Nobody can stop you. Nobody's will will be of any help to you. Rather, on the contrary, it can be destructive. Somebody stops you too much; then you start going against it, you react. The upward flow cannot be forced by anybody. And this is a very subtle and delicate phenomenon to be understood: if people try too much to make you good, make efforts all around you, they will force you downwards because your ego will feel a resistance.
This is very delicate, because those who want to help you towards the height cannot force you, they can only persuade you. This is all that I am doing.
Even sometimes I see that this can be stopped, but I cannot stop it. I see that you are taking a step downwards and I can talk to you, I can make you aware. I can say, "Stop and this will do much," but that cannot be said because if I say too much, then I will help you to go downwards. You will take the step even sooner — because your ego will come in. I can only persuade you. I can divert your mind. I can give you a plaything to play with so that you forget that you were going to take a step there — your mind is diverted. But I cannot say, "No, don't take that step." If I say, "No," it is almost certain that you will take that step.This is the problem.
A master has to persuade you. And this has become more and more difficult in the modern world. In the old days it was easier because people were taught to be obedient, now they are taught to be rebellious.
In the old days people were taught to be disciplined, now they are taught to be undisciplined. Now to be undisciplined is something very meaningful; now to be disciplined is just to be part of the establishment. To be disciplined is to be square, to be undisciplined is to be a revolutionary.
In the old days it was simple because the master could have said, "No," and he could have relied on it that the no would do. A simple no can save you many lives of unnecessary struggle. But now it is impossible, now it is difficult. You have to be persuaded in such an indirect way that you never feel that you are being persuaded. You have to be diverted in such a subtle way that you don't become aware that you are being led somewhere. Even if you become aware that somebody is guiding you, you resist — and then you will do just the opposite.
This creates a very new phenomenon in the world, this is something new in the modern age. That's why to achieve the ultimate has become more and more difficult — unnecessary wastage of energy. I can see, I am seeing, that you are taking a step in the dark, that you will fall down, you will be crippled, but even then I cannot say, "Don't take that step," because you won't listen. And if I say no you will feel more attracted towards it.
OSHO
