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millions upon millions of people have died； and are dying every day。
and yet； you will be surprised if i say there is no other word in the entire human language more false than death。
there was a mystic in tibet by the name of marpa。
someone once came to him and said； 〃i have e to ask you about life and death。
〃 marpa gave a big laugh and said； 〃if you want to know about life you are most wele； because i know what life is。
as far as death is concerned； i have not had any meeting with death； i am not acquainted with it。
if you want to know death； go and ask those who are as good as dead； or those who are already dead。
i am familiar with life； i can talk about life。
i can show you what life is。
i am not familiar with death。
〃
this story is similar to the tale of darkness and light。
perhaps you may have heard it。
once darkness went to see god and implored； 〃lord； this sun of yours is out to get me。
i am exhausted。
he starts chasing me at dawn and only after much trouble leaves me alone in the evening。
what wrong have i done？ what kind of enmity is this？ why is this sun following me and harassing me？ i barely manage to rest after a hectic day when once again i find him standing at my door at dawn。
again i have to run for my life； again i have to escape …… this has been going on since eternity。
i have run out of patience。
i cant take it any more。
i beg you； please make him understand。
〃
it is said that god called the sun and said； 〃why are you after darkness？ what wrong has he done you？ why the enmity？ what grievance do you have against him？〃
〃darkness？〃 asked the sun。
〃i have been wandering the universe since time immemorial； but i have never e across darkness。
i dont know who darkness is。
where is he？ please bring him before me so that i may ask his forgiveness； e to know him； and stay out of his way。
〃
infinite time has passed since this incident took place。
the matter is still pending in gods files； he has still not been able to bring darkness before the sun。
he never can； and this matter is never going to be resolved。
how can you bring darkness before the sun？ darkness has no positive existence of its own at all。
darkness is merely the absence of light。
how can the absence of the sun be brought into the presence of the sun？ no； darkness can never be brought before the sun。
it is even difficult to bring darkness before a little lamp； let alone the sun； which is so vast。
it is difficult for darkness to penetrate the radius of light around a lamp； it is difficult for darkness to have an encounter with a lamp。
how can darkness be where there is light？ how can death be where there is life？ either there is no life at all； or else there is no death。
both cannot be true together。
we are alive； but we dont know what life is。
and this ignorance makes us believe in the certainty of death。
ignorance is death。
the ignorance of life itself bees the phenomenon of death。
if； god willing； we could e to know the life that is within； a single ray of that knowing would destroy forever this ignorance that one can die； or that one has died at some time in the past； or that one will die at some time in the future。
we dont know the light that we are； and we bee scared of the darkness that we are not。
we fail to bee acquainted with the light that is our vital energy； our life； our existence； and we are frightened of the darkness that we are not。
man is not mortal； he is immortal。
the whole of life is immortal； but we never look at the immortality。
we never search in the direction of life； we dont even take one step towards it。
and since we remain unfamiliar with life； we seem frightened of death。
so the question is not one of life and death； the question is only of life。
i have been asked to speak on life and death； but this is impossible。
the question is only of life； there is nothing like death at all。
when one knows what life is； only then does life exist； but when life remains unknown there is only death。
as a problem； life and death do not both exist simultaneously。
either we know we are life； then there is no death …… or we do not know we are life； and in that case death alone is； there is no life。
they dont both exist together …… they cant。
but we are all afraid of death。
the fear itself shows we are unfamiliar with death。
the fear of death has only one meaning； unfamiliarity with life。
and the fact is； life is flowing within us every moment。
it is flowing in every breath； in every particle； all around； within and without …… and yet it is unknown to us？ this can mean only one thing； that man is in a deep sleep。
only in sleep is it possible a man could remain unfamiliar with who he is。
it boils down to the fact that man is deeply unconscious。
it can only mean that the whole vital energy of man is not conscious； not awake。
when a man is asleep he doesnt know who he is； what he is； where he is from …… everything is lost in the darkness of sleep。
he does not even know whether he exists or not。
he bees aware of his sleep only after waking up； only then he es to know that he has been asleep。
in sleep a man doesnt know he is asleep。
when he was not asleep he knew he was about to sleep。
and as long as he was awake he knew he was still awake and not asleep。
but as soon as he falls asleep he doesnt know he is asleep； because if he were to notice that he is asleep then that would mean he is still awake； not asleep。
when a man is no longer asleep； only then does he know he was asleep before。
in sleep one doesnt know whether one really is or not。
obviously； man has no idea whether he is or not； or who he is。
this can only mean one thing； that some deep spiritual hypnotic sleep is surrounding him。
thats why he doesnt know life itself； what life is。
but we wont accept this。
well say； 〃we know very well what life is。
we breathe； we walk； we rise； we sit； we sleep。
〃 a drunkard also walks； breathes； moves； talks； and so does a madman。
but that does not prove the drunkard is in his right senses or that the madman is conscious。
once； while a royal procession was passing； a man stood in the main square and began throwing stones and shouting abuse at the emperor。
it was； after all； a royal pageant； so the man was immediately arrested and thrown into prison。
but while the man was hurling stones and abuse at the emperor； the emperor himself was laughing。
his soldiers were puzzled。
his prime minister asked。
〃why do you laugh； my lord？〃
the emperor replied； 〃as far as i can see； the man doesnt know what he is doing。
i believe he is drunk。
nevertheless； bring him before me tomorrow morning。
〃
next morning the man was brought before the emperor。
the king asked； 〃why did you shout abuse at me？ why did you swear at me yesterday？ what was the reason？〃
the man said； 〃me？ swearing at you？ no； your majesty； i must not have been myself； thats why i must have said such things。
i was drunk； i was unconscious； i wasnt there。
i have no idea what i said。
〃
we too exist as if we are not。
w