Try to understand – but all the religions have corrupted your minds, because they have not taught you how to watch, how to understand; instead they have given you conclusions that anger is bad. And the moment you condemn something, you have already taken a certain position of judgment. You have judged. Now you cannot be aware. Awareness needs a state of no-judgment. And all the religions have been teaching people judgments: this is good, this is bad, this is sin, this is virtue. This is the whole crap that for centuries man’s mind has been loaded with. So, with everything – the moment you see it – there is immediately a judgment about it within you. You cannot simply see it; you cannot be just a mirror without saying anything.

Understanding arises by becoming a mirror, a mirror of all that goes on in the mind.

There is a beautiful story – not just a story but an actual historical fact.

One disciple of Gautam Buddha was going on a journey to spread his message. He had come to see Gautam Buddha and to get his blessings, and to ask if there was any last message, any last words to be said to him.

And Gautam Buddha said, “Just remember one thing: while walking, keep your gaze just four feet ahead, looking four feet ahead of you.”

Since that day, for twenty-five centuries, Buddhist monks have walked in the same way. That was a strategy to keep you from seeing women in particular. Those disciples were monks. They had taken the vow of celibacy.

Ananda, another of Gautam Buddha’s disciples, could not understand what the matter was, why the monk should keep his eyes always focused four feet ahead. He inquired, “I want to know what is the matter?”

Buddha said, “That’s how he will avoid looking at a woman, at least a woman’s face – at the most he will see her feet.”

But Ananda said, “There may be situations when a woman is in a danger. For example, she has fallen into a well and is shouting for help. What is your disciple supposed to do? He will have to see her face, her body.”

Buddha said, “In special situations he is allowed to see her, but it is not the rule, it is only the exception.”

Ananda said, “What about touching? – because there may be situations when a woman has fallen on the road. What is your disciple supposed to do? Should he help her to get up or not? Or an old woman wants to cross the road – what is your disciple supposed to do?”

Buddha said, “As an exception – but remember it is not a rule – he can touch the woman with one condition, and if he cannot fulfill the condition he is not allowed the exceptions. The condition is that he should remain just a mirror; he should not take any judgment, any attitude. The woman is beautiful – that is a judgment. The woman is fair – that is a judgment. He should remain a mirror, then he is allowed the exceptions. Otherwise, let the woman drown in the well – somebody else will save her. You save yourself!”