There are poets, painters – famous, well-known – authors who have published much, and they may be making shoes or just working in the carpentry or doing some manual work in the garden, because one thing is absolutely clear: that your job makes no difference, your individuality is intact everywhere. Your job does not give you any higher position, it does not create any hierarchy. Everybody else is doing in his own way, wholeheartedly.

The commune can happen only in the presence of a master: otherwise, your awareness is such you will start fighting, quarreling, and your ego games will come in. That happens each time a master dies. I there is a chain of masters then it is okay, otherwise very difficult.

For example, Jesus could not create a chain; he was not given time enough. He worked only three years, from the age thirty to thirty-three. There was not enough time for him – he was crucified at thirty-three – he had no time to work.

buddha worked for forty-two years; he created a great line. He triggered many people, from Mahakashyap to Manjushree, Sariputra, Modgalyayan, Purnakashyapa…and many others became enlightened while he was alive and they carried the torch.

If a chain is created then the commune goes on living, but it is a very fragile phenomenon, very unpredictable; it may happen, it may not happen. Even if it happens, then too it cannot be a permanent phenomenon. One cannot conceive that it will go on and on forever; it can stop anywhere. The world is such a desert, and the stream that buddha’s create is such a small stream; it can be lost in the desert anywhere.

But the only true commune exists while the master is alive. I am all for that kind of commune.

But the communism that exists in Soviet Russia or China is not my cup of tea! It is really exactly the opposite of what I am trying to do here. Communism should arise spontaneously, and differences are many. For example, Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, V.I. Lenin – the communist unholy trinity – these people were talking of the dictatorship of the proletariat; that means dictatorship of the lowest.

In the commune of a buddha, in the first place there is no dictatorship, although for the outsiders it may seem that there is a dictatorship. For the outsider, if he comes here, he will think this is my dictatorship, although I never order anybody. I never have even visited the office once in these six years! I don’t know who is living where, how many people are living in the commune. I have not visited the other houses of the commune. I simply know the way to my room! I cannot find even in my own house where I live, Lao Tzu House, the rooms of other sannyasins who are living with me Vivek has been telling me that, “One day give us a surprise – come to the kitchen!” I have never been there; I really don’t know where it is. So in fact I will not be able to find it unless I am guided by somebody. I have some idea where it should be, but it is very vague.