Something I read on the web...
Somebody asked Voltaire about the origin of religion, and Voltaire is reported to have said, ”Religion
was born when the first charlatan met the first fool on the earth.” In the encounter of the charlatan
and the fool, religion was born. This has an element of truth in it. It is true in a sense, but it is true
not about religion, but about pseudo-religion.
Religion is born, not between a charlatan and a fool – pseudo-religions are born that way – religion
is born between a master and a disciple. Religion is born between a being who has attained and a
being who is authentically in search to attain it. Religion is born between truth and a disciple.
But the first part of humanity remains completely unaware, blissfully unaware, because when there
is no inquiry, no search, they live a comfortable life of no effort. They go on falling down. They never
rise high, they never reach the peaks. And they don’t know. They not only don’t know, they never
dream that there are peaks of experience, heights of ecstasies.
They remain almost like animals: eating, sleeping – and confined to such things. A life of routine,
moving like a wheel; they are born, they live, they give birth to others, and they die. And the wheel
goes on moving: they are born again, the same thing is repeated again and again, ad nauseam.
Then there is the second part of humanity: a few, who inquire. But they don’t know how to learn.
They search, but they don’t understand that this search needs an inner transformation, only then it
becomes possible. An inner mutation is needed.
In this dimension, learning is not like other learnings. You can learn chemistry, physics, mathematics,
without any change in your consciousness. There is no need to change your consciousness; as you
are, you can learn. But religion is a learning in which a basic requirement is: First change your
consciousness.
Even before the learning starts you have to be prepared for it. A long preparation is needed,
otherwise learning cannot start.
