A negro went to a church one morning and requested the priest of the church to allow him to enter. But how can a man with black skin enter into a church of people with white skin? These people who talk about the inner also see the color of the skin. These people who talk of God also see whether a man is a brahmin or a sudra. The priest of the church said, "Friend, what will you do, coming inside the church? As long as your mind is not pure and peaceful, what can you do by coming into the church?"
Because the times have changed, the priest has changed his language also. Before he used to say, "Go away, nigger. How can you enter here?" He has changed his language, but his heart has not changed; even now he does not allow the black man in. But he did not say, "You are a sudra and therefore impious, so go away!" He said, "Friend, what will you do by coming in? How will you know God till your mind is pure and peaceful? So first go and purify your mind."
But he had not said such a thing to any people with white skin... as if they had all attained peace of mind. The simple negro went away. The priest must have laughed within. He may have thought that now the negro will not come back, because he cannot purify his mind. In fact, the black man did not come back, not because his mind could not become peaceful, but because his mind had become peaceful.
Many days passed by... about a year passed. Then one day the priest saw that black man passing near the church. He had become a different man altogether. In his eyes there was some light of the other world. Around him it was as if there was an aura of peace and music. The priest thought perhaps he was coming into the church. He was a little afraid too, but his fear was baseless; the negro did not even look at the church but went on straight ahead.
Then the priest ran after him and stopping him, asked, "Friend, you did not come back again?"
The negro laughed and said, "My friend and guide, I thank you very much. I have passed the whole year according to your advice. I was expecting to become peaceful so that I could come into the church. But last night in my dream I saw God, who told me, 'You madman! Why did you want go to that church to meet me? For the last ten years I myself have been trying to enter the church, but the priest does not allow me to do so. Where I have not been able to enter, it is impossible that you will be allowed!'"
Because the times have changed, the priest has changed his language also. Before he used to say, "Go away, nigger. How can you enter here?" He has changed his language, but his heart has not changed; even now he does not allow the black man in. But he did not say, "You are a sudra and therefore impious, so go away!" He said, "Friend, what will you do by coming in? How will you know God till your mind is pure and peaceful? So first go and purify your mind."
But he had not said such a thing to any people with white skin... as if they had all attained peace of mind. The simple negro went away. The priest must have laughed within. He may have thought that now the negro will not come back, because he cannot purify his mind. In fact, the black man did not come back, not because his mind could not become peaceful, but because his mind had become peaceful.
Many days passed by... about a year passed. Then one day the priest saw that black man passing near the church. He had become a different man altogether. In his eyes there was some light of the other world. Around him it was as if there was an aura of peace and music. The priest thought perhaps he was coming into the church. He was a little afraid too, but his fear was baseless; the negro did not even look at the church but went on straight ahead.
Then the priest ran after him and stopping him, asked, "Friend, you did not come back again?"
The negro laughed and said, "My friend and guide, I thank you very much. I have passed the whole year according to your advice. I was expecting to become peaceful so that I could come into the church. But last night in my dream I saw God, who told me, 'You madman! Why did you want go to that church to meet me? For the last ten years I myself have been trying to enter the church, but the priest does not allow me to do so. Where I have not been able to enter, it is impossible that you will be allowed!'"
I can tell you that God has not only not been able to enter that church, he has not been able to enter any church or temple -- because churches and temples built by men have not been bigger than man; these temples are so small that there is no place for God in them. In reality, those whose minds are themselves not temples can build only meaningless temples. Those who have not found him within cannot find him on the outside.