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Translated Discourses on Dariya:* Sanskrit Words Defined * 1 * 2 * 3 * 4&5 * 6 * 7 * 8 * 9 * 10 * 11

Efface: See: Know

The eighth discourse: 28th January 1979: Osho Commune International, Pune

The first question: Osho! is it not appropriate to live a life of contentment?

Devdas, there is difference between contentment and contentment. There is contentment of a dead man, a beaten man, a defeated man. It appears as contentment but is not really contentment. There are burning flames of discontentment inside, but on the outside they have done pomp and have consoled themselves; they could not win, to bear defeat is difficult. So they have whitewashed their defeat with contentment.

There is an old fable of Aesop that a fox takes a leap - a high leap - to get to a bunch of grapes; can’t reach - reach is a little short; defeated and tired it returns; but at least it has one consolation that no one has seen its defeat; just then a rabbit hiding in a nearby bush comes out and says, "Auntie, what happened? You could not get to the grapes." The fox said, "Why would I not reach it, what is beyond my reach. If I wish I can pluck stars and moon in the sky. But the grapes were sour, not worth reaching."

On one hand you have contentment like that - to assume the grapes you can’t reach as sour. By assuming them sour your ego would at least be protected. "They were not worth reaching, so even if I reached it, what could have I done with it?"

I do not call it contentment. And your so-called religious leaders have called it contentment. This is a deception of contentment, it is false and self-deception, beware of it! Because the one who is into that type of contentment would never be able to experience the ultimate contentment. The one who becomes satisfied with imitation flowers does not have the real flowers blossom in his garden. You can, then, try to console yourself all you want! You can show tremendous skill, great logic, much cleverness in consoling yourself!

Do not describe to me stories of my love affairs any more

Allow me to tell you that I never liked them in the first place

And those intoxicating eyes who totally forgot me

I never admired those intoxicating eyes in the first place

Allow me to tell you that I can still be lively today

Love may be worthless but life is not worthless

The wish to make her mine and desire to win her

Love gone sour, may be but effort to end sorrow - not really

The same lush hair, the same eyes, the same cheeks, the same body

If I want, I can get them again

Those lotus' which should have blossomed for her

Can also blossom far away from her eye-sight

Make an excuse, console yourself:

Those lotus' which should have blossomed for her

Can also blossom far away from her eye-sight

Then why are you not blossoming? Then why are you weeping? Then why are you looking back again and again? Then why this repentance?

The same lush hair, the same eyes, the same cheeks, the same body

If I want, I can get them again

Who is stopping you from wanting? Just want and get! Not really, all this is just a way to console your mind.

I am opposed to this type of contentment.

Of course, there is yet another contentment. That contentment is not one of defeated desires, it is the contentment resulting from desires understood. When you fully understand a desire, when you see it in its depth and find that in its fulfillment nothing really would fulfill; it may be fulfilled but you will remain unfulfilled; you may obtain this riches but your distress will not diminish, and you may obtain this beloved even then the desire of love will not fulfill - when your perception is that clear, when your inner understanding is that distinct and when in the mirror of your consciousness things are seen exactly the way they are, then a very different contentment grows. That contentment is not consolation, it is direct encounter with truth. It is like some one sees that he is trying to get blood out of turnips.

One contentment is when blood could not be squeezed, you started to say, "I did not really have the need for the blood; therefore, I dropped effort." And the other contentment when you carefully saw, recognized, examined, witnessed and found that turnips have no blood; you may try a million different ways, the blood will not ooze out of turnip. In that understanding, in that encounter happens a shower of contentment.

In the first type of contentment there is repression of desire, in the second type of contentment there is dropping of desire. One does not have to practice the second type of contentment, one only has to understand. One has to practice the first type of contentment. A man becomes pious with the first type of contentment, he becomes enlightened with the second type of contentment. Avoid becoming pious, do not stop short of being enlightened - that is your ultimate capability.

Contentment should come as a shadow of truth. Do not manage to somehow convince yourself, impress upon yourself; even though getting up from defeat and brushing your garments. Beware of an impotent, a weak contentment. It is this type of weak contentment that has poison the life of this country. It is this weak contentment that has enslaved the so-called religious people through out the world into spineless religions. There is neither joy in their eyes nor song in their being, nor dance in their feet - what kind of contentment is that! This contentment does not sing, this contentment does not dance, this contentment does not shower flowers - what kind of contentment is that! Spring has arrives and not a single flower blossoms - what kind of spring is that! When spring arrives, there must to be indications, there must be evidence. Yes, if a veena sounds, some dancing-bells dance, some Meera picks up her single-stringed-guitar and becomes lost in it, then it is contentment. I am in favor of a dancing contentment. I do not consider people sitting down like corpses and goofy-imbeciles as contented. They are only defeated and tired people, they are only frightened people and they do not have even so much courage ... so much backbone to say, "I am defeated, I have not been able to arrive." They explain, "Who wanted to arrive in the first place! Be defeated - me?! I can never be defeated. My victory was definite but I turned back from middle, I did not think the goal was worth attaining."

When it becomes clear in your life that every wish, every lust, every desire is bound to get beaten here - because every wish is the wish for impossible - then the shadow of that awareness, the melody of that awareness will sound within you - that is called contentment. When you will see that no matter how much wealth you accumulate, nothing is really accumulated ... even Alexander departs from this earth empty-handed ... We come empty-handed and we depart empty-handed, and in between two to fill our hands for a little while and to deceive ourselves of filling our hand is of no use ... is meaningless. The day when it would become clear to you no matter how much wealth you have outside, then poverty within is unaffected; not a single drop become available to the thirst within - an ocean rises in waves outside and a thirst rises in waves within. An ocean of water outside, an ocean of thirst within and the two never unite. It does not matter how high you reach in ranks, how tall you reach a ladder, you stay the same. Neither a flower blossoms, nor a candle lights up, nor you get your hands on Jewels-mine. The day when all the experiences of your life teach you one thing that there is nothing worth achieving here and much to run after; nothing to get while life drains in pursuit and you find nothing; the day when you are taken aback with this awareness; when your feet become arrested with that awareness, with that experiencing, with its intense feeling - not that you arrest them, not that you stop yourself, not that you take vows, "I will no more wish for wealth, and that I relinquish wealth," that is done by idiots. The one who says, "I will no more wish for wealth," is only saying that he still has attraction for wealth. The one who says, "I relinquish market place," is only saying, "there was something special in market place which I relinquish." He has not really become aware. The one who becomes aware for him there is neither anything to relinquish nor to grasp. Wherever it is, howsoever it is, it is alright. "There is neither anything to grasp nor to relinquish," with that awareness the peace that showers within is called contentment.

