When the Shoe Fits - Oshorajneesh.com

16 October 1974 am in Buddha Hall
CHAPTER 6
Symphony For A Seabird
YOU CANNOT PUT A BIG LOAD IN A SMALL BAG, NOR CAN YOU, WITH A SHORT ROPE,
DRAW WATER FROM A DEEP WELL.
HAVE YOU NOT HEARD HOW A BIRD FROM THE SEA WAS BLOWN INSHORE AND LANDED
OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL OF LU?
THE PRINCE ORDERED A SOLEMN RECEPTION, OFFERED THE SEA BIRD WINE IN THE
SACRED PRECINCT, CALLED FOR MUSICIANS TO PLAY THE COMPOSITIONS OF SHUN,
SLAUGHTERED CATTLE TO NOURISH IT. DAZED WITH SYMPHONIES, THE UNHAPPY SEA
BIRD DIED OF DESPAIR.
HOW SHOULD YOU TREAT A BIRD? AS YOURSELF, OR AS A BIRD? OUGHT NOT A BIRD
TO NEST IN DEEP WOODLAND OR FLY OVER MEADOW AND MARSH? OUGHT IT NOT TO
SWIM ON RIVER AND POND, FEED ON EELS AND FISH, FLY IN FORMATION WITH OTHER
WATERFOWL, AND REST IN, THE REEDS?
BAD ENOUGH FOR A SEA BIRD TO BE SURROUNDED BY MEN AND FRIGHTENED BY THEIR
VOICES! THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH! THEY KILLED IT WITH MUSIC!
WATER IS FOR FISH, AND AIR FOR MEN. NATURES DIFFER, AND NEEDS WITH THEM.
HENCE THE WISE MEN OF OLD DID NOT LAY DOWN ONE MEASURE FOR ALL.
There is no human nature as such – there are human natures. Each individual is a universe unto
himself, you cannot make any general rules. All general rules go false. This has to be remembered
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