"Of course in a dictionary, enlightenment will mean one thing and spring of life will mean something else.

"But here we are not discussing linguistics. And the people who have been writing dictionaries, analyzing language and grammar, are not the people of the path. So the first thing: always remember whether the question is arising from some experiential source or not. If it is not arising from experience, then it is not worth discussing.

"Carol, a newlywed, brags that her Romeo is a model husband. We looked up the word model in the dictionary, and found it means 'a small imitation of the real thing.'

"It has been heard that the pope died but was allowed to return to earth to speak to the cardinals. They gathered around him eagerly.

"'What is he like?' they clamored. 'Is he very old, with a long, white beard, like in all the paintings? Tell us, describe him.'

"'Well,' said the pope, 'to start with, she is black.'

"Knowing is one thing; knowing directly and knowing through books are so different. Sometimes they may appear to be similar, but they are not similar.

"I cannot answer your question in terms of intellect, but I can answer it in terms of existential experience.

"The spring of life and enlightenment are not the same, although they are deeply related. The spring of life, when it becomes aware of itself, brings you to the experience of enlightenment. In other words, spring of life plus awareness is equal to enlightenment.

"The spring of life is available to everybody; otherwise how can you live? Your life is continuously being nourished by the spring of life. The trees are nourished by the spring of life, the flowers blossom…but the juice comes from the spring of life. The whole existence is nothing but a manifestation of the springs of life.

"But trees cannot become enlightened – neither can mountains or oceans; neither can animals or birds. They all have the same source of life that you have. But man has a prerogative, a privilege, that he can become aware of his spring of life. This awareness is not possible in any other form in existence. It is man's grandeur, it is his dignity."