I only wished for you in my life

But that desire was such that it can’t be fulfilled.

The world asked for the entire universe

But I asked for a couple or three fragments of love,

Although truth rebuked me for that

I continued to have day dreams.

I only beseeched you in my life

But that desire was such that it can’t be fulfilled.

I received so many bodies which I could not manage

But could not receive your mind even when I begged,

The entire garden beamed even without being told

But the one flower I yearned for did not blossom.

I disguised in many ways to unite with you

But that desire was such that it can’t be fulfilled.

I wasn't very much like a theist

But even then I went to temple to look for you

Perhaps it may tell me your whereabouts

For that I even kissed the feet of devil.

Just to hear your voice I listened to, heaven knows what

But that desire was such that it can’t be fulfilled.

No desire is ever fulfilled here. It never has, it never will be; that is not the nature of desire. The one who becomes aware of this nature of desire - if you beseech, you will remain a beggar; if you search, you will not find; if you race, the defeat is certain - the one who has a deep experience of that becomes at home, comes to rest, the race drops, web of desire and lust automatically falls by the wayside. And in that moment of being at home, in that hour of rest every thing manifests itself - what was never imagined, what was never asked for, what was never dreamed about. Divine manifests itself, liberation manifests itself. The shadow of that liberation is contentment!

The second question: Osho, A majority of young members of the new left in Italy are increasingly becoming associated with you. Would you regard this as the progress made by the leftists or a mutilation of your experiments to right awareness?

Silvano, significant event is happening in the life of human. That significant event is the fact that all the revolutions that have happened to date have failed. Every revolution has become unsuccessful and no possibility remains that it will ever be successful. All schemes have been tried, but there is some fundamental fallacy

A revolution took place in Russia, and for a moment it appeared that the sun rose and that the darkness would never happen in the human universe. But this turned out to be only a momentary appearance. This was a false dawn, of no use, an intense darkness fell quickly - and so intense a darkness that it was not so even before the revolution. Russia fell into even a worse slavery. The ones who lost sovereignty were not so dangerous, the ones who gained sovereignty proved to be lot more dangerous. The czar of Russia, Ivan, the terrible proved to be nothing compared to Stalin. The number of people that Stalin killed ... millions ... innocent, unarmed, weak and poor ... the ones for whom the revolution happened were the ones who were slaughtered by the revolution. And a feudalism that came to Russia is worse off than czardom. Because to revolt against the czardom was possible but it is not even possible to revolt against this new feudalism. Today, the country like Russia are nothing but huge prisons on earth, and nothing else.

Revolution have been failing again and again, what was the reason? There was one reason: you would become just like the ones you would fight against. The is the basic premise due to which a revolution fails. You will have to learn the whole technique, the entire structure of how to fight from the very people you are going to fight against. Make friendship with anyone, it is not that risky, but be very thoughtful as to whom you choose as your enemy. Because enemy would change you for the worse, you would become like your enemy. If an enemy is dishonest then you would have to practice dishonesty, only then would you be able to win. If an enemy is a murderer, then you would have to become murderer, only then would you be able to win. Otherwise there is no way you can win against an enemy. That is why enemies become like one another. While fighting against czars the revolution of Lenin and Stalin did not stay revolution, it just became a part of the feudalism of czars.

I have just given you one example. This is what has happened in all revolutions.

Recently the so-called revolution by Jaiprakash Narain took place ... meaningless. He calls it 'the second revolution.' But what is the consequence of that revolution? Power has gone to the same kind of people. The reality is: it has gone to even the worse people. At least, before the revolution the power was in the hands of young people. After revolution, it has fallen in hands of corpses. Jaiprakash Narain has undoubtedly done a great revolution, those who have long been buried into graves, he exhumed them all! He donned on them Nehru jacket ... long coat etc., put on them a Gandhi-cap and handed them all the political power.

Revolutions have been losing. The reason? Revolution has to lose. That is why I am not interested in the word 'revolution.' I give you a new word: rebellion. Not revolution, rebellion.

What is the difference?

Revolution is of the mob. And whenever you revolt in the mob, you have to accept the opinions, the concepts and believes of the mob. Revolution is personal, of ones own self. You do not fight with any one, you only change yourself. Hence the enemy can’t force you into his structure.

My sannyas is a rebellion, it is not a revolution. My sannyasin makes a proclamation that the society is wrong and I will not be wrong. I will live according to my ways - come what may. If the life continues, well and good; if the life goes, well and good: but no one will make me give in. This is a personal revolution. And the ones who has intelligence in the world, they all would experience an attraction toward this personal revolution.

Therefore, Silvano, many youths from Italy's new left have taken sannyas initiation. The architect of Italy's leftist movement also has taken sannyas. This is a hot issue in Italy, because no one can even believe what is happening! The people who were expected to build bombs are doing meditations! Those who were expected to commit murders are singing songs of love. The ones who were expected to become gorillas have put on orange clothes! They are dancing, humming songs, becoming engrossed in the mysteries of sky and stars!

That is why there is also displeasure with me. Their friends can’t believe as to what has happened! But this fire will spread, because there is historical precedence for this fire. Up till now all the revolutions have failed, now there is only one hope left, perhaps rebellion might succeed! Each and every person starts to live his own life; each and every person burns all the seeds of hatred, of anger, of animosity, of jealousy within him - and that is what happens in the flames of meditation.

