– What kind of demons have been let loose upon humanity? – enquired the disciple.
– Why, do you feel there are demons? Of course, you know the answer yourself: things exist for you only if you believe in them. It is also said that whatever you cannot form an emotional bond with does not exist for you at all…
– Well then, is man homo sapiens or homo emotionalis? – his voice had a demanding ring.
– A blend of the two, but more an emotional being, we are agreed. To return to the demons, let me remind you of the pretas. These are the corpse-demons of the Tibetan tradition. They can be recognised above all by their feet, which point backwards. Think: what tracks do they leave behind them? If you had to search out their tracks…
– I am trying to picture it, but the images get jumbled in my mind.
– Yes, the tracks line up one after another, and they plainly go forwards, and yet it is as if they were moving backwards. Confusing, but such is illusion. Indeed, man today seems to be like this too: he goes forwards, and all the while it is as if he were moving backwards, though one fears it is not to the source that he is finding his way back.
– And why is their name so terrible: corpse-demon?
– A demon arouses fear. Death arouses fear too. In other words, death is – a demon. And who would wish to whirl as a skeleton in the frenzied ring-dance of damnation? But this is illusion – there is no passing away. And so there are no corpse-demons either. Or rather, there are after all – sometimes a living soul gets caught in such a terrible form of existence. It is a trap.
– And how can it be avoided?
– No need to fall into it… But if it has already happened, well, it has happened: redemption is the demon's worry. But you can avoid it. If you put on a black cloak, it wards off evil spirits, and a white shirt blesses you with peace of soul. Black and white…
– Is there no need for any other colour?
– Red gives power over others, and yellow brings abundance. But against demons – well, dispelling illusion works best. They breed in the shadows. Dispel the thin film of illusion, and they cease to exist. With the loss of illusion, fear ceases, but so does the attraction to matter. Dispel the illusion, the magic ceases…
– But then you are no longer speaking only of demons, am I right?
– You are. But whether you struggle with demons or with others, you must know that there are four known means to victory. The first is compromise. The best battle is the one that never even begins. If agreement cannot be reached, then the opponent must be won over. In most cases a gift helps – this is not bribery, but winning the other side's goodwill. If even this is not possible, then try to divide his attention. If you can sow doubt in him, or distract him, you have already won. But if even this is not possible, then nothing remains but the use of force, be it punishment or open combat. But the deed is thought's flawed product…
– Let me put the question once more: are there demons, then, or are there not?
– Both yes and no. Violence, intoxication, the desire for altered consciousness are all demons let loose upon man. A ghost is not only a knocking spirit dressed in a white sheet, but also a will-o'-the-wisp that lures man with promises of every good thing, and then makes him a slave. Drink, narcotics, addictions – we know them. But the outer demons are dwarfed by the inner ones: fear, panic, horror, or, most dangerous of all, malice.
– And if I crumple my fears into paper balls and throw them away?
– Not a bad solution. As I said, they breed in the gloom. Create light, and they vanish. Things must be seen in their true colours, just as they are. And demons there are none. There are none even if they exist.