Choose the unknown

Zen says truth has nothing to do with authority, truth has nothing to do with tradition, truth has nothing to do with the past - truth is a radical, personal realization. You have to come to it.

Knowledge is certain; the search for personal knowing is very, very hazardous. Nobody can guarantee it. If you ask me if I can guarantee anything, I say I cannot guarantee you anything. I can only guarantee danger, that much is certain. I can only guarantee you a long adventure with every possibility of going astray and never reaching the goal. But one thing is certain: the very search will help you to grow.

I can guarantee only growth. Danger will be there, sacrifice will be there; you will be moving every day into the unknown, into the uncharted, and there will be no map to follow, no guide to follow. Yes, there are millions of dangers and you can go astray and you can get lost, but that is the only way one grows.

Insecurity is the only way to grow, to face danger is the only way to grow, to accept the challenge of the unknown is the only way to grow.

Going astray, you will learn something, you will become richer. You can come back and you will be happy that you went astray, because there are many things which can be learnt only by going astray. There are things which can be learnt only if you are courageous enough to make mistakes. Remember only one thing: don't make the same mistake again.

The beauty of facing life unprepared is tremendous. Then life has a newness, a youth; then life has a flow and freshness. Then life has so many surprises. And when life has so many surprises boredom never settles in you.

Remain in wonder if you want the mysteries to open up for you. Mysteries never open up for those who go on questioning. Questioners sooner or later end up in a library. Questioners sooner or later end up with scriptures, because scriptures are full of answers. And answers are dangerous, they kill your wonder.

My suggestion is that whenever you have to choose, always choose the unknown, because the known you have already lived. Never miss the unknown. Always choose the unknown and go headlong. Even if you suffer, it is worth it -- it always pays.

Laugh at yourself!

The ego can exist only if you take yourself and everything seriously.
Nothing kills the ego like playfulness, like laughter.
When you start taking life as fun, the ego has to die, it cannot exist anymore.
Ego is illness, it needs an atmosphere of sadness to exist.
Seriousness creates the sadness in you.
Sadness is a necessary soil for the ego.
Hence your saints are so serious, for the simple reason that they are the most egoistic people on the earth.
They may be trying to be humble, but they are very proud of their humbleness.
They take their humbleness very seriously.
The real saint cannot be serious.
The really religious person has to be a celebrant.
Just look around...
Look at the trees - are they serious?
Look at the birds, listen to them - are they serious?
Look at the stars, the moon, the sun - are they serious?
Existence is utterly non-serious, it goes on dancing.
It is an eternal celebration, it is a festivity!