Why is there so much violence in this world? Because the hearts of majority of people in this world are full of violence. Why is there so much animosity, so many wars in this world? Because every person is eager to fight, to kill and be killed. Because for centuries we have been not taught to live, we have been taught to die. People say: sacrifice yourself for country; sacrifice yourself for the country's flag; sacrifice yourself for race; sacrifice yourself for your religion; sacrifice yourself for your church, for your mosque, for your temple. But no one ever tells you to live! A piece of cloth that becomes a flag - sacrifice over it! The life that is a gift from divine , waste it on rags built by man! Boundaries of country which are drawn by insane politicians - die for them! And this undivided earth which divinity has created without any boundaries - live on it not! Die for temple and mosque which are inventions of man. And this huge temple that divinity has created - in which lamps are twinkling, in which moon and sun are there, in which there is the splendor of innumerable flowers - do not live in it!

My message is: drop the language of dying, the language of dying is pathological. Learn the language of life. Live, live to your hearts content! Live with totality! Live with completeness! Because you will come closer to divine in the same proportion as the intensity of your living. Divine is the other name for life. Let your life be such a flame as if some one has lit torch at two ends simultaneously. Even if you live just for a moment, let there be such a speed in life that the moment becomes eternity.

You have been taught the language of dying. Politics only teaches the language of dying. It says: kill and be killed. Revolution also speaks the same language: kill and be killed. I am teaching rebellion. I say: neither kill, nor be killed - live and let live. You live and make arrangements for others to live. These few days, these handful of days are tremendous gift from divine, do not lose them just like that!

And if this earth begins to sing songs of living, if this earth begins to play the flute of living, then revolution would happen, the kind that has not happened till now. And no one will be able to distort it, because we are not revolting as a reaction against anyone. We are not having a battle against anyone. We are just eradicating our inner darkness, we are just chipping away rocks from within so that the life's spring may appear. And if spring begins to flow, the ocean is not far away. If the spring does not flow then it will stay a puddle even close to sea shore and if the spring flows then it can reach ocean even from far away Himalayas.

Silvano, your question is significant. You ask, "Osho, A majority of young members of the new left in Italy are increasingly becoming associated with you. Would you regard this as the progress made by the leftists or a mutilation of your experiments to right awareness?"

This is progress for the left, not a mutation of my awareness. That is my awareness. That is the awareness I wish to encourage. That is the awareness I wish to light up all over the earth. This is not a mutation. They have rightly understood my teaching. They have grasped the essence of my discussion. They have steered their vision in the proper direction. Their feet have begun a journey on a right path. Destination is not far away. They have started to sing songs of love and they have started producing the music of meditation. If you only have the two wings of love and meditation then there is nothing in this world that is impossible and can’t be fulfilled. The most impossible of all, divine even becomes available.

No, keep in mind, this is not a mutation of my awareness. They have not misunderstood me. They have understood me correctly. Their friends and colleagues will certainly find this thing incomprehensible. Their friends and colleagues have also started opposing. Letters have started to arrive to me, "Your are spoiling our friends. You are teaching escapism to the ones who were leaders of the revolution - the ones who we had hopes from will change the social set up of Italy. We had much expectations from them that they will carry our flags during struggle, demolish forts of reaction; what have you impressed on them? You have mesmerized them that they no longer discuss revolution. Now they discuss songs, now they are creating poetry. Now they are painting and sculpting.

I also can understand their friends' difficulty. But their friends do not realize. This is the real revolution. When some one creates song, a revolution happens. Because, the songs are sharper than swords. Swords kill, songs revive. Swords are destructive, songs are creative.

The young men may have a hard time understanding those new friends who joined real revolution having dropped pseudo revolution. This is quite natural, because now they neither discuss das Capital nor Marx nor Angels nor Lenin nor Mao-tse-tung nor Sartra. They are talking about a strange man of whom most of Italians have not even heard of as yet. And they are talking very incomprehensible things which has never been a part of revolution in the west. They do not even know that there is a revolution that also happens while dancing, and there is revolution that happens while creating statue. We, in the east are familiar with this kind of revolutions: the revolution that Meera did, the revolution that Chaitanya did, the revolution that Buddha did, the revolution that Krishna did by playing flute. Compared to that the west has never such a revolution. The west in that sense is immature. The west does not even know.

The state of west is so lamentable that even a person like Jesus had to grab a whip for revolution. Krishna grabbed a flute, Jesus had to grab a whip. Jesus also wished to grab a flute but who would have understood flute!

This is helplessness. This is unfortunate.

But young men from all over the world are coming to me, and this fire will spread and the sparks will travel far and wide. Hence, an amazing thing is happening. The reactionaries are against me ... if 'Morarji Desai' is against me - that I can understand. Old-fashioned, follower of ancient mythologies ... I do not even count him among living people - if he be against me, that is alight; noo, even communist party make proposals that I should not be allowed to live in India. Now that is rather startling. So, at least one thing communist party and Morarji Desai agree on - about me - that I should not be allowed to live in India. Which thing they might have this agreement on? Members of R.S.S. (United National Volunteers) make proposals that I be not allowed to stay here; members of Communist Party also make proposals that I be not allowed to stay here. So, there can be at least one connection between R.S.S. and Communist party for sure - against me. But this is really a strange thing that those who never agree on any issue would agree regarding me!

There is a reason for this agreement.

I am opposed to past as well as future. Because I believe ... those who have regarded the past as dreams that our golden age has already happened - Rama's rein - Morarji believes that Rama's reign has already happened! Devastating blazes were burning in the city of Aligarh, Hindus and Moslems were slaughtering each other - and what do you think Brother Morarji Desai doing at that time? What was the Prime-Minister of this country doing? He was resting in Ahamadabad listening to the epics of Rama. Is that why Prime-Ministers are elected?

Have you heard the story of Nero: when Rome was burning, Nero was playing flute! What is the difference in his and Morarji's behavior? Rome is burning, Brother Morarji is reading epic of Rama! Old rotten epic! In which there is nothing left to say! For ten long days Aligarh was scorching in inferno and Morarji was not even in New Delhi! Who has time to be in New Delhi! Everyone is running away from it. It is surprising how things go on in New Delhi! No work is actually accomplished. Work keeps piling up, because all the leaders are traveling on assignments. Everyone is worried about the next election. Morarji Desai is reading the epic of Rama; he thinks that the golden age has already happened in the time of Rama.

