A religion without sins and virtues, a religion with no condemnation, no appreciation.
A simple religion that transforms each moment into a glory, into a gratitude, into a prayer.
I have not said anything to you, although I have been speaking for thirty-five years continuously. And as long as I live – or even a few minutes afterwards – I am going to speak. If I see the moment when there is still an opportunity for someone to be involved in the universal madness, I can even speak after my death, it doesn’t matter. Death can wait a few moments. I have been keeping it waiting for thirty-five years, so there is no problem. A few minutes more….
As far as I understand, thirty-five years is such a long time that death itself may have forgotten. It has to take care of so many people – a file that has been hidden behind thirty-five years…it will take too much time for death itself to discover.
One thing is certain: whether I live or I die, my every gesture, my every word has a single purpose – to help you get rid of knowledge, to help you to become again a small child with eyes of wonder and a heart which cannot believe! – wildflowers, clouds in the sky, the sun rising and all the colors that the rising sun spreads over the horizon! This amazement is the authentic religious element, and if you can keep this amazement fresh without being covered by any experience and dust, you have attained that which was your birthright – what I have called enlightenment.
Solomon Finkelstein at his annual checkup is given a clean bill of health. “It must run in your family,” comments the doctor. “How old was your dad when he died?”
“What makes you think that he is dead?” asks Sollie. “He is ninety and going strong.”
“Aha, and how long did your grandfather, old man Finkelstein, live?”
“What makes you think that he is dead, Doc?” replies Sollie. “He is a hundred and ten years old and getting married to a twenty-two year old next week.”
“At his age?” exclaims the doctor. “Why does he want to get married to a twenty-two year old?”
“Doc,” says Sollie, “what makes you think he wants to? He has to!”
Grandma Schaeferstein is a feisty old bird. So when she gets admitted to the old people’s home, she is constantly in trouble. One morning, just for a laugh, she comes downstairs stark naked and, letting out a wild shriek, runs through the entire length of the dayroom before disappearing into the garden.
Old man Finkelstein and old man Kravitz are watching TV at the time. And Fink turns to Kravitz and says, “Who was that Mendel, making all that noise?”