Truth seems to be so bare, truth seems to be so dry, there seems to be no urge to seek it. Happiness seems worthwhile, and if I insist, “Seek truth and happiness will be the byproduct,” you may even agree to seek truth, because the byproduct, happiness, will be there. But you are still seeking happiness. If you come to know that to seek happiness, truth has to be sought, you may start seeking truth, but you are not seeking truth: your mind remains focused on happiness. That focusing is wrong.

Only when you are a truth-seeker do you come near Jesus, Buddha, Zarathustra; otherwise you never come near. For any other reason you are near physically; spiritually, you are very, very far away, vast spaces exist.

Now look at this saying of Jesus:

Jesus said to his disciples:
Make a comparison to me and tell me whom I am like.

Why has Jesus asked this question? Is he not aware who he is? Is it to be known through the disciples who he is? Why does he want to know through the disciples who he is? – because whatsoever they say will show why they are near Jesus. You create the image of your master according to your desire. If you are near Jesus because you are ill, Jesus will be the healer. You look through your desire, you project your desire. If you are there to seek power, then Jesus is the omnipotent, the most powerful, because only when he is the most powerful can he give it to you. If you are seeking immortality, if you are seeking a state of deathlessness, if you are afraid of death, then the image of Jesus will reflect your search.

Why did Jesus ask his disciples, “Tell me who I am”? He asked just to know what they are projecting. If you project anything you will miss, because to know Jesus or Buddha, nonprojecting eyes are needed. You should not project anything, you should simply look at the fact. Jesus is a fact, the most vital fact that is possible in the world. Look at him directly, immediately. Don’t bring your desire in between. Don’t make a screen of Jesus; otherwise, you will see but you will see your own desire reflected.

Jesus said to his disciples: Make a comparison to me and tell me whom I am like.

Simon Peter said to him: Thou art like a righteous angel.

This man must have been a moralist, a puritan. This man must have been guilty of his immorality, because whatsoever you say about others never shows anything about others, it simply shows something about you. Whatsoever you judge is not a judgment about others, it is a judgment about you.

Jesus says again and again, “Judge ye not!” because all your judgments are going to be wrong: you will be there. A thief is a sinner for you. Why? – because you are so attached to your private property. It doesn’t show anything about the thief, it simply shows your possessiveness.