What kind of golden age was it that happened in the time of Rama? Rama personally poured molten lead in the ears of a cheatry named Shambuk since he tried to read or to listen to Vedas. What kind of Reign of Rama was that? And if that is how Rama-rajya was then the looting of Shudras, their burning, rape of their women, murder and roasting of their children in fire - all this is Rama-rajya. Rama has a testimony behind all this. What kind of a Rama's reign was that!

But there the follower of ancient epics who sees the Reign of Rama as being past; it should appear once again. And the other is the person looking toward future - a communist - who says that Utopia is in the future, Rama-rajya is yet to come. Some day it will come - a classless society! A society devoid of exploitation!

I am against both of them. Rama-rajya has neither happened in the past nor will it happen in the future. Those who know the art of living they live with Rama right here and now. And when I use the word 'Rama' I do not mean the Rama who poured molten lead in the ears of Shambuk; when I use the word Rama I do not mean Rama the son of Dashrath; when I use the word Rama I mean Allah, Ishwar (divine.) The one who knows how to live 'right now', is in Rama right now, is in Allah right now. The one who lives right now, in this moment, is the one I call sannyasin.

Therefore, both will be against me - follower of ancient epics and follower of futuristic - because I am in for the present. I say: all time-elements are false other than the present. The past is bygone and the future is not yet arrived. And whatever is, is at this very moment! The fact that you are listening to me, the fact that I am speaking to you, this moment that is present in between - the chirping of the birds, the reaching of the sun rays to you filtering through the green trees, the quiet, this sky, this synchronicity of my heart and yours - this moment right now and right here is the Rama-rajya. It is this very thing that Jesus has talked about, what he has referred to as 'the Kingdom of God.'

There is no existence of anything except the present.

Revolutions happen as revolt against past in favor of the future. Rebellion happens in favor of dropping both past and future and living in the present.

When someone sings a song, plays his pipe or provoke a tune on flute, or vibrates strings on veena or begins to dance or sits silently beneath some tree or beholds stars in the sky or the rising sun in the morning or the setting sun in the evening or birds flying in rows - totally enchanted; that is just the moment of rebellion! And the splendor of bliss at that moment; the semblance, the feeling, the experience of bliss - is the experiencing of divine. It becomes intense day-by-day; a well begins to excavate deeper and deeper, and you attain to the source of your immortality - tomorrow if not today.

The third question: What is the difference between morality and religiousness?

Morality is an empty religiousness and religiousness is real morality. Morality is negative, religiousness is creative. Morality says: do not do this, do not do that, do not do this. Religiousness says: do this, do that, do this. Morality grabs hold of frightened man, fearless man attains to religiousness. Morality is means of security, religiousness is an enquiry into insecurity. Morality says: put up a fence so that some animal may not graze onto your rose bushes. Morality keeps putting up fences. And it becomes so engrossed in putting up fences that it forgets that it has not even planted the rose flowers! Religiousness plants rose flowers, religiousness cultivates roses.

It is not essential that religiousness be with morality, but morality is always with religiousness - because the one who has rose flowers will surely put up fence. The one who is attaining to rose flowers will surely protect them. But how would one even think of roses if one has become busy only in putting up fence; one has no relationship with rose flowers.

Morality is an imposition from without and religiousness is an awakening from within. Morality is like a blind man's stick, it finds the path with much groping. Religiousness is like a man with open eyes with a lamp in his hand. He does not have to grope, he does not have to ask for directions, he can clearly see the path.

Morality comes from society, religiousness from divinity. Morality is societal instructions. That is why there are as many moralities in the world as there are societies. What is moral for you can be immoral for you neighbor. The very thing that is moral for Hindu can be immoral for Moslem. The very thing that is moral for Christian can be immoral for Jew. But, religiousness is one. Moralities are many because societies are many. But the inner soul of man is one. Religiousness is but one, religiousness can’t be divided, there is no way for religiousness to be divided. The taste of religiousness is one. Buddha has said, "It is like, no matter where you taste ocean, it has the same taste - salty, pungent - similarly you may taste religiousness from any spot, from any where, its taste is the same."

But, confusion often take place between morality and religiousness. Therefore, your question is significant. Because morality seems like religiousness. Paper flower can also look like rose flower. If you see from a distance deception is possible. And if fragrance like rose - essence of rose is sprayed on paper rose, it is possible to be deceived even in close proximity. And it is also possible that a paper flower is constructed with such skill that even rose flowers may not seem like real before it. At times an imitation can be more realistic than the real thing - it all depends on the skill engaged in imitation.

The real trusts in it being the real and therefore does not make any provision. The imitation does not have that trust, therefore it makes every provision lest an oversight may happen. It takes care of every oversight. The real may even have an oversight, an imitation would not have an oversight. Because the imitation rehearses itself, it makes preparations. Do you think when Rama's Seeta was kidnapped he might have rehearsed beforehand: "O Seeta, where are you?" He might have asked trees: "O trees, where is my Seeta gone?" He might have put pepper in his eyes to shed tears, wandered around while crying, may have asked stones and mountains: "My Seeta! my Seeta!!" Do you think he may have acted the drama? No, poor Rama did not have the opportunity. When Seeta was kidnapped he was suddenly shocked, he must have enquired without any preparations.

But the one who plays the role of Rama in Rama-Leela (deeds of Rama) comes with much practice, his words are all picked and chosen. And he has questioned the trees not just one time but a thousand times. He has asked the question in one style then the other, he has come prepared in every possible way.

If the real Rama may have to compete against the Rama's of Rama-Leela, then his defeat is certain. The real Rama will not win. And do not be surprised, if Seeta walks away with some imitation Rama. Because an imitation Rama would seem more real than the real Rama. There has to be some strength in practice.

