Never Born, Never Died

OUR BELOVED MASTER, Yakusan asked a monk, “Where do you come from?” “From Nansen,” was the reply. “How long were you there?” Yakusan continued. “From last winter to summer,” replied the monk. “Then you must have become a good ox,” commented Yakusan. The monk said, “The thing is, I was there, but I didn't even go to the dining hall.” “But you cannot get by just through breathing the wind!” Yakusan commented. “It was not that bad, Osho,” said the monk. “There is surely a man who will hold a spoon for me.” On another occasion, Yakusan was returning to his temple with a bundle of firewood when a monk asked him, “Where have you been?” Yakusan replied, “I've got firewood.” The monk pointed to Yakusan's sword and said, “It makes the sound ‘tap-tap.' What in the world is it?” At this the master unsheathed the sword and assumed a warrior's stance.

Luke 24 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them: “Peace be unto you.” 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them: “Why are ye troubled? And why do thoughts arise in your hearts?” 39 “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” 40 And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them: “Have ye here any meat?” 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycombe. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. 46 And said unto them: “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” 47 “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” 48 “And ye are witnesses of these things.”

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Matthew 27 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them, and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lamasabachthani?” That is to say: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that said: “This man calleth for Elias.” 48 And straightway one of them ran and took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said: “Let be. Let us see whether Elias will come to save him.” 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

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Matthew 26 47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: “Whomever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.” 49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said: “Hail, Master;” and kissed him. 55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes: “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.” 56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Matthew 27 1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate, the governor. 11 And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, saying: “Art thou the king of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him: “Thou sayest.” 12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13 Then said Pilate unto him: “Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?” 14 And he answered to him never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

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Matthew 26 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples: “Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them: “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death. Tarry ye here, and watch with me.” 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter: “What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” 41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying: “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.” 43 And he came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them: “Sleep on now, and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” 46 “Rise, let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” We are the hollow men We are the stuffed men Leaning together Headpiece filled with straw. Alas! Our dried voices, when We whisper together Are quiet and meaningless As wind in dry grass Or rats' feet over broken glass In our dry cellar Shape without form, shade without color, Paralyzed force, gesture without motion; Those who have crossed With direct eyes, to death's other Kingdom Remember us – if at all – not as lost Violent souls, but only As the hollow men The stuffed men.

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John 13 2 And supper being ended, 5 He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter, and Peter saith unto him: “Lord, dost thou wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said unto him: “What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter.” 8 Peter saith unto him: “Thou shalt never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him: “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them: “Know ye what I have done to you?” 13 “Ye call me Master and Lord, and ye say well; for so I am.” 14 “If I then, your lord and master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet.” 15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said: “Verily, verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.” 27 Then said Jesus unto him: “That thou doest, do quickly.” 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 31 Therefore, when Judas was gone out, Jesus said: “Now is the son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” 34 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” 35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

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John 13 1 Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. Matthew 26 17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him: “Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the Passover?” 18 And he said: “Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him: ‘The master saith, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples.”' 19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the Passover. Luke 22 14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him. 15 And he said unto them: “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer:” 16 “For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said: “Take this, and divide it among yourselves:” 18 “For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God shall come.” 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying: “This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying: “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

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John 7 25 Then said some of them of Jerusalem… 27 “Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is?” 28 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, “Both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.” 29 “But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.” 30 Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. 31 And many of the people believed on him, and said, “When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?” 32 The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him. 33 Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me…” 37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”

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Matthew 22 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law” 37 Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” 38 “This is the first and great commandment.” 39 “And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 40 “On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

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Matthew 21 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves. 13 And said unto them, “It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” 23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?” 34 And Jesus answered and said unto them… 25 “A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.'” 29 “He answered and said, ‘I will not': but afterward he repented, and went.” 30 “And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir': and went not.” 31 “Whether of them twain did the will of his father?” They say unto him, “The first.” Jesus saith unto them, “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you.” 32 And when the chief priests and the Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 33 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

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Matthew 16 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Phillipi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that I, the son of man, am?” 14 And they said, “Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.” 15 He saith unto them, “But whom say ye that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven.” 18 “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

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Matthew 13 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, “Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” 55 “Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” 56 “And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?” 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, “A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.” Matthew 14 22 …Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side… 23 And…he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” 29 And he said, “Come.” And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me.” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

LUKE 18 18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said unto him, “Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God.” 20 “Thou knowest the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother.” 21 And he said, “All these have I kept from my youth up.” 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, “Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.” 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, “How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the Kingdom of God!” 25 “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.” 26 And they that heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” 27 And he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

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Matthew 13 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, “Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 He answered and said unto them, “He that soweth the good seed is the son of man;” 38 “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” 39 “The enemy that sowed them is the Devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.” 40 “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” 41 “The son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and which do iniquity.” 42 “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 43 “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father. Who have ears to hear, let him hear.” 44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

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Matthew 13 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” 11 He answered and said unto them, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” 12 “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” 18 “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.” 19 “When anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.” 20 “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;” 21 “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” 22 “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” 23 “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty.”

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Matthew 12 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.” 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, “Who is my mother? And who are my brethren?” 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold my mother and my brethren!” 50 “For whomsoever shall do the will of my father that is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Luke 14 25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” 26 “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

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Luke 10 1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. 2 Therefore said he unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.” 3 “Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs amongst the wolves.” 4 “Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” 5 “And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.'” 6 “And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.” 16 “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.” 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.” 18 And he said unto them… 20 “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” 21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” 22 “All things are delivered to me of my father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the son will reveal him.”

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Matthew 9 14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?” 15 Jesus said unto them, “Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” 16 “No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.” 17 “Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.”

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Luke 9 57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, “Lord, I will follow thee whitherever thou goest.” 58 And Jesus said unto him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” 59 And he said unto another, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father”. 60 And Jesus said unto him, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at my house.” 62 And Jesus said unto him, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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Matthew 9 9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, “Follow me.” And he arose, and followed him. 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, “Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?” 12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” 13 “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 9 23 And he said to them all, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” 24 “For whoever will save his life shall lose it: but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” 25 “For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”

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Matthew 4 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

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Matthew 3 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 11 “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” 13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbade him, saying, ”I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?“ 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. 17 And lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

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John 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 3 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. 16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

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