disciples who deliberated endlessly before making up their mind. The way he put it was: "People who ...
596
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May 14, 2008 4:27 pm
REVOLUTION There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. "Obedience keeps the rules," he would say. "Love...
597
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May 15, 2008 3:54 pm
IMITATION After the Master attained Enlightenment, he took to living simply -- because he found simple living to his taste. He laughed at his disciples when ...
598
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May 17, 2008 11:13 pm
ALONENESS To a disciple who was always seeking answers from him the Master said, "You have within yourself the answer to every question you propose -- if you...
599
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May 20, 2008 4:15 pm
BLINKERS "If you make me your authority," said the Master to a starry-eyed disciple, "you harm yourself because you refuse to see things for yourself." And,...
600
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May 21, 2008 8:35 pm
HUMILITY To a visitor who described himself as a seeker after Truth the Master said, "If what you seek is Truth, there is one thing you must have above all...
601
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May 22, 2008 4:18 pm
REPRESSION The Master had been on his deathbed in a coma for weeks. One day he suddenly opened his eyes to find his favorite disciple there. "You never leave...
602
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May 23, 2008 5:40 pm
EXPANSION The Master sat in rapt attention as the renowned economist explained his blueprint for development. "Should growth be the only consideration in an...
603
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digidini
May 26, 2008 3:15 am
ACCEPTANCE "How can I be a great man?like you?" "Why be a great man?" said the Master. "Being a man is a great enough achievement." Anthony de Mello, SJ ...
604
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May 27, 2008 1:40 pm
CHALLENGE An easygoing disciple complained that he had never experienced the Silence that the Master frequently commended. Said the Master, "Silence only comes...
605
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May 28, 2008 3:39 pm
IRRELEVANCE All questions at the public meeting that day were about life beyond the grave. The Master only laughed and did not give a single answer. To his...
606
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May 29, 2008 11:06 pm
VIOLENCE The Master was always teaching that guilt is an evil emotion to be avoided like the very devil -- all guilt. "But are we not to hate our sins?" a...
607
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May 30, 2008 6:38 pm
IDEOLOGY A group of political activists were attempting to show the Master how their ideology would change the world. The Master listened carefully. The...
608
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Jun 1, 2008 4:17 pm
MORALITY The disciples would frequently be absorbed in questions of right and wrong. Sometimes the answer would be evident enough. Sometimes it was...
609
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Jun 4, 2008 4:28 am
FANTASY "What is the greatest enemy of Enlightenment?" "Fear." "And where does fear come from?" "Delusion." "And what is delusion?" "To think that the flowers...
610
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Jun 5, 2008 2:59 am
REMOTE CONTROL To a shy disciple who wanted to become self-confident the Master said, "You look for certainty in the eyes of others and you think that is...
611
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Jun 5, 2008 5:32 pm
INVESTMENT "How shall I rid myself of fear?" "How can you rid yourself of what you cling to?" "You mean I actually cling to my fears? I cannot agree to...
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Jun 6, 2008 7:51 pm
AWARENESS "Is salvation obtained through action or through meditation?" "Through neither. Salvation comes from seeing." "Seeing what?" "That the gold necklace ...
613
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Jun 7, 2008 10:09 pm
SLEEPWALKING The Master's expansive mood emboldened his disciples to say, "Tell us what you got from Enlightenment. Did you become divine?" "No." "Did you...
614
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Jun 9, 2008 12:10 am
DETACHMENT It intrigued the disciples that the Master who lived so simply would not condemn his wealthy followers. "It is rare but not impossible for someone...
615
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Jun 9, 2008 9:04 pm
DISTINCTION The Master was strolling with some of his disciples along the bank of a river. He said, "See how the fish keep darting about wherever they please....
616
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Jun 12, 2008 3:23 am
CREATION The Master was known to side with the revolutionaries, even at the risk of incurring the displeasure of the government. When someone asked him why he...
617
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Jun 12, 2008 9:35 pm
PERSPECTIVE The Master was in a mellow mood and the disciples were inquisitive. Did he ever feel depressed? they asked. He did. Wasn't it also true that he was...
618
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Jun 14, 2008 12:03 am
CHANGE The visiting historian was disposed to be argumentative. "Do not our efforts change the course of human history?" he demanded. "Oh yes, they do," said...
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Jun 15, 2008 3:31 am
RECOGNITION As the Master grew old and infirm, the disciples begged him not to die. Said the Master, "If I did not go, how would you ever see?" "What is it we...