Morality is practice, religiousness is burst of self-energy. Morality grows out of influence of societal traditions. Society decrees: do such, do so, it is right to do that. And little children are taught: it is right to do that. Those children have no understanding, there is no reason to have an understanding. They learn whatever their parents teach them ... they learn. Then for their entire life they would keep repeating the same. They would become like a gramophone records. Their condition is exactly the same as the dog seated in front of the speaker on "His Master's Voice" record label. Just the same condition. They keep repeating. Master's voice! They keep repeating whatever tricks have been taught to them. They do not even have the capacity to rethink, do not even have the courage; they are also scared of rethinking lest they lose the very foundation on which they are based! Somehow the edifice of life has been constructed, let it not be disheveled. They never ask, they never ever ask problematic questions. They sweep problematic questions under the rug.

Religiousness is not influence of traditions, it is meditativeness. With religiousness one has to dig within. It is like this: morality is like a cistern, like a cistern made with cement concrete in which water is filled from outside. There is no water of its own, it has to be poured in - water that is borrowed, stale. Then there is a well, it too has water. But the water is not borrowed, it is not stale. It has its own springs of water. Looking from the outside in, it may be confusing that cistern and well are similar, but their life energies are distinct. If you keep emptying water from cistern, it soon will be exhausted. Therefore, be a little wary of a moral man! His morality is not very deep, do not take too much out or else he will transcend his morality!

Some one slapped a Christian fakir. He offered his left cheek in front of him, because that is what Jesus has said, "If someone hits on your one cheek, offer him the other." This was a moral teaching. The fakir believed in Jesus. He was hit on his right cheek, so he offered his left. The attacker was also quite enlightened, he was not an old conservative type. He said to himself, 'why miss this opportunity?' He drew his palm with full force upon it. But then he was taken aback. As soon as the palm touched the fakir's cheek, the fakir jumped on top of him with strong hold on his neck. The man asked, "Brother! you are a fakir, what is this you are doing?" He said, "What can I do? I do not have a third cheek. And my Master has said that if someone hits you on one cheek, turn the other one also. Now there is no reference of the third one, there is no mention in the book; I am now my own master, now I shall teach you a lesson. Now you enjoy!"

Be a little wary of a moral man. His morality is very shallow. It is thinner than skin. You scratch it just a little and the real man will become exposed. Do not even scratch him, stay far away from him.

A religious person is saturated with same juice all the way to his inner core, to his inner consciousness. No action or behavior on your part can change a religious person. Even at the moment of death on crucifix, Jesus said: "God! please forgive them all, for they do not know what they are doing!"

This spring can’t happen in a cistern, this spring can only happen in a well. The source of water in well is inter-connected with ocean. Similarly, the one who lives in religiousness, his life is inter-connected with the divine ocean. You can’t exhaust him. More you dig him, deeper he gets.

And then, the function of morality is simply negating - don't do wrong. 'If you can’t plant flower, do not at least plant thorns' - that is the essence of morality.

If can’t plant flowers, at the least do not plant thorns!

Unattainable is the valley of human consciousness, human mind so weak;

Bitterness is practiced in the cool shadow of tenderness!

When flames vanish, closed eyes tend to open up,

The agitated wind of life flows quietly through clarity.

If you can’t smile in crisis, at the least do not bawl in fear

If can’t plant flowers, at the least do not plant thorns!

Trust in every dream, don the fragrance of moonlight,

Brood not, hark not - how the life has been ablaze

This is the way of the world - body suffers, mind floats

Conscious is he who could awaken from intoxicating ego of pleasure!

If you can’t awaken, at the least do not sleep on bedding.

If can’t plant flowers, at the least do not plant thorns!

Will is not strengthened by protesting every step of the way,

Intensity of misfortune does not diminish if pretend not hearing or recognizing,

Trust does not take root in the fog of doubt

Even in dark clouds its thunder of victory does not cease.

If you can’t advance on trust, at the least do not suffer the burden of breaths ;

If can’t plant flowers, at the least do not plant thorns!

Morality says to not plant thorns at least. If you can’t plant flowers, it is okay, at least do not plant thorns. But I wish to say unto you that one would have to plant thorns if one would not plant flowers. Let me repeat it one more time, because this is a very basic fundamental thing: One would have to plant thorns if one would not plant flowers. Why? Because the energy that were to become flower, if it can’t then it would become thorn. Energy does not destruct. Either you make it constructive or it becomes destructive. You write a song; if to write a song is not possible then it would become profanity. Where would the energy go? If it becomes manifested in a song it is well and good otherwise it would shower in the form of profanities. If it blossoms as flowers it is well and good otherwise it would flow in thorns. If your energy can’t become shower of love, then you would shower hot lava of hatred. You will have to shower. This is psychological reality. And even the Physics agrees to it now: that energy does not destruct, it only transforms. Some thing or the other will have to be done. If you would not laugh, you would cry. I you would not dive into meditation you will have to enter the rat race of wealth accumulation. If you would not love, you would have to hate. If you would not make friends, you would make enemies. But energy would do something.

There is such a mention in the biography of Adolf Hitler - something to think about - he wanted to become an artist. But a university declined him admission in the arts class. Alas! ... who knows if Adolf Hitler might have become an artist, the world would not have had to face the second world-war! His energy then would have flourish in colors, it would have painted rainbows, would have painted flowers, would have painted beautiful faces. But the same energy that wanted to be an artist, a creator, became blocked, became poisoned, became filled with hatred. The same energy transformed into devastation. What would have painted beautiful faces, burnt beautiful faces. What would have contributed a little beauty to the life, attempted to take away all the beauty in life. This is anger, this is revenge.

Psychologists say that there is not much difference between your politicians and your criminals. A politician is one who is more cunning and because of his cunning ... he is doing the same thing that criminals are doing ... but he is so clever that he does not get caught. And criminals are also doing the same thing as a politician but is not so clever. He a little simple, a little straight forward, he is quickly caught - and becomes branded as criminal. The criminals who get caught are in jails and those who do not get caught are in presidential palaces, prime ministers and heaven knows what else! But both have the same energy - they may have different garb.

I like to remind you that my emphasis is not on morality. Because morality is but the outer garb. By donning nice clothes you would not become beautiful. The beauty must be of the soul. By cultivating good character also you would not become beautiful. Even from various spots on your character, the inner filth, the covered filth would keep popping up and show itself.

