I have been asking the pope, with respect and love, for a public discussion about the fundamentals of religion. He is such a coward that he is not willing. Here, just as an example, the archbishop of this beautiful island phoned the owner of the house, who is my host, saying, “If you are not going to throw him out from your house, we are going to burn it.” You can see the love – Christian love.

I am not doing any harm to anybody, and if he feels I am wrong, he is invited and welcome to have an open discussion about anything that he thinks I am wrong about. Why burn the poor house? – I will be gone within a few days, and the house is beautiful.

But I have informed the archbishop, “If you are going to burn it…at least if you cannot be Christian just be a gentleman: inform me so I can be inside and you can burn me too. That will be a proof of your love.”

Talking is one thing.

Living is totally another.

You recently took away God and religion from your sannyasins. Will you also take away yourself, their beloved master and friend, from them?

I cannot do that because it is not in my hands; otherwise I would have done it. If they love me, if they feel a deep synchronicity with me…you should ask them because it is in their hands.

As far as I am concerned, whatsoever was unnecessary, whatsoever was organizational I have taken away. That was within my hands. Love is not in my hands; I am in the hands of love. I cannot take it away.

But my people are perfectly free to take their love whenever they feel. My love will remain the same towards them because it is unconditional; it has nothing to do with whether they love me or not. I will continue to love them.

I cannot – just forgive me – I cannot accept your idea. Love is the only thing that has remained between me and my people, and that should be the only thing that should remain amongst people. Everything else can be dropped, but not love – because love is God, love is religion.

Love is my whole way of life, and they have accepted love as their way of life too. But they are absolutely free…because love gives freedom. It is not a bondage that I can take away; it is their freedom, and I cannot take away their freedom. I do not possess anybody.

Love is not possessiveness.

Love is pure freedom to the other person to be himself.

How can I take it away? It is impossible.

Questions from the “Orange Connection”, Germany.

Is it possible to grow without having a master?