Buddha was to give a special talk one day, and thousands of followers had come from miles around. When Buddha appeared he was holding a flower. Time passed, but Buddha said nothing. He just looked at the flower. The crowd grew restless, but Mahakashyap, who could restrain himself no longer, laughed.
Buddha beckoned him over, handed him the flower, and said to the crowd, "I have the eye of the true teaching. All that can be given with words I have given to you; but with this flower, I give to Mahakashyap the key to this teaching."
To all teachings, not only for a Buddha but for all masters-Jesus, Mahavira, Lao Tzu-the key cannot be given through verbal communication, the key cannot be delivered through the mind. Nothing can be said about it. The more you say the more difficult it becomes to deliver, because a buddha and you live in such different dimensions-not only different but diametrically opposite-that whatsoever a buddha says will be misunderstood.
I have heard that one evening three slightly deaf women met on the road.
The day was very windy, so one woman said, "Windy, isn't it?"
The other said, "Wednesday? No, it's Thursday."
And the third said, "Thirsty? I am also, so let's go to the restaurant and have a cup of tea."
This is what happens when a buddha says something to you. He says, "Windy..." You say, "Wednesday? No, it's Thursday."
The physical ear is okay, the spiritual ear is missing.
A buddha can talk only to another buddha, this is the problem, and with another buddha there is no need to talk.
Buddha has to talk with those who are not enlightened. With them exists the need to talk and communicate, but then communication is impossible.
[From A Bird on the Wing , #10]-- OSHO
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