A fakir went to see Socrates. This fakir was a renunciant, he used to wear rags. There were many holes on his garb. But he used to walk with much arrogance, because there was no one as great a renunciant as him in the entire Greece. He said to Socrates, "You are still into indulgence! Look at me, I have given up everything, I have rags for my clothes, that is renunciation! Will you only talk about truth or will you ever live a life of renunciation?" Socrates said, "Please forgive me, but I see nothing excepting your ego peeping through your rag holes."

Look at your so-called renunciants a little closely. You would see great ego concealed behind their image of renunciation. You would find them full of very subtle poison.

When a river keeps flowing it stays fresh, if it is blocked it becomes poisonous. Let energy flow. Let energy be utilized into creativity. That is why I say: dance, sing, create. Paint picture, sculpt, write poem, do something, allow creativity in life. The religion has vanished from the world because lazy and worthless people have settled into temples and mosques in the name of religion. The sole purpose of these people is to just keep sitting in there and accept your service.

Your religious people have done nothing except practice impotence for centuries. The earth has become burdened with these people. Of course, they do follow morality totally. They wake up at crack of dawn! But, is getting up at crack of dawn is some kind of a virtue in itself? All animals and birds do that. This is not some grandeur in itself. They eat but only one meal. But many wild animals eat but only one meal. Lion eats only one meal. But it does it with force at one time. Hence, your Hindu sannyasins ... just look at their immense belly! They do it only once but with such force which is misconduct. It is acceptable to do it four times, but do not do misconduct!

Jaina monks take very limited items. But I am astounded to see that even the monks of digambara (wherein monks wear no cloth) sect of Jainism have immense belly. Why? They must eat more than what is needed. They have to. After all they have to sustain for another twenty-four hours. The man who is not supposed to drink water at night is likely to drink voluminous water forcefully at sun-down. But that is burden, unnatural, not natural, abuse of body. The people who fast ... for example, they would eat forcefully today if they have to fast tomorrow. As long as they have spare time they would simply be feeding themselves because they have to fast the next day. And then again, once the fast is over with somehow or the other they would feed themselves forcefully the next day. They would more than make up for the amount they missed during the fast, some before and some after.

This hypocrisy would result whenever you try to mold a man into something unnatural forcefully.

I do not favor morality. I am not saying that you become immoral. Morality ultimately has no value. Morality is like traffic law, for example, there is law to move on left. There is no ultimate meaning in moving on left. People move on right in the United States. Whether you move on right or on left, one thing is certain that whenever there is so much traffic on the roads a rule will have to be established otherwise it would become difficult to move.

Mullah Nasaruddin wanted to go to the United States. I got the news that an accident has happened suddenly, Mullah is admitted to the hospital. I went to visit him. I have seen many varieties of accidents, I have seen many varieties of patients in the hospital, but Mullah was in a extreme condition! There were bandages upon bandages on his entire body. Heaven alone know how many fractures he had suffered. He had bandage even on his mouth. Only two eyes were visible; there was bandage even on nose, there were nothing but bandages. I asked Mullah if there wasn't any pain. He said, "It does only when I laugh." So why laugh? He said, "I laugh because this accident happened because I was making preparation to go to the United States." I did not quite understand. What could be the connection between preparation for going to the United States and this accident? He said, "I read in books that you do not have to drive car on the left, you have to drive car on the right. So, I thought that may be I will do some practice on M.G. Road in Poona. If I will have to drive on the right, it would be better if I go after a little practice. So this is the result of that. Now lying here a laughter bursts every now-and-then as to what a stupidity have I done? So, when I laugh then I really hurt! Every part of my body hurts!"

Everyone in the United States move on the right, therefore there is no problem in moving.

There is neither a supreme virtue in moving to the right nor in moving to the left. But wherever there is crowd ... in a small village no one walks to the right nor to the left. You may lead you cow right in the middle of the road! There is no traffic, you move where you wish! You walk howsoever your fancy strikes, you take a turn wherever you wish, there is no problem. But as and when we start to be with people, some rules become necessary. Those rules are pragmatic, that is all.

Do not assume that morality has an ultimate value. Those rules are pragmatic, just so that there may not be collision among people. Do not just assume morality to be religion, otherwise you will miss. Do not assume that because we always move to the left we will hold our head upright with arrogance when we come across God and say, "See, I am a mahatma, because I always moved to the left! Not even once did I get arrested by police, nor have I gotten any citation. I always walked to my left. I must get an appropriate place in heaven!" God too will laugh, "It was well and good that you moved on the left, you benefited from it that your limbs were not broken. Do not expect much more than that."

Morality is societal, religion is spiritual. Religion means how do I live with divine? And morality means how do I live with people? Morality is a convenience with people. Unnecessary difficulties with it are diminished. But morality is not sufficient. 'If (you) cannot plant flowers, at the least do not plant thorns!' That is all! However, if you are able to plant flowers, is it enough not to plant thorns? Will ecstasy arise in your heart from the fact that you did not plant thorns in life? Ecstasy will arise when lotus flowers will blossom in your lake, when flowers will dance in your little garden, when jasmine flowers will cascade in shower. Then will be ecstasy, then will be the great celebration. If you just keep telling everybody, "See my little garden, I have absolutely not planted any thorns, my garden knows no thorn, I keep garden very clean - 'no bamboo, no flute!' I don't allow plants to grow, who knows what plant may have a thorn or two sprout from it, may cause trouble!" But then you would not call it a garden. Soil is there, it is nice soil, all pebbles and stones have been removed, there are no thorns, it is spic and span. But it is only soil, not a garden. It is desert. Make it an oasis.

Morality is but a cleanliness, religion is a step beyond cleanliness. Plant flowers, you are meant to plant flowers. Your destiny is to become flower. It is in the human life that the most significant flower blossoms. That is why we have called that flower sahastrar (thousand petaled lotus.) Lotus with thousand petals. A lotus blossoms within you that is eternal when your consciousness embraces your highest pinnacle. It never withers once it blossoms. The fragrance of that is called 'divinity.'

The fourth question: Osho, please speak something about the ultimate state of a bhakta (loving devotee.)

