Unfortunately there are “leftists” and their number is not small – ten percent of the whole population! Most of them have been forced to use their right hands. That’s why you don’t see so many left-handed people, because in the school the teachers force, “Write with your right hand; the right hand is right and the left hand is wrong.” And everybody makes you a laughingstock…So people start – although it is difficult for them to use their right hands, they are born leftist! – but slowly slowly, if you try, the right hand starts working. It will never be as good as that of the born “rightists.” It will always remain secondary.

But in a right-handed world, what can you do? Ninety percent of people are right-handed. Only ten percent of people are left-handed. They are in such a small minority, most of them disappear into the right-handed crowd. Very few remain left-handed their whole life. It needs a little individuality, it needs a little courage to declare, “If my left hand is active, I am not going to force the right hand upon my nature unnecessarily.” But there are very few people who will take that stand against the whole of society.

So one thing: coming too close is dangerous, and still the left hand is left out: it can carry a small knife and that may be enough to kill you. The East has found a better way. Rather than shaking hands, it puts both hands together, to show you that both hands are empty. And then there is no need to come very close. You are there, I am here, you are showing that both your hands are empty, I am showing that both my hands are empty.

Slowly slowly, in the East it took on not only a meaning of friendliness, but even a meaning of spirituality: “We are bowing down with folded hands to the God within you.” But the reality was just the opposite. It was a defense measure to make you aware that, “I am not your enemy, and I also want assurance that you are not my enemy.” But you still keep your distance! Who knows? The person may be hiding a knife in his clothes, he may not show it in his hands. And it has been happening, it is not that it has been only a fear!

Even great kings, hugging another king – as if they are in deep friendship and love – have killed. When they were hugging, they were also carrying a knife, a small knife in their hands. And it was enough – if you wound the person in the right place, you can kill him, even with a small knife. There are many cases on record. So-called great emperors and kings have behaved in such an ugly way, inviting another king as a friend and then killing him! If emperors can do that, what about ordinary people?

I am just telling you one example – there are of course many – of a defense that you use without knowing it which has just been handed down by the older generation.

My grandfather used to have a dog and he never went – wherever he went – without the dog. Even if he was going to a marriage ceremony, to a party, he would go with his dog. His dog would be sitting by his side. I would be sitting by his other side and I would say, “This looks very bad: I am reduced to the category of your dog! When you want me to come with you, at least you can leave your dog at home.”

He said, “You are too young to understand.”