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i was drunk； i was unconscious； i wasnt there。
i have no idea what i said。
〃
we too exist as if we are not。
we walk and talk and love and hate； wage war …… all in sleep。
if anyone from a distant planet were to watch us； he would think the entire human race is behaving as one behaves in sleep； in a state of unconsciousness。
in the last three thousand years man has fought fifteen thousand wars。
this shows the human race is not awake。
from birth to death it is one long story of anxiety； misery； pain and death。
man doesnt find a single moment of bliss； a single spot of joy in his life。
he remains pletely ignorant of what joy is。
life passes and he has not a single glimpse of joy。
obviously； one cannot say man is living in awareness。
misery； pain； anxiety； sadness and insanity make up our lives； but we never notice it because people around us are also as asleep as we are。
once in a while； when an awakened one takes birth； we who are asleep bee so angry at this awakened person that we immediately kill him。
we dont tolerate him for long。
the reason we give for crucifying jesus is 〃
。
because you are an awakened man； and that is your fault。
seeing you awake； we who are asleep feel very insulted。
for people like us who are asleep； you bee a symbol of disgrace。
you are awake； your presence disturbs our sleep。
well kill you。
〃 so we give poison to socrates； we execute mansoor。
we treat the awakened ones in the same manner the inmates of a madhouse would treat someone who is not mad。
a friend of mine once went mad。
he was put in a lunatic asylum。
in his insanity； one day； he accidentally drank a bucket of phenyl that had been left for cleaning toilets。
for fifteen days he was violently sick。
he suffered from continuous vomiting and diarrhea。
this brought about such a drastic change in his body that he became well …… as if all the excess heat were expelled from his body。
actually he was to stay in the asylum for six months； but his stay was extended for three more months even after he became well。
these three additional months in that asylum； he told me later； were worse than hell for him。
he said； 〃as long as i was mad； there was no problem； because everyone else was the same as i was。
but when i recovered； i couldnt figure out where i was。
i was fast asleep and two men jumped on me； i was going my way and someone started pushing me。
i never noticed these things before because i was mad too。
when i was mad i never could recognize that everyone around me was mad as well。
only when i came out of my madness did i realize that all those people were mad。
〃as i ceased to be mad； i became the target of everyone there。
my problem was that i knew i was quite well； but i wondered and worried what would happen to me now。
how would i get out of there？ my screaming i am not mad； was of no avail because all madmen scream they are not mad。
no doctor was ready to believe me。
〃
we are surrounded by people who are asleep； hence we dont realize we are asleep too。
we immediately kill the one who is awakened because he appears very troublesome； very disturbing to us。
a british scholar； kenneth walker； has dedicated a book of his to a mystic； gurdjieff。
the wording of his dedication is tremendous； wonderful。
he has written； 〃to george gurdjieff； the disturber of my sleep。
〃
there have been very few people in the world who have tried to break mans sleep。
but if you attempt to break anybodys sleep； he will take revenge on you。
dont ever try to waken a sleeping man； he will be at your throat。
up to now； whosoever has tried to shake man out of his spiritual sleep； we have been at his throat as well。
we dont notice it because we are all sleeping too。
i have heard： a magician once entered a city。
he threw some powder into a well and declared that whosoever would drink water from that well would go mad。
this was the only well in the city。
there was one more； but that was inside the kings palace。
by the time it was evening everyone in that city became thirsty； so even at the cost of turning mad； people drank the water。
how long could they hold out？ they were helpless。
and so by evening the entire city had gone mad。
the king and his queens were happy that they didnt have to drink the water from that well and bee mad。
his ministers were happy to be saved from madness as well。
the palace was filled with music and celebration； but by evening they realized they were wrong。
the people had surrounded the palace； they had all gone mad。
the palace guards and the soldiers of the kings army had gone mad as well。
surrounding the palace； they shouted； 〃it seems our king has gone mad。
we cannot tolerate a mad king sitting on the throne。
〃
from the tower of his palace the king saw there was no way to escape； that he was pletely surrounded by the mad crowd。
the king was terrified。
he asked his prime minister what he should do。
〃what will happen now？〃 he worriedly asked。
〃we thought we were fortunate that we had our own well。
now we have to pay very dearly for it。
〃 sooner or later； all kings have to pay dearly for owning an exclusive well。
this is true all over the world。
one who has recently bee a king will certainly find his separate well proves costly tomorrow。
owning an exclusive well is dangerous。
but； until then； the king had not realized the consequences of having his own separate well。
so he turned to the prime minister for advice。
the prime minister said； 〃now there is nothing left for which to seek advice。
just escape by the back door； drink the water of the well outside and hurry back； otherwise this palace is in grave danger。
〃
the king asked in horror； 〃you want me to drink water from that well？ you want me to go mad？〃
〃there is no other way you can save yourself except by being mad；〃 replied the prime minister。
the king and his queens rushed to the city well and drank its water。
that night a great celebration took place in the city。
the people expressed their joy； singing and dancing the whole night。
they thanked god for restoring the kings mental state； because now the king was also dancing in the crowd and shouting abuse。
mentally； the king had bee normal。
since our state of sleep is so mon； so universal； and because we have been asleep since birth； we remain unaware。
in this state of sleep what do we understand about life？ we understand only that the body itself is life and that one is unable to penetrate the body。
this kind of understanding is similar to a man mistaking the outer wall of a palace for the palace itself； or a man walking on the parapet and thinking he is in the palace； or a man sleeping； leaning on the outer wall； thinking he is resting in the palace。
one whose understanding revolves around the body is like this fool who imagines himself to be the palaces guest while standing outside its walls。
we have no access inside the body。
we live outside the body。
we are familiar only with the outer layer of the body； we never e to know its inner layers。
we dont eve