Nothing can ever be spoken about an ultimate state. Nothing can, especially, be spoken about the ultimate state of a devotee.

First of all, the very meaning of an ultimate state is the one that has transcended words. Furthermore, the ultimate state of a devotee, the ultimate state of sensitivity has surpassed words, has gone way beyond words.! The planet of words have been left behind! Devotee is totally effaced in his ultimate state, only divine remains. Therefore, some devotees have said, "I am not, only you are" or else some others have said, "Only I am, you are not." Both statements can be made. Both have the same meaning. Only one remains, you may call it devotee or you may call it divine - it is up to you. "Aham Brahman Asmi", only I remain, only I am Brahman; or only Brahman remain, where is I? In that ultimate state everything becomes void.

However, your question is lovely, your inquiry is charming. It is sweet. Let us try a little, let us raise our fingers toward that far away moon a little.

What have you understood about yearning for love, O! crazy scholar!

A thousand Kaabaas were born wherever I placed my head.

O wise people, what have you learnt about getting lost in love? O you scholars, what have you understood about getting lost in love? A Kaabaa was born whichever door-frame I bowed my head at.

What have you understood about yearning for love, O! crazy scholar!

Devotees always refer to scholars as ignorant people, devotees always call scholars as without knowing - in the lingo of a devotee, scholarliness is just another name for ignorance.

What have you understood about yearning for love, O! crazy scholar!

A thousand Kaabaas were born wherever I placed my head.

Wherever I bowed my head, there are a thousand Kaabaas born -not just one, a thousand temples raise themselves. Such is the ultimate state of devotee that wherever he places his head, divine foot-steps are imprinted. If you just caress the very shadow of a devotee, you will get the taste of divine. If you sit by the side of a devotee, it is as good as sitting by the side of divinity.

What to speak of pang of separation or taste of union.

I have found a sight a lot louder than either.

It is hard to say what has been attained? When a lover attains to that supreme state the pleasure of union and the pang of separation don't have any meaning. Much suffering was sustained during the separation, but with the present attainment in mind that does not even come to memory. Now even the thorns of separation seem like flowers. And much ecstasy was experienced during union - glimpses came; before this supreme state was attained the door and window became open; a wave would come, a sun-beam would come, divinity caressed, it cleansed - much ecstasy was experienced, but that ecstasy is infinitesimal compared to the ecstasy of the current supreme state.

What to speak of pang of separation or taste of union.

I have found a sight a lot louder than either.

And now that you have given me eye, that is louder than all of those, it is higher than all of those, it has no extremities, it has neither an end nor a beginning.

It is an eye where the lover and beloved become one.

I have no creed now, there is no creation now.

Now that I have joined my love song to the musical instrument.

Now, neither do I exist nor there is any existence. 'I have no creed now' ... Now I neither have an ego nor a self; 'there is no creation now' ... Now no existence is visible to me, it is You all around; 'Now that I have joined my love song to the musical instrument' ... I have just submerged my love-song into your musical instrument. Now only Your veena plays and I am but its music or my song is there and Your veena is playing. Now I am a flute in Your hand, you are playing Your song. Where is 'I!' I am a hollow bamboo.

I am the very face of a map of helplessness and destruction.

I have significance for neither path nor path-guide.

I am neither concerned with path - the destination has arrived - nor am I concerned with guides for the path now. I neither have to go any place nor do I have to be special now.

'I am the very face of a map of helplessness and destruction' ... I have become effaced - like a foot print on sand effaces with a breeze of wind. 'I am the very face of a map of helplessness and destruction' ... Don't even ask about me, even my symbol has effaced. 'I have significance for neither path nor path-guide.'

Here lies the color of my wit for love.

Do I see myself or the picture of beloved.

Now I am in a real quandary. When I stand before a mirror to see, I cannot understand whether I am seeing myself or Yourself.

Here lies the color of my wit for love.

Do I see myself or the picture of beloved.

Therefore a devotee speaks up once in a while: Anal Haq. I am also the same. Don't mind. Understand a devotee. This kind of thing is not spoken out of ego. It is a proclamation of the utmost egolessness: Anal Haq. Poor Mansoor was not understood! He was crucified for no reason! The ones who should have been enthroned were crucified. And the ones who should have climbed crucifixes are sitting up on the thrones.

For Love of masses, I don't know what to say or what not to say?

I myself don't know the meaning of my existence.

And now you ask me to speak something about that supreme state! Now that is very difficult.

For Love of masses, I don't know what to say or what not to say?

I myself don't know the meaning of my existence.

Now, I don't even know that I am, I don't even know that there is any significance in my existence; I don't even know if I ever existed or if I saw a dream. I have effaced just like a foot-print in the sand. But in that very effacement lies great honor. In that very process of becoming void equates to descending of the whole.

Is there a world or not, is there a body or not?

He sees me, I see Him.

Now there is neither life nor the world. Now he sees me, I see him. There is nothing more to say, simply eyes diving into eyes. There is a silence, an unprecedented silence. However, the silence is such that there is the soundless sound.

The universe is of ecstasy, I am obliterated being absorbed in the atman.

I have no concern with my head nor with your door-frame.

'The universe is of ecstasy' ... Now I am enjoying this fact that I exist not. When you enjoy, it is ecstasy. If you must enjoy, ecstasy is the thing to enjoy. The ones who exist only suffer anguish. To be means anguish. 'To be' is synonymous with anguish. 'To exist not' is synonymous with bliss, with sat-chit-anand.

'The universe is of ecstasy, I am obliterated being absorbed in the atman' ... and I am absorbed in my atman, I am with my head bowed, I have bowed my head, I am empty. 'I have no concern with my head nor with your door-frame' ... I have no awareness of my head nor of your frame. Where can I worship, where can I make an offering? Where can I do namaaz (meditative prayer), who would do namaaz? To whom to do the namaaz?

I neither have a point of view nor someone in my view.

I just keep standing in the universe where your beauty showers.

'I neither have a point of view' ... Now the eye-sight does not go anywhere. 'nor someone in my view' ... And now there is no one in my eyes too, the eyes have become blank, the eyes have become empty, the eyes have become void. The voided eyes mean samadhi (super-consciousness.) 'I just keep standing in the universe where your beauty showers' ... I stand totally absorbed, totally engrossed; your splendor is showering, your light is showering, your celebration is happening.

