“All questions at the public meeting that day were about life beyond the grave. The Master only laughed and did not give a single answer.
To his disciples, who demanded to know the reason for his evasiveness, he later said, “Have you observed that it is precisely those who do not know what to do with this life who want another life that will last forever?”
“But is there life after death or is there not?” persisted a disciple.
“Is there life before death? That is the question!” said the Master enigmatically.
Anthony de Mello
More from http://www.soulwise.net/
Anthony de Mello (1931-1987) was an Indian Jesuit priest and psychotherapist. A spiritual teacher, writer and public speaker, De Mello wrote several books on spirituality and hosted numerous spiritual retreats and conferences. He continues to be known for his storytelling, which drew from the various mystical traditions of both East and West. In most of his stories, “The Master” is deliberately framed not as a single historical figure, but as a wise teacher, demonstrating how universal wisdom transcends religious boundaries
Image: A postage stamp issued by Mongolia in 1988 depicts dune Bagshai Buddha image. Courtesy https://www.buddhiststamp.com/
Notes:
The parable of the poisoned arrow: The master’s dismissal of speculative metaphysics mirrors one of the most famous teachings in early Buddhist literature—the Cula-Malunkyovada Sutta. When asked by a disciple about abstract cosmic questions (such as whether the universe is eternal or infinite), the Buddha responded with the parable of a man struck by a poisoned arrow who refuses treatment until he learns the name, caste and background of the archer. In both instances, pragmatic urgency takes precedence over idle speculation: the immediate task is healing and living fully.
Existential awakening: The shift from worrying about posthumous existence to embracing immediate reality anticipates core tenets of existential philosophy. Thinkers across traditions have argued that anxiety over eternity is frequently a psychological defence mechanism against the radical freedom and responsibility required to live authentically in the present.