How can one see the world while possessed by love?

How can spectators of celebration see Beloved's face?

There is nothing more to see. I have seen the One I wanted to see. I have seen the One that was worth seeing. My eyes are fulfilled with the One they longed for.

I have effaced before that Foot-print so

I can't personally have any discernment now.

Now I don't even have discernment. What is a sin, what is a meritorious act - I don't comprehend. What is darkness, what is bright; what is life, what is death - this discernment has dropped off.

I have effaced before that Foot-print so

I can't personally have any discernment now.

You have effaced me so ... you have effaced me such that there is no discernment. There is no sinner, nor a sacred person. There is neither a market-place nor liberation; You have erased me thus. But that is fortunate! Fortunate are those whom divine so effaces! Because in this very effacing process they become united with divine.

The distance is as much as we are. The closeness is as much as we are not. When we are absolutely not, then we become one.

That rose has fulfilled my eyes, it has encompassed my entire being

I don't have any idea whether I am in a flower garden or a prison!

Now the eyes have become filled with flower. Now the eyes have become flowers. Now that thousand-petalled lotus has blossomed.

That rose has fulfilled my eyes, it has encompassed my entire being ...

And what has blossomed within me has not just blossomed within me, it has expanded till it has become one with the entire universe.

That rose has fulfilled my eyes, it has encompassed my entire being

I don't have any idea whether I am in a flower garden or a prison!

Now the spring may come or autumn, it has no difference. Once that flower has blossomed, it then never withers. It is spring time forever, it is blossom-time forever.

What is not reflected in mirror of amazement?

What do you have in your countenance that is not in mine?

Do you see the whim of a devotee? A devotee says that now I know that whatever you have, I have it too. I was searching for you unnecessarily. I was running all around for no reason at all. Where did I not search you! What moon and starts did I not wander at. How many lives ... innumerable lives have I not called for you!

What is not reflected in mirror of amazement?

What do you have in your countenance that is not in mine?

I know today that you and I are not two, we are one. I was searching unnecessarily. I was continuously losing you; perhaps because I was searching you. You were concealed within the seeker itself.

Allah knows where the Crazy is, says Asagar.

We searched for Him in Kaabaa or Temples for years.

Now you are asking me what is the ultimate state of a devotee? It is hard to speak.

Allah knows where the Crazy is, says Asagar.

The one who attains to the ultimate state, where is he? Where is that insane, that mad, that possessed, that intoxicated person? It is somewhat difficult to find his whereabouts. He is without address!

Allah knows where the Crazy is, says Asagar.

We searched for Him in Kaabaa or Temples for years.

If you begin to look for him in some temples, mosques or Gurudwaras and hope to find that insane man, he is not found. And it is not that he is far away, and it is not that he is out of sight. But only those people would be able to recognize that insane man who themselves are insane. Only a drunkard can recognize drunkards. Only winos can make friends with winos.

Allah knows where the Crazy is, says Asagar.

We searched for Him in Kaabaa or Temples for years.

You wish to know ... do you really wish to know what is the ultimate state of a devotee? You will have to become a devotee. It is not a state that can be spoken about. It is not something that can be talked about. 'It is not something that can be written about, it is to be seen' - Kabir says it right - one who effaces himself only can see. You will see when you will efface yourself. You will know when you will see. 'It is not something that can be written about ... .' You may read up Vedas, Koran, Bible and become rich with words, but those words have no worth.

The ultimate state of a devotee is a state of knowing.

I understand your difficulty. You have asked because somewhere along the lines there must be a longing arising. This question is not merely due to an idle curiosity, this question is due to a longing, a yearning for liberation. Seek. The seeking of a devotee passes through the path of tears. A devotee's search does not go through logic, it goes through tears; not through wisdom, it goes through heart.

I asked for and am bound by,

Bondage new every day,

I sit at bank, defeated,

With body and mind deflated.

Who are you? Where are you?

Whose refuge do I take just for a moment!

Whom do I tell my pain?

I used to seek truth

Having sweet dreams in heart

All imaginations vanished

Pains became my friends forever.

I don't fear death, but

How do I take intolerable pain?

Whom do I tell my pain?

I couldn't control mind

I got controlled by the world

I started with spirit of renunciation

I got entangled in attachments

(If) you don't rescue

How long should I keep crying?

Whom do I tell my pain?

Cry. Be filled with weeping. Let your body and life-energy be saturated with tears.

(If) you don't rescue

How long should I keep crying?

Whom do I tell my pain?

Don't confide in someone else. Just call the One. Do your petition before the only One. And there is no petition more beautiful than the tears. And there is no petition more precious than the tears. Melt and be swept into tears. It is like the burning of candle-stick - it continues to burn and the wax drops down like tear-drops. Later a moment comes when the candle burns totally and a pile of tears is left behind; even the flame vanishes into oblivion. Similar is the state of a devotee. Cry! Cry to your heart's content. Call out! As the heart will sweep away in tears, you will begin to get tiny glimpses of that state.

The road is long, the path is unfamiliar, you have never trodden it ...

Home is afar, unfamiliar is the path

Trifling is my tale

Unknown even to me

When, indeed, have I ever found

The depth of my heart?

Futile is to shed tears,

Futile is to tell sad-tale,

Futile it is in this world

To wish for pleasures all.

When I am able to do adoration,

Then only my devotion be silent,

Most probably I will find

A zeal in my heart!

My eyes yearn to behold

They flood today every moment

My heart burns as candle

Not able to heave sigh!

That only is the barrier. Asking won't do, heave sighs. Let such a sigh arise within you that every fibre of your being begin to tremble.

My eyes yearn to behold

They flood today every moment

My heart burns as candle

Not able to heave sigh!

If you can heave a sigh, your prayer is fulfilled. If you efface yourself in sigh, you too will get the taste of the experience of that ultimate state. A sunbeam has descended, that is enough. One travels to supreme Suns with the support of only that sunbeam.

Enough for today.

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