TheWayoftheWhiteClouds - PDF document

CHAPTER1 TheWayoftheWhiteClouds 10May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,WHYISYOURWAYCALLEDTHEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS?JustbeforeBuddhadiedsomebodyaskedhim:Whenabuddhadieswheredoeshego?Doeshesurviveorsimplydisappearintonothingness?Thisisnotanewquestion,itisoneoftheoldest,manytimesrepeatedandasked.Buddhaisreportedtohavesaid:Justlikeawhiteclouddisappearing....Thisverymorningtherewerewhitecloudsinthesky.Nowtheyaretherenomore.Wherehavetheygone?Fromwheredotheycome?Howdotheyevolve,andhowdotheydissolveagain?Awhitecloudisamystery,thecoming,thegoing,theverybeingofit.That'stherstreasonwhyIcallmywayTheWayoftheWhiteClouds.Buttherearemanyreasons,anditisgoodtoponder,tomeditateuponthem.Awhitecloudexistswithoutanyroots.Itisanunrootedphenomenon,groundednowhereorgroundedinthenowhere.Butstillitexists.Thewholeofexistenceislikeawhitecloud:withoutanyroots,withoutanycausality,withoutanyultimatecause,itexists.Itexistsasamystery.Awhitecloudreallyhasnowayofitsown.Itdrifts.Ithasnowheretoreach,nodestination,nodestinytobefullled,noend.Youcannotfrustrateawhitecloudbecausewhereveritreachesisthegoal. 2 CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS InTibettheyhaveameditation:monkssittingonthehills,lonely,absolutelyinaloneness,justmeditatingonwhitecloudsdriftinginthesky,continuouslycontemplating,andbyandbybeingmerged.Thentheybecomewhiteclouds–justperchingonahilllikeawhitecloud.Nomind,justbeingthere.Noresistance,noght,nothingtobeachieved,nothingtobelost.Justenjoyingtheveryexistence,celebratingthemoment–thejoy,theecstasyofit.HenceIcallmywayTheWayoftheWhiteClouds.AndIwouldlikeyoualsotobecomewhitecloudsdriftinginthesky.Isaydrifting,notmoving,notmovingtoapoint–justdriftingwheresoeverthewindsleadyou.Wheresoeveryouhappentobe,thatisthegoal.Sothegoalisnotsomethingendingsomewhere,theendoftheline.Thegoaliseverymoment.HereyouareSIDDHAStome,enlightenedones.Hereyouhaveachieved.Hereyouareasperfectasyoucanbe,justlikeaBuddha,aMahavira,oraKrishna.Thereisnothingelsetobeachieved.Rightthisverymomenteverythingisthere,onlyyouarenotalert.Andyouarenotalertbecauseyourmindisinthefuture.Youarenothere.Youarenotawareofwhathashappenedtoyouthisverymoment.Andthishasbeenhappeningalwaysandalways.Formany,manymillionsoflivesthishasbeenhappening.Everymomentyouhavebeenabuddha.Notforasinglemomenthasitbeenmissed.Itcannotbemissed,thatishownatureitselfis,howthingsare.Youcannotmissit!Butyouarenotalert,andyoucannotbealertbecauseofagoalsomewhere,somethingthathastobeachieved.Becauseofthatabarrieriscreatedandthatwhichyouarealreadyismissed.Oncethisisrevealed,oncethisisrealized,onceyoubecomeawareofthis,thegreatestmysteryofbeingisrevealed,thateveryoneisperfect.That'swhatwemeanwhenwesayeveryoneisBrahma–everyoneisthesoul,theultimatesoul,thedivine.That'swhatwemeanwhenwesayTATTWAMASI–youarethat.Notthatyouhavetobecomethat,becauseifyouhavetobecomethat,thenyouareNOTthat.Andifyouarenotthatalready,howcanyoubecome?Theseedbecomesthetreebecausetheseedisalreadythat.Astonecannotbecomeatree.Theseedbecomesthetreebecausetheseedisalreadythat!Sothequestionisnotofbecoming,thequestionisonlyofrevelation.Theseedisrevealedthismomentasaseed,nextmomentasatree.Sothisisonlyaquestionofrevelation.Andifyoucanpenetratedeeply,theseedisthetreethisverymoment.Tibetanmystics,orZenmastersorSudervishes,theyhavealltalkedaboutthewhiteclouds.Thewhitecloudshavebeencatchingmanypeople'sinnerbeing.Arapportisachieved,itseems,withthewhiteclouds.Makeitameditationandthenmanythingswillcometoyou.Lifeshouldnotbetakenasaproblem.Onceyoustartthatwayyouarelost.Onceyouthinklifeisaproblemitcanneverbesolved.That'showphilosophymoves–andthat'showphilosophyalwaysmoveswrongly.Therearenorightphilosophies:therecannotbe.Allphilosophiesarewrong.Philosophizingiswrong,becausephilosophytakesthewrongbasicstepofthinkingoflifeasaproblem.Oncelifeisaproblemthereisnosolutiontoit.Lifeisnotaproblembutamystery,whichishowreligiontakesit.Awhitecloudisthemostmysteriousthing,suddenlyappearing,suddenlydisappearing.HaveyoueverthoughtatanytimethatcloudshavenoNAM-ROOP–noname,noform?Evenforasinglemomenttheformisnotthesame.Itischanging,itisbecoming,itisariverlikeow. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds4 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Thiscanbedoneonlyifyoudosomethingwithyou.Ifyouhavetosolveaproblem,youhavetodosomethingwiththeproblem.Youhavetondakey,aclue.Youhavetoworkontheproblem.Youhavetomoveinalaboratory–youhavetodosomething.Ifyouhavetoencounteramystery,youhavetodosomethingwithyou;withthemysterynothingcanbedone.Weareimpotentbeforeamystery.That'swhywegoonchangingmysteriesintoproblems,becausewithproblemswearepotent,withproblemswefeelweareincontrol.Withmysteriesweareimpotent,wecannotdoanything.Withmysterieswefacedeath,andwecannotmanipulate.That'swhythemorehumanintellectgrowsmathematical,logical,thelessandlesspossibilityofecstasyisopenbeforethehumanmind,lessandlesspoetryispossible.Romanceislost;lifebecomesfactual,notsymbolic.SowhenIsaymywayisTheWayoftheWhiteClouds,itisjustasymbol.Thewhitecloudisnotbeingusedasafact,itisusedasasymbol,asapoeticsymbol;asanindicationofadeepmergerintothemysteriousandthemiraculous.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WOULDYOUTELLUSWHATYOURRELATIONSHIPISTOTHEWHITECLOUDS?Iamawhitecloud.Thereisnorelationship,andtherecannotbe.Relationshipexistswhenyouaretwo,divided.Sorelationshipisreallynotarelationship.Whereverrelationshipexiststhereisseparation.Iamawhitecloud.Youcannotberelatedtoawhitecloud.Youcanbecomeonewithitandallowthewhitecloudtobecomeonewithyou,butrelationshipisnotpossible.Inrelationshipyouremainseparate,andinrelationshipyougoonmanipulating.Thisisoneofthemiseriesofhumanlife,thateveninlovewecreaterelationship.Thentheloveismissed.Loveshouldnotbearelationship.Youshouldbecometheloverorthebeloved.Youshouldbecometheotherandlettheotherbecomeyou.Thereshouldbeamerger,onlythenconictceases.Otherwiselovebecomesaconict,astruggle.Ifyouare,thenyouwilltrytomanipulate,thenyouwouldliketopossess,thenyouwouldliketobethemaster,thenexploitationcomesin.Thentheotherwillbeusedasameans,notasanend.Withwhitecloudsyoucannotdothat,youcannotmakethemwivesandhusbands.Youcannotchainthemorpersuadethemintoarelationship.Theywon'tallowit,theywon'tlistentoyou.Theyhavehadenoughofit–that'swhynowtheyhavebecomewhiteclouds.Youcanbeonewiththem,andthentheirheartsareopen.Buthumanmindcannotthinkbeyondrelationship,becausewecannotthinkofourselvesasifwearenot.Weare.Howsoeverwehideit,wearethere.Deepdowntheegoisthere,anddeepdowntheegogoesonmanipulating. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds6 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Wheneverthishappens–betweenamanandatree,betweenamanandacloud,betweenamanandawoman,orbetweenamanandarock–wheneverithappensthatyouarenot,helldisappears.Suddenlyyouaretransgured,youhaveenteredparadise.Theoldbiblicalstoryisbeautiful:AdamandEvewerethrownoutofthegardenofEdenbecausetheyhadeatenaforbiddenfruit,thefruitofthetreeofKnowledge.Thisisoneofthemostwonderfulparableseverdevised.WhywasthefruitofthetreeofKnowledgeforbidden?Becausethemomentknowledgeenters,theegoisthere.Themomentyouknowyouare,youhavefallen.Thisistheoriginalsin.NobodythrewAdamandEveoutofheaven.Themomenttheybecameawarethattheywere,thegardenofEdendisappeared.Forsucheyes,whicharelledwithego,thegardencannotexist.Itisnotthattheyhavebeenthrownoutofthegarden–thegardenishereandnow.Itisjustbyyourside.Ithasalwaysbeenfollowingyouwhereveryougo,butyoucannotseeit.Iftheegoisnotthere,youenteragain,thegardenisrevealed.Youhaveneverbeenoutofit.Trythis:sittingunderatree,forgetyourself.Letonlythetreebethere.ThishappenedtoBuddhaunderthebodhitree.Hewasnot:inthatmomenteverythinghappened.Onlythebodhitreewasthere.YoumaynotbeawarethatforvehundredyearsafterBuddhahisstatuewasnotcreated,hispicturewasnotpainted.Forvehundredyearscontinuously,wheneveraBuddhisttemplewascreated,onlythepictureofthebodhitreewasthere.Thatwasbeautiful–becauseinthatmomentwhenGautamSiddharthabecameBuddha,hewasnotthere,onlythetreewasthere.Hehaddisappearedforamoment–onlythetreewasthere.Findmomentswhenyouarenot,andthosewillbethemomentswhenyouwillbeforthersttime...really.SoIamthewhitecloud,andthewholeeffortistomakeyoualsowhitecloudsdriftinginthesky.Nowheretogo,comingfromnowhere,justbeingtherethisverymoment–perfect.Idon'tteachyouanyideals,Idon'tteachyouanyoughts.Idon'tsaytoyoubethis,becomethat.Mywholeteachingissimplythis:Whatsoeveryouare,acceptitsototallythatnothingislefttobeachieved,andyouwillbecomeawhitecloud.Question3BELOVEDOSHO,ISITTRUETHATTOREALLYBREAKTHROUGH,TOBECOMETOTALLYPRESENT,TOBECOMEAWHITECLOUD,WEHAVETOLIVETHROUGHALLOURDREAMS,ALLOURFANTASIES?ANDHOWCANTHATREALITYBEASREALINRESPONSETO'HAREKRISHNA,HARERAM'INPOONAASITWOULDBEINTHEGARDENOFEDENINTHEHEARTOFNATURE? MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds8 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Soeverywhere–whetheryouareinthemarket,ordoing”HareKrishna,HareRam,”orsittingunderatreesilently–takeitasoneexpanse,don'tdivideit.Andwhenyouaredancing,doing”HareKrishna,HareRam,”enjoyit!Itisthewayyouareowering,thisverymoment.”HareKrishna,HareRam”canbecomeaoweringinyou;ithasbecomeaoweringformany.WhenMahaprabhuChaitanyawasdancinginthevillagesofBengalanddoinghiskirtan,”HareKrishna,HareRam,”itwasaowering.Itwasoneofthemostbeautifulthingsthathaseverhappened.NotonlyisBuddhasittingunderabodhitreebeautiful,aChaitanyaMahaprabhudancinginthestreetswith”HareKrishna,HareRam”isalsobeautiful–thesame,justtheotherextreme.Youcansitunderatreeandcanforgetyourselfsocompletelythatyouhavedisappeared.Youcandanceinastreetandbeabsorbedinyourkirtan,inyoursinging,inyourdancing,sototallythatyouhavedisappeared.Thesecretistotalabsorptionwhereverithappens.Ithappenstodifferentpeopleindifferentways.WecannotconceiveofBuddhadancing;hewasnotthattype,notadancingtype.Youmaybeadancingtype,sodon'tforceyourselfunderabodhitreeoryouwillbeintrouble.Justforcingyourself,stillingyourself,willbeviolent.ThenyourfacewillnotbecomelikeaBuddha.Itwillbetortured,itwillbeaself-torture.YoumaybelikeChaitanya,youmaybelikeMeera.Findoutthewayyourcloudmoves,whereitdrifts,andallowitfullfreedomtomoveanddrift.Whereveritgoes,itwillreachtothedivine.Justdon'tght,ow.Don'tpushtheriver,owwithit.Adanceisbeautiful,butyoumustbetotallyinit–that'sthepoint.Don'trejectanything,rejectionisirreligious.Accepttotally,acceptanceisprayer.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds10 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Sotherstthingtoknowabout:thisqualityofthemindwhichgoesonaskingwhys.Justasleavesgrowoutoftrees,whysgrowoutofthemind–youcutone,manymoregrow.Andyoumaycollectmanyanswersbuttheanswerwillnotbethere.Andunlesstheansweristhere,themindgoeson,restlessinitssearch.SothisistherstthingIwouldliketosaytoyou:Don'tinsistmuchonwhys.Whydoweinsist?Whydowewanttoknowthecause?Whydowewanttogodeepintoathingandcometotheverybaseofit?Why?Becauseifyouknoweverywhy,ifyouknoweveryansweraboutathing,youhavebecomethemasterofit.Thenthethingcanbemanipulated.Thenthethingisnotamystery;thereisnoawe,nowonderaboutit.Youhaveknownityouhavekilledthemystery.Themindisakiller,amurderer–themurdererofallmysteries.Andmindisalwaysateasewithanythingdead.Withanythingalivemindfeelsuneasy,becauseyoucannotbethetotalmaster.Thelivingisalwaysthere–unpredictable.Thefuturecannotbexedwithalivingthing,andyoudon'tknowwhereitwillgo,whereitwilllead.Withadeadthing,everythingiscertainandxed.Youareatease.Youarenotworriedaboutit.Youarecertain.Tomakeeverythingcertainisadeepurgeinthemindbecausemindisafraidoflife.Mindcreatessciencejusttokilleverypossibilityoflife.Mindtriestondexplanationsonceanexplanationisfound,themysteryisdissolved.Youaskawhy,anditisanswered,thenthemindisatease.Whathaveyouachievedthroughit?Youhavenotachievedanything,youhavelostsomething–amysteryhasbeenlost.Mysterymakesyouuneasybecauseitissomethinggreaterthanyou,somethingwhichyoucannotmanipulate,somethingwhichyoucannotuseasathing;somethingwhichoverwhelms,somethingwhichoverpowers,somethingbeforewhichyouarenakedandimpotent–somethingbeforewhichyousimplydissolve.Mysterygivesyouafeelingofdeath;hencesomuchinquiryaboutwhys–whythis?whythat?Thisistherstthingtoberemembered.Butdon'tthinkthatIamavoidingyourquestion.Iamnotavoidingit.Iamtellingyousomethingaboutthemind–whyitasks.Andifyoucanretainthefeelingofmystery,Iamgoingtoanswer.Ifthefeelingofmysteryisretained,thenansweringisnotdangerous,itcanbeuseful.Theneveryanswerleadsyouintoadeepermystery.Thenthewholethingbecomesqualitativelydifferent.Thenyouask,nottogetanexplanation,thenyouasktogetdeeperintothemystery.Thenthecuriosityisnotmental,thenitbecomesaninquiry–adeepinquiryofbeing.Seethedifference?Ifyouarehankeringafteranexplanationthenitisbad,andIwillbethelastonetofulllitbecausethenIbecomeanenemytoyou,thenImakethingsdeadaroundyou.TheologianshavemadeevenGodadeadthing–theyhaveexplaineditsomuch,theyhaveansweredsomanythingsaboutGod,that'swhyGodisdead.Humanityhasnotkilledhim–thepriests,theyhavekilledhim.Theyexplainedhimsomuchthatnomysteryhasremained.AndwhatisGodifthereisnomysteryinit?Ifitisjustatheoryyoucandiscuss,adoctrineyoucananalyze,abeliefyoucanacceptordeny,thenYOUaregreaterandthisGodisjustpartofthefurnitureofyourmind–itisadeadthing.WheneverIamtalkingtoyou,rememberthisalways:whatsoeverIsayisnottokillyourinquiry,isnottogiveyouexplanations.Iamnotinterestedingivingyouanswers.Rather,onthecontrary,itistomakeyoumoreinquiring,deeplypenetratingintothemysteries. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds12 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Youarelikeaforestwithalittleclearing.Treeshavebeencut,andasmallplacehasbeencreatedinwhichtolive.Butjustbeyondthatsmallclearingthedarkforestexists.Youdon'tknowtheboundariesofit.Andyouaresoafraidofdarknessandthewildanimalsthatyouneverleaveyourclearing.Butyourclearingisjustpartofthisdarkforest.Youknowonlyapartofyourbeing.Iseeyouasyourtotaldarkness,thewholeforestofyou.AndonceIseeasingleindividualinhistotality,allindividualsareinvolvedbecausethatforestisnotseparate.Inthatdarknessboundariesmeet,mingleandbecomeone.Youarehere.IfIbecometooattentivetooneindividual,thenIamfocusingmyself.Butstill,evenfocusing,Icontinuouslyfeelyourboundariesareminglingwiththeother.SoforcertainpurposesImaytakeyouasanindividual,butinrealityitisnotso.WhenIamnotfocusedIsimplylookatyouwithoutseeingyou–justalook,thenyouarenomorethere.Yourboundariesaremeetingwitheveryoneelse's,andnotonlywithmanandhumanbeings–withtrees,withrocks,withsky...everything.Boundariesarections,henceindividualsarectitious.IamherebecauseIcannotbeanywhereelse.Thisishowlifehashappened.Youareherebecauseyoucannotbeanywhereelse.Thisishowlifehashappenedtoyou.Butitisdifculttoacceptit.Whyisitdifculttoacceptit?–becausethenyoucannotmanipulateit,thenlifebecomesgreaterthanyou.IfIsayyouareherebecauseyouareagreatseekeroftruth,thenyouareatease.Ifyouareherebecauseyouareagreatseeker,thentheegoisfullled.Thenifyouchoose,youcango.Thenyouarethechooser.Thenyouarecontrollinglife,notcontrolledbylife.ButIdon'tsaythat,Isayyouareherebecauselifehashappenedthisway.Youcouldnothavechosen,itisnotyourchoice.Evenifyouleave,thatwillnotbeyourchoice.Again,thatwillbehowlifehappenstoyou.Ifyouchoosetoremain,thattooisnotachoice.Choiceisnotpossible.Choiceispossibleonlywiththeego.Wheneveregoisnotfed,uneasiness,discomfort,isfelt.Sotherearetwowaystobeatease.Oneistogoonfeedingtheego,anotherissimplytodropit.Andremember,therstwayistemporary.Themoreyoufeedtheego,themoreitdemands,andthereisnoendtoit.SoItellyou:LifehashappenedinsuchawaythatIamhereandyouarehere.Andithashappenedmanytimesbefore,anditwillcontinuehappeningthesameway.Ifyoucanrealizethis,muchmorewillimmediatelybecomepossible.Ifyourealizethis,youwillbemoreopen,lessclosed,morevulnerable,morereceptive.Thenyouarenotafraid.Thenlifecanpassthroughyou.Thenlifebecomesjustabreeze,andyoubecomeanemptyroom,andlifecomesandgoes...andyouallowit.Allowingisthesecret–secretofallsecrets.HenceIemphasize,insist,thatyouarenotherebecauseofanychoiceonyourpart.Iamnotherebecauseofanychoiceonmypart.AsfarasIamconcernedtherecannotbeanychoice,becauseIamnot.Asfarasyouareconcerned,youmaybeunderthedelusionthatyouareherebecauseofyourchoice,butthatisnotafact.AndIamnotgoingtofeedyouregosbecausetheyhavetobedestroyed.That'swhatthewholeeffortis:howtodestroyyou–becauseonceyourboundariesaredestroyedyouareinnite.Rightthismoment,thiscanhappen.Thereisnobarriertoit–thereisonlyyourclinging. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds14 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Andthisissignicant,thatlifehashappenedinsuchawaythatyouarehere.Millionsarethereandlifehasnothappenedinsuchaway.Youarefortunate,butdon'tmakethatpointanegofood–becauseifyouregotakesanythingoutofitandbecomesstronger,youhavemissedthatfortune.Youarefortunate,butitremainsanopenpossibility.Youcangrowintoit,youcandropoutofit.Andthisisrare–rareformanyreasons.First:itisverydifculttobeattractedtoapersonwhoisempty–verydifcult,becauseemptinessisnotsuchamagneticforce.Youareattractedtoamanwhohasgotsomething.Whyareweattractedtoamanwhohasgotsomething?Becausewehavedesires.Wealsowanttogetsomething.Youareattractedtoapoliticianwhohaspowerbecauseyouarepower-oriented,youwantpower.Sowhosoeverhasitbecomestheidol,thehero.Youareattractedtoapersonwhohasfabulousriches.Becauseyouarepoor,deepdownyouhankerafterriches.Sowhosoeverhasthembecomestheideal.Butwhyshouldonebeattractedtoapersonwhohasnothing?Thisisfortunate,ararepossibility.Sometimeslifehappensinsuchawaythatyoubecomeattractedtoapersonwhohasgotnothing,whoisempty.Youarenotgoingtogainanythingoutofhim;rather,everythinghastobelostwithhim.Itisagamble.Soyouaregamblers–that'swhyyouarehere.Andunlessyougambletotallyyouwillmiss,becausethisgamblingcannotbepartial–partscannotbeaccepted.Thatisnottheruleofthisgame.Sodon'tholdback,putineverythingyouhave.Itisdangerousandrisky.That'swhyIsayitisraretobeattractedtoaBuddhaortoaJesus.Veryfewareattracted.YouknowaboutJesus...veryfew,onlytwelvedisciples.Andveryordinarymen:somesherman,somewoodcutter,somefarmer–notsignicantinanyway,justcommonpeople.WhyaresuchcommonpeopleattractedtoBuddhaorJesus?Tobecommonisaveryuncommonquality,becausethosewhoarenotcommon,theyareaftersomeego-trip–riches,power,status.Afarmer,asherman,awoodcutter–insignicantpeople,absolutelyordinary,notlookingforanyachievement–theybecomeattractedtoJesus.Tobecommonisrare;tobeabsolutelyordinaryisreallyextraordinary.ZenMastersarereportedtohavesaidcontinuously:Becomeordinaryandthenyoubecomeextraordinary.Everyordinarybeingistryingtobeextraordinary–thatistheordinarything.Justremainordinary.Thatmeansnotsearchingforanything,notseekinganyachievement,really,notinanywaygoal-oriented,justlivingmoment-to-moment,drifting.That'swhatIwassayingtoyou–driftinglikeawhitecloud.Yourbeinghereisrareforotherreasonsalso,becausehumanmindisalwaysafraidofdeath.Itclingstolife,alustforlifeisthere.Eveninmiseryitclingstolife...adeepfearofdeath.Andwhenapersoncomestomeheiscoming,really,todie,heiscomingtodissolve.Iwillbeanabysstohim,abottomlessabyssinwhichhewillfallandfallandfallandreachnowhere...!Ifyoulookintomeyouwillfeeldizzy.Ifyoustareintomyeyesyouwillseetheabyss,andthenthefearwillgripyou–andthefallingandfalling....Justthinkofaleaffallingintoanabyss–andtheabyssisinniteandthereisnobottomtoitsoitcannotreachanywhere–itcanonlydisappear;falling,falling,falling,itwilldisappear. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds16 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Andthewindgoesonblowinginalldirections.Sotheproblemisnottochoosethedirection;theproblemishowtobecomethecloud.Thewindgoesonblowinginalldirections.Itmoves,itchanges.Itisalwaysrunningfromthiscornertotheother.Really,thereisnodirection.Thereisnomap;thewholethingisuncharted.Thereisnooneguidingitandsaying:Nowgototheeast,nowgotothewest.Thewholeofexistencewavesit.Itisawavingexistence–alldirectionsbelongtoit.AndwhenIsayalldirections,Imeanthegoodandthebadboth,Imeanthemoralandtheimmoralboth.WhenIsayalldirections,IMEANall.Thewindisblowinginalldirections.Thishasalwaysbeenso.Soremember:therehasnotbeenaspecicallyreligiousagenorananti-religiousage,therecannotbe.Peoplethinkthiswaybecausethattoogivesthemego-trips.InIndia,peoplethinkthatintheolddays,inancientdays,therewasareligiousageontheearthandnoweverythinghasgonerotten–thisisthedarkestage.Thisisallnonsense.Noageisreligious,noageisanti-religious.ReligiousnessisNOTconcernedwiththetime,itisconcernedwiththequalityofthemind.Soitisnotaquestionofwhetherthecloudisgoingtotheeast–thenitwillbereligious,orgoingtothewestanditwillbeanti-religious.No.Ifthecloudhasnowill,thecloudisreligiousWHEREVERitgoes.Andifthecloudhaswill,thenwhereveritgoesitisirreligious.Andtherearebothtypesofclouds:veryfewwhoarewill-less,millionswhohavetheirwillsandprojectionsanddesiresandideas.Theyghtwiththewind.Themoretheyght,themoreanguishiscreated.Andghtingleadsnowhere,becausenothingcanbedone.Whetheryoughtornotthewindwillgototheeastandyouwillhavetogototheeast.Youcanonlycarryanotionthatyouhavebeenghtingandyouareagreatwarrior.That'sall.Onewhounderstandsstopsghting.Heisnoteventryingtoswim,hesimplygoeswiththeood.Thisverycurrentheusesasavehicle;hebecomesonewithitandmoveswithit.ThisiswhatIcallsurrender,andthisiswhattheoldscripturescalledtheattitudeofthedevotee.Surrendered,YOUarenot.Thenwhereverthewindleadsyou,youwillgo.Youdon'thaveanywillofyourown.Thishasbeenalwaysso.Inthepasttherewerebuddhas,oatingwhiteclouds;inthepresenttherearebuddhas,oatingwhiteclouds.Inthepastthereweremadblackcloudslledwithwill,desire,future.Theyaretheretodayalso.Withwillanddesireyouareablackcloud–heavy.Withnowill,nodesire,youareawhitecloud–weightless.Andthepossibilityforboththeseisalwaysopen.Itisuptoyouwhethertoallowthelet-go,ornot.Don'tthinkoftimeandage.Timeandageareindifferent.Theydon'tforceanyonetobecomeabuddha;theydon'tpreventanyonefrombecomingabuddha.Timeandagearejustindifferent.Allowyourselftobeempty,andthisisthegoldenage.Allowyourselftobetoomuchlledwithdesire,andthisisthedarkestagepossible,theKALIYUGA.Youcreateyourtimeandagearoundyou.Youliveinyourownageandtime.Rememberwearenotcontemporariesinthatway.ApersonlikeJesusisancient!Hemaybejusthere,butheisancient.Helivessoeternally...youcannotcallhimmodern.Helivessototallythat MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds18 Osho CHAPTER3 TobeMiserableorEcstatic...? 12May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUONCETOLDUSASTORYABOUTANOLDMANWHOWASOVERONEHUNDREDYEARSOLD.ONEDAY,ONHISBIRTHDAY,HEWASASKEDWHYITWASTHATHEWASALWAYSHAPPY.HEREPLIED:EVERYMORNINGWHENIWAKEUPIHAVETHECHOICETOBEHAPPYORUNHAPPY,ANDICHOOSETOBEHAPPY.HOWISITTHATWEUSUALLYCHOOSETOBEUNHAPPY?HOWISITTHATWEDON'TFEELAWAREOFTHECHOICE?Thisisoneofthemostcomplexhumanproblems.Ithastobeconsideredverydeeply,anditisnottheoretical–itconcernsyou.Thisishoweverybodyisbehaving–alwayschoosingthewrong,alwayschoosingthesad,thedepressed,themiserable.Theremustbeprofoundreasonsforit,andthereare.Firstthing:thewayhumanbeingsarebroughtupplaysaverydeniteroleinit.Ifyouareunhappyyougainsomethingfromit,youalwaysgain.Ifyouarehappyyoualwayslose.Fromtheverybeginninganalertchildstartsfeelingthedistinction.Wheneverheisunhappyeverybodyissympathetictowardshim,hegainssympathy.Everybodytriestobelovingtowardshim,hegainslove.Andevenmorethanthatwheneverheisunhappyeverybodyisattentivetowards 20 CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? IntheWest,thewholesocietyisturningagainstpsychedelics.Thelaw,thestate,thegovernment,thelegalexperts,thehighcourts,thelegislators,priests,popes–everybodyisturningagainst.Theyarenotreallyagainstpsychedelics–theyareagainstpeoplebeingecstatic.Theyarenotagainstalcohol,theyarenotagainstotherthingswhicharedrugs,buttheyareagainstpsychedelicsbecausepsychedelicscancreateachemicalchangeinyou.Andtheoldcrustthatthesocietyhascreatedaroundyou,theimprisonmentinmisery,canbebroken,therecanbeabreak-through.Youcancomeoutofit,evenforafewmoments,andbeecstatic.Societycannotallowecstasy.Ecstasyisthegreatestrevolution.Irepeatit:ecstasyisthegreatestrevolution.Ifpeoplebecomeecstaticthewholesocietywillhavetochange,becausethissocietyisbasedonmisery.Ifpeopleareblissfulyoucannotleadthemtowar–toVietnam,ortoEgypt,ortoIsrael.No.Someonewhoisblissfulwilljustlaughandsay:Thisisnonsense!Ifpeopleareblissfulyoucannotmakethemobsessedwithmoney.Theywillnotwastetheirwholelivesjustaccumulatingmoney.Itwilllooklikemadnesstothemthatapersonisdestroyinghiswholelife,justexchanginghislifefordeadmoney,dyingandaccumulatingmoney.Andthemoneywillbetherewhenheisdead.Thisisabsolutemadness!Butthismadnesscannotbeseenunlessyouareecstatic.Ifpeopleareecstaticthenthewholepatternofthissocietywillhavetochange.Thissocietyexistsonmisery.Miseryisagreatinvestmentforthissociety.Sowebringupchildren...fromtheverybeginningwecreatealeaningtowardsmisery.That'swhytheyalwayschoosemisery.Inthemorningforeverybodythereisachoice.Andnotonlyinthemorning,everymomentthereisachoicetobemiserableortobehappy.Youalwayschoosetobemiserablebecausethereisaninvestment.Youalwayschoosetobemiserablebecausethathasbecomeahabit,apattern,youhavealwaysdonethat.Youhavebecomeefcientatdoingit,ithasbecomeatrack.Themomentyourmindhastochoose,itimmediatelyowstowardsmisery.Miseryseemstobedownhill,ecstasyseemstobeuphill.Ecstasylooksverydifculttoreach–butitisnotso.Therealthingisquitetheopposite:ecstasyisdownhill,miseryisuphill.Miseryisaverydifcultthingtoachieve,butyouhaveachievedit,youhavedonetheimpossible–becausemiseryissoanti-nature.NobodywantstobemiserableandeverybodyISmiserable.Societyhasdoneagreatjob.Education,culture,andtheculturingagencies,parents,teachers–theyhavedoneagreatjob.Theyhavemademiserablecreaturesoutofecstaticcreators.Everychildisbornecstatic.Everychildisbornagod.Andeverymandiesamadman.Unlessyourecover,unlessyoureclaimyourchildhood,youwillnotbeabletobecomethewhitecloudsIamtalkingabout.Thisisthewholeworkforyou,thewholeSADHANA–howtoregainchildhood,howtoreclaimit.Ifyoucanbecomechildrenagainthenthereisnomisery.Idon'tmeanthatforachildtherearenomomentsofmisery–thereare.Butstillthereisnomisery.Trytounderstandthis. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds22 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Iwilltellyouoneofthedeepestlawsoflife.Youmaynothavethoughtaboutitatall.Youhaveheard–thewholeofsciencedependsonit–thatcauseandeffectisthebase.Youcreatethecauseandtheeffectfollows.Lifeisacausallink.Youputtheseedinthesoilanditwillsprout.Ifthecauseisthere,thenthetreewillfollow.Thereisthere–youputyourhandinitanditwillburn.Thecauseisthereandtheeffectwillfollow.Youtakepoisonandyouwilldie.Youarrangeforthecauseandthentheeffectfollows.Thisisoneofthemostbasicscienticlaws,thatcauseandeffectistheinnermostlinkofallprocessesoflife.Religionknowsaboutasecondlawwhichisstilldeeperthanthis.Butthesecondlawwhichisdeeperthanthiswilllookabsurd,ifyoudon'tknowitandexperimentwithit.Religionsays:Producetheeffectandthecausefollows.Thisisabsolutelyabsurdinscienticterms.Sciencesays:Ifthecauseisthere,theeffectfollows.Religionsaystheconverseisalsotrue:youcreatetheeffect,andsee...thecausefollows.Thereisasituationinwhichyoufeelhappy.Afriendhascome,abelovedhascalled.Asituationisthecause–youfeelhappy.Happinessistheeffect.Thecomingofthebelovedisthecause.Religionsays:Behappyandthebelovedcomes.Createtheeffectandthecausefollows.Andthisismyownexperience,thatthesecondlawismorebasicthantherst.Ihavebeendoingitandithasbeenhappening.Justbehappyandthebelovedcomes.Justbehappy,andfriendsarethere.Justbehappyandeverythingfollows.Jesussaysthesamethingindifferentwords:SeekyersttheKingdomofGod,thenallelsewillfollow.ButtheKingdomofGodistheend,theeffect.Seekyersttheend–endmeanstheeffect,theresult–andthecausewillfollow.Thisisasitshouldbe.Itisnotonlythatyouplaceaseedinthesoilandthetreefollows;lettherebeatreeandtherearemillionsofseeds.Ifcauseisfollowedbyeffect,effectisagainfollowedbycause.Thisisthechain!Thenitbecomesacircle–startfromanywhere,createthecauseorcreatetheeffect.AndItellyouitiseasiertocreatetheeffectbecausetheeffectdependstotallyuponyou;thecausemaynotbesodependentonyou.IfIsayIcanonlybehappywhenacertainfriendisthere,thenitdependsonacertainfriend,whetherheisthereornot.IfIsayIcannotbehappyuntilIattainthismuchwealth,thenitdependsonthewholeworldandtheeconomicsituationsandeverything.Itmaynothappen,andthenIcannotbehappy.Causeisbeyondme.Effectiswithinme.Causeisinthesurroundings,inthesituations–causeiswithout.EFFECTISME!IfIcancreatetheeffect,thecausewillfollow.Choosehappiness–thatmeansyouarechoosingtheeffect–andthenseewhathappens.Chooseecstasyandseewhathappens.Choosetobeblissfulandseewhathappens.Yourwholelifewillchangeimmediatelyandyouwillseemiracleshappeningaroundyou–becausenowyouhavecreatedtheeffectandcauseswillhavetofollow.Thiswilllookmagical;youcanevencallitthelawofmagic.Therstisthelawofscienceandthesecondisthelawofmagic.Religionismagic,andyoucanbethemagician.That'swhatIteachyou:tobethemagician,toknowthesecretofmagic. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds24 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? rst,thenonehastowaitandwaitandwaitandpostpone.Thereisnoneedtowaittocreatetheeffect.Youcanbetheemperorthisverymoment.WhenIsay:Be!justbetheemperorandsee–thekingdomfollows.Ihaveknownitthroughmyexperience.Iamnottalkingtoyouaboutatheoryoradoctrine.Behappyandinthatpeakofhappinessyouwillseethewholeworldishappywithyou.Thereisanoldsaying:Weepandyouweepalone,laughandtheworldlaughswithyou.Eventhetrees,therocks,thesand,theclouds,ifyoucancreatetheeffectandbeecstatic,theywillalldancewithyou;thenthewholeexistencebecomesadance,acelebration.Butitdependsonyou,ifyoucancreatetheeffect.AndIsaytoyou,youcancreateit.Itistheeasiestthingpossible.Itlooksverydifcultbecauseyouhavenottriedityet.Giveitatry!Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WEHEARWHATYOUSAY,BUTWEINTHEWESTKEEPTHEINFORMATIONINOURHEADS.HOWCANWEGETOUTOFOURHEADS?WHATMETHODSCANWEUSE,ANDCANWILL-POWERHELPUS?No.Will-powerwillnothelpyou.Will-powerisnotapoweratall,becausewilldependsontheego–averytinyphenomenon,itcannotcreatemuchpower.Whenyouarewill-less,thenyouarepowerful–becausethenyouareonewiththewhole.Deepdown,will-powerisasortofimpotency.Tohidethefactthatweareimpotent,wecreatewill.Wecreatetheoppositetodeceiveourselvesandothers.Personswhofeeltheyarefoolishtrytoshowthattheyarewise.Theyareconstantlyawarethattheyarefoolish,sotheydoeverythingtolookwise.Personswhoareuglyorfeeltheyareuglyalwaystrytobeautifythemselves–evenapaintedbeauty,justaface,amask.Peoplewhoareweakalwaystrytolookstrong.Theoppositeiscreated;thatistheonlywaytohidetherealitywithin.AHitlerisaweakling.That'swhyhecreatessomuchwill-poweraroundhim,justtohidethefact.Apersonwhoisreallystrongwillbeunawarethatheisstrong.Strengthwillbeowing,itwillbethere,buthewillnotevenbeconsciousofit.SaysLaoTzu:Amanofrealvirtueneverknowsthatheisvirtuous.Amanwhoisreallymoralisneverawarethatheismoral.Butamanwhoisawarethatheismoralhasimmoralityhiddendeepdown.Amanwhothinksheisgood,saintly,asage,isasinner–andheknowsit!Andjusttohidethefacthecreatestheopposite.Will-powerisnotreallypowerbutweakness.Areallypowerfulmanhasnowillofhisown–thewholeishiswill.Heoatslikeawhitecloud,onewithexistence,intunewithit.Yourwillwillalwayscreateconict.Itwillshrinkyou,makeyouanisland,andthenthestrugglestarts. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds26 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? ThewatchercanNEVERbethein,canneverbetheinsider–heisalwaysout.Watchingmeanstobeout.Youmaycallitwitnessing,awareness,mindfulness,orwhatsoeveryouchoosetocallit,butthesecretis–watch!Sowheneveryoufeeltheheadistoomuch,justsitunderatreeandwatch,anddon'ttrytocomeout.Whowillcomeout?Noonehasbeenin.Thewholeeffortisfutile,becauseifyouhaveneverbeeninthenhowcanyoucomeout?Youmaygoontryingandtryingandgettinginvolvedinit,youmaygetmadbutyouwillneverbeout.Onceyouknowthatinamomentofwatchfulnessyouarebeyond,transcending–youareout.Andfromthatmomentyouwillbeheadless.Theheadbelongstothebody,nottoYOU.Theheadispartofthebody,itbelongstothebody,ithasafunctioninthebody,itisbeautiful,itisgood.Thebottleisprecious,andifyouknowtheway,thesecretsofit,itcanbeused.WhenIamtalkingtoyou,whatamIdoing?Usingthebottle.WhenBuddhaispreaching,whatishedoing?–usingthebottle.ThebottleisREALLYprecious,worthpreserving.Butthisisnowaytopreserveit–togetintoitandgetcaughtintoit,andthenmakeeffortstocomeout.Thewholelifebecomeschaos.Onceyouknowthatwatchingyouareout,youbecomeheadless.Thenyoumoveonthisearthwithoutanyhead.Whatabeautifulphenomenon,amanmovingwithoutahead!That'swhatImeanwhenIsaybecomeawhitecloud–aheadlessphenomenon.Youcannotevenimaginehowmuchsilencecandescenduponyouwhentheheadisnotthere.YourphysicalheadWILLbethere,buttheinvolvement,theobsession,isnotthere.Theheadisnotaproblem!Itisbeautiful,awonderfuldevice,thegreatestcomputeryetinvented,suchacomplex,suchanefcientmechanism.Itisbeautiful.Itcanbeused,youcanenjoyusingit.Butfromwherehaveyougottheideathatyouareinit?Itseemstobejustafalseteaching.YoumaynotbeawarethatinoldJapan,andstilloldpeopleinJapan,ifyouaskthem:Wheredoyouthinkfrom?theywillpointtotheirbelly,becauseinJapanitwastaughtthatthebellyisthecenterofthinking.SowhenforthersttimeEuropeansreachedJapan,theycouldn'tbelievethatawholecountrythinksthattheheadisinthebellynotinthehead.ThisisjustaWesternattitudethatyouareinthehead.InoldJapanthinkingfromthebellyreallyworked,butnowtheyareshiftingfromthebellytothehead.Therehavebeenothertraditionsthathavethoughtfromotherpartsofthebody.LaoTzusaysyouthinkfromthesolesofyourfeet.SotherearetechniquesinTaoistyogatogetoutofthesolesofyourfeet–becauseTHEREthethinkingisgoingon.Whatisthereality?Therealityis:youarebeyond.Butyoucangetattachedtoanypartofthebody–theheadisaWesternobsession,thebellywastheEasternobsession.YoumusthaveheardaboutD.H.Lawrence.Heusedtothinkthatonethinksfromthesexcenter,thatthatistherealthinkingcenter,nowhereelse.Andallareequal–equallywrongorequallyright.Thereisnothingtochoosebecausethewitnessisbeyond.Itisallaroundthebodyandbeyondthebody.Youcangetattachedtoanypartofthebodyandstartthinkingthatthisisthepart. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds28 Osho CHAPTER4 AllHopesareFalse 13May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVEBEENTELLINGUSHOWEASYITISTODROPOUREGOSANDBECOMEONEWITHTHEWHITECLOUD.YOUHAVEALSOTOLDUSTHATWEHAVEHADMILLIONSOFLIVESANDMANYOFTHEMHAVEBEENWITHBUDDHAS,KRISHNASANDCHRISTS–YETSTILLWEHAVENOTGIVENUPOUREGOS.AREN'TYOUCREATINGFALSEHOPESINUS?Allhopesarefalse.Tohopeistobefalse.Soitisnotaquestionofcreatingfalsehopes:whatsoeveryoucanhopewillbefalse.Hopecomesoutofyourfalsityofbeing.Ifyouarerealthereisnoneedforanyhope.Thenyouneverthinkaboutthefuture,aboutwhatisgoingtohappen.Youaresoreal,soauthenticthatthefuturedisappears.Whenyouareunrealthenthefuturebecomesverysignicant,thenyouliveinthefuture.Thenyourrealityisnothereandnow,yourrealityissomewhereinyourdreams.Andyoumakethosedreamslookrealbecausethroughthosedreamsyougainyourreality.Asyouare,youareunreal.That'swhysomuchhopinggoeson.Allhopesarefalse;youarereal.Mywholeeffortishowtothrowyoutoyourself. 30 CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Toyouitisareality,toyouIsayitistheonlyreality.Thefalsehasbecomethereal.Theshadowhasbecomethesubstance.That'swhyitisdifcult–notdifcultbecauseegoisverypowerful,no;itisdifcultbecauseyoustillbelieveinit,initspower.Ifyoubelieveinit,itisgoingtobedifcult,becauseontheonehandyouwanttodropit,andontheotherhandyougoonclingingtoit.Itisgoingtobedifcult.WhenIsaytoyouitisadream,youwanttobelieveitbecauseyouhavesufferedsomuchthroughit,becauseyoufeelthetruthofwhatIamsaying.IfyoufeelthetruthofwhatIamsayingyouwilldropitimmediately.Youwillnotaskhow.Thereisnohowtoit.Youseethepointandyoudropit.Youdon'tseethetruthofwhatIamsaying.WhenIsayitisnotrealizedthattheegoisfalseandcanbedropped,whenIsaythattheegocanbedropped,youcreateahopeoutofit.Becauseyouhavebeensufferingsomuchthroughit,youcreateahopethatiftheegocanbedroppedthenallsufferingwillbedropped.Youbecomehappywiththishope.Iamnotcreatingthehope,youarecreatingthehope.Iamsimplystatingafactthatthisistheconstructionoftheego.Thisishowanegoisstructured,thisishowanegoiscreatedandthisishowitcanbedropped!Andbecauseitisfalse,noeffortisneeded.Justseeingthepointitdisappears.Amanisrunning,scared,afraidtodeath,andrunningbecauseofhisownshadow.Youstophimandtellhim:Youarefoolish!Thisisyourownshadow–nobodyisfollowingyouandnobodyisgoingtomurderyou.Thereisnobodyexceptyou.Youhavebecomescaredofyourownshadow.Butonceyoustartrunningtheshadowalsorunsfaster.Thefasteryourun,thefastertheshadowfollows.Thenthelogicalmindcansaythatyouareindanger.Andthelogicalmindwillsay:Ifyouwanttoescaperunfasterandfaster.Butwhatsoeveryoudotheshadowwillbefollowingyou.Andifyoucannotgetridofit,youwillgetmoreandmorescared.Youarecreatingthewholethingoutofyourself.ButifIsaytoyou:Thisisjustashadow,nobodyisfollowingyou,andyourealizethepoint,youlookattheshadowandyoufeelthepoint,willyouaskmehowtodropthisshadow?Willyouaskaboutsometechnique,method,someyoga,howtodropit?Youwillsimplylaugh.Youhavedroppedit!Inthemomentyouseethatthisisjustashadowandnobodyisfollowingyou,ithasbeendroppedalready.Thereisnoquestionofhow.Youwillhaveagoodlaugh.Thewholethingwasnonsense.Andthesamehappenswiththeego.IfyoucanseethetruthofwhatIamsaying,thethinghashappened.Intheveryseeingofitthethinghashappened.Thereisnomorehowtoit.Ifyoustillaskhow,thethinghasnothappenedandyouhavenotseenthepoint–butyouhavecreatedahopeoutofit.Becauseyouhavebeensufferingthroughthisego,youhavealwayswantedtodropit,butthiswanthasalwaysbeenhalfofyourmind.Allyoursufferinghascomethroughtheego,butallyourpleasureshavealsocomethroughtheego.Acrowdapplaudsyou,appreciatesyou–youfeelgood.Thatistheonlyblissyouhaveknown.Youregoriseshigh,reachestoapeak,becomesanEverest.Youenjoyit!Andthenthecrowdcondemnsyouandyoufeelhurt.Thecrowdbecomesindifferent;youarecrushedbyit.Youfallintoavalley,adepression.Youhavebeengainingpleasurethroughtheego,youhavebeensufferingthroughit.Becauseofsufferingyouwanttodropit,butbecauseofpleasuresyoucannotdropit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds32 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Thewindwasblowing,andthetreemusthavebeendancing;thencamethefullmoon,andthewholeexistencewascelebrating.Andthebreathingcomingin,goingout,andthebloodcirculatingintheveins,andtheheartbeating,andthepulse–andeverythingwashappening!Buthewasnotdoinganything.Inthisnon-doingGautamSiddharthadisappeared.Bythemorningtherewasnoonetoreceiveenlightenment,butenlightenmentwasthere.Underthatbodhitreeavacantvehiclewassitting–breathingofcourse,heartbeatingofcourse,betterthanever.Everythingfunctioningperfectly,butnodoerthere.Bloodcirculating,thewholeexistencearound–alive,dancing.EveryatominBuddha'sbodydancing,alive.Ithadneverbeensoalive,butnowenergymovingofitsownaccord–nobodypushingit,nobodymanipulatingit.Buddhabecameawhitecloud.Enlightenmenthappened.Itcanhappentoyoualso,butdon'tcreateanyhopeoutofit.Rather,seeingthepoint,dropallhopes.Becomehopeless,perfectlyhopeless.Itisdifculttobecomeperfectlyhopeless.Manytimesyoureachhopelessnessbutitisneverperfect.Onehopedrops,youfeelhopelessness.Butimmediately,tocoveritup,youcreateanotherhope.Andhopelessnessisgone.Peoplegoonmovingfromonemastertoanother;thatismovementfromonehopetoanother.Theygotoonemasterwithhopesthathewillgivethroughhisgrace,thatthroughhisenergythethingwillhappen.Thentheytry,thentheywait,withaverystrainedmind,becauseamindwhichhopescanneverbeatease;withaveryimpatientmind,becauseamindwhichislledwithhopecannotbepatient.Andthentheystartfeelinguneasybecausethethingisnothappening.Sothismasteriswrong,theymustmovetosomeoneelse.Thisisnotmovementfromonemastertoanother,thisismovementfromonehopetoanother.Peoplemovefromonereligiontoanother;thereareconversionsjustbecauseofhope.Youcangoondoingitformany,manylives.Youhavebeendoingthat.Now,trytoseethepoint!Itisneitheraquestionofamasternoraquestionofarightmethod.Itisaquestionofadirectinsight,animmediatepenetrationintothephenomenonofwhatishappening,ofwhyyouhope,ofwhyyoucan'tbewithouthope.Andwhathaveyougainedoutofallyourhoping?Seeit.Itdropsbyitself.Youarenotevenrequiredtodropit.That'swhyIsayitiseasy,andIknowwellitisverydifcult.Difcultbecauseofyou,easybecauseofitself.Thephenomenoniseasy,youaredifcult.Andthiscanhappenanymoment.WhenIsaythiscanhappenanymoment,Imeanthephenomenonofenlightenment,ofegolessness,isnotcausedbyanything.Nocauseisneeded.Itisnotanoutcomeofmanycauses,itisnotaby-product.Itissimpleinsight.Itcanhappentoasinner;itmaynothappentoasaint.Sononecessaryconditionisneededreally.Ifhecansee,itcanhappeneventoasinner.Ifhebecomeshopeless,ifhefeelsthatthereisnothingtobegainedandachieved,ifhecomestoseethatthewholethingisjustanabsurdgame,itcanhappen.Itmaynothappentoasaintbecausethesaintgoesontryingtoachieve.Heisnotyethopeless.Thisworldhasbecomefutile,butanotherworldhasbecomemeaningful.Herealizesthathehastoleavethisearth,butthereareheavensbeyond–hehastoreachthere. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds34 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE death.Betweenmanandwomanthereexistsabalance.Betweenmanandwoman–thesetwopoles,thesetwobanks–owstheriveroflife.Whereveryoulookyouwillndthesameenergymovingintopolarities,balancingitself.Thispolarityisverymeaningfulformeditation,becausemindislogical,andlifeisdialectical.WhenIsaymindislogical,itmeansmindmovesinaline.WhenIsaylifeisdialectical,itmeanslifemoveswiththeopposite,notinaline.Itzig-zagsfromnegativetopositive,positivetonegative,negativetopositive.Itzig-zags.ItUSEStheopposites.Mindmovesinaline,asimple,straightline.Itnevermovestotheopposite.Itdeniestheopposite.Itbelievesinoneandlifebelievesintwo.Sowhatsoevermindcreates,italwayschoosestheone.Ifmindchoosessilence,ifmindhasbecomefedupwithallthenoisethatiscreatedinlifeanditdecidestobesilent,thenthemindgoestotheHimalayas.Itwantstobesilent.Itdoesn'twantanythingtodowithanytypeofnoise.Eventhesongofthebirdswilldisturbit;abreezeblowingthroughthetreeswillbeadisturbance.Themindwantssilence.Ithaschosentheline.Nowtheoppositehastobedeniedcompletely.ButthismanlivingintheHimalayas,seekingsilence,avoidingtheother,theopposite,willbecomedead,hewillcertainlybecomedull.Andthemorehechoosestobesilent,thedullerhewillbecome–becauselifeneedstheopposite,thechallengeoftheopposite.Thereisadifferenttypeofsilencewhichexistsbetweentwoopposites.Therstisadeadsilence,thesilenceofthecemetery.Adeadmanissilent,butyouwouldnotliketobeadeadman.Adeadmanisabsolutelysilent,nobodycandisturbhim.Hisconcentrationisperfect,youcannotdoanythingtodistracthismind.Hismindisabsolutelyxed.Evenif,allaround,thewholeworldgoesmad,hewillremaininhisconcentration.Butstill,youwouldnotliketobeadeadman.Silence,concentration,orwhateveritiscalled,youwouldnotliketobedead–becauseifyouaresilentwhendeadthesilenceismeaningless.Silencemusthappenwhileyouareabsolutelyalive,vital,bubblingwithlifeandenergy.Thensilenceismeaningful.Butthensilencewillhaveadifferent,altogetherdifferentqualitytoit.Itwillnotbedull,itwillbealive.Itwillbeasubtlebalancebetweentwopolarities.Thensuchatypeofman,whoisseekingalivebalance,alivesilence,wouldliketomovetothemarketandtotheHimalayasboth.Hewouldliketogotothemarkettoenjoynoise,andhewouldalsoliketogototheHimalayastoenjoysilence.Andhewillcreateabalancebetweenthesetwopolaropposites,andhewillremaininthatbalance.Andthatbalancecannotbeachievedthroughlinearefforts.ThatiswhatismeantbytheZentechniqueofeffortlesseffort.Itusescontradictoryterms–effortlesseffort,orgatelessgate,orpathlesspath.Zenalwaysusesthecontradictorytermimmediately,justtogiveyouthehintthattheprocessisgoingtobedialectical,notlinear.Theoppositeisnottobedeniedbutabsorbed.Theoppositeisnottobeleftaside,ithastobeused.Leftaside,itwillalwaysbeaburdenonyou.Leftaside,itwillhangwithyou.Unused,youwillmissmuch.Theenergycanbeconvertedandused.Andthen,usingit,youwillbemorevital,morealive.Theoppositehastobeabsorbed,thentheprocessbecomesdialectical. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds36 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE meanthesame.Thesearethetwopoles.Thesearethetwodialecticalpoles,thethesisandtheantithesis.Thesearethetwobanks,andyouaresomewherebetweenthesetwo–neithermovingnornon-moving.Thisistheultimatetranscendence.ThisiswhatHinduscalltheBRAHMA.Effortandeffortlessness,movementandnomovement,activityandnoactivity,matterandthesoul–thesearethebanks.Andbetweenthesetwoowstheinvisible.Thesetwoarevisibles.Betweenthesetwoowstheinvisible.Thatyouare.TATTWAMASISWETKETU,saystheUpanishad.Thatwhichowsbetweenthesetwobanks,thatwhichcannotbeseen,thatwhichisreallyasubtlebalance,nothingelse,betweenthesetwo,thatartthou.ThathasbeencalledtheBrahma,thesupremeself.Abalancehastobeachieved.Andbalancecanbeachievedonlywhenyouuseboththepolarities.Ifyouuseoneyoubecomedead.Manyhavedonethat–evenwholesocietieshavebecomedead.ThishashappenedtoIndia.Ifyouchooseone,thenunbalance,lopsidedness,happens.IthappenedinIndia,intheEast,thatthesilentpart,thestillpoint,waschosenandtheactivepartdenied.SothewholeEastbecamedull.Thesharpnesswaslost.Thesharpnessofintelligence,thesharpnessofbodyvigor,everythingwaslost.TheEastbecamemoreandmoredull,ugly,asiflifewasjustaburdentobecarriedsomehowanddropped,adutytobefullled,akarmatobesuffered–notanenjoyment,notavigorousdance,butadull,lethargicmovement.Andithaditsconsequences.TheEastbecameweak,becausewithastillpointyoucannotremainstrongforever,forlong.Strengthneedsactivity,strengthneedsmovement.Ifyoudenyactivity,strengthdisappears.TheEastlostitsmusclescompletely;thebodybecameabby.SoanybodywhodesiredtocouldconquertheEast.Forthousandsofyears,slaverywastheonlydestinyfortheEast.AnyonewhohadjustanideatomakeanybodyaslavewouldturntowardstheEast.TheEastwasalwaysreadytobeconquered,becausetheEasternmindhadchosenapointAGAINSTthepolaropposite.TheEastbecamesilent,butdeadanddullalso.Thistypeofsilenceisnotworthanything.TheoppositeishappeningintheWest.Ithashappenedinothersocietiesalso.Theyhavechosentheactivepart,theperiphery,andtheythinkthatthereisnosoul.Theythinkthisactivityisall,andtobeactiveandtoenjoy,andtoachieveandtobeambitiousandtoconquerisallthatlifeconsistsof.TheultimateresultisgoingtobemoreandmoremadnessintheWest–becausewithoutthatstillpointyoucannotremainsane.Youwillbecomeinsane.Withonlythestillpoint,youcannotremainalive,youbecomedead;withonlytheactive,youbecomeinsane.Peoplewhoareinsane,whathashappenedtothem?Theyhavelostallcontactwiththeirstillpoint.That'swhattheirinsanityis.TheWestisturningintoabigmadhouse.Moreandmorepeoplearebeingpsychoanalyzed,psychiatricallytreated;moreandmorepeoplearebeingputintomadhouses.Andthosewhoareout,theyareout,notbecausetheyaresane,butonlybecausesomanypeoplecannotbeputinhousesfortheinsane;otherwise,thewholesocietywouldhavetobeputinaprison.Theyarenormal,workablynormal.ButWesternpsychologysaysthatnowitisdifculttosaythatanymanisnormal.Andtheymayberight.IntheWestithashappened:nomanisnormal.Activityalonecreatesmadness–balanceisimpossible. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds38 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Becomemoremovement.Bemovingandallowlifetoow.Onceyouknowthatbetweentheoppositesbalanceispossible,onceyouhaveaglimpseofit,thenyouknowtheart.Theneverywhereinlife,ineverydimensionoflife,youcanattainthatbalanceveryeasily.Really,tosaythatyoucanattainisnotgood.Onceyouknowtheknackofit,whatsoeveryoudo,thebalancefollowsyoulikeashadow.Thisinnerbalancebetweentheoppositesisthemostsignicantthingthatcanhappentoaman.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds40 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Theegocanexistonlythroughthememory:whoyouare,fromwhereyoucome,towhomyoubelong,thecountry,therace,thereligion,thefamily,thetradition,andallthehurts,wounds,pleasures–allthathashappenedinthepast.Allthathashappenedistheego.Andyouarethattowhomallthishashappened.Thisdistinctionhastobeunderstood:youarethattowhomallhashappened,andtheegoisthatwhichhashappened.Theegoisaroundyou.Youareinthecenter,egoless.Achildisbornabsolutelyfreshandyoung–nopast,noego.That'swhychildrenaresobeautiful.Theydon'thaveanypast.Theyareyoungandfresh.TheycannotsayI,becausefromwherewilltheybringtheI?TheIhastodevelopgradually.Theywillgeteducated,theywillgetawards,punishments,theywillbeappreciated,condemned–thentheIwillgather.Achildisbeautifulbecausetheegoisnotthere.Anoldmanbecomesugly,notbecauseofoldage,butbecauseoftoomuchpast,toomuchoftheego.Anoldmancanalsobecomeagainbeautiful,evenmorebeautifulthanachild,ifhecandroptheego.Thenthereisasecondchildhood,thenarebirth.ThisisthemeaningoftheresurrectionofJesus.Itisnotanhistoricalfact,itisaparable.Jesusiscruciedandthenheresurrects.Themanwhowascruciedisnomore;thatwasthesonofthecarpenter,Jesus.NowJesusisdead,crucied.Anewentityarisesoutofthat.Outofthisdeathanewlifeisborn.ThisisChrist–notthesonofaparticularcarpenterinBethlehem,notaJew,notevenaman.ThisisChrist,somethingnew,egoless.Andthesamewillhappentoyouwheneveryouregoisonthecross.Wheneveryouregoiscrucied,thereisaresurrection,arebirth.Youarebornagain.Andthischildhoodiseternal,becausethisisarebirthofthespirit,notofthebody.Nowyouwillneverbecomeold.Alwaysandalwaysyouwillbefreshandyoung–asfreshasthedew-dropinthemorning,asfreshastherststarinthenight.Youwillalwaysremainfresh,young,achild,innocent–becausethisisaresurrectionofthespirit.Thisalwayshappensinamoment.Egoistime–themoretime,themoreego.Egoneedstime.Ifyoupenetratedeeplyyoumayevenbeabletoconceivethattimeexistsonlybecauseoftheego.Timeisnotpartofthephysicalworldaroundyou,itispartofthepsychicworldwithinyou,themind-world.Timeexistsjustasaspacefortheegotoevolveandtogrow.Roomisneeded;timegivestheroom.Ifitissaidtoyouthatthisisthelastmomentofyourlife,nextmomentyouaregoingtobeshotdead,suddenlytimedisappears.Youfeelveryuneasy.Youarestillalive,butsuddenlyyoufeelasifyouaredying.Andyoucan'tthinkwhattodo.Eventothinkbecomesdifcult,becauseevenforthinking,timeisneeded,futureisneeded.Thereisnotomorrow,thenwheretothink,howtodesire,howtohope?Thereisnotime.Timeisnished. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds42 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW IfyoucanunderstandwhatIamsaying,thattheegocanbedroppedthisverymoment,andifitistrue,thenthequestionarises:Whyisitnotdropping?Whycan'tyoudropit?Ifthereisnoquestionofgradualgrowth,thenwhyareyounotdroppingit?Becauseyoudon'twanttodropit.Thiswillshockyou,becauseyougoonthinkingthatyouwanttodropit.Reconsiderit,thinkagain.Youdon'twanttodropit,henceitcontinues.Itisnotaquestionoftime.Becauseyoudon'twanttodropit,nothingcanbedone!Mysteriousarethewaysofthemind.Youthinkthatyouwanttodropit,anddeepdownyouknowyoudon'twanttodropit.Youmaywanttopolishitalittlemore,youmaywantittobemorerened,butyoudon'treallywanttodropit.Ifyouwanttodropitthereisnoonewhoispreventing.Nobarrierexists.Justforthewantingitcanbedropped.Butifyoudon'twanttodropitnothingcanbedone.EvenathousandBuddhasworkingonyouwillfail,becausenothingcanbedonefromtheoutside.Haveyoureallythoughtaboutit,haveyouevermeditatedonit,whetheryouwanttodropit?Doyoureallywanttobecomeanon-being,anothing?Eveninyourreligiousprojectionsyouwanttobesomething,youwanttoachievesomething,reachsomewhere,besomething.Evenwhenyouthinkofbeinghumble,yourhumility,yourhumbleness,isjustasecrethiding-placefortheegoandnothingelse.Lookatso-calledhumblepeople.Theysaytheyarehumbleandtheywilltrytoprovethattheyarethemosthumbleintheirtown,intheircity,intheirlocality–themosthumble.Andifyouargueandifyousay:No,somebodyelseismorehumblethanyou,theywillfeelhurt.Whoisfeelinghurt?IwasjustreadingaboutoneChristiansaint.Hesayseverydaytohisgodinhisprayer:Iamthemostwickedpersononthisearth,thegreatestsinner.Apparently,heisaveryhumbleman,butheisnot.Hesaysthegreatestsinnerontheearth,andifevenGodisgoingtodisputeit,hewillargue.Theinterest,thedeepinterest,isinbeingthegreatest,notinbeingthesinner.Youcanbeasinnerifyouareallowedtobethegreatestsinner.Youcanenjoyit.Greatestsinner–thenyoubecomeapeak.Virtueorsinisimmaterial.Youmustbesomeone.Whatsoeverthereasonforit,youregomustbeatthetop.GeorgeBernardShawisreportedtohavesaid,”Iwouldratherberstinhellthansecondinheaven.Hellisnotabadplaceifyouaretherstandforemost.Evenheavenwilllookdullifyouarejuststandingsomewhereinaqueue,anobody.”AndBernardShawisright.Thisishowthehumanmindfunctions.Nobodywantstodroptheego.Otherwise,thereisnoproblem–youcansimplydropitrightnow.Andifyoufeelthattimeisneeded,thentimeisneededonlyforyourunderstandingthatyouareclingingtoit.Andthemomentyoucanunderstandthatitisyourclinging,thethingwillhappen.Youmaytakemanylivestounderstandthissimplefact.Youhavealreadytakenmanylives,andyouhavenotyetunderstood.Thislooksveryweird.Thereissomethingwhichisaburdentoyou,whichgivesyouhell,acontinuoushell,butstillyouclingtoit.Theremustbesomedeepreasonforit,averydeep-rootedcause.Iwouldliketotalkaboutitalittle.Youmaybecomeaware. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds44 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW memberofparliament.Theyarethinking–howtobecomeadeputyministerandaministerandaprimeminister,andhowtobecomeapresident.Theegogoesonandonandon.Itgivesyouaconstantoccupation–howtoachievemoreriches,howtocreateakingdom.Theegogivesyoudreams,continuousinneroccupation.Andyoufeelmuchisgoingon.Unoccupied,suddenlyyoubecomeawareofinneremptiness.Thesedreamslltheinneremptiness.Nowpsychologistssaythatamancanlivewithoutfoodforatleastninetydays,buthecannotlivewithoutdreamingforninetydays.Hewillgomad.Ifdreamingisnotallowedwithinthreeweeksyouwillgomad.Withoutfood,threeweekswillnotharmyou–itmayevenbegoodforyourhealth.Threeweekswithoutfood,agoodfast,willrejuvenateyourwholesystem,youwillbemorealiveandyoung.Butthreeweeksofnon-dreaming...youwillgomad.Dreamingmustfulllsomedeep-rootedneed.Theneedisthatitgivesyouoccupation;withoutrealoccupationitgivesyouoccupation.Youcansitanddreamanddowhatsoeveryoulike,andthewholeworldmovesaccordingtoyou–inyourdreamsatleast.Nobodycreatesaproblem.Youcankillanybody,youcanmurder.Youcanchangeasyoulike.Youarethemasterthere.Theegofeelsmostvitalwhiledreaming,becausethereisnobodywhocanantagonizeyou,whocansay:No,thisiswrong.Youarewholeandsole.Whatsoeveryouwant,youcreate.Whatsoeveryoudon'twant,youdestroy.Youareabsolutelypowerful.Youareomnipotentinyourdreams.Dreamsstoponlywhenegodrops.Sothisisthesign,really;inoldyogascriptures,thisisthesignofamanwhohasbecomeenlightened:hecannotdream.Dreamingstopsbecausethereisnoneed.Itwasanego-need.Youwanttobeoccupied.That'swhyyoucannotdroptheego.Unlessyouarereadytobeempty,unoccupied,unlessyouarereadytobenobody,unlessyouarereadytoenjoyandcelebratelifeevenifyouarenotneeded,egocannotbedropped.Youhaveaneedtobeneeded.Somebodymustneedyou–thenyoufeelgood.Ifmoreandmorepeopleneedyou,youfeelbetterandbetter.That'swhyleadershipissomuchenjoyed,becausesomanypeopleneedyou.Aleadercanbecomeveryhumble.Thereisnoneedtoasserthisego.Hisegoisalreadysodeeplyfullledbecausesomanypeopleneedhim,somanypeopledependonhim.Hehasbecomethelifeofsomanypeople,sohecanbehumble,hecanaffordtobehumble.Youmustrememberthisfactthatpeoplewhoasserttheiregostoomucharealwayspeoplewhocannotinuenceothers.Thentheybecomeassertivebecausethatistheironlywaytosay:Iamsomebody.Iftheycaninuencepeople,iftheycanpersuade,theywillneverbeassertive.Theywillbeveryhumble–apparently,atleast.Theywillnotlookegoistic,because,inaverysubtleway,somanypeopledependonthem–theyhavebecomesignicant,theirlifeappearsmeaningfultothem.Ifyouregoisyourmeaning,ifyouregoisyoursignicance,howcanyoudropit?Listeningtome,youstartthinkingtodropit.Butjustbythinkingyoucannotdroptheego.Youhavetocometounderstandtheroots–whereitis,whereitexists,whyitexists. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds46 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Sowhatsoeverdisappearsthroughunderstandingiswrong;whatsoeverbecomesmorerootedisright.AndthisishowIdenegoodandevil,virtueandsin–PUNYAandPAAP.Aholymanisamanofunderstanding,nothingelse.Asinnerisamanofnounderstanding,that'sall.Betweenaholymanandasinnerthedistinctionisnotofsinandholiness,itisofunderstanding.Understandingworksasaheatingprocess.Amomentcomes,arightmoment,whentheheatinghascometotheboiling-point.Suddenlytheegodrops.Youcannotdropitdirectly–youcanpreparethesituationinwhichithappens.Thatsituationwilltaketime.Twoschoolshavealwaysexisted.Oneschoolisofsuddenenlightenmentwhichsaysenlightenmenthappenssuddenly,itisnon-temporal.Anotherschool,justcontradictingtherst,isofgradualenlightenment;itsaysenlightenmentcomesgradually,nothinghappenssuddenly.Andbothareright,becausebothhavechosenonepartofthephenomenon.Thegradualschoolhaschosentherstpart,theunderstandingpart.Theysayithastobethroughtime,understandingwillcomethroughtime.Andtheyareright!Theysayyouneednotworryaboutthesudden.Yousimplyfollowtheprocess,andifthewaterisheatedrightlyitwillevaporate.Youneednotbotheraboutevaporation.Yousimplyleaveitcompletelyoutofyourmind.Yousimplyheatthewater.Anotherschool,quitetheopposite,whichsaysenlightenmentissudden,hastakentheendpart.Itsaystherstthingisnotveryessential:therealthingisthatthatexplosionhappensinano-timegap.Therstthingisjusttheperiphery.Thereal,thesecondthing,isthecenter.ButItellyoubothareright.Enlightenmenthappenssuddenly.Ithasalwayshappenedsuddenly.Butunderstandingtakestime.Botharerightandbothcanbeinterpretedwronglyalso.Youcanplaytrickswithyourself.Youcandeceiveyourself.Ifyoudon'twanttodoanything,itisbeautifultobelieveinsuddenenlightenment.Thenyousay:”Thereisnoneedtodoanything.Ifithappenssuddenly,itwillhappensuddenly.WhatcanIdo?Icansimplywait.”Thatmaybeaself-deception.Becauseofthis,inJapanparticularly,religionsimplydisappeared.Japanhasalongtraditionofsuddenenlightenment.Zensaysenlightenmentissudden.Becauseofthis,thewholecountrybecameirreligious.Byandby,peoplecametobelievethatsuddenenlightenmentistheonlypossibility:Nothingcanbedoneaboutit–wheneveritisgoingtohappen,itwillhappen.Ifitisgoingtohappen,itwillhappen.Ifitisnotgoingtohappen,itwillnothappen.Andwecannotdoanything,sowhybother?IntheEast,Japanisthemostmaterialisticcountry.IntheEast,JapanexistsasapartoftheWest.Thisisstrange,becauseJapanhasoneofthemostbeautifultraditionsofDHYAN,CHAN–Zen.Whydiditdisappear?Itdisappearedbecauseofthisconceptofsuddenenlightenment.Peoplestarteddeceivingthemselves.InIndia,anotherphenomenonhashappened...andthat'swhyIgoonsayingagainandagainthatthehumanmindissodeceptiveandcunning.Youhavetobeconstantlyalert,otherwiseyouwillbedeceived.InIndia,wehaveanothertradition,thatofgradualenlightenment.That'swhatyogameans.Youhavetoworkforit,workhardthroughmanylives.Disciplineisneeded,workisneeded,andunless MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds48 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW First,fortwothousandyearstheobsessionwashowtokillit.Youcannotkillit.Noenergycanbekilled–energycanonlybetransformed.Thereisnowaytodestroyenergy.Nothingcanbedestroyedinthisworld,itcanonlybetransformed,changed,movedintoanewrealmanddimension.Destructionisimpossible.Youcannotcreateanewenergy,andyoucannotdestroyanoldenergy.Creationanddestructionarebothbeyondyou.Theycannotbedone.Now,scientistsagreetothis–notevenasingleatomcanbedestroyed.Fortwothousandyears,Christianitywastryingtodestroysexenergy.Religionconsistedofbecomingabsolutelywithoutsex.Thatcreatedamadness.Themoreyought,themoreyousuppress,themoresexualyoubecome.Andthensexmovesdeeperintotheunconscious.Itpoisonsyourwholebeing.SoifyoureadthelivesofChristiansaints,youwillseetheyareobsessedwithsex.Theycannotpray,theycannotmeditate.Whatsoevertheydo,sexcomesin.Andtheythinkthatthedevilisplayingtricks.Nobodyisplayingtricks.Ifyousuppress,YOUarethedevil.Aftertwothousandyearsofcontinuoussex-repression,theWestbecamefedupwithit.Itwastoomuch.Thewholewheelturned.Now,insteadofrepression,indulgence,toindulgeinitbecamethenewobsession.Fromonepolethemindmovedtotheotherpole.Thediseaseremainedthesame.Onceitwasrepression.Nowitishowtoindulgemoreandmoreinit.Botharesickattitudes.Sexhastobetransformed–neitherrepressednormadlyindulged.Andtheonlypossiblewaytotransformsexistobesexualwithdeepmeditativeawareness.ItisjustthesameasIwassayingaboutanger.Moveintosex,butwithanalert,conscious,mindfulbeing.Don'tallowittobecomeanunconsciousforce.Don'tbepulledandpushedbyit.Moveknowingly,understandingly,lovingly.Butmakesexualexperienceameditativeexperience.Meditateinit.ThisiswhattheEasthasdonethroughTantra.Andonceyouaremeditativeinsexualexperience,thequalityofitstartschanging.Thesameenergywhichismovingintosexualexperiencestartsmovingtowardsconsciousness.Youcanbecomesoalertinapeaksexualorgasm,asyoucanotherwiseneverbecome–becausenootherexperienceissodeep,nootherexperienceissoabsorbing,nootherexperienceissototal.Inasexualorgasm,youareTOTALLYabsorbed,rootandall–yourwholebeingvibrating,yourwholebeinginit.Body,mind–bothareinit.Andthinkingstopscompletely.Evenforasinglesecond,whentheorgasmreachesitspeak,thinkingstopscompletely,becauseyouaresototalyoucannotthink.InasexualorgasmyouARE.Beingistherewithoutanythinking.Inthismoment,ifyoucanbecomealert,conscious,thensexcanbecomethedoortowardsthedivine.Andifinthismomentyoucanbecomealert,thatalertnesscanbecarriedinothermomentsalso,inotherexperiencesalso.Itcanbecomeapartofyou.Theneating,walking,doingsomework,youcancarrythatalertness.Throughsex,thealertnesshastouchedyourdeepestcore.Ithaspenetratedyou.Nowyoucancarryit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds50 Osho CHAPTER6 AreYouStillCarryingher? 15May1974aminBuddhaHallBELOVEDOSHO,THEREISAZENSTORYABOUTTWOMONKSWHOWERERETURNINGTOTHEIRMONASTERY.WHILEWALKINGAHEAD,THEOLDERMONKCAMETOARIVER.ONTHEBANKTHEREWASABEAUTIFULYOUNGGIRL.SHEWASAFRAIDTOCROSSALONE.THEOLDMONKQUICKLYLOOKEDAWAYFROMHERANDCROSSEDTHERIVER.WHENHEWASONTHEOTHERSIDEHELOOKEDBACK,ANDTOHISHORRORHESAWTHEYOUNGERMONKCARRYINGTHEGIRLACROSSTHERIVERONHISSHOULDERS.THETWOMONKSCONTINUEDTHEIRJOURNEYSIDEBYSIDE.WHENTHEYWEREJUSTOUTSIDETHEMONASTERYGATESTHEOLDERMONKSAIDTOTHEYOUNGER:THATWASNOTGOOD,THATWASAGAINSTTHERULES,WEMONKSARENOTSUPPOSEDTOTOUCHWOMEN.THEYOUNGERMONKREPLIED:ILEFTHERONTHEBANKOFTHERIVER,AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER?Question1BELOVEDOSHO, 52 CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Innootherthingareyousoanimal-likeasinsex,becauseinnootherthingareyounatural–ineverythingelseyoucanbeunnatural.Youareeatingfood.Wehavecreatedsomuchsophisticationabouteatingthatyouarenotlikeanimals.Thebasicthingisliketheanimal;butyourtables,yourtablemanners,thewholeculture,theetiquetteyouhavecreatedaroundfoodisjusttomakeitdistinctfromanimals.Animalsliketoeatalone.Soeverysocietycreatesinthemindofeveryindividualthattoeataloneisnotgood.Share,eatwiththefamily,eatwithfriends,inviteguests.Noanimalisinterestedinguests,infriends,infamily.Wheneverananimaliseatinghewantsnobodytocomenear;hegoesintoloneliness.Ifamanwantstoeataloneyouwillsayheisanimal-like,hedoesn'twanttoshare.Hishabitofeatingisnatural,notsophisticated.Aroundfoodwehavecreatedsomuchsophisticationthathungerhasbecomelessimportant,tastehasbecomemoreimportant.Noanimalbothersaboutthetaste.Hungerisabasicnecessity–hungerisfullled,theanimalissatised.Butnotman–asifhungerisnotthepoint;somethingelseisthepoint.Moreimportantistaste,moreimportantaremanners,moreimportanthowyoueat,notwhatyoueat.Ineverythingelsemanhascreatedhisownarticialworldaroundhim.Animalsarenaked–that'swhywedon'twanttobenude.Andifsomebodyisnudesuddenlyhehitsourcivilizationtotally,hecutstheveryroots.That'swhythereissomuchantagonismagainstnakedpeople–allovertheworld.Ifyougoandmovenakedinthestreet,youarenothurtinganybody,youarenotdoinganyviolencetoanybody;youareabsolutelyinnocent.Butimmediatelythepolicewillcome,thewholesurroundingwillbecomeagitated.Youwillbecaughtandbeatenandputintojail.Butyouhavenotdoneanythingatall!AcrimehappenswhenyouDOsomething.Youhavenotbeendoinganything–simplywalkingnaked!Butwhydoesthesocietygetsoangry?Thesocietyisnotsoangryevenagainstamurderer.Thisisstrange.Butanakedman...andsocietyisabsolutelyangry.Itisbecausemurderisstillhuman.Noanimalmurders.Theykillforeating,buttheydon'tmurder.Andnoanimalmurdershisownspecies,onlyman.Soitishuman,thesocietycanacceptit.Butnuditythesocietycannotaccept–becausesuddenlythenakedmanmakesyouawarethatyouareallanimals.Howsoeverhiddenbehindclothes,theanimalisthere,thenude,thenakedanimalisthere,thenakedapeisthere.Youareagainstthenudemannotbecauseheisnudebutbecausehemakesyouawareofyournudity–andtheegoishurt.Clothed,manisnotananimal.Witheatinghabits,manners,manisnotananimal.Withlanguage,morality,philosophy,religion,manisnotananimal.Themostreligiousthingistogotoachurch,toatemple,topray.Whyisitsoreligious?Becausenoanimalgoestoachurchandnoanimalprays;itisabsolutelyhuman.Goingtoatempletopray,thismakesthedistinctionabsolute,thatyouarenotanimals.Butsexisanimalactivity.Whatsoeveryoudo,howsoeveryouhideit,whatsoeveryoucreatearoundit,thebasicfactremainsanimal.Andwhenyoumoveintoit,youbecomelikeanimals.Becauseof MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds54 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? manipulatingmind,butthecontrolofawitnessingself.AndItellyouthatthatcontrolisthesupremepossibleandthatcontrolissonaturalthatyouneverfeelyouarecontrolling.Thecontrolhappensspontaneouslywithwitnessing.Moveintosexbutbeawitness.Theonlythingtorememberis:Imustencounterthewholeprocess,Imustseethroughit,Imustremainawitness,Ishouldnotbecomeunconscious–that'sall.Becomewild,butdon'tbecomeunconscious.Thenthereisnodangerinwildness;thenwildnessisbeautiful.Really,onlyawildmancanbebeautiful.Awomanwhoisnotwildcannotbebeautiful–becausethemorewild,themorealive.Thenyouarejustlikeawildtiger,orawilddeerrunningintheforest...andthebeautyofit!Buttheproblemis:nottobecomeunconscious.Ifyoubecomeunconscious,thenyouareunderunconsciousforces,thenyouareundertheforcesofkarma.Whatsoeveryouhavedoneinthepastisaccumulatedthere.Thataccumulatedconditioningcantakegripofyouandmoveyouincertaindirectionswhichwillbedangerousforyouandforothers.Butifyouremainawitness,thatpastconditioningcannotinterfere.Sothewholemethod,orthewholeprocessofbecomingawitness,istheprocessoftransformingthesexenergy.Movingintosex,remainalert.Whatsoeverishappening,observeit,seethroughit;don'tmissasinglepoint.Whatsoeverishappeninginyourbody,inyourmind,inyourinnerenergy,thenewcircuitisbeingmade,thebodyelectricityismovinginanewway,inanewcircularway;nowthebodyelectricityhasbecomeonewiththepartner,withthewife,withtheconsort.Andnowaninnercircleiscreated–andyoucanfeelit.Ifyouarealert,youcanfeelit.Youwillfeelthatyouhavebecomeavehicleofavitalenergymoving.Remainalert.Soonyouwillbecomeawarethatthemorethecircuitiscreated,themorethoughtsaredropping;theyaredroppinglikeyellowleavesfromatree.Thoughtsaredropping.Themindisbecomingmoreandmoreempty.Remainalertandsoonyouwillseethatyouarebutthereisnoego.YoucannotsayI.Somethinggreaterthanyouhashappenedtoyou.Youandyourpartner,bothhavedissolvedintothatgreaterenergy.Butthismergershouldnotbecomeunconscious,otherwiseyoumissthepoint.Thenitisabeautifulsexact,butnottransformation.Itisbeautiful,nothingiswronginit,butitisnottransformation.Andifitisunconsciousthenyouwillalwaysbemovinginarut.Againandagainyouwillwanttohavethisexperience.Theexperienceisbeautifulasfarasitgoes,butitwillbecomearoutine.Andeachtimeyouhaveit,againmoredesireiscreated.Themoreyouhaveit,themoreyoudesireit,andyoumoveinaviciouscircle.Youdon'tgrow,youjustrotate.Rotationisbad,becausethengrowthisnothappening.Thenenergyissimplywasted.Eveniftheexperienceisgoodtheenergyiswasted,becausemuchmorewaspossible.Anditwasjustatthecorner,justaturn,andmuchmorewaspossible.Withthesameenergythedivinecouldhavebeenachieved.Withthesameenergytheultimateecstasyispossible,andyouarewastingthatenergyinmomentaryexperiences.Andbyandby,thoseexperienceswillbecomeboring;becauserepeatedagainandagain,everythingbecomesboring.Whenthenewnessislost,boredomiscreated. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds56 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Onlythensomedayinlovethewitnessingwillhappen.Andwhenithappens,ecstasyhashappenedtoyou–therstglimpseofthedivinehasdescendeduponyou.Fromthatmomentonwardssexwillnotbesexatall.Andsoonerorlatersexwilldisappear.ThisdisappearancegivesyouBRAHMACHARYA–thenyoubecomeacelibate.MonksintheCatholicmonasteries,ormonksfollowingtraditionalJainism,orothertypesofmonks,areonlycelibatesforthename'ssake,becausetheirmindgoesonmakinglove–moresothanyourmind.Forthem,sexbecomescerebral,whichistheworstpossiblethingthatcanhappen,becauseitisaperversion.IfyouTHINKaboutsex,itisaperversion.Makingloveisnatural;thinkingaboutit,constantlybeinginvolvedinsideinthemind,isaperversion.Theso-calledmonksarepervertedbeings,notbecausetheyaremonks,butbecausetheyhavechosenthepathofsuppression,whichisawrongpath,whichleadsnowhere.Jesus,Mahavira,orBuddha,theyarefollowingthepathofwitnessing.Thenbrahmacharyahappens.Thisword'brahmacharya'isverybeautiful.Theverywordmeans:thewaythedivinebehaves.Thewaythedivinebehaves–brahmacharya.Ithasnothingtosayagainstsex;itisnotagainstsexatall,theword.Thewordsimplysaysthisishowthedivineacts,behaves,moves,walks.Onceyouhaveknownthesatorithatispossiblebywitnessingthesexact,yourwholelifewillbetransformed,youwillstartbehavinglikeagod.Whatarethecharacteristicsofthebehaviorofagod?Howdoesthedivinebehave?Onething:heisnotdependent,heisabsolutelyindependent.Hegiveshislovetoyou,butthisisnotaneed.Hegivesoutofhisabundance,hehastoomuch.Yousimplyunburdenhimifyoutakeit,butthisisnotaneed.Andthegodisacreator.Wheneversexhasbecomeatransformedforce,yourlifebecomescreative.Sexiscreativeforce.Rightnowitmovesintobiology;itcreatesnewbeings,itgivesbirth.Whenthereisnosexandtheenergyistransforming,itmovesintoanewworldofcreativity.Thenmanynewdimensionsofcreativitybecomeopentoyou.Itisnotthatyouwillstartpainting,ormakingpoetry,ordoingsomethingelse–notthat.Itmayhappen,itmaynothappen,butwhatsoeveryoudowillbecomeacreativeact,whatsoeveryoudowillbecomeartistic.EvenBuddhasittingunderhisbodhitree,notdoinganything,iscreative.TheWAYheissitting,theverywayheissittingthere,heiscreatingaforce,anenergy,vibrationsallaroundhim.MuchresearchhasbeendonerecentlyonEgyptianpyramids,andtheyhavecometoknowmanymysteriousfacts.Oneofthefactsisthattheshapeofthepyramid,theveryshape,ismysterious.Suddenlyscientistsbecameawarethatifyouputadeadbodyinapyramiditwillbepreservedwithoutanychemicals;justtheshapehelpspreservation.ThenonescientistinGermanythought:Iftheshapecandosomuchthatthebodyispreservedautomatically–justbytheshape,justthepressureoftheshape....Sohetrieditonhisrazorblade.Hemadeasmallpyramid,acardboardpyramid,andtrieditwithhisusedrazorblade.Withinhourstherazorbladewasagainreadytobeused.Theshape,hadgivensharpnessagaintotheblade.Thenhepatentedit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds58 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Thatsilencewasfalse.Forallthosemilestheoldmanwasthinkinghowtotakerevenge,howtocondemnthisyoungman.Hewascontinuouslyobsessed;otherwisenothinghappenssosuddenly,mindisacontinuity.Forthesetwoorthreemileshewascontinuouslythinkingwhattodo,andonlynowhespeaks.Itisnotsudden.Insidetherehasbeenacurrent,arunningcurrent.Andhesays:Thisisnotgood,itisagainsttherules,andIwillhavetoreportittotheabbot,tothechiefofthemonastery,tothemaster.Youhavebrokenarule,averybasicrule,thatnomonkshouldtouchawoman.Youhavenotonlytouchedher,youhavecarriedheronyourshoulders.Theyoungmonkmusthavefeltamazed.Sosudden...becausetherewasnogirlnow,noriver,nobodycarryingher.Thewholethinghashappenedinthepast.Forthreemilestheyhavebeencompletelysilent.Andtheyoungmonksaid:Ileftthatgirlonthebankoftheriverbutyouarestillcarryingher.Thisisadeepinsight.Youcancarrythingswhichyouarenotcarrying;youmaybeburdenedbythingswhicharenotthere;youmaybecrushedbythingswhichdon'texist.Theoldmonkisonthepathofrepression.Theyoungmonkisasymbolofanefforttowardstransformation–becausetransformationacceptsthewoman,theman,theother.Becausetransformationhastohappenthroughtheother,theotherwillparticipateinit.Suppression,repression,rejectstheother,isagainsttheother.Theotherhastobedestroyed.Thisstoryisbeautiful.Thenewmonkistheway.Don'tbecometheoldmonks,becomethenew.Acceptlifeasitisandtrytobealert.Thisyoungmonkmusthaveremainedalertwhilecarryingthegirlonhisshoulders.Andifyouarealert,whatcanthegirldo?Thereisasmallanecdote:OnemonkisleavingBuddha.Heisgoingonatourtospreadthemessage.SoheasksBuddha:WhatshouldIdoaboutwomen?Thatisalwaystheproblemwithmonks.Buddhasays:Don'tlookatthem.Thisisthesimplestway:justcloseyourself.Don'tlookatthemmeansjustcloseyourself,forgetthattheyare.Alas,theproblemisnotsoeasy.Haditbeensoeasythenallthosewhoknowhowtoclosethemselveswouldhavebeentransformed.OneofBuddha'sdisciples,Ananda,whoknowstheproblemisnotsoeasy....ForBuddhaitmaylookeasy.Thisisaproblem:youcomewithaproblemtome;itmaybeeasyforme,butthatisnotgoingtohelp.AnandaknowsBuddhahasrepliedcasually:Don'tlookatthem.SoeasyforBuddha!Anandasays:Butitisnotsoeasy.And,Bhagwan,heasks,ifthereisasituationwherewehavetolook,ifwecannotavoidlooking,thenwhatistobedone?Buddhasays:Don'ttouch.Alookisalsoatouch–throughtheeyes.Youreachthroughtheeyesandtouch.That'swhyifyoustareatawomanformorethanthreeseconds,shewillbecomeuneasy.Threesecondsisthemaximumlimitallowed.Itisallowedbecauseinlifewehavetolookateachother.Butmorethanthreesecondsandthewomanwillbecomeuneasybecauseyouaretouchingher.Nowyouareusingyoureyesashands.SoBuddhasays:Don'ttouch.ButAnandaispersistent.Anandahasdonesuchgreatworkforthewholeofhumanitybecausehewouldalwayspersist.Hesaid:Sometimesthereareevensituations MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds60 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Hemusthaveremainedalert.Hewassilent,hissilencewastrue.Truesilencealwayscomesthroughalertness.That'swhyhesays:Ihaveleftthegirlthere,backattheriver.Iamnotcarryingheratall.Youarestillcarryingher.Intheoldmonk'smindthingsarecontinuing.Andhehasnotdoneanything,hehasnoteventouchedthegirl.Sodoingisnotthequestion;itismind,howyourmindisfunctioning.Bealert,andbyandbyenergiesaretransformed.Theolddiesandthenewisborn.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds62 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Relationshipiscreatedbyyou,butthen,initsturn,relationshipcreatesyou.Twopersonsmeet,thatmeanstwoworldsmeet.Itisnotasimplethingbutverycomplex,themostcomplex.Eachpersonisaworlduntohimselforherself,acomplexmysterywithalongpastandaneternalfuture.Inthebeginningonlyperipheriesmeet.Butiftherelationshipgrowsintimate,becomescloser,becomesdeeper,thenbyandbycentersstartmeeting.Whencentersmeet,itiscalledlove.Whenperipheriesmeet,itisacquaintance.Youtouchthepersonfromthewithout,justfromtheboundary,thenitisacquaintance.Manytimesyoustartcallingyouracquaintanceyourlove.Thenyouareinafallacy.Acquaintanceisnotlove.Loveisveryrare.Tomeetapersonathiscenteristopassthrougharevolutionyourself,becauseifyouwanttomeetapersonathiscenter,youwillhavetoallowthatpersontoreachtoyourcenteralso.Youwillhavetobecomevulnerable,absolutelyvulnerable,open.Itisrisky.Toallowsomebodytoreachyourcenterisrisky,dangerous,becauseyouneverknowwhatthatpersonwilldotoyou.Andonceallyoursecretsareknown,onceyourhiddennesshasbecomeunhidden,onceyouareexposedcompletely,whatthatotherpersonwilldo,youneverknow.Thefearisthere.That'swhyweneveropen.Justacquaintance,andwethinkthatlovehashappened.Peripheriesmeet,andwethinkwehavemet.Youarenotyourperiphery.Really,theperipheryistheboundarywhereyouend,justthefencingaroundyou.Itisnotyou!Theperipheryistheplacewhereyouendandtheworldbegins.Evenhusbandsandwiveswhomayhavelivedtogetherformanyyearsmaybejustacquaintances.Theymaynothaveknowneachother.Andthemoreyoulivewithsomeone,themoreyouforgetcompletelythatthecentershaveremainedunknown.Sotherstthingtobeunderstoodis:don'ttakeacquaintanceaslove.Youmaybemakinglove,youmaybesexuallyrelated,butsexisalsoperipheral.Unlesscentersmeet,sexisjustameetingoftwobodies.Andameetingoftwobodiesisnotyourmeeting.Sexalsoremainsacquaintance–physical,bodily,butstillacquaintance.Youcanallowsomebodytoentertoyourcenteronlywhenyouarenotafraid,whenyouarenotfearful.SoIsaytoyouthattherearetwotypesofliving.One:fear-oriented;one:love-oriented.Fear-orientedlivingcanneverleadyouintodeeprelationship.Youremainafraid,andtheothercannotbeallowed,cannotbeallowedtopenetrateyoutoyourverycore.Toanextentyouallowtheotherandthenthewallcomesandeverythingstops.Thelove-orientedpersonisthereligiousperson.Thelove-orientedpersonmeansonewhoisnotafraidofthefuture,onewhoisnotafraidoftheresultandtheconsequence,wholiveshereandnow.That'swhatKrishnasaystoArjunaintheGita:Don'tbebotheredabouttheresult.Thatisthefear-orientedmind.Don'tthinkaboutwhatwillhappenoutofit.Justbehere,andacttotally.Don'tcalculate.Afear-orientedmanisalwayscalculating,planning,arranging,safeguarding.Hiswholelifeislostinthisway. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds64 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP dependingoneachother,ghting,exploiting,manipulating,controlling,dominating,possessing–butitisnotlove.Ifyoucanallowlovetohappen,thereisnoneedforprayer,thereisnoneedformeditation,thereisnoneedforanychurch,anytemple.YoucancompletelyforgetGodifyoucanlove–becausethroughlove,everythingwillhavehappenedtoyou:meditation,prayer,God.EVERYTHINGwillhavehappenedtoyou.That'swhatJesusmeanswhenhesays:LoveisGod.Butloveisdifcult.Fearhastobedropped.Andthisisthestrangething,thatyouaresoafraidandyouhavenothingtolose.Kabirhassaidsomewhere:Ilookintopeople.Theyaresomuchafraid,butIcan'tseewhy–becausetheyhavenothingtolose.SaysKabir:Theyarelikeapersonwhoisnaked,butnevergoestotakeabathintheriverbecauseheisafraid–wherewillhedryhisclothes?Thisisthesituationyouarein–naked,withnoclothes,butalwaysafraidabouttheclothes.Whathaveyougottolose?Nothing.Thisbodywillbetakenbydeath.Beforeitistakenbydeath,giveittolove.Whatsoeveryouhavewillbetakenaway.Beforeitistakenaway,whynotshareit?ThatistheONLYwayofpossessingit.Ifyoucanshareandgive,youarethemaster.Itisgoingtobetakenaway.Thereisnothingwhichyoucanretainforever.Deathwilldestroyeverything.So,ifyoufollowmerightly,thestruggleisbetweendeathandlove.Ifyoucangive,therewillbenodeath.Beforeanythingcanbetakenawayfromyou,youwillhavealreadygivenit,youwillhavemadeitagift.Therecanbenodeath.Foraloverthereisnodeath.Foranon-lover,everymomentisadeath,becauseeverymomentsomethingisbeingsnatchedawayfromhim.Thebodyisdisappearing,heislosingeverymoment.Andthentherewillbedeath,andeverythingwillbeannihilated.Whatisthefear?Whyareyousoafraid?Evenifeverythingisknownaboutyouandyouareanopenbook,whyfear?Howcanitharmyou?Justfalseconceptions,justconditioningsgivenbythesociety,thatyouhavetohide,thatyouhavetoprotectyourself,thatyouhavetobeconstantlyinaghtingmood,thateverybodyisanenemy,thateverybodyisagainstyou.Nobodyisagainstyou!Evenifyoufeelsomebodyisagainstyou,hetooisnotagainstyou–becauseeverybodyisconcernedwithhimself,notwithyou.Thereisnothingtofear.Thishastoberealizedbeforearealrelationshipcanhappen.Thereisnothingtofear.Meditateonit.Andthenallowtheothertoenteryou,invitetheothertoenteryou.Don'tcreateanybarrieranywhere,becomeapassagealwaysopen,nolocks,nodoorsonyou,nocloseddoorsonyou.Thenloveispossible.Whentwocentersmeet,thereislove.Andloveisanalchemicalphenomenon–justlikehydrogenandoxygenmeetandanewthing,water,iscreated.Youcanhavehydrogen,youcanhaveoxygen,butifyouarethirsty,theywillbeuseless.Youcanhaveasmuchoxygenasyouwant,asmuchhydrogenasyoulike,butthethirstwillnotgo. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds66 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Theformbecomes,byandby,vagueanddisappears.Andifyougodeeper,theneventhisformlessindividualstartsdisappearingandmelting.Thenthebeyondopens.Thenthatparticularindividualwasjustadoor,anopening.Andthroughyourlover,youndthedivine.Becausewecannotlove,weneedsomanyreligiousrituals.Theyaresubstitutes,andverypoorsubstitutes.AMeeraneedsnotempletogoto.Thewholeexistenceishertemple.ShecandancebeforeatreeandthetreebecomesKrishna.ShecansingbeforeabirdandthebirdbecomesKrishna.ShecreatesherKrishnaaroundhereverywhere.HerloveissuchthatwherevershelooksthedooropensandtheKrishnaisrevealed,thebelovedisrevealed.Buttherstglimpsewillalwayscomethroughanindividual.Itisdifculttobeincontactwiththeuniversal.Itissobig,sovast,sobeginningless,endless.Fromwheretostart?Fromwheretomoveintoit?Theindividualisthedoor.Fallinlove.Anddon'tmakeitastruggle.Makeitadeepallowancefortheother,justaninvitation.Andallowtheothertopenetrateyouwithoutanyconditions.AndsuddenlytheotherdisappearsandGodisthere.Ifyourloverorbelovedcannotbecomedivine,thennothinginthisworldcanbecomedivine.Thenallyourreligioustalkisjustnonsense.Thiscanhappenwithachild.Thiscanhappenwithananimal,yourdog.Ifyoucanbeindeeprelationshipwithadog,itcanhappen–thedogbecomesdivine!Soitisnotaquestionofmanandwomanonly.Thatisoneofthedeepestsourcesofthedivineanditreachesyounaturally,butitcanhappenfromanywhere.Thebasickeyisthis:youshouldallowtheothertopenetrateyoutoyourverydeepestcore,totheverygroundofyourbeing.Butwegoondeceivingourselves.Wethinkwelove.Andifyouthinkthatyoulove,thenthereisnopossibilityforlovetohappen–becauseifthisislove,theneverythingisclosed.Makefreshefforts.Trytondintheothertherealbeingthatishidden.Don'ttakeanybodyforgranted.Everyindividualissuchamysterythatifyougoonandonintohimitisendless.Butwegetboredwiththeother–becausejusttheperiphery,andalwaystheperiphery.Iwasreadingastory:Amanwasveryillandhetriedalltypesof”pathies,”butnothingwouldhelp.Thenhewenttoahypnotistandthehypnotistgavehimamantra,torepeatcontinuously:Iamnotill.Foratleastfteenminutesinthemorningandfteenminutesatnight:Iamnotill,Iamhealthy.Andthewholeday,wheneveryouremember,repeatit.Withinafewdayshestartedgettingbetter.Andwithinweekshewasabsolutelyokay.Thenhetoldhiswife:Thishasbeenamiracle!ShouldIgotothishypnotistforanothermiraclealso?BecauselatelyIamfeelingnosexualappetiteandthesexualrelationshiphasalmoststopped.Thereisnodesire.Thewifewashappy.Shesaid:Yougo–becauseshewasfeelingveryfrustrated.Themanwenttothehypnotist.Hecameback,hiswifeasked:Whatmantra,whatsuggestionnowhashegiven?Themanwouldn'ttellher.Butwithinweekshissexualappetitestartedreturning.Hestartedfeelingdesireagain.Sothewifewasverymuchpuzzled.Shecontinuouslypersistedin MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds68 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP unconsciousiscontinuouslysendingsignals:Youarewrong.Andwhenyousaythattheotheriswrong,theotherstartsfeelingthatyouarewrong.Relationshipisdestroyedonthisrock,andthenpeoplebecomeclosed.Ifyousaysomebodyiswrong,somebodystartsprotecting,safeguarding.Thenclosurehappens.Rememberalways:inlove,youarealwayswrong.Andthenthepossibilitywillopenandtheotherwillalsofeelthesame.Wecreatethefeelingintheother.Whenloversareclose,immediatelythoughtsgojumpingfromonetotheother.Eveniftheyarenotsayinganything,theyaresilent,theycommunicate.Languageisfornon-lovers,thosewhoarenotinlove.Forlovers,silenceisenoughlanguage.Withoutsayinganything,theygoonspeaking.Ifyoutakeloveassadhana,thendon'tsaytheotheriswrong.Justtrytondout:somewhere,somethingmustbewronginyou,anddropthatwrongness.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecauseitisgoingtobeagainsttheego.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecauseitwillhurtyourpride.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecausethiswillnotbedominating,possessing.Youwillnotbemorepowerfulthroughpossessingtheother.Thiswilldestroyyourego–that'swhyitisgoingtobedifcult.Butdestructionoftheegoisthepoint,thegoal.Fromwhereveryouliketoapproachtheinnerworld–fromlove,frommeditation,fromyoga,fromprayer–whatsoeverthepathyouchoose,thegoalisthesame:thedestructionoftheego,throwingtheegoaway.Throughloveitcanbedoneveryeasily.Anditissonatural!Loveisthenaturalreligion.Anythingelseisgoingtobemoreandmoreunnatural.Ifyoucannotworkthroughlove,itwillbedifcultforyoutoworkthroughanythingelse.Don'tthinkmuchaboutpastlives,anddon'tthinkmuchaboutthefuture.Thepresentisenough.Don'tthinkthatrelationshipiscomingfromthepast–itiscomingfromthepast,butdon'tthinkaboutitbecausethenyouwillgetmorecomplicated.Makethingseasier.Itisgoingon–fromyourpastlivesthingshaveacontinuity,soIdon'tdenythefact,butdon'tgetburdenedbyit.Itwillcontinueinthefuture,butdon'tthinkaboutit.Thepresentismorethanenough.Munchthecakeandsay:THIScakeisdelicious.Don'tthinkofthepastanddon'tthinkofthefuture;theywilltakecareofthemselves.Nothingisdiscontinuous.Youhavebeeninrelationshipsinthepast.Youhaveloved,youhavehated,youhavemadefriendsandyouhavemadeenemies.Thatcontinues,known,unknowntoyou,itisalwaysthere.Butifyoustartbroodingaboutit,youwillmissthepresentmoment.Sothinkasifthereisnopast,andthinkasifthereisnofuture.THISmomentisallthatisgiventoyou.Workitout,asifthismomentisall.Behaveasifthismomentisallandworkouthowyoucantransformyourenergiesintoalovingphenomenon–thisverymoment. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds70 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP loneliness.Thesearethetwopaths.Lovemeansworkingoutyourpaththroughrelationship.Andmeditation:workingitoutinyourloneliness.Loveandmeditation–thesearethetwopaths.Feelwhichwillsuityou.Thenbringyourtotalenergiestoit,andmoveonthatpath.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,YOURWORDSARESOBEAUTIFUL,YETWEFEELTHEREISALSOANOTHERCOMMUNICATIONHAPPENINGWHENYOUARETALKINGTOUS.WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTSILENTCOMMUNICATION,ANDHOWWECANBECOMEMOREOPENTOIT.Itisalwaysthere.WhileIamtalkingtoyou,IamalsoBEINGtoyou.Talkingisrelatingtoyouthroughtheintellect,andbeingisrelatingtoyouwithmytotality.Whileyouarelisteningtome,ifyouarereallylistening,thenitisnotonlyalisteningtothewords.Listeningtome,yourmindstops.Listeningtome,youarenotthinking.Whenyouarenotthinking,youareopen.Andwhenyouarenotthinkingandyourmindisnotfunctioning,youstartfeeling.ThenIcanoverwhelmyou,Icanmoveandllyou.Wordsareusedonlyasadevice.Imyselfamnotinterestedmuchinwords.ButIhavetospeak,becausethishasbeenmyfeeling:whileIamspeakingyoubecomesilent.IfIamnotspeaking,thenyouarespeakingwithinandyouarenotsilent.Ifyouaresilentwithoutmyspeakingthentherewillbenoneedtospeak.Iamwaitingforthatmomentwhenyoucanjustsitbymyside,justsitnearme,notthinking.Thenthereisnoneedtotalk–becausetalkispartial.ThenIcancomeinmytotalitytoyou,directly,noneedforanymediatingwords.ButifItellyoutositsilentlynearme,youwillnotbeabletositsilently.Youwillgoonchattering,youwillgoontalkingwithin.Aninnertalkwillcontinue.TostopyourinnertalkIhavetotalktoyou,sowhileIamtalkingyouareengaged.Mytalkingisjustlikeatoygiventoachild.Hegoesandplayswiththetoy,andbecomessilent,absorbed.Igiveyoumywordsastoys.Youplaywiththem,andwhileyouareplayingwiththemyouaresoabsorbedthatyoubecomesilent.Wheneversilencehappens,Icanowintoyou.Wordscanbebeautiful,buttheycanneverbetrue.Beautyisanaestheticvalue.Youcanenjoyit,justlikeabeautifulpainting,butnothingmuchwillhappenoutofthatenjoyment.Itisgoodasfarasitgoes,butwordsarenevertrue.Theycannotbebytheirverynature.Truthcanbecommunicatedonlyinsilence.Butthisistheparadox:allthosewhohaveinsistedthattruthcanbecommunicatedonlyinsilencehaveallusedwords.Thisisashame,butnothingcanbedoneaboutit.Wordshavetobeused MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds72 Osho CHAPTER8 OnlyaRipeFruitFalls 17May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,IFEELTHATTHROUGHDEVELOPINGANATTITUDEOFENDURANCETOWARDSDIFFICULTIES,IHAVEBECOMERESIGNEDTOMUCHOFLIFE.THISRESIGNATIONFEELSLIKEAWEIGHTPUSHINGAGAINSTMYEFFORTTOBECOMEMOREALIVEINMEDITATION.DOESTHISMEANTHATIHAVESUPPRESSEDMYEGO,ANDTHATIMUSTFINDITAGAINBEFOREICANREALLYLOSEIT?Oneofthegreatestproblems...itwillappearveryparadoxical,butthisistrue:beforeyoucanloseyourego,youmustattainit.Onlyaripefruitfallstotheground.Ripenessisall.Anunripeegocannotbethrown,cannotbedestroyed.Andifyoustrugglewithanunripeegotodestroyanddissolveit,thewholeeffortisgoingtobeafailure.Ratherthandestroyingit,youwillnditmorestrengthenedinnewsubtleways.Thisissomethingbasictobeunderstood:theegomustcometoapeak,itmustbestrong,itmusthaveattainedanintegrity–onlythencanyoudissolveit.Aweakegocannotbedissolved.Andthisbecomesaproblem. 74 CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Thisknowledge,orthisignorance–youcancallitwhateveryoulike–istotallydifferent,thequalityisdifferent,thedimensionhaschanged.Ifyouaresimplyignorantbecauseyouneverattainedtoanyknowledge,yourignorancecannotbewise,itcannotbewisdom–itissimplyabsenceofknowledge.Andthehankeringwillbeinside:Howtogainmoreknowledge?Howtogainmoreinformation?Whenyouknowtoomuch–youhaveknownthescriptures,youhaveknownthepast,thetradition,youhaveknownallthatcanbeknown–thensuddenlyyoubecomeawareofthefutilityofitall,suddenlyyoubecomeawarethatthisisnotknowledge.Thisisborrowed!Thisisnotyourownexistentialexperience,thisisnotwhatyouhavecometoknow.Othersmayhaveknownit,youhavesimplygatheredit.Yourgatheringismechanical.Ithasnotarisenoutofyou,itisnotagrowth.Itisjustrubbishgatheredfromotherdoors,borrowed,dead.Remember,knowingisaliveonlywhenyouknow,whenitisyourimmediate,directexperience.Butwhenyouknowfromothersitisjustmemory,notknowledge.Memoryisdead.Whenyougathermuch–therichesofknowledge,scriptures,allaroundyou,librariescondensedinyourmind,andsuddenlyyoubecomeawarethatyouarejustcarryingtheburdenofothers,nothingbelongstoyou,youhavenotknown–thenyoucandropit,youcandropallthisknowledge.Inthatdroppinganewtypeofignoranceariseswithinyou.Thisignoranceisnottheignoranceoftheignorant,thisishowawisemanis,howwisdomis.Onlyawisemancansay:Idon'tknow.Butinsaying:Idon'tknow,heisnothankeringafterknowledge,heissimplystatingafact.Andwhenyoucansaywithyourtotalheart:Idon'tknow,inthatverymomentyoureyesbecomeopen,thedoorsofknowingareopen.Inthatverymomentwhenyoucansaywithyourtotality;Idon'tknow,youhavebecomecapableofknowledge.Thisignoranceisbeautiful,butitisattainedthroughknowledge.Itispovertyattainedthroughrichness.Andthesamehappenswithego–youcanloseitifyouhaveit.WhenBuddhacomesdownfromhisthrone,becomesabeggar...whatisthenecessityforBuddha?Hewasaking,enthroned,atthepeakofhisego–whythisextreme,movingdownfromhispalacetothestreets,becomingabeggar?ButBuddhahasabeautyinhisbegging.Theearthhasneverknownsuchabeautifulbeggar,sucharichbeggar,suchakinglybeggar,suchanemperor.Whathappenedwhenhesteppeddownfromhisthrone?Hesteppeddownfromhisego.Thronesarenothingbutsymbols,symbolsoftheego,ofpower,prestige,status.Hesteppeddownandthenegolessnesshappened.Thisegolessnessisnothumbleness;thisegolessnessisnothumility.Youmayndmanyhumblepeople,butundertheirhumility,subtleegosarefunctioning.ItissaidthatonceDiogenescametovisitSocrates.Helivedlikeabeggar;healwaysworedirtyclotheswithmanypatchesandholes.Evenifyoupresentedhimwithanewdress,hewouldnotuseit–rsthewouldmakeitdirty,old,torn,andthenhewoulduseit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds76 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Butthesecondstepcanbetakenonlywhenthersthascometoitscrescendo,itsclimax,whenthersthasreacheditspeak.SoIteachboth–IteachegonessandIteachegolessness.Firstbeegoists,perfectegoists,absoluteegoists,asifthewholeofexistenceexistsforyouandyouarethecenter;allthestarsrevolvearoundyouandthesunrisesforyou;everythingexistsforyou,justtohelpyoutobehere.Bethecenter,anddon'tbeafraid,becauseifyouareafraidthenyouwillneverberipe.Acceptit!Itispartofgrowth.Enjoyitandbringittoapeak.Whenitcomestoapeak,suddenlyyouwillbecomeawarethatyouarenotthecenter.Thishasbeenafallacy,thishasbeenachildishattitude.Butyouwereachild,sonothingiswronginit.Nowyouhavebecomemature,andnowyouseethatyouarenotthecenter.Really,whenyouseethatyouarenotthecenter,youalsoseethereisNOcenterinexistenceoreverywhereisthecenter.Eitherthereisnocenterandexistenceexistsasatotality,awholenesswithoutanycenterasacontrolpointoreverysingleatomisacenter.JakobBoehmehassaidthatthewholeworldislledwithcenters,everyatomisacenter,andthereisnocircumference–centerseverywhereandcircumferencenowhere.Thesetwoarethepossibilities.Bothmeanthesame;onlythewordingisdifferentandcontradictory.Butrstbecomeacenter.Itislikethis:youareinadream;ifthedreamcomestoapeak,itwillbebroken.Alwaysithappens–wheneveradreamcomestoaclimax,itisbroken.Andwhatistheclimaxofadream?Theclimaxofadreamisthefeelingthatthisisreal.Youfeelthisisreal,notadream,andyougoonandonandonandontoahigherpeakandthedreambecomesALMOSTreal.Itcanneverbecomereal;itbecomesalmostreal.Itcomessoclosetorealitythatnowyoucannotgofurther,becauseonestepmoreandthedreamwillbecomereal–anditcannotbecomerealbecauseitisadream!Whenitcomessoclosetoreality,sleepisbroken,thedreamisshattered,youarefullyawake.Thesamehappenswithalltypesoffallacies.Egoisthegreatestdream.Ithasitsbeauty,itsagony.Ithasitsecstasy,itsagony.Ithasitsheavensandhells,botharethere.Dreamssometimesarebeautifulandsometimesnightmares,butbotharedreams.SoIdon'ttellyoutocomeoutofyourdreambeforethetimehascome.No,neverdoanythingbeforethetime.Allowthingstogrow,allowthingstohavetheirtime,sothateverythinghappensnaturally.Egowilldrop.Itcandropofitsownaccordalso.Ifyousimplyallowittogrowandhelpittogrow,therewillbeNOneedtodropit.Thisisverydeep.IfYOUdropit,egohasremainedinside.WHOwilldropit?IfyouthinkYOUwilldropit,YOUaretheego–sowhatsoeveryoudropwillnotbetherealthing.Therealthingwillbepreservedandyouwillhavethrownsomethingelse.Youcannotmakeyourselfegoless.Whowilldoit?Ithappens,itisnotadoing.Yougrowintoegoandapointcomeswhenthewholethingbecomessohellishthatthedreamisbroken.Suddenlyyouseethegooseisout–ithasneverbeeninthebottle. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds78 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Thehouseisnotthepointreally–YOUarethepoint.Buildingthehouse,youwillchange,andthendestroyingthehouseyouwillchangecompletely,youwillnotbethesame–becausecreatingthehouse,thewholeprocessofit,willproveagrowthtoyou.Then,whenthehouseisready,youpullitdown.Thatwillbeamutation.Mindislogicalandlifeisdialectical.Mindmovesinasimpleline,andlifemovesalwaysjumpingfromonepoletoanother,fromonethingtotheveryopposite.Lifeisdialectical.Create,andthenlifesays:Destroy.Beborn,andthenlifesays:Die!Attain,andthenlifesays:Lose!Berich,andthenlifesays:Becomepoor!Beapeak,anEverestoftheego,andthenbecomeanabyssofegolessness.Thenyouhaveknownboth–theillusoryandthereal,themayaandtheBrahma.Almosteverydayithappens:somebodycomestobeinitiatedintosannyas,andthenhismindstartsfunctioningandhesaystome:Wearingorangewillmakememoreegoistic,becausethenIwillfeelthatIamsomebodydifferent,distinct–Iamasannyasin,onewhohasrenounced.Sowearingorangewillmakememoreegoistichesays,andIsaytohim:Become!Becomeegoistic,butconsciously.Egoisadiseaseifyouareunconsciousaboutit,ifyouhideitintheunconscious.Egoisagameifyouareconsciousaboutit.Youcanenjoyit.Youcanplayit.Beconscious,mindful,andplaythegame!Agameisnotbad,butwhenyouforgetthatitisagameandbecometooserious,thenproblemsarise.SoIsaysannyasisnotserious;itisagame–areligiousgame,ofcourse.Ithasitsownrules,becauseeverygamemusthaverules;withoutrulesnogamecanbeplayed.Lifecanbewithoutrules,butgamescannotbe.Ifsomebodysays:Iamnotgoingtofollowthisrule,thenyoucannotplaythegame.Youplaycards,thenyoufollowrules.Andyouneversay:Theserulesarejustarbitrary,articial,whycan'twechangethem?Youcanchangethem,butthenthegamewillbedifcult.Andifeveryindividualfollowshisownrules,thenthegameisimpossible.Lifeispossible!Youcanplayasyoulikebecauselifeneverbelievesinrules–itisbeyondrules.Butgameshaverules.Remember:whereveryouseerules,knowimmediatelythisisagame.Thisisthecriterion:whereveryouseerules,immediatelyknowthisisagame,becausegamesexistthroughrules.SoifIsay:”Wearorange,havethemala”–thisisagame,obviously.Playitaswellasyoucananddon'tbeseriousaboutit–otherwiseyoumissthepoint.Beegoists–perfect,cultivated,rened.Goonworkingonyouregoandmakeitabeautifulstatue,becausebeforeyougiveitbacktothegod,itmustbesomethingworthgiving,itmustbeapresent.BelovedOsho,Question2YOUHAVESAIDTHATMUCHENERGYISNEEDEDTOACHIEVETHEINNERALCHEMY. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds80 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Averyfallaciousideaisinthehumanmind,thatthroughactivityweloseenergy.No.Themoreactive,themoreenergyyouwillhave;thelessactive,thelessenergy.Andthisistrueofactivityinalldirectionsoflife.Lovemoreandyouwillhavemorelovetogive.Becomeamiserandthink:IfIlovemore,thenmylovewillbedissipated,andsoonerorlaterIwillnothaveanyloveanymore,soitisbettertopreserveit.Thenyourlovewilldieandyouwillnotbeabletolove.Love,andmorelovebecomesavailable;usemoreandyouhavemore.Thisisthelawoflife.Youcaneatthecakeandhaveitalso.Compassion,love,activity,whatsoeverthedimension,thesameruleapplies.Whatsoeveryouwantmoreof,dothesame.Ifyouwanttobecomeaninnitesourceoflove,thengoonsharingloveasmuchasyoucan.Don'tbeamiser;onlymisersloseenergy.Andweareallmisers,that'swhywealwaysfeeldissipated.Buttheideacanbedangerous,poisonous.Ifyouhaveanidea,thatideaworks.Mindworksthroughhypnosis.Forexample,justafewdecadesago,allovertheworlditwastaughtthatyouhavealimitedquotaofsexualenergy.Youmakelove,energyislost.Thatideacreatedsexualmisersallovertheworld.Thewholeideaisfallacious.Butifyouhavetheideainyourmind,thenwheneveryoumakeloveyouarecontinuouslyhypnotizingyourselfthatyouarelosingenergy.Thenenergyiswasted.Thisideabecomesimprintedinyourmind.Andwhenyoumakeloveyouaresovulnerable,soreceptive,youaresosoft,sotospeak,thatwhatsoeveryouarethinkinggoesdeepintoyou.Andthentheconsequencesfollow;youfeeldissipated,youfeelyourenergyislost.Andwhenyoufeeldissipatedandenergyislost,theoldideaisstrengthenedstillmore.Thisbecomesaviciouscircle.Nowscientists,biologistssaythatsexisinniteenergy.Youcannotloseit,becauseeverydayitisbeingcreatedbyyourfood,byyourbreathing,byyouractivity;itiscreated.Itisnotastoredthingsothatwhenyoutakeaparticularquantityoutthatmuchislost,younowhaveless.Itisnotthatway.Itisnotsomethingstoredthere.Itisbeingcreatedeverymoment.Ifyoudon'tuseit,itgoesstaleanddead.Ifyoudon'tuseit,itwillmakeyoustaleanddead.Thentheowhasstopped.Butifyougoonowing,moreandmorebecomesavailabletoyou.Jesussayssomewhere–oneofthemostfoundationalthings–hesays:Ifyoutrytoclingtolife,youwillloseit;andifyouarereadytoloseit,youwillhaveitinabundance.Allovertheworlduptothiscenturychildrenweretaughtthatanyleakageofsemeninanywayisverydestructive:Youmaygomad,youmaybecomecrippled;atleastyourintelligencewillbeless;andthepossibilityofbecomingcrazyandeccentricandweakwillbemore.Thisisabsolutelyfalse!Buttheteachingdidmakemanypeoplecrazy,manypeopleweak,manypeoplestupid,mediocre,becausetheidea....Andthisissuchadangerousidea.Whenachildhasgrownupandbecomemature,attheageoffourteenorfteen,hestartslosingsemen.Hecannotdoanythingaboutit.Hewillmasturbateorifmoralityistoomuchhewillnotmasturbate,butnocturnalejaculationswillbethere;inthenighthewilllosesemen.Andallaroundthepropagandaisgoingon:Ifyoulosesemen,everythingislost. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds82 Osho CHAPTER9 SurrenderandIwilldotheRest 18May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVESAID:NOTINTHOUSANDSANDTHOUSANDSOFYEARSHASSUCHANOPPORTUNITYCOMETOTHISEARTH.ANDYOUHAVEALSOSAID:THISAGEISLIKEANYOTHER.YOUHAVESAID:SURRENDERTOASTONEANDITWILLHAPPEN.ANDYOUHAVESAID:ITISESSENTIALTOTREADTHISDANGEROUSPATHONLYWITHTHEGUIDANCEOFATRUEMASTER.YOUHAVESAID:SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST.ANDYOU'VESAID:IDONOTHING.FORUSHEREANDNOW,ANDFORTHOSEINTHEWESTWHOWILLREADTHESEWORDS,WOULDYOUTALKTOUSSOMEMOREABOUTTHEGURU/DISCIPLEPHENOMENON.Icontradictmyselfanddoitknowingly.Truthissoinnite,sogreat,thatnopartialstatementcancontainit;theoppositehastobeincludedimmediately.Thewholewillalwaysbecontradictory,onlythepartcanbeconsistent–becausethewholehastoconsidertheoppositealso.Theoppositeisthere.Itexists.Philosopherscanbeconsistentbecausetheirunderstandingispartial.Theycanbeneatandclean,theycanaffordtobelogical.Icannotaffordit,becauseifItrytobeconsistent,immediatelythewholethingbecomesuntrue.Theoppositehastobeinvolved,theoppositehastobeabsorbed. 84 CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Itissimplebecausetherelationshipexistsonlyonthepartofthedisciple.Onthepartofthemasterthereisnorelationship,becausethemasterdoesn'texist.Heistherenomore.Heisanobody.Itappearstoyouthatheis.Thisappearancewillpersistunlessyousurrender.Onceyousurrender,onceyoubecomeanon-being,suddenlyyouwillseethatthemasterhasneverbeenthere.Themasterisanabsence.Buttheabsencecanbeseenonlywhenyouhavealsobecomeanabsence.Onlytwoabsencesmeet.Ifyouarepresent,yougoonprojectingonthemasteralsothatheis.Itisyourprojection,becauseyouregocannotseenon-ego.Onlythesimilarcanrespondtothesimilar.Youregocanonlyseeegoseverywhere.Thatisawaytoprotectyourownself.Whereveryoulook,immediatelyyouprojectanego.Soeventhemasterwilllooklikesomebody,someego.Andyouwillndwaysandmeanstoprovetoyourselfthatheisalsoanego.Yourrationalizationsmaybeperfectlylogical,butIsaytheyareabsurd,becauseyoucannotseethephenomenonofnon-egoasyouare.Surrendered,suddenlyyouwillseethatthemasterisnotthere.Ifyouaresurrenderedrightthismomentyouwillseethischairisempty.Thismanwhoistalkingtoyouisnotthere.Thismanisjustanemptiness.Butonlyabsentwillyoubeabletoseethisabsence.Relationshipcannotexistonthepartofthemaster.Ifitexistsheisnotamasteratall–heisstillthere.Hecannotguideyou,hecanonlymisguideyou.Theteachingmaybebeautiful,buthewillmisguideyou,becausewhatsoeverhedoes–Isaywhatsoeverunconditionally–willbewrong.Itisnotaquestionofthisthingbeingwrongandthatthingbeingright.Whatsoevercomesoutoftheegoiswrong.Itmaybevirtue,itmaybenon-violence,itmaybelove–butwhatsoevercomesoutoftheegoiswrong.Theegopervertseverything.Theegoisthegreatestperverter.Ifthemasterlovesyouandtheegoisthere,hislovewillbecomepossessive.Hewilldestroyyou,hewillkillyou.Therelationshipwillbepoisonous.Theordinaryrelationshipoflovewillbethere.Hewon'tallowyoutomovetoanothermaster.Hewillght,hewillcreatebarrierssothatyoucannotmovefromhim–becausehedependsonyou,hisegodependsonyou.Themaster,ifwiththeego,cannotexistwithoutthefollowers.Thefollowersareneededtofeed.Thegreaterthecrowd,thebetterhewillfeel.Ifeverybodyleaveshimhewillsimplybedead.Thentheegowillbehurt.Soso-calledmastersgoonghting,competingwithotherso-calledmasters.Itbecomesamarket.Thewholecompetitionofthemarketcomesin.Ifthemasterhasanego,thatmeansheisnotreallyamaster–justpretending.Thenhiscompassionwillbeonlyinthenamecompassion.Hewillbecruel,hewilltortureyou–ofcourse,insuchawaythatyouwillfeelthistorturingisadiscipline.Hewillforceyoutodothingswhicharepainfulandunnecessary,buthewillenjoythatpain.Hewillrationalizeit.Hewillsay:Fast,becausewithoutfastingyoucannotreach.Andwhenyoufastandyouaretortured,hewillbehappy.Hiscompassionisjustahiddencruelty.Inthenameofcompassionheisasadist.Torturing,hewillfeelhappy.Lookingatyou,seeingthatyouaresad,tortured,depressed,hewillsay:VAIRAGYAhasbeenwon–youhavebecomenonattached. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds86 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Twoemptyspacescannotbetwo.Youcannotdrawalinebetweentwoemptyspaces.Youcannotmakeboundariesaroundemptiness.Twoemptinessesbecomeone,andrelationshipcannotexist–becauseforrelationship,twoareneeded.Soatthelastmomentofsurrender–trytounderstandthis–attheLASTmomentofsurrender,thegreatestrelationshipthatispossibleexists.Thedeepest,themostintimaterelationshipexists–ofcourse,onyourpart.Thenextmoment,whenyouhavesurrendered,everythinghasdisappeared.Nowthereisneithermasternordisciple.Andnowthemasteranddisciplebothcanlaugh.Theycanhaveabellylaugh.Theycanhaveanuproariouslaughaboutthewholenonsensethatwastherejustamomentbefore.Theefforttohelp,theefforttogetthehelp,thesurrender,theconstantstruggleoftheegonottosurrender,alltheexplanations,alltheteachings–thewholethingbecomesabsurd.Yourmany,manylivesbecomejustlikedreams.Andnowyoucanlaugh,becauseyoucouldhaveawakenedanymoment.Youcouldhavebecomeenlightened,youcouldhavecomeoutofyourdreamingatanymomentinanylife.Onceyouattainthisenlightenment...becausesurrenderisoneaspect,enlightenmentistheothersideofthecoin.Itisthesamedoor.Whenyouenter,onthedooriswritten:Surrender.Whenyouhaveenteredandyoulookback,onthedooriswritten:Enlightenment.Itisthesamedoor!Fromonesideitistheentrance;fromanothersideitistheexit.That'swhythereissomuchinsistenceonsurrender–SAMARPAN.Therelationshipisverycomplex,becauseonlyoneexists.Theotherrelaterisnotthere.Soallthegameswithamasterarereallyyourgames.YOUareplaying:itisagameofpatience.Theotherissimplywatchingyouplay.Youchangetactics,youtrythiswayandthatway.Youtryinmanyways,butunnecessarily,becausetheonlyeffortwhichwillbehelpfulissurrender.Allelseisjusttoprepareyoutocometoamomentofrealizationwhenyouseethewholeabsurdityofalleffortandsimplydrop.Manytechniquesareused.Thosetechniquesarenotreallygoingtohelp.Theyareonlygoingtohelpyoutorealizethatyouhavetosurrender.Theywillsimplyprovethefutilityofalleffort.Butyouplayagame.Yougoonchangingyourtactics.Theegoemployseverytypeofstrategy–fortheegoitisalife-and-deathproblem.Itwilldeceiveyou,itwilldeceiveyoucontinuously.Andtheegoisaperfectrationalist.Whenitdeceivesitgivesyoureasons.Youcannotarguewithit.Andifyoutrytoargueyouwillbedefeated.Hence,thesupremacyoftrustandfaith.Onlyafaithfulonecansurrender.Andonlyafaithfulonecanreachtotheverypeakofexistence,totheclimaxofbliss.InthewestoneofthedeepestpsychologistsofthiscenturywasAbrahamMaslow.Hiswholelifeheworkedaroundthephenomenonofpeakexperience.Hiswholelifehedevotedtothephenomenonofcertainexperienceswhichhecalledthepeak,theultimate,thenal–theenlightenmentofBuddha,ortheluminousunconsciousnessofRamakrishna,ortheecstasyofMeera,Boehme,Eckhart–thepeak,thehighestthatcanhappentohumanconsciousness. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds88 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST leadingnowhere,movinginarut.Ifyouarereallylogical,yourmindwillsay:Commitsuicide!Whyprolongthiswholenonsense?Logicleadstosuicide;faithleadstosupremelife.Andfaithisillogical–itdoesn'task,itdoesn'targue,itsimplyentersintotheunknown,ittriestoexperience.Experienceistheonlyargumentforamanwhohasfaith.Hewilltrytotasteit,hewilltrytoexperienceit.Withoutexperiencinghewillnotsayanything.Hewillnotdecide,hewillremainopen.Byonestep,thenanotherstep,thenanother,faithleadstosurrender–becausethemoreyoutrywithfaith,themoreyouknow,themoreyouexperience.Yourlifebecomesintense.Everystepsaystoyou:Gobeyondit,muchmoreishiddenbeyond.Beyondbecomesthegoal.Transcendeverythingandgobeyond.Andlifebecomesanadventure,acontinuousdiscoveryoftheunknown.Thenmoretrustiscreated.Wheneverysteptakenintotheunknowngivesyouablissfulglimpse,wheneverysteptakenintomadnessgivesyouahigherformofecstasy,wheneverysteptakenintotheunknownhelpsyourealizethatlifedoesn'tconsistofthemind,itisatotalorganicphenomenon,yourwholebeingisneededandcalled–thenbyandbyyourinnerbeingbecomesconvinced.Anditisnotalogicalconviction.Itisyourexperience,itisexperientialoryoucansayitisexistential,notintellectual–itistotal.Thenamomentcomeswhenyoucansurrender.Surrenderisthegreatestgamble.Surrendermeansputtingthemindasidecompletely.Surrendermeansgoingmad.Isaysurrendermeansgoingmad,becauseallthosewholiveintheirlogicandintheirmindswillthinkyouhavegonemad.Tomeitisnotmadness.Tomemadness,thistypeofmadness,istheonlycourageouswayoflife.Tomethismadnessisthedeepestjump.Tomethismadnessisallthatamaniscalledtobe.Buttothelogicians,yourtrustwilllooklikemadness.Thisisoneofthephenomenathathastobepenetratedverydeeply.Allthegreatreligionsarebornaroundsomemadman.AJesusisamadman,perfectlyinsane.ABuddhaisamadman.Butthepeoplewhogatheraroundarenotallmad.Manycomewhoarenotpeakers,whoareintellectuals.TheyareattractedtoJesusandtoBuddhaalso.TheverybeingofBuddhaissomagneticnow,lledwithsomuchinniteenergy,thattheyareattracted.Theirmindreasonsthatsomethinghasbeenattainedbythisman,buttheyarenotpeakers;theyarenon-peakers.Intellectuallytheybecomeattracted.TheveryphenomenonofaBuddhaandhisbeingbecomesalogicalargumenttothem.TheylistentoBuddha,theyrationalizehissayings,theycreatemetaphysicsaroundthem,thenareligionisborn.Atthebaseisamadman,butinthestructurearelogicians.Theyarethecontradictorypeople,absolutelycontradictory,oppositetoBuddha.Theycreatetheorganization.TheycreateBuddhismandthephilosophies.Jesusisamadman,SaintPaulisnot.Heisaperfectlogician.ThechurchiscreatedbySaintPaul,notbyJesus.ThewholeofChristianityiscreatedbySaintPaul,notbyJesus.Andthisisoneofthedangerousthingsthathasbeenhappening.Thereisnowaytopreventit.Itisinthenatureofthings.IfJesusisbornnow,thechurchwilldenyhimimmediately.Thechurchwillnotallowanymadmen.EckhartorBoehme,thechurchwilldenythem–theyaremadmen.Theywillbeexpelledfromthe MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds90 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Question2BELOVEDOSHO,BEFOREYOUSTARTTALKING,YOUSMILE.WHENYOUSTARTTALKING,YOURSMILEDISAPPEARSANDYOUDON'TSMILEAGAINUNTILYOU'VEFINISHED.CANYOUTELLUSABOUTTHAT?Itisrelevant,becausetospeakissuchatortureandsuchauselessactivity.Ithastobedonebecausethereisnootherwaytobringyoutowardsthesilencethatexistsinme.Youwon'tlistentoit;youcanlistenonlytowords.SoIamsmilingwhenIstarttalking,butwhileIamtalkingitisdifculttosmile.Itissuchatortureandsuchafutileefforttosaysomethingwhichcannotbesaid,totalkaboutsomethingwhichcannotbetalkedabout,togooncontinuouslypointingwiththengerstothemoonwhichcannotbengered.Butthereisnootherway,soIhavetocontinueit.Byandby,youwillbecomeabletolistentothenonverbal,tothewordless.Byandby,youwillbecomeabletolistenwhenIamnottalking–thentherewillbenoneed...thenIwillbesmilingcontinuously.SowhenInish,Ismileagain–thetortureisnomore.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds92 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY thenawarenesscannotbeaconstant,continuousow.Therewillbemomentswhenyouwillhavetoloseawareness.Thosewillbethemomentsofrelaxationfromtheeffort.Lifepulsates.Lifealwaysmovestotheopposite.Effort,thenyouhavetorest.Againyoumaketheeffort,thenyouhavetorest.ButthereISanawarenesswhichgoesbeyondlife–thetranscendental.Thenthereisnopulsation;itiseffortless,itisspontaneous.Whathappenedtothismonk,thisdiscipleofNan-in?Themasterasked:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes–ontherightorontheleft?Hehesitated.Andherealizedthatinthemomentofleavingtheshoeshewasnotaware–otherwisehemusthaveknownwherehehadleftthem,ontheleftorontheright.Hisconsciousnessisnotyetcontinuous.Thatshowsonlythathisconsciousnessisnotyeteffortless.Hehasstilltoremember,consciouslymakeeffort.Hismindfulnessisstillwithatension.Hehasnotyetbecomemindful.Sosometimeshesucceeds,sometimeshefails.Nan-inisaskingonly:Isyourawarenessnownatural?Youneednotmanipulateit?Youneednotdoanythingaboutit?Itisthere–whatsoeveryoudoitisthere?Ordoyouhavetomakeaneffortforittobethere?Iftheeffortisthereitisastrainedthing,andastrainedthingisboundtobeunnatural.Anunnaturalawarenessisnotreallyawareness–itexistsonlyontheperiphery,notinyou.Ifitexistsinyouthereisnoneedtomakeanyeffort.WhatIamtryingtosayis:Effortisalwaysontheperiphery.Youcannottouchthecenterthrougheffort.Youcandosomethingontheperiphery–youcanchangeyourbehavior,youcanchangeyourso-calledcharacter.Ontheperiphery,witheffort,youcanbecomeagoodmanfrombeingbad,youcanbecomevirtuousfrombeingasinner;youcanevenbecomeasaint–ontheperiphery,witheffort.Butthecentercanneverbetouchedandpenetratedthrougheffort–becausenoactioncanleadtoyou.Youarealreadythere!Thereisnoneedtodoanything.Youhavetobesimplysilent,spontaneous,andthenthecenterarises.Itcomesoutoftheclouds.Thereisabreak,agap.Yousuddenlyrealizeyourspontaneousawareness.YOUAREAWARENESS.Itisnothingyoudo,itisnothingwhichhastobedone–yourverynatureisawareness.HindushavecalledyouSATCHITANANDA.Theyhaveusedthreewords–SAT,CHIT,ANANDA.Satmeanstheexistential,thatwhichcannevergointonon-existence.Satmeansthetrue,whichcanneverbecomeuntrue.Satmeanstheeternal–whichwas,whichis,whichwillbe.Chitmeansawareness,consciousness.Thatisyournature!Youhavealwaysbeenconscious.Youareconscious,youwillbeconscious.Thatconsciousnesscannotbetakenfromyou,butitexistsattheverycoreofyourbeing,notontheperiphery.Itisyou,butyouarenotincontactwithyourself.Andanandameansbliss,ecstasy.Itisnotthatyouhavetoachievebliss–itisyou.Youhavealwaysbeenblissful,youcannotbeotherwise;thereisnopossibility.Youcannotchangeit.Youwillsaythisseemsabsolutelyabsurd–becauseweAREinmisery.Youareinmiserybecauseyouhavebecometoomuchobsessedwiththeperiphery.Youhaveforgottencompletelythecenter. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds94 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Evennotmakinganyeffortonyourpart,justbeingnearamasterwhoisapoolofsilentawareness,suddenlyyoubecomesilent–hetouchesyou.Thecloseddoorsopenorasifinadarknightsuddenlythereislightning,andyouseethewhole.Itdisappearsbecauseitcannotberetainedbyyou.Ifitisnotattainedbyyou,youwillloseit–butyouwillneverbethesameagain.Youhaveknownsomething,somethingthatwaspreviouslyunknown.Andnowthisknowingwillremainapartofyou.Therewillariseadesire,therewillariseanewambition:toattainthis,tomakethispermanent–becauseevenforamomentitwassoblissful,itshoweredsomuchhappinessonyou,somuchjoy.Butifthemaster,iftheteacher,isnothimselfaware,hecanteachaboutawarenessbuthecannotteachawareness.Andteachingaboutawarenessisuseless–itisverbal,itisatheory.Youcanlearnthetheoryfromhim,butyoucannotlearnthefact.Hence,beforethisdiscipleleavesNan-in,Nan-inmustlookintohim–andthisisaverydifferentphenomenon.Intheworldofeducation,astudentisexamined,butonlyhismemoryisexamined,neverhehimself.Alwayshismemoryisexamined–neverHE.Nan-inisnotexaminingthememoryofthedisciple.Heisnotasking:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes,ontherightorontheleft?Heisnotaskingforaperfectmemory,becausewherehelefttheshoesisnowpast.Heistryingtoseeintothebeingofthedisciplerightnow.Heisnotexaminingthememory,buttryingtolookintotheconsciousnessTHISverymoment.Thepastisnotthequestion.Thepresent,thepresentnessisthequestion.JustimaginethatdisciplesittingbeforeNan-in.Nan-inasks,andthediscipleislostinthepast.Hetriestothinkwherehehaslefttheshoes.Hetriestothinkwhetherhecanrememberornot.Hetriestothinkwhetherhehasmissedawarenessornot.Rightnowhehasbecomeaconfusion.Hiswholeconsciousnesshasbecomecloudy.Heisnolongerhere.HeisnotinthepresenceofNan-in,hehasgoneintothepast,hehasgoneintothinking–heisnotmeditative.Thehesitation,thethinking,theefforttotry...youcannotescapeNan-in.Hewillseethroughyou,hewillseealltheclouds,hewillseeyouarenothereandnow.Thenyoucannotbeallowedtoteach.Youcannotbesentout,becausewhatwillyouteach?Thatwhichyouhavenotgotyoucannotteach.Youcanpretend,butthatpretensionwillbedangerous,becauseifyoupretendthatyouareawareandyouarenot,thatpretensionwillbecomeinfectious.Apseudo-mastercreatespseudo-disciples,andthenlikeripplesthatpseudo-nessgoesonspreading.Themostdangeroussinthatamancancommitistopretendawareness.Evenifyoumurderamanitisnotsuchagreatsin,because,really,youcannotmurder.Youcanonlydestroythebody,thesoulmovesintoanother.Youonlydestroyonegame,anotherstartsimmediately.Amurdererisnotsuchagreatsinner.Butifyoupretendthatyouareawareandyouarenot,ifyoupretendthatyouareamasterandyouarenot,youaredoingsuchharm,suchinniteharm,thatnosincanbecomparedtoit–becauseotherswillgetthepretension.Theystartpretending,andthenitwillgoonandon–justlikewhenyouthrowastoneintoasilentlake,ripplesariseandtheygoonandon.Oneripplecreatesanother,pushesanother,anditgoesonandontotheveryboundariesofthelake. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds96 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Allthatisbeautifulandtruehappensonlywhenyouarenotanxiousaboutit.Allthatislovelyhappensonlywhenyouarenotevenwaitingforit–notasking,notdemanding.Thenthemindhasnoblocks.That'swhyithappenswhenyouhaveforgottenit.Effortisneeded.Inthebeginning,effortisamust–futile,butstillamust.Thefutilitywillberealizedbyandby.Whenyouhaveglimpses,suddenglimpses,withthefeelingthatyouwerenotmakinganyeffortandthoseglimpseshaveshowereduponyou,giftsfromthedivine,thenyoucanleavetheeffort–andleavingtheefforts,moreandmoregiftswillcome.IntheEastwehavealwaysbelieved,andbelievedrightly,thatenlightenmentisnothinglikeanachievement.Itislikeagrace,itisagift,itisPRASAD.Godgivesittoyou,youcannotsnatchitawayfromhishand.ForaWesternseekerthisisverydifculttorealize,becauseintheWestinthelastfewcenturies,thewholehumanmindhasbeenconvertedintoasnatchingthing.Youhavesnatchedeverythingfromnature.Whatsoeversecretsscienceknows,theyarenotgiven,theyhavebeensnatched.Youhaveforcednatureviolentlytoopenherdoorsofmysteries.Becauseyouhavesucceededwithmatter,youthinkthatthesamecanhappenwiththedivinealso.Thatcannothappen,thatisimpossible.Youcannotattackheavenandyoucannotgotherewithbayonets.Youcannotforcethedivinetoopenitshearttoyoubecausewheneveryouareforcingyouareclosed.Thatistheproblem;wheneveryouareforceyouareclosedandifyouareclosedthedivinecannotberevealedtoyou.Whenyouarenotforcingbutoatinglikeawhitecloud,justroaming,notmakinganyefforttoreachanywhere,whenthereisnogoalandnoeffort,whenyoudon'twanttoachieveanythingandthereisnostrainingforit,whenyouarehappyasyouare,whenyouarehappyastheworldis,whenyouacceptthingsastheyareandyoudon'twanttochangeanything–suddenly,youaretransportedintoadifferentdimensionofbeing.Yourealizethedoorshavealwaysbeenopen–theywereneverclosed,theycannotbeclosed.Thedivinemysteryhasalwaysbeennearyou.Itwasneververyfar.Itcannotbebecauseyouarepartofthedivine.Whereveryougothemysterymoveswithyou.Itisnotaquestionofsearchingandseeking.Itisaquestionofremainingsilentandallowing.Whenyouseekyoumiss,becauseaseekerisalwaysviolent.Whenyousearchitwillnotcometoyou,becausethemindthatissearchingistoopreoccupied,itisnotavailable.Itisneverhereandnow,itisalwayssomewhereinthefuture:whenthediscoverywillbemade,whentheresearchwillbecompleted,whentheseekingwillcometoanend.Itisalwayssomewhereintheend,itisnothere.Thedivineishere,soyounevermeet.Aseekerneverreaches.Thatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldn'tbeaseeker.Youwillhavetobeinthebeginning,thereisnootherway.Inthebeginningyouhavetobeaseeker,youwillhavetoseekandmakealltheefforts.Justbymakingalltheeffortsandbecomingamadseekeryouwillrealizethatithappensonlywhenyouareinanon-seekingmind.Sometimesrestingitwillcometoyou.Sometimessleepingitwilldescendonyou.Sometimesjustwalkingontheroaditwillbethere.Sometimesjustlookingatthesunrisinginthemorning–not MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds98 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY wouldliketoshare,butyouhavenotachieved.Thenyoucanbeahelpwithoutanypoisoning,withoutpoisoningtheother.Alwaysremember:ifyoudon'tknow,youdon'tknow.Neverpretend,notevennegatively,becauseyoucansimplyremainsilent,notsayingthatyouhavenotattained.Eventhatisnotgood,becauseinsilencetheothermaycarrythefeelingthatyouhaveknown.Makeitclearthatyouhavenotknownit,butyouhaveknownpersonswhodoknow,youhaveheardaboutit.InIndia,thereexisttwotypesofscripture.OneiscalledSHRUTI,theotheriscalledSMRITI.Smritimeansmemoryandshrutimeansthatwhichhasbeenheard.Theliteraturethatiscalledsmritibelongstothosewhohaveknownthemselves.Itistheirown.Theyhaverelatedtheirownmemory.Theyhaverelatedtheirownexperiences.Shrutiisthesecondtypeofliterature:itisfromthosewhohavebeenfortunatetobenearthosewhohaveknown–theyhaveheard.Rememberthisalways:ifyouhaveheard,thensaythatitissomethingyouhaveheard,anditissobeautifulthatevenhearingithasbecomeatreasureforyou.Evenhearingithastouchedyourheart,andyouwouldliketoshare.Butthisisjustfriendliness;youarenotbecomingamaster.Itisjustalovinggesture,justsharingyourhappiness,butyouarenotsharingawareness.Unlessyouattain,unlessyourealize,unlessitbecomesyourown,don'ttrytoguideanyone.Thatisviolent.Andwhenyouhaveattained,yourverybeingwillbecomeaguidance.Thedisciplewhocametothemaster,Nan-in,wasfromtheverybeginningtakingawrongstep,becauseifhehadbeenreadyNan-inwouldhavecalledhim.Itwasnothisparttodecide:TenyearsarenowcompleteandIshouldgoandteach.Thewholethingwaswrong.Themasterwouldknowbeforethedisciplewhenhewasready,becauseofcoursethemastercanobservemorethanyouevercanofyourownself.Themasterfollowsyoueveninyournightsandinyourdreams.Heislikeashadowconstantlywatchingwhatishappening,whetheryouareawareofhiswatchingornot.Andyouwillnotbeaware,becauseitissuchasubtlething.Wheneveradiscipleisready,themasterwillcallhimandtellhim:Nowyougo!Thediscipleneednotannounce,andifthediscipledecidestoannounce,thatmeansheisnotready–theegoisthere.Thisdisciplewantedtobeamaster–everydiscipledoes–andtheverywantingbecomesthebarrier.Tenyearswerecompleted;hemusthavebeencalculating.Hemusthavebeenaverycunningfellow;otherwise,whowillremember?Whatistheuseoflivingwithamasterifyoucannotforgettime?Whatelseareyougoingtoforget?Whatisthehurry?Thisdiscipleisnotsurrendered.Heisjustwaiting,calculating.Arithmeticisthere,logicisthere,andaxedattitudetowardsthings.Heknowsthehistoryofthemonastery,thatintenyears'timeadiscipleisreadyandthenhegoes.Butitdepends.Everydisciplewillnotbereadyintenyears,somediscipleswillnotbereadyintenlives.Andsomediscipleswillbereadyintenseconds.Itisnotamechanicalthing.Itdependsonthequality,theintensity,oftheconsciousnessofthedisciple.Sometimesithashappened:justa MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds100 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Oneseeker,aphilosophicalseekerofcourse,cametoaZenmaster,Bokuju,andasked:Whatistheway?Bokujulookedatthenearbyhillsandhesaid:Thehillsareverybeautiful.Seemsabsurd!heasks:Whatistheway?andBokujusays:Thehillsarebeautiful.Frustrated,theseekerleftimmediately.ThenBokujuhadabeautifullaugh.Onedisciplesaid:Master,thatmanmusthavethoughtyouaremad.Bokujusaid:Oneofusiscertainlymad.Eitherheismad...becauseyoucannotaskabouttheway,youhavetotravelit.Throughtravelingthewayisdiscovered.Itisnotthere,ready-made,soIcannotsaywhereitis.Itisnotlikeasuper-highway,ready-made,waitingforyou:Comeandtravel!Thereisnowaylikethat,otherwiseallwouldhavereachedlongbefore.Ifthewaywereready-made,everyonewouldhavetraveledit.Thewayiscreatedthroughyourtraveling.Itisnottherewaitingforyou.Themomentyoustarttravelingitiscreated.Itcomesoutofyou–justlikeaspider'sweb.Itcomesthroughyou.YOUCREATEit,thenyoutravelit.Asyoutravelityoucreatemoreofit.Andremember,thewaydisappearswithyou.Nobodyelsecantravelonit;itcannotbeborrowed.Sothemastersays:Itcannotbeasked,onlyfoolishpeopleasksuchquestionsaswhatistheway?Youaretheway!Thenthedisciplesaid:Iunderstandthat,butwhydidyoutalkaboutthehills?Themastersaid:Amasterhastotalkaboutthehillsbecauseunlessyoucrossthehillsthereisnowaytobefound.Thewayisbeyondthehills,andthehillsaresobeautifulnobodywantstocrossthem.Theyaresoenchanting,sohypnotizing,thateverybodyislostinthehills–andthewayexistsbeyond.Amasterresponds.Hehitsyourrealnecessity.Heisnotworriedaboutyourquestion.Yourquestionmayberelevantorirrelevant–YOUarealwaysrelevant.Helooksinyou.Hehitsyou.Butintellectualpeoplewillalwaysmissthattypeofanswer.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds102 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Therstthingis:alwaysbeintegratedwithin,anddon'tthinkofanyintegrationwithout–becauseyouarethemeeting-point.Alone,yousitsilently.Inlife,youhavetobeactive,involved.Silenceandinvolvementarecontradictions,buttheybothmeetinyou.Youaresilentandyouareinvolved.Ifyouareintegrated,yoursilenceandyourinvolvementwillbeintegrated.Yourbeingalone,andyourbeingwithyourwifeoryourhusbandorfriendsaretwothings,contradictory,butyouareinboth.Ifyouareintegrated,youwillbehappyalone.Ifyouareintegrated,youwillbehappywithothers.Happinesswillbeyourquality.Happinessdoesn'tdependonbeingaloneorwithothers.Ifitdoesdepend,therewillbeproblems.Ifyoufeelwhenyouarealoneyouarehappyandyourhappinessdependsonbeingalone,thentherewillbedifculty.Thenalonenessisamust.Then,whenwithothers,youwillfeelunhappyandyouwillstartthinkinghowtomakethesetwooppositesmeet.Theproblemarisesbecauseyouaredependentonyourlonelinessforyourhappiness.Don'tbedependent.Behappywhenalone.Lethappinessbeyourquality.Andwhenyoumovefromalonenessintoinvolvement,intocommunication,relationship,carrythatqualityofhappinesswhichwasinloneliness–carrythat.Inthebeginningitwillbedifcult,becauseyouwillalmostalwaysforget.Itwillbedifcultbecauseofforgetfulness,becauseofnotbeingconstantlyaware,butbyandbyyoucancarrythequality.Whenlivingwithsomebody,youcanstillbeasaloneasyouwereinyourloneliness.Youremainanintegratedsoul.Whilenotdoinganything,youfeelhappy,atease.Thisat-easenessshouldbecomeaqualityofyou,notofinactivity.Carrythisqualityinactivityandtherewillbenoproblem.Inthebeginningthereisgoingtobedifculty,butthepointistorememberthatyourhappiness,yourbliss,yourecstasy,shouldnotbedependentonanyconditionwithout.Ifitis,thenthereiscontradictionbecauseitwillbedependent.Peoplefeelthattheyarehappywhentheyarewiththeirfriends;thenwhentheyarealonetheyarebored,miserable,somebodyisneeded.Thesepeopleareextroverts.Theothertypeistheintrovert.Wheneverheisalone,hefeelshappy;wheneverhemoveswithsomeone,unhappinessenters.Bothareinthebondageoftheirtype.Typeisabondage.Youshouldbefreeofthetype.Youshouldneitherbeextrovert,norintrovert,butboth.Thenyouarefreeofthetype.Sowhatistobedone?Nevergetxedwithasituation;alwaysmovetotheoppositeandcarrythequalitywithyou.Moveasmuchaspossiblefromoneoppositetoanotherandcarrythequality.Soonyouwillbecomeawarethatthequalitycanbecarriedanywhere.Thenyoucannotbesenttohell,becauseevenifyouaresentyouwillcarryyourhappinessthere.Thenyouwillneverbeafraid.Religiouspeopleareafraidofhell,andtheyseekandhankerforheaven.Thesepeoplearenotreligiousatall,becauseheavenandhellarebothconditionswithout–theyarenotyourownqualities.Thesearetheworldlypeople.That'swhatworldlypeoplearedoing.Theysay:Ifthisconditionisfullled,thenIwillbehappy.Sohappinessdependsonthecondition.IfapalaceistherethenIwillbehappy;somuchmoneyinthebankbalance,thenIwillbehappy;suchabeautifulwife,thenIwillbehappy,orsuchagood,lovinghusband,thenIwillbehappy.Youarehappyonlywhensomethingisfullledoutside,andyousay:Ifthisisnotfullled,Iamunhappy. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds104 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Alwaysremember:don'tgetdependentonthings,situations,conditions.Thenyoucanmove.Don'tavoidmovement,otherwiseyouwillgetxed.EverybodyisafraidofmovementbecauseyouAREdependent.Youcannotcomeoutofyourhills,yoursolitariness,totheworldofthemarket,becauseyouknowyouwillbedisturbed.Whattypeofsilenceisthiswhichcanbedisturbedbythemarket?Whatvaluedoesitcarry?Ofwhatworthisit?Ifthemarketcandestroyit,iftheworld,thehumdrumworld,candestroyit,thenyoursilenceisveryimpotent.Ifyoursilenceisreallypotent,ifyouhaveattainedit,nothingcandestroyit.ItisnotverydifculttounderstandwhatIamsayingaboutsilence,butthatismyattitudeineverysphereoflife.IfyouarearealBRAHMACHARI,arealcelibate,youcanmoveintosexanditwillNOTdestroyyourcelibacy.Thiswillbeverydifculttofollow.Ifsexdisturbsyourcelibacy,itwasnothingworthwhile.Youcarrythequalitywithin.Ifyouarereallyalive,fullofenergy,youcandiehappily.Onlyweaklingsdieunhappily–becausetheyhaveneverlived.Theyhavenevertastedthecupoflife.Theyhavealwaysbeenhopingandhopingandhoping,andlifeneverhappenedtothem.That'swhytheyarescaredofdeath.Onewhohaslivedisalwaysreadytodie.Onewhohasreallylivedisreadyeverymomenttoacceptdeath.Thewordacceptisnotgood.Itwouldbebetterifwesaytowelcomedeath,toreceiveithappily,joyfully.Thendeathisanadventure.ItSHOULDbeifyouhavereallylived.Thendeathisnottheenemy,deathisthefriend.Adeeperlifeallowsdeath,ashallowlifeavoidsit.Thisissoineverysphereoflife.Ifyouhaveknownwhatfriendshipis,youwillnotbescaredofenemies.Youwillnotbe!Thenenmityhasitsownbeauty.Itisasortoffriendship–ontheoppositepole.Itisalove-affairontheoppositepole.Itisinvolvement,itiscommitment.Ifyouhaveknownfriendship,youwilllovetheenemy.That'swhatJesusmeanswhenhesays:Loveyourenemies.NotwhatChristianshavebeeninterpretingallthesecenturies.Youcannotloveyourenemy!Howcanyouloveyourenemy?ButIsaytoyou:Ifyouhavelovedfriends,youwillloveyourenemies–becauseonceyouknowthebeautyoffriendship,youalsocometoknowthebeautyofenmity.Itisafriendshipinreverseorder.Bothgive,bothenrichyourlife.Oppositesarenotreallyopposites.Deepdown,theyhaveagreatharmony.Theyarepartsofonewhole.ThisiswhattheChinesesay:yinandyang,theyarepartofonemovement,partofonewheel–theyarenottwo.Theyappeartwobecausewehavenotlookeddeepdown.Itisbecauseofourshalloweyes,non-penetratingminds,supercialconsciousnesses–that'swhytheylooklikeopposites,otherwisetheyarenot.Lifeanddeatharefriends.Theyexistthrougheachother,theycontributetotheother.Withouttheother,theywouldnotbethereatall.Canlifeexistwithoutdeath?Manhasbeendreamingforeverandeverhowtodestroydeath.Thisistheattitudeofthemind,thelinearmind,thelogicalmind–howtodestroydeath.Thelogicalmindsays:Ifthereisnodeath,therewillbelifeinabundance–simplelogic!Evenachildcanunderstandthearithmetic:ifthereisnodeath,therewillbemorelife.ButIsaytoyou:Ifthereisnodeath,therewillbenolife. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds106 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Buddhaisagreatmeditator;heisakshatriya,awarrior.Mahaviraisagreatmeditator;heisakshatriya–awarrior–notabrahmin.Allthetwenty-fourTIRTHANKARASoftheJainasarewarriors.Thisseemsstrange–why?InJapan,samuraishaveexisted,warriors,thegreatestwarriorstheworldhaseverknown.Thesamuraiisthepeak,theultimatepossibilityofbeingawarrior.Ineverymoment,thesamuraiisreadytodie.Forsuchtrivialthingsheisreadytodie–youcannotimagine.Ihaveheardaboutonehistoricalfactthathappenedthreehundredyearsago:Onesamurai,onegreatwarrior,wasvery,verydrunk.Suddenly,hewascalledbythekingforsomepurpose,sohewentthere.Hetriedtobealertbuthewastoodrunk.Heforgotsometrivialmannerisminhowyouhavetobowtotheking,howmuch.Hebowed,ofcourse,butitwasnotasexactasitshouldhavebeen.Thenextmorningwhenhebecamesober,heimmediatelykilledhimself.HARA-KIRIisawordyoumusthaveheard.Hara-kiribelongstosamurais,warriors.Themomenttheyfeelsomethinghasgonewrong...justanordinarymannerism,andthekinghadnotsaidanything.Thewarriorwassogreatthatthekingwouldnothavementioneditatall–buthekilledhimself.Thenextday,whenthekingbecameawarethatthewarriorhadkilledhimself,hewept.Thewarriorhadthreehundreddisciples.Theyimmediatelykilledthemselves,becauseifamasterhascommittedawrong,thedisciplesshouldfollow.Andyouwillbesurprised,itseemsunbelievable,thatforonehundredyearscontinuouslyitcontinued,thissmallthing–moredisciples,anddisciples'disciples,becauseonceamaster....Anditisneverheardof:asamuraigoingtothekingdrunkanddoingsomethingwrong.Fortrivialthings!Deathseemssoeasyandathand!ThesesamuraiscreatedZen,thegreatestDHYANtraditionintheworld.Thesesamuraismeditateddeeply.Thisismyfeeling,thatunlessyouarereadytodieyoucannotbereadytomeditate.Warandmeditationaresynonymousinadeepsense.Whereverthereisthepossibilityofyourbeingdestroyed,inthatmomentyourameoflifeburnsinitstotality.Thefullintensitycomestoyou.Oppositesarealreadymeeting.Youneednottryforanymeeting,anysynthesisofthem.Theyarealreadymeeting;theyareindeepharmony.YOUarenotinaharmony,thatistheproblem.Sowhenyouarehealthyandyoufeelawell-being,carrythatwell-beingwhenyouareunhealthyandill.Itellyouthatthefeelingofwell-beingisnotdependentonhealth.Thefeelingofwell-beingisaninnerfeeling;itisnotdependentonthebody.Youcancarryitevenwhileill.RamanaMaharshiwasdying.Hehadcancer,throatcancer,anditwasalmostimpossibleforhimtotalk,almostimpossibleforhimtoeatanything.Butallthosewhosurroundedhimonhislastdayweresurprised–hewassohappy.Hiseyeswerelledwithasubtlewell-being.Theconditionofthebodywasjustaruin,thewholebodywasaruin–butnotRamana:hewasashealthyasever.Onceamasterwasdying.Hewasveryold,almostahundred.Discipleswerethere–theycouldn'tweepbecausehewaslaughing.Theycouldn'tcrybecauseitlookedsoabsurd.Themanwassohappy,bubblingwithhappinessjustlikeachild–enjoyinghislastbreath.Theycouldweeponlywhenhewasdead. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds108 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Whatishappening?Wheneverythingseemspossible,eventhenalenlightenmentseemspossible.Whatishappening?Youarenotthere.Withoutyoueverythingispossible.Withyoueverythingisimpossible.YOUARETHEPROBLEM.Listeningtome,youforget.Ifyouforget,youarenotthere–becauseyourbeingthere,theego,isjustamentalphenomenon.Youhavetocreateiteverymoment.Itisjustlikepedalingabicycle.Youhavetogoonpedaling;ifyoustopforasinglemoment,thecyclestops.Thereisamomentum,alittlemomentum;thecyclewillgoafewyards,andthenwillstop.Ifyouwantthecycletocontinue,youhavetogoonpedaling,itisacontinuousprocess.Thecyclemovingisnotsomethingpermanent,ithastobecreatedeverymoment.Theegohastobepedaledeverymoment–andyouarepedalingit.Whenyouarehere,thepedalingstops.Youaremoreconcernedwithme.Yourtotalfocusandattentionmoves.Itisjustlikeasmallboycycling.Heiscuriousabouteverything.Helooksatatreewithhundredsofparrotschatteringthere,andhefallsfromthecyclebecausetheattentionhasmoved.Hestopspedaling,heforgetsthatheisonthecycleandthathehastocontinuepedalingit.Smallchildrennditdifcultinthebeginningtocycle,justforonereason–becausetheyaresocuriousabouteverything.Nocountryallowsdrivinglicensesforchildren,onlybecausetheyaresocurious.Theywillforget.Anymomenttheirtotalattentioncangoanywhereandtheywillforgetthattheyaredriving,thattheyhaveadangeroustoolintheirhandsandothers'livesareindanger.Theyareunfocused.Theirconsciousnessisowingeverywhere.Whileyouarehere,youaresomuchconcernedwithme,somuchinvolvedinit,youforgetthepedaling.Andforcertainmoments,whenyouforgetyourselfcompletely,silencedescendsonyou,ablissarises,everythingseemspossible.Youbecomedivine–that'swhyeverythingseemspossible.Onlyforagodiseverythingpossible.Foragod,nothingisimpossible.Inthatmomentyoubecomegodlike.Awayfromme,youreturnback–yourmindstartsthinking,youstartpedaling,andyoupedalmorebecauseyouhavetocompensate.Youhavenotpedaledyourcycleforafewmoments,soyoupedalmorejusttocompensate.Intenseegocomesback.Youlosecontactwithyourself.Withme,whatisreallyhappeningis:youaremoreincontactwithyourself.Theegoisnotthere.Youareindeepcontactwithyourself;yourinnersourceisavailabletoyou,owing.Thereisnoblockinenergy.Awayfromme,alltheblockscomeback,oldhabitsreturn.Thenthingsdon'tseemsogood.Thenthewholephenomenonofbeingwithmeseemslikeadream.Youcannotbelieveit.Itlookslikeamiracle.AndyouthinkthatImayhavedonesomething.Ihavenotbeendoinganything.Nobodycandoanythingtoyou.Ithappenedbecauseyouallowedit.Whenyoumoveawayfromme,carrythisfeeling.Whatsoeveryouarefeelinghere,carryit,thenIwillbeneededlessandless.Otherwise,Icanbecomeadrug;theneverymorningyouawakeandyoustarthankeringforme.Thenyouaregettingreadytocometome,adeepurge–thenIcanbecomeadrug!Thenyouwillbecomemoreandmoredependentonme.That'snotthewaytoreachsatori,samadhiorenlightenment.That'snottheway.Ifyoubecomedependentonme,Iamadrug,andIamdestructivethen.ButthisisYOUwhocanconvertmeintoadrug. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds110 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT ill,whichisalwaysreadytogetdisturbed.Yourenouncetheworld–whichiseasier.YouescapetotheHimalayas,butallthatwaswithinyouwillbewithyou.Itwillnotmakeanydifference.Thisisadeception.Remainintegrated.Remainsilent.Remainhappyandallowtheworldtohappen!Whoareyoutorenounceornotrenounce?Whereveryoundyourself,bethere.Beintegratedandsilentandhappy.Don'tgototheHimalayas,createaHimalayawithin–that'swhatImeanwhenIsaydon'trenounce.Don'tgotothehills,createthatsilencewithin,sowhereveryoumove,thehillsmovewithyou.Relationshipisbeautiful,becauseitisamirror.Buttherearestupidpeople:theyseetheirfaceinthemirror,andtheyseeitisuglysotheydestroythemirror.Thelogicisapparent:thismirrorismakingthemugly,sodestroythemirrorandthenyouarebeautiful.Relationshipisamirror.Whereveryouarerelatedwithaperson–awife,ahusband,afriend,alover,anenemy–amirroristhere.Thewifemirrorsthehusband.Youcanseeyourselfthere,andifyouseeanuglyhusband,don'ttrytoleaveyourwife–theuglinessisinyou.Dropthatugliness!Thismirrorisbeautiful,andbethankfultothismirror.Butstupidandcowardlypeoplealwaysescapeandrenounce;braveandwisepeoplealwaysliveinrelationship,anduseitasamirror.Livingwithsomeoneisaconstantmirroringaroundyou.Everymomenttheotherrevealsyou,exposesyou.Theclosertherelationship,thecleareristhemirror:themoredistanttherelationship,themirrorisnotsoclear.That'swhyallrenouncingbecomes,really,therenunciationoflove.Wifeandhusband:thatbecomesthebaseforbreakingtherelationship,becausetwenty-fourhourslivingwithapersoninthesamehouse,twenty-fourhoursbeingrelated....Evenwhenawifeisnottalking,notsayinganythingtoherhusband,sheismirroring.Evenwhenthehusbandisjustreadinghisnewspaper,heismirroring.Thewayheisputtinghisnewspaper,thewifeknowsthatthenewspaperisjustcreatingawall.Heishidingbehindit.Hemaybepretendingtohimselfthatheisreading.Hemaybereadingthesamenewstwice,thrice.Hemaynotbereadingatall,butjustgoingthroughthewordsmechanically.Butthewayheishidinghimselfbehindthenewspaperbecomesamirror.Heisavoidingthewife,heisfedupwiththewife,hedoesn'twanthertobehere,hedoesn'twanttolookather,toseeher.Herpresence,theverypresenceisheavy.Hewantstoescapesomehow.Whenyouareinlove,languageisnotneeded.Gestures...evensilencebecomeseloquent.Aconstantmirroringgoeson,andeverybodyisuglybecausebeautyissomethingwhichhappensonlybyandby,whenyourinnerbeingbecomesrevealed.Egoisalwaysugly.Soonlywhentheegoisnotdoesonebecomebeautiful.Itistheegothatismirrored.Whosoevercontinuouslyremindsyouthatyouareuglybecomestheenemy–youwanttorenounce.Butisitwisetorenouncethemirror?Itisfoolish.Evenifnobodymirrorsyou,youwillremainthesame.Youmayevengrowmoreinthesamedirectionwhennobodyremindsyou.Themirrorisbeautifulandgood.Ithelpsyou.Andifyouarealert,byandbyyoucandroptheego.Then,inthemirroroftheotheryourbeautifulselfwillberevealed. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds112 Osho CHAPTER12 Whatsoeveryoudo,beTotal 21May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVETALKEDTOUSABOUTTOTALSURRENDERTOTHEMASTER,BUTOFTENOURMINDSCOMEUPWITHREASONSFORNOTFOLLOWINGTHEINSTRUCTIONSLITERALLY.WESAYTHINGSLIKE:THEMASTERCAN'TKNOWTHATTHESITUATIONHASCHANGED;OR,THEMASTERDOESN'TREALIZEWHATTHEPRACTICALCONDITIONSAREINTHEWEST.SHOULDWEFOLLOWEVERYTHINGTHEMASTERSAYSTOTHELETTER,ORARETHERETIMESWHENWESHOULDUSEOUROWNDISCRETION?Youshouldfolloweitherabsolutely,ornotatall.Nocompromiseshouldbemade,becauseanythinghalf-heartedisnotonlyuselessbutharmful.Anythinghalf-hearteddividesyou–thatistheharm.Youshouldremainanundividedunity.Soeithersurrendertotally...thenthereisnoneedtothinkonyourpart;followblindly.Iemphasizethewordblindly–asifyouhavenoeyes;somebodywhohaseyesisleadingyou.Thenyouwillremainanundividedunity;andundivided,integrated,youwillgrow.Or,ifyoufeelthisisimpossibleandcannotbedone,don'tfollowatall.Completelyfollowyourself.Thentooyouwillremainundivided.Toremainundividedistheend,theaim.Bothwilldo,theultimateresultwillbethesame.Ifyoucanbealone,withoutamaster,ifyoucanfollowyourown 114 CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Thesamedeceptioncanhappenfromthereverseside.Youcometome,youthinkyouhavesurrendered,andstillyougoonchoosing.IfIsaysomethingthatsuitsyou–thatmeansitsuitsyourego–youfollowit.IfIsaysomethingwhichdoesn'tsuityourego,youstartrationalizing:Thismaynotbeforme.Soyoufeelthatyouhavesurrendered,andyouhavenotsurrendered.PeoplearoundKrishnamurtithinktheyarenotfollowinganybody,andtheyarefollowing.Youaroundmethinkyouarefollowingmeandyouarenotfollowingme.Mindisalwaysadeceiver.Whereveryougo,itcandeceiveyou,sobealert.Isaytoyou:Youcanreachwithoutfollowing,butthepathwillbevery,verylonely,verylong.Itisboundtobeso.Onecanreach,itisnotimpossible,peoplehavereached.Imyselfhavereachedthroughnotfollowing,youcanalsoreach.Butrememberthatnotfollowingshouldnotbecomeanego-fulllment;otherwiseyouwillneverreach.Amasterornomaster,thatisnotthebasicthing.Thebasicthingistheego,yourego.Noego–thenevenwithoutamasteryoucanreach.Withego–evenaBuddhacannotleadyou.Eitherfollowtotallyordon'tfollowtotally,butbetotal.Itisforyoutodecide.Remainundeceivedbythemindandlookdeepwithinyourself.Beawareofwhatyouaredoing.Ifyouaresurrendering,thensurrender.Iremember:ithappenedoncewithagroupinGurdjieff'slife.Hewasworkingwithafewdisciples.Absolutesurrenderwasneeded–andGurdjieffhadsaidthatwhatsoeverhesaid,theyhadtofollow.Hewashelpingthemtopracticeacertainexercise.Heusedtocallthatexercisethestopexercise.Sowheneverhesaid:Stop!youhadtostopwhatsoeveryouweredoing.Youwerewalking,onefootwasabovethegroundwhenhesays:Stop!youhadtostopthere.Youweretalkingandyourmouthwasopen,andhesays:Stop!Youhadtostopwithanopenmouth.Youwerenottochangeit,youwerenottomakeyourpostureconvenient,becausethatwouldbeadeception,andyouwerenotdeceivinganybodyexceptyourself.Oneday,suddenlyinthemorning,whenpeopleweredoingsomeexerciseoutsidethecamp,andafewpeoplewerepassingthroughacanalthatwasrunningby,hesuddenlysaid:Stop!Hewasinsidethecamp,sopeoplestopped.Fourpersonswerecrossingthecanal.Itwasdry,thewaterwasnotrunning,sotheystopped.Butsuddenly,somebodyopenedthecanalandthewaterstartedcoming.Theystartedtothink:Whattodo?Gurdjieffisinsidethetent,hedoesn'tknowthattheyarestandinginacanalandthecanalisowing.Buttheywaited,becausemindcanwaitforamoment.Whenthewatercameuptotheirnecks,onejumpedout.Hesaid:Thisistoomuch.Gurdjieffdoesnotknow.Thenthecanalwasoodedmore.Twoothersjumpedwhenthewatercamejustneartheirnoses,becausenowtheywouldbedrownedandtherationalizationwassimpleandeasy.Youwouldhavealsodonethesame.Theyaregoingtodie,themasterisinsidethetentandhedoesn'tknow!Onlyoneremained.Thewaterwasowingabovehisheadandhewasstanding.ThenGurdjieffrushedoutofhistentandbroughthimoutofthecanal;hewasalmostunconscious.Thewaterhadtobebroughtoutofhisbody,hewasjustonthepointofdeath.Butwhenheopenedhiseyeshewasanotherman.Theoldmanreallydied.Thiswasatransformation.Hewastotallydifferent. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds116 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Inthepast,peopleknewonlyonepath,thepathintowhichtheywereborn.Itwasgoodtoemphasizethatthisistheonlyway–tomaketheirmindscondentaboutit,trustingaboutit.Butnow,thisisnotthesituationatall.AHindureadstheKoran.AChristiancomestoIndiatoseekguidance.AMohammedanisawareoftheGitaandtheVedas.Allthepathshavebecomeknown.Muchconfusionexists,andwhosoeversaysthatthisistheonlypathisnotgoingtohelpnowbecauseyouknowotherpathsarethere.Youalsoknowthatfromotherpathspeoplehavereachedandarereaching.Hence,Idon'temphasizeanypath.Youcantakemyhelpifyousurrender;youcantakemyhelpifyoudon'tsurrender,butyouhavetobeclearaboutit.Ifyouchoosethepathofsurrender,thenyouhavetofollowmetotally.Ifyouchoosethatyouarenotgoingtosurrender,thendecideit.Icanbeafriendonthepath,thereisnoneedtomakemeamaster.Icanbejustafriendonthepath–ornotevenafriend.Youaresearchingandyoumeetsomebodyabsolutelyunknown,astranger,andyouaskhim:Whereistheriver?Whichpathleadstotheriver?Whenhehasspokenyouthankhimandyoumove.Icanbejustastranger.Noneedeventobeafriend,becausewithafriendalsoyougetinvolved.Youcantakemyhelp–myhelpisunconditional.Idon'tsay:Dothis,thenIwillhelpyou.Idon'tsay:Surrender,onlythenwillIhelpyou.ButthismuchImustsay:Dowhatsoeveryoulike,butdoittotally.Ifyouaretotal,thetransformationiscloser.Ifyouaredivided,itisalmostimpossible.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WHENWAKUANSAWAPICTUREOFTHEBEARDEDBODHIDHARMA,HECOMPLAINED:WHYHASN'TTHATFELLOWGOTABEARD?BELOVEDOSHO,WHYDON'TYOUHAVEABEARD?ThetraditionofZenisreallybeautiful.Bodhidharmahasgotabeard,andadiscipleasks:Whyhasthisfellownotgotabeard?Thequestionisbeautiful,butonlyaZendisciplecanraiseit–becausethebeardbelongstothebody,nottoBodhidharma.Thatfellowisbeardless,becausethebodyisjustanabode.Apparentlythequestionisabsurd,butitismeaningful,andsuchquestionshavebeenaskedmanytimes.Buddhacontinuouslytalked–morning,evening,afternoon,inthisvillage,inthatvillage,moving,fortyyearscontinuouslytalking.OnedaySariputtaasked:Whyhaveyouremainedsilent?Whydon'tyoutalktous?Patentlyabsurd!Buddhalaughedandsaid:Youareright.Andthismanwastalking–nobodyhastalkedasmuchasBuddha.ButSariputtawasright,becausethistalkinghappenedonlyonthesurfaceandBuddhadidremainsilent.OneZenmonk,Rinzai,usedtosay:Thisman,Buddha,wasneverborn,heneverwalkedonthisearth,heneverdied–heisjustadream.AndeverydayhewouldgotothetempleandbowdownbeforeBuddha'sstatue! MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds118 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Thisfellowisalsobeardless.Thewholequestionis:WhyisBodhidharmanotmatter?Andtheansweris:Becausespiritcannotbematter.Zendisciplesaskinapeculiarway.Nowhereelsecansuchquestionsbeasked.YoucannotaskaChristianpope:WhyisthisfellowJesusbeardless?Theveryquestionwillbethoughtprofane:youcannotbesointimatewithJesus.Youcannotcallhim'thisguy'or'thisfellow';thatwillnotlookholy,yourbehaviorwilllookinsulting.ButnotsowithZen.Zensays:Ifyouloveyourmasters,youcanlaughaboutthem;ifyoulovethem,therecannotbeanyfear,eventhefearofamanwhoisholy.Ifyoulovethem,feardisappears.SowhenforthersttimeChristiantheologiansbecameawareofthetraditionofZen,theycouldn'tbelievethatsuchareligioncouldexist,becauseZenmonksgoonlaughingaboutBuddha.Sometimestheyusesuchwords–youcannotbelieve!Theycansay:Thisstupidfellow–forBuddha!Andifyouaskthem,theywillsay:Yes,hewasstupid,becausehewastryingtosaysomethingwhichcannotbesaidandhewastryingtotransformuswhoareimpossible.Hewasastupidfellow–hewastryingtodotheimpossible!Zenmastershaveusedtermsandwordsthatnoreligioncanuse.ButbecauseofthatIsaythatnoreligionissoreligiousasZen,becauseifyouREALLYlove,whereisthefear?Youcanjoke,youcanlaugh,andanenlightenedmanlikeBuddhawilllaughwithyou–thereisnoproblem.Hewillnotfeelhurt.Ifhefeelshurt,heisnotenlightenedatall.Andhewillnotsay:Don'tusesuchprofanelanguage–becauseforBuddhaalllanguageisprofane,onlysilenceissacred.Sowhetheryoucallhimastupidfelloworonewhohasawakened,botharethesameforhim.Languageassuchisprofane.Onlysilenceisholy.Whatsoeveryousayisthesame.Thisdisciple,Wakuan,isasking:WhyhasthisfellowBodhidharmanotgotabeard?BodhidharmaistherstmasterofZen.Bodhidharmacreatedthisever-owing,ever-renewingriverofZen.BodhidharmawenttoChinafourteenhundredyearsago.WhenheenteredChina,hewascarryingoneofhisshoesonhishead.Oneshoewasonhisfoot,oneshoewasonhishead.Theemperorhadcometoreceivehim.Hebecameembarrassed:Whatmannerofmanisthis?Hehadbeenwaitingsolong,andhewasthinking:Agreatholyman,agreatsaintandsageiscoming–andthismanisbehavinglikeabuffoon.Theemperorwasdisturbed,hefeltuneasy.Andtherstopportunityhegot,heaskedBodhidharma:Whatareyoudoing?PeoplearelaughingandtheyarelaughingatmealsobecauseIhavecometoreceiveyou.Andthewayyouhavebehavedisnotawaytobehave.Youshouldbehavelikeasaint!Bodhidharmasaid:Onlythosewhoarenotsaintsbehavelikesaints.Iamasaint!OnlythosewhoareNOTsaintsbehavelikesaints–andheistrue,becauseyoucareaboutyourbehavioronlywhenitisnotspontaneous. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds120 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Whereveryouseeseriousness,knowwellsomethingiswrong,becauseseriousnessispartofadiseasedbeing.Noowerisseriousunlessitisill.Nobirdisseriousunlessitisill.Notreeisseriousunlesssomethingiswrong.Wheneversomethingiswrong,seriousnesshappens.Seriousnessisillness.Wheneverythingisokay,laughterarises.Bodhidharmaiscontinuouslylaughing,andhislaughterisabelly-laughter,anuproar.HisdisciplesusedtoaskquestionsnobodyexceptBodhidharmacananswer.AndItellyou:Thatfellowwaswithoutabeard.andthisfellowisalsowithoutabeard.GOSOSAID:WHENYOUMEETAZENMASTERONTHEROADYOUCANNOTTALKTOHIMANDYOUCANNOTBEWITHHIMINSILENCE.WHATAREYOUTODO?BELOVEDOSHO,WHENWEMEETTHEMASTEROFMASTERSONTHELAWNWHATTODO?Yes,itistrue.WhenyoumeetaZenmasterontheroad,youcannottalkwithhim,becausewhatcanyoutalkwithhimabout?Yourworldsaresodifferent.Yourlanguagesbelongtotwodifferentdimensions.Whatcanyoutalkwithhimabout?Whatcanyouask?Isanyquestionreallyworthasking?Isanyquestionreallymeaningful?WhenyoumeetaZenmaster,whatwillyoutalkabout?Allthatyoucantalkaboutbelongstothisworld,thismundaneworld,themarket,thehouse,thefamily.Allthatyoucantalkabout,allthatyouare,issofutile.Itistrue.WhenyoumeetaZenmasterontheroad...andyoualwaysmeetamasterontheroadbecausethemasterisalwaysmoving.Younevermeethimanywhereelse.Remember,youalwaysmeetamasterontheroad,becauseheisalwaysmoving.Heisariver,neverstatic,neverstanding.Ifyoucannotmovewithhim,youwillmisshim.Heisalwaysonhisfeet.Youalwaysmeethimontheroad.Whatcanyoutalktohimabout?Andyoucannotbesilenteither,becausetobesilentisalmostimpossibleforyou.Youcannottalk,becausethemasterbelongstoadifferentworld.Youcannotbesilent,becausetheworldyoubelongtoisneversilent.Yourmindgoesonchattering.Yourmindisaconstantchatterbox.Consistent,inconsistent–thoughtsgoonandonandon,andthereisnoendtoit;theymoveinawheel.Youcannotbesilentandyoucannottalk.Thenwhattodo?Ifyoustarttalking,itwillbeabsurd.Ifyoustartbeingsilent,itwillnotbepossible.Itisbetternottodecideonyourpart.Askthemasterwhattodo.Tellhim:Icannottalkbecausewebelongtodifferentworlds.WhatsoeverIaskwillbeuseless,andwhatsoeveryoucananswerIcannotquestion.WhatsoeverIquestionisuseless,itisnotevenworthanswering.AndIcannotbesilentbecauseIdon'tknowwhatsilenceis.Ihaveneverknownit;silencehasneverhappenedtome.Iknowasortofsilence:thesilencethatcomesbetweentwothoughts,asagap;thesilencethatexistsbetweentwowords,justasagap.Oursilenceisjustlikethepeacewhichhappensbetweentwowars.Itisnotreallypeace;itisjustpreparationforanotherwar.Howcanthatbepeacewhichbridgestwowars?Thewarsimplygoesunderground,that'sall.Itisacoldwar.Itisneverpeace.Oursilenceislikethat. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds122 Osho CHAPTER13 GodisinSearchofYou 22May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YESTERDAYYOUTOLDUSVERYCLEARLYTHATWENEEDTOFOLLOWTHEMASTER'SWORDTOTHELETTER.BUTWECANNOTCONSULTYOUONEVERYDETAIL.HOWCANWECHOOSETHERIGHTPATHWHENTHEMINDISALWAYSLOOKINGFORTHEEASYWAY?Therealproblemisnotconsultingthemaster,buthowtobemoremeditative,becausethephysicalpartofthemasterisnotthesignicantthing.Ifyouaremoremeditative,youcanconsultthemastereverymoment.Thephysicalpresenceisnotnecessary,itbecomesnecessaryonlybecauseyouarenotmeditative.BecauseyouareidentiedwithYOURbody,that'swhyinyourmindthemasterisidentiedwithhisbody.Becauseyouthinkthatyouareabody,youalsothinkthatthemasterisabody.Themasterisnotabody,andwhenIsaythis,thatthemasterisnotabody,Imeanthatheisnotconnedintimeandspace.Itisnotaquestionofbeinginhispresence.Whereveryouare,ifyouaremeditative,youareinhispresence.Evenwhenthemasterisdeadhecanbeconsulted.Buddhaisstillconsultedeventoday–andtheanswersarereceived.ItisnotthatBuddhaissittingsomewhereandgivingyoutheanswers,butwhenyouaredeepinmeditationyouAREthebuddha.Yourbuddha-naturearisesand 124 CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU buckets.Youcannotdothat!Ifyoutryyouwillbefoolish–andmanyaredoingthat.Simplyopenthewindows,openthedoors.Allowthebreezetoblow.Allowtheraystocomein.Inviteandwait.Youcannotforce.Wheneveryouforce,thingsgougly.Ifamanforceshimselftobesilent,hissilencewillbeugly,tortured,forced,articial,justonthesurface.Deepdowntherewillbeturmoil.Sowhatistobedone?Openyourmindandwait.Lookatthetrees,lookattheparrotsscreeching.Listentothem,don'tdoanything.Whatsoeverishappeningaroundyou,justbeapassivealertness.Thelightonthewater,theriverowing,thenoise,thechildrenplaying,laughing,giggling–youjustbethere,apassivepresence,open,listening,seeing,notthinking.Thebirdsarethereinthetrees,makinganoise,singing....Youjustlisten.Don'tthink,don'tcreateasecondseriesinyourmindaboutwhatishappening.Justletithappen,andsoonerorlateryouwillfeelthemindhasdisappearedandasilencehascometoyou.Youwillactuallyfeelitdescendingonyou,penetratingfromeveryporeofthebody,reachingdeeperanddeeper.Inthebeginningitwillbeonlyformoments,becauseyouaresuchahabitualthinker,addictedtothinkinglikeamanwhoisaddictedtoalcoholorsomedrug,thatonlyformomentswilltherebeagap–andagainyouwillstartthinking.Youmaystartthinkingaboutthissilencethatisdescendinguponyou.Youmaystartthinking:Oh,thisisthesilencethatthemastershavealwaysbeentalkingabout–andyouhavedestroyedit.Youmaystartthinking:ThisisthesilencetheUpanishadssayisthegoaltobeachieved,thisisthesilencethatpoetshavebeentalkingabout,thesilencethatsurpassesunderstanding–youhavemissedit.Thepoetshaveentered,themastershaveentered,theUpanishadshavecome.Youhavemissedit,youhavelostit.Nowyouareagaindisturbed,nowyouarenotapassivity,nowyouarenotalert.Nowthosesingingbirdsarenolongerthereforyou.Yourmindhascomein.Nowthosebeautifultreeshavedisappeared.Thesunisnolongerintheskyandthecloudsarenolongeroating.Youarenotopennow–closed,yourwindowsareclosed,yourdoorsareclosed.Thought,thinking,isthewaytoclosethemind.Non-thinking,nothought,isthewaytoopenit.Wheneveryouarenotthinking,youareopen;wheneveryouarethinking,awallhasbeenraised.Eachthoughtbecomesabrickandthewholeprocessofthinkingbecomesawall.Thenyouarehiddenbehindthewall,cryingandweeping–whyisthesunnotreachingtoyou?Itisnotthesun–itisyouwhoarecreatingwallsaroundyou.Bemoremeditative.Wheneveryouhaveanyopportunity,anyspace,anytime,justallowthingstohappenaroundyou.Lookdeeply,attentively,butdon'tbeactive–becauseactivitymeansthinking.Sittingquietly,allowingthingstohappen,youwillbecomesilent.Thenyouwillcometoknowthatsilenceisnotaqualityofthemind.Mindcannotbemadesilent.Silenceisthequalityofyourinnersoul,ofyourinnerbeing.Itisalwaystherebutbecauseofthechattering,theconstantchatteringofthemind,youcannothearit.Wheneveryoubecomepassive,non-thinking,youbecomeawareofit.Thenyouareunoccupied.Inthatunoccupiedmoment,meditationhappens.Sowhatsoeverthesituation–sittinginamarketplace–don'tthinkthatthesingingofthebirdsisamust,itisnot!Thehummingofamarketplaceisalsoasbeautifulasthehummingofthebirds:peoplecarryingontheirwork,talking,chattering,noiseallaround,youjustsittherepassively. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds126 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU ButthesilenceIamtalkingaboutistotally,qualitativelydifferent.Itisnotadiversionofmischief,itisnotaforcedoccupation,itisnotamantrahypnosis.Itisasilencethathappenstoyouwhenyouarepassiveandalert,notdoinganything,notevenmovingyourrosary,totallypassive,butalert.Remember,passivitycanbecomesleep.That'swhyIemphasizethewordalertness–becauseyoucanbepassiveandyougotosleep.Sleepisnotmeditation.Onequalityofsleepisthere,onequality,thatofpassivity,andonequalityofwakingisthere,thatofalertness.Relaxedasifyouareasleep,alertasyouareawake.Onethingistakenfromsleep–unconsciousness.Thatshouldnotbethere,becausemeditationcannotbeunconscious,andonethingistakenfromyourwakingstate–occupiedness;becauseifyouareoccupiedthenthemindisworking,youareenclosedinthoughts.Whileyouareawaketherearetwothings:alertnessandoccupiedness.Whileyouareasleeptherearetwothings:passivityandunconsciousness.Onethingfromawakeness,onethingfromsleep:passivityandalertness–theymakemeditation.Ifyoutakethetwootheringredients,occupationandunconsciousness,youbecomemad.Thosetwoingredients,occupiedandunconscious,makemadness,makethemadman.Passivityandalertnessmakethemeditativeman,abuddha.Youhaveallfouringredients.Mixtwoandyouwillbecomemad.Mixtheothertwoandyouwillbecomemeditative.Rememberthis:Isayagainandagainthatsilence,theblissthatpervadesyouwhenyouareopen,isnotsomethingtobedonebyyou.Itisalet-go.Itisahappeningtoyou.Itcomestoyou.Peoplecometomeandtheysay:WearesearchingforGod–howtoreachhim?AndItellthem:Youcannotreachhimandyoucannotsearchforhim–becauseyoudon'tknowhim.HowwillyourecognizethatheisGod?Youdon'tknowhim.Howwillyoumove?Howwillyouchoosethepath?Youdon'tknowhim.Howcanyoudecideifthisishishouse,thisishisabode?No,youcannot,youcannotsearchforthedivine.Butthereisnoneedbecausethedivineisalwaysnearyou,withinyou.Wheneveryouallowhim,hesearchesforyou,hereachesyou.Godisinsearchofyou.Godhasalwaysbeeninsearchofyou.Nosearchonyourpartisneeded.Seek,andyouwillmiss.Don'tseek!Simplyremainpassiveandalertsowheneverhecomesyouareopen.Manytimeshecomesandknocksonyourdoor,butyouarefastasleep–orevenifyouheartheknockyouinterpretitinyourownway.Youthink:Itisjustthewindblowingfastandstrong.Oryouthink:Somestrangerhasknockedandhewillgobyhimself;thereisnoneedtodisturbmysleep.Yourinterpretationsareyourenemies,andyouaregreatinterpreters.Whatsoeveris,youimmediatelyinterpretit;yourmindstartsfunctioningandgrindingit,andyouchangeitimmediately.Youcolorit;yougiveitadifferentmeaningthatwasneverthere.Youprojectyourselfintoit.Youdestroyit.Therealitydoesnotneedanyinterpretation.Thetruthdoesnotneedanythinkingabout.Nooneeverreachesthetruththroughthinking.That'swhythewholeofphilosophyisfalse.Itisboundto MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds128 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU Thenofcourse,thenyoucannotfollowanygoal,becauseyourgoalandtheriver'smaynotcoincide–thentherewillbefrustration.Youcanfollowagoalifyouareswimming,ghting.Youcanevenswimupstream,thentherewillbeagreatght.Andwhenyought,youregoisstrengthened,youfeelaliveagainsttheriver.Butthatalivenessismomentary;soonerorlateryouwillbetired.Soonerorlateryouwillbedead,andtheriverwilltakeyou.OnthebanksoftheGanges,thevillagersbringtheirdeadandleavethemintheGanges.Butwhenyouaredead,leavingyouintheriverisuseless;whendead,youwilloatwiththeriver,butthenthereisnomeaningbecauseyouarenomore.WhatIamdoingisdroppingyoualiveintheGanges.Ifyoucanoatalive,conscious,fullyaware,youwillbecometheriver.Andwherevertheriverreacheswillbethedestiny,willbethegoal.Thenyouarenotconcernedwhereitreaches.Everymoment,theveryowbecomesecstatic;everymoment,theveryow,theveryaliveness,becomesthegoal,theneverymomentisthegoal.Meansbecomeends,themomentbecomeseternal.Yes,youhavetofollowthemastertotally.Theremaybetimeswhenyoucannotconsulthimphysically,andsoonerorlaterthemasterwilldisappearfromthebody.Thentherewillbenopossibilitytoconsulthimphysically.Itisbettertogetattunedtohimnon-physically;otherwise,youwillbecryingandweeping.Mybodycandisappearanymoment!Nowthereisreallynoneedtocarryit–itisbeingcarriedforyou.Ifyoudon'tgetattunedtomynon-physicalexistence,soonerorlateryouwillgetverymuchdepressed,sad,muchanguishwillbethere.Thenitwillbeverydifculttobeattunedtomenon-physically.SoIgoondroppingphysicalcontactwithyoumoreandmore–justtomakeyoualertandawarethatyouhavetobeattunednon-physically.Youcangetattuned,itisnotdifcult.Bemoremeditativeanditwillstarthappeningtoyou.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WEHAVEQUITEAFEWQUESTIONSABOUTFEMALEENERGY.SOMEWOMENSAYTHATSINCETHEY'VEMETYOU,ALTHOUGHTHEIRPHYSICALDESIRESCONTINUE,AMORTALMANISNOLONGERSATISFYINGENOUGHFORTHEM.OTHERWOMENSAYTHATSINCETHEYHAVEMETYOUTHEYFEELMORELOVING.GURDJIEFFISREPORTEDTOHAVESAIDTHATAWOMANCANNOTATTAINEXCEPTTHROUGHAMAN.WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTFEMALEENERGY?Yes,Gurdjieffhassaidthatawomancannotattainexceptthroughaman–andheisright.Heisrightbecausefemaleenergydiffersfrommaleenergy.Itisjustasifsomeonesaysthatonlyawomancangivebirthtoachild.Amancannotgivebirthtoachild–hecangivebirthtoachildonlythroughawoman.Thephysicalstructureofthewoman MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds130 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU ButBuddhawasindeeplove.Anditisdifcultforamantoattainmeditationwhenheisinlove–thisistheproblem.Verydifcult,becausewhenheisinlove,wheneverhesitssilently,theotherarisesinthemind;hiswholebeingstartsmovingaroundtheother.Thatwasthefear,that'swhyBuddhaescaped.Nobodyhastalkedaboutitbefore,butBuddhaescapedfromthathouse,fromthewife,fromthechild,becausehereallyloved.Andifyouloveaperson,thenwheneveryouareoccupiedyoumayforgethim,butwhenyouareunoccupiedtheotherwillcometothememoryimmediately,andthenthereisnogapforthedivinetoenter.Whenyouareoccupied,workinginashop,or....Buddhawasonhisthroneandlookingaftertheaffairsofthekingdom,thenitwasokay–hecouldforgetYashodhara.Butwheneverhewasnotoccupied,therewasYashodhara–thegapwaslledbyYashodharaandtherewasnopassageforthedivinetoenter.Mancannotattaintothedivinethroughlove.Hiswholeenergyistotallydifferentfromfemaleenergy.Firstheshouldattaintomeditation–thenlovehappenstohim.Thenthereisnoproblem.Firsthemustreachthedivine,thenthebelovedalsobecomesdivine.Aftertwelveyears,Buddhacomesback.Nowthereisnoproblem,nowinYashodharathegodis.Before,Yashodharawastoomuch,anditwasdifculttondthegod.Nowthegodistotallythere,thereisnospaceleftforYashodhara.Thetotallyoppositehappenstoawoman.Shecannotmeditatebecauseherwholebeingisanurgetowardstheother.Shecannotbealone.Wheneversheisalone,sheisinmisery.Soifyousay:Tobealoneisbliss,tobealoneisecstatic–awomancannotunderstandit.Thisemphasisonbeingalonehasexistedallovertheworldbecauseoftoomanyseekerswhoaremen–aBuddha,aMahavira,aJesus,aMohammed.Theyallwentintoloneliness,andtheyonlyattainedinloneliness.Theycreatedthemilieu.Awoman,wheneveralone,feelsanguish.Ifthereisalover,eveninhermind,sheishappy.Ifsomeoneloves,ifsomeoneisloved–ifloveexistsaroundawoman,itnourishesher.Itisanourishment,itisasubtlefood.Wheneverawomanfeelsthatloveisnotthere,sheissimplystarving,suffocating;thewholebeingshrinks.Soawomancanneverthinkthatlonelinesscanbeblissful.Thisfemaleenergyhascreatedthepathofloveanddevotion.Evenadivineloverwilldo–thereisnoneedtondaphysicallover.KrishnawilldoforMeera,thereisnoproblem,becauseforMeeratheotherexists.Hemaynotbethere,Krishnamayjustbeamyth,butforMeeraheis,theotherexists–andthenMeeraishappy.Shecandance,shecansing,andsheisnourished.TheVERYidea,theverynotion,theveryfeeling,thattheotherexistsandthereislove,andawomanfeelsfullled.Sheishappy,alive.Onlywiththislovewillshecometoapointwhentheloverandthebelovedbecomeone.Thenmeditationwillhappen.Forfemaleenergy,meditationhappensonlyinthedeepestmergeroflove.Thenshecanbealone,thenthereisnoproblem–nowshecanneverbealone–thebelovedhasbecomemerged,nowitiswithin.MeeraorRadhaorTeresa,theyallachievedthroughalover–Krishna,Jesus. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds132 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU willstartcreatingtrouble–thismanwantstobemorealone.Ifsheisunderstanding,thenthereisnoproblem;butthatunderstandingcanonlycometoherifherlovegrows.Ifshefeelsmoreloving,thenshecanallowthisfriendtobelonely,alone,andshewillprotecthisloneliness.Shewilltrytoseethatitisnotdisturbed–thiswillbeherlovenow.Andifthismanfeels...ifBuddhafeelsthatYashodharaisprotecting,safeguarding,seeing,caring,thathismeditationisnotdisturbed,thathissilenceishelped,thenthereisnoneedtoescapefromthisYashodhara.ButthishappensonlyifYashodhara'slovegrows.Whenaman'smeditationisgrowing,awoman'sloveshouldgrow.Onlythencantheykeeppace,andahigherharmonywillariseanditwillgoon,higherandhigher.Andamomentcomeswhenthemanistotallyinmeditationandthewomanistotallyinlove–thenonlythePERFECTmeeting,thenonlythereal,supremeorgasmbetweentwopersons.Notphysical,notsexual–total!Twoexistencesmeetingintoeachother,dissolving.Thentheloverbecomesthedoor,thebelovedbecomesthedoor,andtheybothreachtotheone.Sowhosoevercomestomeshouldcomeperfectlyawarethatitisdangeroustobenearme.Youroldarrangementswillbedisturbed–andIcannothelpit.Iamnotheretohelpyouradjustments;thatisforyoutodecide.Icanhelpyougrow–growinmeditation,growinlove.Tome,bothwordsmeanthesame,becausetheyreachtothesameend.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds134 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Thedevilhasalwaysbeenthere,justasanenemy,theantagonisticforce–thenbothareeternal.Ifthedevilisnotcreatedthenthedevilcannotbedestroyed,sotheconictwillcontinueeternally.Godcannotwin,thedevilwillalwaysbetheredisturbing.ThisistheproblemforChristiantheology,Mohammedantheology,Zoroastriantheology,becauseallthesethreetheologieshavefollowedthesimplesolutionthatmindsuggests.Butmindcannotsolveit.Thereisanotherpossibilitywhichdoesn'tcomefromthemindandwillbedifcultforthemindtounderstand.ThatpossibilityhasarisenintheEast,particularlyinIndia,andthatpossibilityisthatthereisnodevil,thereisnobasicduality–onlyGodexists,thereisNOotherforce.ThisiswhatADVAIT–thenondualphilosophy–means:onlyGodis.Butweseetheevilisthere!Hindussaythattheevilexistsinyourinterpretation,notinitself.Youcallitbadbecauseyoucannotunderstanditorbecauseyouaredisturbedbyit.Itisyourattitudethatmakesitbadorappearbad.Thereisnoevil.Evilcannotexist.OnlyGodexists,onlythedivineexists.NowIwilltakeyourproblemagainstthisbackground.Twochildrenareborn–oneisgood,oneisbad.Whydoyoucallonegoodandwhydoyoucalltheotherbad?Isitreallyrealityoryourinterpretation?Whichchildisgood,andwhy?Ifthechildisobedient,thechildisgood;ifthechildisdisobedient,thechildisbad.Onewhofollowsyouisgood,onewhoresistsisbad.Whatsoeveryousay,theoneacceptsit.Ifyousay:Sitsilently–theonesits.Buttheothertriestodisobey,triestoberebellious–theotherisbad.Thisisyourinterpretation.Youarenotsayinganythingaboutthechildren;youaresayingsomethingaboutyourmind.Whyistheobedientonegood?Infact,theobedientoneshaveneverbeenbrilliant,haveneverbeenveryradiant,theyhavealwaysbeendull.Noobedientchildhasbeenagreatscientistoragreatreligiousman,oragreatpoet–nochildwhoisobedient.Onlydisobedientoneshavebeengreatinventors,creators;onlytherebelliousonetranscendstheoldandreachestothenewandintotheunknown.Butfortheparents'egotheobedientonefeelsgood,becauseithelpsyourego.Whenthechildfollowsyou,whatsoeveryousay,youfeelgood;whenthechildresistsanddeniesyou,youfeelbad.Butareallyalivechildwillberebellious.Whyshouldhefollowyou?Whoareyou?Whyshouldhefollowyoujustbecauseyouareafather?Whathaveyoudonetobeafather?Youhavebeenjustapassage–andthattooveryunconscious.Yoursexisnotaconsciousact,youhavebeenpushedbyunconsciousforcestomoveintoit.Thechildisjustanaccident.Youwereneverexpecting,youwerenotconsciouslyawaretowhomyouweregivinganinvitationtocome.Thechildhassuddenlycomeasastranger.Youhavefatheredit,butyouarenotthefather.WhenIsayyouhavefatheredit,itisabiologicalthing.Youwerenotneeded,evenasyringecandothat.Butyouarenotafatherbecauseyouarenotconscious.Youhavenotgiventheinvitation,you MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds136 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Realizethis,thenyouwillnotthinkintheseterms–thatthischildisgoodandthatchildisbad.Don'tinterpret!Everypersonisunique,everypersonisdifferent.Thedivinecreativeforceissuchthatitneverrepeats.Soonlysaythismuch,thatthischildisdifferentfromthatchild.Don'tsaythisisgoodandthatisbad.Youdon'tknowwhatisgoodandwhatisbad.Thischildisobedient,thatchildisdisobedient;butnooneknowswhatisgood.Anddon'tforce.Ifthischildbyhisownspontaneityisobedient,thenitisgood–thisishisnature,helpittogrow.Andifthatchildisrebellious,disobedient–thisishisnature,helphimtogrow.Letonegrowtobeadeepyes-sayer;lettheothergrowtobeadeepno-sayer.Butdon'tinterpret,becausethemomentyouinterpret,youstartdestroying.Thisishisnaturetosayyes,andthatishisnaturetosayno.Bothareneeded.Lifewillbeveryatanddullifthereisnobodytosayno.Ifeverybodyisayes-sayer,itwillbeabsolutelydullandstupid.Theno-sayerisneeded,thatisthepolaropposite.Obediencewillbemeaninglessifthereisnobodytorebel.Don'tchoose,simplyfeelthedifferenceandhelp.Anddon'tforceyourselfonthem,don'tbeviolent.Everyfatherisviolent,everymotherisviolent,andyoucanbeviolentbecauseyouareviolentinthenameoflove.Nobodyisgoingtocriticizeyou,becauseyousayyouloveyourchildsomuchthatyouhavetobeathim,youlovehimsomuchthatyouhavetoputhimright.Yousaybecauseyoulovehimthat'swhyyouaretryingtoputhimright–he'sgoingwrong.Areyoucertainwhatiswrongandwhatisgood?Nobodyiscertain,nobodycanbecertain–becausethephenomenonissuchthatathingwhichisgoodthismomentbecomesbadthenext;thedirectionthatseemsbadinthebeginningturnsouttobegoodintheend.Lifeisaux,everymomentchanging.Soarealfatherorarealmotherwillgivehisorherchildrenonlyawareness,notmorals,becausemoralsaredead.Yousay:Thisisgood,follow!Butthenextmomentthethingbecomesbad,andwhatisthechildsupposedtodo?Thenextmomentlifechanges.Itischanging,itisacontinuumofchange,andyourmoralsarexed–yousaythisisgood,thishastobefollowed.Thenyoubecomedead.Lifegoesonchangingandyougoon,xedwithyourmorals.That'swhyreligiouspersonslooksodull–theireyesvacant,supercial,withnodepth,becausedepthispossibleonlyifyoumovewiththeriveroflife.Sowhatshouldafatheroramothergiveasagifttotheirchildren?Onlyawareness.Makethechildrenmoreaware.Allowfreedomandtellthem:Bealertandmovewithfreedom.Evenifyouhavetoerr,don'tbeafraid,becauselifelearnsthrougherrorsalso.Onebecomesalertthrougherrorsalso–sodon'tbeafraid.Itishumantoerr.Andifyouerrwithalertnessonlyonethingwillhappen:youwillnotcommitthesamemistakeagainandagain.Onceyoucommitthemistake,youwillexperienceit,youwillbecomealertaboutit,anditwilldisappear.Itwillmakeyouricher,andyouwillgoahead,unafraid.Justrememberonething,thatwhatsoeveryoupassthrough,bemoreconscious.Ifyousayyes,sayitconsciously.Ifyousayno,sayitconsciously. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds138 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Andifyouaredeepinmeditationwherethoughtsdisappear,thenthereisnodistinction–becausegoodandbadarethoughts.Whenyouaresilent,whatisgoodandwhatisbad?Themomenttheideaarises:Thisisgood,thatisbad,thesilencehasbeenlost.Indeepmeditationthereisnothing–nogood,nobad.LaoTzuisreportedtohavesaid:Ahair'sdistinction,andheavenandhellaresetapart.Inthemindofameditator,ifevenaslightdistinctionarisesthenthewholeworldisdivided.Meditationisnon-distinction,NOdistinction.Yousimplylook,andyouseethewholeanddon'tdivideit.Youdon'tsay:Thisisugly,thatisbeautiful;thisisgood,thatisbad.Youdon'tsayanything.Yousimplyare.Youdon'tsayanything,youdon'tmakeanydivision.Thenon-dualisthere.InmeditationyoubecomeGod.PeoplethinkinmeditationtheywillseeGod.Thisiswrong;thereisnobodytobeseen.Godisnotanobject.InmeditationyoubecomeGod,becausealldistinctionsdisappear.Inmeditationyoubecomeonewiththewholebecauseinmeditationyoucannotdivideyourselffromthewhole–alldivisionshavefallen!Youaresosilentthatnoboundaryisthere.Everyboundaryisadisturbance.YouaresosilentthereisnoI,nothou.Youaresosilentthatallboundarieshaveblurredanddisappeared.Oneexists,unityexists.ThisiswhatHinduscalltheBrahma–theone,theunity,theultimateunityofexistence.Itismindthatdivides,makesdistinctions,saysthisisthis,thatisthat.Inmeditationthereisisness,undivided.YouareGodwhenyouareinmeditation,andonlyinmeditationwillyoucometoknowunconditionallove.Ifyouareafather,bothyourchildrenwillbejustchildren–strangers,comingfromanunknownworld,movingintoanunknownexistence,growing,maturing.Outofyourloveyougivetothem;youshareyourlife,yourexperiences,butyouneverforceanything.Whenyoudon'tforce,thenwhoisobedientandwhoisdisobedient?Whenyoudon'tforce,howcanyoudecidewhoisgoodandwhoisbad?NowIcometothelastpoint.WhenyouDON'Tforce,howcanonebeobedientandanotherdisobedient?Thewholephenomenondisappears.Thenyouaccepttheother–thechild,thewife,thehusband,thefriend–asheis,asafact.Ifwecanaccepteachotherasfacts,withoutanyoughts,shoulds,withoutanygoodandbad,lifewillbecomeparadisethisverymoment.Wereject.Evenifweacceptsomebody,weacceptinpart.Wesay:Youreyesaregood,buteverythingelseisjustdirty.Isthisacceptance?Wesay:Thisactofyoursisgood,butallelseisbad,cannotbeaccepted,andIacceptonlythatwhichisgood.Thatmeans:Iacceptonlythatwhichisaccordingtome.Youmaynotknowhowyouaredestroyingeachother,becausewhenevertheparentssaytothechild:Weacceptonlythispart,notanythingelse–whenawifesaystothehusband:Iacceptonlythisinyou,nottheother–whatareyoudoing?Youarecreatingadivisionintheother'smindalso.Whenthefathersays:Don'tdothis,Idon'tacceptthis,Iamangryaboutthis–whenhepunishesachildbecauseHEthinkshehasdonesomethingwrong,whatishedoing?Whenheappreciatesthechild,giveshimatoy,bringsowersforhim,sweets,andsays:Youhavedonewell,youhavedonesomethinggoodwhichIapprove–whatishedoing?Heiscreatingadivisioninthechild.By MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds140 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED wemeanbad.Soifyouwanttocondemnsomebody,justsayhe'saleftist,acommunist.Theleftisbad.Achilddoesn'tknowwhichisleft,whichisright–thechildiswhole,heisaunity.Hedoesn'tknowwhichislower,whichishigher–thebodyisundividedow.Hewillcometodiscoverhissexualparts,andparentsbecomedisturbed.Wheneverachild,boyorgirl,touchesthesexualorgans,immediatelywesay:Don'ttouch!Weremovethehand.Thechildisshocked.Youhavegivenanelectricshocktohim.Hecannotunderstandwhatyouaredoing.Andthiswillhappenmanytimes.Youarehammeringintothechildthatsomethinginhisbodyhastoberejected,thesexualpartofthebodyisbad.Psychologically,youarecreatingacomplex.Thechildwillgrow,buthewillneverbeabletoaccepthissexualorgans.Ifyoucannotacceptyourbodyinitstotality,therewillbeproblems,therewillbetrouble,becausethechildwillmakelove,hewillmoveintothesexualact,buttherewillbeguilt:Somethingwrongisgoingon,somethingbasicallywrongishappening.Heiscondemninghimself.Makinglove,themostbeautifulthingintheworld,heiscondemningandisguilty.Hecannotmakelovetotally;hecannotmovetotallyintotheother,becauseheisholdingback.Halfismoving,halfisbeingcontrolled.Thiscreatesaconictandlovebecomesamisery.Thishappensinalldimensionsoflife.Everythingbecomesmiserablebecauseineverythingtheparentshavecreatedadivision:thisisgoodandthatisbad.Thisiswhyyouaremiserable–becauseofyourparents,thesociety.Don'tdothesametoyourchildren.Itwillbeverydifcultbecauseyouaredivided,youwouldliketodividethechild–itisunconscious!Butifyoubecomealert...ifyouarereallymeditatingyouwillbecomealert.Don'tcreatethesameschizophreniainyourchild;don'tdivide,don'tmakeasplit.Youhavesufferedenough;don'tcreatethesamesufferingforyourchild.Ifyoureallyloveyouwillnotdividehimbecausedivisioncreatessuffering.Youwillhelphimtoremainwhole,becausewholenessisholy,andwholenessgivesecstaticpossibilities,opensdoorsforthepeakexperiences.Howcanyouhelpachildtoremainwhole?Onething:remainalertsoyoudon'tdividehimunconsciously.Don'tcondemnathing.Ifyoufeelitisharmful,tellthechildthatthisisharmfulbutdon'tsaythisisbad–becausewhenyousayharmful,youarestatingafact;whenyousaybad,youhavebroughtavaluationintoit.Parentshavetosaymanythingstochildren,becausechildrendon'tknow.Youhavetosay:Don'tgonearthere–butsay:Thisisharmful.Ifyougetburned,youwillsuffer,butthenstillitisuptoyou.SaythisismyexperiencethatwheneverIwasburned,Isuffered;andItellyoumyexperience,butevenifyouwanttodoit,youcandoit.Thisisharmful.Saywhatisharmful,saywhatisbenecial,butdon'tsaygoodandbad.Ifyouarealert,youwilldropthewordsgoodandbadfromyourvocabulary–becausewithgoodandbadyouarebringingyourvaluationtothings.Sayharmful–andstillallowfreedom,becauseyourexperiencecannotbecome MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds142 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Itiseasytogivebirthtomanychildren;thereisnoproblem,animalsdoiteasily.Buttobeamotherisverydifcult,themostdifcultthingintheworld.Tobeafatherisevenmoredifcult–becausetobeamotherisnatural,tobeafatherisnotsonatural.Fatherisasocialphenomenon.Wehavecreatedthefather;itdoesn'texistinnature.Tobeafatherisstillmoredifcult,becausethereisnonaturalinstinctforit.Itisdifcultbecausethisisthemostcreativeact,tocreateahumanbeing.Bealert.Givemorefreedom.Don'tmakedistinctionsofgoodandbad;acceptboth,andhelpbothtypestogrow.Soonthishelpingthechildrentogrowwillbecomeadeepmeditationforyou–youwillalsogrowwiththem.Andwhenyourchildowersintoayes-sayer,orano-sayer...becausetherehavebeenbeautifulno-sayers:Nietzscheisano-sayer–butbeautiful!HisgeniustosaynoissuchawonderfulandbeautifulphenomenonthattheworldwouldnotbesorichiftherewerenotpeoplelikeNietzsche.HeCANnotsayyes.Itisdifcultforhim.Noishiswholebeing.Buddhaisano-sayer.Hesaid:ThereisnoBrahma,thereisnosoul,thereisnoworld.Youcannotndagreaterno-sayer.HeleftNOTHING.Hesays:Thereisnothing.Hegoesonsayingno,goesoneliminating.Itisverydifculttondayesfromhim–impossible.Butwhatabeautifulbeingevolvedoutofthatno!Thatnomusthavebeentotal.Therehavebeenyes-sayers,thedevotees–theBHAKTAS:Meera,ChaitanyaorJesusorMohammed–theseareyes-sayers.Andtherearetwotypesofreligion,ofcourse:onewhichisaroundano-sayer,theotherreligionswhicharearoundayes-sayer.Youalsowillbelongtooneortheother.Ifyouareano-sayer,thenBuddhismwillbeagreathelptoyou.Ifyouareayes-sayer,thenBuddhismcannothelpyouatall;itwillbedestructive.Christianitycanhelp,Hinduismcanhelp.Bothareneeded.WhenIsaythis,Imeantheyalwaysexistinaproportion,justlikemenandwomen–almostalwaysthenumberisthesame.Thewholeworldisdivided–halfmen,halfwomen.Andhownaturekeepsthisproportionisamiracle.Ineveryotherdimensionthesameproportionismaintained:alwayshalfno-sayersandhalfyes-sayersintheworld,alwayshalfwhocanfollowthepathofknowledgeandhalfwhocanfollowthepathoflove.Loveisyes-saying.Knowledgeisalwaysno-saying.Andthisproportionismaintainedbynaturealways.Soifyouhavegottwochildren,oneisayes-sayerandtheotherisano-sayer,thisistheproportion!Thisisgoodthatyouhavegotbothinyourhome.Youcancreateaharmonyoutofthem.Don'ttrytodestroytheno-sayer,don'ttrytopushandhelponlytheyes-sayer.Createaharmonybetweenthetwo;thesetwochildrenarerepresentativeofthewholeworld,theyinandyang,theopposites,thepoles.Createaharmonybetweenthemandyourfamilywillreallybeafamily,aunit,aharmoniousunit.Butdon'tinterpret,don'tcondemn,don'tbemoralistic.Justbeafather,amother.Lovethemandacceptthemandhelpthemtobethemselves.Thisisthebaseofalllove:tohelptheothertobehimself.Ifyouwanttopull,manipulate,youarenotinlove,youaredestructive.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,INTHEWEST,MOSTOFOURGROWTHMETHODSTENDTOBEGROUP-ORIENTED–LIKEENCOUNTERGROUPSANDPSYCHODRAMA. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds144 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED That'swhyHitlercouldbecomepossible,becauseeveryoneissoegoistic,everybodyisinneedofmerging.Nazirallies,millionsofpeoplemarching–youcanloseyourself,youneednotyourselfbethere.Youbecomethemarch,thebandplaying,themusic,thesound,thehypnotizingHitler,acharismaticpersonality.EverybodylookingatHitler,thewholemassaroundyoulikeanocean–youbecomejustawave.Youfeelgood,youfeelfresh,youfeelyoung,youfeelhappy.Youforgetyourmisery,youranguish,yourloneliness,youralienation.Youarenotalone.Suchagreatmassiswithyouandyouarewithit.Yourindividualprivateworriesdrop.Suddenlythereisanopening–youfeellight,asifyouareying.Hitlerbecamesuccessfulnotbecausehehadaverymeaningfulphilosophy–hisphilosophywasabsurd;itwaschildish,immaturenotbecausehecouldconvincetheGermanpeoplethathewasright...thatwasnotthepoint.ItisverydifculttoconvinceGermanpeople,oneofthemostdifcultthings–becausetheyarelogicians,theyhavelogicintheirminds,rationalineveryway.Itisdifculttoconvincethem,andtohavebeenconvincedbyHitlerwouldhavebeenimpossible.No,henevertriedtoconvincethem.Hecreatedahypnoticgroupphenomenon.THATconvincedthem.ItwasnotaquestionofwhatHitlerwassaying;itwasaquestionofwhattheywerefeelingwhentheywereinthegroup,inthemass.Itwassuchanunburdeningexperience,thatitwasworthittofollowthisman.Whatsoeverhewassaying–wrongorright,logical,illogical,foolish–itwasgoodtofollowhim.Theyweresomuchboredwiththemselvestheywantedtobeabsorbedbythemass.That'swhyfascism,nazismandalltypesofgroupmadness,becamepossibleintheWest.IntheEastonlyJapancouldfollow,becauseJapanisthecounterpartofGermanyintheEast.JapanisthemostWesterncountryintheEast.Thesamephenomenonwasthere,soJapancouldbecomeanallytotheHitleritemadness.Thesameishappeninginothereldsalso–inreligionalso,inpsychologyalso.Groupmeditationishappening,andonlygroupmeditationwillhappenforalongperiodtocome.Whenahundredpeoplearetogether–youwillbesurprised,particularlythosewhodon'tknowtheWesternmind,theywillbesurprised–justholdinghands,onehundredpeople,sitting,justholdinghands,feelingeachother,andtheyfeelelated.NoIndianwillfeelelated.Hewillsay:Whatnonsense!Justholdinghandswithahundredpeoplesittinginacircle,howcanitbeanelation?Howcanyoubecomeecstatic?Youcanfeelatthemosttheperspirationoftheother'shand.ButintheWestahundredpeopleholdinghandsareelated,ecstatic.Why?–becauseevenholdinghandshasbecomesoimpossiblebecauseoftheego.Evenwifeandhusbandarenottogether.Thejointfamilyhasdisappeared,itwasagroupphenomenon.Societyhasdisappeared.IntheWestnow,nosocietyexistsreally.Youmovealone.InAmerica–Iwasreadingthestatistics–everymanmoveswithinthreeyearstoanothertown.NowamaninavillageinIndiaremainsthere–notonlyhe,hisfamilyhasremainedthereforthousands MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds146 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds148 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING thatsurroundsyou,theblissthatgoesonandonbeingthrownallaboutyou,thevibrationsofyou,theywilltellandonlytheycantell.Beasannyasin;thatistheonlyway.Andwhatissannyas?Itisafreedomfromthemind.Itwillbedifculttounderstandsannyasifyoudon'tunderstandwhatmindis.Mindistheaccumulatedpast.Allthatyouhaveexperienced,allthatyouhaveknown,allthatyouhavelivedthroughisaccumulatedinthememory.Thataccumulatedpastisthemind.Somindisalwaysdeadbecauseitbelongstothepast.Mindisalwaysdead,neveralive.Wheneverathinghasbecomedeaditbecomespartofthemind.Itisjustlikedustthatatravelergathers.Youarehereandnow,andmindisalwaysinthepast.Mindisyourshadowthatfollowsyou.Sannyasisgettingfreefromthepast,livinginthemoment–notcarryingthepastinthehead,notbeingburdenedbyit.Moment-to-moment,dietothepast,asifitneverexisted,asifyouarebornanew.Everymomentbefreshandyoung.Putasidethepast.Don'tgatherthedust.Ifyougatherthedustyouwillgetdulleranddullereveryday,yourconsciousnesswillbecovered,yourmirror-likebeingwillnotbeabletomirroranything.Thelongeryouhavelivedwiththepast,themorethemirrorwillbecovered.Itwillnotreect.Youwillbecomelessandlesssensitive.Thisiswhathashappened.Sannyasmeansabreakthrough.Lookingatthepast,understandingthatitisuselessbecauseitisnomore,understandingthatitisuseless,aburden,youputitaside.Thenyouarehereandnowthisverymoment,inthepresent,intheplenitudeofthepresent.Sannyasmeanslivingwithouttime:notbeinginuencedbythepast,andnotbeingcarriedbythefuture.Noburdenofthepast,andnodesireinthefuture,sannyasisagoalless,purposelesslife.Ifsomebodysaysthatsannyasisameanstoachievegod,heistalkingnonsense.Sannyasisnottoachieveanything.Sannyasistoliveinsuchawayasifyouhaveachievedeverything.Itisnotadesire,becauseitmakesnodifferencewhetheryoudesirewealth,power,prestige,oryoudesiregod–MOKSHAitmakesnodifference.Thebasicmechanismremainsthesame:youdesire.Andwheneveryoudesire,thefuturecomesin.Wheneverthefutureisthere,itisnothingbutaprojectionofthepast.Wheneverthefutureis,itisnothingbutthemodiedknown.Itisnevertheunknown.Howcanyoudesiretheunknown?Thatwhichyoudon'tknow–howcanyoudesireit?Godcannotbedesired.Ifyoudesire,itissomethingelse.Godistheunknown,howcanyoudesireit?Godistheunexperienced,howcanyoudesireit?Youcandesiresex,youcandesirepower,youcandesiretheego,becauseyouhaveknownthem.Youhaveknownthemformany,manylives.Buthowcanyoudesiregod?Howcanyoudesirelove?Howcanyoudesireecstasy?Youhaveneverknownthem,desireisimpossible.That'swhyallthescripturesandallthebuddhassay:Godhappenstoyouwhenyouaredesireless.Mokshacomestoyou;younevergotomoksha.Youcannotgobecauseyoudon'tknow.Nirvanahappenstoyouwhenyouaredesireless.Sannyasisdesirelessness,anddesirelessnessmeanslivinginthenow. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds150 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING hecanthinkofwhathewilleattomorrow,buthecannoteatthismoment.Hecanimaginewhattypeoffoods,whereheisgoingtoeattomorrow,buttodayisvacantandempty.Andeverytomorrow,unfortunately,becomestoday–hewillmisshiswholelife.Whileheismakinglovehedoesn'tfeelanything–heisfrustrated–buthethinksofotherwomenthatheisgoingtocaptureinthefuture.Andthesamewillhappenagainwitheverywoman,witheveryman–becausethemeetingishereandnowandthemindalwaysmoves.Hewillnotbeabletomakelove.Hewillnotbeabletoeatwell.Hewillnotbeabletoenjoytheblissthatnaturegives,continuouslyshowersallaroundyou.Asinautumnwhenleavesarefallingdownfromatreesilently,theblississhoweringeverymomentsilentlywithoutmakinganynoisearoundyou.Everythingisbeautiful,everythingisabenediction–butyouarenotpresent.Soasannyasindoesn'tmeanamanwhohaskilledhisdesires.Asannyasinmeansamanwhohasbroughtallhisdesiringforcehereandnow.Helivestotally.Whatsoeverheisdoingheistotallyabsorbedinit.Nothingisleftstandingbehind.Heisnotdivided.Whileeating,hebecomeseating.Whilemakinglove,hebecomeslove.Whilemoving,hebecomesmovement.Buddhahassaid–andveryfewhaveunderstoodwhathemeans–whenyoumove,onlymovementexists,notthemover;whenyoutalk,onlytalkingexists,notthetalker;whenyoulisten,onlylisteningexists,notthelistener;whenyouobserve,onlyobservationexists,nottheobserver.Thisiswhatasannyasinis.Theactivitybecomessototalthattheactorislostintheactivity.Thereisnobodystandingbehind–nodivision.Youhavemovedcompletely;youhaveowedintotheactivity,whatsoevertheactivity.Thenenjoymentbecomesperfect.Soasannyasin,amanwhoisdesireless,isnotamanwithdeaddesires.Heisamanwhosedesiring-forces,alltheenergiesthatcandesire,haveturneduponthepresentmoment.Theyarenotrunninginthefuture,theyhaveturneduponthepresentmoment.Hisdesiresareconcentratedhereandnow.Hehasbecomeaworld.Everythingmovesbackintohim.Nothinggoesintothefuture,becausefutureisfalse,itisnonexistential.Ifyourdesiresmoveintothefuture,itisasifariverismovingintoadesert:itwillbelost,itwillneverreachthesea,itwillneverenjoytheecstasythatcomestoariverwhenitmeetsthesea.Whenariverreachesanocean,theorgasmisfeltallovertheriver,thedance,theecstasy,theblessing.Itwillnotcomeifarivermovesintoadesertandislost.Itwillevaporate,itwilldie.Therewillbenocommunionwithexistence.Whendesiremovesintothefuture,theriverofdesirehasmovedintothedesert.Futureisnowhere,itisalwaysthepresent.Futureisacreationofthemind–itisfalse,itisadream.AsannyasinlivesINthereality,notinthedream.Heenjoysthereality.Sorememberthis:Iinsistagainandagainthatasannyasinisnotamanwhoisagainstlife;really,heisthemanwhoisforlife.Andasannyasinisnotamanwhohaskilledallhisbeinganddesiresandhasbecomeadeadthing.Heislifeinabundance,heisagreatsourceofaliveness.Whathappens?–becausethisissubtle–whathappens?Whatwillbethedifference?Youfeelhunger.Youstartthinkingaboutfood.Youneverfeelthehungerinitstotality,otherwiseithasits MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds152 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Thisinvisiblecannotbetalkedaboutbecauseyouarenottakingaphilosophywithyou.Iamnotgivingyouaphilosophy,Iamnotgivingyouanyideology,Iamgivingyouadifferenttypeoflife,awayofbeing.Itwillbedifculttotellthem.Iftheyaskdirectly,itwillbedifcult.Don'ttrytosayanything,becausethatwillnotbeofanyhelp,thatmaycreatemoreproblems.Rather,beopentothemsotheycanshare.Rather,bevulnerable.Bewiththem–laugh,enjoy,eat,meditate,andtellthemtoshareyourbeing,anewwayoflifethathashappenedtoyou.Yourverypresence,yourbeingwhichislaughing,enjoying,willbecomeinfectious–itbecomesandtheywillfeelit!Thiswilltaketime.Itwillnotbeeasy,itwillbedifcult.Sobeforeyougo,beprepared.Bereadytoshare.Theywillnotalwaysunderstand.Inthebeginning,thereisgoingtobemisunderstanding,morepossibilityofmisunderstanding,becausetheyhaveneverthoughtaboutit.Thisissomethingunknown,andwhenevertheunknownknocksatthedoorthemindfeelsscared,becausethemindcannotcategorizeit,themindcannottackleit.Itisshatteringandshocking.Mindalwaysfeelshappyifitcancategorizeathing,putitintoacornerandsay:Thisisthis–labelitandbenished.Mindisalwayshappyifitcananalyzeathing–divideit,cutit,lookintoit,andbenishedwithit.Butsannyascannotbecategorized.Itisnotacategory.Itissuchanaltogetherdifferentqualityofbeing,thereexistsnocategoryforit.Itcannotbeanalyzed,itcannotbebrokenintofragments.Itisnotamechanism;youcannotbreakit,takethepiecesapartandputthemtogetheragain.No,itisanorganicunity.Ifyouanalyzeit,itisnolongerthere,andyoucanneverputitbacktogetheragain.Itisimpossible.Sannyasisaliveforce–organic,justlikeaower.Analyzetheower,takeeachpetalaway,breakit,lookinsideit,besatisedthatyouhaveinquired,thentrytoputitbacktogether.Bythattime,theowerisgone,thepetalsaredeadandtheycanneverbeputbackagaininthesameway,becauseitwasanorganicunity,itwasnotamechanism.Sannyasisaowering,aoweringofhumanconsciousness–justasowerscomingonatreeshowthetreehascometoacompletionandsoonerorlater,fruitswillfollow.Flowersarejustindicationsthatthetreeisreadytogivefruits.Thetreeisready,itisfullled.Flowersarejusttheecstasyofthetreebeforeitstartsgivingfruit,becausefruitmeansthefulllment.Thetreehascometoitspeak,itsclimax;ithasachievedthecrescendoofitsbeing.Itishappy,itenjoysit–itslifehasnotbeenfutilenowfruitsaregoingtocome.Thetreeisecstaticandgivesowers.Sannyasisaowering,andMOKSHAisthefruit.Sannyasmeansnowyourinnerbeing,yourinnertree,hascometoapointwherethejump,wheretheexplosionisgoingtohappen.Beforeithappens,thewholebeingenjoysit.Youarefullled.Ithasnotbeenawaste.Many,manylivesyouwaited–andithascomenow.Solongawaiting,somuchpatience...butithasbeenmeaningful.Nowyouhaveachieved,youhavereached.Thewholebeingowers.Hindushavechosenred,orange,ochre,asthecolorofsannyasbecauseofowers.Greenandredarethebasiccolorsinnature.Greenisthetree,redistheower.Yourbeinghascometoaowering.Soonthefruitswillfollow.Soontheseedswillbecoming.Takethisoweringwithyou.Itisgoodthatyouthinkhowtosharewithlovedones,withfriends,withwifeandhusband,withthefamily:howtoshareit?Itisbeautiful,itisgood.Itisvirtuoustothinkofsharingsuchabeautiful MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds154 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Look!Wehavedonesomethingquitethecontrary–wehavemadeeverythingaplanning.Evenahusbandcomingbackfromhisofce,fromhiswork,thinkshowhehastomeethiswife;heplansinside,talkswithhimself.Hewillsaythis,hewilltouchherhandthisway,hewillgiveheralongkiss–orsomething.Whatistheneedtoplanit?Don'tyouhaveanylove?Ifloveisnot,thenplanningisneeded,becauseyoucannotrelyonyourself,youmaycompletelyforget.Ifyouhavenotplanneditbeforehand,youmayreachhomeandyoumaycompletelyforgetthatyourwifehasbeenwaitingthewholeday–preparingfoodforyou,washingyourclothes,justsurroundedbyyou,byyourlove.Shehasbeenwaitingandwaitingandwaiting,andgettingimpatient.Andnowyouhavecome,andyoudon'tevenlookather.YousitinyourchairandyoustartreadingyourpaperoryouputonyourradioorTV,asifthewifedoesnotexist.Youareafraidofthis,youcan'tdothis,soyouplan.Youmakeitapointtoremember.Youhavetoremindyourselfhowtobehavewithyourwife,withyourbeloved.Whattypeofloveisthiswhichcannotrespondwithoutplanning?Ifloveisthere,therewillbenothinkingaboutit.Thesameistrueaboutintelligence.Ifintelligenceisthere,therewillbenothinkingaboutit.Thinkingisasubstitute.Thoughtisverycleverandcunning.Itcancreatetheillusionofthereal–thatisthecleverness.Youcansmilewithoutsmiling.Asmilecomestoyourlips,butitisonlyonthelips,justapaintedsmile,notrelatedtoyouatall.Thereisnobridge.Itisnotbubblingfromthecenterofyourbeing.Ithasnotcomefromyou;youhavejustputiton,itisamask.Thoughtcandothatandthenbyandbyyougoonbecomingmoreandmorefalse.Cunningnessmeanscreatingapseudo-lifearoundyourself.Asannyasinisreal.Ifhesmiles,hissmilecomesfromhisbeing.Ifheisangry,angercomesfromhisbeing.Ifheloves,helovesfromhisbeing.Heisnotpseudo,heisnotaphoney.Heisrealandauthentic.Youcanrelyonhim.Ifheloves,heloves.Ifheisafriend,heisafriend.Ifheisnot,youcanrelyonhim–heisnot.Butheisnotdeceptive.ThisiswhatImeanbyareallyvirtuousman–authentic,reliable.Whatsoeveris,isREALLYthere.Hewearsnomasks;heusesnofalsefaces.Heliveswiththereal.Andremember:youcancometotherealonlyifyouarereal.Ifyouarefalse,youcannevercometothereal.Ifyouareunreal,thentheworldthatyouseeisgoingtobeunreal,becausetheunrealcanbeconnectedonlywiththeunreal.Youareunreal.That'swhytheworldisillusory,amaya.IfyouAREreal,theworlddisappears:itbecomesdivine,itbecomesreal.Thewordmayaisbeautiful.Itmeansthatwhichcanbemeasured.Mayameansthatwhichcanbemeasured.Mindisthemeasuringphenomenon.Mindgoesonmeasuringthings,mappingout,analyzing.Mindtriestomeasureeverything.That'swhyHindushavecalledtheworldmayathatwhichcanbemeasuredbythemind.Whatisyourscience?Nothingbutmeasuring.HinduscallscienceAVIDYA.Theycallitnotknowledgebutanti-knowledge;itisnotrealknowing,becausethatwhichisrealcannotbemeasured.Itisimmeasurable,itisinnite.Ithasnobeginningandnoend.Therealisimmeasurable;theunrealismeasurable.Andwithmeasurecomereason,logic;withtheimmeasurable,logicdrops,reasondrops.Mindisverycleverandcunning,ithascreatedtheworldofillusion. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds156 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Becomeasannyasin–aninnocentone,reborn,cleansing,movingmoment-to-momentintotheunknown.Thenyouwillbeabletoshare.Thewholeprocessofhumaneducation,culture,conditioning,isjusttheopposite:itteachesyouhowtobecunningandclever.Itteachesyouthemind,itneverteachesyoutheinnocence.Itteachesyouautomatization.Thiswordhastoberemembered,itmakesyoumoreandmoreautomatic,becauseifyouaremoreandmoreautomatic,youaremoreefcient.Youlearndriving:inthebeginningitisdifcult.Thedifcultyisnotinthedrivingorinthecarorinanythingelse–thedifcultyisinyou,becauseyouhavetobealert.Inthebeginningyouhavetobealert;thedangeristhere.Youhavetobecontinuouslyconsciousofwhatyouaredoing.Youhavetobealerttothetrafc,tothepeoplepassing,tothemechanism;youhavetobealerttotheclutch,tothegear,tothewheel–andeverything.Youhavetobealerttosomanythingsthatyourmindcannotcontinueitsroutineinnerchattering.Ithastobealert.Thatcreatesthetrouble.Lateron,afterafewdays,youbecomeautomatic.Nowthehandgoesonworking,thelegsgoonworking,thecarandyouhavebecomeonemechanism,andyourmindcancontinueitsinnerchattering.Thereisnoproblem,yourmindisnotneeded.ThisiswhatImeanbyautomatic.Nowyourbodyisamechanism;itfunctions.Youwillbeneededonlyincertainrarecases.Ifthereisgoingtobeanaccident,suddenlyyouwillbeneeded.Thenyourthinkingprocesswillhavetostop.Suddenlytherewillbeashock,yourwholebodymechanismwillshiver,andyouwillhavetobethere,youwillhavetobealert.Buttheseareraremoments.Otherwiseyoucancontinue:youcansmoke,youcansing,youcaneventalkwithsomebody,youcanlistentotheradiooryoucancontinueyourinnertalk,theinnerdialogue–thereisnoneedtobethere.Youhavebecomeautomatic.Butthisismoreefcient,becauseifyouneedtobecontinuouslyaware,youcannotbeveryefcient,youcannotgoveryfast–becauseyoudon'tknowhowtobeaware.Becauseofthisfactor,becausepeoplearenotaware,theyliveunconsciouslives.Societyhaslearnedatrick:makeeverybodymoreandmoreautomatic.Thewholeofschoolingisnothingbutmakingyouautomatic.Language,mathematics–everythingbecomesautomatic.Youcandoitwithoutbeingworriedaboutit.Itbecomesmechanical.WhenIsaybecomeinnocent,itmeansade-automatization.Itmeans:whatsoeveryoudo,dofullyconscious.Ifyouaredrivingacar,thendriveonly–becomedriving;don'tdoanythingelse,don'tcontinuetheinnertalk.Justbecomesodeeplyinvolvedandalertthatthereisnodriver–onlydriving,fullyconscious.Itwillbedifcult–that'swhysocietieshavenotbotheredaboutit.Onlyindividualscanpassthroughsuchanarduouspath.Doeverythingconsciously;byandby,yourbody-automatismwilldissolve,youwillbecomede-automatized.Theninnocencewillower.Achildisinnocentbecausenothingisautomaticyet.Hehasnotlearnedanything,heisnotconditionedyet.Soonerorlaterwewillconditionhim.Hewilllearnthings,thenmoreandmoremindwillbethereandlessandlesshehimself.Lessandlessbeingandmoreandmoremindwillbethere.Thenhewillbecomejustanautomaton,amechanism–efcient,workingwell,servingthesociety,butdead. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds158 Osho MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteCloudsTalksgivenfrom10/05/74amto24/05/74amEnglishDiscourseseries CHAPTER1 TheWayoftheWhiteClouds 10May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,WHYISYOURWAYCALLEDTHEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS?JustbeforeBuddhadiedsomebodyaskedhim:Whenabuddhadieswheredoeshego?Doeshesurviveorsimplydisappearintonothingness?Thisisnotanewquestion,itisoneoftheoldest,manytimesrepeatedandasked.Buddhaisreportedtohavesaid:Justlikeawhiteclouddisappearing....Thisverymorningtherewerewhitecloudsinthesky.Nowtheyaretherenomore.Wherehavetheygone?Fromwheredotheycome?Howdotheyevolve,andhowdotheydissolveagain?Awhitecloudisamystery,thecoming,thegoing,theverybeingofit.That'stherstreasonwhyIcallmywayTheWayoftheWhiteClouds.Buttherearemanyreasons,anditisgoodtoponder,tomeditateuponthem.Awhitecloudexistswithoutanyroots.Itisanunrootedphenomenon,groundednowhereorgroundedinthenowhere.Butstillitexists.Thewholeofexistenceislikeawhitecloud:withoutanyroots,withoutanycausality,withoutanyultimatecause,itexists.Itexistsasamystery.Awhitecloudreallyhasnowayofitsown.Itdrifts.Ithasnowheretoreach,nodestination,nodestinytobefullled,noend.Youcannotfrustrateawhitecloudbecausewhereveritreachesisthegoal. 2 CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Ifyouhaveagoalyouareboundtogetfrustrated.Themoregoal-orientedamindis,themoreanguish,anxietyandfrustrationtherewillbe,becauseonceyouhaveagoalyouaremovingwithaxeddestination.Andthewholeexistswithoutanydestiny.Thewholeisnotmovinganywhere;thereisnogoaltoit,nopurpose.Andonceyouhaveapurpose,youareagainstthewhole–rememberthis–thenyouwillgetfrustrated.Youcannotwinagainstthewhole.Yourexistenceissotiny–youcannotght,youcannotconquer.Itisimpossibletoconceivehowanindividualunitcanconquerthewhole.Andifthewholeispurposelessandyouarewithpurposeyouaregoingtobedefeated.Awhiteclouddriftswhereverthewindleads–itdoesn'tresist,itdoesn'tght.Awhitecloudisnotaconqueror,andstillithoversovereverything.Youcannotconquerit,youcannotdefeatit.Ithasnomindtoconquer–that'swhyyoucannotdefeatit.Onceyouarexedtoagoal,purpose,destiny,meaning,onceyouhavegotthatmadnessofreachingsomewhere,thenproblemswillarise.Andyouwillbedefeated,thatiscertain.Yourdefeatisintheverynatureofexistenceitself.Awhitecloudhasnowheretogo.Itmoves,itmoveseverywhere.Alldimensionsbelongtoit,alldirectionsbelongtoit.Nothingisrejected.Everythingis,exists,inatotalacceptability.HenceIcallmywayTheWayoftheWhiteClouds.Thewhitecloudshavenowayoftheirown–theydrift.Awaymeansreachingsomewhere.TheWhiteClouds'Waymeansapathlesspath,awaylessway.Moving,butnotwithaxedmind–movingwithoutamind.Thishastobeunderstood,becausepurposeissynonymouswithmind.That'swhyyoucannotconceivehowtolivewithoutpurpose,becausethemindcannotexistwithoutpurpose.Andpeoplearesoabsurd–theyevencometomeandask:Whatisthepurposeofmeditation?Meditationcannothaveanypurposebecausemeditationbasicallymeansastateofno-mind:itiswhereyouare,notgoinganywhere;wherejustbeing,justtobe,isthegoal.Thegoalishereandnow.Oncethegoalissomewhereelsemindstartsitsjourney.Thenthemindstartsthinking,thenthemindstartsaprocess.Iffutureistherethenmindcanow,thenmindcanhaveitscourse,thenmindhasspacetomove.Withpurposecomesfuture,withfuturecomestime.Awhitecloudhoversinthesky,timeless–becausethereisnofutureandnomindtoit.Itishereandnow.Eachmomentistotaleternity.Butthemindcannotexistwithoutpurpose,somindgoesoncreatingpurposes.Iftheso-calledworldlypurposesarelost,thenthemindcreatesreligiouspurposes,otherworldlypurposes.Ifmoneyhasbecomeuseless,thenmeditationbecomesuseful.Iftheso-calledworldofcompetition,politics,hasbecomeuseless,thenanotherworldofnewcompetition,ofreligion,achievement,becomesmeaningful.Butmindalwayshankersforsomemeaning,somepurpose.Andtome,onlythatmindisreligiouswhichispurposeless.Butthatmeansthatmindisnomoreamindatall.Thinkofyourselfjustlikeawhitecloud,withnomind. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds3 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS InTibettheyhaveameditation:monkssittingonthehills,lonely,absolutelyinaloneness,justmeditatingonwhitecloudsdriftinginthesky,continuouslycontemplating,andbyandbybeingmerged.Thentheybecomewhiteclouds–justperchingonahilllikeawhitecloud.Nomind,justbeingthere.Noresistance,noght,nothingtobeachieved,nothingtobelost.Justenjoyingtheveryexistence,celebratingthemoment–thejoy,theecstasyofit.HenceIcallmywayTheWayoftheWhiteClouds.AndIwouldlikeyoualsotobecomewhitecloudsdriftinginthesky.Isaydrifting,notmoving,notmovingtoapoint–justdriftingwheresoeverthewindsleadyou.Wheresoeveryouhappentobe,thatisthegoal.Sothegoalisnotsomethingendingsomewhere,theendoftheline.Thegoaliseverymoment.HereyouareSIDDHAStome,enlightenedones.Hereyouhaveachieved.Hereyouareasperfectasyoucanbe,justlikeaBuddha,aMahavira,oraKrishna.Thereisnothingelsetobeachieved.Rightthisverymomenteverythingisthere,onlyyouarenotalert.Andyouarenotalertbecauseyourmindisinthefuture.Youarenothere.Youarenotawareofwhathashappenedtoyouthisverymoment.Andthishasbeenhappeningalwaysandalways.Formany,manymillionsoflivesthishasbeenhappening.Everymomentyouhavebeenabuddha.Notforasinglemomenthasitbeenmissed.Itcannotbemissed,thatishownatureitselfis,howthingsare.Youcannotmissit!Butyouarenotalert,andyoucannotbealertbecauseofagoalsomewhere,somethingthathastobeachieved.Becauseofthatabarrieriscreatedandthatwhichyouarealreadyismissed.Oncethisisrevealed,oncethisisrealized,onceyoubecomeawareofthis,thegreatestmysteryofbeingisrevealed,thateveryoneisperfect.That'swhatwemeanwhenwesayeveryoneisBrahma–everyoneisthesoul,theultimatesoul,thedivine.That'swhatwemeanwhenwesayTATTWAMASI–youarethat.Notthatyouhavetobecomethat,becauseifyouhavetobecomethat,thenyouareNOTthat.Andifyouarenotthatalready,howcanyoubecome?Theseedbecomesthetreebecausetheseedisalreadythat.Astonecannotbecomeatree.Theseedbecomesthetreebecausetheseedisalreadythat!Sothequestionisnotofbecoming,thequestionisonlyofrevelation.Theseedisrevealedthismomentasaseed,nextmomentasatree.Sothisisonlyaquestionofrevelation.Andifyoucanpenetratedeeply,theseedisthetreethisverymoment.Tibetanmystics,orZenmastersorSudervishes,theyhavealltalkedaboutthewhiteclouds.Thewhitecloudshavebeencatchingmanypeople'sinnerbeing.Arapportisachieved,itseems,withthewhiteclouds.Makeitameditationandthenmanythingswillcometoyou.Lifeshouldnotbetakenasaproblem.Onceyoustartthatwayyouarelost.Onceyouthinklifeisaproblemitcanneverbesolved.That'showphilosophymoves–andthat'showphilosophyalwaysmoveswrongly.Therearenorightphilosophies:therecannotbe.Allphilosophiesarewrong.Philosophizingiswrong,becausephilosophytakesthewrongbasicstepofthinkingoflifeasaproblem.Oncelifeisaproblemthereisnosolutiontoit.Lifeisnotaproblembutamystery,whichishowreligiontakesit.Awhitecloudisthemostmysteriousthing,suddenlyappearing,suddenlydisappearing.HaveyoueverthoughtatanytimethatcloudshavenoNAM-ROOP–noname,noform?Evenforasinglemomenttheformisnotthesame.Itischanging,itisbecoming,itisariverlikeow. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds4 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Youcangiveaformtothecloud,butthatisyourprojection.Acloudhasnoform;itisformlessorcontinuouslybeingformed,itisaux.Andthat'showlifeis.Allformsareprojected.Thislifeyoucallyourselfamanandjustonelifebeforeyoucouldhavebeenawoman.Thislifeyouarewhiteandthenextlifeyoucanbeblack.Thismomentyouareintelligentandthenextmomentyoubehaveinastupidway.Thismomentyouaresilentandthenextmomentyoubecomemad,ery,aggressive.Haveyougotaform?Orareyoucontinuouslychanging?Youareaux,acloud.Haveyougotaname,anyidentity?Canyoucallyourselfthisorthat?Themomentyousayyouarethis,thatverymomentyoubecomeawarethatyouarethecontraryalso.Yousaytosomeone:Iloveyou–andthatverymomenthateisthere.Yousayyouareafriendtosomeoneandthatverymomenttheenemyislaughinginsideyou,waitingforitsmoment.Somemomentyousayyouarehappyandthatverymomenthappinessislostandyouhavebecomeunhappy.Youhavenoidentity.Ifyourealizethisyoubecomeacloudwithnoform,withnoname.Andthendriftingstarts.Tome,thelifeofawhitecloudisthelifeofaSANNYASIN,ofamanwhohasrenounced.Thelifeofahouseholderisaxedroutine.Itisadeadthing,itisapattern.Ithasaname,ithasaform.Itmovesonaparticulartracklikerailwaylines.Onthetracktrainsaremoving;theyhaveagoal,theyhavetoreachsomewhere.Butasannyasinislikeaclouddriftinginthesky–noirontracksforhim,noroutes,noidentities.Heisnooneandlivesthelifeofanon-being,livesasifheisnot.Ifyoucanlivealifeasifyouarenot,youareonmyway.AndthemoreYOUare,themorediseasewillbethere.Thelessyouare,themorehealthyyouwillbe.Thelessyouare,themoreweightlessyouwillbe.Thelessyouare,themoreyouwillbedivineandblissful.WhenIsaylifeisnotaproblembutamystery,Imeanyoucannotsolveit,youcanbecomeit.Aproblemissomethingtobesolvedintellectually;butevenifyousolveit,nothingisachieved.Youhavegatheredalittlemoreknowledge,butnoecstasyoutofit.Amysteryissomethingyoucanbecome.Youcanbeonewithit,merged.Thenecstasyarises,thenbliss–thentheultimatethatcanhappentoabeing,theultimatejoy.Religiontakeslifeasamystery.Whatcanyoudoaboutamystery?Youcannotdoanythingaboutthemystery,butyoucandosomethingaboutyou.Youcanbecomemoremysterious.Andthenthesimilarcanmeetwiththesimilar,thesamecanmeetwiththesame.Lookforthemysteriousinlife.Whereveryoulook–inthewhiteclouds,inthestarsinthenight,intheowers,inaowingriver–whereveryoulook,lookforthemystery.Andwheneveryoundthatamysteryisthere,meditateonit.Meditationmeans:dissolveyourselfbeforethatmystery,annihilateyourselfbeforethatmystery,disperseyourselfbeforethatmystery.Benomore,andletthemysterybesototalthatyouareabsorbedinit.Andsuddenlyanewdooropens,anewperceptionisachieved.Suddenlythemundaneworldofdivision,ofseparationhasdisappeared,andadifferent,totallydifferentworldofonenesscomesbeforeyou.Everythinglosesitsboundary;everythingiswithothers,isnotdividedbutone. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds5 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Thiscanbedoneonlyifyoudosomethingwithyou.Ifyouhavetosolveaproblem,youhavetodosomethingwiththeproblem.Youhavetondakey,aclue.Youhavetoworkontheproblem.Youhavetomoveinalaboratory–youhavetodosomething.Ifyouhavetoencounteramystery,youhavetodosomethingwithyou;withthemysterynothingcanbedone.Weareimpotentbeforeamystery.That'swhywegoonchangingmysteriesintoproblems,becausewithproblemswearepotent,withproblemswefeelweareincontrol.Withmysteriesweareimpotent,wecannotdoanything.Withmysterieswefacedeath,andwecannotmanipulate.That'swhythemorehumanintellectgrowsmathematical,logical,thelessandlesspossibilityofecstasyisopenbeforethehumanmind,lessandlesspoetryispossible.Romanceislost;lifebecomesfactual,notsymbolic.SowhenIsaymywayisTheWayoftheWhiteClouds,itisjustasymbol.Thewhitecloudisnotbeingusedasafact,itisusedasasymbol,asapoeticsymbol;asanindicationofadeepmergerintothemysteriousandthemiraculous.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WOULDYOUTELLUSWHATYOURRELATIONSHIPISTOTHEWHITECLOUDS?Iamawhitecloud.Thereisnorelationship,andtherecannotbe.Relationshipexistswhenyouaretwo,divided.Sorelationshipisreallynotarelationship.Whereverrelationshipexiststhereisseparation.Iamawhitecloud.Youcannotberelatedtoawhitecloud.Youcanbecomeonewithitandallowthewhitecloudtobecomeonewithyou,butrelationshipisnotpossible.Inrelationshipyouremainseparate,andinrelationshipyougoonmanipulating.Thisisoneofthemiseriesofhumanlife,thateveninlovewecreaterelationship.Thentheloveismissed.Loveshouldnotbearelationship.Youshouldbecometheloverorthebeloved.Youshouldbecometheotherandlettheotherbecomeyou.Thereshouldbeamerger,onlythenconictceases.Otherwiselovebecomesaconict,astruggle.Ifyouare,thenyouwilltrytomanipulate,thenyouwouldliketopossess,thenyouwouldliketobethemaster,thenexploitationcomesin.Thentheotherwillbeusedasameans,notasanend.Withwhitecloudsyoucannotdothat,youcannotmakethemwivesandhusbands.Youcannotchainthemorpersuadethemintoarelationship.Theywon'tallowit,theywon'tlistentoyou.Theyhavehadenoughofit–that'swhynowtheyhavebecomewhiteclouds.Youcanbeonewiththem,andthentheirheartsareopen.Buthumanmindcannotthinkbeyondrelationship,becausewecannotthinkofourselvesasifwearenot.Weare.Howsoeverwehideit,wearethere.Deepdowntheegoisthere,anddeepdowntheegogoesonmanipulating. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds6 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Withawhitecloudthisisnotpossible.Withyouregoyoucanlookatthewhitecloud,thinkaboutit,butthemysterieswillnotbeopened.Thedoorswillremainclosed.Youwillremaininadarknight.Ifyouregodisappearsyouhavebecomethewhitecloud.InZentheyhaveoneoftheoldesttraditionsofpainting.OneZenmasterhadadisciplewhowaslearningtopaint,andthroughpainting,ofcourse,meditation.Thedisciplewasobsessedwithbamboos;hewascontinuouslydrawingandpaintingbamboos.Themasterisreportedtohavesaidtohisdisciple:Unlessyoubecomeabamboo,nothingisgoingtohappen.Fortenyearsthedisciplehadbeendrawingbamboos;hehadbecomesoefcientthatevenwithclosedeyesinadarknightwithoutlighthecoulddrawbamboos.Andhisbamboosweresoperfectandsoalive.Butthemasterwouldnotapprove.Hesaid:No,unlessyoubecomeabamboo,howcanyoudrawit?Youremainseparate,youremainanonlooker,youremainaspectator.Soyoumayhaveknownthebamboofromwithout,butthatistheperiphery,notthesoulofthebamboo.Unlessyoubecomeone,unlessyoubecomeabamboo,howcanyouknowitfromwithin?Tenyearsthedisciplestruggled,butthemasterwouldnotapprove.Sothediscipledisappearedintotheforest,intoabambooforest.Forthreeyearsnothingwasheardofhim.Thennewsstartedcomingthathehadbecomeabamboo.Nowhedoesn'tdraw.Heliveswithbamboos,hestandswithbamboos.Windsblow,bamboosdance–healsodances.Thenthemasterwenttondout.Andreally,thedisciplehadbecomeabamboo.Themastersaid:Now,forgetallaboutyouandbamboo.Thedisciplesaid:ButyoutoldmetobecomethebambooandIhavebecomeit.Themastersaid:Nowforgetthisalso,becausenowthisistheonlybarrier.Deepdownsomewhereyouarestillseparateandrememberingthatyouhavebecomethebamboo.Soyouarenotyetaperfectbamboo,becauseabamboowouldnotrememberthis.Soforgetit.Fortenyearsthebambooswerenotdiscussed.Thenonedaythemastercalledthediscipleandsaid:Nowyoucandraw.Firstbecomethebamboos,thenforgetthebamboos,soyoubecomesoperfectabamboothatthedrawingisnotadrawingbutagrowth.Iamnotrelatedwithwhitecloudsatall.Iamawhitecloud.Iwouldlikeyoualsotobewhiteclouds,notrelated.Enoughofrelationship–youhavesufferedenough.Many,manylivesyouhavebeenrelatedwiththisorthat.Andyouhavesufferedenough,morethanenough.Youhavesufferedmorethanyoudeserve.Thesufferinghasbeencenteredonthewrongconceptofrelationship.Thewrongconceptis:youhavetobeyourselfandthenrelated.Thenthereistension,conict,violence,aggression,andthewholehellfollows.Sartresayssomewhere:Theotherishell.Butreally,theotherisnothell–theotheristheotherbecauseyouaretheego.Ifyouarenomore,theotherhasdisappeared. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds7 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Wheneverthishappens–betweenamanandatree,betweenamanandacloud,betweenamanandawoman,orbetweenamanandarock–wheneverithappensthatyouarenot,helldisappears.Suddenlyyouaretransgured,youhaveenteredparadise.Theoldbiblicalstoryisbeautiful:AdamandEvewerethrownoutofthegardenofEdenbecausetheyhadeatenaforbiddenfruit,thefruitofthetreeofKnowledge.Thisisoneofthemostwonderfulparableseverdevised.WhywasthefruitofthetreeofKnowledgeforbidden?Becausethemomentknowledgeenters,theegoisthere.Themomentyouknowyouare,youhavefallen.Thisistheoriginalsin.NobodythrewAdamandEveoutofheaven.Themomenttheybecameawarethattheywere,thegardenofEdendisappeared.Forsucheyes,whicharelledwithego,thegardencannotexist.Itisnotthattheyhavebeenthrownoutofthegarden–thegardenishereandnow.Itisjustbyyourside.Ithasalwaysbeenfollowingyouwhereveryougo,butyoucannotseeit.Iftheegoisnotthere,youenteragain,thegardenisrevealed.Youhaveneverbeenoutofit.Trythis:sittingunderatree,forgetyourself.Letonlythetreebethere.ThishappenedtoBuddhaunderthebodhitree.Hewasnot:inthatmomenteverythinghappened.Onlythebodhitreewasthere.YoumaynotbeawarethatforvehundredyearsafterBuddhahisstatuewasnotcreated,hispicturewasnotpainted.Forvehundredyearscontinuously,wheneveraBuddhisttemplewascreated,onlythepictureofthebodhitreewasthere.Thatwasbeautiful–becauseinthatmomentwhenGautamSiddharthabecameBuddha,hewasnotthere,onlythetreewasthere.Hehaddisappearedforamoment–onlythetreewasthere.Findmomentswhenyouarenot,andthosewillbethemomentswhenyouwillbeforthersttime...really.SoIamthewhitecloud,andthewholeeffortistomakeyoualsowhitecloudsdriftinginthesky.Nowheretogo,comingfromnowhere,justbeingtherethisverymoment–perfect.Idon'tteachyouanyideals,Idon'tteachyouanyoughts.Idon'tsaytoyoubethis,becomethat.Mywholeteachingissimplythis:Whatsoeveryouare,acceptitsototallythatnothingislefttobeachieved,andyouwillbecomeawhitecloud.Question3BELOVEDOSHO,ISITTRUETHATTOREALLYBREAKTHROUGH,TOBECOMETOTALLYPRESENT,TOBECOMEAWHITECLOUD,WEHAVETOLIVETHROUGHALLOURDREAMS,ALLOURFANTASIES?ANDHOWCANTHATREALITYBEASREALINRESPONSETO'HAREKRISHNA,HARERAM'INPOONAASITWOULDBEINTHEGARDENOFEDENINTHEHEARTOFNATURE? MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds8 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Thequestionisnotwhetheronehastolivethroughallthedreamsandfantasiesornot.Youarelivinginthem.Youarealreadyinthem.Anditisnotaquestionofchoice–youcannotchoose.Canyouchoose?Canyoudropyourdreams?Canyoudropyourfantasies?Ifyoutrytodropyourdreamsyouwillhavetosubstitutethemwithotherdreams.Ifyoutrytochangeyourfantasiestheywillchangeintoanothertypeoffantasy–buttheywillremaindreamsandfantasies.Sowhatistobedone?Acceptthem.Whybeagainstthem?Thistreehasredowers,thattreehasyellowowers.Soit'sokay.Youhavecertaindreams–yellowdreams.Somebodyelsehasotherdreams–bluedreams,reddreams.Soit'sokay.Whyghtwithdreams,whytrytochangethem?Whenyoutrytochangethem,youbelievethemtoomuch.Youdon'tthinktheyaredreams,youthinktheyarerealandthatchangingthemwillbesignicant.Ifdreamsaredreams,whynotacceptthem?Themomentyouacceptthem,theydisappear.Thisisthesecret.Themomentyouacceptthemtheydisappear–becausethedreamingmindexiststhroughrejection.Theveryphenomenonofadreamingmindisrejection.Youhavebeenrejectingmanythings–that'swhytheypopupinyourdreams.Youaremovingonastreet.Youlookatabeautifulwomanorman.Desirearises.Suddenlyyoudropit:Thisiswrong!Yourejectit.Tradition,culture,society,morality:Thisisnotgood!Youcanlookatabeautifulower,nothingisbadinit.Butwhenyoulookatabeautifulfacesomethingimmediatelygoeswrong–yourejectit.Nowthisfacewillbecomeadream.Therejectedbecomesthedream.Nowthisfacewillhauntyou.Nowinthenightthisfacewillcomearoundyou.Nowthisbodywillbehovering.Thedesirethatyouhaverejectedwillbecomeadream.Desiresthatyouhaverepressedwillbecomedreamsandfantasies.Sohowtocreateadream?Thesecretis:reject.Themoreyoureject,themoredreamswillbethere.Thosewhogotothehills,thosewhorejectlife,theyarelledwithtoomanydreams.Theirdreamsbecomesoreal,hallucinatory,thattheycannotmakeanydistinctionastowhetherthisisadreamorareality.Don'treject,otherwiseyouwillcreatemoredreams.Accept.Whatsoeverhappenstoyou,acceptitaspartofyourbeing.Don'tcondemnit.Themomentyoubecomemoreaccepting,dreamswilldissolve.Apersonwhoacceptshislifetotallybecomesdreamless,becausetheverybasehasbeencut.Thatisonething.Secondly,thewholeisnature–thewholeIsay.Notonlythetrees,notonlytheclouds–thewhole.Whatsoeverhashappenedhashappenedbecauseofnature.Thereisnothingunnatural–cannotbe.Otherwise,howcouldithavehappened?EVERYTHINGisnatural.Sodon'tcreateadivision:thisisnaturalandthisisunnatural.Whatsoeveris,isnatural.Butthemindlivesondistinctions,divisions.Don'tallowdivisions;acceptwhatsoeveris,andacceptwithoutanyanalysis.Whetheryouareinthemarketorinthehillsyouareinthesamenature.Somewherenaturehasbecomehillsandtrees,andsomewhereithasbecomeshopsinthemarket.Onceyouknowthesecretofaccepting,eventhemarketbecomesbeautiful.Themarkethasabeauty–thelifethere,theactivity,thebeautifulmadnessthatgoesaround.Ithasitsownbeauty!Andhillswouldnotbesobeautifuliftherewerenomarkets,remember.Thehillsaresobeautifulandsosilentbecausethemarketexists.Themarketgivessilencetothehills. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds9 Osho CHAPTER1.THEWAYOFTHEWHITECLOUDS Soeverywhere–whetheryouareinthemarket,ordoing”HareKrishna,HareRam,”orsittingunderatreesilently–takeitasoneexpanse,don'tdivideit.Andwhenyouaredancing,doing”HareKrishna,HareRam,”enjoyit!Itisthewayyouareowering,thisverymoment.”HareKrishna,HareRam”canbecomeaoweringinyou;ithasbecomeaoweringformany.WhenMahaprabhuChaitanyawasdancinginthevillagesofBengalanddoinghiskirtan,”HareKrishna,HareRam,”itwasaowering.Itwasoneofthemostbeautifulthingsthathaseverhappened.NotonlyisBuddhasittingunderabodhitreebeautiful,aChaitanyaMahaprabhudancinginthestreetswith”HareKrishna,HareRam”isalsobeautiful–thesame,justtheotherextreme.Youcansitunderatreeandcanforgetyourselfsocompletelythatyouhavedisappeared.Youcandanceinastreetandbeabsorbedinyourkirtan,inyoursinging,inyourdancing,sototallythatyouhavedisappeared.Thesecretistotalabsorptionwhereverithappens.Ithappenstodifferentpeopleindifferentways.WecannotconceiveofBuddhadancing;hewasnotthattype,notadancingtype.Youmaybeadancingtype,sodon'tforceyourselfunderabodhitreeoryouwillbeintrouble.Justforcingyourself,stillingyourself,willbeviolent.ThenyourfacewillnotbecomelikeaBuddha.Itwillbetortured,itwillbeaself-torture.YoumaybelikeChaitanya,youmaybelikeMeera.Findoutthewayyourcloudmoves,whereitdrifts,andallowitfullfreedomtomoveanddrift.Whereveritgoes,itwillreachtothedivine.Justdon'tght,ow.Don'tpushtheriver,owwithit.Adanceisbeautiful,butyoumustbetotallyinit–that'sthepoint.Don'trejectanything,rejectionisirreligious.Accepttotally,acceptanceisprayer.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds10 Osho CHAPTER2 TheMysteryBeyondMind 11May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,BEAUTIFULWHITECLOUD,WHYAREWESOFORTUNATETOHAVEYOUWITHUS–ANDWHYAREWEWITHYOU?Why'sarealwaysunanswerable.Totheminditseemsthatwheneveryoucanaskawhyitcanbeanswered.Butthatisoneofthefallaciousassumptions.Nowhyhaseverbeenansweredorcanbeanswered.Existenceis–nowhyaboutit.Ifyouask,ifyoupersist,youmaycreateananswer–butthatanswerwillbeacreatedone;itwillnotreallybeananswer.Questioningitselfisfoundationallyabsurd.Thetreesare–youcannotaskwhy.Theskyis–youcannotaskwhy.Existenceexists,riversow,cloudsoat–youcannotaskwhy.Themindaskswhy,Iknowit.Mindiscurious;itwantstoknowthewhyofeverything.Butthisisadiseaseinthemind,anditissomethingwhichcannotbesatisedbecauseifyouanswerone,whythenanotherarisesimmediately.Everyansweronlycreatesmorequestions.Andthemindwillnotbesatisedunlesstheultimateanswerhasbeengiventoyou–andtherecanbenoultimateanswer.ByultimateanswerImeanthatyoucannotaskanywhyanymore.Butthereisnopossibilityofsuchastate.Whatsoeverissaid,whyagainbecomesrelevant.Thishasbeenthewholeabsurdeffortofphilosophies:Whyisthisworld?Sotheythoughtandtheycreatedatheoryaboutit:Godcreatedit–butwhydidGodcreateit?Thenagainmoretheoriesandthennally:WhyisGod? 11 CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Sotherstthingtoknowabout:thisqualityofthemindwhichgoesonaskingwhys.Justasleavesgrowoutoftrees,whysgrowoutofthemind–youcutone,manymoregrow.Andyoumaycollectmanyanswersbuttheanswerwillnotbethere.Andunlesstheansweristhere,themindgoeson,restlessinitssearch.SothisistherstthingIwouldliketosaytoyou:Don'tinsistmuchonwhys.Whydoweinsist?Whydowewanttoknowthecause?Whydowewanttogodeepintoathingandcometotheverybaseofit?Why?Becauseifyouknoweverywhy,ifyouknoweveryansweraboutathing,youhavebecomethemasterofit.Thenthethingcanbemanipulated.Thenthethingisnotamystery;thereisnoawe,nowonderaboutit.Youhaveknownityouhavekilledthemystery.Themindisakiller,amurderer–themurdererofallmysteries.Andmindisalwaysateasewithanythingdead.Withanythingalivemindfeelsuneasy,becauseyoucannotbethetotalmaster.Thelivingisalwaysthere–unpredictable.Thefuturecannotbexedwithalivingthing,andyoudon'tknowwhereitwillgo,whereitwilllead.Withadeadthing,everythingiscertainandxed.Youareatease.Youarenotworriedaboutit.Youarecertain.Tomakeeverythingcertainisadeepurgeinthemindbecausemindisafraidoflife.Mindcreatessciencejusttokilleverypossibilityoflife.Mindtriestondexplanationsonceanexplanationisfound,themysteryisdissolved.Youaskawhy,anditisanswered,thenthemindisatease.Whathaveyouachievedthroughit?Youhavenotachievedanything,youhavelostsomething–amysteryhasbeenlost.Mysterymakesyouuneasybecauseitissomethinggreaterthanyou,somethingwhichyoucannotmanipulate,somethingwhichyoucannotuseasathing;somethingwhichoverwhelms,somethingwhichoverpowers,somethingbeforewhichyouarenakedandimpotent–somethingbeforewhichyousimplydissolve.Mysterygivesyouafeelingofdeath;hencesomuchinquiryaboutwhys–whythis?whythat?Thisistherstthingtoberemembered.Butdon'tthinkthatIamavoidingyourquestion.Iamnotavoidingit.Iamtellingyousomethingaboutthemind–whyitasks.Andifyoucanretainthefeelingofmystery,Iamgoingtoanswer.Ifthefeelingofmysteryisretained,thenansweringisnotdangerous,itcanbeuseful.Theneveryanswerleadsyouintoadeepermystery.Thenthewholethingbecomesqualitativelydifferent.Thenyouask,nottogetanexplanation,thenyouasktogetdeeperintothemystery.Thenthecuriosityisnotmental,thenitbecomesaninquiry–adeepinquiryofbeing.Seethedifference?Ifyouarehankeringafteranexplanationthenitisbad,andIwillbethelastonetofulllitbecausethenIbecomeanenemytoyou,thenImakethingsdeadaroundyou.TheologianshavemadeevenGodadeadthing–theyhaveexplaineditsomuch,theyhaveansweredsomanythingsaboutGod,that'swhyGodisdead.Humanityhasnotkilledhim–thepriests,theyhavekilledhim.Theyexplainedhimsomuchthatnomysteryhasremained.AndwhatisGodifthereisnomysteryinit?Ifitisjustatheoryyoucandiscuss,adoctrineyoucananalyze,abeliefyoucanacceptordeny,thenYOUaregreaterandthisGodisjustpartofthefurnitureofyourmind–itisadeadthing.WheneverIamtalkingtoyou,rememberthisalways:whatsoeverIsayisnottokillyourinquiry,isnottogiveyouexplanations.Iamnotinterestedingivingyouanswers.Rather,onthecontrary,itistomakeyoumoreinquiring,deeplypenetratingintothemysteries. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds12 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Myanswerswillgiveyoudeeperquestions,andamomentwillcomewhenallquestioningwilldrop.Notthatyouhavereceivedalltheanswersbutbecauseeveryanswerisfutile.Andthenthemysteryistotal,thenitisallaround,withoutandwithin.Thenyouhavebecomepartofit,thenyouoatinit,thenyouhavealsobecomeamysteriousbeing,andonlythendothedoorsopen.NowIcananswerwhyIamwithyou,andwhyyouarewithmehere.Firstthing:itisnotonlyherethismomentthatyouarewithme–youhavebeenbefore.Lifeissointerrelated.Itisariverlikeow.Wedivideitintopast,presentandfuture,butthedivisionisjustutilitarian.Lifeisnotdivided.Theowoflifeiscontemporaneous.TheriverGangesattheverysource,theriverGangespassingthroughtheHimalayas,theriverGangesontheplains,theriverGangesfallingintotheocean–thisisone!Itiscontemporaneous.Theoriginandtheend,thebeginningandtheend,arenottwoseparatethings–itisoneow.Itisnotpastandfuture.Itiseternalpresent.Thishastobeunderstoodverydeeply.Youhavebeenwithme.Youarewithme.Itisnotaquestionofpast.Ifyoucanbesilent,ifyoucanputyourmindasidealittle,ifyoucanbecomeawhitecloudperchedonahill,notthinking,justbeing–youwillfeelit.Youhavebeenwithme,youarewithme,youwillbewithme.Thisbeingwithmeisnotaquestionoftime.SomebodyaskedJesus:YoutalkaboutAbraham...howdoyouknow,becausethereisalonggapbetweenthedaysofAbrahamandJesus–thousandsofyears.AndJesussaidaverymysterioussentence,themostmysteriousthatJesuseverasserted.Hesaid:”BeforeAbrahamwas,Iam.”BeforeAbrahamwas,Iam.Timedissolved.Lifeiseternalpresent.Wehavebeenhereandnowalways–forever,forever.Differentshapes,differentforms,ofcourse,differentsituations.Butwehavebeenalwaysandalways.Individualsarections.Lifeisnotdivided.Wearenotlikeislands,weareone.Thisonenesshastobefelt.Andonceyoufeelthisoneness,timedisappears,spacebecomesmeaningless.Suddenlyyouaretransportedfrombothtimeandspace.Thenyouare–simplyyouare.SomebodyaskedBuddha:Whoareyou?AndBuddhasaid:Ibelongtonorank.Ijustam.Iam,butIdon'tbelongtoanyrank.Rightnow,youcanhavetheglimpse.Ifyouarenotthinking,thenwhoareyou?Whereistime?Isthereanypast?Isthereanyfuturethen?ThenTHISmomentbecomestheeternity.Thewholetimeprocessisjustalongextendednow.Thewholeofspaceisjustexpandedhere.SowhenyouaskwhyIamhere,orwhyyouarehere,itisbecausethisistheonlywayofbeing.Icannotbeanywhereelse.Youcannotbeanywhereelse.Thisishowwehavebecomejoinedtogether.Youmaynotbeabletoseeitrightnow.Thelinksarenotsoclearforyoubecauseyourownunconsciousisnotclearforyou,becauseyoudon'tknowyourselfinyourtotality.Onetenthofyourbeingisknowntoyou,nine-tenthsisjustindarkness. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds13 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Youarelikeaforestwithalittleclearing.Treeshavebeencut,andasmallplacehasbeencreatedinwhichtolive.Butjustbeyondthatsmallclearingthedarkforestexists.Youdon'tknowtheboundariesofit.Andyouaresoafraidofdarknessandthewildanimalsthatyouneverleaveyourclearing.Butyourclearingisjustpartofthisdarkforest.Youknowonlyapartofyourbeing.Iseeyouasyourtotaldarkness,thewholeforestofyou.AndonceIseeasingleindividualinhistotality,allindividualsareinvolvedbecausethatforestisnotseparate.Inthatdarknessboundariesmeet,mingleandbecomeone.Youarehere.IfIbecometooattentivetooneindividual,thenIamfocusingmyself.Butstill,evenfocusing,Icontinuouslyfeelyourboundariesareminglingwiththeother.SoforcertainpurposesImaytakeyouasanindividual,butinrealityitisnotso.WhenIamnotfocusedIsimplylookatyouwithoutseeingyou–justalook,thenyouarenomorethere.Yourboundariesaremeetingwitheveryoneelse's,andnotonlywithmanandhumanbeings–withtrees,withrocks,withsky...everything.Boundariesarections,henceindividualsarectitious.IamherebecauseIcannotbeanywhereelse.Thisishowlifehashappened.Youareherebecauseyoucannotbeanywhereelse.Thisishowlifehashappenedtoyou.Butitisdifculttoacceptit.Whyisitdifculttoacceptit?–becausethenyoucannotmanipulateit,thenlifebecomesgreaterthanyou.IfIsayyouareherebecauseyouareagreatseekeroftruth,thenyouareatease.Ifyouareherebecauseyouareagreatseeker,thentheegoisfullled.Thenifyouchoose,youcango.Thenyouarethechooser.Thenyouarecontrollinglife,notcontrolledbylife.ButIdon'tsaythat,Isayyouareherebecauselifehashappenedthisway.Youcouldnothavechosen,itisnotyourchoice.Evenifyouleave,thatwillnotbeyourchoice.Again,thatwillbehowlifehappenstoyou.Ifyouchoosetoremain,thattooisnotachoice.Choiceisnotpossible.Choiceispossibleonlywiththeego.Wheneveregoisnotfed,uneasiness,discomfort,isfelt.Sotherearetwowaystobeatease.Oneistogoonfeedingtheego,anotherissimplytodropit.Andremember,therstwayistemporary.Themoreyoufeedtheego,themoreitdemands,andthereisnoendtoit.SoItellyou:LifehashappenedinsuchawaythatIamhereandyouarehere.Andithashappenedmanytimesbefore,anditwillcontinuehappeningthesameway.Ifyoucanrealizethis,muchmorewillimmediatelybecomepossible.Ifyourealizethis,youwillbemoreopen,lessclosed,morevulnerable,morereceptive.Thenyouarenotafraid.Thenlifecanpassthroughyou.Thenlifebecomesjustabreeze,andyoubecomeanemptyroom,andlifecomesandgoes...andyouallowit.Allowingisthesecret–secretofallsecrets.HenceIemphasize,insist,thatyouarenotherebecauseofanychoiceonyourpart.Iamnotherebecauseofanychoiceonmypart.AsfarasIamconcernedtherecannotbeanychoice,becauseIamnot.Asfarasyouareconcerned,youmaybeunderthedelusionthatyouareherebecauseofyourchoice,butthatisnotafact.AndIamnotgoingtofeedyouregosbecausetheyhavetobedestroyed.That'swhatthewholeeffortis:howtodestroyyou–becauseonceyourboundariesaredestroyedyouareinnite.Rightthismoment,thiscanhappen.Thereisnobarriertoit–thereisonlyyourclinging. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds14 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Manypeoplecometomeandask:Havewebeenwithyoubefore?IfIsayyes,theyfeelverygood.IfIsayno,theyfeeldejected,depressed.Why?Weliveinctions.Youareherewithme–thatisnotsosignicant;youwerewithmeinthepast–thatseemstobemoresignicant.AndyouaremissingthismomentwhenyoucanbeREALLYwithme–becausetobewithmeisnotaphysicalphenomenon.Youcansitbymysideandyoumaynotbewithme.Youcanclingtomeforyearsandyoumaynotbewithmeforasinglemoment–becausetobewithmeonlymeansthatyouarenot.Iamnot,andifevenforasinglemomentyouarealsonotthere,therewillbeameeting–thentwoemptinessesmeet.Remember,onlytwoemptinessescanmeet,thereisnoothermeetingpossible.Wheneveryouhaveameeting,itmeanstwoemptinessesmerging.Theegoisverysolid,toosubstantialtomerge.Soyoucanstruggle,clash,butyoucannotmeet.Youmaythinkthatthisclashoftwoegosisameeting.Itisasortofmeeting.Youcometogether,butyouarenevertogether.Youmeet,andstillyoudon'tmeet.Youtoucheachother,andstillyouremainuntouched.Yourinneremptinessremainsavirginland,ithasnotbeenpenetrated.Butwhentheegoisnotthere,whenyouarenotfeelingmuchI,whenyouarenotthinkingaboutyourselfatall,whenthereisnoself,that'swhatBuddhacallsANATTA–no-selfness.Hewasverymuchmisunderstood.InIndiapeopleweretalkingofATMA–theself,thesupremeself.Everybodywassearchingforthesupremeself–howtobecometheultimateself.AndthenBuddhacomesandhesays:Thereisnoselftobeattained,rather,pleasebeano-self.Histeachingcouldnotbeaccepted.Buddhawasthrownoutofthiscountry.Hewasnotacceptedanywhere.ABuddhaisalwaysthrownout.Whereverhegoeshewillbethrownout,becausehehitsonyousodeeplyyoucannottolerateit.Hesaysyouarenot.Whenyouareempty,whenjustavacuumexists,meetinghappens.Anybodywhoiscapableofbeingemptywillmerge.Andthisistheonlywaytobecomeonewithexistence.Youmaycallitlove,youmaycallitprayer,youmaycallitmeditation,orwhatsoeveryoulike.Youareherebecauselifehashappenedthatway.Iamherebecausethisishowlifehashappenedtome.Andthispossibilityofyourbeingnearmecanbeused,canbemisused,canbemissedaltogether.Ifyoumiss,thentooitwillnotbeforthersttime.Manytimesyouhavebeenwithme.Itmaynothavebeenexactlywithme;manytimesyouwerewithaBuddhaandthatwastobewithme.ManytimesyouwerewithaJina,withaMahavira,andthatwastobewithme.ManytimesyouwerearoundJesus,orMoses,orLaoTzu–thatwasbeingwithme.ALaoTzuoraBuddhacannotbedenedinanyway;theyaretwoemptinesses,andtwoemptinesseshavenoqualitiestodiffer.YoumayhavebeenwithaLaoTzuandIsayyouwerewithme,becausethereisnothingtomakeanydistinction.ALaoTzuisanemptiness.Twoemptinessesarejustthesame,youcannotmakeanydistinction.Butyoumissed.Youhavebeenmissingmanytimes.Youcanmissagain.Andremember,youarewise,clever,calculating.Evenifyoumiss,youwillmissverywisely.Youwillrationalizeit.Youwillsaytherewasnothingtobegained.Oryouwillndargumentsthathidethefact.Ifyoubecomealerttothispossibilityofmissing,thenmeetingisimmediatelypossible.AndIsayimmediately–thereisnoneedtopostponeit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds15 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Andthisissignicant,thatlifehashappenedinsuchawaythatyouarehere.Millionsarethereandlifehasnothappenedinsuchaway.Youarefortunate,butdon'tmakethatpointanegofood–becauseifyouregotakesanythingoutofitandbecomesstronger,youhavemissedthatfortune.Youarefortunate,butitremainsanopenpossibility.Youcangrowintoit,youcandropoutofit.Andthisisrare–rareformanyreasons.First:itisverydifculttobeattractedtoapersonwhoisempty–verydifcult,becauseemptinessisnotsuchamagneticforce.Youareattractedtoamanwhohasgotsomething.Whyareweattractedtoamanwhohasgotsomething?Becausewehavedesires.Wealsowanttogetsomething.Youareattractedtoapoliticianwhohaspowerbecauseyouarepower-oriented,youwantpower.Sowhosoeverhasitbecomestheidol,thehero.Youareattractedtoapersonwhohasfabulousriches.Becauseyouarepoor,deepdownyouhankerafterriches.Sowhosoeverhasthembecomestheideal.Butwhyshouldonebeattractedtoapersonwhohasnothing?Thisisfortunate,ararepossibility.Sometimeslifehappensinsuchawaythatyoubecomeattractedtoapersonwhohasgotnothing,whoisempty.Youarenotgoingtogainanythingoutofhim;rather,everythinghastobelostwithhim.Itisagamble.Soyouaregamblers–that'swhyyouarehere.Andunlessyougambletotallyyouwillmiss,becausethisgamblingcannotbepartial–partscannotbeaccepted.Thatisnottheruleofthisgame.Sodon'tholdback,putineverythingyouhave.Itisdangerousandrisky.That'swhyIsayitisraretobeattractedtoaBuddhaortoaJesus.Veryfewareattracted.YouknowaboutJesus...veryfew,onlytwelvedisciples.Andveryordinarymen:somesherman,somewoodcutter,somefarmer–notsignicantinanyway,justcommonpeople.WhyaresuchcommonpeopleattractedtoBuddhaorJesus?Tobecommonisaveryuncommonquality,becausethosewhoarenotcommon,theyareaftersomeego-trip–riches,power,status.Afarmer,asherman,awoodcutter–insignicantpeople,absolutelyordinary,notlookingforanyachievement–theybecomeattractedtoJesus.Tobecommonisrare;tobeabsolutelyordinaryisreallyextraordinary.ZenMastersarereportedtohavesaidcontinuously:Becomeordinaryandthenyoubecomeextraordinary.Everyordinarybeingistryingtobeextraordinary–thatistheordinarything.Justremainordinary.Thatmeansnotsearchingforanything,notseekinganyachievement,really,notinanywaygoal-oriented,justlivingmoment-to-moment,drifting.That'swhatIwassayingtoyou–driftinglikeawhitecloud.Yourbeinghereisrareforotherreasonsalso,becausehumanmindisalwaysafraidofdeath.Itclingstolife,alustforlifeisthere.Eveninmiseryitclingstolife...adeepfearofdeath.Andwhenapersoncomestomeheiscoming,really,todie,heiscomingtodissolve.Iwillbeanabysstohim,abottomlessabyssinwhichhewillfallandfallandfallandreachnowhere...!Ifyoulookintomeyouwillfeeldizzy.Ifyoustareintomyeyesyouwillseetheabyss,andthenthefearwillgripyou–andthefallingandfalling....Justthinkofaleaffallingintoanabyss–andtheabyssisinniteandthereisnobottomtoitsoitcannotreachanywhere–itcanonlydisappear;falling,falling,falling,itwilldisappear. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds16 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Thereligiousjourneybeginsbutneverends.Youcometome,youfallintome,youdisappear,youneverreachanywhere.Butthatdisappearanceisthedelight.Nootherdelighthaseverbeenknown,nootherdelightisthere.ThedelightofTOTALdisappearance!Justasadewdropinthemorningdisappearswhenthesunrises,orjustasinthenightanearthenlampburns,thewindcomesandtheamegoesoutanddarkness...theamehasdisappearedandyoucannotnditanywhere–thesameway,youdisappear.Itisraretoseeksuicide:thisissuicide,therealsuicide!Youcankillthebodyanywhere,butyoucannotkilltheselfanywhere.Hereyouarereadyforthenalsuicide–tokilltheself.Butdon'tmakeallthesethingsexplanations,theyarenot.Iamalwaysanti-explanation.Ifallthismakesyoumoremysterious,ifallthismakesyoumorevague,sofar,sogood.Ifyourmindgoesupinsmokeandyoudon'tknowwhatiswhat,that'sthebestcondition.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,ASWITHALLCLOUDS,WHITECLOUDSAREDIRECTEDBYTHEWIND.WHATISTHEPRESENTDIRECTIONOFTHEWIND?ARETHERESPECIALPOTENTIALITIESINTHISAGE?Whitecloudsarenotdirectedbythewind.Thephenomenonofdirectionexistsonlywhenthereisresistance.Ifthewhitecloudwantstogoeastandthewindblowstothewest,thenthereisdirection–becauseresistanceisthere.Butifthecloudisnotgoinganywhere,eastandwestmeanthesame,thereisnoresistance.Ifthereisnowillonthepartofthecloud,thenthewindcannotdirectit.Youcandirectonlywhensomebodyisnotreadytooat,torelax,toletgo.Butthephenomenonofthecloudmeansitistheverylet-go.Ifthewindsayseast,thecloudisready;itisalreadyonthemovetowardstheeast.Therehasnotbeenasinglethoughtofno;therehasnotbeenasingledenial.Ifthecloudwasmovingtothewestandthewindstartsblowingeast,thecloudmovestotheeast.Thewindisnotdirecting.Directionisneededonlywhensomeoneisagainst.Peoplecometomeandtheysay:”Directus,”andIknowwhattheyaresaying.”Guideus,”andIknowwhattheyaresaying.Theyarenotready.Otherwise,whatistheneedofbeingdirectedandguided?Enoughitisthatyouareherewithme,andeverythingwillhappen.Thewindblowstotheeastandyoustartoatingtowardstheeast,butyousay:Guide;yousay:Direct.Youaresayingthatyouareagainst;youhaveadenial,youhavearejection;youwillght.Andifthereisnowillonthepartofthecloud,howcanyoumakeadistinction–whichisthecloudandwhichisthewind?Theboundaryexistswithwill.Rememberthis,thismustbecomeyourfoundationalinsight:theboundarybetweenyouandmeexistsbecauseofyourwill.Youarethere,surroundedbyawill.ThenIcomeandthereisconict.Acloudhasnowill,sowhereistheboundary?Wheredoesthecloudendandthewindbegin?Thewindandthecloudareone.Thecloudispartofthewind;thewindispartofthecloud.Thephenomenonisone,undivided. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds17 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND Andthewindgoesonblowinginalldirections.Sotheproblemisnottochoosethedirection;theproblemishowtobecomethecloud.Thewindgoesonblowinginalldirections.Itmoves,itchanges.Itisalwaysrunningfromthiscornertotheother.Really,thereisnodirection.Thereisnomap;thewholethingisuncharted.Thereisnooneguidingitandsaying:Nowgototheeast,nowgotothewest.Thewholeofexistencewavesit.Itisawavingexistence–alldirectionsbelongtoit.AndwhenIsayalldirections,Imeanthegoodandthebadboth,Imeanthemoralandtheimmoralboth.WhenIsayalldirections,IMEANall.Thewindisblowinginalldirections.Thishasalwaysbeenso.Soremember:therehasnotbeenaspecicallyreligiousagenorananti-religiousage,therecannotbe.Peoplethinkthiswaybecausethattoogivesthemego-trips.InIndia,peoplethinkthatintheolddays,inancientdays,therewasareligiousageontheearthandnoweverythinghasgonerotten–thisisthedarkestage.Thisisallnonsense.Noageisreligious,noageisanti-religious.ReligiousnessisNOTconcernedwiththetime,itisconcernedwiththequalityofthemind.Soitisnotaquestionofwhetherthecloudisgoingtotheeast–thenitwillbereligious,orgoingtothewestanditwillbeanti-religious.No.Ifthecloudhasnowill,thecloudisreligiousWHEREVERitgoes.Andifthecloudhaswill,thenwhereveritgoesitisirreligious.Andtherearebothtypesofclouds:veryfewwhoarewill-less,millionswhohavetheirwillsandprojectionsanddesiresandideas.Theyghtwiththewind.Themoretheyght,themoreanguishiscreated.Andghtingleadsnowhere,becausenothingcanbedone.Whetheryoughtornotthewindwillgototheeastandyouwillhavetogototheeast.Youcanonlycarryanotionthatyouhavebeenghtingandyouareagreatwarrior.That'sall.Onewhounderstandsstopsghting.Heisnoteventryingtoswim,hesimplygoeswiththeood.Thisverycurrentheusesasavehicle;hebecomesonewithitandmoveswithit.ThisiswhatIcallsurrender,andthisiswhattheoldscripturescalledtheattitudeofthedevotee.Surrendered,YOUarenot.Thenwhereverthewindleadsyou,youwillgo.Youdon'thaveanywillofyourown.Thishasbeenalwaysso.Inthepasttherewerebuddhas,oatingwhiteclouds;inthepresenttherearebuddhas,oatingwhiteclouds.Inthepastthereweremadblackcloudslledwithwill,desire,future.Theyaretheretodayalso.Withwillanddesireyouareablackcloud–heavy.Withnowill,nodesire,youareawhitecloud–weightless.Andthepossibilityforboththeseisalwaysopen.Itisuptoyouwhethertoallowthelet-go,ornot.Don'tthinkoftimeandage.Timeandageareindifferent.Theydon'tforceanyonetobecomeabuddha;theydon'tpreventanyonefrombecomingabuddha.Timeandagearejustindifferent.Allowyourselftobeempty,andthisisthegoldenage.Allowyourselftobetoomuchlledwithdesire,andthisisthedarkestagepossible,theKALIYUGA.Youcreateyourtimeandagearoundyou.Youliveinyourownageandtime.Rememberwearenotcontemporariesinthatway.ApersonlikeJesusisancient!Hemaybejusthere,butheisancient.Helivessoeternally...youcannotcallhimmodern.Helivessototallythat MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds18 Osho CHAPTER2.THEMYSTERYBEYONDMIND youcannotsaythathebelongstoafragmentoftime.Heisnotpartoftheworldoffashionswhichcomeandgo.Livingwiththeabsolute,youbecomeabsolute.Livingwiththeeternal,youbecomeeternal.Livingwiththetimeless,youbecometimeless.Butthequestionisstillpertinentinanothersensealso.Allovertheworld,peoplehavethefeelingthatacertainage,acertaintime,acertainclimax,acrescendo,isnearing–somethingisgoingtoexplode,asifwearereachingaparticularpointinhumanevolution.ButIwouldliketosaytoyou:thisisagaintheego-tripfortheage.Everyagethinksthatway:Somethingisreachingaclimaxwithus;wearehere,somethingspecialisgoingtohappenontheearth.Thishasbeenalwaysso!ItisreportedthatwhenAdamandEvewerethrownoutoftheGardenofEden,AdamsaidtoEvejustastheypassedthroughthedoor:Wearepassingthroughthegreatesttransformationeverknowninhistory.Theveryrstmansayingandthinking:Thegreatesttransformation....Everyagethinksthatthingsarereachingtoacrescendo,toanultimatepoint,toanomegapoint,whereeverythingwillexplodeandanewbeingwillbeborn.Butthesearehopes,ego-trips,notverymeaningful.Youwillbehereforafewyears,thenotherswillbehereandtheywillthinkthesame.ThecrescendoISreached–notwiththeage,butwiththeindividualbeing.Theclimaxisreachedbutitisalwaysreachedwithconsciousness,notwithacollectiveunconscious.YOUcanbecomeareligiousperson.Andthetimeisgood,thetimeisalwaysgood.Don'tthinkofotherstoomuchbecausethismaybejustanescapefromyourself.Don'tthinkoftheageanddon'tthinkofhumanity–becausemindissocunning,humanmindissocunning,youdon'tknow....Ihavebeenreadingaletterfromafriend,andhesaysthathebecamesofrustratedwithallhislove-affairs,wheneverhewasinloveitwassuchmisery,thathestoppedlovinganyindividualandstartedtolovethewholeofhumanity.Nowthewholeofhumanityiseasytolove,andthosewhocannotlovewillalwayslovethewholeofhumanity.Thereisnoproblem.Toloveanindividualisvery,verydifcult,itcanbehellitself.Itcanbehellitselfbecauseitcanbecomeheaven.Wegoonavoiding.Peoplestartthinkingaboutothersjusttoavoidthinkingaboutthemselves.Theystartthinkingabouttheage,thetime,theplanets,andwhatisgoingtohappentohumanconsciousness,justtoavoidencounteringthebasicproblem:Whatisgoingtohappentomyconsciousness?Yourconsciousnessshouldbethetarget.Everytimeisgood,alltimesaregoodforit.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds19 Osho CHAPTER3 TobeMiserableorEcstatic...? 12May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUONCETOLDUSASTORYABOUTANOLDMANWHOWASOVERONEHUNDREDYEARSOLD.ONEDAY,ONHISBIRTHDAY,HEWASASKEDWHYITWASTHATHEWASALWAYSHAPPY.HEREPLIED:EVERYMORNINGWHENIWAKEUPIHAVETHECHOICETOBEHAPPYORUNHAPPY,ANDICHOOSETOBEHAPPY.HOWISITTHATWEUSUALLYCHOOSETOBEUNHAPPY?HOWISITTHATWEDON'TFEELAWAREOFTHECHOICE?Thisisoneofthemostcomplexhumanproblems.Ithastobeconsideredverydeeply,anditisnottheoretical–itconcernsyou.Thisishoweverybodyisbehaving–alwayschoosingthewrong,alwayschoosingthesad,thedepressed,themiserable.Theremustbeprofoundreasonsforit,andthereare.Firstthing:thewayhumanbeingsarebroughtupplaysaverydeniteroleinit.Ifyouareunhappyyougainsomethingfromit,youalwaysgain.Ifyouarehappyyoualwayslose.Fromtheverybeginninganalertchildstartsfeelingthedistinction.Wheneverheisunhappyeverybodyissympathetictowardshim,hegainssympathy.Everybodytriestobelovingtowardshim,hegainslove.Andevenmorethanthatwheneverheisunhappyeverybodyisattentivetowards 20 CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? him,hegainsattention.Attentionworkslikefoodfortheego,averyalcoholicstimulant.Itgivesyouenergy;youfeelyouaresomebody.Hencesomuchneed,somuchdesiretogetattention.Ifeverybodyislookingatyou,youbecomeimportant.Ifnobodyislookingatyou,youfeelasifyouarenotthere,youarenomore,youareanon-being.Peoplelookingatyou,peoplecaringaboutyougiveyouenergy.Theegoexistsinrelationship.Themorepeoplepayattentiontoyou,themoreyougainego.Ifnobodylooksatyou,theegodissolves.Ifeverybodyhascompletelyforgottenyou,howcantheegoexist?Howcanyoufeelthatyouare?Hencetheneedforsocieties,associations,clubs.Allovertheworldclubsexist–Rotary,Lions,MasonicLodges–millionsofclubsandsocieties.Thesesocietiesandclubsexistonlytogiveattentiontopeoplewhocannotgetattentioninotherways.Itisdifculttobecomeapresidentofacountry.Itisdifculttobecomeamayorofacorporation.ItiseasiertobecomethepresidentofaLionsClub,thenaparticulargroupgivesyouattention.Youareveryimportant–doingnothing!LionsClubs,RotaryClubs...doingnothingatallbutstilltheyfeeltheyaresomethingimportant.Andthepresidentgoesonchanging–onethisyear,anothernextyear.Everybodygetsattention.Itisamutualarrangement,andeverybodyfeelsimportant.Fromtheverybeginningthechildlearnsthepolitics.Thepoliticsare:lookmiserable,thenyougetsympathy,theneverybodyisattentive.Lookill–youbecomeimportant.Anillchildbecomesdictatorial;thewholefamilyhastofollowhim–whatsoeverhesaysistherule.Whenheishappynobodylistenstohim.Whenheishealthynobodycaresabouthim.Whenheisperfectnobodyisattentive.Fromtheverybeginningwestartchoosingthemiserable,thesad,thepessimistic,thedarkersideoflife.That'sonething.Asecondthingrelatedtoitis:wheneveryouarehappy,wheneveryouarejoyful,wheneveryoufeelecstaticandblissful,everybodyisjealousofyou.Jealousymeansthateverybodyisantagonistic,nobodyisfriendly;atthatmomenteverybodyisanenemy.Soyouhavelearntnottobesoecstaticthateverybodybecomesinimicaltowardsyou–nottoshowyourbliss,nottolaugh.Lookatpeoplewhentheylaugh.Theylaughverycalculatingly.Itisnotabelly-laugh,itisnotcomingfromtheverydepthoftheirbeing.Theyrstlookatyou,thentheyjudge...andthentheylaugh.Andtheylaughtoaparticularextent,theextentyouwilltolerate,theextentwhichwillnotbetakenamiss,theextentwherenobodywillbecomejealous.Evenoursmilesarepolitical.Laughterhasdisappeared,blisshasbecomeabsolutelyunknown,andtobeecstaticisalmostimpossiblebecauseitisnotallowed.Ifyouaremiserablenobodywillthinkyouaremad.Ifyouareecstaticanddancingeverybodywillthinkyouaremad.Danceisrejected,singingisnotaccepted.Ablissfulman–andwethinksomethinghasgonewrong.Whattypeofsocietyisthis?Ifsomeoneismiserableeverythingisokay;hetsbecausethewholesocietyismiserablemoreorless.Heisamember,hebelongstous.Ifsomebodybecomesecstaticwethinkhehasgoneberserk,insane.Hedoesn'tbelongtous–andwefeeljealous.Becauseofjealousywecondemnhim.Becauseofjealousywewilltryineverywaytoputhimbacktohisoldstate.Wecallthatoldstatenormality.Psychoanalystswillhelp,psychiatristswillhelptobringthatmantothenormalmisery. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds21 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? IntheWest,thewholesocietyisturningagainstpsychedelics.Thelaw,thestate,thegovernment,thelegalexperts,thehighcourts,thelegislators,priests,popes–everybodyisturningagainst.Theyarenotreallyagainstpsychedelics–theyareagainstpeoplebeingecstatic.Theyarenotagainstalcohol,theyarenotagainstotherthingswhicharedrugs,buttheyareagainstpsychedelicsbecausepsychedelicscancreateachemicalchangeinyou.Andtheoldcrustthatthesocietyhascreatedaroundyou,theimprisonmentinmisery,canbebroken,therecanbeabreak-through.Youcancomeoutofit,evenforafewmoments,andbeecstatic.Societycannotallowecstasy.Ecstasyisthegreatestrevolution.Irepeatit:ecstasyisthegreatestrevolution.Ifpeoplebecomeecstaticthewholesocietywillhavetochange,becausethissocietyisbasedonmisery.Ifpeopleareblissfulyoucannotleadthemtowar–toVietnam,ortoEgypt,ortoIsrael.No.Someonewhoisblissfulwilljustlaughandsay:Thisisnonsense!Ifpeopleareblissfulyoucannotmakethemobsessedwithmoney.Theywillnotwastetheirwholelivesjustaccumulatingmoney.Itwilllooklikemadnesstothemthatapersonisdestroyinghiswholelife,justexchanginghislifefordeadmoney,dyingandaccumulatingmoney.Andthemoneywillbetherewhenheisdead.Thisisabsolutemadness!Butthismadnesscannotbeseenunlessyouareecstatic.Ifpeopleareecstaticthenthewholepatternofthissocietywillhavetochange.Thissocietyexistsonmisery.Miseryisagreatinvestmentforthissociety.Sowebringupchildren...fromtheverybeginningwecreatealeaningtowardsmisery.That'swhytheyalwayschoosemisery.Inthemorningforeverybodythereisachoice.Andnotonlyinthemorning,everymomentthereisachoicetobemiserableortobehappy.Youalwayschoosetobemiserablebecausethereisaninvestment.Youalwayschoosetobemiserablebecausethathasbecomeahabit,apattern,youhavealwaysdonethat.Youhavebecomeefcientatdoingit,ithasbecomeatrack.Themomentyourmindhastochoose,itimmediatelyowstowardsmisery.Miseryseemstobedownhill,ecstasyseemstobeuphill.Ecstasylooksverydifculttoreach–butitisnotso.Therealthingisquitetheopposite:ecstasyisdownhill,miseryisuphill.Miseryisaverydifcultthingtoachieve,butyouhaveachievedit,youhavedonetheimpossible–becausemiseryissoanti-nature.NobodywantstobemiserableandeverybodyISmiserable.Societyhasdoneagreatjob.Education,culture,andtheculturingagencies,parents,teachers–theyhavedoneagreatjob.Theyhavemademiserablecreaturesoutofecstaticcreators.Everychildisbornecstatic.Everychildisbornagod.Andeverymandiesamadman.Unlessyourecover,unlessyoureclaimyourchildhood,youwillnotbeabletobecomethewhitecloudsIamtalkingabout.Thisisthewholeworkforyou,thewholeSADHANA–howtoregainchildhood,howtoreclaimit.Ifyoucanbecomechildrenagainthenthereisnomisery.Idon'tmeanthatforachildtherearenomomentsofmisery–thereare.Butstillthereisnomisery.Trytounderstandthis. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds22 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Achildcanbecomemiserable,hecanbeunhappy,intenselyunhappyinamoment,butheissototalinthatunhappiness,heissoonewiththatunhappiness,thatthereisnodivision.Thechildseparatefromunhappinessisnotthere.Thechildisnotlookingathisunhappinessseparate,divided.ThechildISunhappiness–heissoinvolvedinit.Andwhenyoubecomeonewithunhappiness,unhappinessisnotunhappiness.Ifyoubecomesoonewithit,eventhathasabeautyofitsown.Solookatachild–anunspoiltchildImean.Ifheisangry,thenhiswholeenergybecomesanger;nothingisleftbehind,nohold-up.Hehasmovedandbecomeanger;thereisnobodymanipulatingandcontrollingit.Thereisnomind.Thechildhasbecomeanger–heisnotangry,hehasbecometheanger.Andthenseethebeauty,theoweringofanger.Thechildneverlooksugly–eveninangerhelooksbeautiful.Hejustlooksmoreintense,morevital,morealive–avolcanoreadytoerupt.Suchasmallchild,suchagreatenergy,suchanatomicbeing–withthewholeuniversetoexplode.Andafterthisangerthechildwillbesilent.Afterthisangerthechildwillbeverypeaceful.Afterthisangerthechildwillrelax.Wemaythinkitisverymiserabletobeinthatanger,butthechildisnotmiserable–hehasenjoyedit.Ifyoubecomeonewithanythingyoubecomeblissful.Ifyouseparateyourselffromanything,evenifitishappiness,youwillbecomemiserable.Sothisisthekey.Tobeseparateasanegoisthebaseofallmisery;tobeone,tobeowing,withwhatsoeverlifebringstoyou,tobeinitsointensely,sototally,thatyouarenomore,youarelost,theneverythingisblissful.Thechoiceisthere,butyouhaveevenbecomeunawareofthechoice.Youhavebeenchoosingthewrongsocontinuously,ithasbecomesuchadeadhabit,thatyousimplychooseitautomatically.Thereisnochoiceleft.Becomealert.Eachmomentwhenyouarechoosingtobemiserableremember:thisisyourchoice.Eventhismindfulnesswillhelp,thealertnessthatthisismychoiceandIamresponsible,andthisiswhatIamdoingtomyself,thisismydoing.Immediatelyyouwillfeeladifference.Thequalityofmindwillhavechanged.Itwillbeeasierforyoutomovetowardshappiness.Andonceyouknowthatthisisyourchoice,thenthewholethinghasbecomeagame.Thenifyoulovetobemiserable,bemiserable,butremember,thisisyourchoiceanddon'tcomplain.Thereisnobodyelsewhoisresponsibleforit.Thisisyourdrama.Ifyoulikethisway,ifyoulikeamiserableway,ifyouwanttopassthroughlifeinmisery,thenthisisyourchoice,yourgame.Youareplayingit.Playitwell!Thendon'tgoandaskpeoplehownottobemiserable.Thatisabsurd.Don'tgoandaskmastersandgurushowtobehappy.Theso-calledgurusexistbecauseyouarefoolish.Youcreatethemisery,andthenyougoandaskothershowtouncreateit.Andyouwi]lgooncreatingmiserybecauseyouarenotalerttowhatyouaredoing.Fromthisverymomenttry,trytobehappyandblissful. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds23 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Iwilltellyouoneofthedeepestlawsoflife.Youmaynothavethoughtaboutitatall.Youhaveheard–thewholeofsciencedependsonit–thatcauseandeffectisthebase.Youcreatethecauseandtheeffectfollows.Lifeisacausallink.Youputtheseedinthesoilanditwillsprout.Ifthecauseisthere,thenthetreewillfollow.Thereisthere–youputyourhandinitanditwillburn.Thecauseisthereandtheeffectwillfollow.Youtakepoisonandyouwilldie.Youarrangeforthecauseandthentheeffectfollows.Thisisoneofthemostbasicscienticlaws,thatcauseandeffectistheinnermostlinkofallprocessesoflife.Religionknowsaboutasecondlawwhichisstilldeeperthanthis.Butthesecondlawwhichisdeeperthanthiswilllookabsurd,ifyoudon'tknowitandexperimentwithit.Religionsays:Producetheeffectandthecausefollows.Thisisabsolutelyabsurdinscienticterms.Sciencesays:Ifthecauseisthere,theeffectfollows.Religionsaystheconverseisalsotrue:youcreatetheeffect,andsee...thecausefollows.Thereisasituationinwhichyoufeelhappy.Afriendhascome,abelovedhascalled.Asituationisthecause–youfeelhappy.Happinessistheeffect.Thecomingofthebelovedisthecause.Religionsays:Behappyandthebelovedcomes.Createtheeffectandthecausefollows.Andthisismyownexperience,thatthesecondlawismorebasicthantherst.Ihavebeendoingitandithasbeenhappening.Justbehappyandthebelovedcomes.Justbehappy,andfriendsarethere.Justbehappyandeverythingfollows.Jesussaysthesamethingindifferentwords:SeekyersttheKingdomofGod,thenallelsewillfollow.ButtheKingdomofGodistheend,theeffect.Seekyersttheend–endmeanstheeffect,theresult–andthecausewillfollow.Thisisasitshouldbe.Itisnotonlythatyouplaceaseedinthesoilandthetreefollows;lettherebeatreeandtherearemillionsofseeds.Ifcauseisfollowedbyeffect,effectisagainfollowedbycause.Thisisthechain!Thenitbecomesacircle–startfromanywhere,createthecauseorcreatetheeffect.AndItellyouitiseasiertocreatetheeffectbecausetheeffectdependstotallyuponyou;thecausemaynotbesodependentonyou.IfIsayIcanonlybehappywhenacertainfriendisthere,thenitdependsonacertainfriend,whetherheisthereornot.IfIsayIcannotbehappyuntilIattainthismuchwealth,thenitdependsonthewholeworldandtheeconomicsituationsandeverything.Itmaynothappen,andthenIcannotbehappy.Causeisbeyondme.Effectiswithinme.Causeisinthesurroundings,inthesituations–causeiswithout.EFFECTISME!IfIcancreatetheeffect,thecausewillfollow.Choosehappiness–thatmeansyouarechoosingtheeffect–andthenseewhathappens.Chooseecstasyandseewhathappens.Choosetobeblissfulandseewhathappens.Yourwholelifewillchangeimmediatelyandyouwillseemiracleshappeningaroundyou–becausenowyouhavecreatedtheeffectandcauseswillhavetofollow.Thiswilllookmagical;youcanevencallitthelawofmagic.Therstisthelawofscienceandthesecondisthelawofmagic.Religionismagic,andyoucanbethemagician.That'swhatIteachyou:tobethemagician,toknowthesecretofmagic. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds24 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Tryit!Youhavebeentryingtheotheryourwholelife–notonlythisbutmanyotherlivesalso.Nowlistentome!Trythismagicformula,thismantraIgivetoyou.Createtheeffectandseewhathappens;causesimmediatelysurroundyou,theyfollow.Don'twaitforthecauses;youhavewaitedlongenough.Choosehappinessandyouwillbehappy.Whatistheproblem?Whycan'tyouchoose?Whycan'tyouworkonthislaw?Becauseyourmind,thewholemind,whichhasbeentrainedbyscienticthinking,saysthatifyouarenothappyandyoutrytobehappy,thathappinesswillbearticial.Ifyouarenothappyandyoutrytobehappythatwillbejustacting,thatwillnotbereal.Thisiswhatscienticthinkingsays,thatthatwillnotbereal,youwillbejustacting.Butyoudon'tknow.Lifeenergyhasitsownwaysofworking–ifyoucanacttotallyitwillbecomethereal.Theonlythingis,theactormustnotbethere.Movetotallyinit,thenthereisnodifference.Ifyouareactinghalf-heartedlythenitwillremainarticial.IfIsaytoyoudanceandsingandbeblissful,andyoutryhalfheartedly,justtoseewhathappens,butyouremainbehind...andyougoonthinking:Thisisjustarticial.Iamtryingbutthisisnotcoming,thisisnotspontaneous–thenitwillremainacting,awasteoftime.Ifyoutry,thentrywholeheartedly.Don'tremainbehind,moveintoit,becometheacting–dissolvetheactorintoactingandthenseewhathappens.Itwillbecometherealandthenyouwillfeelitisspontaneous.Youhavenotdoneit,youwillknowthenthatithashappened.Butunlessyouaretotalthiscannothappen.Createtheeffect,beinitcompletely,seeandobservetheresults.Icanmakeyoukingswithoutkingdoms,onlyyouhavetoactlikekings,andactsototallythat,beforeyou,evenarealkingwillappearasifheisjustacting.Andwhenthewholeenergyhasmovedintoit,itbecomesreality!Energymakesanythingreal.Ifyouwaitforkingdomstheynevercome.EvenforaNapoleon,foranAlexander,whoHADbigkingdoms,theynevercame.Theyremainedmiserablebecausetheydidn'tcometorealizethesecond,morebasicandprimallawoflife.Alexanderwastryingtocreateabiggerkingdom,tobecomeabiggerking.Hiswholelifewaswastedincreatingthekingdom,andthentherewasnotimeleftforhimtobeking.Hediedbeforethekingdomwascomplete.Thishashappenedtomany.Thekingdomcanneverbecomplete.Theworldisinnite–yourkingdomisboundtoremainpartial.Withapartialkingdomhowcanyoubeatotalking?Yourkingdomisboundtobelimitedandwithalimitedkingdomhowcanyoubetheemperor?Itisimpossible.Butyoucanbetheemperor.Justcreatetheeffect.SwamiRam,oneofthemysticsofthiscentury,wenttoAmerica.HeusedtocallhimselfBadshahRam–EmperorRam.Andhewasabeggar!Somebodysaidtohim:Youarejustabeggar,butyougooncallingyourselftheemperor.SoRamsaid:Don'tlookatmythings,lookatme.Andhewasright,becauseifyoulookatthingstheneverybodyisabeggar–evenanemperor.Hemaybeabiggerbeggar,that'sall.WhenRamsaid:Lookatme!inthatmoment,Ramwastheemperor.Ifyoulooked,theemperorwasthere.Createtheeffect,becometheemperor,beamagician–andfromTHISverymoment,becausethereisnoneedtowait.Onehastowaitifthekingdomhastocomerst.Ifthecausehastobecreated MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds25 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? rst,thenonehastowaitandwaitandwaitandpostpone.Thereisnoneedtowaittocreatetheeffect.Youcanbetheemperorthisverymoment.WhenIsay:Be!justbetheemperorandsee–thekingdomfollows.Ihaveknownitthroughmyexperience.Iamnottalkingtoyouaboutatheoryoradoctrine.Behappyandinthatpeakofhappinessyouwillseethewholeworldishappywithyou.Thereisanoldsaying:Weepandyouweepalone,laughandtheworldlaughswithyou.Eventhetrees,therocks,thesand,theclouds,ifyoucancreatetheeffectandbeecstatic,theywillalldancewithyou;thenthewholeexistencebecomesadance,acelebration.Butitdependsonyou,ifyoucancreatetheeffect.AndIsaytoyou,youcancreateit.Itistheeasiestthingpossible.Itlooksverydifcultbecauseyouhavenottriedityet.Giveitatry!Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WEHEARWHATYOUSAY,BUTWEINTHEWESTKEEPTHEINFORMATIONINOURHEADS.HOWCANWEGETOUTOFOURHEADS?WHATMETHODSCANWEUSE,ANDCANWILL-POWERHELPUS?No.Will-powerwillnothelpyou.Will-powerisnotapoweratall,becausewilldependsontheego–averytinyphenomenon,itcannotcreatemuchpower.Whenyouarewill-less,thenyouarepowerful–becausethenyouareonewiththewhole.Deepdown,will-powerisasortofimpotency.Tohidethefactthatweareimpotent,wecreatewill.Wecreatetheoppositetodeceiveourselvesandothers.Personswhofeeltheyarefoolishtrytoshowthattheyarewise.Theyareconstantlyawarethattheyarefoolish,sotheydoeverythingtolookwise.Personswhoareuglyorfeeltheyareuglyalwaystrytobeautifythemselves–evenapaintedbeauty,justaface,amask.Peoplewhoareweakalwaystrytolookstrong.Theoppositeiscreated;thatistheonlywaytohidetherealitywithin.AHitlerisaweakling.That'swhyhecreatessomuchwill-poweraroundhim,justtohidethefact.Apersonwhoisreallystrongwillbeunawarethatheisstrong.Strengthwillbeowing,itwillbethere,buthewillnotevenbeconsciousofit.SaysLaoTzu:Amanofrealvirtueneverknowsthatheisvirtuous.Amanwhoisreallymoralisneverawarethatheismoral.Butamanwhoisawarethatheismoralhasimmoralityhiddendeepdown.Amanwhothinksheisgood,saintly,asage,isasinner–andheknowsit!Andjusttohidethefacthecreatestheopposite.Will-powerisnotreallypowerbutweakness.Areallypowerfulmanhasnowillofhisown–thewholeishiswill.Heoatslikeawhitecloud,onewithexistence,intunewithit.Yourwillwillalwayscreateconict.Itwillshrinkyou,makeyouanisland,andthenthestrugglestarts. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds26 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Awill-lesspersonwillbenaturallyheadless.Andremember,youcannotgetoutofyourhead.Youcancutit–andthatiseasier.Gettingoutofitisalmostimpossible,becauseeventhisconceptofgettingoutispartofit.Theheadisamess,itisachaos.Youthink,andyoualsothinkagainstthinking.Thethinkingthatisagainstthinkingisalsothinking.Youarenotmovingoutofit.Youcancondemnyourthoughts,butthiscondemningisagainathought.Nothinghasbeenachieved,youaremovinginaviciouscircle.Youcangoonmoving,butyouwillnotbeout.So,whattodo?Howtogetoutofthehead?Onlyonethingispossible:don'tcreateanyghtinsideanddon'tcreateanyefforttocomeout,becauseeveryeffortwillbeself-suicidal.Whatcanbedonethen?Simplywatch.Beinandwatch.Don'ttrytogetout–beinandwatch.Ifyoucanwatch,inthosemomentsofwatchfulness,therewillbenohead.Suddenlyyouwillbebeyond.Notout–beyond.Suddenlyyouwillbehoveringbeyondyourself.ThereisoneZenstory–veryabsurd,asallZenstoriesare.Buttheyhavetobeabsurdbecauselifeissuch;theydepictlifeasitis.OneZenmasterusedtoaskhisdisciples:Sometimeago,Iputagooseinabottle.Nowthegoosehasgrown,andtheneckofthebottleisverysmallsothegoosecannotcomeout.ThebottleisverypreciousandIdon'twanttobreakit,sonowthereisacrisis.Ifthegooseisnotallowedout,shewilldie.Icanbreakthebottleandthegoosewillbeout,butIdon'twanttobreakthebottle–thebottleisprecious.Idon'twanttokillthegooseeither.Sowhatwouldyoudo?Thisistheproblem!Thegooseisintheheadandtheneckisverynarrow.Youcanbreakthehead,butitisprecious.Oryoucanletthegoosedie,butthattoocannotbeallowed–becauseYOUarethegoose.ThatoldZenmastercontinuedaskinghisdisciples,andbeatingthem,andsayingtothem:Findoutawaybecausethereisnotime.Andonlyoncedidheallowananswer.Onedisciplesaid:Thegooseisout!Manyanswersweretried,buthewouldalwaysbeatthepersonandsayno.Someonewouldsuggestdoingsomethingwiththebottle,butagainthemasterwouldsay:Thebottlewillbebroken,orsomethingwillgowrong,andthatcannotbeallowed.Orsomebodywouldsay:Letthegoosedieifthebottleissoprecious.Theseweretheonlytwoways;therewasnootherway.andthemasterwouldn'tgiveanyotherclue.Buttothisdiscipleheboweddownandtouchedhisfeetandsaid:Heisright–thegooseisout!Ithasneverbeenin.YOUAREOUT!YouhaveNEVERbeenin.TheFEELINGthatyouareinisjustafalseconception.SothereisNOrealproblemofhowtobringyououtofyourhead.Justwatch.Whenyouwatch,whathappens?Justcloseyoureyesandwatchthethoughts.Whathappens?Thoughtsarethere,in,butyouarenotin.Thewatcherisalwaysbeyond.Thewatcherisalwaysstandingonthehill.Everythingmovesaroundandaround,andthewatcherisbeyond. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds27 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? ThewatchercanNEVERbethein,canneverbetheinsider–heisalwaysout.Watchingmeanstobeout.Youmaycallitwitnessing,awareness,mindfulness,orwhatsoeveryouchoosetocallit,butthesecretis–watch!Sowheneveryoufeeltheheadistoomuch,justsitunderatreeandwatch,anddon'ttrytocomeout.Whowillcomeout?Noonehasbeenin.Thewholeeffortisfutile,becauseifyouhaveneverbeeninthenhowcanyoucomeout?Youmaygoontryingandtryingandgettinginvolvedinit,youmaygetmadbutyouwillneverbeout.Onceyouknowthatinamomentofwatchfulnessyouarebeyond,transcending–youareout.Andfromthatmomentyouwillbeheadless.Theheadbelongstothebody,nottoYOU.Theheadispartofthebody,itbelongstothebody,ithasafunctioninthebody,itisbeautiful,itisgood.Thebottleisprecious,andifyouknowtheway,thesecretsofit,itcanbeused.WhenIamtalkingtoyou,whatamIdoing?Usingthebottle.WhenBuddhaispreaching,whatishedoing?–usingthebottle.ThebottleisREALLYprecious,worthpreserving.Butthisisnowaytopreserveit–togetintoitandgetcaughtintoit,andthenmakeeffortstocomeout.Thewholelifebecomeschaos.Onceyouknowthatwatchingyouareout,youbecomeheadless.Thenyoumoveonthisearthwithoutanyhead.Whatabeautifulphenomenon,amanmovingwithoutahead!That'swhatImeanwhenIsaybecomeawhitecloud–aheadlessphenomenon.Youcannotevenimaginehowmuchsilencecandescenduponyouwhentheheadisnotthere.YourphysicalheadWILLbethere,buttheinvolvement,theobsession,isnotthere.Theheadisnotaproblem!Itisbeautiful,awonderfuldevice,thegreatestcomputeryetinvented,suchacomplex,suchanefcientmechanism.Itisbeautiful.Itcanbeused,youcanenjoyusingit.Butfromwherehaveyougottheideathatyouareinit?Itseemstobejustafalseteaching.YoumaynotbeawarethatinoldJapan,andstilloldpeopleinJapan,ifyouaskthem:Wheredoyouthinkfrom?theywillpointtotheirbelly,becauseinJapanitwastaughtthatthebellyisthecenterofthinking.SowhenforthersttimeEuropeansreachedJapan,theycouldn'tbelievethatawholecountrythinksthattheheadisinthebellynotinthehead.ThisisjustaWesternattitudethatyouareinthehead.InoldJapanthinkingfromthebellyreallyworked,butnowtheyareshiftingfromthebellytothehead.Therehavebeenothertraditionsthathavethoughtfromotherpartsofthebody.LaoTzusaysyouthinkfromthesolesofyourfeet.SotherearetechniquesinTaoistyogatogetoutofthesolesofyourfeet–becauseTHEREthethinkingisgoingon.Whatisthereality?Therealityis:youarebeyond.Butyoucangetattachedtoanypartofthebody–theheadisaWesternobsession,thebellywastheEasternobsession.YoumusthaveheardaboutD.H.Lawrence.Heusedtothinkthatonethinksfromthesexcenter,thatthatistherealthinkingcenter,nowhereelse.Andallareequal–equallywrongorequallyright.Thereisnothingtochoosebecausethewitnessisbeyond.Itisallaroundthebodyandbeyondthebody.Youcangetattachedtoanypartofthebodyandstartthinkingthatthisisthepart. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds28 Osho CHAPTER3.TOBEMISERABLEORECSTATIC...? Thereisnoneedtocomeoutbecauseyouhaveneverbeenin.Thegooseisout–alreadyout!Watch...andwhenyouwatchyouhavetorememberthatwhilewatching,don'tjudge.Ifyoujudge,watchingislost.Whilewatching,don'tevaluate.Ifyouevaluate,watchingislost.Whilewatching,don'tcomment.Ifyoucomment,youhavemissedthepoint.Whilewatchingjustwatch...ariverowing,thestreamofconsciousnessowing,atomicthoughtsoatinglikebubbles,andyousittingonthebankwatching.Thestreamgoesonandonandon.Youdon'tsaythisisgood,youdon'tsaythisisbad,andyoudon'tsaythisshouldnothavebeen,andyoudon'tsaythisshouldhavebeen.Youdon'tsayanything–yousimplywatch.Youarenotaskedtocomment.Youarenotajudge–justawatcher.Thenseewhathappens.Watchingtheriver,suddenlyyouwillbebeyond...andthegoosewillbeout.AndonceyouKNOWthis,thatyouareout,youcanremainout.Andthenyoucanmoveonthisearthwithoutahead.So,thisisthewaytocutthehead.Everybodyisinterestedincuttingothers'heads–thatwon'thelp.Youhavealreadydonethattoomuch.Cutyourown.Tobeheadlessistobeindeepmeditation.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds29 Osho CHAPTER4 AllHopesareFalse 13May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVEBEENTELLINGUSHOWEASYITISTODROPOUREGOSANDBECOMEONEWITHTHEWHITECLOUD.YOUHAVEALSOTOLDUSTHATWEHAVEHADMILLIONSOFLIVESANDMANYOFTHEMHAVEBEENWITHBUDDHAS,KRISHNASANDCHRISTS–YETSTILLWEHAVENOTGIVENUPOUREGOS.AREN'TYOUCREATINGFALSEHOPESINUS?Allhopesarefalse.Tohopeistobefalse.Soitisnotaquestionofcreatingfalsehopes:whatsoeveryoucanhopewillbefalse.Hopecomesoutofyourfalsityofbeing.Ifyouarerealthereisnoneedforanyhope.Thenyouneverthinkaboutthefuture,aboutwhatisgoingtohappen.Youaresoreal,soauthenticthatthefuturedisappears.Whenyouareunrealthenthefuturebecomesverysignicant,thenyouliveinthefuture.Thenyourrealityisnothereandnow,yourrealityissomewhereinyourdreams.Andyoumakethosedreamslookrealbecausethroughthosedreamsyougainyourreality.Asyouare,youareunreal.That'swhysomuchhopinggoeson.Allhopesarefalse;youarereal.Mywholeeffortishowtothrowyoutoyourself. 30 CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Andtheegoisallfalsehopescombinedtogether.Egoisnotareality,itisthecollectivityofallyourdreams,ofallthatisunreal,ofallthatisfalse.Theegocannotexistinthepresent.Lookatthisphenomenon.Theegoexistseitherinthepastorinthefuture,neverhereandnow–never,never.Thatisimpossible.Wheneveryouthinkofthepast,theegocomes,theIcomes.Wheneveryouthinkofthefuture,theIcomes.Butwhenyouarehere,notthinkingofpastandfuture,whereisyourI?Sittingunderatree,notthinkingofpastandfuture,justbeingthere,whereareyou?WhereistheI?Youcannotfeelit.Itisnotthere.Theegohasneverexistedinthepresent.Pastisnomore,futureisyettobe.Botharenot.Pasthasdisappeared,thefuturehasnotyetappeared.Botharenot.Onlythepresentisandinthepresentnothingliketheegohaseverbeenfound.SowhenIsaydroptheego,whatdoImean?Iamnotgivingyouanewhope,Iamtakingallyourhopesaway.Andthatisthedifculty;youlivethroughthehope,soyoufeelthatifallhopesaretakenawayyouwillbedead.Thenthequestionwillarise:Whylive?Forwhat?Whymovefromonemomenttoanother?Forwhat?Thegoalhasdisappearedwiththedisappearanceofthehope.Sowhygoonandonifthereisnowheretoreach?Youcannotlivewithouthope.That'swhyitissodifculttodroptheego.Hopehasbecomesynonymouswithlife.Sowheneveramanishopingheappearstobemorevital,appearstobemorealive,appearstobeverystrong.Whenheisnothopingheappearstobeweak,depressed,thrownbacktohimself,notknowingwhattodo,wheretogo.Andwheneverthereisnohopeyoufeelmeaninglessnesscomeintoyou.Immediatelyyoucreateanotherhope;asubstituteiscreated.Ifonehopeisfrustrated,immediatelyanotherissubstituted–becauseyoucannotliveinthegap.Youcannotlivehopelessly.AndItellyouthatthatistheonlywaytolive.Withoutanyhope,lifeisreal,forthersttimelifeisauthentic.Sothesecondthingtobeunderstoodis:whenIsayitiseasytodroptheego,Idon'tmeanthatitwillbeeasyforyoutodropit;Imeanitiseasytodropitbecausetheveryphenomenonofegoissounreal.Iftheegoisfalse,howcanitbedifculttodropit?Ifthedreamisjustadream,howcanitbedifculttocomeoutofit?Ifitwasreal,thentherewouldhavebeendifculty.Ifadreamisjustadream,whereistheproblemtocomeoutofit?Youcancomeout!Thedreamcannotcatchholdofyou.Thedreamcannotpreventyou.Thedreamcannotbecomeabarrier.Thedreamhasnoforce–that'swhywecallitadream.Itiseasytocomeoutofadream.That'swhatImeanwhenIsayitiseasytodroptheego.ButIdon'tmeanthatitwillbeeasyforyou,becausethedreamisstillarealityforyou,itisnotadream.Theegoisnotfalsetoyou,itistheonlyreality.Everythingelseisfalse.Wearelivingaroundtheego.Weareseekingmoreandmoreegotisticaljourneys–somebodythroughwealth,somebodythroughstatus,power,prestige,somebodythroughpolitics,somebodythroughreligion,priesthood.Therearemillionsofways.Buttheend,theresult,thegoal,isthesame:seekingmoreandmoretheI,seekingmoreandmoretheego. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds31 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Toyouitisareality,toyouIsayitistheonlyreality.Thefalsehasbecomethereal.Theshadowhasbecomethesubstance.That'swhyitisdifcult–notdifcultbecauseegoisverypowerful,no;itisdifcultbecauseyoustillbelieveinit,initspower.Ifyoubelieveinit,itisgoingtobedifcult,becauseontheonehandyouwanttodropit,andontheotherhandyougoonclingingtoit.Itisgoingtobedifcult.WhenIsaytoyouitisadream,youwanttobelieveitbecauseyouhavesufferedsomuchthroughit,becauseyoufeelthetruthofwhatIamsaying.IfyoufeelthetruthofwhatIamsayingyouwilldropitimmediately.Youwillnotaskhow.Thereisnohowtoit.Youseethepointandyoudropit.Youdon'tseethetruthofwhatIamsaying.WhenIsayitisnotrealizedthattheegoisfalseandcanbedropped,whenIsaythattheegocanbedropped,youcreateahopeoutofit.Becauseyouhavebeensufferingsomuchthroughit,youcreateahopethatiftheegocanbedroppedthenallsufferingwillbedropped.Youbecomehappywiththishope.Iamnotcreatingthehope,youarecreatingthehope.Iamsimplystatingafactthatthisistheconstructionoftheego.Thisishowanegoisstructured,thisishowanegoiscreatedandthisishowitcanbedropped!Andbecauseitisfalse,noeffortisneeded.Justseeingthepointitdisappears.Amanisrunning,scared,afraidtodeath,andrunningbecauseofhisownshadow.Youstophimandtellhim:Youarefoolish!Thisisyourownshadow–nobodyisfollowingyouandnobodyisgoingtomurderyou.Thereisnobodyexceptyou.Youhavebecomescaredofyourownshadow.Butonceyoustartrunningtheshadowalsorunsfaster.Thefasteryourun,thefastertheshadowfollows.Thenthelogicalmindcansaythatyouareindanger.Andthelogicalmindwillsay:Ifyouwanttoescaperunfasterandfaster.Butwhatsoeveryoudotheshadowwillbefollowingyou.Andifyoucannotgetridofit,youwillgetmoreandmorescared.Youarecreatingthewholethingoutofyourself.ButifIsaytoyou:Thisisjustashadow,nobodyisfollowingyou,andyourealizethepoint,youlookattheshadowandyoufeelthepoint,willyouaskmehowtodropthisshadow?Willyouaskaboutsometechnique,method,someyoga,howtodropit?Youwillsimplylaugh.Youhavedroppedit!Inthemomentyouseethatthisisjustashadowandnobodyisfollowingyou,ithasbeendroppedalready.Thereisnoquestionofhow.Youwillhaveagoodlaugh.Thewholethingwasnonsense.Andthesamehappenswiththeego.IfyoucanseethetruthofwhatIamsaying,thethinghashappened.Intheveryseeingofitthethinghashappened.Thereisnomorehowtoit.Ifyoustillaskhow,thethinghasnothappenedandyouhavenotseenthepoint–butyouhavecreatedahopeoutofit.Becauseyouhavebeensufferingthroughthisego,youhavealwayswantedtodropit,butthiswanthasalwaysbeenhalfofyourmind.Allyoursufferinghascomethroughtheego,butallyourpleasureshavealsocomethroughtheego.Acrowdapplaudsyou,appreciatesyou–youfeelgood.Thatistheonlyblissyouhaveknown.Youregoriseshigh,reachestoapeak,becomesanEverest.Youenjoyit!Andthenthecrowdcondemnsyouandyoufeelhurt.Thecrowdbecomesindifferent;youarecrushedbyit.Youfallintoavalley,adepression.Youhavebeengainingpleasurethroughtheego,youhavebeensufferingthroughit.Becauseofsufferingyouwanttodropit,butbecauseofpleasuresyoucannotdropit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds32 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE SowhenIsaythattheegocanbedroppedeasily,hopeiscreatedinyou.NotthatIamcreatingit,yourgreeddoesthat.Itdoesn'tbecomearealization,itbecomesanewgreed,anewsearchforgratication.Youfeelthatnowthereisaway,andthereisamanwhocanhelpyoutodroptheegoandallthemiserythategocreates.Butareyoureadytodropallthepleasuresthattheegocreatestoo?Ifyouarereadyitissuchaneasything–justlikedroppingashadow.Butyoucannothalfdropit,andyoucannothalfcarryit.Eitherthewholewillgoorthewholewillclingtoyou.Thisistheproblemandthisisthedifculty.Allyourpleasuresandallyoursufferingsarerelatedtoonlyonephenomenon;youwanttopreservethepleasuresandyouwanttodropthesufferings.Youareaskingtheimpossible.Thenitisdifcult.Notonlydifcult,itisimpossible.Itisnotgoingtohappentoyou.Whatsoeveryoudowillbefutile,noresultwillcomeofit.Youcreatehopeoutofit,aheaven,theintenseblissfulnessofaBuddha.ListeningtomeorlisteningtoaJesusoraBuddha,hopeiscreated.ButIamnotcreatingit,youarecreatingit.Youareprojectinghopeonit.Andthisistheproblem,thecomplexity:everyhopeisfoodfortheegoagain.Eventhishopeofreachingaparadise,aheaven,becomingenlightened,isahope.Andeveryhopeisfoodfortheego.Whoistryingtobecomeenlightened?Theonewhoistryingtobecomeenlightenedistheproblem.Nobodyeverbecomesenlightened.Enlightenmenthappens,butnobodyeverbecomesenlightened.Whentheroomisempty,enlightenmenthappens.Whenthereisnobodytoreachenlightenment,enlightenmentisthere.Becauseofourlanguage,becauseofthedualityofthelanguage,whatsoeverissaidaboutsuchdeepthingsbecomesfalse.Wesay:GautamBuddhabecameenlightened.Thisisfalse.GautamBuddhaneverbecameenlightened.GautamBuddhawastheunenlightenment.Whenhewasnotthere,whenhebecameabsent,enlightenmenthappened.Whensuddenlyonedayherealizedthathewasfollowinganabsurdpattern,whenherealized:Iamtheproblem,sowhatsoeverIdowillcreatemoreproblems....Itisnotaquestionofdoingrightorwrong,thisorthat.WHATSOEVERyoudowillstrengthentheego.OnceBuddharealizedthis–butthisrealizationtookmanyyearsofeffort–whenherealizedthat:WhatsoeverIdowillhelpmyegomoreandmore,hesimplydroppeddoing.Inthatmomentofrealizationhesimplybecameanon-doer,absolutelyinactive.Remember,thisistheproblem:youcanevencreateactivityoutofyourinactivity,oryoucancreateactivityjusttohelpinactivitycometoyou.Butthenyoumiss.Youcanstandstill,youcansitsilently,butifyouaremakinganefforttostandstill,yourstandingisfalse.Youarenotstanding,youaremoving.Ifyouaresittingsilentlyandthereiseffort,ifyouaretryingtobesilent,thatsilenceisfalse.Youarenotsilent.WhenBuddharealizedthathewastheproblem,andthateveryactivityofhisgavemoresubstancetotheego,hesimplydropped.Thenhewasnotmakinganyefforttocreateanon-activestate.Hewasnotdoingatall.Whatsoeverwashappeningwashappening. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds33 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Thewindwasblowing,andthetreemusthavebeendancing;thencamethefullmoon,andthewholeexistencewascelebrating.Andthebreathingcomingin,goingout,andthebloodcirculatingintheveins,andtheheartbeating,andthepulse–andeverythingwashappening!Buthewasnotdoinganything.Inthisnon-doingGautamSiddharthadisappeared.Bythemorningtherewasnoonetoreceiveenlightenment,butenlightenmentwasthere.Underthatbodhitreeavacantvehiclewassitting–breathingofcourse,heartbeatingofcourse,betterthanever.Everythingfunctioningperfectly,butnodoerthere.Bloodcirculating,thewholeexistencearound–alive,dancing.EveryatominBuddha'sbodydancing,alive.Ithadneverbeensoalive,butnowenergymovingofitsownaccord–nobodypushingit,nobodymanipulatingit.Buddhabecameawhitecloud.Enlightenmenthappened.Itcanhappentoyoualso,butdon'tcreateanyhopeoutofit.Rather,seeingthepoint,dropallhopes.Becomehopeless,perfectlyhopeless.Itisdifculttobecomeperfectlyhopeless.Manytimesyoureachhopelessnessbutitisneverperfect.Onehopedrops,youfeelhopelessness.Butimmediately,tocoveritup,youcreateanotherhope.Andhopelessnessisgone.Peoplegoonmovingfromonemastertoanother;thatismovementfromonehopetoanother.Theygotoonemasterwithhopesthathewillgivethroughhisgrace,thatthroughhisenergythethingwillhappen.Thentheytry,thentheywait,withaverystrainedmind,becauseamindwhichhopescanneverbeatease;withaveryimpatientmind,becauseamindwhichislledwithhopecannotbepatient.Andthentheystartfeelinguneasybecausethethingisnothappening.Sothismasteriswrong,theymustmovetosomeoneelse.Thisisnotmovementfromonemastertoanother,thisismovementfromonehopetoanother.Peoplemovefromonereligiontoanother;thereareconversionsjustbecauseofhope.Youcangoondoingitformany,manylives.Youhavebeendoingthat.Now,trytoseethepoint!Itisneitheraquestionofamasternoraquestionofarightmethod.Itisaquestionofadirectinsight,animmediatepenetrationintothephenomenonofwhatishappening,ofwhyyouhope,ofwhyyoucan'tbewithouthope.Andwhathaveyougainedoutofallyourhoping?Seeit.Itdropsbyitself.Youarenotevenrequiredtodropit.That'swhyIsayitiseasy,andIknowwellitisverydifcult.Difcultbecauseofyou,easybecauseofitself.Thephenomenoniseasy,youaredifcult.Andthiscanhappenanymoment.WhenIsaythiscanhappenanymoment,Imeanthephenomenonofenlightenment,ofegolessness,isnotcausedbyanything.Nocauseisneeded.Itisnotanoutcomeofmanycauses,itisnotaby-product.Itissimpleinsight.Itcanhappentoasinner;itmaynothappentoasaint.Sononecessaryconditionisneededreally.Ifhecansee,itcanhappeneventoasinner.Ifhebecomeshopeless,ifhefeelsthatthereisnothingtobegainedandachieved,ifhecomestoseethatthewholethingisjustanabsurdgame,itcanhappen.Itmaynothappentoasaintbecausethesaintgoesontryingtoachieve.Heisnotyethopeless.Thisworldhasbecomefutile,butanotherworldhasbecomemeaningful.Herealizesthathehastoleavethisearth,butthereareheavensbeyond–hehastoreachthere. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds34 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE AndevenpeoplenearaJesusorBuddhagoonaskingthingslikethis.JustonthelastnightwhenJesuswasgoingtobecaughtandthenextdaykilled,hisdisciplesaskedhim:Master,tellus.IntheKingdomofGod,whenyouaresittingontherightsideofGod'sthrone,whatwillourpositionsbethere?Wherewillwebesitting,inwhatorder?Godsittingonhisthrone,Jesusonhisrightside,theonlybegottenSon,andthenthesetwelvedisciples:Wherewillwebesittingandwhatwillbetheorder?PeoplearoundJesusaskingsuchafoolishquestion!Butthisishowhumanmindis.Theydon'taskanythingofthisworld–theyhavebecomebeggars–buttheyaskoftheotherworld.Theyarenotreallybeggars,theyarehoping.Theyhavestakedthisworld,butitisabargain;wherewillwebethere?Whowillbesittingnexttoyou?Theremusthavebeencompetitionamongthosetwelvedisciples.Theremusthavebeenpolitics,ambition,somebodyup,somebodydown,somebodybecomingthechief.Theremusthavebeenmuchconict,innerpolitics,undercurrentsofviolenceandaggression.EvenwithJesusonestartshoping.Hopeisdeep-rootedinyou.Whatsoeverissaid,youconvertitintoahope.Youareahope-creatingmechanism,andthishope-creatingmechanismistheego.Sowhatistobedone?Infact,thereisnothingtobedone.Youonlyneedclearereyes,moreperceptiveeyes,morepenetratingeyes.Allthatisneededistohaveafreshlookaboutyou,yourbeing,atwhatsoeveryouhavebeendoing,hoping–afreshlook.AndIsaytoyou,inthatfreshlook,inthatinnocentlook,egodropsbyitself,ofitsownaccord.Itistheeasiestphenomenon,andatthesametimethemostdifcult.Butrememberwell,Iamnotcreatinganyhopeinyou.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,INRELATIONTOWHATYOU'VEJUSTSAID,ZENHASASAYING:EFFORTLESSEFFORT.WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTTHAT,ANDHOWITAPPLIESTOYOURDYNAMICMEDITATION?Meditationisanenergyphenomenon.Oneverybasicthinghastobeunderstoodaboutalltypesofenergies.Thisisthebasiclaw:energymovesinadualpolarity.Thatistheonlywayitmoves;thereisnootherwayforitsmovement.Itmovesinadualpolarity.Foranyenergytobecomedynamic,theanti-poleisneeded.Itisjustlikeelectricitymovingwithnegativeandpositivepolarities.Ifthereisonlynegativepolarity,electricitywillnothappen;orifthereisonlypositivepolarity,electricitywillnothappen.Boththepolesareneeded.Andwhenboththepolesmeet,theycreateelectricity.Thenthesparkcomesup.Andthisissoforalltypesofphenomena.Lifegoeson...betweenmanandwoman,thepolarity.Thewomanisthenegativelife-energy;manisthepositivepole.Theyareelectrical,hencesomuchattraction.Withmanalone,lifewoulddisappear;withwomanalone,therecouldbenolife,only MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds35 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE death.Betweenmanandwomanthereexistsabalance.Betweenmanandwoman–thesetwopoles,thesetwobanks–owstheriveroflife.Whereveryoulookyouwillndthesameenergymovingintopolarities,balancingitself.Thispolarityisverymeaningfulformeditation,becausemindislogical,andlifeisdialectical.WhenIsaymindislogical,itmeansmindmovesinaline.WhenIsaylifeisdialectical,itmeanslifemoveswiththeopposite,notinaline.Itzig-zagsfromnegativetopositive,positivetonegative,negativetopositive.Itzig-zags.ItUSEStheopposites.Mindmovesinaline,asimple,straightline.Itnevermovestotheopposite.Itdeniestheopposite.Itbelievesinoneandlifebelievesintwo.Sowhatsoevermindcreates,italwayschoosestheone.Ifmindchoosessilence,ifmindhasbecomefedupwithallthenoisethatiscreatedinlifeanditdecidestobesilent,thenthemindgoestotheHimalayas.Itwantstobesilent.Itdoesn'twantanythingtodowithanytypeofnoise.Eventhesongofthebirdswilldisturbit;abreezeblowingthroughthetreeswillbeadisturbance.Themindwantssilence.Ithaschosentheline.Nowtheoppositehastobedeniedcompletely.ButthismanlivingintheHimalayas,seekingsilence,avoidingtheother,theopposite,willbecomedead,hewillcertainlybecomedull.Andthemorehechoosestobesilent,thedullerhewillbecome–becauselifeneedstheopposite,thechallengeoftheopposite.Thereisadifferenttypeofsilencewhichexistsbetweentwoopposites.Therstisadeadsilence,thesilenceofthecemetery.Adeadmanissilent,butyouwouldnotliketobeadeadman.Adeadmanisabsolutelysilent,nobodycandisturbhim.Hisconcentrationisperfect,youcannotdoanythingtodistracthismind.Hismindisabsolutelyxed.Evenif,allaround,thewholeworldgoesmad,hewillremaininhisconcentration.Butstill,youwouldnotliketobeadeadman.Silence,concentration,orwhateveritiscalled,youwouldnotliketobedead–becauseifyouaresilentwhendeadthesilenceismeaningless.Silencemusthappenwhileyouareabsolutelyalive,vital,bubblingwithlifeandenergy.Thensilenceismeaningful.Butthensilencewillhaveadifferent,altogetherdifferentqualitytoit.Itwillnotbedull,itwillbealive.Itwillbeasubtlebalancebetweentwopolarities.Thensuchatypeofman,whoisseekingalivebalance,alivesilence,wouldliketomovetothemarketandtotheHimalayasboth.Hewouldliketogotothemarkettoenjoynoise,andhewouldalsoliketogototheHimalayastoenjoysilence.Andhewillcreateabalancebetweenthesetwopolaropposites,andhewillremaininthatbalance.Andthatbalancecannotbeachievedthroughlinearefforts.ThatiswhatismeantbytheZentechniqueofeffortlesseffort.Itusescontradictoryterms–effortlesseffort,orgatelessgate,orpathlesspath.Zenalwaysusesthecontradictorytermimmediately,justtogiveyouthehintthattheprocessisgoingtobedialectical,notlinear.Theoppositeisnottobedeniedbutabsorbed.Theoppositeisnottobeleftaside,ithastobeused.Leftaside,itwillalwaysbeaburdenonyou.Leftaside,itwillhangwithyou.Unused,youwillmissmuch.Theenergycanbeconvertedandused.Andthen,usingit,youwillbemorevital,morealive.Theoppositehastobeabsorbed,thentheprocessbecomesdialectical. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds36 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Effortlessnessmeansnotdoinganything,inactivity–AKARMA.Effortmeansdoingmuch,activity–KARMA.Bothhavetobethere.Domuch,butdon'tbeadoer–thenyouachieveboth.Moveintheworld,butdon'tbeapartofit.Liveintheworld,butdon'tlettheworldliveinyou.Thenthecontradictionhasbeenabsorbed.Thenyouarenotrejectinganything,notdenyinganything.ThenthewholeGodhasbeenaccepted.Andthat'swhatI'mdoing.Dynamicmeditationisacontradiction.Thedynamicmeanseffort,mucheffort,absoluteeffort.Andmeditationmeanssilence,noeffort,noactivity.Youcancallitadialecticalmeditation.Besoactivethatthewholeenergybecomesamovement,noenergyisleftstaticinyou.Thewholeenergyhasbeencalledforth,nothingisleftbehind.Allthefrozenpartsofenergyaremelting,owing.Youarenotafrozenthingnow;youhavebecomedynamic.Youarenotlikesubstancenow;youaremorelikeenergy.Youarenotmaterial;youhavebecomeelectrical.Bringtotalenergytowork,tobeactive,moving.Wheneverythingismovingandyouhavebecomeacyclone,thenbecomealert.Remember,bemindful–andinthiscyclonesuddenlyyouwillndacenterwhichisabsolutelysilent.Thisisthecenterofthecyclone.Thisisyou–youinyourdivinity,youasagod.Allaroundyouisactivity.Yourbodyhasbecomeanactivecyclone–everythingmovingfast,faster.Allthefrozenpartshavemelted,youareowing.Youhavebecomeavolcano,re,electricity.Butjustinthecenter,amidstallthismovement,thereisanon-movingpoint,thestillpoint.Thisstillpointisnottobecreated.Itisthere!Youarenottodoanythingaboutit.Ithasalwaysbeenthere.Itisyourverybeing,theverygroundofyourbeing.ThisiswhatHindushavebeencallingtheATMA,thesoul.Itisthere,butunlessyourbody,unlessyourmaterialexistence,becomestotallyactive,youwillnotbeawareofit.Withtotalactivitythetotallyinactivebecomesapparent.Theactivitygivesyouacontrast.Itbecomestheblackboard,andontheblackboardisthewhitedot.Onawhitewallyoucannotseeawhitedot;onablackboardthewhitedotappearstoyou.Sowhenyourbodyhasbecomeactive,dynamic,amovement,suddenlyyoubecomeawareofapointwhichisstill,absolutelystill–theunmovingcentreofthewholemovingworld.Thatiseffortless.Noeffortismadeforit.Noeffortisneeded,itissimplyrevealed.Effortonthepartoftheperiphery,noeffortonthepartofthecenter.Movementontheperiphery,stillnessatthecenter.Activityontheperiphery,absoluteinactivityatthecenter.Andbetweenthesetwo....Thiswillbealittledifcult,becauseyoumaygetidentiedwiththecenterHindushavecalledatma,thesoul.Ifyougetidentiedwiththecenterwhichisstill,youhaveagainchosensomethingbetweenthetwo.Youhaveagainchosensomethingandrejectedsomething.ThereisaverysubtleEasterndiscovery,andthatis:ifyougetidentiedwiththestillpointyouwillneverknowGod;youwillknowtheselfbutyouwillneverknowGod.Andtherearemanytraditions,particularlyJainas,whobecametooidentiedwiththeself–sotheysaythereisnoGod,theselfistheonlyGod.Hindus,whohavepenetratedreallydeep,theysayaboutthisstillpointandthisactivityontheperiphery,thateitheryouarebothoryouarenone.Eitheryouarebothoryouarenone!Both MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds37 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE meanthesame.Thesearethetwopoles.Thesearethetwodialecticalpoles,thethesisandtheantithesis.Thesearethetwobanks,andyouaresomewherebetweenthesetwo–neithermovingnornon-moving.Thisistheultimatetranscendence.ThisiswhatHinduscalltheBRAHMA.Effortandeffortlessness,movementandnomovement,activityandnoactivity,matterandthesoul–thesearethebanks.Andbetweenthesetwoowstheinvisible.Thesetwoarevisibles.Betweenthesetwoowstheinvisible.Thatyouare.TATTWAMASISWETKETU,saystheUpanishad.Thatwhichowsbetweenthesetwobanks,thatwhichcannotbeseen,thatwhichisreallyasubtlebalance,nothingelse,betweenthesetwo,thatartthou.ThathasbeencalledtheBrahma,thesupremeself.Abalancehastobeachieved.Andbalancecanbeachievedonlywhenyouuseboththepolarities.Ifyouuseoneyoubecomedead.Manyhavedonethat–evenwholesocietieshavebecomedead.ThishashappenedtoIndia.Ifyouchooseone,thenunbalance,lopsidedness,happens.IthappenedinIndia,intheEast,thatthesilentpart,thestillpoint,waschosenandtheactivepartdenied.SothewholeEastbecamedull.Thesharpnesswaslost.Thesharpnessofintelligence,thesharpnessofbodyvigor,everythingwaslost.TheEastbecamemoreandmoredull,ugly,asiflifewasjustaburdentobecarriedsomehowanddropped,adutytobefullled,akarmatobesuffered–notanenjoyment,notavigorousdance,butadull,lethargicmovement.Andithaditsconsequences.TheEastbecameweak,becausewithastillpointyoucannotremainstrongforever,forlong.Strengthneedsactivity,strengthneedsmovement.Ifyoudenyactivity,strengthdisappears.TheEastlostitsmusclescompletely;thebodybecameabby.SoanybodywhodesiredtocouldconquertheEast.Forthousandsofyears,slaverywastheonlydestinyfortheEast.AnyonewhohadjustanideatomakeanybodyaslavewouldturntowardstheEast.TheEastwasalwaysreadytobeconquered,becausetheEasternmindhadchosenapointAGAINSTthepolaropposite.TheEastbecamesilent,butdeadanddullalso.Thistypeofsilenceisnotworthanything.TheoppositeishappeningintheWest.Ithashappenedinothersocietiesalso.Theyhavechosentheactivepart,theperiphery,andtheythinkthatthereisnosoul.Theythinkthisactivityisall,andtobeactiveandtoenjoy,andtoachieveandtobeambitiousandtoconquerisallthatlifeconsistsof.TheultimateresultisgoingtobemoreandmoremadnessintheWest–becausewithoutthatstillpointyoucannotremainsane.Youwillbecomeinsane.Withonlythestillpoint,youcannotremainalive,youbecomedead;withonlytheactive,youbecomeinsane.Peoplewhoareinsane,whathashappenedtothem?Theyhavelostallcontactwiththeirstillpoint.That'swhattheirinsanityis.TheWestisturningintoabigmadhouse.Moreandmorepeoplearebeingpsychoanalyzed,psychiatricallytreated;moreandmorepeoplearebeingputintomadhouses.Andthosewhoareout,theyareout,notbecausetheyaresane,butonlybecausesomanypeoplecannotbeputinhousesfortheinsane;otherwise,thewholesocietywouldhavetobeputinaprison.Theyarenormal,workablynormal.ButWesternpsychologysaysthatnowitisdifculttosaythatanymanisnormal.Andtheymayberight.IntheWestithashappened:nomanisnormal.Activityalonecreatesmadness–balanceisimpossible. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds38 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Activecivilizationsbecomemadintheend.Inactivecivilizationsbecomedead.Thishappenstosocieties,thishappenstoindividuals.Tome,balanceisall.Don'tchoose,don'treject.Acceptboth–andcreateaninnerbalance.Dynamicmeditationisanefforttowardsthatbalance.Active...enjoyit,beecstatic,befullywithit.Thensilent...enjoyit,beecstaticaboutit.Movebetweenthesetwoasfreelyaspossibleanddon'tcreateanychoice.Don'tsay:Iamthisorthat.Don'tgetidentied.Say:Iamboth.Don'tbeafraidofcontradictingyourself.Contradict,BEBOTH,andmoveeasily.AndwhenIsaythis,Isayitunconditionally–notonlyforactivityandinactivity.Whatsoeveriscalledbadandgood,thattooisincluded;whatsoeveriscalledthedevilandthedivine,thattooisincluded.Alwaysremember:everywheretherearebanks,andifyouwanttobeariveruseboththebanks–unconditionally.Don'tsay:BecauseIwasactive,howcanIbeinactive?Don'tsay:BecauseIwasinactive,nowhowcanIbeactive?Don'tsay:Iamthis,sohowcanIbethat?YouareBOTHandthereisnoneedtochoose.Theonlythingtorememberistobebalancedbetweenthetwo.Thenyouwilltranscendboth.Thenthedevilandthedivinewillbothbetranscended.Whenbotharetranscended,thatisBrahma.Brahmahasnopolarityagainsthim,becauseheisjustabalancebetweentwopolarities.Thereisnoanti-poletoit.Moveinlifeasfreelyaspossible.Anduseboththeopposites,boththebanks,asmuchaspossible.Don'tcreateanycontradiction.Theyarenotcontradictory,theyonlyappeartobecontradictory.Deepdowntheyareone.Theyarejustlikeyourlegs,rightandleft.Youusetheright,youusetheleft.Whileyouraisetheright,theleftiswaitingontheearth,helping.Don'tbecomeaddicted.Don'tbearightistoraleftist.Bothlegsareyours,andinbothlegsyourenergyows–undivided!Haveyoueverfeltthattherightleghasoneenergyandtheleftlegsomeotherenergy?Youareowinginboth.Closeyoureyes:leftdisappears,rightdisappears.Theyarebothyou,andwhilemoving,youcanusethem.Useboth!Ifyoubecomeaddictedtotheright,asmanypeoplehavebecome,thenyouwillbecrippled,youcannotusetheleft.Thenyoucanstand,butyouwillbecrippled,andbyandbyyouwillbecomedead.Moveandconstantlyremembertheunmovingcenter.Doandconstantlyrememberthenondoer.Makeeffortandremaineffortless.Onceyouknowthissecretalchemyofusingtheopposite,thecontradictory,youarefree.Otherwise,youcreateinnerimprisonments.Therearepeoplewhocometomeandsay:HowcanIdothis?Ihaveneverdonethis.Justtheotherdaytherewassomebodywhosaidtome:HowcanIdoactivemeditation,becauseformanyyearsIhavebeensittingsilently?Hehaschosen,andhehasreachednowhere.Otherwisetherewasnoneedtocometome.Buthecannotdotheactivemeditationbecausehehasbecomeidentiedwithaninactiveposture.Thisisgettingfrozen. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds39 Osho CHAPTER4.ALLHOPESAREFALSE Becomemoremovement.Bemovingandallowlifetoow.Onceyouknowthatbetweentheoppositesbalanceispossible,onceyouhaveaglimpseofit,thenyouknowtheart.Theneverywhereinlife,ineverydimensionoflife,youcanattainthatbalanceveryeasily.Really,tosaythatyoucanattainisnotgood.Onceyouknowtheknackofit,whatsoeveryoudo,thebalancefollowsyoulikeashadow.Thisinnerbalancebetweentheoppositesisthemostsignicantthingthatcanhappentoaman.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds40 Osho CHAPTER5 DroppingtheEgoNow 14May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUSAIDTHEEGOCANBEDROPPEDTHISVERYMOMENT.CANTHEEGOALSOBEDROPPEDPROGRESSIVELY?ThedroppingalwayshappensinthemomentandalwaysinTHISmoment.Thereisnoprogressive,gradualprocessforit.Therecannotbe.Thehappeningisinstantaneous.Youcan'tgetreadyforit,youcan'tprepareforit,becausewhatsoeveryoudo–andIsaywhatsoever–willstrengthentheego.Anygradualprocesswillbeaneffort,somethingdoneonyourpart.Soyouwillbestrengthenedmoreandmorethroughit.Youwillbecomestronger.Everythinggradualhelpstheego.Onlysomethingabsolutelynon-gradual,somethinglikeajump,notlikeaprocess,somethingdiscontinuouswiththepast,notincontinuitywithit–onlythentheegodrops.Theproblemarisesbecausewecannotunderstandwhatthisegois.Theegoisthepast,thecontinuity,allthatyouhavedone,allthatyouhaveaccumulated,allthekarmas,alltheconditionings,allthedesires,allthedreamsofthepast.Thatwholepastistheego.Andifyouthinkintermsofgradualprocess,youbringthepastin.Thedroppingisnon-gradual,sudden.Itisadiscontinuity–thepastisnomore,thefutureisnomore.Youareleftalonehereandnow.Thentheegocannotexist. 41 CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Theegocanexistonlythroughthememory:whoyouare,fromwhereyoucome,towhomyoubelong,thecountry,therace,thereligion,thefamily,thetradition,andallthehurts,wounds,pleasures–allthathashappenedinthepast.Allthathashappenedistheego.Andyouarethattowhomallthishashappened.Thisdistinctionhastobeunderstood:youarethattowhomallhashappened,andtheegoisthatwhichhashappened.Theegoisaroundyou.Youareinthecenter,egoless.Achildisbornabsolutelyfreshandyoung–nopast,noego.That'swhychildrenaresobeautiful.Theydon'thaveanypast.Theyareyoungandfresh.TheycannotsayI,becausefromwherewilltheybringtheI?TheIhastodevelopgradually.Theywillgeteducated,theywillgetawards,punishments,theywillbeappreciated,condemned–thentheIwillgather.Achildisbeautifulbecausetheegoisnotthere.Anoldmanbecomesugly,notbecauseofoldage,butbecauseoftoomuchpast,toomuchoftheego.Anoldmancanalsobecomeagainbeautiful,evenmorebeautifulthanachild,ifhecandroptheego.Thenthereisasecondchildhood,thenarebirth.ThisisthemeaningoftheresurrectionofJesus.Itisnotanhistoricalfact,itisaparable.Jesusiscruciedandthenheresurrects.Themanwhowascruciedisnomore;thatwasthesonofthecarpenter,Jesus.NowJesusisdead,crucied.Anewentityarisesoutofthat.Outofthisdeathanewlifeisborn.ThisisChrist–notthesonofaparticularcarpenterinBethlehem,notaJew,notevenaman.ThisisChrist,somethingnew,egoless.Andthesamewillhappentoyouwheneveryouregoisonthecross.Wheneveryouregoiscrucied,thereisaresurrection,arebirth.Youarebornagain.Andthischildhoodiseternal,becausethisisarebirthofthespirit,notofthebody.Nowyouwillneverbecomeold.Alwaysandalwaysyouwillbefreshandyoung–asfreshasthedew-dropinthemorning,asfreshastherststarinthenight.Youwillalwaysremainfresh,young,achild,innocent–becausethisisaresurrectionofthespirit.Thisalwayshappensinamoment.Egoistime–themoretime,themoreego.Egoneedstime.Ifyoupenetratedeeplyyoumayevenbeabletoconceivethattimeexistsonlybecauseoftheego.Timeisnotpartofthephysicalworldaroundyou,itispartofthepsychicworldwithinyou,themind-world.Timeexistsjustasaspacefortheegotoevolveandtogrow.Roomisneeded;timegivestheroom.Ifitissaidtoyouthatthisisthelastmomentofyourlife,nextmomentyouaregoingtobeshotdead,suddenlytimedisappears.Youfeelveryuneasy.Youarestillalive,butsuddenlyyoufeelasifyouaredying.Andyoucan'tthinkwhattodo.Eventothinkbecomesdifcult,becauseevenforthinking,timeisneeded,futureisneeded.Thereisnotomorrow,thenwheretothink,howtodesire,howtohope?Thereisnotime.Timeisnished. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds42 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Thegreatestagonythatcanhappentoamanhappenswhenhisdeathisxedandhecannotavoidit;itiscertain.Apersonwhoissentenced,imprisoned,waitingforhisdeath–hecannotdoanythingaboutit,deathisxed,afteracertainperiodhewilldie,beyondthattime,thereisnotomorrowforhim–nowhecannotdesire,hecannotthink,hecannotproject,hecannotevendream.Thebarrierisalwaysthere.Thenmuchagonyfollows.Thatagonyisfortheego,becauseegocannotexistwithouttime.Egobreathesintime.Timeisbreathfortheego.Themoretime,themorepossibilityfortheego.IntheEastmuchhasbeenworkedout,muchhasbeendonetounderstandtheego,muchprobinghasbeendone.Andoneofthendingsisthatunlesstimedropsfromyou,egowillnotdrop.Iftomorrowexists,theegowillexist.Ifthereisnotomorrow,howcanyoupullontheego?Itwillbejustlikepullingaboatwithouttheriver.Thatwillbecomeaburden.Ariverisneeded,thentheboatcanfunction.Theriveroftimeisneededfortheego.That'swhytheegoalwaysthinksintermsofgradual,intermsofdegrees.Theegosays:Okay,enlightenmentispossible–buttimeisneeded,becauseyouwillhavetoworkforit,prepare,getready.Andthisisaverylogicalthing!Foreverythingtimeisneeded.Ifyousowaseed,timeisneededforthetreetogrow.Ifachildistobeborn,ifachildistobecreated,timeisneeded.Thewombwillneedtime.Thechildwillhavetogrow.Everythinggrowsaroundyou.Forgrowth,timeisneeded.Soitseemslogicalthatspiritualgrowthwillalsoneedtime.Butthisisthepointtobeunderstood:spiritualgrowthisnotreallyagrowthlikeaseed.Theseedhastogrowtobecomeatree.Betweentheseedandthetreethereisagap.Thatgaphastobetraveled,thereisdistance.Youdon'tgrowlikeaseed.YOUAREALREADYTHEGROWTH.Itisjustarevelation.Thereisnodistancebetweenyouasyouareandyouasyouwillbe.Thereisnodistance!Theideal,theperfect,isalreadythere.Soitisnotreallyaquestionofgrowth,butjustaquestionofunveiling.Itisadiscovery.Somethingishidden–youpullawaythescreen,anditisthere.Itisjustasifyouaresittingwithclosedeyes,thesunisthereonthehorizon,butyouareindarkness.Suddenlyyouopentheeyesanditisday,itislight.Thespiritualgrowthisnotreallyagrowth.Thewordiserroneous.Spiritualgrowthisarevelation.Somethingthatwashiddenbecomesunhidden.Somethingthatwasalreadythere,yourealizeit,thatitisthere.Somethingthatyouhadnevermissed,simplyforgotten,yourememberit.That'swhymysticsgoonusingthewordremembrance.Theysaythedivineisnotanachievement,itissimplyaremembrance.Somethingyouhaveforgotten,youremember.Really,notimeisneeded.Butthemindsays,theegosays,foreverythingtimeisneeded,foreverythingtogrowtimeisneeded.Andifyoubecomeavictimofthislogicalthought,thenyouwillneverachieveit.Thenyouwillgoonpostponing.Youwillsaytomorrowandtomorrowandtomorrow.Anditwillnevercomebecausetomorrownevercomes. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds43 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW IfyoucanunderstandwhatIamsaying,thattheegocanbedroppedthisverymoment,andifitistrue,thenthequestionarises:Whyisitnotdropping?Whycan'tyoudropit?Ifthereisnoquestionofgradualgrowth,thenwhyareyounotdroppingit?Becauseyoudon'twanttodropit.Thiswillshockyou,becauseyougoonthinkingthatyouwanttodropit.Reconsiderit,thinkagain.Youdon'twanttodropit,henceitcontinues.Itisnotaquestionoftime.Becauseyoudon'twanttodropit,nothingcanbedone!Mysteriousarethewaysofthemind.Youthinkthatyouwanttodropit,anddeepdownyouknowyoudon'twanttodropit.Youmaywanttopolishitalittlemore,youmaywantittobemorerened,butyoudon'treallywanttodropit.Ifyouwanttodropitthereisnoonewhoispreventing.Nobarrierexists.Justforthewantingitcanbedropped.Butifyoudon'twanttodropitnothingcanbedone.EvenathousandBuddhasworkingonyouwillfail,becausenothingcanbedonefromtheoutside.Haveyoureallythoughtaboutit,haveyouevermeditatedonit,whetheryouwanttodropit?Doyoureallywanttobecomeanon-being,anothing?Eveninyourreligiousprojectionsyouwanttobesomething,youwanttoachievesomething,reachsomewhere,besomething.Evenwhenyouthinkofbeinghumble,yourhumility,yourhumbleness,isjustasecrethiding-placefortheegoandnothingelse.Lookatso-calledhumblepeople.Theysaytheyarehumbleandtheywilltrytoprovethattheyarethemosthumbleintheirtown,intheircity,intheirlocality–themosthumble.Andifyouargueandifyousay:No,somebodyelseismorehumblethanyou,theywillfeelhurt.Whoisfeelinghurt?IwasjustreadingaboutoneChristiansaint.Hesayseverydaytohisgodinhisprayer:Iamthemostwickedpersononthisearth,thegreatestsinner.Apparently,heisaveryhumbleman,butheisnot.Hesaysthegreatestsinnerontheearth,andifevenGodisgoingtodisputeit,hewillargue.Theinterest,thedeepinterest,isinbeingthegreatest,notinbeingthesinner.Youcanbeasinnerifyouareallowedtobethegreatestsinner.Youcanenjoyit.Greatestsinner–thenyoubecomeapeak.Virtueorsinisimmaterial.Youmustbesomeone.Whatsoeverthereasonforit,youregomustbeatthetop.GeorgeBernardShawisreportedtohavesaid,”Iwouldratherberstinhellthansecondinheaven.Hellisnotabadplaceifyouaretherstandforemost.Evenheavenwilllookdullifyouarejuststandingsomewhereinaqueue,anobody.”AndBernardShawisright.Thisishowthehumanmindfunctions.Nobodywantstodroptheego.Otherwise,thereisnoproblem–youcansimplydropitrightnow.Andifyoufeelthattimeisneeded,thentimeisneededonlyforyourunderstandingthatyouareclingingtoit.Andthemomentyoucanunderstandthatitisyourclinging,thethingwillhappen.Youmaytakemanylivestounderstandthissimplefact.Youhavealreadytakenmanylives,andyouhavenotyetunderstood.Thislooksveryweird.Thereissomethingwhichisaburdentoyou,whichgivesyouhell,acontinuoushell,butstillyouclingtoit.Theremustbesomedeepreasonforit,averydeep-rootedcause.Iwouldliketotalkaboutitalittle.Youmaybecomeaware. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds44 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Thewaythehumanmindisitwillalwayschooseoccupationratherthanbeingunoccupied.Eveniftheoccupationispainful,evenifitisasuffering,themindwillchoosetobeoccupiedratherthantobeunoccupied–becauseunoccupiedyoustartfeelingthatyouaredissolving.Psychologistssaythatwhenpeopleretirefromtheirwork,theirjob,theirserviceorbusiness,theydiesoon.Theirlifeisreducedimmediatelybyalmosttenyears.Beforetheirdeaththeystartdying.Thereisnomoreoccupation,theyareunoccupied.Whenyouareunoccupiedyoustartfeelingmeaningless,futile.Youstartfeelingthatyouarenotneeded,thatwithoutyoutheworldcangooneasily.Whenyouareoccupiedyoufeelthattheworldcannotcontinuewithoutyou,thatyouareaveryessentialpartofit,verysignicant–withoutyoueverythingwillstop.Ifyouareunoccupied,suddenlyyoubecomeawarethatwithoutyoutheworldgoesonbeautifully.Nothingischanging.Youhavebeendiscarded.Youarethrownonthejunkpile.Youarenotneeded.Themomentyoufeelyouarenotneeded,theegobecomesuneasy–becauseitexistsonlywhenyouareneeded.So,allaround,theegogoesonforcingthisattitudeoneverybody:Youareamust,youareneeded,withoutyounothingcanhappen,withoutyoutheworldwilldissolve.Unoccupied,youcometorealizethatthegamecontinues.Youarenotanessentialpart.Youcanbediscardedeasily.Nobodywillbotheraboutyou.Nobodywillthinkaboutyou.Rather,theymayevenfeelrelieved.Thatshatterstheego.Sopeoplewantoccupation,somethingorother,buttheyhavetoremainoccupied.Theymustcontinuetheillusionthattheyareneeded.Meditationisanunoccupiedstateofmind.Itisadeepretirement.ItisnotjustasupercialretirementlikegoingtotheHimalayas.Thatmaynotbearetirementatall,because,again,youcanbecomeoccupiedintheHimalayas.Youcancreatefantasiestherethatyouaresavingtheworld.SittingintheHimalayasmeditating,youaresavingtheworldfromathirdwar;orbecauseyouarecreatingsuchvibrations,theworldisreachingtowardsautopia,apeacefulstateofsociety.Andyoucanenjoythisoccupationthere.Nobodyisgoingtoarguebecauseyouarealone.Nobodyisgoingtodisputethefactthatyouareinillusionorahallucinatorystate.Youcangetreallyinvolvedwithit.Theegowillassertitselfagaininasubtlenewway.Meditationisnotasupercialretirement.Itisadeep,intimate,realretirement,awithdrawal–awithdrawalfromoccupation.Itisnotthatyouwillnotbeoccupied,youcancontinuewhatsoeveryouaredoing,butyouwithdrawyourselfandyourinvestmentinoccupation.Nowyoustartfeelingthatthisconstanthankeringafterbeingneededisfoolish,stupid.Theworldcancontinuequitewellwithoutyou.Andthereisnodepressioninit.Itisgood.Sofar,sogood...theworldcancontinuewithoutyou.Thiscanbecomeafreedomifyouunderstand.Ifyoudon'tunderstand,thenyoufeelyouarebeingshattered.Sopeoplecontinuetobeoccupied,andtheegogivesthemthegreatestoccupationpossible.Twenty-fourhours,theegogivesthemoccupation.Theyarethinkinghowtobecomea MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds45 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW memberofparliament.Theyarethinking–howtobecomeadeputyministerandaministerandaprimeminister,andhowtobecomeapresident.Theegogoesonandonandon.Itgivesyouaconstantoccupation–howtoachievemoreriches,howtocreateakingdom.Theegogivesyoudreams,continuousinneroccupation.Andyoufeelmuchisgoingon.Unoccupied,suddenlyyoubecomeawareofinneremptiness.Thesedreamslltheinneremptiness.Nowpsychologistssaythatamancanlivewithoutfoodforatleastninetydays,buthecannotlivewithoutdreamingforninetydays.Hewillgomad.Ifdreamingisnotallowedwithinthreeweeksyouwillgomad.Withoutfood,threeweekswillnotharmyou–itmayevenbegoodforyourhealth.Threeweekswithoutfood,agoodfast,willrejuvenateyourwholesystem,youwillbemorealiveandyoung.Butthreeweeksofnon-dreaming...youwillgomad.Dreamingmustfulllsomedeep-rootedneed.Theneedisthatitgivesyouoccupation;withoutrealoccupationitgivesyouoccupation.Youcansitanddreamanddowhatsoeveryoulike,andthewholeworldmovesaccordingtoyou–inyourdreamsatleast.Nobodycreatesaproblem.Youcankillanybody,youcanmurder.Youcanchangeasyoulike.Youarethemasterthere.Theegofeelsmostvitalwhiledreaming,becausethereisnobodywhocanantagonizeyou,whocansay:No,thisiswrong.Youarewholeandsole.Whatsoeveryouwant,youcreate.Whatsoeveryoudon'twant,youdestroy.Youareabsolutelypowerful.Youareomnipotentinyourdreams.Dreamsstoponlywhenegodrops.Sothisisthesign,really;inoldyogascriptures,thisisthesignofamanwhohasbecomeenlightened:hecannotdream.Dreamingstopsbecausethereisnoneed.Itwasanego-need.Youwanttobeoccupied.That'swhyyoucannotdroptheego.Unlessyouarereadytobeempty,unoccupied,unlessyouarereadytobenobody,unlessyouarereadytoenjoyandcelebratelifeevenifyouarenotneeded,egocannotbedropped.Youhaveaneedtobeneeded.Somebodymustneedyou–thenyoufeelgood.Ifmoreandmorepeopleneedyou,youfeelbetterandbetter.That'swhyleadershipissomuchenjoyed,becausesomanypeopleneedyou.Aleadercanbecomeveryhumble.Thereisnoneedtoasserthisego.Hisegoisalreadysodeeplyfullledbecausesomanypeopleneedhim,somanypeopledependonhim.Hehasbecomethelifeofsomanypeople,sohecanbehumble,hecanaffordtobehumble.Youmustrememberthisfactthatpeoplewhoasserttheiregostoomucharealwayspeoplewhocannotinuenceothers.Thentheybecomeassertivebecausethatistheironlywaytosay:Iamsomebody.Iftheycaninuencepeople,iftheycanpersuade,theywillneverbeassertive.Theywillbeveryhumble–apparently,atleast.Theywillnotlookegoistic,because,inaverysubtleway,somanypeopledependonthem–theyhavebecomesignicant,theirlifeappearsmeaningfultothem.Ifyouregoisyourmeaning,ifyouregoisyoursignicance,howcanyoudropit?Listeningtome,youstartthinkingtodropit.Butjustbythinkingyoucannotdroptheego.Youhavetocometounderstandtheroots–whereitis,whereitexists,whyitexists. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds46 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Thesearetheunconsciousforcesworkingwithinyouwithoutyourknowledge.Theyhavetobemadeconscious.Youhavetobringalltherootsofyouregooutofthesoilandearthsoyoucanlookandsee.Ifyoucanremainunoccupied,ifyoucanremainsatisedwithoutbeingneeded,theegocandropthisverymoment.Buttheseifsarebig.Meditationwillprepareyouforthesebigifs.Thehappeningwillhappeninamoment,buttheunderstandingwilltaketime.Itisjustlikewhenyouheatwater.Itbecomeshotterandhotterandhotter;then,ataparticulardegree,atonehundreddegrees,itstartsevaporating.Evaporationhappensinasinglemoment.Itisnotgradual,itissudden.Fromwatertovaporthereisajump.Suddenlythewaterdisappears,buttimeisinvolvedbecausethewaterhastobeheateduptoboiling-point.Evaporationhappenssuddenly,butheatingtakestime.Understandingisjustlikeheating.Ittakestime.Droppingoftheegohappenslikeevaporation.Ithappenssuddenly.Sodon'ttrytodroptheego.Rather,trytodeepenyourunderstanding.Don'ttrytomakewaterchangeintovapor.Heatit.Thesecondthingwillfollowautomatically,itwillhappen.Growinunderstanding.Makeitmoreintense,morefocused.Bringallyourenergytounderstandthephenomenonofyourbeing,yourego,yourmind,yourunconscious.Becomemoreandmorealert.Andwhatsoeverhappens,makeitapointtotrytounderstanditalso.Somebodyinsultsyouandyoufeelanger.Don'tmissthisopportunity;trytounderstandwhy,whythisanger.Anddon'tmakeitaphilosophicalthing.Don'tgotothelibrarytoconsultaboutanger.Angerishappeningtoyou–itisanexperience,aliveexperience.Focusyourwholeattentiononitandtrytounderstandwhyitishappeningtoyou.Itisnotaphilosophicalproblem.NoFreudistobeconsultedaboutit.Thereisnoneed!Itisjustfoolishtoconsultsomebodyelsewhileangerishappeningtoyou.Youcantouchit.Youcantasteit.Youwillbeburnedbyit.Trytounderstandwhyitishappening,fromwhereitiscoming,wheretherootsare,howithappens,howitfunctions,howitoverpowersyou,howinangeryoubecomemad.Angerhashappenedbefore,itishappeningnow,butnowaddanewelementtoit,theelementofunderstanding–andthenthequalitywillchange.Then,byandby,youwillseethatthemoreyouunderstandanger,thelessithappens.Andwhenyouunderstanditperfectly,itdisappears.Understandingislikeheat.Whentheheatcomestoaparticularpoint–onehundreddegrees–thewaterdisappears.Sexisthere–trytounderstandit.Themorethereisunderstanding,thelessyouwillbesexual.Andamomentwillcomewhenunderstandingisperfect–andsexdisappears.Andthisismycriterion:whatsoeverthephenomenonofinnerenergy,ifitdisappearsthroughunderstanding,itissin;ifthroughunderstandingitdeepens,itisvirtue.Themoreyouunderstand,thewrongwilldisappearandtherightwillbecomemorerooted.Sexwilldisappearandlovewilldeepen.Angerwilldisappearandcompassionwilldeepen.Greedwilldisappear,sharingwilldeepen. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds47 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW Sowhatsoeverdisappearsthroughunderstandingiswrong;whatsoeverbecomesmorerootedisright.AndthisishowIdenegoodandevil,virtueandsin–PUNYAandPAAP.Aholymanisamanofunderstanding,nothingelse.Asinnerisamanofnounderstanding,that'sall.Betweenaholymanandasinnerthedistinctionisnotofsinandholiness,itisofunderstanding.Understandingworksasaheatingprocess.Amomentcomes,arightmoment,whentheheatinghascometotheboiling-point.Suddenlytheegodrops.Youcannotdropitdirectly–youcanpreparethesituationinwhichithappens.Thatsituationwilltaketime.Twoschoolshavealwaysexisted.Oneschoolisofsuddenenlightenmentwhichsaysenlightenmenthappenssuddenly,itisnon-temporal.Anotherschool,justcontradictingtherst,isofgradualenlightenment;itsaysenlightenmentcomesgradually,nothinghappenssuddenly.Andbothareright,becausebothhavechosenonepartofthephenomenon.Thegradualschoolhaschosentherstpart,theunderstandingpart.Theysayithastobethroughtime,understandingwillcomethroughtime.Andtheyareright!Theysayyouneednotworryaboutthesudden.Yousimplyfollowtheprocess,andifthewaterisheatedrightlyitwillevaporate.Youneednotbotheraboutevaporation.Yousimplyleaveitcompletelyoutofyourmind.Yousimplyheatthewater.Anotherschool,quitetheopposite,whichsaysenlightenmentissudden,hastakentheendpart.Itsaystherstthingisnotveryessential:therealthingisthatthatexplosionhappensinano-timegap.Therstthingisjusttheperiphery.Thereal,thesecondthing,isthecenter.ButItellyoubothareright.Enlightenmenthappenssuddenly.Ithasalwayshappenedsuddenly.Butunderstandingtakestime.Botharerightandbothcanbeinterpretedwronglyalso.Youcanplaytrickswithyourself.Youcandeceiveyourself.Ifyoudon'twanttodoanything,itisbeautifultobelieveinsuddenenlightenment.Thenyousay:”Thereisnoneedtodoanything.Ifithappenssuddenly,itwillhappensuddenly.WhatcanIdo?Icansimplywait.”Thatmaybeaself-deception.Becauseofthis,inJapanparticularly,religionsimplydisappeared.Japanhasalongtraditionofsuddenenlightenment.Zensaysenlightenmentissudden.Becauseofthis,thewholecountrybecameirreligious.Byandby,peoplecametobelievethatsuddenenlightenmentistheonlypossibility:Nothingcanbedoneaboutit–wheneveritisgoingtohappen,itwillhappen.Ifitisgoingtohappen,itwillhappen.Ifitisnotgoingtohappen,itwillnothappen.Andwecannotdoanything,sowhybother?IntheEast,Japanisthemostmaterialisticcountry.IntheEast,JapanexistsasapartoftheWest.Thisisstrange,becauseJapanhasoneofthemostbeautifultraditionsofDHYAN,CHAN–Zen.Whydiditdisappear?Itdisappearedbecauseofthisconceptofsuddenenlightenment.Peoplestarteddeceivingthemselves.InIndia,anotherphenomenonhashappened...andthat'swhyIgoonsayingagainandagainthatthehumanmindissodeceptiveandcunning.Youhavetobeconstantlyalert,otherwiseyouwillbedeceived.InIndia,wehaveanothertradition,thatofgradualenlightenment.That'swhatyogameans.Youhavetoworkforit,workhardthroughmanylives.Disciplineisneeded,workisneeded,andunless MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds48 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW youworkhardyouwillnotachieveit.So,itisalongprocess,averylongprocess–solongthatIndiasaysonelifeisnotenough,youwillneedmanylives.Nothingiswrongwiththis.Asfarasunderstandingisconcerned,itistrue.ButthenIndiabelievedthatifitisgoingtobesolongthenthereisnohurry.Thenwhybeinsuchahurry?Thenenjoytheworld...thereisnohurryandthereisenoughtime.Anditissuchalongprocessthatyoucannotachieveittoday.Andifyoucannotachieveittodaythentheinterestislost.Nobodyissokeenthathecanwaitformanylives.Hewillsimplyforgetit.ThegradualconcepthasdestroyedIndia;thesuddenconcepthasdestroyedJapan.Tome,botharetrue,becausebotharehalf-partsofawholeprocess.Andyouhavetobeconstantlyalertsothatyouarenotdeceivingyourself.Itwilllookcontradictory,butthisiswhatIwouldliketosaytoyou:Itcanhappenthisverymoment,butTHISverymomentmaytakemanylivestocome.Itcanhappenthisverymoment,butyoumayhavetowaitformanylivesforTHISmomenttocome.Soworkhard,asifitisgoingtohappenthisverymoment.Andwaitpatiently...becauseitisnotpredictable.Nobodycansaywhenthiswillhappen–thismaynothappenformanylives.Sowaitpatientlyasifthewholeprocessisalonggradualdevelopment.And,workhard,ashardaspossible,asifthiscanhappenthisverymoment.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTUSINGOURSEXUALENERGYFORGROWTH,ASITSEEMSTOBEONEOFOURMAINPREOCCUPATIONSINTHEWEST.Sexistheenergy.SoIwillnotsaysexualenergy–becausethereisnootherenergy.Sexistheonlyenergyyouhavegot.Theenergycanbetransformed–itcanbecomeahigherenergy.Thehigheritmoves,thelessandlesssexualityremainsinit.Andthereisanendpeakwhereitbecomessimplyloveandcompassion.Theultimateoweringwecancalldivineenergy,butthebase,theseat,remainssex.Sosexistherst,bottomlayerofenergy–andGodisthetoplayer.Butthesameenergymoves.TherstthingtobeunderstoodisthatIdon'tdivideenergies.Onceyoudivide,thenadualismiscreated.Onceyoudivide,thenconictandstrugglearecreated.Onceyoudivideenergies,YOUaredivided–thenyouwillbefororagainstsex.Iamneitherfornoragainst,becauseIdon'tdivide.Isaysexistheenergy,thenameoftheenergy;callthatenergyX.SexisthenameofthatXenergy,theunknownenergy,whenyouareusingitonlyasabiologicalreproductionforce.Itbecomesdivineonceitisfreedfrombiologicalbondage,onceitbecomesnon-physical–thenitistheloveofJesusorthecompassionofBuddha.TheWestismuchobsessedtodaybecauseofChristianity.TwothousandyearsofChristiansuppressionofsexenergyhasmadetheWesternmindtoomuchobsessedwithit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds49 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW First,fortwothousandyearstheobsessionwashowtokillit.Youcannotkillit.Noenergycanbekilled–energycanonlybetransformed.Thereisnowaytodestroyenergy.Nothingcanbedestroyedinthisworld,itcanonlybetransformed,changed,movedintoanewrealmanddimension.Destructionisimpossible.Youcannotcreateanewenergy,andyoucannotdestroyanoldenergy.Creationanddestructionarebothbeyondyou.Theycannotbedone.Now,scientistsagreetothis–notevenasingleatomcanbedestroyed.Fortwothousandyears,Christianitywastryingtodestroysexenergy.Religionconsistedofbecomingabsolutelywithoutsex.Thatcreatedamadness.Themoreyought,themoreyousuppress,themoresexualyoubecome.Andthensexmovesdeeperintotheunconscious.Itpoisonsyourwholebeing.SoifyoureadthelivesofChristiansaints,youwillseetheyareobsessedwithsex.Theycannotpray,theycannotmeditate.Whatsoevertheydo,sexcomesin.Andtheythinkthatthedevilisplayingtricks.Nobodyisplayingtricks.Ifyousuppress,YOUarethedevil.Aftertwothousandyearsofcontinuoussex-repression,theWestbecamefedupwithit.Itwastoomuch.Thewholewheelturned.Now,insteadofrepression,indulgence,toindulgeinitbecamethenewobsession.Fromonepolethemindmovedtotheotherpole.Thediseaseremainedthesame.Onceitwasrepression.Nowitishowtoindulgemoreandmoreinit.Botharesickattitudes.Sexhastobetransformed–neitherrepressednormadlyindulged.Andtheonlypossiblewaytotransformsexistobesexualwithdeepmeditativeawareness.ItisjustthesameasIwassayingaboutanger.Moveintosex,butwithanalert,conscious,mindfulbeing.Don'tallowittobecomeanunconsciousforce.Don'tbepulledandpushedbyit.Moveknowingly,understandingly,lovingly.Butmakesexualexperienceameditativeexperience.Meditateinit.ThisiswhattheEasthasdonethroughTantra.Andonceyouaremeditativeinsexualexperience,thequalityofitstartschanging.Thesameenergywhichismovingintosexualexperiencestartsmovingtowardsconsciousness.Youcanbecomesoalertinapeaksexualorgasm,asyoucanotherwiseneverbecome–becausenootherexperienceissodeep,nootherexperienceissoabsorbing,nootherexperienceissototal.Inasexualorgasm,youareTOTALLYabsorbed,rootandall–yourwholebeingvibrating,yourwholebeinginit.Body,mind–bothareinit.Andthinkingstopscompletely.Evenforasinglesecond,whentheorgasmreachesitspeak,thinkingstopscompletely,becauseyouaresototalyoucannotthink.InasexualorgasmyouARE.Beingistherewithoutanythinking.Inthismoment,ifyoucanbecomealert,conscious,thensexcanbecomethedoortowardsthedivine.Andifinthismomentyoucanbecomealert,thatalertnesscanbecarriedinothermomentsalso,inotherexperiencesalso.Itcanbecomeapartofyou.Theneating,walking,doingsomework,youcancarrythatalertness.Throughsex,thealertnesshastouchedyourdeepestcore.Ithaspenetratedyou.Nowyoucancarryit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds50 Osho CHAPTER5.DROPPINGTHEEGONOW And,ifyoubecomemeditative,youwillcometorealizeanewfact.Thatfactisthatitisnotsexthatgivesyoubliss,itisnotsexthatgivesyoutheecstasy.Rather,itisathoughtlessstateofthemindandtotalinvolvementintheactthatgivesyouablissfulfeeling.Onceyouunderstandthisthensexwillbeneededlessandless,becausethatthoughtlessstateofmindcanbecreatedwithoutit–that'swhatmeditationmeans.Andthattotalityofbeingcanbecreatedwithoutsex.Onceyouknowthatthesamephenomenoncanhappenwithoutsex,sexwillbeneededlessandless.Amomentwillcomewhensexwillnotbeneededatall.Remember,sexisalwaysdependentontheother.Soinsex,abondage,aslaveryremains.Onceyoucancreatethistotalorgasmicphenomenonwithoutanydependenceonanybodyelse,whenithasbecomeaninnersource,youareindependent,youarefree.That'swhatismeantwhen,inIndia,wesayonlyaBRAHMACHARI,anabsolutelycelibateperson,canbefree–becausenowheisnotdependentonanybodyelse,hisecstasyishisown.Sexdisappearsthroughmeditation,butthisisnotdestroyingtheenergy.Energyisneverdestroyed;onlytheformoftheenergychanges.Nowitisnolongersexual,andwhentheformisnolongersexual,thenyoubecomeloving.So,really,apersonwhoissexualcannotlove.Hislovecanonlybeashow.Hisloveisjustameanstowardssex.Apersonwhoissexualuseslovejustasatechniquetowardssex.Itisameans.Asexualpersoncannotreallylove,hecanonlyexploittheother;andlovebecomesjustawaytoapproachtheother.Apersonwhohasbecomenon-sexual,andtheenergyismovingwithin,hasbecomeauto-ecstatic.Hisecstasyishisown.Suchapersonwillbelovingforthersttime.Hislovewillbeaconstantshowering,aconstantsharing,aconstantgiving.Buttoachievethis,youarenotrequiredtobeanti-sex.Toachievethis,youhavetoacceptsexaspartoflife,ofnaturallife.Movewithit–onlymovewithmoreconsciousness.Consciousnessisthebridge,thegoldenbridge,fromthisworldtotheother,fromhelltoheaven,fromtheegotothedivine.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds51 Osho CHAPTER6 AreYouStillCarryingher? 15May1974aminBuddhaHallBELOVEDOSHO,THEREISAZENSTORYABOUTTWOMONKSWHOWERERETURNINGTOTHEIRMONASTERY.WHILEWALKINGAHEAD,THEOLDERMONKCAMETOARIVER.ONTHEBANKTHEREWASABEAUTIFULYOUNGGIRL.SHEWASAFRAIDTOCROSSALONE.THEOLDMONKQUICKLYLOOKEDAWAYFROMHERANDCROSSEDTHERIVER.WHENHEWASONTHEOTHERSIDEHELOOKEDBACK,ANDTOHISHORRORHESAWTHEYOUNGERMONKCARRYINGTHEGIRLACROSSTHERIVERONHISSHOULDERS.THETWOMONKSCONTINUEDTHEIRJOURNEYSIDEBYSIDE.WHENTHEYWEREJUSTOUTSIDETHEMONASTERYGATESTHEOLDERMONKSAIDTOTHEYOUNGER:THATWASNOTGOOD,THATWASAGAINSTTHERULES,WEMONKSARENOTSUPPOSEDTOTOUCHWOMEN.THEYOUNGERMONKREPLIED:ILEFTHERONTHEBANKOFTHERIVER,AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER?Question1BELOVEDOSHO, 52 CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTTHEALTERNATIVETOSUPPRESSINGOREXPRESSINGOUREMOTIONS?Manistheonlybeingwhocansuppresshisenergies–orwhocantransformthem.Nootherbeingcandoeither.SuppressionANDtransformation,theyexistastwoaspectsofonephenomenon,whichisthatmancandosomethingabouthimself.Thetreesexist,theanimalsexist,thebirdsexist,buttheycannotdoanythingabouttheirexistence–theyarepartofit.Theycannotstandoutofit.Theycannotbethedoers.Theyaresomergedwiththeirenergy,theycannotseparatethemselves.Mancando.Hecandosomethingabouthimself.Hecanobservehimselffromadistance–hecanlookathisownenergiesasiftheyareseparatefromhim.Andtheneitherhecansuppressthem,orhecantransformthem.Suppressionmeansonlytryingtohidecertainenergieswhicharethere–notallowingthemtohavetheirbeing,notallowingthemtohavetheirmanifestation.Transformationmeanstransforming,changingenergiestowardsanewdimension.Forexample,sexisthere.Thereissomethinginsexwhichmakesyoufeelembarrassedaboutit.Thisembarrassmentisnotonlybecausesocietyhastaughtittoyou.Allovertheworldmanytypesofsocietyexist,haveexisted,butnosociety,nohumansociety,hastakensexeasily.Thereissomethingintheveryphenomenonofsexthatmakesyouembarrassed,guilty,conscious.Whatisthat?Evenifnobodyteachesyouanythingaboutsex,nobodymoralizestoyouaboutit,nobodycreatesanyconceptionsaboutit,stillthereissomethingintheveryphenomenonthatyouarenotateasewith.Whatisthat?First,sexshowsyourdeepestdependence.Itshowsthatsomebodyelseisneededforyourpleasure.Withoutsomebodyelsethatpleasureisnotpossible.Soyoudepend,yourindependenceislost.Thishurtstheego.Sothemoreapersonisanegoist,themorehewillbeagainstsex.Yourso-calledsaintsareagainstsex–notbecausesexisbad,butbecauseoftheiregos.Theycannotconceiveofthemselvesbeingdependentonsomebody,beggingforsomethingfromsomebody.Sexhurtstheegomost.Secondly,intheveryphenomenonofsexthepossibilityofrejectionisthere–theothercanrejectyou.Itisnotcertainwhetheryouwillbeacceptedorrejected;theothercansayno.Andthisisthedeepestrejectionpossible,whenyouapproachsomebodyforloveandtheotherrejectsyou.Thisrejectioncreatesfear.Theegosaysitisbetternottotrythantoberejected.Dependence,rejection,thepossibilityofrejection...andstilldeeper.Insex,youbecomejustlikeanimals.Thathurtsthehumanegoverymuch,becausethenthereisnodifferencebetweenadogmakingloveandyoumakinglove.Whatisthedifference?Suddenlyyoubecomelikeanimals,andallthepreachers,moralists,theygoonsayingtoman:Don'tbeananimal!Don'tbelikeanimals!Thatisthegreatestcondemnationpossible. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds53 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Innootherthingareyousoanimal-likeasinsex,becauseinnootherthingareyounatural–ineverythingelseyoucanbeunnatural.Youareeatingfood.Wehavecreatedsomuchsophisticationabouteatingthatyouarenotlikeanimals.Thebasicthingisliketheanimal;butyourtables,yourtablemanners,thewholeculture,theetiquetteyouhavecreatedaroundfoodisjusttomakeitdistinctfromanimals.Animalsliketoeatalone.Soeverysocietycreatesinthemindofeveryindividualthattoeataloneisnotgood.Share,eatwiththefamily,eatwithfriends,inviteguests.Noanimalisinterestedinguests,infriends,infamily.Wheneverananimaliseatinghewantsnobodytocomenear;hegoesintoloneliness.Ifamanwantstoeataloneyouwillsayheisanimal-like,hedoesn'twanttoshare.Hishabitofeatingisnatural,notsophisticated.Aroundfoodwehavecreatedsomuchsophisticationthathungerhasbecomelessimportant,tastehasbecomemoreimportant.Noanimalbothersaboutthetaste.Hungerisabasicnecessity–hungerisfullled,theanimalissatised.Butnotman–asifhungerisnotthepoint;somethingelseisthepoint.Moreimportantistaste,moreimportantaremanners,moreimportanthowyoueat,notwhatyoueat.Ineverythingelsemanhascreatedhisownarticialworldaroundhim.Animalsarenaked–that'swhywedon'twanttobenude.Andifsomebodyisnudesuddenlyhehitsourcivilizationtotally,hecutstheveryroots.That'swhythereissomuchantagonismagainstnakedpeople–allovertheworld.Ifyougoandmovenakedinthestreet,youarenothurtinganybody,youarenotdoinganyviolencetoanybody;youareabsolutelyinnocent.Butimmediatelythepolicewillcome,thewholesurroundingwillbecomeagitated.Youwillbecaughtandbeatenandputintojail.Butyouhavenotdoneanythingatall!AcrimehappenswhenyouDOsomething.Youhavenotbeendoinganything–simplywalkingnaked!Butwhydoesthesocietygetsoangry?Thesocietyisnotsoangryevenagainstamurderer.Thisisstrange.Butanakedman...andsocietyisabsolutelyangry.Itisbecausemurderisstillhuman.Noanimalmurders.Theykillforeating,buttheydon'tmurder.Andnoanimalmurdershisownspecies,onlyman.Soitishuman,thesocietycanacceptit.Butnuditythesocietycannotaccept–becausesuddenlythenakedmanmakesyouawarethatyouareallanimals.Howsoeverhiddenbehindclothes,theanimalisthere,thenude,thenakedanimalisthere,thenakedapeisthere.Youareagainstthenudemannotbecauseheisnudebutbecausehemakesyouawareofyournudity–andtheegoishurt.Clothed,manisnotananimal.Witheatinghabits,manners,manisnotananimal.Withlanguage,morality,philosophy,religion,manisnotananimal.Themostreligiousthingistogotoachurch,toatemple,topray.Whyisitsoreligious?Becausenoanimalgoestoachurchandnoanimalprays;itisabsolutelyhuman.Goingtoatempletopray,thismakesthedistinctionabsolute,thatyouarenotanimals.Butsexisanimalactivity.Whatsoeveryoudo,howsoeveryouhideit,whatsoeveryoucreatearoundit,thebasicfactremainsanimal.Andwhenyoumoveintoit,youbecomelikeanimals.Becauseof MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds54 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? thisfactmanypeoplecannotenjoysex.Theycannotbecometotallyanimal.Theiregowon'tallowit.Soegoandsex,thisistheconict–sexversusego.Themoreegoisticapersonis,themoreheisagainstsex.Thelessegoisticapersonis,themoreinvolvedheisinsex.Buteventhelesseregoistfeelsaguilt–feelsless,butstillfeelssomethingiswrong.Whenonemovesdeeplyintosextheegoislost,andasthemomentcomesnearerwhentheegoisdisappearing,feargripsyou.Sopeoplemakelove,gointosex,notdeeply,notreally.Theyjustmakeasupercialshowthattheyaremakinglove,becauseifyouREALLYmakelove,allcivilizationwillhavetobedropped.Yourmindwillhavetobeputaside–yourreligion,philosophy,everything.Suddenlyyouwillfeelawildanimalisbornwithinyou.Aroarwillcometoyou.Youmaystartactuallyroaringlikeawildanimal–screaming,groaning.Andifyouallowit,languagewilldisappear.Soundswillbethere,justlikebirdsoranimalsmakingsounds.Suddenlythewholecivilizationofamillionyearsisdropped.Youareagainstandinglikeananimal,inawildworld.Thereisfear.Andbecauseofthatfearlovehasbecomealmostimpossible.Andthefearisreal–becausewhenyoulosetheegoyouarealmostinsane;youbecomewild,andthenanythingcanhappen.AndyouKNOWthatanythingcanhappen.Youmayevenkill,murderyourbeloved,youmaystarteatingherbody,becausethencontrolsareremoved.Suppressionseemstobetheeasiestwaytoavoidallthis.Suppress,orallowonlyasmuchaswillnotleadyouintodanger–justapartofitwhichcanbecontrolledalways.Andyouremainincontrol,youmanipulate.Youallowuptoanextentandthenyoudon'tallow.Thenyoucloseyourselfandshutyourself.Suppressionexistsasaprotection,asasafeguard,asasecuritymeasure,andreligionshaveusedthissecuritymeasure.Theyhaveexploitedthisfearofsexandtheyhavemadeyoumoreafraid.Theyhavecreatedaninnertrembling.Theyhavemadesexthebasicsinandtheysay:Unlesssexdisappears,youwillnotbeabletoenterintotheKingdomofGod.Theyaretrue,inasense,andstillwrong.IalsosayunlesssexdisappearsyouwillnotbeabletoenterintotheKingdomofGod.Butsexdisappearsonlywhenyouhaveacceptedittotally–notsuppressed,buttransformedit.Religionshaveexploitedhumanfearandthehumantendencytobeegoistic.Theyhavecreatedmanytechniquestosuppress.Itisnotverydifculttosuppress,butitisverycostly–becauseyourwholeenergybecomesdividedagainstitself,ghting,andthenthewholelifeisdissipated.Sexisthemostvitalenergy,theonlyenergy,Isay,whichyouhave.Don'tghtwithit–itwillbeawasteoflifeandtime–rathertransformit.Buthowtodoit?Howtotransformit?Whatcanwedo?Ifyouhaveunderstoodthefear,thenyoucanunderstandtheclue,whatcanbedone.Thefearistherebecauseyoufeelthatthecontrolwillbelost,andoncethecontrolislostyoucannotdoanything.Iteachyouanewcontrol:thecontrolofthewitnessingself,notthecontrolofa MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds55 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? manipulatingmind,butthecontrolofawitnessingself.AndItellyouthatthatcontrolisthesupremepossibleandthatcontrolissonaturalthatyouneverfeelyouarecontrolling.Thecontrolhappensspontaneouslywithwitnessing.Moveintosexbutbeawitness.Theonlythingtorememberis:Imustencounterthewholeprocess,Imustseethroughit,Imustremainawitness,Ishouldnotbecomeunconscious–that'sall.Becomewild,butdon'tbecomeunconscious.Thenthereisnodangerinwildness;thenwildnessisbeautiful.Really,onlyawildmancanbebeautiful.Awomanwhoisnotwildcannotbebeautiful–becausethemorewild,themorealive.Thenyouarejustlikeawildtiger,orawilddeerrunningintheforest...andthebeautyofit!Buttheproblemis:nottobecomeunconscious.Ifyoubecomeunconscious,thenyouareunderunconsciousforces,thenyouareundertheforcesofkarma.Whatsoeveryouhavedoneinthepastisaccumulatedthere.Thataccumulatedconditioningcantakegripofyouandmoveyouincertaindirectionswhichwillbedangerousforyouandforothers.Butifyouremainawitness,thatpastconditioningcannotinterfere.Sothewholemethod,orthewholeprocessofbecomingawitness,istheprocessoftransformingthesexenergy.Movingintosex,remainalert.Whatsoeverishappening,observeit,seethroughit;don'tmissasinglepoint.Whatsoeverishappeninginyourbody,inyourmind,inyourinnerenergy,thenewcircuitisbeingmade,thebodyelectricityismovinginanewway,inanewcircularway;nowthebodyelectricityhasbecomeonewiththepartner,withthewife,withtheconsort.Andnowaninnercircleiscreated–andyoucanfeelit.Ifyouarealert,youcanfeelit.Youwillfeelthatyouhavebecomeavehicleofavitalenergymoving.Remainalert.Soonyouwillbecomeawarethatthemorethecircuitiscreated,themorethoughtsaredropping;theyaredroppinglikeyellowleavesfromatree.Thoughtsaredropping.Themindisbecomingmoreandmoreempty.Remainalertandsoonyouwillseethatyouarebutthereisnoego.YoucannotsayI.Somethinggreaterthanyouhashappenedtoyou.Youandyourpartner,bothhavedissolvedintothatgreaterenergy.Butthismergershouldnotbecomeunconscious,otherwiseyoumissthepoint.Thenitisabeautifulsexact,butnottransformation.Itisbeautiful,nothingiswronginit,butitisnottransformation.Andifitisunconsciousthenyouwillalwaysbemovinginarut.Againandagainyouwillwanttohavethisexperience.Theexperienceisbeautifulasfarasitgoes,butitwillbecomearoutine.Andeachtimeyouhaveit,againmoredesireiscreated.Themoreyouhaveit,themoreyoudesireit,andyoumoveinaviciouscircle.Youdon'tgrow,youjustrotate.Rotationisbad,becausethengrowthisnothappening.Thenenergyissimplywasted.Eveniftheexperienceisgoodtheenergyiswasted,becausemuchmorewaspossible.Anditwasjustatthecorner,justaturn,andmuchmorewaspossible.Withthesameenergythedivinecouldhavebeenachieved.Withthesameenergytheultimateecstasyispossible,andyouarewastingthatenergyinmomentaryexperiences.Andbyandby,thoseexperienceswillbecomeboring;becauserepeatedagainandagain,everythingbecomesboring.Whenthenewnessislost,boredomiscreated. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds56 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Ifyouremainalertyouwillsee:rst,changesofenergyinthebody;second,droppingofthethoughtsfromthemind;andthird,droppingoftheegofromtheheart.Thesethreethingshavetobeobserved,watchedcarefully.Andwhenthethirdhashappenedsexenergyhasbecomemeditativeenergy.Nowyouarenolongerinsex.Youmaybelyingwithyourbeloved,bodiestogether,butyouarenomorethere–youaretransplantedintoanewworld.ThisiswhatShivagoesontalkingaboutinVIGYANBHAIRAVTANTRAandinothertantrabooks.Hegoesontalkingaboutthisphenomenon:youaretransmuted,amutationhashappened.Thiswillhappenthroughwitnessing.Ifyoufollowsuppression,youcanbecomeso-calledhumanbeings–bogus,supercial,hollowwithin;justdummies,notauthentic,notreal.Ifyoudon'tfollowsuppressionbutfollowindulgence,youwillbecomelikeananimal–beautiful,morebeautifulthanso-calledcivilizedman,butjustanimals–notalert,notaware,notconsciousofthepossibilityofgrowth,ofthehumanpotential.Ifyoutransformtheenergy,thenyoubecomedivine.Andremember,whenIsaydivine,boththingsareimpliedinit.Thewildanimalwithitstotalbeautyofbeingisthere.Thatwildanimalisnotrejectedanddenied.Heisthere–richer,becauseheismorealert.Soallthewildnessisthereandthebeautyofit.Andallthatcivilizationhasbeentryingtoforceisthere,butspontaneous,notforced.Oncetheenergyistransformed,natureandgodmeetinyou–naturewithitsbeauty,godwithtotalgrace.Thisiswhatasagemeans.Asagemeansameetingofnatureandthedivine,ameetingofthecreatedandthecreator,ameetingofbodyandsoul,ameetingofthatwhichisbelowandofthatwhichisabove,ameetingoftheearthandthesky.SaysLaoTzu:Taohappenswhenearthandheavenmeet.Thisisthemeeting.Witnessingisthebasicsource.Butitwillbedifculttobecomeawitnessinthesexactifyouarenottryingtobecomeawitnessinotheractsofyourlife.Sotryitthewholeday,otherwiseyouwillbeinself-deception.Ifyoucannotbecomeawitnesswhilewalkingontheroad,don'ttrytodeceiveyourself,youcannotbecomeawitnesswhilemakinglove.Ifjustwalkingontheroad,suchasimpleprocess,andyoucannotbecomeawitness–youbecomeunconsciousinit–howcanyoubecomeawitnesswhilemakinglove?Theprocessissodeep...youwillfallunconscious.Youfallunconsciouswhilewalkingontheroad.Tryit:evenforafewsecondsyouwillnotbeabletoremember.Tryit;walkingontheroadjusttry:IwillrememberIamwalking,Iamwalking,Iamwalking.Afterafewsecondsyouhaveforgotten.Somethingelse.haspoppedintothemind,youhavefollowedsomeotherdirection,youhavecompletelyforgotten.Andsuddenlyyouremember:Ihaveforgotten.Soifsuchasmallactlikewalkingcannotbemadeconscious,itisgoingtobedifculttomakeloveaconsciousmeditation.Sotrywithsimplethings,simpleactivities.Whileeating,tryit.Whilewalking,tryit.Whiletalking,listening,tryit.Tryfromeverywhere.Makeitaconstanthammeringinside;letyourwholebodyandmindknowthatyouaremakinganefforttobealert. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds57 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Onlythensomedayinlovethewitnessingwillhappen.Andwhenithappens,ecstasyhashappenedtoyou–therstglimpseofthedivinehasdescendeduponyou.Fromthatmomentonwardssexwillnotbesexatall.Andsoonerorlatersexwilldisappear.ThisdisappearancegivesyouBRAHMACHARYA–thenyoubecomeacelibate.MonksintheCatholicmonasteries,ormonksfollowingtraditionalJainism,orothertypesofmonks,areonlycelibatesforthename'ssake,becausetheirmindgoesonmakinglove–moresothanyourmind.Forthem,sexbecomescerebral,whichistheworstpossiblethingthatcanhappen,becauseitisaperversion.IfyouTHINKaboutsex,itisaperversion.Makingloveisnatural;thinkingaboutit,constantlybeinginvolvedinsideinthemind,isaperversion.Theso-calledmonksarepervertedbeings,notbecausetheyaremonks,butbecausetheyhavechosenthepathofsuppression,whichisawrongpath,whichleadsnowhere.Jesus,Mahavira,orBuddha,theyarefollowingthepathofwitnessing.Thenbrahmacharyahappens.Thisword'brahmacharya'isverybeautiful.Theverywordmeans:thewaythedivinebehaves.Thewaythedivinebehaves–brahmacharya.Ithasnothingtosayagainstsex;itisnotagainstsexatall,theword.Thewordsimplysaysthisishowthedivineacts,behaves,moves,walks.Onceyouhaveknownthesatorithatispossiblebywitnessingthesexact,yourwholelifewillbetransformed,youwillstartbehavinglikeagod.Whatarethecharacteristicsofthebehaviorofagod?Howdoesthedivinebehave?Onething:heisnotdependent,heisabsolutelyindependent.Hegiveshislovetoyou,butthisisnotaneed.Hegivesoutofhisabundance,hehastoomuch.Yousimplyunburdenhimifyoutakeit,butthisisnotaneed.Andthegodisacreator.Wheneversexhasbecomeatransformedforce,yourlifebecomescreative.Sexiscreativeforce.Rightnowitmovesintobiology;itcreatesnewbeings,itgivesbirth.Whenthereisnosexandtheenergyistransforming,itmovesintoanewworldofcreativity.Thenmanynewdimensionsofcreativitybecomeopentoyou.Itisnotthatyouwillstartpainting,ormakingpoetry,ordoingsomethingelse–notthat.Itmayhappen,itmaynothappen,butwhatsoeveryoudowillbecomeacreativeact,whatsoeveryoudowillbecomeartistic.EvenBuddhasittingunderhisbodhitree,notdoinganything,iscreative.TheWAYheissitting,theverywayheissittingthere,heiscreatingaforce,anenergy,vibrationsallaroundhim.MuchresearchhasbeendonerecentlyonEgyptianpyramids,andtheyhavecometoknowmanymysteriousfacts.Oneofthefactsisthattheshapeofthepyramid,theveryshape,ismysterious.Suddenlyscientistsbecameawarethatifyouputadeadbodyinapyramiditwillbepreservedwithoutanychemicals;justtheshapehelpspreservation.ThenonescientistinGermanythought:Iftheshapecandosomuchthatthebodyispreservedautomatically–justbytheshape,justthepressureoftheshape....Sohetrieditonhisrazorblade.Hemadeasmallpyramid,acardboardpyramid,andtrieditwithhisusedrazorblade.Withinhourstherazorbladewasagainreadytobeused.Theshape,hadgivensharpnessagaintotheblade.Thenhepatentedit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds58 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Onerazorbladecanbeusedforyourwholelife:youjustputitinthepyramid.Nothingistobedone;justtheshapegivessharpnessagain,againandagain.Nowscientistssaythateveryshapecreatesaparticularmilieu.ABuddhaissittingunderabodhitree:thewayhesits,theposture,thegesture,theveryphenomenonofhisbeingtherewithoutanyego,iscreatingmillionsofvibrationsaround.Theywillgoonspreading.EvenwhenthisBuddhahasdisappearedfromthistree,thosevibrationswillgoonandonandon–theywilltouchotherplanetsandotherstars.Whereverabuddhavibrationtouchesitiscreative,itgivesyouathrill,itgivesyouanewbreeze.Whensexenergyistransformed,yourwholelifebecomescreative–independent,free,creative.Whatsoeveryoudo,youcreatethroughit.Evenifyoudonotdoanything,non-doingbecomescreative.Justyourverybeingcreatesmuchthatisbeautiful,thatistrue,thatisgood.Nowthestory.Theoldmonkwhosaystotheyounger:Thisisagainsttherules,youshouldnothavetouchedthegirl,isnotonlysayingsobecauseoftherules.Manythingsareimplied.Heisrationalizing;heisfeelingjealous.Andthisishowthehumanmindworks–youcannotsaydirectlythatyouarefeelingjealous.Thegirl,abeautifulgirl,wasstandingneartheriver.Thesunwassetting,downanddown,andthegirlwasafraid.Thencamethisoldmonkwhowasgoingtohismonastery.Helookedatthegirl,becauseitisverydifcultforamonktomissagirlandnottolookather.Verydifcultforamonk,heissoobsessedwithwomen!Heisghtinghard.Heisconstantlyawarethattheenemyisthereinthewoman.Youcanmissafriendbutyoucannotmissanenemy–youhavetoseehim.Ifyoupassdownthestreetandtheenemyisthere,itisimpossiblenottoseehim.Friendscanbepassedwithoutevenbecomingawarethattheyarethere.Butenemies,no–becausewiththeenemyisfear.Andabeautifulgirl,standinglonely,nobodyelse!Thegirlwantedsomebodytohelpher–theriverwasunknownandshewasafraidtocrossit.Thisoldmanmusthavetriedtoclosehiseyes,musthavetriedtoclosehisheart,musthavetriedtoclosehissexcentre,becausethatistheonlyprotectionagainsttheenemy.Hemusthavehurried,hemusthaveavoidedlookingback.Butwhenyouavoid,youlook;whenyoutryNOTtolook,youarelooking.Hiswholemindwaslledwiththegirl.Hiswholebeingwasaroundthegirl.Hewaspassingtheriver,buthewasnotawareoftherivernow–hecouldnotbe.Hewasgoingtothemonastery,buthewasnotinterestedinthemonasterynow;thewholeinterestwasleftbehind.Thensuddenlyheremembersthathiscolleague,anotheryoungmonk,iscoming–theyhadbeenonabeggingtour.Helooksback,andnotonlyistheyoungmonkthere,buttheyoungmonkiscarryingthegirlonhisshoulders!Thismusthavecreatedadeepjealousyintheoldman.Thisiswhathewouldliketohavedone.Becauseoftheruleshecouldn'tdoit.Buthemusttakerevenge!Theywalkedinsilenceformiles,andatthemonasterygatetheoldmansuddenlysaid:Thiswasnotgood–thisisagainsttherules. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds59 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Thatsilencewasfalse.Forallthosemilestheoldmanwasthinkinghowtotakerevenge,howtocondemnthisyoungman.Hewascontinuouslyobsessed;otherwisenothinghappenssosuddenly,mindisacontinuity.Forthesetwoorthreemileshewascontinuouslythinkingwhattodo,andonlynowhespeaks.Itisnotsudden.Insidetherehasbeenacurrent,arunningcurrent.Andhesays:Thisisnotgood,itisagainsttherules,andIwillhavetoreportittotheabbot,tothechiefofthemonastery,tothemaster.Youhavebrokenarule,averybasicrule,thatnomonkshouldtouchawoman.Youhavenotonlytouchedher,youhavecarriedheronyourshoulders.Theyoungmonkmusthavefeltamazed.Sosudden...becausetherewasnogirlnow,noriver,nobodycarryingher.Thewholethinghashappenedinthepast.Forthreemilestheyhavebeencompletelysilent.Andtheyoungmonksaid:Ileftthatgirlonthebankoftheriverbutyouarestillcarryingher.Thisisadeepinsight.Youcancarrythingswhichyouarenotcarrying;youmaybeburdenedbythingswhicharenotthere;youmaybecrushedbythingswhichdon'texist.Theoldmonkisonthepathofrepression.Theyoungmonkisasymbolofanefforttowardstransformation–becausetransformationacceptsthewoman,theman,theother.Becausetransformationhastohappenthroughtheother,theotherwillparticipateinit.Suppression,repression,rejectstheother,isagainsttheother.Theotherhastobedestroyed.Thisstoryisbeautiful.Thenewmonkistheway.Don'tbecometheoldmonks,becomethenew.Acceptlifeasitisandtrytobealert.Thisyoungmonkmusthaveremainedalertwhilecarryingthegirlonhisshoulders.Andifyouarealert,whatcanthegirldo?Thereisasmallanecdote:OnemonkisleavingBuddha.Heisgoingonatourtospreadthemessage.SoheasksBuddha:WhatshouldIdoaboutwomen?Thatisalwaystheproblemwithmonks.Buddhasays:Don'tlookatthem.Thisisthesimplestway:justcloseyourself.Don'tlookatthemmeansjustcloseyourself,forgetthattheyare.Alas,theproblemisnotsoeasy.Haditbeensoeasythenallthosewhoknowhowtoclosethemselveswouldhavebeentransformed.OneofBuddha'sdisciples,Ananda,whoknowstheproblemisnotsoeasy....ForBuddhaitmaylookeasy.Thisisaproblem:youcomewithaproblemtome;itmaybeeasyforme,butthatisnotgoingtohelp.AnandaknowsBuddhahasrepliedcasually:Don'tlookatthem.SoeasyforBuddha!Anandasays:Butitisnotsoeasy.And,Bhagwan,heasks,ifthereisasituationwherewehavetolook,ifwecannotavoidlooking,thenwhatistobedone?Buddhasays:Don'ttouch.Alookisalsoatouch–throughtheeyes.Youreachthroughtheeyesandtouch.That'swhyifyoustareatawomanformorethanthreeseconds,shewillbecomeuneasy.Threesecondsisthemaximumlimitallowed.Itisallowedbecauseinlifewehavetolookateachother.Butmorethanthreesecondsandthewomanwillbecomeuneasybecauseyouaretouchingher.Nowyouareusingyoureyesashands.SoBuddhasays:Don'ttouch.ButAnandaispersistent.Anandahasdonesuchgreatworkforthewholeofhumanitybecausehewouldalwayspersist.Hesaid:Sometimesthereareevensituations MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds60 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? whenwehavetotouch.Whatdoyousaythen?Ifthewomanisillorthewomanhasfalleninthestreetandthereisnobodyelsetohelpandwehavetotouch.Ifthesituationissuch,thenwhatshouldwedo?Buddhalaughsandhesays:Thenbealert!ThelastthingBuddhasaysistherst.Closingtheeyeswon'thelp,non-touchingwon'thelp–becauseyoucantouchinimagination,youcanseeinimagination.Arealwomanisnotneeded,arealmanisnotneeded.Justcloseyoureyes...andyoucanhaveanimaginaryworldofwomenandmen.Andyoucantouchandyoucansee.Finally,onlyonethingcanhelp;bealert.Thisoldmonkcannothaveheardthewholestory,allBuddha'sthreeanswers.Heremainedwiththersttwo.Theyoungmonkhasunderstoodthething–bealert.Hemusthavecomenearthegirl...desirearises...bealertthatthedesirehasarisen.Theproblemisnotthegirl,becausehowcanthegirlbeyourproblem?Sheisherproblem,notyourproblem.Thedesirearisesinyou,thedesireforwoman–thatistheproblem.Thegirlisnotatallthequestion.Anygirl,anywomanwoulddothesame.Sheisjustapointofreference.Seeingthegirl,thedesirehasarisen.Tobealertmeanstobealerttothisdesire,thatthedesirehascometome.Now,amanwhoisonthepathofrepressionwillsuppressthisdesire,closehiseyestowardstheobjectandrunaway.Thatisarun-awaymethod.Butwherecanyourun,becauseyouarerunningfromyourself?Youcanrunfromthewomanwhoisstandingontheriverbank,butyoucannotrunfromthedesirethatisarisingwithinyou.Whereveryougo,thedesirewillbethere.Bealertthatthedesirehasarisen.Don'treallydoanythingwiththewoman.Ifsheasks:Helpme!–helpher.Ifshesays:IamafraidandIcannotcrossthisriver,carrymeonyourshoulders–carryher!Sheisgivingyouagoldenopportunitytobealert.Andbethankfultowardsher.Justbealert,feelwhatisarisinginyou.Whatishappeninginyou?Youarecarryingthegirl,whatishappeninginyou?Ifyouarealert,thenthereisnowoman–onlyalittleweightonyourshoulders,that'sall.Ifyouarenotalert,thenthereisawoman.Ifyouarealert,thenitisjustbones,pressing,weight.Ifyouarenotalert,thenitisallthatdesirecancreate,thefantasy,themaya,theillusion.Carryingagirlonyourshoulders,botharepossible.Ifyoulosealertnessforasinglemoment,suddenlythemayaissittingonyourshoulders.Ifyouarealert,justalittleweight,that'sall...carryingaweight.Thisyoungmancrossingtheriverwaspassingthroughagreatdiscipline.Notavoidingthesituationthatislife–notavoidinglife;passingthroughitwithanalertmind.Manytimeshemayhavemissed.Manytimeshemayhavecompletelyforgotten.Thenthewholeillusionandthemayawasthere.Manytimeshemayhaverecapturedhisalertnessagainwhensuddenlythereislightanddarknessdisappears.Butitmusthavebeenbeautifultoexperiencethisalertness.Thenhedroppedthegirlontheotherbankandstartedwalkingtowardshismonastery,stillalert–becauseitisnotaquestionofwhetherthewomanisthereornot:thememorycanfollow.Hemaynothaveenjoyedthewoman,hertouch,whilecrossingtheriver–buthemayenjoyitnowinthememory. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds61 Osho CHAPTER6.AREYOUSTILLCARRYINGHER? Hemusthaveremainedalert.Hewassilent,hissilencewastrue.Truesilencealwayscomesthroughalertness.That'swhyhesays:Ihaveleftthegirlthere,backattheriver.Iamnotcarryingheratall.Youarestillcarryingher.Intheoldmonk'smindthingsarecontinuing.Andhehasnotdoneanything,hehasnoteventouchedthegirl.Sodoingisnotthequestion;itismind,howyourmindisfunctioning.Bealert,andbyandbyenergiesaretransformed.Theolddiesandthenewisborn.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds62 Osho CHAPTER7 TheMysteryofRelationship 16May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTOURLIVINGPARTNERS–OURWIVES,HUSBANDSANDLOVERS.WHENSHOULDWEPERSEVEREWITHAPARTNER,ANDWHENSHOULDWEABANDONARELATIONSHIPASHOPELESS–OREVENDESTRUCTIVE?ANDAREOURRELATIONSHIPSINFLUENCEDBYPREVIOUSLIVES?Relationshipisoneofthemysteries.Andbecauseitexistsbetweentwopersons,itdependsonboth.Whenevertwopersonsmeet,anewworldiscreated.Justbytheirmeeting,anewphenomenoncomesintoexistence–whichwasnotbefore,whichneverexistedbefore.Andthroughthatnewphenomenon,bothpersonsarechangedandtransformed.Unrelated,youareonething;related,immediatelyyoubecomesomethingelse.Anewthinghashappened.Awomanwhenshebecomesaloverisnolongerthesamewoman.Amanwhenhebecomesafatherisnolongerthesameman.Achildisborn,butwemissonepointcompletely;themomentthechildisborn,themotherisalsoborn.Thisneverexistedbefore.Thewomanexisted,butthemothernever.Andamotherissomethingabsolutelynew. 63 CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Relationshipiscreatedbyyou,butthen,initsturn,relationshipcreatesyou.Twopersonsmeet,thatmeanstwoworldsmeet.Itisnotasimplethingbutverycomplex,themostcomplex.Eachpersonisaworlduntohimselforherself,acomplexmysterywithalongpastandaneternalfuture.Inthebeginningonlyperipheriesmeet.Butiftherelationshipgrowsintimate,becomescloser,becomesdeeper,thenbyandbycentersstartmeeting.Whencentersmeet,itiscalledlove.Whenperipheriesmeet,itisacquaintance.Youtouchthepersonfromthewithout,justfromtheboundary,thenitisacquaintance.Manytimesyoustartcallingyouracquaintanceyourlove.Thenyouareinafallacy.Acquaintanceisnotlove.Loveisveryrare.Tomeetapersonathiscenteristopassthrougharevolutionyourself,becauseifyouwanttomeetapersonathiscenter,youwillhavetoallowthatpersontoreachtoyourcenteralso.Youwillhavetobecomevulnerable,absolutelyvulnerable,open.Itisrisky.Toallowsomebodytoreachyourcenterisrisky,dangerous,becauseyouneverknowwhatthatpersonwilldotoyou.Andonceallyoursecretsareknown,onceyourhiddennesshasbecomeunhidden,onceyouareexposedcompletely,whatthatotherpersonwilldo,youneverknow.Thefearisthere.That'swhyweneveropen.Justacquaintance,andwethinkthatlovehashappened.Peripheriesmeet,andwethinkwehavemet.Youarenotyourperiphery.Really,theperipheryistheboundarywhereyouend,justthefencingaroundyou.Itisnotyou!Theperipheryistheplacewhereyouendandtheworldbegins.Evenhusbandsandwiveswhomayhavelivedtogetherformanyyearsmaybejustacquaintances.Theymaynothaveknowneachother.Andthemoreyoulivewithsomeone,themoreyouforgetcompletelythatthecentershaveremainedunknown.Sotherstthingtobeunderstoodis:don'ttakeacquaintanceaslove.Youmaybemakinglove,youmaybesexuallyrelated,butsexisalsoperipheral.Unlesscentersmeet,sexisjustameetingoftwobodies.Andameetingoftwobodiesisnotyourmeeting.Sexalsoremainsacquaintance–physical,bodily,butstillacquaintance.Youcanallowsomebodytoentertoyourcenteronlywhenyouarenotafraid,whenyouarenotfearful.SoIsaytoyouthattherearetwotypesofliving.One:fear-oriented;one:love-oriented.Fear-orientedlivingcanneverleadyouintodeeprelationship.Youremainafraid,andtheothercannotbeallowed,cannotbeallowedtopenetrateyoutoyourverycore.Toanextentyouallowtheotherandthenthewallcomesandeverythingstops.Thelove-orientedpersonisthereligiousperson.Thelove-orientedpersonmeansonewhoisnotafraidofthefuture,onewhoisnotafraidoftheresultandtheconsequence,wholiveshereandnow.That'swhatKrishnasaystoArjunaintheGita:Don'tbebotheredabouttheresult.Thatisthefear-orientedmind.Don'tthinkaboutwhatwillhappenoutofit.Justbehere,andacttotally.Don'tcalculate.Afear-orientedmanisalwayscalculating,planning,arranging,safeguarding.Hiswholelifeislostinthisway. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds64 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP IhaveheardaboutanoldZenmonk.Hewasonhisdeathbed.Thelastdayhadcome,andhedeclaredthatthateveninghewouldbenomore.Sofollowers,disciples,friendsstartedcoming.Hehadmanylovers.Theyallstartedcoming.Fromfarandwidepeoplegathered.Oneofhisolddisciples,whenheheardthatthemasterwasgoingtodie,rantothemarket.Somebodyasked:Themasterisdyinginhishut,whyareyougoingtothemarket?Theolddisciplesaid:Iknowthatmymasterlovesaparticulartypeofcake,soIamgoingtopurchasethecake.Itwasdifculttondthecake,becausenowithadgoneoutoffashion,butbytheeveningsomehowhemanaged.Hecamerunningwiththecake.Andeverybodywasworried–itwasasifthemasterwaswaitingforsomeone.Hewouldopenhiseyesandlook,andclosehiseyesagain.Andwhenthisdisciplecame,hesaid:Okay,soyouhavecome.Whereisthecake?Thediscipleproducedthecake–andhewasveryhappythatthemasteraskedaboutthecake.Dying,themastertookthecakeinhishand,buthishandwasnottrembling.Hewasveryold,buthishandwasnottrembling.Sosomebodyasked:Youaresooldandjustonthevergeofdying.Thelastbreathissoontoleaveyou,butyourhandisnottrembling.Themastersaid:Inevertremble,becausethereisnofear.Mybodyhasbecomeold,butIamstillyoung,andIwillremainyoungevenwhenthebodyisgone.Thenhetookabite,startedmunchingthecake.Andthensomebodyasked:Whatisyourlastmessage,Master?Youwillbeleavingussoon.Whatdoyouwantustoremember?Themastersmiledandsaid:Ah,thiscakeisdelicious.Thisisamanwholivesinthehereandnow:Thiscakeisdelicious.Evendeathisirrelevant.Thenextmomentismeaningless.THISmomentthiscakeisdelicious.Ifyoucanbeinthismoment,thispresentmoment,thispresentness,theplenitude,thenonlycanyoulove.Loveisarareowering.Ithappensonlysometimes.Millionsandmillionsofpeopleliveinthefalseattitudethattheyarelovers.Theybelievethattheylove,butthatistheirbeliefonly.Loveisarareowering.Sometimesithappens.Itisrarebecauseitcanhappenonlywhenthereisnofear,neverbefore.Thatmeanslovecanhappenonlytoaverydeeplyspiritual,religiousperson.Sexispossibleforall.Acquaintanceispossibleforall.Notlove.Whenyouarenotafraid,thenthereisnothingtohide,thenyoucanbeopen,thenyoucanwithdrawallboundaries.Andthenyoucaninvitetheothertopenetrateyoutotheverycore.Andremember,ifyouallowsomebodytopenetrateyoudeeply,theotherwillallowyoutopenetrateintohimselforherself,becausewhenyouallowsomebodytopenetrateyou,trustiscreated.Whenyouarenotafraid,theotherbecomesfearless.Inyourlove,fearisalwaysthere.Thehusbandisafraidofthewife,thewifeisafraidofthehusband.Loversarealwaysafraid.Thenitisnotlove.Thenitisjustanarrangementoftwofearfulpersons MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds65 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP dependingoneachother,ghting,exploiting,manipulating,controlling,dominating,possessing–butitisnotlove.Ifyoucanallowlovetohappen,thereisnoneedforprayer,thereisnoneedformeditation,thereisnoneedforanychurch,anytemple.YoucancompletelyforgetGodifyoucanlove–becausethroughlove,everythingwillhavehappenedtoyou:meditation,prayer,God.EVERYTHINGwillhavehappenedtoyou.That'swhatJesusmeanswhenhesays:LoveisGod.Butloveisdifcult.Fearhastobedropped.Andthisisthestrangething,thatyouaresoafraidandyouhavenothingtolose.Kabirhassaidsomewhere:Ilookintopeople.Theyaresomuchafraid,butIcan'tseewhy–becausetheyhavenothingtolose.SaysKabir:Theyarelikeapersonwhoisnaked,butnevergoestotakeabathintheriverbecauseheisafraid–wherewillhedryhisclothes?Thisisthesituationyouarein–naked,withnoclothes,butalwaysafraidabouttheclothes.Whathaveyougottolose?Nothing.Thisbodywillbetakenbydeath.Beforeitistakenbydeath,giveittolove.Whatsoeveryouhavewillbetakenaway.Beforeitistakenaway,whynotshareit?ThatistheONLYwayofpossessingit.Ifyoucanshareandgive,youarethemaster.Itisgoingtobetakenaway.Thereisnothingwhichyoucanretainforever.Deathwilldestroyeverything.So,ifyoufollowmerightly,thestruggleisbetweendeathandlove.Ifyoucangive,therewillbenodeath.Beforeanythingcanbetakenawayfromyou,youwillhavealreadygivenit,youwillhavemadeitagift.Therecanbenodeath.Foraloverthereisnodeath.Foranon-lover,everymomentisadeath,becauseeverymomentsomethingisbeingsnatchedawayfromhim.Thebodyisdisappearing,heislosingeverymoment.Andthentherewillbedeath,andeverythingwillbeannihilated.Whatisthefear?Whyareyousoafraid?Evenifeverythingisknownaboutyouandyouareanopenbook,whyfear?Howcanitharmyou?Justfalseconceptions,justconditioningsgivenbythesociety,thatyouhavetohide,thatyouhavetoprotectyourself,thatyouhavetobeconstantlyinaghtingmood,thateverybodyisanenemy,thateverybodyisagainstyou.Nobodyisagainstyou!Evenifyoufeelsomebodyisagainstyou,hetooisnotagainstyou–becauseeverybodyisconcernedwithhimself,notwithyou.Thereisnothingtofear.Thishastoberealizedbeforearealrelationshipcanhappen.Thereisnothingtofear.Meditateonit.Andthenallowtheothertoenteryou,invitetheothertoenteryou.Don'tcreateanybarrieranywhere,becomeapassagealwaysopen,nolocks,nodoorsonyou,nocloseddoorsonyou.Thenloveispossible.Whentwocentersmeet,thereislove.Andloveisanalchemicalphenomenon–justlikehydrogenandoxygenmeetandanewthing,water,iscreated.Youcanhavehydrogen,youcanhaveoxygen,butifyouarethirsty,theywillbeuseless.Youcanhaveasmuchoxygenasyouwant,asmuchhydrogenasyoulike,butthethirstwillnotgo. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds66 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Whentwocentersmeetanewthingiscreated.Thatnewthingislove.Anditisjustlikewater,thethirstofmany,manylivesissatised.Suddenlyyoubecomecontent.Thatisthevisiblesignoflove;youbecomecontent,asifyouhaveachievedeverything.Thereisnothingtoachievenow;Youhavereachedthegoal.Thereisnofurthergoal,destinyisfullled.Theseedhasbecomeaower,hascometoitstotalowering.Deepcontentmentisthevisiblesignoflove.Wheneverapersonisinlove,heisindeepcontentment.Lovecannotbeseen,butcontentment,thedeepsatisfactionaroundhim...hiseverybreath,hiseverymovement,hisverybeing–content.YoumaybesurprisedwhenIsaytoyouthatlovemakesyoudesireless,butdesireiswithdiscontent.Youdesirebecauseyoudon'thave.Youdesirebecauseyouthinkifyouhavesomethingitwillgiveyoucontentment.Desireisoutofdiscontent.Whenthereisloveandtwocentershavemetanddissolvedandmerged,andanewalchemicalqualityisborn,contentmentisthere.Itisasifthewholeexistencehasstopped–nomovement.Thenthepresentmomentistheonlymoment.Andthenyoucansay:Ah,thiscakeisdelicious.Evendeathdoesn'tmeananythingtoamanwhoisinlove.SoIsaytoyou,lovewillmakeyoudesireless.Befearless,dropfears,beopen.Allowsomecentertomeetthecenterwithinyou.youwillberebornthroughit,anewqualityofbeingwillbecreated.Thisqualityofbeingsays:Thisisgod.Godisnotanargument,itisafulllment,afeelingoffulllment.Youmayhaveobservedthatwheneveryouarediscontent,youwanttodenyGod.Wheneveryouaredissatised,yourwholebeingwantstosay:ThereisnoGod.Atheismisnotoutoflogic,itisoutofdiscontent.Youmayrationalizeit–that'sanotherthing.Youmaynotsayyouareanatheistbecauseyouarediscontent.Youmaysay:ThereisnoGodandIhavegotproofs.Butthatisnotthetruething.Ifyouaresatised,suddenlyyourwholebeingsays:THEREisgod.Suddenlyyoufeelit!Thewholeexistencebecomesdivine.Ifloveisthereyouwillbereallyforthersttimeinthefeelingthatexistenceisdivineandeverythingisablessing.Butmuchhastobedonebeforethiscanhappen.Muchhastobedestroyedbeforethiscanhappen.Youhavetodestroyallthatcreatesbarriersinyou.MakeloveaSADHANA,aninnerdiscipline.Don'tallowitjusttobeafrivolousthing.Don'tallowitjusttobeanoccupationofthemind.Don'tallowitjusttobeabodilysatisfaction.Makeitaninnersearch,andtaketheotherasahelp,asafriend.IfyouhaveheardanythingaboutTantra,youwillknowthatTantrasays:Ifyoucanndaconsort,afriend,awomanoraman,whoisreadytomovewithyoutowardstheinnercenter,whoisreadytomovewithyoutothehighestpeakofrelationship,thenthisrelationshipwillbecomemeditative.Thenthroughthisrelationshipyouwillachievetheultimaterelationship.Thentheotherbecomesjustadoor.Letmeexplainit:ifyouloveaperson,byandbyrsttheperipheryofthepersondisappears,theformofthepersondisappears.Youcomemoreandmoreincontactwiththeformless,theinner. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds67 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Theformbecomes,byandby,vagueanddisappears.Andifyougodeeper,theneventhisformlessindividualstartsdisappearingandmelting.Thenthebeyondopens.Thenthatparticularindividualwasjustadoor,anopening.Andthroughyourlover,youndthedivine.Becausewecannotlove,weneedsomanyreligiousrituals.Theyaresubstitutes,andverypoorsubstitutes.AMeeraneedsnotempletogoto.Thewholeexistenceishertemple.ShecandancebeforeatreeandthetreebecomesKrishna.ShecansingbeforeabirdandthebirdbecomesKrishna.ShecreatesherKrishnaaroundhereverywhere.HerloveissuchthatwherevershelooksthedooropensandtheKrishnaisrevealed,thebelovedisrevealed.Buttherstglimpsewillalwayscomethroughanindividual.Itisdifculttobeincontactwiththeuniversal.Itissobig,sovast,sobeginningless,endless.Fromwheretostart?Fromwheretomoveintoit?Theindividualisthedoor.Fallinlove.Anddon'tmakeitastruggle.Makeitadeepallowancefortheother,justaninvitation.Andallowtheothertopenetrateyouwithoutanyconditions.AndsuddenlytheotherdisappearsandGodisthere.Ifyourloverorbelovedcannotbecomedivine,thennothinginthisworldcanbecomedivine.Thenallyourreligioustalkisjustnonsense.Thiscanhappenwithachild.Thiscanhappenwithananimal,yourdog.Ifyoucanbeindeeprelationshipwithadog,itcanhappen–thedogbecomesdivine!Soitisnotaquestionofmanandwomanonly.Thatisoneofthedeepestsourcesofthedivineanditreachesyounaturally,butitcanhappenfromanywhere.Thebasickeyisthis:youshouldallowtheothertopenetrateyoutoyourverydeepestcore,totheverygroundofyourbeing.Butwegoondeceivingourselves.Wethinkwelove.Andifyouthinkthatyoulove,thenthereisnopossibilityforlovetohappen–becauseifthisislove,theneverythingisclosed.Makefreshefforts.Trytondintheothertherealbeingthatishidden.Don'ttakeanybodyforgranted.Everyindividualissuchamysterythatifyougoonandonintohimitisendless.Butwegetboredwiththeother–becausejusttheperiphery,andalwaystheperiphery.Iwasreadingastory:Amanwasveryillandhetriedalltypesof”pathies,”butnothingwouldhelp.Thenhewenttoahypnotistandthehypnotistgavehimamantra,torepeatcontinuously:Iamnotill.Foratleastfteenminutesinthemorningandfteenminutesatnight:Iamnotill,Iamhealthy.Andthewholeday,wheneveryouremember,repeatit.Withinafewdayshestartedgettingbetter.Andwithinweekshewasabsolutelyokay.Thenhetoldhiswife:Thishasbeenamiracle!ShouldIgotothishypnotistforanothermiraclealso?BecauselatelyIamfeelingnosexualappetiteandthesexualrelationshiphasalmoststopped.Thereisnodesire.Thewifewashappy.Shesaid:Yougo–becauseshewasfeelingveryfrustrated.Themanwenttothehypnotist.Hecameback,hiswifeasked:Whatmantra,whatsuggestionnowhashegiven?Themanwouldn'ttellher.Butwithinweekshissexualappetitestartedreturning.Hestartedfeelingdesireagain.Sothewifewasverymuchpuzzled.Shecontinuouslypersistedin MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds68 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP asking,butthemanwouldlaughandwouldnotsayanything.Soonedayshetried,whenhewasinthebathroominthemorningdoinghismeditation,thatfteen-minutemantra,shetriedtohearwhathewassaying.Andhewassaying:Sheisnotmywife.Sheisnotmywife.Sheisnotmywife.Wetakepersonsforgranted.Somebodyisyourwife–relationshipisnished.Somebodyisyourhusband–relationshipisnished.Nowthereisnoadventure,theotherhasbecomeathing,acommodity.Theotherisnotnowamysterytobesearchedtheotherisnomorenew.Remember,everythinggoesdeadwithage.Theperipheryisalwaysold,andthecenterisalwaysnew.Theperipherycannotremainnew,becauseeverymomentitisgettingold,stale.Thecenterisalwaysfreshandyoung.Yoursoulisneitherachild,norayoungman,noranoldman.Yoursoulissimplyeternallyfresh.Ithasnoage.Youcanexperimentwithit:youmaybeyoung,youmaybeold,justcloseyoureyesandndout.Trytofeelhowyourcenteris–old?young?Youwillfeelthatthecenterisneither.Itisalwaysnew,itnevergetsold.Why?Becausethecenterdoesn'tbelongtotime.Intheprocessoftime,everythingbecomesold.Amanisborn–thebodyhasstartedbecomingoldalready!Whenwesaythatachildisoneweekold,itmeansoneweekofoldnesshaspenetratedintothechild.Thechildhasalreadypassedsevendaystowardsdeath,hehascompletedsevendaysofdying.Heismovingtowardsdeath–soonerorlaterhewillbedead.Whatsoevercomesintimebecomesold.Themomentitenterstime,itisalreadybecomingold.Yourbodyisold,yourperipheryisold.Youcannotbeeternallyinlovewithit.Butyourcenterisalwaysfresh,itiseternallyyoung.Onceyouareincontactwithit,loveisanevery-momentdiscovery.Andthenthehoneymoonneverends.Ifitendsitwasnotahoneymoonatall–itwasjustanacquaintance.Andthelastthingtorememberis:intherelationshipofloveyoualwaysblametheotherifsomethinggoeswrong.Ifsomethingisnothappeningasitshould,theotherisresponsible.Thiswilldestroythewholepossibilityoffuturegrowth.Remember:youarealwaysresponsible,andchangeyourself.Dropthosequalitieswhichcreatetrouble.Makeloveaself-transformation.Astheysayinsalesmen'scourses:Thecustomerisalwaysright.Iwouldliketosaytoyou:Intheworldofrelationshipandlove,youarealwaysinthewrong,theotherisalwaysright.Andthisishowloversalwaysfeel.Ifthereislove,theyalwaysfeel:Somethingiswrongwithmeifthingsarenothappeningastheyshould.Andbothfeelthesameway!Thenthingsgrow,thencentersopen,thenboundariesmerge.Butifyouthinkthattheotheriswrong,youareclosingyourselfandtheother.Andtheotheralsothinksthatyouarewrong.Thoughtsareinfectious.Ifyouthinktheotheriswrongevenifyouhavenotsaidit,evenifyouaresmilingandshowingthatyoudon'tthinktheotheriswrong–theotherhasgotthepoint–throughyoureyes,throughyourgestures,throughyourface.Evenifyouareanactor,agreatactor,andyoucanjustarrangeyourface,yourgesturesasyoulike,thentoothe MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds69 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP unconsciousiscontinuouslysendingsignals:Youarewrong.Andwhenyousaythattheotheriswrong,theotherstartsfeelingthatyouarewrong.Relationshipisdestroyedonthisrock,andthenpeoplebecomeclosed.Ifyousaysomebodyiswrong,somebodystartsprotecting,safeguarding.Thenclosurehappens.Rememberalways:inlove,youarealwayswrong.Andthenthepossibilitywillopenandtheotherwillalsofeelthesame.Wecreatethefeelingintheother.Whenloversareclose,immediatelythoughtsgojumpingfromonetotheother.Eveniftheyarenotsayinganything,theyaresilent,theycommunicate.Languageisfornon-lovers,thosewhoarenotinlove.Forlovers,silenceisenoughlanguage.Withoutsayinganything,theygoonspeaking.Ifyoutakeloveassadhana,thendon'tsaytheotheriswrong.Justtrytondout:somewhere,somethingmustbewronginyou,anddropthatwrongness.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecauseitisgoingtobeagainsttheego.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecauseitwillhurtyourpride.Itisgoingtobedifcultbecausethiswillnotbedominating,possessing.Youwillnotbemorepowerfulthroughpossessingtheother.Thiswilldestroyyourego–that'swhyitisgoingtobedifcult.Butdestructionoftheegoisthepoint,thegoal.Fromwhereveryouliketoapproachtheinnerworld–fromlove,frommeditation,fromyoga,fromprayer–whatsoeverthepathyouchoose,thegoalisthesame:thedestructionoftheego,throwingtheegoaway.Throughloveitcanbedoneveryeasily.Anditissonatural!Loveisthenaturalreligion.Anythingelseisgoingtobemoreandmoreunnatural.Ifyoucannotworkthroughlove,itwillbedifcultforyoutoworkthroughanythingelse.Don'tthinkmuchaboutpastlives,anddon'tthinkmuchaboutthefuture.Thepresentisenough.Don'tthinkthatrelationshipiscomingfromthepast–itiscomingfromthepast,butdon'tthinkaboutitbecausethenyouwillgetmorecomplicated.Makethingseasier.Itisgoingon–fromyourpastlivesthingshaveacontinuity,soIdon'tdenythefact,butdon'tgetburdenedbyit.Itwillcontinueinthefuture,butdon'tthinkaboutit.Thepresentismorethanenough.Munchthecakeandsay:THIScakeisdelicious.Don'tthinkofthepastanddon'tthinkofthefuture;theywilltakecareofthemselves.Nothingisdiscontinuous.Youhavebeeninrelationshipsinthepast.Youhaveloved,youhavehated,youhavemadefriendsandyouhavemadeenemies.Thatcontinues,known,unknowntoyou,itisalwaysthere.Butifyoustartbroodingaboutit,youwillmissthepresentmoment.Sothinkasifthereisnopast,andthinkasifthereisnofuture.THISmomentisallthatisgiventoyou.Workitout,asifthismomentisall.Behaveasifthismomentisallandworkouthowyoucantransformyourenergiesintoalovingphenomenon–thisverymoment. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds70 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP Peoplecometomeandtheywanttoknowabouttheirpastlives.TheyHADpastlives,butitisirrelevant.Whythisinquiry?Whatareyougoingtodoaboutthepast?Nothingcanbedonenow.Thepastispastanditcannotbeundone.Youcannotchangeit.Youcannotgoback.That'swhynature,initswisdom,doesn'tallowyoutorememberpastlives.Otherwiseyouwouldgomad.Youmaybeinlovewithagirl.Ifyousuddenlybecomeawarethatthatgirlwasyourmotherinyourpastlife,thingswillbecomeverycomplicated.Thenwhattodo?Andwhenthatgirlhasbeenyourmotherinapastlife,makinglovetohernowwillcreateguilt.Notmakinglovetoherwillalsocreateguilt,becauseyouloveher.That'swhyIsaynatureinitswisdomneverallowsyoutorememberyourpastlives–unlessyoucometoapointwhereitcanbeallowed,whenyoubecomesomeditativethatnothingdisturbsyou,thenthegatesopenandallyourpastlivesarebeforeyou.Itisanautomaticmechanism,thoughsometimesthemechanismdoesn'twork.Throughaccidentssomechildrenarebornwhocanremember.Buttheirlivesaredestroyed.Onegirlwasbroughttomeafewyearsago.Sherememberedherpasttwolives.Shewasonlythirteenatthattime,butifyoulookedinhereyestheylookednearaboutseventy–becausesherememberedseventyyears,twopastlives.Herbodywasthirteenyearsold,buthermindwasseventyyearsold.Shecouldn'tplaywithotherchildren,becausehowcananoldwomanofseventyplaywithchildren?Shewouldtalkandbehavelikeanoldwoman.Andshewasburdened,theworriesofallthoseyearsinhermind.Sherememberedsoaccuratelythathertwopastfamiliescouldbefound.OnewasinAssam,theotherinMadhyaPradesh.Andwhenshecameincontactwithheroldfamilies,shebecamesomuchattachedtothemthatitbecameaproblem;whereshouldshelivenow?Itoldtheparents:Leavethegirlwithmeforatleastthreeweeks.Iwillmakeanefforttohelpherforget,becausethisgirl'slifewillbeaperversion.Shecannotfallinlovewithsomebody–sheissoold!Youroldnessisconcernedwithyourmemory.Ifthememoryspanisofseventyyears,thenyoufeellikeseventy.Andsheseemedsotortured–herface,thefeatures,alltortured.Sheseemedsoillathercenter–uneasy,uncomfortable.Everythingseemedtobewrong.Buttheparentswereenjoyingthewholething,becausepeoplestartedcomingandthenewspapersstartedgivingthereport.Theywereenjoyingthewholething.Theywouldn'tlistentomeandItoldthem:Thisgirlwillgomad.Theyneverbroughtthegirltomeagain.Butaftersevenyears,theycame–thegirlhadgonemad.Theysaid:Nowdosomething.Isaid:Itisnowimpossibletodoanything.Nowonlydeathwillbeahelptoher.Youdon'trememberbecauseitwouldbedifcultforyoutomanage.Eveninthislifeyouaremakingsuchamess–manylivesremembered,youwouldsimplygomad.Don'tthinkaboutit.Itisirrelevantalso.Therelevantpointis:behereandnow,andworkoutyourway.Ifyoucanworkitoutthroughrelationship,beautiful.Ifyoucannotworkitoutthroughrelationship,thenworkitoutinyour MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds71 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP loneliness.Thesearethetwopaths.Lovemeansworkingoutyourpaththroughrelationship.Andmeditation:workingitoutinyourloneliness.Loveandmeditation–thesearethetwopaths.Feelwhichwillsuityou.Thenbringyourtotalenergiestoit,andmoveonthatpath.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,YOURWORDSARESOBEAUTIFUL,YETWEFEELTHEREISALSOANOTHERCOMMUNICATIONHAPPENINGWHENYOUARETALKINGTOUS.WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTSILENTCOMMUNICATION,ANDHOWWECANBECOMEMOREOPENTOIT.Itisalwaysthere.WhileIamtalkingtoyou,IamalsoBEINGtoyou.Talkingisrelatingtoyouthroughtheintellect,andbeingisrelatingtoyouwithmytotality.Whileyouarelisteningtome,ifyouarereallylistening,thenitisnotonlyalisteningtothewords.Listeningtome,yourmindstops.Listeningtome,youarenotthinking.Whenyouarenotthinking,youareopen.Andwhenyouarenotthinkingandyourmindisnotfunctioning,youstartfeeling.ThenIcanoverwhelmyou,Icanmoveandllyou.Wordsareusedonlyasadevice.Imyselfamnotinterestedmuchinwords.ButIhavetospeak,becausethishasbeenmyfeeling:whileIamspeakingyoubecomesilent.IfIamnotspeaking,thenyouarespeakingwithinandyouarenotsilent.Ifyouaresilentwithoutmyspeakingthentherewillbenoneedtospeak.Iamwaitingforthatmomentwhenyoucanjustsitbymyside,justsitnearme,notthinking.Thenthereisnoneedtotalk–becausetalkispartial.ThenIcancomeinmytotalitytoyou,directly,noneedforanymediatingwords.ButifItellyoutositsilentlynearme,youwillnotbeabletositsilently.Youwillgoonchattering,youwillgoontalkingwithin.Aninnertalkwillcontinue.TostopyourinnertalkIhavetotalktoyou,sowhileIamtalkingyouareengaged.Mytalkingisjustlikeatoygiventoachild.Hegoesandplayswiththetoy,andbecomessilent,absorbed.Igiveyoumywordsastoys.Youplaywiththem,andwhileyouareplayingwiththemyouaresoabsorbedthatyoubecomesilent.Wheneversilencehappens,Icanowintoyou.Wordscanbebeautiful,buttheycanneverbetrue.Beautyisanaestheticvalue.Youcanenjoyit,justlikeabeautifulpainting,butnothingmuchwillhappenoutofthatenjoyment.Itisgoodasfarasitgoes,butwordsarenevertrue.Theycannotbebytheirverynature.Truthcanbecommunicatedonlyinsilence.Butthisistheparadox:allthosewhohaveinsistedthattruthcanbecommunicatedonlyinsilencehaveallusedwords.Thisisashame,butnothingcanbedoneaboutit.Wordshavetobeused MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds72 Osho CHAPTER7.THEMYSTERYOFRELATIONSHIP tomakeyousilent.Whilelisteningtomeyoubecomesilent.Thatsilenceissignicant,andthatsilencewillgiveyouglimpsesoftruth.Evenifyouhaveglimpsesoftruththroughmywords,thatglimpsecomesthroughyoursilence,notthroughmywords.EvenifyoufeelabsolutelycertainthatwhatsoeverIamsayingistrue,thatfeelingofabsolutecertaintycomesthroughyoursilence,notthroughmywords.Wheneveryouaresilent,truthisthere.Wheneveryouarechatteringinside,themonkey-chattergoesoninside,youmissthetruthwhichisalwayspresent.WhatsoeverIdo–talktoyou,helpyoutomeditatewithme,forceyouintoacatharsis,orpersuadeyoutodance,tocelebrate–whatsoeverIdo,thereisonlyoneaim:somehowtohelpyoutobecomesilent,becausewheneveryouaresilent,doorsareopen;youareinthetemple.Howyoubecomesilentisnotrelevant.YoubecomesilentandthenIamwithinyou,youarewithinme.Silenceknowsnoboundaries.Insilence,loveishappening.Ihavebecomealovertoyou;youhavebecomealovertome.Insilence,allthatissignicanthappens.Buttobringsilenceisaproblem,arduous.SoIamnotmuchinterestedinwhatIsaytoyou.IaminterestedinwhathappenstoyouwhileIamsayinganything–x,y,z.SometimesIgooncontradictingmyself.TodayIsaysomething,tomorrowIwillsaysomethingelsebecausewhatIsayisnotthepoint.Mytalkingisjustlikepoetry.Iamnotaphilosopher.Imaybeapoet,butIamnotaphilosopher.TomorrowIwillsaysomethingelse;thedayaftertomorrowsomethingelse.Thatisnotthepoint.Mysayingsmaycontradict,butIamnotcontradictory–becausetodayIsaysomethingandyoubecomesilent;tomorrowIsaysomethingabsolutelycontradictoryandyoubecomesilent;thedayaftertomorrowIagainsaysomethingabsolutelycontradictory,allthatIhavesaidcontradictsit,butyoubecomesilent.Yoursilenceismyconsistency.Iamconsistent,constantlyconsistent;contradictingonthesurface,buttheinnercurrentremainsthesame.Andremember,ifIsaythesamethingeverydaytoyou,youwillnotbesilent.Thenyouwillgetboredandyourinnertalkwillstart.IfIgoonsayingthesamething,itwillbecomeold.Whenitisoldyouneednotlistentoit,orevenwithoutlisteningyouknowwhatIamsaying,soyoucancontinueyourinnertalk.Ihavetobeinventive,sayingthings,shockingyousometimes,butoneinnerconsistencyremains,thatistocreatesilenceinyou–becausethenIcanbewithyouandyoucanbewithme.Thelove,thetruthcanowerthere.Wheneverthereissilence,truthowers.Truthisaoweringofsilence.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds73 Osho CHAPTER8 OnlyaRipeFruitFalls 17May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,IFEELTHATTHROUGHDEVELOPINGANATTITUDEOFENDURANCETOWARDSDIFFICULTIES,IHAVEBECOMERESIGNEDTOMUCHOFLIFE.THISRESIGNATIONFEELSLIKEAWEIGHTPUSHINGAGAINSTMYEFFORTTOBECOMEMOREALIVEINMEDITATION.DOESTHISMEANTHATIHAVESUPPRESSEDMYEGO,ANDTHATIMUSTFINDITAGAINBEFOREICANREALLYLOSEIT?Oneofthegreatestproblems...itwillappearveryparadoxical,butthisistrue:beforeyoucanloseyourego,youmustattainit.Onlyaripefruitfallstotheground.Ripenessisall.Anunripeegocannotbethrown,cannotbedestroyed.Andifyoustrugglewithanunripeegotodestroyanddissolveit,thewholeeffortisgoingtobeafailure.Ratherthandestroyingit,youwillnditmorestrengthenedinnewsubtleways.Thisissomethingbasictobeunderstood:theegomustcometoapeak,itmustbestrong,itmusthaveattainedanintegrity–onlythencanyoudissolveit.Aweakegocannotbedissolved.Andthisbecomesaproblem. 74 CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS IntheEast,allthereligionspreachegolessness.SointheEast,everybodyisagainsttheegofromtheverybeginning.Becauseofthisanti-attitude,egoneverbecomesstrong,nevercomestoapointofintegrationfromwhereitcanbethrown.Itisneverripe.SointheEastitisverydifculttodissolvetheego,almostimpossible.IntheWest,thewholeWesterntraditionofreligionandpsychologypropounds,preaches,persuadespeople,tohavestrongegos–becauseunlessyouhaveastrongego,howcanyousurvive?Lifeisastruggle;ifyouareegoless,youwillbedestroyed.Thenwhowillresist?Whowillght?Whowillcompete?Andlifeisacontinuouscompetition.Westernpsychologysays:Attaintotheego,bestronginit.ButintheWestitisveryeasytodissolvetheego.SowheneveraWesternseekerreachestoanunderstandingthategoistheproblem,hecaneasilydissolveit,moreeasilythananyEasternseeker.Thisistheparadox:intheWestegoistaught;intheEastegolessnessistaught.ButintheWestitiseasytodissolvetheego;intheEastitisverydifcult.Thisisgoingtobeahardtaskforyou,rsttoattainandthentolose–becauseyoucanloseonlysomethingwhichyoupossess.Ifyoudon'tpossessit,howcanyouloseit?Youcanbepooronlyifyouarerich.IfyouarenotrichyourpovertycannothavethatbeautywhichJesusgoesonpreaching:Bepoorinspirit.YourpovertycannothavethatsignicancewhichGautamBuddhahaswhenhebecomesabeggar.Onlyarichmancanbecomepoor,becauseyoucanloseonlythatwhichyouhave.Ifyouhaveneverbeenrich,howcanyoubepoor?Yourpovertywillbejustonthesurface;itcanneverbeinthespirit.Onthesurfaceyouwillbepoor,anddeepdownyouwillbehankeringafterriches.Yourspiritwillhankertowardsriches,itwillbeanambition,itwillbeaconstantdesiretoattainriches.Onlyonthesurfacewillyoubepoor.Andyoumayevenconsoleyourselfbysayingthatpovertyisgood.Butyoucannotbepoor–onlyarichman,areallyrichman,canbepoor.Justtohaverichesisnotenoughtobereallyrich.Youmaystillbepoor.Iftheambitionisstillthere,youarepoor.Whatyouhaveisnotthepoint.Ifyouhaveenoughthenthedesiredisappears.Whenyouhaveenoughriches,thedesiredisappears.Disappearanceofthedesireisthecriterionofenoughness.Thenyouarerich–youcandropit,youcanbecomepoor,youcanbecomeabeggarlikeBuddha.Andthenyourpovertyisrich;thenyourpovertyhasakingdomofitsown.Andthesamehappenswitheverything.UpanishadsorLaoTzuorJesusorBuddha–theyallteachthatknowledgeisuseless.Justgettingmoreandmoreknowledgeableisnotmuchhelp.Notonlyisitnotmuchhelp,itcanbecomeabarrier.Knowledgeisnotneeded,butthatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldremainignorant.Yourignorancewillnotbereal.Whenyouhavegatheredenoughknowledgeandyouthrowit,thenignoranceisattained.Thenyoureallybecomeignorant–likeSocrateswhocansay:Iknowonlyonething,thatIdon'tknowanything. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds75 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Thisknowledge,orthisignorance–youcancallitwhateveryoulike–istotallydifferent,thequalityisdifferent,thedimensionhaschanged.Ifyouaresimplyignorantbecauseyouneverattainedtoanyknowledge,yourignorancecannotbewise,itcannotbewisdom–itissimplyabsenceofknowledge.Andthehankeringwillbeinside:Howtogainmoreknowledge?Howtogainmoreinformation?Whenyouknowtoomuch–youhaveknownthescriptures,youhaveknownthepast,thetradition,youhaveknownallthatcanbeknown–thensuddenlyyoubecomeawareofthefutilityofitall,suddenlyyoubecomeawarethatthisisnotknowledge.Thisisborrowed!Thisisnotyourownexistentialexperience,thisisnotwhatyouhavecometoknow.Othersmayhaveknownit,youhavesimplygatheredit.Yourgatheringismechanical.Ithasnotarisenoutofyou,itisnotagrowth.Itisjustrubbishgatheredfromotherdoors,borrowed,dead.Remember,knowingisaliveonlywhenyouknow,whenitisyourimmediate,directexperience.Butwhenyouknowfromothersitisjustmemory,notknowledge.Memoryisdead.Whenyougathermuch–therichesofknowledge,scriptures,allaroundyou,librariescondensedinyourmind,andsuddenlyyoubecomeawarethatyouarejustcarryingtheburdenofothers,nothingbelongstoyou,youhavenotknown–thenyoucandropit,youcandropallthisknowledge.Inthatdroppinganewtypeofignoranceariseswithinyou.Thisignoranceisnottheignoranceoftheignorant,thisishowawisemanis,howwisdomis.Onlyawisemancansay:Idon'tknow.Butinsaying:Idon'tknow,heisnothankeringafterknowledge,heissimplystatingafact.Andwhenyoucansaywithyourtotalheart:Idon'tknow,inthatverymomentyoureyesbecomeopen,thedoorsofknowingareopen.Inthatverymomentwhenyoucansaywithyourtotality;Idon'tknow,youhavebecomecapableofknowledge.Thisignoranceisbeautiful,butitisattainedthroughknowledge.Itispovertyattainedthroughrichness.Andthesamehappenswithego–youcanloseitifyouhaveit.WhenBuddhacomesdownfromhisthrone,becomesabeggar...whatisthenecessityforBuddha?Hewasaking,enthroned,atthepeakofhisego–whythisextreme,movingdownfromhispalacetothestreets,becomingabeggar?ButBuddhahasabeautyinhisbegging.Theearthhasneverknownsuchabeautifulbeggar,sucharichbeggar,suchakinglybeggar,suchanemperor.Whathappenedwhenhesteppeddownfromhisthrone?Hesteppeddownfromhisego.Thronesarenothingbutsymbols,symbolsoftheego,ofpower,prestige,status.Hesteppeddownandthenegolessnesshappened.Thisegolessnessisnothumbleness;thisegolessnessisnothumility.Youmayndmanyhumblepeople,butundertheirhumility,subtleegosarefunctioning.ItissaidthatonceDiogenescametovisitSocrates.Helivedlikeabeggar;healwaysworedirtyclotheswithmanypatchesandholes.Evenifyoupresentedhimwithanewdress,hewouldnotuseit–rsthewouldmakeitdirty,old,torn,andthenhewoulduseit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds76 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS HecametovisitSocrates,andhestartedtalkingaboutegolessness.ButSocrates'penetratingeyesmusthavecometorealizethatthismanwasnotanegolessman.Thewayhewastalkingabouthumilitywasveryegoistic.Socratesisreportedtohavesaid:Throughyourdirtyclothes,throughtheholesinyourclothes,Icannotseeanythingelsebuttheego.Youtalkofhumility,butthattalkcomesfromadeepcentreoftheego.Thiswillhappen,thisishowhypocrisyhappens.Youhavetheego,youhideitthroughtheopposite;youbecomehumbleonthesurface.Thissurfacehumblenesscannotdeceiveanyone.Itmaydeceiveyou,butitcannotdeceiveanyoneelse.Fromtheholesofthedirtydresses,youregogoesonpeeping.Itisalwaysthere.Thisisaself-deceptionandnothingmore.Nobodyelseisdeceived.Thishappensifyoustartthrowingtheunripeego.WhatIteachwilllookcontradictory,butitistruetolife.Contradictionisinherentinlife.Iteachyoutobeegoistssothatyoucanbecomeegoless.Iteachyoutobeperfectegoists.Don'thideit,otherwisehypocrisywillbeborn.Anddon'tstrugglewiththeunripephenomenon.Letitripen–andhelpit.Bringittoapeak!Don'tbeafraid–thereisnothingtobeafraidof.Thisishowyouwillcometorealizetheagonyoftheego.Whenitcomestoitspeak,thenyouwillnotneedaBuddhaormetotellyouthattheegoishell.Youwillknowit,becausethepeakoftheegowillbethepeakofyourhellishexperiences,itwillbeanightmare.Andthenthereisnoneedforanybodytotellyou:Dropit!Itwillbedifculttocarryiton.Onereachestoknowledgeonlythroughsuffering.Youcannotthrowanythingjustbylogicalargument.Youcanthrowsomethingonlywhenithasbecomesopainfulthatitcannotbecarriedanyfurther.Youregohasnotbecomethatpainfulyet–henceyoucarryit.Itisnatural!Icannotpersuadeyoutodropit.Evenifyoufeelpersuaded,youwillhideit–that'sall.Nothingunripecanbethrown.Unripefruitclingstothetreeandthetreeclingstotheunripefruit.Ifyouforceittoseparate,awoundisleftbehind.Thatscarwillcontinue,thewoundwillalwaysremaingreenandyouwillalwaysfeelhurt.Remember,everythinghasatimetogrow,toberipe,tofalldownintotheearthanddissolve.Youregoalsohasatime.Itneedsmaturity.Sodon'tbeafraidofbeingegoists.YouARE,otherwiseyouwouldhavedisappearedlongago.Thisisthemechanismoflife:youhavetobeegoists,youhavetoghtyourway,youhavetoghtwithsomanymillionsofdesiresaroundyou,youhavetostruggle,youhavetosurvive.Egoisasurvivalmeasure.Ifachildisbornwithouttheego,hewilldie.Hecannotsurvive,itisimpossible,becauseifhefeelshungerhewillnotfeel:Iamhungry.Hewillfeelthereishunger,butnotrelatedtohim.Themomenthungerisfelt,thechildfeels:Iamhungry,hestartscryingandmakingeffortstobefed.Thechildgrowsthroughthegrowthofhisego.Sotome,egoispartofnaturalgrowth.Butthatdoesn'tmeanthatyouhavetoremainwithitforever.Itisanaturalgrowth,andthenthereisasecondstepwhenithastobedropped.Thattooisnatural. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds77 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Butthesecondstepcanbetakenonlywhenthersthascometoitscrescendo,itsclimax,whenthersthasreacheditspeak.SoIteachboth–IteachegonessandIteachegolessness.Firstbeegoists,perfectegoists,absoluteegoists,asifthewholeofexistenceexistsforyouandyouarethecenter;allthestarsrevolvearoundyouandthesunrisesforyou;everythingexistsforyou,justtohelpyoutobehere.Bethecenter,anddon'tbeafraid,becauseifyouareafraidthenyouwillneverberipe.Acceptit!Itispartofgrowth.Enjoyitandbringittoapeak.Whenitcomestoapeak,suddenlyyouwillbecomeawarethatyouarenotthecenter.Thishasbeenafallacy,thishasbeenachildishattitude.Butyouwereachild,sonothingiswronginit.Nowyouhavebecomemature,andnowyouseethatyouarenotthecenter.Really,whenyouseethatyouarenotthecenter,youalsoseethereisNOcenterinexistenceoreverywhereisthecenter.Eitherthereisnocenterandexistenceexistsasatotality,awholenesswithoutanycenterasacontrolpointoreverysingleatomisacenter.JakobBoehmehassaidthatthewholeworldislledwithcenters,everyatomisacenter,andthereisnocircumference–centerseverywhereandcircumferencenowhere.Thesetwoarethepossibilities.Bothmeanthesame;onlythewordingisdifferentandcontradictory.Butrstbecomeacenter.Itislikethis:youareinadream;ifthedreamcomestoapeak,itwillbebroken.Alwaysithappens–wheneveradreamcomestoaclimax,itisbroken.Andwhatistheclimaxofadream?Theclimaxofadreamisthefeelingthatthisisreal.Youfeelthisisreal,notadream,andyougoonandonandonandontoahigherpeakandthedreambecomesALMOSTreal.Itcanneverbecomereal;itbecomesalmostreal.Itcomessoclosetorealitythatnowyoucannotgofurther,becauseonestepmoreandthedreamwillbecomereal–anditcannotbecomerealbecauseitisadream!Whenitcomessoclosetoreality,sleepisbroken,thedreamisshattered,youarefullyawake.Thesamehappenswithalltypesoffallacies.Egoisthegreatestdream.Ithasitsbeauty,itsagony.Ithasitsecstasy,itsagony.Ithasitsheavensandhells,botharethere.Dreamssometimesarebeautifulandsometimesnightmares,butbotharedreams.SoIdon'ttellyoutocomeoutofyourdreambeforethetimehascome.No,neverdoanythingbeforethetime.Allowthingstogrow,allowthingstohavetheirtime,sothateverythinghappensnaturally.Egowilldrop.Itcandropofitsownaccordalso.Ifyousimplyallowittogrowandhelpittogrow,therewillbeNOneedtodropit.Thisisverydeep.IfYOUdropit,egohasremainedinside.WHOwilldropit?IfyouthinkYOUwilldropit,YOUaretheego–sowhatsoeveryoudropwillnotbetherealthing.Therealthingwillbepreservedandyouwillhavethrownsomethingelse.Youcannotmakeyourselfegoless.Whowilldoit?Ithappens,itisnotadoing.Yougrowintoegoandapointcomeswhenthewholethingbecomessohellishthatthedreamisbroken.Suddenlyyouseethegooseisout–ithasneverbeeninthebottle. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds78 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Youhaveneverbeenanego.Itwasjustadreamaroundyou.Anecessarydream,Isay,soIdon'tcondemnit,anecessarypartofgrowth.Inlifeeverythingisnecessary.Nothingisunnecessary,nothingcanbeunnecessary.Whatsoeverhashappenedhadtohappen.Whatsoeverishappeningishappeningbecauseofcertaindeepcauses.Youneeditsoyoucanremaininthefallacy.Itisjustacocoonthathelpsyou,protectsyou,helpsyoutosurvive.Oneneednotbeinthecocoonforever.Whenyouareready,breakthecocoon,comeout.Theegoistheshelloftheegg,itprotectsyou.Butwhenyouareready,breaktheshell,comeoutoftheegg.Theegoistheshell.Butwait.Hurrywillnotbeofmuchhelp;hastewillnothelp–itmayhinder.Allowtime,anddon'tcondemnit,becausewhowillcondemnit?Gototheso-calledsaints–theytalkofhumbleness,humility–andlookintotheireyes:youwillnotndsuchrenedegosanywhereelse.Nowtheiregoshavetakenthegarbofreligion,Yoga,sainthood,buttheegoisthere.Theymaynotbecollectingriches,theymaybecollectingfollowers;thecoinshavechangedandtheygooncountinghowmanyfollowers....Theymaynotbeafterthethingsofthisworld,theyareafterthethingsofthatworld,butthisorthat,bothareworlds.Andtheymaybeevenmoregreedy,becausetheysaythesetemporarythings,momentarythingsofthisworld,consistofmomentarypleasures–andtheywanteternalpleasures.Theirgreedissupreme.Theycannotbesatisedbymomentarypleasures.Theywanteternalpleasures.Unlesssomethingiseternaltheyarenotgratied.Theirgreedisdeep,theirgreedisabsoluteandgreedbelongstotheego.Greedisthehungeroftheego.Soithappenssometimesthatsaintsaremoreegoisticthansinners,andthentheyarefarawayfromthedivine.Andsometimessinnerscanattaintothegodmoreeasilythanthoseso-calledsaints,becauseegoisthebarrier.Thishasbeenmyexperiencethatsinnerscandroptheiregosmoreeasilythansaints,becausesinnershaveneverbeenagainsttheego.Theyhavebeenfeedingit,theyhavebeenenjoyingit,theyhavelivedwithittotally.Andsaintshavealwaysbeenghtingtheego,sotheyneverallowedittobecomeripe.Sothisismyattitude:egoHAStobedropped,butitmaytakealongwaiting;andyoucandropitonlyifyoucultivateit.Thisisthearduousnessofthewholephenomenon,becausethemindsays:Ifwehavetodropit,thenwhycultivateit?Themindsays:Whenwehavetodestroyit,thenwhycreateit?Ifyoulistentothemindyouwillbeintrouble.Mindisalwayslogicalandlifeisalwaysillogical,sotheynevermeet.Thisissimplelogic,ordinarymathematics,thatifyouaretodestroythishouse,thenwhybuildit?Whythiswholetrouble?Whythiseffortandwasteoftimeandenergy?Thehouseisnotthere,sowhybuilditandthendestroyit? MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds79 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Thehouseisnotthepointreally–YOUarethepoint.Buildingthehouse,youwillchange,andthendestroyingthehouseyouwillchangecompletely,youwillnotbethesame–becausecreatingthehouse,thewholeprocessofit,willproveagrowthtoyou.Then,whenthehouseisready,youpullitdown.Thatwillbeamutation.Mindislogicalandlifeisdialectical.Mindmovesinasimpleline,andlifemovesalwaysjumpingfromonepoletoanother,fromonethingtotheveryopposite.Lifeisdialectical.Create,andthenlifesays:Destroy.Beborn,andthenlifesays:Die!Attain,andthenlifesays:Lose!Berich,andthenlifesays:Becomepoor!Beapeak,anEverestoftheego,andthenbecomeanabyssofegolessness.Thenyouhaveknownboth–theillusoryandthereal,themayaandtheBrahma.Almosteverydayithappens:somebodycomestobeinitiatedintosannyas,andthenhismindstartsfunctioningandhesaystome:Wearingorangewillmakememoreegoistic,becausethenIwillfeelthatIamsomebodydifferent,distinct–Iamasannyasin,onewhohasrenounced.Sowearingorangewillmakememoreegoistichesays,andIsaytohim:Become!Becomeegoistic,butconsciously.Egoisadiseaseifyouareunconsciousaboutit,ifyouhideitintheunconscious.Egoisagameifyouareconsciousaboutit.Youcanenjoyit.Youcanplayit.Beconscious,mindful,andplaythegame!Agameisnotbad,butwhenyouforgetthatitisagameandbecometooserious,thenproblemsarise.SoIsaysannyasisnotserious;itisagame–areligiousgame,ofcourse.Ithasitsownrules,becauseeverygamemusthaverules;withoutrulesnogamecanbeplayed.Lifecanbewithoutrules,butgamescannotbe.Ifsomebodysays:Iamnotgoingtofollowthisrule,thenyoucannotplaythegame.Youplaycards,thenyoufollowrules.Andyouneversay:Theserulesarejustarbitrary,articial,whycan'twechangethem?Youcanchangethem,butthenthegamewillbedifcult.Andifeveryindividualfollowshisownrules,thenthegameisimpossible.Lifeispossible!Youcanplayasyoulikebecauselifeneverbelievesinrules–itisbeyondrules.Butgameshaverules.Remember:whereveryouseerules,knowimmediatelythisisagame.Thisisthecriterion:whereveryouseerules,immediatelyknowthisisagame,becausegamesexistthroughrules.SoifIsay:”Wearorange,havethemala”–thisisagame,obviously.Playitaswellasyoucananddon'tbeseriousaboutit–otherwiseyoumissthepoint.Beegoists–perfect,cultivated,rened.Goonworkingonyouregoandmakeitabeautifulstatue,becausebeforeyougiveitbacktothegod,itmustbesomethingworthgiving,itmustbeapresent.BelovedOsho,Question2YOUHAVESAIDTHATMUCHENERGYISNEEDEDTOACHIEVETHEINNERALCHEMY. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds80 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTENERGY:HOWCANWEBUILDITUP,ANDHOWCANWERETAINIT?INWHATWAYSDOWELOSEIT,ANDCANWEGAINITFROMOUTSIDESOURCES?Therstthing:youarepartofaninniteenergy,awaveinaninniteocean.Ifyoucanrememberthisyouneverloseenergy,becauseaninnitesourceisalwaysavailable.Youarejustawave,anddeepdowntheoceanishidden.Youareborn.Whogivesyoubirth?Whogivesenergytoyoutomoveintothebody?Whogivesenergytothebodytobecomeanautomatic,delicatemechanism,anorganism?Forseventyyearsoreightyyears,orevenahundredyears,thebodycontinuesbeingalive.Andnowscientistssaythatdeathisanaccident,thebodycancontinueinnitely.Scientistssaythereisnonecessityfordeathtoexist.Itexistsbecausewehavenotbeenabletousetheinniteenergythatisaroundus.Sotherstthingtorememberis:youarepartofaninniteenergy.Continuouslyrememberitandfeelit.Moving,walking,eating,sleeping–feelyouareinnite.ThisiswhattheUpanishadssay;alwaysfeelyouaretheBrahma,theEternal.Ifyoucanfeelthismoreandmore,youwillbecomeawarethatyouarenotlosinganyenergy.Thesourcebecomesavailable.Youbecomeavehicle.Thendowhatsoeveryouwanttodo.Bydoing,nobodylosesenergy.Thisisoneofthefallaciesofthehumanmindthatifyoudosomething,youloseenergy.No.IfyouhavethisideathatdoingsomethingIamlosingenergy,youloseenergy,notbydoing,butbyhavingtheidea.Otherwise,throughdoingyoucangainenergy–ifyouhavetheidea.Ifyoudon'thaveanyidea,thenalsonoenergyislost.Whenpeopleareretiredtheystartthinkingthatnowtheyhavelessenergysotheymustrestandrelaxmore;theyshouldnotdoanything,otherwisetheirenergyislost.Andthentheydiesoonerthantheywouldhavedied.Statisticssaythatthelifespanisreducedbytenyears:apersonwhoisworkingmayhavelivedtoseventy;retired,hewilldieatsixty.Yourbodyisadynamo.Themoreyouuseit,themoreenergyfromtheinnitesourceissupplied.Ifyoudon'tuseitthereisnoneedforanynewsupply.Thenbyandbythesupplystops.Bemoreactive,andyouwillhavemoreenergy.Belessactive,andyouwilllosemuchenergy.Throughactivityenergyisnotlost,throughactivityyourenewit.Youusetheenergy,thenfromthesourcemoreenergybecomesavailable.Lookatthetrees.Thesunrisesandfromtheleavesofthetreeswaterstartsevaporating.Themomentaleafstartsevaporatingwater,fromtherootsnewwatercirculates,becauseitisalongprocess.Theleafreleaseswater,thenjustneartheleafdrynessiscreated.Thatdrynessimmediatelysuckswaterfromthetwig;thenthetwigisdry,thetwigsuckswaterfromitsbranch.Thisgoesondowntotheroots;thentherootssuckwaterfromtheearth.Iftheleavesthink:Ifweevaporatewaterthenwewilldie,wewillfeelthirsty–thenthistreeisgoingtodie.Becausethennewsourceswillnotbeavailable,thentherootswillnotbeabletofunction.Youalsohaverootsintotheinnite.Whenyouuseenergyyousuckenergyfromtheinnite.Yourrootsstartworking. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds81 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS Averyfallaciousideaisinthehumanmind,thatthroughactivityweloseenergy.No.Themoreactive,themoreenergyyouwillhave;thelessactive,thelessenergy.Andthisistrueofactivityinalldirectionsoflife.Lovemoreandyouwillhavemorelovetogive.Becomeamiserandthink:IfIlovemore,thenmylovewillbedissipated,andsoonerorlaterIwillnothaveanyloveanymore,soitisbettertopreserveit.Thenyourlovewilldieandyouwillnotbeabletolove.Love,andmorelovebecomesavailable;usemoreandyouhavemore.Thisisthelawoflife.Youcaneatthecakeandhaveitalso.Compassion,love,activity,whatsoeverthedimension,thesameruleapplies.Whatsoeveryouwantmoreof,dothesame.Ifyouwanttobecomeaninnitesourceoflove,thengoonsharingloveasmuchasyoucan.Don'tbeamiser;onlymisersloseenergy.Andweareallmisers,that'swhywealwaysfeeldissipated.Buttheideacanbedangerous,poisonous.Ifyouhaveanidea,thatideaworks.Mindworksthroughhypnosis.Forexample,justafewdecadesago,allovertheworlditwastaughtthatyouhavealimitedquotaofsexualenergy.Youmakelove,energyislost.Thatideacreatedsexualmisersallovertheworld.Thewholeideaisfallacious.Butifyouhavetheideainyourmind,thenwheneveryoumakeloveyouarecontinuouslyhypnotizingyourselfthatyouarelosingenergy.Thenenergyiswasted.Thisideabecomesimprintedinyourmind.Andwhenyoumakeloveyouaresovulnerable,soreceptive,youaresosoft,sotospeak,thatwhatsoeveryouarethinkinggoesdeepintoyou.Andthentheconsequencesfollow;youfeeldissipated,youfeelyourenergyislost.Andwhenyoufeeldissipatedandenergyislost,theoldideaisstrengthenedstillmore.Thisbecomesaviciouscircle.Nowscientists,biologistssaythatsexisinniteenergy.Youcannotloseit,becauseeverydayitisbeingcreatedbyyourfood,byyourbreathing,byyouractivity;itiscreated.Itisnotastoredthingsothatwhenyoutakeaparticularquantityoutthatmuchislost,younowhaveless.Itisnotthatway.Itisnotsomethingstoredthere.Itisbeingcreatedeverymoment.Ifyoudon'tuseit,itgoesstaleanddead.Ifyoudon'tuseit,itwillmakeyoustaleanddead.Thentheowhasstopped.Butifyougoonowing,moreandmorebecomesavailabletoyou.Jesussayssomewhere–oneofthemostfoundationalthings–hesays:Ifyoutrytoclingtolife,youwillloseit;andifyouarereadytoloseit,youwillhaveitinabundance.Allovertheworlduptothiscenturychildrenweretaughtthatanyleakageofsemeninanywayisverydestructive:Youmaygomad,youmaybecomecrippled;atleastyourintelligencewillbeless;andthepossibilityofbecomingcrazyandeccentricandweakwillbemore.Thisisabsolutelyfalse!Buttheteachingdidmakemanypeoplecrazy,manypeopleweak,manypeoplestupid,mediocre,becausetheidea....Andthisissuchadangerousidea.Whenachildhasgrownupandbecomemature,attheageoffourteenorfteen,hestartslosingsemen.Hecannotdoanythingaboutit.Hewillmasturbateorifmoralityistoomuchhewillnotmasturbate,butnocturnalejaculationswillbethere;inthenighthewilllosesemen.Andallaroundthepropagandaisgoingon:Ifyoulosesemen,everythingislost. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds82 Osho CHAPTER8.ONLYARIPEFRUITFALLS InIndia,theyusedtosay–ifyougotooldsaintsandtheirfollowers,theystillgoonsaying–thatonedropofsemenmeansfortydaysofworkforthebody.Soforfortydaysthebodyhastowork,thenonedropofsemeniscreated.Soifonedropislost,fortydaysoflifeiswasted.Smallchildrendon'tknowanything,andtheyareveryreceptive.Whenthewholesocietyteachesthis,theybecomehypnotizedbyit.Thentheycannotdoanythingbecausethesemenows;whenthebodyisready,thesemenisboundtogoout.Thisteachingisallaroundandtheycannottellanybodythattheyarelosingsemen.Theyhideit.Theysufferinside.Theygothroughaconstanttorture.Andtheythinktheyaretheexceptions,becausetheycan'tknowthateverybodyelseisgoingthroughthesamething,becausenobodytalksaboutit,nobodyspeaksaboutit.Andwhosoevertalksaboutit,talksAGAINSTit.Soeveryboythinksthatheistheexception,thatonlyheisgoingthroughthis.Soonhewillstartfeelingdizzy;soonhewillstartfeelingthatintelligenceiswaning;soonhewillstartfeelingthatheisgoingcrazy,thathislifeiswasted.Manypeoplegoonwritingletterstomesayingthattheirlivesarewastedbecausetheyhavelostsomuchsemen,theyhavelostsomuchsexenergy.Thatideaisverydangerous,andifanideaisthere,thethingwillhappen.Ithappensthroughhypnosis.Anyideacanbecomeahelporahindrance.Itisdifculttoliveintheno-idea.Sobeforeyoucanreachtoamindwhichisthoughtless–wheneverythingbecomesavailablespontaneously–beforethat,itisbettertohavethisideainthemind:thatyouarepartofaninniteenergyandbydoingyouaregaining,notlosing.Bygivingyouareattaining,notlosing.Love,sex,activity–whatsoever,alwaysrememberandbelledwiththeideathatwheneveryougivesomething,fromtherootsmorebecomesavailabletoyou,moreisgiventoyou.Godisthegiver,theunconditionalgiver.Ifyouarealsoagiver,yourhandswillalwaysbeemptyandtheGodcangiveyoumore.Ifyouareamiser,yourrelationshipwiththedivineiscut.Thenyouliveasasmallwave,alwaysafraidoflosing.Liveastheocean.Beoceanic!Neverthinkoflosing,aboutanything.Nothingislost,nothingcanbelost.Andyouarenotanindividual;youonlyappearasanindividual.Thewholeisjoinedtoyou;youarejustafaceofthewhole,justawaythewholehashappened.Don'tbeworriedaboutit.Itisnevergoingtoend.Thisexistenceisbeginninglessandendless.Enjoy,celebrate,beactive,andalwaysbeagiver.Tobeagiversototallythatyouneverthinkofretainingorholdinganythingistheonlyrealprayer.Togiveistopray.Togiveistolove.Andthosewhocangive,theyarealwaysgivenmore.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds83 Osho CHAPTER9 SurrenderandIwilldotheRest 18May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVESAID:NOTINTHOUSANDSANDTHOUSANDSOFYEARSHASSUCHANOPPORTUNITYCOMETOTHISEARTH.ANDYOUHAVEALSOSAID:THISAGEISLIKEANYOTHER.YOUHAVESAID:SURRENDERTOASTONEANDITWILLHAPPEN.ANDYOUHAVESAID:ITISESSENTIALTOTREADTHISDANGEROUSPATHONLYWITHTHEGUIDANCEOFATRUEMASTER.YOUHAVESAID:SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST.ANDYOU'VESAID:IDONOTHING.FORUSHEREANDNOW,ANDFORTHOSEINTHEWESTWHOWILLREADTHESEWORDS,WOULDYOUTALKTOUSSOMEMOREABOUTTHEGURU/DISCIPLEPHENOMENON.Icontradictmyselfanddoitknowingly.Truthissoinnite,sogreat,thatnopartialstatementcancontainit;theoppositehastobeincludedimmediately.Thewholewillalwaysbecontradictory,onlythepartcanbeconsistent–becausethewholehastoconsidertheoppositealso.Theoppositeisthere.Itexists.Philosopherscanbeconsistentbecausetheirunderstandingispartial.Theycanbeneatandclean,theycanaffordtobelogical.Icannotaffordit,becauseifItrytobeconsistent,immediatelythewholethingbecomesuntrue.Theoppositehastobeinvolved,theoppositehastobeabsorbed. 84 CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Forexample,whenIsay:SurrenderandIwilldotherest,thisisonepart.AndwhyamIsayingit?Iamsayingitsothatyoucansurrendertotally.Ifyoucanfeelthisandtrustthis,thattheremainingshallbedone,yoursurrendercanbecomplete.Ifyouhaveafear,adistrust,thenevenaftersurrenderyouwillhavetodosomething,thesurrendercannotbecomplete.Ifaftersurrenderyouhavealsotodosomething,thenyouhavetoretainyourself,youhavetoholdback–surrendercannotbetotal.Andwhensurrenderisnottotalitisnotsurrenderatall.Surrendercanonlybetotal,youcannotsurrenderinpart.Youcannotsay:Isurrenderhalf–becausethehalfthathasbeenretainedwillbeagainstthesurrender.Itcanonlyberetainedagainstit.Sosurrendercanonlybetotal.Itisjustlikeacircle,ageometriccircle.Itcannotbehalf;youcannotdrawahalfcircle.Ifyoudrawityoucannotcallitacircle.Acirclemustbecomplete.Half,thenitissomethingelse,notacircleatall.Surrendercanonlybetotal.Itisalsoacircle,aspiritualcircle.Yousurrenderfromendtoend.Nothingisleftbehind.Tohelpthis,Isay:Yousurrender,andtheremainingwillbedonebyme.TheemphasisthatIshalldo–yousimplysurrender–istomakeyoursurrendertotal.ButIknowthatifyouhavesurrendered,thereisnoneedforanythingtobedone,notevenonmypart.Surrenderitselfisthething,nothingelseisneeded.Theveryphenomenonofsurrenderingisenough.Nofurtherhelpisneeded.Everythingwillbedonebysurrenderitself.Surrenderingmeansyouarenomore,surrenderingmeanstheegohasbeendropped.Surrenderingmeansnowthecenterhasbeendispersed;youexistbutwithoutacenter.Ifthereisnocenter,thereisnothingtoprotect;thewallsdropbythemselves.Ifthereisnoone,yourwholestructureofdefensedisappearsbyandby;itbecomesfutile.Youbecomeanopenspace.Thisopenspacewilldoeverything,thisopennesswilldoeverything.Godwillpassthroughyouunhindered.Godcanmovethroughyou,inandout–thereisnobodytocreateanybarrier.Surrendered,youbecomeopentothedivineforces.Everythinghappensspontaneouslyafterthat.Theproblemissurrendering.Aftersurrendering,thereisnoproblem.SoIamnotneededtohelpyou.Nothingisneeded.That'swhyIgooncontradictingmyselfandIsayIdon'tdoanything.Thereisnoneed!Now,youcanlookatthewhole.IfIsayIwillnotdo,Icannotdoanything,thereisnoneed–ifIsayonlythis,yoursurrenderingwillbeimpossible.Youwillbeafraid–alone,movingintotheunknown,nobodytohelp,nobodytoguide,andthismansays:I'mnotgoingtodoanything–howcanyousurrendertotally?Itwillbedifcultforyou.IfIsayonlythatIwilldoeverythingwithoutcontradictingit,thatwillnotbetrue,because,really,Iamnotgoingtodoanything.Sowhattodonow?Howtosaythiswhole?Thereisonlyoneway,tocontradictconsistently.Therelationshipbetweenaguruandadiscipleisaverycomplexphenomenon.Inawayverysimple,otherwiseverycomplex. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds85 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Itissimplebecausetherelationshipexistsonlyonthepartofthedisciple.Onthepartofthemasterthereisnorelationship,becausethemasterdoesn'texist.Heistherenomore.Heisanobody.Itappearstoyouthatheis.Thisappearancewillpersistunlessyousurrender.Onceyousurrender,onceyoubecomeanon-being,suddenlyyouwillseethatthemasterhasneverbeenthere.Themasterisanabsence.Buttheabsencecanbeseenonlywhenyouhavealsobecomeanabsence.Onlytwoabsencesmeet.Ifyouarepresent,yougoonprojectingonthemasteralsothatheis.Itisyourprojection,becauseyouregocannotseenon-ego.Onlythesimilarcanrespondtothesimilar.Youregocanonlyseeegoseverywhere.Thatisawaytoprotectyourownself.Whereveryoulook,immediatelyyouprojectanego.Soeventhemasterwilllooklikesomebody,someego.Andyouwillndwaysandmeanstoprovetoyourselfthatheisalsoanego.Yourrationalizationsmaybeperfectlylogical,butIsaytheyareabsurd,becauseyoucannotseethephenomenonofnon-egoasyouare.Surrendered,suddenlyyouwillseethatthemasterisnotthere.Ifyouaresurrenderedrightthismomentyouwillseethischairisempty.Thismanwhoistalkingtoyouisnotthere.Thismanisjustanemptiness.Butonlyabsentwillyoubeabletoseethisabsence.Relationshipcannotexistonthepartofthemaster.Ifitexistsheisnotamasteratall–heisstillthere.Hecannotguideyou,hecanonlymisguideyou.Theteachingmaybebeautiful,buthewillmisguideyou,becausewhatsoeverhedoes–Isaywhatsoeverunconditionally–willbewrong.Itisnotaquestionofthisthingbeingwrongandthatthingbeingright.Whatsoevercomesoutoftheegoiswrong.Itmaybevirtue,itmaybenon-violence,itmaybelove–butwhatsoevercomesoutoftheegoiswrong.Theegopervertseverything.Theegoisthegreatestperverter.Ifthemasterlovesyouandtheegoisthere,hislovewillbecomepossessive.Hewilldestroyyou,hewillkillyou.Therelationshipwillbepoisonous.Theordinaryrelationshipoflovewillbethere.Hewon'tallowyoutomovetoanothermaster.Hewillght,hewillcreatebarrierssothatyoucannotmovefromhim–becausehedependsonyou,hisegodependsonyou.Themaster,ifwiththeego,cannotexistwithoutthefollowers.Thefollowersareneededtofeed.Thegreaterthecrowd,thebetterhewillfeel.Ifeverybodyleaveshimhewillsimplybedead.Thentheegowillbehurt.Soso-calledmastersgoonghting,competingwithotherso-calledmasters.Itbecomesamarket.Thewholecompetitionofthemarketcomesin.Ifthemasterhasanego,thatmeansheisnotreallyamaster–justpretending.Thenhiscompassionwillbeonlyinthenamecompassion.Hewillbecruel,hewilltortureyou–ofcourse,insuchawaythatyouwillfeelthistorturingisadiscipline.Hewillforceyoutodothingswhicharepainfulandunnecessary,buthewillenjoythatpain.Hewillrationalizeit.Hewillsay:Fast,becausewithoutfastingyoucannotreach.Andwhenyoufastandyouaretortured,hewillbehappy.Hiscompassionisjustahiddencruelty.Inthenameofcompassionheisasadist.Torturing,hewillfeelhappy.Lookingatyou,seeingthatyouaresad,tortured,depressed,hewillsay:VAIRAGYAhasbeenwon–youhavebecomenonattached. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds86 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Themoreyouaresad,thehappierhewillbe.Ifheseesasmileonyourface,hewillcondemnitimmediately.Ifhefeelsyouareblissful,immediatelyhewillndthatsomethinghasgonewrong,becausehowcanyoubeblissfulinthisworld,inthiswrongworld?Howcanyoubehappy?Lifeismisery.Howcanyoubeecstatic?Thenyoumustbeenjoyingthesensessomewhere,somehow.Ifyoulookyoungandfreshandalive,thenyouaretoomuchattachedtothebody.Hewillstartdestroyingyourbody.Heisasadistandaverysubtlesadist,moresubtlethanaHitler,orMussolini–becausetheykillimmediately,theirmurderingissimple.Thismanwillalsomurderyou,butininstallments–slowly,slowly.Goaroundthiscountry:youwillndmanywhohavebeenmurderingothers.Andremember:hecankillyouonlyifheisalsosuicidal,otherwisenot.Ifheenjoysgoodfood,hecannotforcefastingonyou–impossible.Ifhelivesinabeautifulhouse,hecannottellyoutoliveinahut,inacottage.Sothisisabsolutelylogical:ifhewantstodestroyyou,hewillhavetodestroyhimself.Themorehetortureshimself,themorehegetscontroltotortureyou.Hewillfast,hewilldestroyhisbody.Andthemorehedestroyshisbody,themorehehasgotyouaroundyourneck.Nowhecancrushyoucompletelyandcrushyouwithagoodconscience.Thisisthephenomenon.Withawrongmaster,withanegoisticmaster,whatsoeverhappensgoeswrong;hisdisciplinebecomesasadism,hisownlifebecomesmasochistic,hiswholebeingbecomesdestructive.EgoISdestructive.Thenrelationshipcanexist.Withawrongmasterrelationshipcanexist,becauseonthepartofthemasteralsothereisego,andtheegowantstorelate.Theegocannotexistwithoutrelating.Butifthereisarealmaster,relationshipexistsonlyonthepartofthedisciple.Youlovehim.Youobeyhim.Heisnotconcernedwithyourobedience.Heisnotconcernedwithyourlove.Thatdoesn'tmeanthathedoesn'tcare.Hecaresinnitely,butthereisnoonewhocanberelated.Hiscareisnatural–justaswaterowsdownwardhiscareowstowardsyou.Evenifyouarenotthere,hiscaregoesonowing.WhatsoeverIamherewithyou,whenyouarenothere,Iamthesame,mybeinggoesonowinginthesameway.Whennobodyisthere,Iremainthesame.Whenyouarethere,Iamthesame.IfIchange,thentheegoisthere,becausetheegoexistsinrelationship.Whenyoucomethere,theegocomesin,becomesactiveandalive.Whenyougo,theegobecomeslazy,fallsasleep.Thenthereisachange.Withyouorwithoutyoumyemptinessremainsthesame.Thecaregoesonowing.Thelovegoesonowing.Thereisnolover.Icannotchoosetoloveornottolove.IfIcanchoose,thenIamthere.Relationshipexistsonyourpart,anditwillcontinuetoexistuntilyousurrender.Sosurrenderisthegreatestanddeepestrelationship–andtheendofrelationshipalso.Ifyousurrender,youhavecometothedeepestrelationshipthatispossible.Beyondthat,relationshipdisappears.Surrendered,youarenomore,andthemasterhasneverbeenthere. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds87 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Twoemptyspacescannotbetwo.Youcannotdrawalinebetweentwoemptyspaces.Youcannotmakeboundariesaroundemptiness.Twoemptinessesbecomeone,andrelationshipcannotexist–becauseforrelationship,twoareneeded.Soatthelastmomentofsurrender–trytounderstandthis–attheLASTmomentofsurrender,thegreatestrelationshipthatispossibleexists.Thedeepest,themostintimaterelationshipexists–ofcourse,onyourpart.Thenextmoment,whenyouhavesurrendered,everythinghasdisappeared.Nowthereisneithermasternordisciple.Andnowthemasteranddisciplebothcanlaugh.Theycanhaveabellylaugh.Theycanhaveanuproariouslaughaboutthewholenonsensethatwastherejustamomentbefore.Theefforttohelp,theefforttogetthehelp,thesurrender,theconstantstruggleoftheegonottosurrender,alltheexplanations,alltheteachings–thewholethingbecomesabsurd.Yourmany,manylivesbecomejustlikedreams.Andnowyoucanlaugh,becauseyoucouldhaveawakenedanymoment.Youcouldhavebecomeenlightened,youcouldhavecomeoutofyourdreamingatanymomentinanylife.Onceyouattainthisenlightenment...becausesurrenderisoneaspect,enlightenmentistheothersideofthecoin.Itisthesamedoor.Whenyouenter,onthedooriswritten:Surrender.Whenyouhaveenteredandyoulookback,onthedooriswritten:Enlightenment.Itisthesamedoor!Fromonesideitistheentrance;fromanothersideitistheexit.That'swhythereissomuchinsistenceonsurrender–SAMARPAN.Therelationshipisverycomplex,becauseonlyoneexists.Theotherrelaterisnotthere.Soallthegameswithamasterarereallyyourgames.YOUareplaying:itisagameofpatience.Theotherissimplywatchingyouplay.Youchangetactics,youtrythiswayandthatway.Youtryinmanyways,butunnecessarily,becausetheonlyeffortwhichwillbehelpfulissurrender.Allelseisjusttoprepareyoutocometoamomentofrealizationwhenyouseethewholeabsurdityofalleffortandsimplydrop.Manytechniquesareused.Thosetechniquesarenotreallygoingtohelp.Theyareonlygoingtohelpyoutorealizethatyouhavetosurrender.Theywillsimplyprovethefutilityofalleffort.Butyouplayagame.Yougoonchangingyourtactics.Theegoemployseverytypeofstrategy–fortheegoitisalife-and-deathproblem.Itwilldeceiveyou,itwilldeceiveyoucontinuously.Andtheegoisaperfectrationalist.Whenitdeceivesitgivesyoureasons.Youcannotarguewithit.Andifyoutrytoargueyouwillbedefeated.Hence,thesupremacyoftrustandfaith.Onlyafaithfulonecansurrender.Andonlyafaithfulonecanreachtotheverypeakofexistence,totheclimaxofbliss.InthewestoneofthedeepestpsychologistsofthiscenturywasAbrahamMaslow.Hiswholelifeheworkedaroundthephenomenonofpeakexperience.Hiswholelifehedevotedtothephenomenonofcertainexperienceswhichhecalledthepeak,theultimate,thenal–theenlightenmentofBuddha,ortheluminousunconsciousnessofRamakrishna,ortheecstasyofMeera,Boehme,Eckhart–thepeak,thehighestthatcanhappentohumanconsciousness. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds88 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Tryingtoprobeintothisphenomenon,Maslowbecameawarethattherearetwotypesofpeople.Onehecallspeakers;theotherhecallsnon-peakers.Peakersarethosewhoarereadyandopenandreceptive;non-peakersarethosewhoareconvincedthatnopeakexperienceispossible.Inthenon-peakersheincludesscientists,rationalists,logicians,materialists,businessmen,politicians–practicaltypes,so-calledpracticalpeople,forwhomtheendismeaningless,theyaremeans-oriented.Thesepeoplecreatewallsaroundthem,andbecauseofthosewallstheycannothaveanyecstasy.Whentheycannothaveanyecstasy,theiroriginalstandpointisconrmed.Thentheycreatemorewalls,andthatbecomesaviciouscircle.Therearepeakers–poets,dancers,musicians,madmen,impracticaladventurers.Thesearepeakers.Theydon'tbother,theydon'targuewiththeirmind.Theysimplyallowthingstohappen.Andtheneveninordinarylife,sometimescertainpeaksareachieved.Ihaveheardaboutonepsychoanalystwhowasbeinganalyzedbyanotherpsychoanalyst.Thisrstpsychoanalystwhowasbeinganalyzedwentforaholiday.Fromtheholidayspothetelegrammedtheother,saying:Iamfeelingveryhappy–why?Thistypeofpersoncannotacceptevenhappiness.Theywillask:Why?WhyamIfeelinghappy?Theremustbesomethingwrong.Theyhaveanotionthathappinessisnotpossible.Thegreatpsychologist,Freud,saysthathappinessisimpossibleforhumanbeings.Hesaystheverystructureofthehumanmindissuchthathappinessisnotpossible,atthemostyoucanbetolerablyunhappy.Ifthisistheattitude–andFreudhasconvincedhimself,hehasfortiedhimselfwithalltypesofarguments–ifthisistheconcept,thenotion,theidea,thathappinessisimpossible,thenyouareclosed.Thenhappinesswillnotbepossibleforyou.Andwhenitisnotpossible,youroriginalconceptisstrengthened,thatyouwereright.Thenthereislesspossibilityforhappiness.Thenyouroriginalconceptisstrengthenedstillmore,andthereisevenlesspossibility.Finally,amomentwillcomewhenyousaythatunhappinessistheonlypossibility.Adiscipleshouldbeapeaker;andthegreatestopennesscomeswithsurrender.Butwhatshouldapeakerhave?Howshouldhestructurehismindsoheisopen?Lessreason,moretrust;lesspracticalness,moreadventure;lessprose,morepoetry.Beillogical;otherwisehappinessisnotforyou.Logicistheenemy.Logicwillprovethatlifeismisery.Logicwillprovethatthereisnomeaning.Logicwillprovethatthereisnogod.Logicwillprovethatthereisnopossibilityofanyecstasy.Logicwillprovethatlifeisjustanaccident,andinthisaccidentthereisnopossibility.Betweenbirthanddeath,ifyoucanatthemostmanagesomehowtoexist,that'senough.Logicissuicidal.Ifyougowithit,nallyitwillgiveyouthekeytogetoutoflife.Finallyitwillsaythatsuicideisthemostlogicalsteptobetaken,becauselifeismeaningless.Whatareyoudoinghere?Repeatingthesameroutine?Inthemorninggettingoutofbed–unnecessarily,becauseyouhavebeengettingupeverydayandnothinghashappened.Sowhygetuptodayagain?Andthentakingyourbreakfast–youhavebeentakingityourwholelife,andnothinghashappenedoutofit.Thenreadingyournewspaper,goingtotheofce,comingbackagain,anddoingthesamenonsensicalthings!Andtheneatingyourfood,thengoingtosleep,thenthemorningagain...arepetitiouscircle, MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds89 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST leadingnowhere,movinginarut.Ifyouarereallylogical,yourmindwillsay:Commitsuicide!Whyprolongthiswholenonsense?Logicleadstosuicide;faithleadstosupremelife.Andfaithisillogical–itdoesn'task,itdoesn'targue,itsimplyentersintotheunknown,ittriestoexperience.Experienceistheonlyargumentforamanwhohasfaith.Hewilltrytotasteit,hewilltrytoexperienceit.Withoutexperiencinghewillnotsayanything.Hewillnotdecide,hewillremainopen.Byonestep,thenanotherstep,thenanother,faithleadstosurrender–becausethemoreyoutrywithfaith,themoreyouknow,themoreyouexperience.Yourlifebecomesintense.Everystepsaystoyou:Gobeyondit,muchmoreishiddenbeyond.Beyondbecomesthegoal.Transcendeverythingandgobeyond.Andlifebecomesanadventure,acontinuousdiscoveryoftheunknown.Thenmoretrustiscreated.Wheneverysteptakenintotheunknowngivesyouablissfulglimpse,wheneverysteptakenintomadnessgivesyouahigherformofecstasy,wheneverysteptakenintotheunknownhelpsyourealizethatlifedoesn'tconsistofthemind,itisatotalorganicphenomenon,yourwholebeingisneededandcalled–thenbyandbyyourinnerbeingbecomesconvinced.Anditisnotalogicalconviction.Itisyourexperience,itisexperientialoryoucansayitisexistential,notintellectual–itistotal.Thenamomentcomeswhenyoucansurrender.Surrenderisthegreatestgamble.Surrendermeansputtingthemindasidecompletely.Surrendermeansgoingmad.Isaysurrendermeansgoingmad,becauseallthosewholiveintheirlogicandintheirmindswillthinkyouhavegonemad.Tomeitisnotmadness.Tomemadness,thistypeofmadness,istheonlycourageouswayoflife.Tomethismadnessisthedeepestjump.Tomethismadnessisallthatamaniscalledtobe.Buttothelogicians,yourtrustwilllooklikemadness.Thisisoneofthephenomenathathastobepenetratedverydeeply.Allthegreatreligionsarebornaroundsomemadman.AJesusisamadman,perfectlyinsane.ABuddhaisamadman.Butthepeoplewhogatheraroundarenotallmad.Manycomewhoarenotpeakers,whoareintellectuals.TheyareattractedtoJesusandtoBuddhaalso.TheverybeingofBuddhaissomagneticnow,lledwithsomuchinniteenergy,thattheyareattracted.Theirmindreasonsthatsomethinghasbeenattainedbythisman,buttheyarenotpeakers;theyarenon-peakers.Intellectuallytheybecomeattracted.TheveryphenomenonofaBuddhaandhisbeingbecomesalogicalargumenttothem.TheylistentoBuddha,theyrationalizehissayings,theycreatemetaphysicsaroundthem,thenareligionisborn.Atthebaseisamadman,butinthestructurearelogicians.Theyarethecontradictorypeople,absolutelycontradictory,oppositetoBuddha.Theycreatetheorganization.TheycreateBuddhismandthephilosophies.Jesusisamadman,SaintPaulisnot.Heisaperfectlogician.ThechurchiscreatedbySaintPaul,notbyJesus.ThewholeofChristianityiscreatedbySaintPaul,notbyJesus.Andthisisoneofthedangerousthingsthathasbeenhappening.Thereisnowaytopreventit.Itisinthenatureofthings.IfJesusisbornnow,thechurchwilldenyhimimmediately.Thechurchwillnotallowanymadmen.EckhartorBoehme,thechurchwilldenythem–theyaremadmen.Theywillbeexpelledfromthe MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds90 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST organization.Theywillnotbeallowedbecausetheycanprovedestructive.Theysaysuchthings,thatifpeoplelistentothemandbelieveinthem,theywilldestroythewholestructure,thewholeorganization.Religionisborn,atthebase,madman,andthentakenoverbythelogicianswhoaretheopposite.Theycreateallorganizations.Peakersgivebirth,andthenthechildisadoptedbythenon-peakers.Soeveryreligionatitsbirthsourceisbeautiful–butneveragain.Thenitbecomesugly.Then,really,itbecomesanti-religious.WhatsoeverIamsayingtoyou,youarefortunate–youareatthesource.That'swhyIsayyouarefortunate.Andithappensonlyafterthousandsofyearsthatyouarenearthesource.Itwillnotbesoagain!Evenwithmyideas,itwillnotbesoagain.Soonerorlater,thelogicianwillenter,thenon-peakerwillcome.Theyareboundtocome–theyarealreadyontheway.Theywillsystematizeeverything,theywilldestroyeverything.Andthentheopportunitywillbemissed.Thenitwillbeadeadthing.Rightnow,itisalive,andyouarenearthesource.That'swhyIsayyouarefortunate.Inyourmindalso,boththepossibilitiesarethere–thepeakerandthenon-peaker.Ifyouallowyourpeaker,thenyouwillsurrender.Ifyouallowyournon-peaker,thenyouwilllistentome,argueaboutit,rationalizeaboutit,philosophizeaboutit.Theneitheryouareconvincedbyme,ornotconvincedbyme.Ifyouareconvinced,youhangaroundme.Ifyouarenotconvinced,youleave.Butinboththecasesyoumiss.Whetheryouhangaroundmeorleaveisirrelevant.Ifyouaretryingtobeconvincedintellectually,youhavemissed.ThiscanbedonewhenIamdead.Rightnow,somethingelseispossibleandcanbedone–andthatis:allowyourpeaker,allowyourtrustingsoultoadventure.Don'tmakeitareasoningwithinyou.Makeitajump.Thesourcehappensrarely,andveryfewpeoplecantaketheadvantage.Thishasalwaysbeenso;thiswillbealwaysso.AroundJesustherewereonlyafewpeople;aroundBuddhaonlyafewpeople.Andthenforcenturiestheyweepandtheycry.WhenBuddhawasdying,manywerecryingandweeping.Onlyafewwereblissfullysittingaround–onlyafew.Thosewerethepeakerswhoweresittingblissfully;theyhadbecomeonewiththesource.TheyhadbecomeonewiththeBuddha;thediscipleandthemasterhaddisappearedlongbeforeandnowthereisgoingtobenodeath.Onlyafew–aMahakashyap,aSariputta,weresittingsilently,enjoying.EvenAnanda,Buddha'schiefdisciple,wascryingandweeping.Buddhaopenedhiseyesandsaid:Whyareyouweeping,Ananda?Anandasaid:Formany,manyyearsIwaswithyouandImissedthechance,andnowyouwillbenomore.Whatwillhappentomenow?YouwerehereandIcouldn'tattain.Nowyouwillnotbehere.Whatwillhappentome?NowhowmanyliveswillIhavetowander?Evenifthesourceisavailabletoyou,youcanmiss.Youcanmissbyno-surrendering.Surrender,andtheremainingIwilldo.ThenIwillbesmilingcontinuously. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds91 Osho CHAPTER9.SURRENDERANDIWILLDOTHEREST Question2BELOVEDOSHO,BEFOREYOUSTARTTALKING,YOUSMILE.WHENYOUSTARTTALKING,YOURSMILEDISAPPEARSANDYOUDON'TSMILEAGAINUNTILYOU'VEFINISHED.CANYOUTELLUSABOUTTHAT?Itisrelevant,becausetospeakissuchatortureandsuchauselessactivity.Ithastobedonebecausethereisnootherwaytobringyoutowardsthesilencethatexistsinme.Youwon'tlistentoit;youcanlistenonlytowords.SoIamsmilingwhenIstarttalking,butwhileIamtalkingitisdifculttosmile.Itissuchatortureandsuchafutileefforttosaysomethingwhichcannotbesaid,totalkaboutsomethingwhichcannotbetalkedabout,togooncontinuouslypointingwiththengerstothemoonwhichcannotbengered.Butthereisnootherway,soIhavetocontinueit.Byandby,youwillbecomeabletolistentothenonverbal,tothewordless.Byandby,youwillbecomeabletolistenwhenIamnottalking–thentherewillbenoneed...thenIwillbesmilingcontinuously.SowhenInish,Ismileagain–thetortureisnomore.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds92 Osho CHAPTER10 YouaretheWay 19May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,ASYOUKNOW,THEOLDZENCUSTOMWASTHATAMONKSHOULDSTAYWITHHISMASTERFORTENYEARSBEFOREHEWENTOUTONHISOWNTEACHING.THEREISAZENSTORYABOUTAMONKWHOHADCOMPLETEDHISTENYEARSINTHEMONASTERY.ONERAINYDAYTHEMONKVISITEDHISMASTER,NAN-IN.AFTERNAN-INHADGREETEDHIM,HESAIDTOTHEMONK,”NODOUBTYOUHAVELEFTYOURSHOESINTHEVESTIBULE.ONWHICHSIDEOFYOURUMBRELLADIDYOULEAVEYOURSHOES?”FORAMOMENTTHEMONKHESITATED,ANDTHROUGHTHATHESITATIONREALIZEDTHATHEWASNOTINEVERY-MINUTEZEN.YOUHAVETOLDUSTHATLIFEHASAPULSATION–INANDOUT,YINANDYANG.DOWEHAVETOKEEPTRYINGFOREVERY-MINUTEAWARENESS,ORCANWETOOPULSATEWITHLIFE,ANDATTIMESLETGOOURTRYING?Therstthingtobeunderstood:Awarenessshouldbemoment-to-moment,butitcanbeonlywhenithasbecomeeffortless.Witheffortyouwilllosecontactagainandagain,witheffortyouwillhavetorest.Effortcannotbecontinuous,itisimpossible.Howcanyoumakeaneffortcontinuously?Youwillgettiredandthenyouwillhavetorelax.Everyeffortneedsrelaxation.Soifawarenessisthrougheffort, 93 CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY thenawarenesscannotbeaconstant,continuousow.Therewillbemomentswhenyouwillhavetoloseawareness.Thosewillbethemomentsofrelaxationfromtheeffort.Lifepulsates.Lifealwaysmovestotheopposite.Effort,thenyouhavetorest.Againyoumaketheeffort,thenyouhavetorest.ButthereISanawarenesswhichgoesbeyondlife–thetranscendental.Thenthereisnopulsation;itiseffortless,itisspontaneous.Whathappenedtothismonk,thisdiscipleofNan-in?Themasterasked:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes–ontherightorontheleft?Hehesitated.Andherealizedthatinthemomentofleavingtheshoeshewasnotaware–otherwisehemusthaveknownwherehehadleftthem,ontheleftorontheright.Hisconsciousnessisnotyetcontinuous.Thatshowsonlythathisconsciousnessisnotyeteffortless.Hehasstilltoremember,consciouslymakeeffort.Hismindfulnessisstillwithatension.Hehasnotyetbecomemindful.Sosometimeshesucceeds,sometimeshefails.Nan-inisaskingonly:Isyourawarenessnownatural?Youneednotmanipulateit?Youneednotdoanythingaboutit?Itisthere–whatsoeveryoudoitisthere?Ordoyouhavetomakeaneffortforittobethere?Iftheeffortisthereitisastrainedthing,andastrainedthingisboundtobeunnatural.Anunnaturalawarenessisnotreallyawareness–itexistsonlyontheperiphery,notinyou.Ifitexistsinyouthereisnoneedtomakeanyeffort.WhatIamtryingtosayis:Effortisalwaysontheperiphery.Youcannottouchthecenterthrougheffort.Youcandosomethingontheperiphery–youcanchangeyourbehavior,youcanchangeyourso-calledcharacter.Ontheperiphery,witheffort,youcanbecomeagoodmanfrombeingbad,youcanbecomevirtuousfrombeingasinner;youcanevenbecomeasaint–ontheperiphery,witheffort.Butthecentercanneverbetouchedandpenetratedthrougheffort–becausenoactioncanleadtoyou.Youarealreadythere!Thereisnoneedtodoanything.Youhavetobesimplysilent,spontaneous,andthenthecenterarises.Itcomesoutoftheclouds.Thereisabreak,agap.Yousuddenlyrealizeyourspontaneousawareness.YOUAREAWARENESS.Itisnothingyoudo,itisnothingwhichhastobedone–yourverynatureisawareness.HindushavecalledyouSATCHITANANDA.Theyhaveusedthreewords–SAT,CHIT,ANANDA.Satmeanstheexistential,thatwhichcannevergointonon-existence.Satmeansthetrue,whichcanneverbecomeuntrue.Satmeanstheeternal–whichwas,whichis,whichwillbe.Chitmeansawareness,consciousness.Thatisyournature!Youhavealwaysbeenconscious.Youareconscious,youwillbeconscious.Thatconsciousnesscannotbetakenfromyou,butitexistsattheverycoreofyourbeing,notontheperiphery.Itisyou,butyouarenotincontactwithyourself.Andanandameansbliss,ecstasy.Itisnotthatyouhavetoachievebliss–itisyou.Youhavealwaysbeenblissful,youcannotbeotherwise;thereisnopossibility.Youcannotchangeit.Youwillsaythisseemsabsolutelyabsurd–becauseweAREinmisery.Youareinmiserybecauseyouhavebecometoomuchobsessedwiththeperiphery.Youhaveforgottencompletelythecenter. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds94 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Youhavebecometoomuchengagedwithothers,toomuchoccupiedwithothers,sothatthewholeattentionisfocussedontheother,andyouhavefallenintotheshade,intothedarkness.Satchitanandayouare.THEZenmaster,Nan-in,isaskingthedisciple:Haveyounowbecomealerttowhoyouare?Areyounowrootedinyournature?Ifthedisciplewasreallyrootedinhisnature,whatwouldhavebeenthecase?Thestoryisverydifculttounderstand.Itisnotaquestionofleavingtheshoesontheleftorontheright.Thatisnotthepointofthestory.Thatseemstobethepoint,butitisnot.Therealpointis:whenNan-inaskedthis,thedisciplehesitated.Thatistherealpoint.Andinthatmomentofhesitationhewasnotawarethathewashesitating.Ifhehadbeenawarethattherewashesitation,hewouldhavebeenaccepted.ButatTHATverymomenthelostawareness.AndyoucannotdeceiveNan-in.IfyougotoseeNan-inyoucanrememberverywellwhereyouhaveleftyourshoes.Thatisnotdifcult.IfNan-inasksyou:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes,ontheleftorontheright?youcanimmediatelyanswer:Ontheright.AndSTILLyouwilllose.Thatisnotthepoint,thatisjustadeception.Nan-inisdivertingthemindjusttoseerightnowwhatishappeninginhim.IntheverymomentwhenNan-inasked:Whereareyourshoes,ontherightorontheleft?thedisciplemissed.Inthatverymomenthehesitated–andhewasnotawareofthehesitation.Hestartedthinking.Inthatverymomentthathebecameunaware,Nan-inlookedintohim.Thatquestionwasjusttodivertthemind,itwasjustadeception.Thedisciplefailed,sohecannotbesenttoteachothers.Heisnotyetready,heisnotyetaware.Howcanonewhoisnotawareteachothers?Whatsoeverheisgoingtoteachwillbefalse.Therearemanyteacherswhoarenotawareoftheirownselves.Theycanbegoodteachers,efcient,artful,butthatisnotthepoint.Theycannotbeofanyhelp.Iwastravelinginatrainonce.Onesmallboywasagreatnuisance.Allthepassengersinthecarriageweretroubled.Hewasrunningfromthiscornertothat,topplingglasses,fallingonpeople,andthefatherwasverymuchembarrassed.Hetriedmanytimestostoptheboybuthewouldn'tlisten.Finallythefathersaid:Willy,ifyoudon'tlistentomeandifyoudon'tstop,Iamgoingtospankyou.Theboystillcontinuedrunning.Hewenttotheotherendofthecarriageandhesaid:Okay,youspankme–butthenIamgoingtotelltheticket-collectorhowoldIreallyam.Thisfathercannotbeateacher.Evenachildisnotgoingtolistentohim.Ateacherwhoisunawareofhisownselfcannotbeateacher.Hecannotteachotherswhathehasnothimselfattained.Awarenessissomethinglikeaninfectiousdisease.Whenamasterisalert,aware,youbecomeinfectedwithhisawareness.Sometimes,justsittingbythesideofthemaster,yousuddenlybecomeaware–asifthecloudshavegoneandyoucanseetheopensky.Evenforamoment...butthatbecomesadeepchangeintheveryqualityofyourbeing. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds95 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Evennotmakinganyeffortonyourpart,justbeingnearamasterwhoisapoolofsilentawareness,suddenlyyoubecomesilent–hetouchesyou.Thecloseddoorsopenorasifinadarknightsuddenlythereislightning,andyouseethewhole.Itdisappearsbecauseitcannotberetainedbyyou.Ifitisnotattainedbyyou,youwillloseit–butyouwillneverbethesameagain.Youhaveknownsomething,somethingthatwaspreviouslyunknown.Andnowthisknowingwillremainapartofyou.Therewillariseadesire,therewillariseanewambition:toattainthis,tomakethispermanent–becauseevenforamomentitwassoblissful,itshoweredsomuchhappinessonyou,somuchjoy.Butifthemaster,iftheteacher,isnothimselfaware,hecanteachaboutawarenessbuthecannotteachawareness.Andteachingaboutawarenessisuseless–itisverbal,itisatheory.Youcanlearnthetheoryfromhim,butyoucannotlearnthefact.Hence,beforethisdiscipleleavesNan-in,Nan-inmustlookintohim–andthisisaverydifferentphenomenon.Intheworldofeducation,astudentisexamined,butonlyhismemoryisexamined,neverhehimself.Alwayshismemoryisexamined–neverHE.Nan-inisnotexaminingthememoryofthedisciple.Heisnotasking:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes,ontherightorontheleft?Heisnotaskingforaperfectmemory,becausewherehelefttheshoesisnowpast.Heistryingtoseeintothebeingofthedisciplerightnow.Heisnotexaminingthememory,buttryingtolookintotheconsciousnessTHISverymoment.Thepastisnotthequestion.Thepresent,thepresentnessisthequestion.JustimaginethatdisciplesittingbeforeNan-in.Nan-inasks,andthediscipleislostinthepast.Hetriestothinkwherehehaslefttheshoes.Hetriestothinkwhetherhecanrememberornot.Hetriestothinkwhetherhehasmissedawarenessornot.Rightnowhehasbecomeaconfusion.Hiswholeconsciousnesshasbecomecloudy.Heisnolongerhere.HeisnotinthepresenceofNan-in,hehasgoneintothepast,hehasgoneintothinking–heisnotmeditative.Thehesitation,thethinking,theefforttotry...youcannotescapeNan-in.Hewillseethroughyou,hewillseealltheclouds,hewillseeyouarenothereandnow.Thenyoucannotbeallowedtoteach.Youcannotbesentout,becausewhatwillyouteach?Thatwhichyouhavenotgotyoucannotteach.Youcanpretend,butthatpretensionwillbedangerous,becauseifyoupretendthatyouareawareandyouarenot,thatpretensionwillbecomeinfectious.Apseudo-mastercreatespseudo-disciples,andthenlikeripplesthatpseudo-nessgoesonspreading.Themostdangeroussinthatamancancommitistopretendawareness.Evenifyoumurderamanitisnotsuchagreatsin,because,really,youcannotmurder.Youcanonlydestroythebody,thesoulmovesintoanother.Youonlydestroyonegame,anotherstartsimmediately.Amurdererisnotsuchagreatsinner.Butifyoupretendthatyouareawareandyouarenot,ifyoupretendthatyouareamasterandyouarenot,youaredoingsuchharm,suchinniteharm,thatnosincanbecomparedtoit–becauseotherswillgetthepretension.Theystartpretending,andthenitwillgoonandon–justlikewhenyouthrowastoneintoasilentlake,ripplesariseandtheygoonandon.Oneripplecreatesanother,pushesanother,anditgoesonandontotheveryboundariesofthelake. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds96 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Thelakeofconsciousnesshasnoboundaries.Oncearippleiscreateditwillgoforever;foreveritwillcontinue.Youwillnotbehere,butyourpretensions,yourfalsity,willcontinueandmanywillbedeludedbyit.Afalsemasteristhegreatestsinnerintheworld.That'swhyNan-inwon'tallowanybodytogoandteachunlesshehasbecomeenlightenedhimself.Thentheverylightthatburnswithinyouhelpsotherstobelit.Theveryrethatburnswithinyoumakesotherswarm.Theverylifethathashappenedtoyouhelpsotherstocomeoutoftheirdeadness.Butremember:alertness,awareness,orconsciousnesscanbecontinuousonlywhenithasbecomeeffortless.Inthebeginningeffortisboundtobethere,becauseotherwisehowareyougoingtostart?Youwillmakeaneffort,youwilltrytobemindful,youwilltryineverywaytobeconscious,buttheeffortwillcreateatension.Andthemoreyoumaketheeffort,themoretenseyouwillbe.Therewillbetinyglimpses,butbecauseofthetensiontheecstasywillbemissed.Youhavetopassthroughthisstatealso,ofmakingeffort.Onethingyouwillbecomeawareofsoonerorlater:thatwheneveryoumakeeffort,awarenesscomestoyoubutitisaverytorturedawareness,nightmarish.Itisveryheavy,itsitsjustlikearockonyourhead.Itisnotjoyful,itisnotweightless.Itisnotdancing.Butwhilemakingthiseffort,sometimes,suddenlyyouwillbecomeaware–whenyouwerenotmakingtheeffort.Andthatawarenesswillbelight,joyful,dancing,ecstatic.Thiswillhappenonlytothosewhoaremakingefforts.Whilemakingefforts,sometimes,whenyouarenotmakingeffort,thisglimpsewillhappentoyou.Andthenyouwillbecomeawarethatthrougheffortyoucannotachievethatultimate–onlythroughnon-effortithappens.Tomanymeditatorsaroundmeithappens.Theycometotellmethatwhilemeditatinginthemorning,intheevening,nothingmuchishappening.Butsuddenlyinthenightorsuddenlyintheafternoontheyaresitting,andsomethingstarts–andtheywerenotdoinganything.Thiswillhappen.Justaswhen:youforgetanameandyoufeelitisjustonthetipofthetongue,youbecomeverymuchstrained,youmakeeveryefforttobringittoconsciousness.Itdoesnotcome,andthemoreyoumakeaneffort,themoreyoufeellost.Youknowthatyouknow,continuouslyyouknowthatyoucanremember.Itisjustaroundthecorner,butsomebarrier,somethinglikeablockisthere,andthenameisnotcomingtoyou–itmaybethenameofacherishedfriend!Andthenthewholeeffortbecomessofutileyouleaveit.Youstartreadinganewspaper,orgoforasmoke,oryougointhegardenforawalkoryoujuststartdigginginthegarden.Andsuddenlyitpopsup.Suddenlythenameisthere,thefriendisstandingthere,thefaceisthere.Whathappened?Whenyouweremakingtheeffortyouweresotense,thatverytensenessbecametheblock,theverytensenessnarroweddownthepassage.Thenamewantedtocome,thememorywasknockingonthedoor,buttheverytensenessbecametheclosedness.That'swhyyouwerefeelingitwasjustonthetipofthetongue.Itwas!Butbecauseyouweresotense,soworriedaboutit,soanxioustobringitout,youranxietybecamealock.Whenamindisverymuchanxious,itbecomesclosed. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds97 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Allthatisbeautifulandtruehappensonlywhenyouarenotanxiousaboutit.Allthatislovelyhappensonlywhenyouarenotevenwaitingforit–notasking,notdemanding.Thenthemindhasnoblocks.That'swhyithappenswhenyouhaveforgottenit.Effortisneeded.Inthebeginning,effortisamust–futile,butstillamust.Thefutilitywillberealizedbyandby.Whenyouhaveglimpses,suddenglimpses,withthefeelingthatyouwerenotmakinganyeffortandthoseglimpseshaveshowereduponyou,giftsfromthedivine,thenyoucanleavetheeffort–andleavingtheefforts,moreandmoregiftswillcome.IntheEastwehavealwaysbelieved,andbelievedrightly,thatenlightenmentisnothinglikeanachievement.Itislikeagrace,itisagift,itisPRASAD.Godgivesittoyou,youcannotsnatchitawayfromhishand.ForaWesternseekerthisisverydifculttorealize,becauseintheWestinthelastfewcenturies,thewholehumanmindhasbeenconvertedintoasnatchingthing.Youhavesnatchedeverythingfromnature.Whatsoeversecretsscienceknows,theyarenotgiven,theyhavebeensnatched.Youhaveforcednatureviolentlytoopenherdoorsofmysteries.Becauseyouhavesucceededwithmatter,youthinkthatthesamecanhappenwiththedivinealso.Thatcannothappen,thatisimpossible.Youcannotattackheavenandyoucannotgotherewithbayonets.Youcannotforcethedivinetoopenitshearttoyoubecausewheneveryouareforcingyouareclosed.Thatistheproblem;wheneveryouareforceyouareclosedandifyouareclosedthedivinecannotberevealedtoyou.Whenyouarenotforcingbutoatinglikeawhitecloud,justroaming,notmakinganyefforttoreachanywhere,whenthereisnogoalandnoeffort,whenyoudon'twanttoachieveanythingandthereisnostrainingforit,whenyouarehappyasyouare,whenyouarehappyastheworldis,whenyouacceptthingsastheyareandyoudon'twanttochangeanything–suddenly,youaretransportedintoadifferentdimensionofbeing.Yourealizethedoorshavealwaysbeenopen–theywereneverclosed,theycannotbeclosed.Thedivinemysteryhasalwaysbeennearyou.Itwasneververyfar.Itcannotbebecauseyouarepartofthedivine.Whereveryougothemysterymoveswithyou.Itisnotaquestionofsearchingandseeking.Itisaquestionofremainingsilentandallowing.Whenyouseekyoumiss,becauseaseekerisalwaysviolent.Whenyousearchitwillnotcometoyou,becausethemindthatissearchingistoopreoccupied,itisnotavailable.Itisneverhereandnow,itisalwayssomewhereinthefuture:whenthediscoverywillbemade,whentheresearchwillbecompleted,whentheseekingwillcometoanend.Itisalwayssomewhereintheend,itisnothere.Thedivineishere,soyounevermeet.Aseekerneverreaches.Thatdoesn'tmeanyoushouldn'tbeaseeker.Youwillhavetobeinthebeginning,thereisnootherway.Inthebeginningyouhavetobeaseeker,youwillhavetoseekandmakealltheefforts.Justbymakingalltheeffortsandbecomingamadseekeryouwillrealizethatithappensonlywhenyouareinanon-seekingmind.Sometimesrestingitwillcometoyou.Sometimessleepingitwilldescendonyou.Sometimesjustwalkingontheroaditwillbethere.Sometimesjustlookingatthesunrisinginthemorning–not MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds98 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY doinganything,justapassiveawareness–lookingatthesunrisingorthemoonshimmeringonacoldnightinalakeoraoweropeningitspetals–andyouarejustapassiveawareness...Nothingisneededonyourpart.Whenaowerisopening,nohelpisneededfromyou.Therearefoolishpeoplewhowilltrytohelp.Theywilldestroythewholebeautyoftheower,andtheowerwillneverreallyopenthen.Evenifyouforceittoopen,itwillbeaclosedower.Theoweringhasnothappened,itisaforcedthing.Anythingforcedneverowers.Youarenotneededtohelpthesuntorise.Therearepeoplewhothinkthattheirhelpisneeded.Therearepeoplewhocreatemuchmischief,MUCHmischief,becausetheythinktheirhelpisneededeverywhere.Inreallife,whereverrealityishappening,nobody'shelpisneeded.Butitisverydifculttoresistthetemptationbecausewhenyouhelpyoufeelyouaredoingsomething.Whenyoudosomething,youcreatetheego.Whenyoudon'tdoanything,theegocannotexist.Inanondoingmomenttheegodisappears.Lookingatthesunrising,lookingataoweropening,lookingatthemoonshimmeringinacoldlake,notdoinganything–suddenly,itwilldescendonyou.Youwillndthewholeexistenceislledwiththedivine,youreverybreathisdivine.Witheffort,reachtoeffortlessness.Withseeking,reachtoastateofno-seeking.Withmind,arriveatno-mind.Therearetwotypesofpeople.ToonetypeifIsaytomakeaneffort,theymakeaneffort,butthentheydon'talloweffortlessness.TotheothertypeifIsayitwillhappenonlyineffortlessness–theyleavealleffort.Bothhavegonewrong.Bothhavegoneofftheway.Thisistherhythmoflife:makeeffortsoyoucanbeeffortlessalso.Straintotheveryendsothatyoucanachievemomentsofnon-strainedconsciousness.Runasfastasyoucansothatwhenyousit,youreallysit.Beexhaustedineffortsowhenyourest,itisarealrest.Youcanrestwithrestlessnessinsideyou.Youcanliedownontheground,buttherestlessnessgoesoninside.Soyouaresimplylyingdown,butitisnotarest.Youmaysitlikeabuddhaandinsidethechildisrunning–themindisworkingandfunctioning.Insideyouaregoingmad:outsideyouaresittinginabuddhaposture.Youcanbetotallystaticoutside,notmoving,noactivity,andinside,theturmoilgoeson.Thiswon'thelp.Finishtheturmoilineffort.Runasfastasyoucan.Beexhausted!Hence,myemphasisonDynamicMeditation.Itisbotheffortandeffortlessness.Itisbothactivityandinactivity.Itisbothrunningandthenzazen–justsitting.Nan-inislookingintothedisciple.Hashetranscendedeffort?Hashecometoeffortlessness?Hasconsciousnessbecomeanatural,spontaneousthingtohim?Isheunconfused?Isheclearlikeaclearbluesky?Thenhecanbeamaster,hecanbeallowedtogoandteachothers.Rememberthiswheneverthetemptationcomestoyoutoteachsomeone.Ifyouwanttosaysomethingtosomebody,justsaythatitisABOUT–aboutGod,aboutawareness.Maketheotherawarethatyouhavenotachieved–youhaveheard.Youhaveheardsuchbeautifulthingsthatyou MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds99 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY wouldliketoshare,butyouhavenotachieved.Thenyoucanbeahelpwithoutanypoisoning,withoutpoisoningtheother.Alwaysremember:ifyoudon'tknow,youdon'tknow.Neverpretend,notevennegatively,becauseyoucansimplyremainsilent,notsayingthatyouhavenotattained.Eventhatisnotgood,becauseinsilencetheothermaycarrythefeelingthatyouhaveknown.Makeitclearthatyouhavenotknownit,butyouhaveknownpersonswhodoknow,youhaveheardaboutit.InIndia,thereexisttwotypesofscripture.OneiscalledSHRUTI,theotheriscalledSMRITI.Smritimeansmemoryandshrutimeansthatwhichhasbeenheard.Theliteraturethatiscalledsmritibelongstothosewhohaveknownthemselves.Itistheirown.Theyhaverelatedtheirownmemory.Theyhaverelatedtheirownexperiences.Shrutiisthesecondtypeofliterature:itisfromthosewhohavebeenfortunatetobenearthosewhohaveknown–theyhaveheard.Rememberthisalways:ifyouhaveheard,thensaythatitissomethingyouhaveheard,anditissobeautifulthatevenhearingithasbecomeatreasureforyou.Evenhearingithastouchedyourheart,andyouwouldliketoshare.Butthisisjustfriendliness;youarenotbecomingamaster.Itisjustalovinggesture,justsharingyourhappiness,butyouarenotsharingawareness.Unlessyouattain,unlessyourealize,unlessitbecomesyourown,don'ttrytoguideanyone.Thatisviolent.Andwhenyouhaveattained,yourverybeingwillbecomeaguidance.Thedisciplewhocametothemaster,Nan-in,wasfromtheverybeginningtakingawrongstep,becauseifhehadbeenreadyNan-inwouldhavecalledhim.Itwasnothisparttodecide:TenyearsarenowcompleteandIshouldgoandteach.Thewholethingwaswrong.Themasterwouldknowbeforethedisciplewhenhewasready,becauseofcoursethemastercanobservemorethanyouevercanofyourownself.Themasterfollowsyoueveninyournightsandinyourdreams.Heislikeashadowconstantlywatchingwhatishappening,whetheryouareawareofhiswatchingornot.Andyouwillnotbeaware,becauseitissuchasubtlething.Wheneveradiscipleisready,themasterwillcallhimandtellhim:Nowyougo!Thediscipleneednotannounce,andifthediscipledecidestoannounce,thatmeansheisnotready–theegoisthere.Thisdisciplewantedtobeamaster–everydiscipledoes–andtheverywantingbecomesthebarrier.Tenyearswerecompleted;hemusthavebeencalculating.Hemusthavebeenaverycunningfellow;otherwise,whowillremember?Whatistheuseoflivingwithamasterifyoucannotforgettime?Whatelseareyougoingtoforget?Whatisthehurry?Thisdiscipleisnotsurrendered.Heisjustwaiting,calculating.Arithmeticisthere,logicisthere,andaxedattitudetowardsthings.Heknowsthehistoryofthemonastery,thatintenyears'timeadiscipleisreadyandthenhegoes.Butitdepends.Everydisciplewillnotbereadyintenyears,somediscipleswillnotbereadyintenlives.Andsomediscipleswillbereadyintenseconds.Itisnotamechanicalthing.Itdependsonthequality,theintensity,oftheconsciousnessofthedisciple.Sometimesithashappened:justa MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds100 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY lookfromthemasterandthediscipleisready.Ifheisopen,ifthereisnobarrier,ifheissurrendered,thenasinglemomentisenough.Eventhatisnotneeded,thethinghappenstimelessly.Butifyouarecalculating,thinking:Whenisitgoingtohappen?Ihavewaitedenough;oneyearislost,twoyearsarelost,tenyearsaregone,andIamwaitingandnothingishappening...youarecalculatinginside;thenyouarewastingtime.Adisciplemustdroptime-consciousness.Timebelongstotheego.Timebelongstothemind.Meditationistimeless.Thisdisciplecomestothemasterjusttoannounce:Tenyearsarecompletenow.WhereamIsupposedtogoandwhereamIsupposedtoteachnow?IamreadyBECAUSEtenyearshavepassed.Nobodyevergetsreadythatway.That'swhythemasterhadtoaskaquestion,justtomakethediscipleappearfoolishtohimself.Zenmastersaredifcultpeople–verystraight,penetrating,embarrassing.Whataquestiontoaskagreatseekerwhohasbeenwaitingfortenyears:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes,ontherightorontheleft?Whattypeofquestionandwhattypeofmanisthiswhoaskssuchaquestionofagreatseeker?Thisisnotmetaphysicalatall.Youcannotndamoretrivialquestion.Amoreprofanequestionyoucannotnd–askingabouttheshoes.HeshouldhaveaskedaboutGod,andthedisciplewouldhavebeenready.Heshouldhaveaskedaboutheavenandhell,andthedisciplewouldhavebeenready.Thedisciplemusthavecrammedeverything,everyanswer.That'swhyhehaswastedtenyearsreading,studying.Allthescriptureswerewithhim,andhewasready...themastercanaskanyquestion!Remember:ifyouAREnearanenlightenedman,heisnevergoingtoaskaquestionwhichyoucananswer.Itisnotaquestionofanswering,itisaquestionofrespondingwiththewholebeing.Themasteraskssuchafutilequestion:Wherehaveyouleftyourshoes?Thewholemetaphysicsofthedisciplemusthavebeenshattered,andhemusthavethought:Whattypeofman...?HereIam,ready,bubblingwithanswers.AnytypeofquestionyouraiseandIwillanswer.EvenquestionswhichBuddhahasnotansweredIwillanswer.Iknowallthebooks,allthescriptures.Ihavereadeverything.Allthesutrasarestudiedandmemorized.Hewasreadyandthismanasksaboutshoes!Butreallyheasksaquestionwhichcannotbeanswered,becauseyoucannotbereadyforitbeforehand.Itwasabsolutelyunpredictable.Thedisciplefeelshesitation,andthehesitationIStheresponse.Hesitationsayseverythingaboutthedisciple:heisstillnotaware–otherwisetherecanbenohesitation.Youact!Hewouldhavedonesomethingifhehadbeenalert.Hewouldhaverespondedinatotalway,buthebecameamind,puzzled...hesitation,confusion.Thestoryisbeautiful.WhenforthersttimeZenbecameknownintheWesttheycouldn'tbelievewhatthesemastersweredoingandasking–questioningabsurdthings.Youaskamasteraquestionandheresponds.NoZenmasterwillgiveyoutheanswer,hewillrespond. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds101 Osho CHAPTER10.YOUARETHEWAY Oneseeker,aphilosophicalseekerofcourse,cametoaZenmaster,Bokuju,andasked:Whatistheway?Bokujulookedatthenearbyhillsandhesaid:Thehillsareverybeautiful.Seemsabsurd!heasks:Whatistheway?andBokujusays:Thehillsarebeautiful.Frustrated,theseekerleftimmediately.ThenBokujuhadabeautifullaugh.Onedisciplesaid:Master,thatmanmusthavethoughtyouaremad.Bokujusaid:Oneofusiscertainlymad.Eitherheismad...becauseyoucannotaskabouttheway,youhavetotravelit.Throughtravelingthewayisdiscovered.Itisnotthere,ready-made,soIcannotsaywhereitis.Itisnotlikeasuper-highway,ready-made,waitingforyou:Comeandtravel!Thereisnowaylikethat,otherwiseallwouldhavereachedlongbefore.Ifthewaywereready-made,everyonewouldhavetraveledit.Thewayiscreatedthroughyourtraveling.Itisnottherewaitingforyou.Themomentyoustarttravelingitiscreated.Itcomesoutofyou–justlikeaspider'sweb.Itcomesthroughyou.YOUCREATEit,thenyoutravelit.Asyoutravelityoucreatemoreofit.Andremember,thewaydisappearswithyou.Nobodyelsecantravelonit;itcannotbeborrowed.Sothemastersays:Itcannotbeasked,onlyfoolishpeopleasksuchquestionsaswhatistheway?Youaretheway!Thenthedisciplesaid:Iunderstandthat,butwhydidyoutalkaboutthehills?Themastersaid:Amasterhastotalkaboutthehillsbecauseunlessyoucrossthehillsthereisnowaytobefound.Thewayisbeyondthehills,andthehillsaresobeautifulnobodywantstocrossthem.Theyaresoenchanting,sohypnotizing,thateverybodyislostinthehills–andthewayexistsbeyond.Amasterresponds.Hehitsyourrealnecessity.Heisnotworriedaboutyourquestion.Yourquestionmayberelevantorirrelevant–YOUarealwaysrelevant.Helooksinyou.Hehitsyou.Butintellectualpeoplewillalwaysmissthattypeofanswer.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds102 Osho CHAPTER11 YouaretheMeetingPoint 20May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,WHENWE'RESITTINGINFRONTOFYOU,HEARINGYOURWORDSANDFEELINGYOURPRESENCE,EVERYTHINGFEELSPOSSIBLE.BUTWHENWERETURNTOOURDAILYLIVINGCONDITIONS,THINGSDONOTSEEMSOCLEARANDWEFEELCUTOFFFROMYOU.YOUHAVETOLDUSTHATWESHOULDNOTRENOUNCETHEWORLD,BUTBEMEDITATIVEWITHINIT.YOUHAVEALSOSAIDTHATWESHOULDBESPONTANEOUSANDMAD.HOWCANWEINTEGRATETHETWOWITHOUTALIENATINGOURFAMILIESANDFRIENDSANDTHESOCIETYAROUNDUS?Onceyoustartthinkingintermsoftwocontradictionsandhowtomakethemmeet,youwillalwaysbeindifculty.Theneverythingwillbeacompromise,andwithcompromisenooneeverfeelsfullled.Somethingisalwayslacking,missing.Ifyoudothis,thenontheotherpolesomethinghastobelost.Ifyoudothat,thenonthispolesomethinghastobelost,andwhatsoeveryoulosegoesonhoveringinthemind.Itwillneverallowyoutobeblissful.Sotherstthingis:neverthinkintermsofcompromise.Ifyouthinkintermsofcontradictionsandhowtomakethemmeet,youareboundtothinkintermsofcompromise.SowhatamItosuggesttoyou? 103 CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Therstthingis:alwaysbeintegratedwithin,anddon'tthinkofanyintegrationwithout–becauseyouarethemeeting-point.Alone,yousitsilently.Inlife,youhavetobeactive,involved.Silenceandinvolvementarecontradictions,buttheybothmeetinyou.Youaresilentandyouareinvolved.Ifyouareintegrated,yoursilenceandyourinvolvementwillbeintegrated.Yourbeingalone,andyourbeingwithyourwifeoryourhusbandorfriendsaretwothings,contradictory,butyouareinboth.Ifyouareintegrated,youwillbehappyalone.Ifyouareintegrated,youwillbehappywithothers.Happinesswillbeyourquality.Happinessdoesn'tdependonbeingaloneorwithothers.Ifitdoesdepend,therewillbeproblems.Ifyoufeelwhenyouarealoneyouarehappyandyourhappinessdependsonbeingalone,thentherewillbedifculty.Thenalonenessisamust.Then,whenwithothers,youwillfeelunhappyandyouwillstartthinkinghowtomakethesetwooppositesmeet.Theproblemarisesbecauseyouaredependentonyourlonelinessforyourhappiness.Don'tbedependent.Behappywhenalone.Lethappinessbeyourquality.Andwhenyoumovefromalonenessintoinvolvement,intocommunication,relationship,carrythatqualityofhappinesswhichwasinloneliness–carrythat.Inthebeginningitwillbedifcult,becauseyouwillalmostalwaysforget.Itwillbedifcultbecauseofforgetfulness,becauseofnotbeingconstantlyaware,butbyandbyyoucancarrythequality.Whenlivingwithsomebody,youcanstillbeasaloneasyouwereinyourloneliness.Youremainanintegratedsoul.Whilenotdoinganything,youfeelhappy,atease.Thisat-easenessshouldbecomeaqualityofyou,notofinactivity.Carrythisqualityinactivityandtherewillbenoproblem.Inthebeginningthereisgoingtobedifculty,butthepointistorememberthatyourhappiness,yourbliss,yourecstasy,shouldnotbedependentonanyconditionwithout.Ifitis,thenthereiscontradictionbecauseitwillbedependent.Peoplefeelthattheyarehappywhentheyarewiththeirfriends;thenwhentheyarealonetheyarebored,miserable,somebodyisneeded.Thesepeopleareextroverts.Theothertypeistheintrovert.Wheneverheisalone,hefeelshappy;wheneverhemoveswithsomeone,unhappinessenters.Bothareinthebondageoftheirtype.Typeisabondage.Youshouldbefreeofthetype.Youshouldneitherbeextrovert,norintrovert,butboth.Thenyouarefreeofthetype.Sowhatistobedone?Nevergetxedwithasituation;alwaysmovetotheoppositeandcarrythequalitywithyou.Moveasmuchaspossiblefromoneoppositetoanotherandcarrythequality.Soonyouwillbecomeawarethatthequalitycanbecarriedanywhere.Thenyoucannotbesenttohell,becauseevenifyouaresentyouwillcarryyourhappinessthere.Thenyouwillneverbeafraid.Religiouspeopleareafraidofhell,andtheyseekandhankerforheaven.Thesepeoplearenotreligiousatall,becauseheavenandhellarebothconditionswithout–theyarenotyourownqualities.Thesearetheworldlypeople.That'swhatworldlypeoplearedoing.Theysay:Ifthisconditionisfullled,thenIwillbehappy.Sohappinessdependsonthecondition.IfapalaceistherethenIwillbehappy;somuchmoneyinthebankbalance,thenIwillbehappy;suchabeautifulwife,thenIwillbehappy,orsuchagood,lovinghusband,thenIwillbehappy.Youarehappyonlywhensomethingisfullledoutside,andyousay:Ifthisisnotfullled,Iamunhappy. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds104 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Thisiswhatanunreligiousmanis.Andtheso-calledreligiousmenalsogoonseekingheaven,avoidinghell.Theyaredoingthesame!Foryou,thisisgoingtobetheSADHANA–thediscipline:moveinoppositesasmuchaspossibleandtrytocarryyourinnerintegrity.Sittingsilent,feelwhattheinnerqualityis.Thengointoactivitywiththatqualitybeingretainedinside.Itwillbelostmanytimesbutdon'tbeworried.Ifevenonceyoucancarryitintotheoppositepole,youhavebecomemasterofit.Thenyouknowtheknackofit.Sometimesmovetothehills,theyarebeautiful.Thencomebacktotheworld,thattooisbeautiful.Ifhillsarebeautiful,whynotpersons?Theyarealsohillsintheirownright.Sometimesbealone,sometimesbewithothers.Andifyouarealert,notonlywilltherebenocontradiction,helpwillbecomingfromtheopposite.Ifyoucancarrythequalityofhappinessfromlonelinesstosociety,suddenlyyouwillbecomeawareofanewphenomenon,anewhappeningwithinyou;thatsocietyhelpsyoutobealone,andalonenesshelpsyoutobedeeplyrelatedwithpeople.Amanwhohasneverlivedinlonelinesscannotknowthebeautyofrelationship,cannotknow,Isay,becausehehasneverbeenalone.Hehasneverbeenaperson–howcanheknowthebeautyofrelationship?Apersonwhohasneverlivedinsocietycannotknowtheecstasyofloneliness.Apersonwhoisborninalonelyplace,isbroughtupinalonelyplace,doyouthinkhewillbeecstatic?Youthinkhewillenjoytheloneliness?Hewillsimplygodullandstupid.Gotothehills,gototheHimalayas.Peoplearelivingthere–theyhavelivedthereforthousandsofyears,theyarebornthere–buthowevermuchyoufeelthebeautyoftheHimalayas,theycan'tfeelit.Howevermuchyouenjoythesilencethere,theycannotenjoyit.Theyarenotevenawarethatthesilenceexists.Whentheycometothecities,theyfeelathrill–thesamethrillasyoufeelwhenyougotothehills.PeoplelivinginBombay,LondonandNewYorkfeelthethrillwhentheygototheHimalayas.PeoplelivingintheHimalayas,whentheycancometoBombay,NewYorkorLondon,thenfeelhowbeautifultheworldis.Theoppositeisneededtofeel–itbecomesacontrast.Thedayisbeautifulbecausethereisnight.Lifehassuchjoybecausethereisdeath.Lovebecomesaninnerdancebecausethereishate.Loveleadsyoutoahighpeakofconsciousness,becauselovecanbelost!Itisnothingthatyoucanrelyon.Thismomentitisthereandthenextmomentitisnot.Thepossibilityofitsabsencegivesdepthtoitspresence.Silencebecomesmoresilentwheninthebackgroundthereisnoise.Anairplanepassedjustafewmomentsago.Youcanlookatitintwoways:ifyouareadisturbedmaninside,youwillfeelitasadisturbanceofthesilence;ifyouareintegratedwithin,thenoiseoftheairplanewilldeepenthesilencehere.Thenoisebecomesabackground;itgivesshape,formtothesilence.Itgivesasharpness.Thesilencewhentheplanehaspassedismorethanitwasbefore.Itdependsonyou. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds105 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Alwaysremember:don'tgetdependentonthings,situations,conditions.Thenyoucanmove.Don'tavoidmovement,otherwiseyouwillgetxed.EverybodyisafraidofmovementbecauseyouAREdependent.Youcannotcomeoutofyourhills,yoursolitariness,totheworldofthemarket,becauseyouknowyouwillbedisturbed.Whattypeofsilenceisthiswhichcanbedisturbedbythemarket?Whatvaluedoesitcarry?Ofwhatworthisit?Ifthemarketcandestroyit,iftheworld,thehumdrumworld,candestroyit,thenyoursilenceisveryimpotent.Ifyoursilenceisreallypotent,ifyouhaveattainedit,nothingcandestroyit.ItisnotverydifculttounderstandwhatIamsayingaboutsilence,butthatismyattitudeineverysphereoflife.IfyouarearealBRAHMACHARI,arealcelibate,youcanmoveintosexanditwillNOTdestroyyourcelibacy.Thiswillbeverydifculttofollow.Ifsexdisturbsyourcelibacy,itwasnothingworthwhile.Youcarrythequalitywithin.Ifyouarereallyalive,fullofenergy,youcandiehappily.Onlyweaklingsdieunhappily–becausetheyhaveneverlived.Theyhavenevertastedthecupoflife.Theyhavealwaysbeenhopingandhopingandhoping,andlifeneverhappenedtothem.That'swhytheyarescaredofdeath.Onewhohaslivedisalwaysreadytodie.Onewhohasreallylivedisreadyeverymomenttoacceptdeath.Thewordacceptisnotgood.Itwouldbebetterifwesaytowelcomedeath,toreceiveithappily,joyfully.Thendeathisanadventure.ItSHOULDbeifyouhavereallylived.Thendeathisnottheenemy,deathisthefriend.Adeeperlifeallowsdeath,ashallowlifeavoidsit.Thisissoineverysphereoflife.Ifyouhaveknownwhatfriendshipis,youwillnotbescaredofenemies.Youwillnotbe!Thenenmityhasitsownbeauty.Itisasortoffriendship–ontheoppositepole.Itisalove-affairontheoppositepole.Itisinvolvement,itiscommitment.Ifyouhaveknownfriendship,youwilllovetheenemy.That'swhatJesusmeanswhenhesays:Loveyourenemies.NotwhatChristianshavebeeninterpretingallthesecenturies.Youcannotloveyourenemy!Howcanyouloveyourenemy?ButIsaytoyou:Ifyouhavelovedfriends,youwillloveyourenemies–becauseonceyouknowthebeautyoffriendship,youalsocometoknowthebeautyofenmity.Itisafriendshipinreverseorder.Bothgive,bothenrichyourlife.Oppositesarenotreallyopposites.Deepdown,theyhaveagreatharmony.Theyarepartsofonewhole.ThisiswhattheChinesesay:yinandyang,theyarepartofonemovement,partofonewheel–theyarenottwo.Theyappeartwobecausewehavenotlookeddeepdown.Itisbecauseofourshalloweyes,non-penetratingminds,supercialconsciousnesses–that'swhytheylooklikeopposites,otherwisetheyarenot.Lifeanddeatharefriends.Theyexistthrougheachother,theycontributetotheother.Withouttheother,theywouldnotbethereatall.Canlifeexistwithoutdeath?Manhasbeendreamingforeverandeverhowtodestroydeath.Thisistheattitudeofthemind,thelinearmind,thelogicalmind–howtodestroydeath.Thelogicalmindsays:Ifthereisnodeath,therewillbelifeinabundance–simplelogic!Evenachildcanunderstandthearithmetic:ifthereisnodeath,therewillbemorelife.ButIsaytoyou:Ifthereisnodeath,therewillbenolife. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds106 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT That'swhysimplelogicisalwaysfallacious.Apparentlyitlookssoright:ifthereisnoenemy,thewholeworldwillbeyourfriend.Youarewrong.Ifthereisnoenemy,therewillbenopossibilityoffriendship.Logicsays:Ifthereisnohatred,loveandloveandmorelovewillbethere.Sologicianshavebeentryingtodestroytheopposite.Theycannotdestroyit,becauselifeisgreaterthananylogic.Itisfortunatethattheycannotdestroytheopposite,becausetheydon'tknowwhattheyaredoing.Iftheoppositeisnotthere,thendon'tgoonbelievingthatlifewillbemore,lovewillbemore,friendshipwillbemore,happinesswillbemore–no.Therewillbenopossibility,becausetheverygroundbasbeendestroyed.Dialecticssayssomethingquitethecontrary,anddialecticsistruertolife.Dialecticssays:Ifyouwantmorelife,thenbemorereadyfordeath.Youmaynotbeawarebutthishappens.Whenyouaredrivingacarandyougainmoreandmorespeed,yougetinvolvedinthespeed.Apointcomeswhenanymomentdeathcanhappen.Thenyouarealive,thentheameoflifeburnsfast,sharp.That'swhyspeedissoattractiveandmagnetic–becausespeedbringsyounearerdeath.Whenyouarenearerdeath,lifeismore;itgrowsinproportion.That'swhythereissomuchattractionforwar,becauseinwardeathisatclosequarters,alwaysnearyou.Youmaythinkthatsoldiersghtingintheeldmustbeverymiserable.Youarewrong,otherwisenoonewouldght.TheyareNOTmiserable.Therealthingisquitetheopposite:whentheycomebacktotheordinaryworldtheyaremiserable.Whentheyareintheeld,ghtingonthefront,theyarenotmiserable.Allmiserydisappears.TheyareSOneardeaththattheyfeelforthersttimealive,andtheiralivenessbecomesmoreandmorethenearerdeathcomes.Whenallaroundthereisbombardment,shellsarepassingfromheretothereandanymomenttheycandropdead,atthatmomenttheyfeelanecstasy.Theyareintouch,indeepesttouchwithlife.Whendeathkissesyou,itisalsoakissoflife.That'swhythereissomuchattractiontoadventure,courage.Ifyouareafraid,youwillnotgainlife.Itellyouthatmeditationisthegreatestcourageandthegreatestadventure,becauseevenonawareldyouarenotsoneardeath.Evenifyoufeelyouareneardeath,itisonlyphysicaldeath.Physicaldeathmeansasupercialdeath–oftheshell,ofthebody.Yourhouseisneardeath,notyou;yourshelterisgoingtobedestroyed,notyou.Butinmeditationyouaregoingtobedestroyed–notonlytheshelter,butthehost,notonlythehouse,butthehost.Theegoistobedestroyed.Sothegreatestwarriorsarealwaysinterestedinmeditation.IwouldliketotellyouaboutonephenomenonthathashappenedinIndia,thathashappenedinJapan,andthatwillhappentoanycountrywhichgivesbirthtowarriors.AllthegreatmeditatorsinIndiawereKSHATRIYAS–warriors,notbrahmins.Thislooksstrange.Brahminsshouldbethegreatmeditators.TheyhavebeenwritingcommentariesontheUpanishads,theGita,theVedas.Theyhavebeencreatingmetaphysics,andtheyarethegreatestmetaphysicianstheworldhaseverknown.Nobody,nowhereintheworld,cancomparewithbrahminsasfarasverbalexpressionisconcerned,logicisconcerned.Theyareverysubtle,buttheyarenotthegreatmeditators. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds107 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Buddhaisagreatmeditator;heisakshatriya,awarrior.Mahaviraisagreatmeditator;heisakshatriya–awarrior–notabrahmin.Allthetwenty-fourTIRTHANKARASoftheJainasarewarriors.Thisseemsstrange–why?InJapan,samuraishaveexisted,warriors,thegreatestwarriorstheworldhaseverknown.Thesamuraiisthepeak,theultimatepossibilityofbeingawarrior.Ineverymoment,thesamuraiisreadytodie.Forsuchtrivialthingsheisreadytodie–youcannotimagine.Ihaveheardaboutonehistoricalfactthathappenedthreehundredyearsago:Onesamurai,onegreatwarrior,wasvery,verydrunk.Suddenly,hewascalledbythekingforsomepurpose,sohewentthere.Hetriedtobealertbuthewastoodrunk.Heforgotsometrivialmannerisminhowyouhavetobowtotheking,howmuch.Hebowed,ofcourse,butitwasnotasexactasitshouldhavebeen.Thenextmorningwhenhebecamesober,heimmediatelykilledhimself.HARA-KIRIisawordyoumusthaveheard.Hara-kiribelongstosamurais,warriors.Themomenttheyfeelsomethinghasgonewrong...justanordinarymannerism,andthekinghadnotsaidanything.Thewarriorwassogreatthatthekingwouldnothavementioneditatall–buthekilledhimself.Thenextday,whenthekingbecameawarethatthewarriorhadkilledhimself,hewept.Thewarriorhadthreehundreddisciples.Theyimmediatelykilledthemselves,becauseifamasterhascommittedawrong,thedisciplesshouldfollow.Andyouwillbesurprised,itseemsunbelievable,thatforonehundredyearscontinuouslyitcontinued,thissmallthing–moredisciples,anddisciples'disciples,becauseonceamaster....Anditisneverheardof:asamuraigoingtothekingdrunkanddoingsomethingwrong.Fortrivialthings!Deathseemssoeasyandathand!ThesesamuraiscreatedZen,thegreatestDHYANtraditionintheworld.Thesesamuraismeditateddeeply.Thisismyfeeling,thatunlessyouarereadytodieyoucannotbereadytomeditate.Warandmeditationaresynonymousinadeepsense.Whereverthereisthepossibilityofyourbeingdestroyed,inthatmomentyourameoflifeburnsinitstotality.Thefullintensitycomestoyou.Oppositesarealreadymeeting.Youneednottryforanymeeting,anysynthesisofthem.Theyarealreadymeeting;theyareindeepharmony.YOUarenotinaharmony,thatistheproblem.Sowhenyouarehealthyandyoufeelawell-being,carrythatwell-beingwhenyouareunhealthyandill.Itellyouthatthefeelingofwell-beingisnotdependentonhealth.Thefeelingofwell-beingisaninnerfeeling;itisnotdependentonthebody.Youcancarryitevenwhileill.RamanaMaharshiwasdying.Hehadcancer,throatcancer,anditwasalmostimpossibleforhimtotalk,almostimpossibleforhimtoeatanything.Butallthosewhosurroundedhimonhislastdayweresurprised–hewassohappy.Hiseyeswerelledwithasubtlewell-being.Theconditionofthebodywasjustaruin,thewholebodywasaruin–butnotRamana:hewasashealthyasever.Onceamasterwasdying.Hewasveryold,almostahundred.Discipleswerethere–theycouldn'tweepbecausehewaslaughing.Theycouldn'tcrybecauseitlookedsoabsurd.Themanwassohappy,bubblingwithhappinessjustlikeachild–enjoyinghislastbreath.Theycouldweeponlywhenhewasdead. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds108 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Andsomebodyasked:Whenhewasalive,whywereyounotweeping?Theysaid:Itseemedsoabsurd.Lookingathisface,lookingathiseyes,itappearedasifhewasgoingtoahigherrealmofbeing,asifdeathwasjustadoortothedivine,asifhewasnotgoingtodie,ratherasifhewasbeingreborn.Andhewasnotanoldman;ifyoulookedinhiseyes,hewasachild–hisbodywasold.Thewell-beingcanbecarried.Evenwhenyouareseriouslyillyoucanremainintheinnerwell-being.Youknowtheotherthing:evenwhenperfectlyhealthyyouremaininthenon-well-being.Youknowit,sotheotherispossible:perfectlyhealthyandyouaremiserable;perfectlyyoungandalive,andasifonyourdeathbed,somehowcarryingthewholebusinessoflifeasaburden,adeadweightontheheart.Youarealivebecauseyoucannotdoanythingelse.Whatcanyoudo?Youarealive.Youhavefoundyourselfalive,soyoucarryit.Butlifeisnotanecstaticphenomenonforyou,youarenotjoyfulaboutit,notcelebratingit.Itissuchagreatblessingtobealive.Evenforasinglemomenttobealiveandawareistoomuch.Alonglifeisgivenandmanylivesandyouarenotthankful,becauseunlessyoucelebratehowcanyoufeelanygratitude,anythankfulness?Perfectlyyoung,alive,butinsideyoucarrythemisery.Dying,amanwhoknowswillcarrythewell-being.Laughterwillbecomingfromhisinside,fromtheverycoreofhisbeing.Don'ttrytosynthesizetheoppositepolesoflife.Justbeintegrated.AndwhenIsayjustbeintegrated,Imeanwhatsoeveryoufeelinlonelinesscarryintothemarketplace;whatsoeveryoufeelinyourmeditation,carryitintolove–becauseinlovetheotherwillbepresent,inmeditationyouarealone.Soonerorlaterthingswillsettleoftheirownaccord.Youneednotsettlethem;yousimplysettleyourself.Getsettledyourself,andthingswillfallintotheirownarrangement–theyalwaysfall,theyalwaysfollowyou.Onceyouaresettled,thewholeworldissettled.Onceyouareinharmony,thewholeworldisinharmony.Oncetheinneraccordisreached,thereisnodiscordintheworld.Myemphasis,totalemphasis,absoluteemphasisis:yougetsettled.Don'ttrytondanyharmonyintheopposites.Youcanneverndit.Andifyoutrytoomuch,youwillgetmoreandmoredisturbed–becauseitisimpossible!Anotherthingalsoyouhaveaskedabout:thatwhilewithmeyoufeelwell-being,youfeelasilence,youfeeleverythingispossible.Thattoocanbecomeadependence.Thenwhenyouarenotwithme,thingsseemtobemoreimpossible,thingsseemtobenotsomuchinaccord.Youareconfused.Whilewithme,youfeelsilencebecauseyouareless.Whilewithme,sittingwithme,formomentsyoubecomeegoless,forperiodsyouarenotthere,youaresimplywithme.Thebarrierisbroken.Thewallhasdisappeared.InthatmomentIamowinginyou.Everythingseemspossible.Awayfromme,yougatheryourwallsagain.YOUarethere.Thingsarenotsobeautifulthen.Sojusttrytounderstandwhatishappening,andcarrythatunderstandingwhenyougoawayfromme. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds109 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Whatishappening?Wheneverythingseemspossible,eventhenalenlightenmentseemspossible.Whatishappening?Youarenotthere.Withoutyoueverythingispossible.Withyoueverythingisimpossible.YOUARETHEPROBLEM.Listeningtome,youforget.Ifyouforget,youarenotthere–becauseyourbeingthere,theego,isjustamentalphenomenon.Youhavetocreateiteverymoment.Itisjustlikepedalingabicycle.Youhavetogoonpedaling;ifyoustopforasinglemoment,thecyclestops.Thereisamomentum,alittlemomentum;thecyclewillgoafewyards,andthenwillstop.Ifyouwantthecycletocontinue,youhavetogoonpedaling,itisacontinuousprocess.Thecyclemovingisnotsomethingpermanent,ithastobecreatedeverymoment.Theegohastobepedaledeverymoment–andyouarepedalingit.Whenyouarehere,thepedalingstops.Youaremoreconcernedwithme.Yourtotalfocusandattentionmoves.Itisjustlikeasmallboycycling.Heiscuriousabouteverything.Helooksatatreewithhundredsofparrotschatteringthere,andhefallsfromthecyclebecausetheattentionhasmoved.Hestopspedaling,heforgetsthatheisonthecycleandthathehastocontinuepedalingit.Smallchildrennditdifcultinthebeginningtocycle,justforonereason–becausetheyaresocuriousabouteverything.Nocountryallowsdrivinglicensesforchildren,onlybecausetheyaresocurious.Theywillforget.Anymomenttheirtotalattentioncangoanywhereandtheywillforgetthattheyaredriving,thattheyhaveadangeroustoolintheirhandsandothers'livesareindanger.Theyareunfocused.Theirconsciousnessisowingeverywhere.Whileyouarehere,youaresomuchconcernedwithme,somuchinvolvedinit,youforgetthepedaling.Andforcertainmoments,whenyouforgetyourselfcompletely,silencedescendsonyou,ablissarises,everythingseemspossible.Youbecomedivine–that'swhyeverythingseemspossible.Onlyforagodiseverythingpossible.Foragod,nothingisimpossible.Inthatmomentyoubecomegodlike.Awayfromme,youreturnback–yourmindstartsthinking,youstartpedaling,andyoupedalmorebecauseyouhavetocompensate.Youhavenotpedaledyourcycleforafewmoments,soyoupedalmorejusttocompensate.Intenseegocomesback.Youlosecontactwithyourself.Withme,whatisreallyhappeningis:youaremoreincontactwithyourself.Theegoisnotthere.Youareindeepcontactwithyourself;yourinnersourceisavailabletoyou,owing.Thereisnoblockinenergy.Awayfromme,alltheblockscomeback,oldhabitsreturn.Thenthingsdon'tseemsogood.Thenthewholephenomenonofbeingwithmeseemslikeadream.Youcannotbelieveit.Itlookslikeamiracle.AndyouthinkthatImayhavedonesomething.Ihavenotbeendoinganything.Nobodycandoanythingtoyou.Ithappenedbecauseyouallowedit.Whenyoumoveawayfromme,carrythisfeeling.Whatsoeveryouarefeelinghere,carryit,thenIwillbeneededlessandless.Otherwise,Icanbecomeadrug;theneverymorningyouawakeandyoustarthankeringforme.Thenyouaregettingreadytocometome,adeepurge–thenIcanbecomeadrug!Thenyouwillbecomemoreandmoredependentonme.That'snotthewaytoreachsatori,samadhiorenlightenment.That'snottheway.Ifyoubecomedependentonme,Iamadrug,andIamdestructivethen.ButthisisYOUwhocanconvertmeintoadrug. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds110 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Whatsoeveryoufeelnearme,inmypresence,withme,carryitwithyou.Youmustcometoapointwhenwhetherwithmeorwithoutmeyouremainthesame.ThenIamahelp,thenIamnotabondage.ThenIamafreedomtoyou–andIMUSTbecomeafreedomtoyou.AndwhenIsayImustbecomeafreedomtoyou,itmeansyoumustcometoapointwhenyouarefreedfrommealso.Ifitisaconstantdependenceandyouarenotfreed,itisnothelping,itissimplypostponingthings.Arealmasterwillalwaysmakehisdisciplesfreeofhim.Thatisthegoal!Cometome,goawayfromme,butcarrythefeelingwithyou.Youremainthesame.Moveinthepolaroppositesalwaysremainingthesame–theneverythingispossible,becauseyouarethesourceofalltheenergies.Youhavethesourceofalllifewithinyou.Allthatishappeninginlifeishappeningfromthesamesourcefromwhichyouhappened.Youarerelatedtoit,youareonewithit.Ifbirdscanbesohappyandsinging,youcanbe,becausethesamesourcesuppliesthemwiththehappiness,thesinging.Thesamesourceisavailabletoyou,butsomehowyouhavecreatedblocks.Ifthetreesaresogreen,soathome,notworried,youcanbethesame,becausethesapthatcomestothetreesiscomingtoyou.Youmayhaveforgottenit,butitisthere.Allthathashappenedinlife,allthatishappeningallaroundyou,allthismystery,isyourheritage.Claimit.Itiswastingawayunclaimedjustbyyoursidewhileyougoonbegging.Theempireisthereandtheempiregoesonwastingandwaiting,andyougoonbegging.Claimit!Thisisthewayitcanbeclaimed:remainthesamewhilemovingintoopposites.ThisiswhatKrishnasaysintheGita:Inpainorpleasure,bethesame;insuccessorfailure,remainthesame.Whatsoeverhappens,letithappen–youremainthesame.Thissamenesswillgiveyouintegrity.Onethingmoreyouhaveasked:thatIsaytoyoutoliveintheworld,notrenounceit,andyetbecompletelymadandecstatic.Itseemsdifcult,becausehowcanyouthenlivenormallyinaworld,inrelationshipwithpeople?Yes,Isaythistoyou.Onething:renouncingtheworldisuglytome,becausethatmeansrenouncingthegiftthatGodhasgiventoyou.Youhavenotcreatedlife.Youarenottherebecauseofyourchoice.Itisagift!RenouncingitisgoingagainstGod.AllrenunciationisagainstGod.Itissayingno.That'swhythosewhorenouncebecomemoreegotistical.Themomentyourenounce,yousay:Iamwiserthanlife,Iamwiserthanthedivinesourcefromwhereeverythingcomes.Whenyourenounce,yousay:Ichoose.Whenyourenounce,youuseyourwill–andwillcreatesego.WhenIsaydon'trenounce,Iamsaying:Don'tbeawill,don'tbeachooser.WhatsoeverishappeningisNOThappeningbecauseofyou,sowhoareyoutochoosethisorthat?Letithappen.Whatcanyoudo?Letithappen;don'tbedisturbedbyit.Renunciationisjustanescape.Becauseyougethurt,becauseyougetdisturbed,yourenounce.Yourenouncethesituation–youdon'trenouncetheattitudethatgetshurt.Youdon'trenouncetheheartthatiswithsomanywoundsthatanybodycanhurtit.Youdon'trenouncethemindwhichis MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds111 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT ill,whichisalwaysreadytogetdisturbed.Yourenouncetheworld–whichiseasier.YouescapetotheHimalayas,butallthatwaswithinyouwillbewithyou.Itwillnotmakeanydifference.Thisisadeception.Remainintegrated.Remainsilent.Remainhappyandallowtheworldtohappen!Whoareyoutorenounceornotrenounce?Whereveryoundyourself,bethere.Beintegratedandsilentandhappy.Don'tgototheHimalayas,createaHimalayawithin–that'swhatImeanwhenIsaydon'trenounce.Don'tgotothehills,createthatsilencewithin,sowhereveryoumove,thehillsmovewithyou.Relationshipisbeautiful,becauseitisamirror.Buttherearestupidpeople:theyseetheirfaceinthemirror,andtheyseeitisuglysotheydestroythemirror.Thelogicisapparent:thismirrorismakingthemugly,sodestroythemirrorandthenyouarebeautiful.Relationshipisamirror.Whereveryouarerelatedwithaperson–awife,ahusband,afriend,alover,anenemy–amirroristhere.Thewifemirrorsthehusband.Youcanseeyourselfthere,andifyouseeanuglyhusband,don'ttrytoleaveyourwife–theuglinessisinyou.Dropthatugliness!Thismirrorisbeautiful,andbethankfultothismirror.Butstupidandcowardlypeoplealwaysescapeandrenounce;braveandwisepeoplealwaysliveinrelationship,anduseitasamirror.Livingwithsomeoneisaconstantmirroringaroundyou.Everymomenttheotherrevealsyou,exposesyou.Theclosertherelationship,thecleareristhemirror:themoredistanttherelationship,themirrorisnotsoclear.That'swhyallrenouncingbecomes,really,therenunciationoflove.Wifeandhusband:thatbecomesthebaseforbreakingtherelationship,becausetwenty-fourhourslivingwithapersoninthesamehouse,twenty-fourhoursbeingrelated....Evenwhenawifeisnottalking,notsayinganythingtoherhusband,sheismirroring.Evenwhenthehusbandisjustreadinghisnewspaper,heismirroring.Thewayheisputtinghisnewspaper,thewifeknowsthatthenewspaperisjustcreatingawall.Heishidingbehindit.Hemaybepretendingtohimselfthatheisreading.Hemaybereadingthesamenewstwice,thrice.Hemaynotbereadingatall,butjustgoingthroughthewordsmechanically.Butthewayheishidinghimselfbehindthenewspaperbecomesamirror.Heisavoidingthewife,heisfedupwiththewife,hedoesn'twanthertobehere,hedoesn'twanttolookather,toseeher.Herpresence,theverypresenceisheavy.Hewantstoescapesomehow.Whenyouareinlove,languageisnotneeded.Gestures...evensilencebecomeseloquent.Aconstantmirroringgoeson,andeverybodyisuglybecausebeautyissomethingwhichhappensonlybyandby,whenyourinnerbeingbecomesrevealed.Egoisalwaysugly.Soonlywhentheegoisnotdoesonebecomebeautiful.Itistheegothatismirrored.Whosoevercontinuouslyremindsyouthatyouareuglybecomestheenemy–youwanttorenounce.Butisitwisetorenouncethemirror?Itisfoolish.Evenifnobodymirrorsyou,youwillremainthesame.Youmayevengrowmoreinthesamedirectionwhennobodyremindsyou.Themirrorisbeautifulandgood.Ithelpsyou.Andifyouarealert,byandbyyoucandroptheego.Then,inthemirroroftheotheryourbeautifulselfwillberevealed. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds112 Osho CHAPTER11.YOUARETHEMEETINGPOINT Onceyouareanothingness,awhitecloud,thenallthelakesoftheworldwillrevealyourwhiteness,thenallthelakesoftheworldwillrevealyouroatinglet-go.SoIsaythereisonlyonethingtoberenouncedandthatisrenunciation.Nothingelse.LivewhereGodis,orthewhole–ifyoudon'tlikethewordgod,thereisnoproblem,itisonlyaword.SoGodorthewhole–whereveryoundthewholehasplacedyou,bethere.Thewholeneverplacesanybodyinrenunciation–never.Thewholealwaysthrowsyouintorelationship,becausenobodyisbornalone,nobodycanbe.Atleastthemother,thefatherwillbeneeded;asociety,afamilywillbeneeded.Thewholealwaysthrowsyouintorelationship.That'swhyIsayrenunciationisgoingagainstGod.Gurdjieffhasmanyinsights.OneofhisinsightsisthatallreligiouspeopleareagainstGod.Thisisstrangebuttrue.AndIfullyapprovehim.Heisright.ALLreligiouspeopleareagainstGod,becausetheysetthemselvesupasjudges:thisiswrong,thatisright;andthisshouldbedone,thatshouldnotbedone;andoneshouldmoveawayfromtheworld.Godthrowsyouintheworldandso-calledreligiouspreachers,theyteachyoutorenounceit.Iamnotthatkindofareligiousman.IamwithGod,withthewhole.Whereveritleadsyou,movelikeacloud,movewithhim,andgiveyourselftotallytothewhole.Theonlythingtorememberistheopposites–thesilence,theequilibrium,thebalance,theintegrity.Yousayitwillbedifcult.Yes,itwillbedifcult.Ifyouareecstatic,itwillbedifcultinafamilywhichispathological–andeveryfamilyispathological.Itwillbelivingjustasifyouareforcedtoliveinamadhouse–itwillbedifcult,becauseeverybodywillbemadthere.Sowhatcanyoudo?Ifyouarethrownintoamadhouse–youarenotmadandeverybodyelseismad–whatwillyoudo?Ifyouarereallynotmad,youwillactmadly.That'stheonlywisewaythere,sonobodycomestoknowthatyouaresane,becauseiftheycometoknow,theywillcreatetrouble.Inamadhouse,areallywisemanwillactmoremadlythananymadmancando.Thatistheonlysafestatethere.Sointhislife,whereeverybodyismad,whatcanyoudo?Thiswholeplanetisamadhouse,abigmadhouse,everybodyispathological,ill,diseased,abnormal,whatcanyoudo?Act!Withpeople,whenyoufeel,don'ttrytocreateunnecessarytrouble–justact,andenjoytheact.Withpeople,acting;foryourself,bemadlyecstatic.WhatdoImean?Imeanifsomebodyhasdiedintheneighborhood,whatwillyoudo?Bemadlyecstaticthere?Thenyouwillbebeaten.Weepandcry,actbeautifully–becausethatiswhatisneededinthatwholepathologicalsituationwheredeathisnotaccepted,wheredeathisevil.Don'tcreateanytroubleforanybody.Ifyouarewise,act–andactsobeautifullythatnobodycrieslikeyou.Enjoyit!Thatisyourinnerthing.Makeitanecstasy!Butfortheouter,forpeoplewhoarearoundyou,actitbeautifully.Beanactorintheworld.Whenyouareanactor,youarenotdisturbed,becausethenyouknowthisisjustacting.Thewholeoflifeisagreatpsychodrama.Beanactorthere,andinside,remaininyournon-egoisticblissfulness.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds113 Osho CHAPTER12 Whatsoeveryoudo,beTotal 21May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUHAVETALKEDTOUSABOUTTOTALSURRENDERTOTHEMASTER,BUTOFTENOURMINDSCOMEUPWITHREASONSFORNOTFOLLOWINGTHEINSTRUCTIONSLITERALLY.WESAYTHINGSLIKE:THEMASTERCAN'TKNOWTHATTHESITUATIONHASCHANGED;OR,THEMASTERDOESN'TREALIZEWHATTHEPRACTICALCONDITIONSAREINTHEWEST.SHOULDWEFOLLOWEVERYTHINGTHEMASTERSAYSTOTHELETTER,ORARETHERETIMESWHENWESHOULDUSEOUROWNDISCRETION?Youshouldfolloweitherabsolutely,ornotatall.Nocompromiseshouldbemade,becauseanythinghalf-heartedisnotonlyuselessbutharmful.Anythinghalf-hearteddividesyou–thatistheharm.Youshouldremainanundividedunity.Soeithersurrendertotally...thenthereisnoneedtothinkonyourpart;followblindly.Iemphasizethewordblindly–asifyouhavenoeyes;somebodywhohaseyesisleadingyou.Thenyouwillremainanundividedunity;andundivided,integrated,youwillgrow.Or,ifyoufeelthisisimpossibleandcannotbedone,don'tfollowatall.Completelyfollowyourself.Thentooyouwillremainundivided.Toremainundividedistheend,theaim.Bothwilldo,theultimateresultwillbethesame.Ifyoucanbealone,withoutamaster,ifyoucanfollowyourown 114 CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL consciousness,wheresoeveritleads,itisthesame,theresultwillbethesame.Soitdependsonyou.Butthemindalwayssays:Doboth.Themindsays:Followthemaster,butthinkaboutit.FollowonlythosethingswhichYOUthinkright.Thenwhereisthefollowing?Whereisthesurrender?IfYOUarethejudge,andyouaretodecidewhattofollowandwhatnottofollow,thenwhereisthesurrender,whereisthetrust?Thenitisbettertofollowyourownconsciousness.Butdon'tdeceive–atleastthereshouldbenodeception.Otherwise,yougoonfollowingyourselfandyouthinkthatyouarefollowingamaster.Ifyouarethedecidingfactor,ifyouhavetochoose,ifyouhavetodiscardsomething,acceptsomething,thenyouarefollowingyourself.Butyoucancreatetheimpressionaroundyourselfandyoucandeceiveyourselfthatyouarefollowingamaster.Thennothingwillcomeoutofit.Youwillnotgrow,becausethroughdeceptiontherecanbenogrowth.Andyouwillgetmoreandmoreconfused,becauseifYOUaretodecidewhatistobedoneandwhatisnottobedone,ifyouhavetochoosefromyourmaster'sguidance,youwillcreateachaos–becausewheneveramasterguidesyouhisguidancehasanorganicunityaboutit.Everyinstructionisrelatedtoanother.Itisacompactwhole.Youcannotdiscardsomethingandfollowsomething;youwillbecomearuin,awreck.Evenifasinglethingisdenied,thenthewholehasbeendisturbed.Youdon'tknowhowthingsareinterrelated.Sothisismysuggestiontoyou:Remainaunit,undivided.Decide.Ifyouhavetodecide,thendecide:Iwillfollowmyself.Thendon'tsurrender,thereisnoneedeither!ThisiswhatKrishnamurtihasbeensayingfortheseforty,ftyyearscontinuously:Don'tfollow.Peoplecanreachwithoutfollowinganybody,butthepathisarduousandverylongbecauseyouarenotreadytoacceptanyhelpwhichcanbegiventoyouorguidance–whichispossibleandwhichcancutmanyunnecessarydifcultiesonthepath.ThisiswhatKrishnamurtihasbeensaying.Nobodyhasdoneit.Thisistheproblemofthemind.Themindcanaccept:Don'tfollow,notbecauseithasunderstood,butbecauseitisveryego-fulllingnottofollowanybody.Nobodywantstofollowanybody.Deepdowntheegoresists.SoaroundKrishnamurtialltheegoistshavegathered.Theyareagaindeceivingthemselves.Theythinktheyarenotfollowinganybodybecausetheyhaveunderstoodthefallaciesoffollowing,theyhaveunderstoodthatthepathhastobetraveledalone,theyhaveunderstoodthatnohelpispossible,nobodycanhelpyou,nobodycanguideyou,aloneyouhavetotravel.Theythinkthattheyhaveunderstoodthis;that'swhytheyarenotfollowinganybody.Thatisnottherealthing–theyaredeceiving.Theyarenotfollowingbecausetheiregowon'tallow.StilltheygoonlisteningtoKrishnamurti.Foryearstogethertheygoagainandagain.Ifnohelpispossible,whydoyougoagainandagaintoKrishnamurti?Ifnobodycanguideyou,whatisthepointoflisteningtohimagainandagain?Itispointless.Andeventhisattitude,thatyouhavetotravelthepathalone,isnotdiscoveredbyyou–ithasbeenrevealedtoyoubyKrishnamurti.Deepdownhehasbecomeyourmaster,butyougoonsayingthatyoudon'tfollow.Thisisadeception. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds115 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Thesamedeceptioncanhappenfromthereverseside.Youcometome,youthinkyouhavesurrendered,andstillyougoonchoosing.IfIsaysomethingthatsuitsyou–thatmeansitsuitsyourego–youfollowit.IfIsaysomethingwhichdoesn'tsuityourego,youstartrationalizing:Thismaynotbeforme.Soyoufeelthatyouhavesurrendered,andyouhavenotsurrendered.PeoplearoundKrishnamurtithinktheyarenotfollowinganybody,andtheyarefollowing.Youaroundmethinkyouarefollowingmeandyouarenotfollowingme.Mindisalwaysadeceiver.Whereveryougo,itcandeceiveyou,sobealert.Isaytoyou:Youcanreachwithoutfollowing,butthepathwillbevery,verylonely,verylong.Itisboundtobeso.Onecanreach,itisnotimpossible,peoplehavereached.Imyselfhavereachedthroughnotfollowing,youcanalsoreach.Butrememberthatnotfollowingshouldnotbecomeanego-fulllment;otherwiseyouwillneverreach.Amasterornomaster,thatisnotthebasicthing.Thebasicthingistheego,yourego.Noego–thenevenwithoutamasteryoucanreach.Withego–evenaBuddhacannotleadyou.Eitherfollowtotallyordon'tfollowtotally,butbetotal.Itisforyoutodecide.Remainundeceivedbythemindandlookdeepwithinyourself.Beawareofwhatyouaredoing.Ifyouaresurrendering,thensurrender.Iremember:ithappenedoncewithagroupinGurdjieff'slife.Hewasworkingwithafewdisciples.Absolutesurrenderwasneeded–andGurdjieffhadsaidthatwhatsoeverhesaid,theyhadtofollow.Hewashelpingthemtopracticeacertainexercise.Heusedtocallthatexercisethestopexercise.Sowheneverhesaid:Stop!youhadtostopwhatsoeveryouweredoing.Youwerewalking,onefootwasabovethegroundwhenhesays:Stop!youhadtostopthere.Youweretalkingandyourmouthwasopen,andhesays:Stop!Youhadtostopwithanopenmouth.Youwerenottochangeit,youwerenottomakeyourpostureconvenient,becausethatwouldbeadeception,andyouwerenotdeceivinganybodyexceptyourself.Oneday,suddenlyinthemorning,whenpeopleweredoingsomeexerciseoutsidethecamp,andafewpeoplewerepassingthroughacanalthatwasrunningby,hesuddenlysaid:Stop!Hewasinsidethecamp,sopeoplestopped.Fourpersonswerecrossingthecanal.Itwasdry,thewaterwasnotrunning,sotheystopped.Butsuddenly,somebodyopenedthecanalandthewaterstartedcoming.Theystartedtothink:Whattodo?Gurdjieffisinsidethetent,hedoesn'tknowthattheyarestandinginacanalandthecanalisowing.Buttheywaited,becausemindcanwaitforamoment.Whenthewatercameuptotheirnecks,onejumpedout.Hesaid:Thisistoomuch.Gurdjieffdoesnotknow.Thenthecanalwasoodedmore.Twoothersjumpedwhenthewatercamejustneartheirnoses,becausenowtheywouldbedrownedandtherationalizationwassimpleandeasy.Youwouldhavealsodonethesame.Theyaregoingtodie,themasterisinsidethetentandhedoesn'tknow!Onlyoneremained.Thewaterwasowingabovehisheadandhewasstanding.ThenGurdjieffrushedoutofhistentandbroughthimoutofthecanal;hewasalmostunconscious.Thewaterhadtobebroughtoutofhisbody,hewasjustonthepointofdeath.Butwhenheopenedhiseyeshewasanotherman.Theoldmanreallydied.Thiswasatransformation.Hewastotallydifferent. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds116 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Whathappenedinthatmomentofdeath?Heacceptedthemaster.Herejectedhisownmindandtherationalizations.Herejectedhisownlife-lust.Herejectedhisowninnermostbiologicalurgetosurvive.Herejectedeverything.Hesaid:Whenthemasterhassaidstop,Ihavestopped.Nownothingcanmoveme.Itmusthavebeenvery,verydifcult–almostimpossible.Butwhenyoudotheimpossible,youaretransformed.Dying,hewouldnotallowthemindtointerfere.Deathwasthere,butheaccepteddeathratherthanhisownmindandjudgment.Hewasneverthesamemanagain,nobodyevermettheoldmanagain.Thenothersrealizedthattheyhadmissedagreatopportunity.Thethreewhohadjumpedoutofthecanalmissedagreatopportunity.Thisistotalsurrender.Itisnotaquestionofwhetheritisappealingtoyourmindornot,whetheryourmindsaysyesornot.Whenyousurrender,youhavesurrenderedallpossibilityofsayingno.Whatsoeverthesituation,youwillnotsayno.Thetotalyesmeanssurrender.Difcult!That'swhytransformationISdifcult.Noteasy.That'swhyspiritualbirthisnoteasy.ButIdon'tsaythatyoucannotreachalone.Youcanreachaloneandyoucanreachwithamaster;youcanreachinagroup,youcanreachasanindividual.Allthepossibilitiesareopen.Iamneitherforthisnorforthat.Itisforyoutodecide,anddecidewithoutanydeception.Remember,itisnotaquestionofEastandWest.Themindisthesamedeepdown;allthedifferencesaresupercial.EasternandWestern–thesearejustsurfaces,cultural,racialimpressions,buttheyareonthesurface.Deepdownthehumanmindisthesame.Fromwhereyoucomeisirrelevant.Surrenderorremainabsolutelyalone,butboththepathscanbetraveledonlybypersonswhoaretotal.Alone,Buddhareachedenlightenment;followingBuddha,manyreachedthesameenlightenment.Iamnotpartisan.Idon'tsay,asKrishnamurtisays:Onlythisistheway.Idon'tsay,asMeherBabasays:Onlythisistheway.Iknowwelltheysay:Onlythisistheway,tohelpyou,becauseonceyoubecomeawarethatanothercanalsobetheway,confusionstartsinyou.Thenyoustartswaying–sometimesyouthinkthis,sometimesyouthinkthat.That'swhymastershavebeensaying:Onlythisistheway–justtomakeyourmindunconfused.Otherwise,theoppositewillalsoattractyouandyouwillgoonchangingyourstandpoint.Tomakeyoutotal,mastersgoonemphasizing.ButIsaybothareways.Why?–becausethatemphasishasbecomeold,andyouhaveheardtoomuchabout:Thisistheonlyway.Ithasbecomeadeadcliche.Itdoesn'thelpnow.Itusedtohelpinthepast;itcannothelpnow–becausetheworldhasbecomesomuchone,theearthhasbecomejustaglobalvillage,andeveryreligionisknowntoeveryotherreligion,andallthepathshavebecomeknown.Nowhumanityisacquaintedwithallthepaths–allthepaths,allthepossibilities,allthealternatives. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds117 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Inthepast,peopleknewonlyonepath,thepathintowhichtheywereborn.Itwasgoodtoemphasizethatthisistheonlyway–tomaketheirmindscondentaboutit,trustingaboutit.Butnow,thisisnotthesituationatall.AHindureadstheKoran.AChristiancomestoIndiatoseekguidance.AMohammedanisawareoftheGitaandtheVedas.Allthepathshavebecomeknown.Muchconfusionexists,andwhosoeversaysthatthisistheonlypathisnotgoingtohelpnowbecauseyouknowotherpathsarethere.Youalsoknowthatfromotherpathspeoplehavereachedandarereaching.Hence,Idon'temphasizeanypath.Youcantakemyhelpifyousurrender;youcantakemyhelpifyoudon'tsurrender,butyouhavetobeclearaboutit.Ifyouchoosethepathofsurrender,thenyouhavetofollowmetotally.Ifyouchoosethatyouarenotgoingtosurrender,thendecideit.Icanbeafriendonthepath,thereisnoneedtomakemeamaster.Icanbejustafriendonthepath–ornotevenafriend.Youaresearchingandyoumeetsomebodyabsolutelyunknown,astranger,andyouaskhim:Whereistheriver?Whichpathleadstotheriver?Whenhehasspokenyouthankhimandyoumove.Icanbejustastranger.Noneedeventobeafriend,becausewithafriendalsoyougetinvolved.Youcantakemyhelp–myhelpisunconditional.Idon'tsay:Dothis,thenIwillhelpyou.Idon'tsay:Surrender,onlythenwillIhelpyou.ButthismuchImustsay:Dowhatsoeveryoulike,butdoittotally.Ifyouaretotal,thetransformationiscloser.Ifyouaredivided,itisalmostimpossible.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WHENWAKUANSAWAPICTUREOFTHEBEARDEDBODHIDHARMA,HECOMPLAINED:WHYHASN'TTHATFELLOWGOTABEARD?BELOVEDOSHO,WHYDON'TYOUHAVEABEARD?ThetraditionofZenisreallybeautiful.Bodhidharmahasgotabeard,andadiscipleasks:Whyhasthisfellownotgotabeard?Thequestionisbeautiful,butonlyaZendisciplecanraiseit–becausethebeardbelongstothebody,nottoBodhidharma.Thatfellowisbeardless,becausethebodyisjustanabode.Apparentlythequestionisabsurd,butitismeaningful,andsuchquestionshavebeenaskedmanytimes.Buddhacontinuouslytalked–morning,evening,afternoon,inthisvillage,inthatvillage,moving,fortyyearscontinuouslytalking.OnedaySariputtaasked:Whyhaveyouremainedsilent?Whydon'tyoutalktous?Patentlyabsurd!Buddhalaughedandsaid:Youareright.Andthismanwastalking–nobodyhastalkedasmuchasBuddha.ButSariputtawasright,becausethistalkinghappenedonlyonthesurfaceandBuddhadidremainsilent.OneZenmonk,Rinzai,usedtosay:Thisman,Buddha,wasneverborn,heneverwalkedonthisearth,heneverdied–heisjustadream.AndeverydayhewouldgotothetempleandbowdownbeforeBuddha'sstatue! MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds118 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Thensomebodysaid:Rinzai,youarejustmad!Everydayyougooninsistingthatthismanwasneverborn,neverdied,neverwalkedonthisearth,andstillyougotothetempleandbowdown.Rinzaisaid:Becausethismanwasneverborn,neverwalkedonthisearth,neverdied,that'swhyIgoandbowdown.Thequestionerpersisted,saying:Wecan'tfollowyou.Eitheryouaremadorwearemad,butwecannotfollow–whatdoyoumean?AndRinzaisaid:Thebirthofthismanwasjustadreamtohim.Walkingonthisearthwasjustadreamtohim.Deathwasnotrealtohim–justanendtoalongdream.Andthisman,thecenterofhisbeing,remainedbeyondbirth,beyonddeath.ItissaidthatBuddhaalwaysremainedintheseventhheaven.Henevercamedown–onlyhisreectionwashere.Andthisistrue!ThisistrueforYOUalso.Youhavenevercomedown–onlythereection.Butyouhavebecomesoidentiedwiththereectionthatyouhaveforgotten.Youthinkthatyouhavecomedown.YouCANNOTcomedown–fromyourbeing,thereisnowaytofalldown.Youcanlookintoariverandyoucanseethereection,andyoucanbecomesoidentiedwithitthatyouCANthinkthatyouareunderwater.Youcansufferbecauseofit;youcanfeelsuffocated,andyoucanfeelnowyouaregoingtodie.Andyouarealwaysstandingonthebank,youhavenevercomedowntothewater–youcannotcome!SoIsaytoyou:NotonlyBuddha,nobodyhascomedownfromtheseventhheaven,ever.Butafewpeoplegetobsessed,identiedwiththeirreections.ThisiswhatHinduscalltheworldofmaya,theworldofreections.WeremainintheBrahma–weremainintheultimatereality–rootedthereeternally.Nobodyevercomesdown.Butwecangetidentiedwiththereection,withthedream.Soyouarerightinaskingme.Thisfellowisalsobeardless.Ifyoulookatmybody,youarenotlookingatme.Ifyoulookatme,thenyouwillunderstand.Thebeardcannotgrowonitsown.Thebeardcangrowonlyonthebody.Andthisbeardisreallyverysymbolic:soulisalive,bodyishalf-deadandhalf-alive,beardisalmostdead.Yourhairisadeadpartofyourbody.That'swhyyoucancutitandyoudon'tfeelanypain.Cutyourngers,youwillfeelpain.Yourhairispartofyourbody,butifyoucutityoudon'tfeelanypain.Itisdeadcellsofthebody.Sosometimesithappensthatinagraveyard...ifyougotoaMohammedangraveyardanddigupabody,themanmayhavediedbeardlessbuttherewillbeabeardnow.Evenondeadbodiesbeardscangrow,becausebeardsaredead,justdeadcells.Itisgoodtogrowabeard,becausethenstandingbeforeamirroryoucanseeallthethreelayersofyou:thecompletelydead,thehalf-dead,half-alive,andtheabsolutelyalive.Beardismaterial,matter.Bodyismatterandspiritmeeting.Themeetingisalwaysdifcult,butbodyisjustameeting-groundofmatterandspirit.Wheneverthemeetingbreaks,thebalanceislost,youaredead–matterreabsorbedinmatter,spiritreabsorbedinspirit. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds119 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Thisfellowisalsobeardless.Thewholequestionis:WhyisBodhidharmanotmatter?Andtheansweris:Becausespiritcannotbematter.Zendisciplesaskinapeculiarway.Nowhereelsecansuchquestionsbeasked.YoucannotaskaChristianpope:WhyisthisfellowJesusbeardless?Theveryquestionwillbethoughtprofane:youcannotbesointimatewithJesus.Youcannotcallhim'thisguy'or'thisfellow';thatwillnotlookholy,yourbehaviorwilllookinsulting.ButnotsowithZen.Zensays:Ifyouloveyourmasters,youcanlaughaboutthem;ifyoulovethem,therecannotbeanyfear,eventhefearofamanwhoisholy.Ifyoulovethem,feardisappears.SowhenforthersttimeChristiantheologiansbecameawareofthetraditionofZen,theycouldn'tbelievethatsuchareligioncouldexist,becauseZenmonksgoonlaughingaboutBuddha.Sometimestheyusesuchwords–youcannotbelieve!Theycansay:Thisstupidfellow–forBuddha!Andifyouaskthem,theywillsay:Yes,hewasstupid,becausehewastryingtosaysomethingwhichcannotbesaidandhewastryingtotransformuswhoareimpossible.Hewasastupidfellow–hewastryingtodotheimpossible!Zenmastershaveusedtermsandwordsthatnoreligioncanuse.ButbecauseofthatIsaythatnoreligionissoreligiousasZen,becauseifyouREALLYlove,whereisthefear?Youcanjoke,youcanlaugh,andanenlightenedmanlikeBuddhawilllaughwithyou–thereisnoproblem.Hewillnotfeelhurt.Ifhefeelshurt,heisnotenlightenedatall.Andhewillnotsay:Don'tusesuchprofanelanguage–becauseforBuddhaalllanguageisprofane,onlysilenceissacred.Sowhetheryoucallhimastupidfelloworonewhohasawakened,botharethesameforhim.Languageassuchisprofane.Onlysilenceisholy.Whatsoeveryousayisthesame.Thisdisciple,Wakuan,isasking:WhyhasthisfellowBodhidharmanotgotabeard?BodhidharmaistherstmasterofZen.Bodhidharmacreatedthisever-owing,ever-renewingriverofZen.BodhidharmawenttoChinafourteenhundredyearsago.WhenheenteredChina,hewascarryingoneofhisshoesonhishead.Oneshoewasonhisfoot,oneshoewasonhishead.Theemperorhadcometoreceivehim.Hebecameembarrassed:Whatmannerofmanisthis?Hehadbeenwaitingsolong,andhewasthinking:Agreatholyman,agreatsaintandsageiscoming–andthismanisbehavinglikeabuffoon.Theemperorwasdisturbed,hefeltuneasy.Andtherstopportunityhegot,heaskedBodhidharma:Whatareyoudoing?PeoplearelaughingandtheyarelaughingatmealsobecauseIhavecometoreceiveyou.Andthewayyouhavebehavedisnotawaytobehave.Youshouldbehavelikeasaint!Bodhidharmasaid:Onlythosewhoarenotsaintsbehavelikesaints.Iamasaint!OnlythosewhoareNOTsaintsbehavelikesaints–andheistrue,becauseyoucareaboutyourbehavioronlywhenitisnotspontaneous. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds120 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Theemperorsaid:Icannotunderstandthiscarryingoneshoeonyourhead;youappearlikeabuffoon.Bodhidharmasaid:Yes,becauseallthatcanbeseenisbuffoonery.Onlytheunseen....Yourstandingherelikeanemperor,robed,inaspecialdress,crowned,isbuffoonery.JusttosaythistoyouIwascarryingoneshoeonmyhead.Allthisisactingandbuffoonery.Therealisnotthereontheperiphery.LOOKATME!Don'tlookatmybody.ThisisverysymbolicthatIcarryoneshoeonmyhead.Isaythatinlifenothingissacredandnothingisprofane.Evenashoeisassacredasyourhead.Icarrythisshoeasasymbol.Itissaidtheemperorwasimpressed,buthesaid:Youaretoomuch!JustonethingIwantedtoaskyouandthatishowtoputmymindatease.Iamsoimpatient,sodisturbed,uneasy.Bodhidharmasaid:Comeinthemorningatfouro'clockandbringyourmindwithyou.Iwillputitatease.Theemperorcouldnotfollow.Hestartedthinking:Whatdoeshemean,thisman–bringyourmindwithyou?WhenhewasgoingdownthestepsofthetemplewhereBodhidharmawasstaying,Bodhidharmaagainsaid:Remember,don'tcomealone,otherwisewhowillIputatease?Bringthemindwithyou.Comeatfouro'clock–andalone,noguards,nobodyelsewithyou.Thewholenighttheemperorcouldn'tsleep.Hewasthinking:Thismanseemstobealittlecrazy.WhenIamthere,mymindwillobviouslybewithme.Sowhatisthisinsistence–bringyourmindwithyou?Sometimeshethought:Itisbetternottogo,because,whoknows,alonethismanmaystartbeatingmeorsomething.Youcannotbelieve,youcannotpredictthisman.Butatlasthedecidedtogo,becausethemanwasreallymagnetic.Hehadsomethinginhiseyes,arewhichdoesn'tbelongtothisearth.Hehadsomethinginhisbreath,asilencewhichcomesfrombeyond.Sotheemperorcameasifhypnotized,andtherstthingBodhidharmaaskedwas:Okay,soyouhavecome.Whereisyourmind?Andhewassittingtherewithabigstaff.Theemperorsaid:ButwhenIhavecome,mymindhascomewithme.Itisinsideme–itisnotlikeathingIcancarry.SoBodhidharmasaid:Okay,soyouthinkthemindiswithinyou.Thensitandcloseyoureyesandtrytondoutwhereitis.YoujustpointitouttomeandIwillputitright.Thisstaffishere–andIamgoingtomakeyourmindsilent.Don'tworry.Theemperorclosedhiseyesandtriedtolook,andBodhidharmawassittingjustbeforehim.Hetriedandtriedandtried,andtimepassedandthenthesunwasrisingandhisfacewasabsolutelysilent.ThenheopenedhiseyesandBodhidharmasittingthereasked:Couldyoundit?Theemperorstartedlaughingandhesaid:Youhaveputitright–becausethemoreItrytondit,themoreIfeelitisnotthere.Itwasjustashadow.AnditwastherebecauseIneverpenetratedwithin.Itwasjustmyabsence.Ibecamepresentinsideanditdisappeared.ThisBodhidharmaisreallyaveryrarebeing.Hisdisciplescouldjokeabouthim,laughabouthim.Heenjoyedit!Anenlightenedpersonisacontinuouslaughter.Heisnotaseriousman,asordinarilythought. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds121 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Whereveryouseeseriousness,knowwellsomethingiswrong,becauseseriousnessispartofadiseasedbeing.Noowerisseriousunlessitisill.Nobirdisseriousunlessitisill.Notreeisseriousunlesssomethingiswrong.Wheneversomethingiswrong,seriousnesshappens.Seriousnessisillness.Wheneverythingisokay,laughterarises.Bodhidharmaiscontinuouslylaughing,andhislaughterisabelly-laughter,anuproar.HisdisciplesusedtoaskquestionsnobodyexceptBodhidharmacananswer.AndItellyou:Thatfellowwaswithoutabeard.andthisfellowisalsowithoutabeard.GOSOSAID:WHENYOUMEETAZENMASTERONTHEROADYOUCANNOTTALKTOHIMANDYOUCANNOTBEWITHHIMINSILENCE.WHATAREYOUTODO?BELOVEDOSHO,WHENWEMEETTHEMASTEROFMASTERSONTHELAWNWHATTODO?Yes,itistrue.WhenyoumeetaZenmasterontheroad,youcannottalkwithhim,becausewhatcanyoutalkwithhimabout?Yourworldsaresodifferent.Yourlanguagesbelongtotwodifferentdimensions.Whatcanyoutalkwithhimabout?Whatcanyouask?Isanyquestionreallyworthasking?Isanyquestionreallymeaningful?WhenyoumeetaZenmaster,whatwillyoutalkabout?Allthatyoucantalkaboutbelongstothisworld,thismundaneworld,themarket,thehouse,thefamily.Allthatyoucantalkabout,allthatyouare,issofutile.Itistrue.WhenyoumeetaZenmasterontheroad...andyoualwaysmeetamasterontheroadbecausethemasterisalwaysmoving.Younevermeethimanywhereelse.Remember,youalwaysmeetamasterontheroad,becauseheisalwaysmoving.Heisariver,neverstatic,neverstanding.Ifyoucannotmovewithhim,youwillmisshim.Heisalwaysonhisfeet.Youalwaysmeethimontheroad.Whatcanyoutalktohimabout?Andyoucannotbesilenteither,becausetobesilentisalmostimpossibleforyou.Youcannottalk,becausethemasterbelongstoadifferentworld.Youcannotbesilent,becausetheworldyoubelongtoisneversilent.Yourmindgoesonchattering.Yourmindisaconstantchatterbox.Consistent,inconsistent–thoughtsgoonandonandon,andthereisnoendtoit;theymoveinawheel.Youcannotbesilentandyoucannottalk.Thenwhattodo?Ifyoustarttalking,itwillbeabsurd.Ifyoustartbeingsilent,itwillnotbepossible.Itisbetternottodecideonyourpart.Askthemasterwhattodo.Tellhim:Icannottalkbecausewebelongtodifferentworlds.WhatsoeverIaskwillbeuseless,andwhatsoeveryoucananswerIcannotquestion.WhatsoeverIquestionisuseless,itisnotevenworthanswering.AndIcannotbesilentbecauseIdon'tknowwhatsilenceis.Ihaveneverknownit;silencehasneverhappenedtome.Iknowasortofsilence:thesilencethatcomesbetweentwothoughts,asagap;thesilencethatexistsbetweentwowords,justasagap.Oursilenceisjustlikethepeacewhichhappensbetweentwowars.Itisnotreallypeace;itisjustpreparationforanotherwar.Howcanthatbepeacewhichbridgestwowars?Thewarsimplygoesunderground,that'sall.Itisacoldwar.Itisneverpeace.Oursilenceislikethat. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds122 Osho CHAPTER12.WHATSOEVERYOUDO,BETOTAL Sotellthemaster:IcannotbesilentandIcannottalk–sotellmewhattodo.Don'tstartanythingonyourown,becausewhatsoeveryoustartwillbewrong.Talkorsilence–whatsoeveryoustartwillbewrong.Justleaveeverythingtothemaster,andaskhim:WhatamItodo?Ifhesays:Talk–thentalk.Ifhesays:Besilent–thentrytobesilent.Heknows,andhewillaskonlythatwhichispossibleforyou.Ultimately,hewillasktheimpossible,butneverinthebeginning.Hewillasktheimpossibleintheendbecausethenitwillalsohavebecomepossible.Butinthebeginning,hewillaskonlythepossible.Byandby,hewillpushyoutowardstheultimateabysswheretheimpossiblehappens.Ifhesaystalk,thentalk.Thenevenyourtalkingwillbeahelp.Butthenyouarenotreallyasking,justtalkingasacatharsis.Youarebringingyourmindout.Youareactingyourmindout.Youareopeningyourself.Youarenotasking,butexposing.Thisexposurewillhelp.Youwillberelievedofmuchburden.Whenamasterisnearyou,ifyoucanbereallyfrankandsayallthatcomestoyou,irrelevant,inconsistent,notbotheringaboutyourself,notmanagingandmanipulatingit....Whenamasterisnearyou,youcansaytotallywhatsoevercomestoyourmind.Itwillbecomeagibberish;ifyoudon'tmanageit,itwillbelikeamadmantalking.Butwhenamasterisnearyou,ifyouarefrank,honestandtrueandbringyourmindout,themasterwillpenetrateyoufromthebackdoor.Fromthefrontdooryourmindisgoingout;fromthebackdoorthemasterisenteringyou.Sowhennearmeonthelawn,besincereandtrue.Don'tbringquestionswhichareintellectual,theyareuseless.MetaphysicsistheMOSTuselessthingintheworld.Don'tbringanymetaphysicalquestions,theyarenottrue;theydon'tbelongtoyou.Youmayhaveheardaboutthem,readaboutthem,buttheyarenotpartofyou.Bringyournonsenseout,whatsoeveritis.Anddon'ttrytomanipulateit.Don'ttrytorationalizeitandpolishit.Letitbeasrawaspossible–becausebeforeamaster,youmustbenaked.Youshouldnotwearclothesandyoushouldnothideyourself.Thatisanexposure,andifyoucantalkasanexposure–notasaninquiry,justopeningyourheart,notaskingforanything–thensilencewillfollow,becausewhenyouhaveexposedyourmindandyouhavepassedthroughacatharsis,silencecomestoyou.Thisisadifferenttypeofsilence,notaforcedsilence,notacontrolledsilence,notasilencewithanyeffortonyourpart.Whenyouhaveexposedyourmindcompletely,releasedallthatisthere,asilencecomes,descendsonyou,overwhelmsyou,asilencewhichisbeyondunderstanding,andasilencewhichisbeyondyou;asilencewhichbelongstothewholeandnottotheindividual.Thenyoucanbeboth.NowwithaZenmasterontheroadyoucantalkandyoucanbesilentalso.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds123 Osho CHAPTER13 GodisinSearchofYou 22May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YESTERDAYYOUTOLDUSVERYCLEARLYTHATWENEEDTOFOLLOWTHEMASTER'SWORDTOTHELETTER.BUTWECANNOTCONSULTYOUONEVERYDETAIL.HOWCANWECHOOSETHERIGHTPATHWHENTHEMINDISALWAYSLOOKINGFORTHEEASYWAY?Therealproblemisnotconsultingthemaster,buthowtobemoremeditative,becausethephysicalpartofthemasterisnotthesignicantthing.Ifyouaremoremeditative,youcanconsultthemastereverymoment.Thephysicalpresenceisnotnecessary,itbecomesnecessaryonlybecauseyouarenotmeditative.BecauseyouareidentiedwithYOURbody,that'swhyinyourmindthemasterisidentiedwithhisbody.Becauseyouthinkthatyouareabody,youalsothinkthatthemasterisabody.Themasterisnotabody,andwhenIsaythis,thatthemasterisnotabody,Imeanthatheisnotconnedintimeandspace.Itisnotaquestionofbeinginhispresence.Whereveryouare,ifyouaremeditative,youareinhispresence.Evenwhenthemasterisdeadhecanbeconsulted.Buddhaisstillconsultedeventoday–andtheanswersarereceived.ItisnotthatBuddhaissittingsomewhereandgivingyoutheanswers,butwhenyouaredeepinmeditationyouAREthebuddha.Yourbuddha-naturearisesand 124 CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU yourbuddha-natureanswersyou,andnowBuddhaisnolongerconnedanywhere.Thatmeans,foronewhoisblindheisnottobefoundanywhere;butforonewhocannowseeitmeansheiseverywhere.Youcanbeincontactwithyourmasterwhereveryouare.Thewayisnottogotothemaster,thewayistogowithin.Thedeeperyoureachintoyourself,thedeeperyouhavepenetratedthemaster.Answerswillbecoming,andyouwillcometoknowandfeelthatthoseanswersarenotgivenbyyourmind.Therewillbeatotaldifferenceofquality.Thequalitychangessoabsolutelythattherecanbenoconfusionaboutit.Whenyourmindanswers,youfeelyouareanswering.Whenthemindisnotthere,youaresimplymeditative,theanswercomesasiffromsomeoneelse,notfromyou.Youhearit.ThatisthemysteryoftheKoran.Mohammedthoughtthatheheardit–andhewasright.AndMohammedansarewrongiftheythinkthatGodwasspeaking.MohammedisrightwhenhethinksthatheheardtheKoran,andMohammedansarewrongwhentheythinkthatGodwasspeaking.Nobodywasspeaking.Butwhenyourmindissilent,fromtheverydepthsofyourbeingarisestheanswer.Anditissodeep,sobeyondyourso-calledmind,thatyoufeelthatyouhaveheardit.Ithascometoyou.Ithasbeenrevealedtoyou.Youarealwaysidentiedwiththesurface,andtheanswercomesfromthedepth.Youdon'tknowyourowndepth–that'swhyyouwillfeelGodisanswering,thatthemasterisanswering.Inawayyouareright–becausewhentheanswercomesfromyourdepth,itisfromthemaster.Hindushavealwaysbeensayingthatyourrealmasteriswithinyou,andtheoutermasterisjusttryingtobringyourinnermasterup,tomakeyourinnermasterfunctional.Wheneveryourinnermasterhasstartedfunctioning,theworkoftheoutermasterisdone.Theouterisjustarepresentativeoftheinner.Iamyourdepth.Onceyourdepthhasstartedfunctioning,Iamnotneeded.OnceIfeelyourdepthhasstartedansweringyou,Iwillstopansweringyou.Allmyanswersarenotreallyconcernedwithyourquestions.Allmyanswersareconcernedwithhowtocreatetheresponsewithinyousoyourinnerdepthstartsspeakingtoyou,soyourownconsciousnessbecomesyourmaster.Bemoremeditative.Bemoresilent.Allowmoreandmorestillnesstopenetrateyou.Whatistobedone?Howtobemoremeditative?Inasense,nothingcanbedonedirectly,becausewhatsoeveryoudodirectlythemindcomesin.Ifyoutrytobesilent,youcannotbe,becausethemindistrying.Wherevermindis,disturbanceis.Mindisthedisturbance,mindisthenoise.Soifyoutrytobesilent,mindistryingtobesilent.Youwillcreatemorenoisewhichisnowconcernedwithsilence.Nowyouwilltry,andthink,anddothisandthat,andyouwillgetmoreandmoreuneasy.Nothingcanbedoneaboutsilence,silenceisalreadythere.Youjusthavetoallowit.Itisjustlikesunlight:yourwindowsareclosedandyoucannotbringsunlightintoyourhouseinbundles,in MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds125 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU buckets.Youcannotdothat!Ifyoutryyouwillbefoolish–andmanyaredoingthat.Simplyopenthewindows,openthedoors.Allowthebreezetoblow.Allowtheraystocomein.Inviteandwait.Youcannotforce.Wheneveryouforce,thingsgougly.Ifamanforceshimselftobesilent,hissilencewillbeugly,tortured,forced,articial,justonthesurface.Deepdowntherewillbeturmoil.Sowhatistobedone?Openyourmindandwait.Lookatthetrees,lookattheparrotsscreeching.Listentothem,don'tdoanything.Whatsoeverishappeningaroundyou,justbeapassivealertness.Thelightonthewater,theriverowing,thenoise,thechildrenplaying,laughing,giggling–youjustbethere,apassivepresence,open,listening,seeing,notthinking.Thebirdsarethereinthetrees,makinganoise,singing....Youjustlisten.Don'tthink,don'tcreateasecondseriesinyourmindaboutwhatishappening.Justletithappen,andsoonerorlateryouwillfeelthemindhasdisappearedandasilencehascometoyou.Youwillactuallyfeelitdescendingonyou,penetratingfromeveryporeofthebody,reachingdeeperanddeeper.Inthebeginningitwillbeonlyformoments,becauseyouaresuchahabitualthinker,addictedtothinkinglikeamanwhoisaddictedtoalcoholorsomedrug,thatonlyformomentswilltherebeagap–andagainyouwillstartthinking.Youmaystartthinkingaboutthissilencethatisdescendinguponyou.Youmaystartthinking:Oh,thisisthesilencethatthemastershavealwaysbeentalkingabout–andyouhavedestroyedit.Youmaystartthinking:ThisisthesilencetheUpanishadssayisthegoaltobeachieved,thisisthesilencethatpoetshavebeentalkingabout,thesilencethatsurpassesunderstanding–youhavemissedit.Thepoetshaveentered,themastershaveentered,theUpanishadshavecome.Youhavemissedit,youhavelostit.Nowyouareagaindisturbed,nowyouarenotapassivity,nowyouarenotalert.Nowthosesingingbirdsarenolongerthereforyou.Yourmindhascomein.Nowthosebeautifultreeshavedisappeared.Thesunisnolongerintheskyandthecloudsarenolongeroating.Youarenotopennow–closed,yourwindowsareclosed,yourdoorsareclosed.Thought,thinking,isthewaytoclosethemind.Non-thinking,nothought,isthewaytoopenit.Wheneveryouarenotthinking,youareopen;wheneveryouarethinking,awallhasbeenraised.Eachthoughtbecomesabrickandthewholeprocessofthinkingbecomesawall.Thenyouarehiddenbehindthewall,cryingandweeping–whyisthesunnotreachingtoyou?Itisnotthesun–itisyouwhoarecreatingwallsaroundyou.Bemoremeditative.Wheneveryouhaveanyopportunity,anyspace,anytime,justallowthingstohappenaroundyou.Lookdeeply,attentively,butdon'tbeactive–becauseactivitymeansthinking.Sittingquietly,allowingthingstohappen,youwillbecomesilent.Thenyouwillcometoknowthatsilenceisnotaqualityofthemind.Mindcannotbemadesilent.Silenceisthequalityofyourinnersoul,ofyourinnerbeing.Itisalwaystherebutbecauseofthechattering,theconstantchatteringofthemind,youcannothearit.Wheneveryoubecomepassive,non-thinking,youbecomeawareofit.Thenyouareunoccupied.Inthatunoccupiedmoment,meditationhappens.Sowhatsoeverthesituation–sittinginamarketplace–don'tthinkthatthesingingofthebirdsisamust,itisnot!Thehummingofamarketplaceisalsoasbeautifulasthehummingofthebirds:peoplecarryingontheirwork,talking,chattering,noiseallaround,youjustsittherepassively. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds126 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU Rememberthiswordpassive,andanotherword,alert.Passivealertnessisthekey.Remainpassive–notdoinganything,justlistening.Andlisteningisnotadoing.Tolistentoanythingthereisnothingtodo,yourearsarealwaysopen.Toseeyouhavetoopentheeyes–atleastthatmuchhastobedone.Tolisten,noteventhatmuchhastobedone–earsarealwaysopen,youarealwayslistening.Justdon'tdoanythingandlisten.Anddon'tcomment,becausewithcommentary,thoughtstarts.Achildiscrying:don'tsayanythinginsideaboutwhyheiscrying.Twopersonsareghting.Don'tsayinside:Whyaretheyghting?ShouldIgoanddosomethingsothattheydon'tght?No,don'tsayanything.Justlistentowhatishappening.Justbewithwhatishappening–andsuddenlythereissilence.Thissilenceistotallydifferentfromthesilencewhichyoucancreate.Youcancreatesilence–youcansitinyourhouse,youcanclosethedoors,youcantakearosary,amala,andyoucangoonturningitsbeads.Asilencewillcometoyou,butthatwillnotbetherealsilence.Itwillbejustlikeachildwhohasbeengivenatoytoplaywith,sohegoesonplayingandbecomesabsorbedinhisplay,thenheisnotmischievous.Parentsusethetoyasatrickjusttomakethechildlessmischievous.Hesitsinacornerandgoesonplaying,andtheparentscancontinuetheirownworkwithoutthechildbeingacontinuousnuisance.Butthechildhasnottranscendedmischief;hismischiefhasbeendirectedtowardsthetoy,that'sall.Themischiefisthere;thechildisthere.Soonerorlaterhewillbecomefedupwiththetoy.Bored,hewillthrowitawayandthemischiefwillbeback.Rosariesareoldmen'stoys.Justasyougiveatoytoachild,childrengiverosariestooldmen–sothattheyarenotmischievous.Theysitinacornerandtheygoonturningtheirrosary.Buttheyalsogetfedup;theygetabsorbed,buttheyalsogetfedup–thentheykeepchangingrosaries.Theygotoanothermasterandaskforanothermantra,becausetheoldoneisnotfunctioning.Inthebeginning,theysay,itfunctioned.Manypeoplecometomeandsay:Wehavebeendoingamantra;inthebeginningitwashelpful,butitisnothelpinganymore.Nowwedon'tfeelanything,ithasbecomeboring.Wedoitasaduty,butthelovehasdisappeared.Ifwedon'tdoit,wefeelthatwehavemissedsomething;ifwedoit,nothingisgained.Thisiswhataddictionmeans:ifyoudoit,nothingisgained;ifyoudon'tdoit,youfeelthatsomethingismissing.Thisiswhatasmokerfeels.Ifhesmokes,heknowsnothingisgained.Heisdoingsomethingsilly,justastupidthing–takingsmokeinandthrowingitout.Butthat,too,isjustlikearosary.Youtakethesmokein,andthenyouthrowitout.Inhale,exhale,inhale,exhale–itbecomesarosary;yougoonchangingthebeads.Youcanmakeitamantra;whenyouinhalethesmoke,sayRam;whenyouexhale,sayRam.Itbecomesarosary!Anythingthatyoucanrepeatcontinuouslybecomesamantra.Mantrameansarepetitionofacertainword,acertainsound,anything.Amantrahelpsthemindtobeabsorbed–itisatoy.Forafewmomentsyoufeelgoodbecausethemischiefstops,andyouaresoabsorbedthatthemindcannotfunction.Thisisaforcedsilence.Itispathological,itisnotgood.Itisnegative,itisnotpositive.Thissilenceislikethesilencethathappensinagraveyard,thesilenceofdeath. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds127 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU ButthesilenceIamtalkingaboutistotally,qualitativelydifferent.Itisnotadiversionofmischief,itisnotaforcedoccupation,itisnotamantrahypnosis.Itisasilencethathappenstoyouwhenyouarepassiveandalert,notdoinganything,notevenmovingyourrosary,totallypassive,butalert.Remember,passivitycanbecomesleep.That'swhyIemphasizethewordalertness–becauseyoucanbepassiveandyougotosleep.Sleepisnotmeditation.Onequalityofsleepisthere,onequality,thatofpassivity,andonequalityofwakingisthere,thatofalertness.Relaxedasifyouareasleep,alertasyouareawake.Onethingistakenfromsleep–unconsciousness.Thatshouldnotbethere,becausemeditationcannotbeunconscious,andonethingistakenfromyourwakingstate–occupiedness;becauseifyouareoccupiedthenthemindisworking,youareenclosedinthoughts.Whileyouareawaketherearetwothings:alertnessandoccupiedness.Whileyouareasleeptherearetwothings:passivityandunconsciousness.Onethingfromawakeness,onethingfromsleep:passivityandalertness–theymakemeditation.Ifyoutakethetwootheringredients,occupationandunconsciousness,youbecomemad.Thosetwoingredients,occupiedandunconscious,makemadness,makethemadman.Passivityandalertnessmakethemeditativeman,abuddha.Youhaveallfouringredients.Mixtwoandyouwillbecomemad.Mixtheothertwoandyouwillbecomemeditative.Rememberthis:Isayagainandagainthatsilence,theblissthatpervadesyouwhenyouareopen,isnotsomethingtobedonebyyou.Itisalet-go.Itisahappeningtoyou.Itcomestoyou.Peoplecometomeandtheysay:WearesearchingforGod–howtoreachhim?AndItellthem:Youcannotreachhimandyoucannotsearchforhim–becauseyoudon'tknowhim.HowwillyourecognizethatheisGod?Youdon'tknowhim.Howwillyoumove?Howwillyouchoosethepath?Youdon'tknowhim.Howcanyoudecideifthisishishouse,thisishisabode?No,youcannot,youcannotsearchforthedivine.Butthereisnoneedbecausethedivineisalwaysnearyou,withinyou.Wheneveryouallowhim,hesearchesforyou,hereachesyou.Godisinsearchofyou.Godhasalwaysbeeninsearchofyou.Nosearchonyourpartisneeded.Seek,andyouwillmiss.Don'tseek!Simplyremainpassiveandalertsowheneverhecomesyouareopen.Manytimeshecomesandknocksonyourdoor,butyouarefastasleep–orevenifyouheartheknockyouinterpretitinyourownway.Youthink:Itisjustthewindblowingfastandstrong.Oryouthink:Somestrangerhasknockedandhewillgobyhimself;thereisnoneedtodisturbmysleep.Yourinterpretationsareyourenemies,andyouaregreatinterpreters.Whatsoeveris,youimmediatelyinterpretit;yourmindstartsfunctioningandgrindingit,andyouchangeitimmediately.Youcolorit;yougiveitadifferentmeaningthatwasneverthere.Youprojectyourselfintoit.Youdestroyit.Therealitydoesnotneedanyinterpretation.Thetruthdoesnotneedanythinkingabout.Nooneeverreachesthetruththroughthinking.That'swhythewholeofphilosophyisfalse.Itisboundto MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds128 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU befalse,nophilosophycanbetrue.Philosophersgoonghting,theygoonstrugglingtoprovethattheirphilosophyistrue.Nophilosophycanbetrue,truthneedsnophilosophy.Philosophymeansthinkingabout,rationalizingabout;philosophymeansinterpretationofthefact.Religionsays:Thatwhichis,allowittohappen.Allthatyoucandois,please,don'tdisturb.Justallowittohappen.Remainalertandpassiveandthenthereisnoneedtocometomewillcometoyou.ManytimesIhavealreadyreachedyou...wheneveryouweresilent.Sothisisnotatheory:manyofyouevenknowitbyexperience,butyouinterpretthisalso.Peoplecometomeandtheysay:Thismorning,meditating,Isuddenlyfeltyou,butIthoughtitmustbeaprojectionofmymind.Ortheysay:LastnightsuddenlyIfeltapresence,Ibecamealert,andthenIthoughtitmusthavebeensomeonepassingby,awindmayhaveenteredtheroomandutteredthepapers,orjustacathaspassed.SowhatIamsaying,manyofyouhavealreadyfelt.That'swhyIamsayingit;otherwise,Iwouldnotsayit.Don'tinterpret.Whenyoufeelthepresence,allowittohappen.Ifyouallowittohappen,itwillmaterializemoreandmore.ItispossiblethatIwillbethere,asrealasIamhere,sometimesevenmoreso–becauseitdependsonyouhowmuchrealityyouallowtohappen.Andyourquestionswillbeanswered.Bemoremeditativeandthenyouarenearertome.Onceyouaretotallymeditative,youareme.Thenthereisnodifference.Onethingmore:themoreyoumeditate,thelesstherewillbetobeasked.Questionswilldrop.Questionsbelongtoanon-meditativestateofmind.Theyariseinanon-meditativestatemoreandmore.Onequestionisanswered,tenariseoutoftheanswer.Mindisagreatquestion-creatingforce.Itgoesoncreatingquestions.Yougivetheanswerandthemindjumpsonit,tearsitdown,andcreatestenmorequestions.Whenyouaremeditative,lessandlessquestionswillbethere.Thiswilllookparadoxicaltoyou,butitistrueandIhavetosayit:Whentherearequestions,therewillbenoanswers;whenthereisnoquestion,theansweristhere.Theanswercomesonlywhenyouarenotquestioning.Non-questioningwillhappentoyouthroughmeditation.Don'tthinkthatthereareasmanyanswersastherearequestions.No,thereisonlyoneanswer.Questionsaremillions,theanswerisone.Diseasesaremillions,medicineisone.Onlyone,andallissolved.Butthatonecannothappentoyoubecauseyoudon'tallowittohappen.YouaresoafraidofallowingANYTHINGtohappen.Thishastobelearned.ThisistheonlydisciplineIwantyoutodo:losingyourfear,droppingyourfear,andallowingthingstohappen.Theriverisowing;don'tpushit!Thereisnoneed,itisowingbyitself.Youjustwaitonthebankandletitow.Ifyouarecourageousenough,thendropyourselfintheriverandowwithit.Don'tswim,becauseswimmingmeansghting–justoat. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds129 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU Thenofcourse,thenyoucannotfollowanygoal,becauseyourgoalandtheriver'smaynotcoincide–thentherewillbefrustration.Youcanfollowagoalifyouareswimming,ghting.Youcanevenswimupstream,thentherewillbeagreatght.Andwhenyought,youregoisstrengthened,youfeelaliveagainsttheriver.Butthatalivenessismomentary;soonerorlateryouwillbetired.Soonerorlateryouwillbedead,andtheriverwilltakeyou.OnthebanksoftheGanges,thevillagersbringtheirdeadandleavethemintheGanges.Butwhenyouaredead,leavingyouintheriverisuseless;whendead,youwilloatwiththeriver,butthenthereisnomeaningbecauseyouarenomore.WhatIamdoingisdroppingyoualiveintheGanges.Ifyoucanoatalive,conscious,fullyaware,youwillbecometheriver.Andwherevertheriverreacheswillbethedestiny,willbethegoal.Thenyouarenotconcernedwhereitreaches.Everymoment,theveryowbecomesecstatic;everymoment,theveryow,theveryaliveness,becomesthegoal,theneverymomentisthegoal.Meansbecomeends,themomentbecomeseternal.Yes,youhavetofollowthemastertotally.Theremaybetimeswhenyoucannotconsulthimphysically,andsoonerorlaterthemasterwilldisappearfromthebody.Thentherewillbenopossibilitytoconsulthimphysically.Itisbettertogetattunedtohimnon-physically;otherwise,youwillbecryingandweeping.Mybodycandisappearanymoment!Nowthereisreallynoneedtocarryit–itisbeingcarriedforyou.Ifyoudon'tgetattunedtomynon-physicalexistence,soonerorlateryouwillgetverymuchdepressed,sad,muchanguishwillbethere.Thenitwillbeverydifculttobeattunedtomenon-physically.SoIgoondroppingphysicalcontactwithyoumoreandmore–justtomakeyoualertandawarethatyouhavetobeattunednon-physically.Youcangetattuned,itisnotdifcult.Bemoremeditativeanditwillstarthappeningtoyou.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,WEHAVEQUITEAFEWQUESTIONSABOUTFEMALEENERGY.SOMEWOMENSAYTHATSINCETHEY'VEMETYOU,ALTHOUGHTHEIRPHYSICALDESIRESCONTINUE,AMORTALMANISNOLONGERSATISFYINGENOUGHFORTHEM.OTHERWOMENSAYTHATSINCETHEYHAVEMETYOUTHEYFEELMORELOVING.GURDJIEFFISREPORTEDTOHAVESAIDTHATAWOMANCANNOTATTAINEXCEPTTHROUGHAMAN.WOULDYOUTALKTOUSABOUTFEMALEENERGY?Yes,Gurdjieffhassaidthatawomancannotattainexceptthroughaman–andheisright.Heisrightbecausefemaleenergydiffersfrommaleenergy.Itisjustasifsomeonesaysthatonlyawomancangivebirthtoachild.Amancannotgivebirthtoachild–hecangivebirthtoachildonlythroughawoman.Thephysicalstructureofthewoman MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds130 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU carriesawomb;thephysicalstructureofamaniswithoutawomb–hecanhaveachildonlythroughawoman.Andthesameinreverseorderhappensinspiritualbirth:awomancangetenlightenedonlythroughaman.Theirspiritualenergydiffersalso,justliketheirphysicalpart.Why?Whyisthisso?Andremember,thisisnotaquestionofequalityorofinequality–thisisaquestionofdifference.Womenarenotlowerthanmenbecausetheycannotattaindirectly;manisnotlowerthanwomanbecausehecannotgivebirthtoachilddirectly.Theyaredifferent.Thereisnoquestionofequalityorinequality,thereisnoquestionofevaluation.Theyaresimplydifferent,andthisisafact.Whyisitdifcultforwomantoattainenlightenmentdirectly?Andwhyformanisitpossibletoattainenlightenmentdirectly?Therearetwoways,onlytwo,basicallyonlytwo,whichleadtoenlightenment.Oneismeditationandtheotherislove.YoumaycallthemGyanaYogaandBhaktiYoga–thepathofwisdomandthepathofdevotion.Thebasicwaysareonlytwo.Loveneedsanother;meditationcanbedonealone.Mancanachievethroughmeditation–that'swhyhecanachievedirectly.Hecanbealone.Heisalonedeepdown.Lonelinesscomesnaturallytoman.Forawoman,tobealoneisdifcult,verydifcult,almostimpossible.Herwholebeingisadeepurgetolove,andforlove,theotherisneeded.Howcanyouloveiftheotherisnotthere?Youcanmeditateiftheotherisnotthere–thereisnoproblem.Woman,thefemaleenergy,reachesthemeditativestatethroughlove;andthemaleenergyreacheslovethroughmeditation.ABuddhabecomesagreatlovingforce–butthroughmeditation.WhenBuddhacamebacktohispalace,hiswifewasveryangry,naturally,becausefortwelveyearshehadnotshownhisface.Onenighthehadsimplydisappeared,notevensayinganythingtoher.Whileshewasasleepheescapedlikeacoward.ThewifeofBuddha,Yashodhara,wouldhaveallowedhim.Shewasabravewoman.IfBuddhahadaskedshewouldhaveallowedhim;therewouldhavebeennoproblemaboutit,butBuddhawouldnotask.Hewasafraidsomethingmightgowrong,shemightstartcryingandweepingorsomething.Butthefearwasnotbecauseofher–thefearwasdeepdowninhimself.HewasafraiditwouldbedifcultforhimtoleaveYashodharaweepingandcrying.Thefearisalwaysofoneself.Itwouldbeverycruelandhecouldnotbesocruel,soitwasbettertoescapewhilehiswifewasasleep.Soheescaped,andaftertwelveyearshecameback.Yashodharaaskedmanythings.Oneofthethingssheaskedwas:Tellme,whatsoeveryouhaveattainedthere,couldnotyouattainithere,livingwithme?Nowthatyouhaveattainedyoucantellme.ItissaidthatBuddharemainedsilent.ButIanswer:Buddhacouldnothaveattained,becauseamandeepinlove...andhewasdeepinlovewithYashodhara;itwasaveryintimaterelationship.IftherehadbeennorelationshipwithYashodhara,ifshehadsimplybeenaHinduwife,noloverelationship,thenBuddhacouldhaveattainedevenlivingwithher.Thenreallythereisnoproblem.Theotheristhereontheperiphery,youarenotrelated.Ifyouarenotrelated,theotherisnot–onlyaphysicalpresencemovingontheboundary. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds131 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU ButBuddhawasindeeplove.Anditisdifcultforamantoattainmeditationwhenheisinlove–thisistheproblem.Verydifcult,becausewhenheisinlove,wheneverhesitssilently,theotherarisesinthemind;hiswholebeingstartsmovingaroundtheother.Thatwasthefear,that'swhyBuddhaescaped.Nobodyhastalkedaboutitbefore,butBuddhaescapedfromthathouse,fromthewife,fromthechild,becausehereallyloved.Andifyouloveaperson,thenwheneveryouareoccupiedyoumayforgethim,butwhenyouareunoccupiedtheotherwillcometothememoryimmediately,andthenthereisnogapforthedivinetoenter.Whenyouareoccupied,workinginashop,or....Buddhawasonhisthroneandlookingaftertheaffairsofthekingdom,thenitwasokay–hecouldforgetYashodhara.Butwheneverhewasnotoccupied,therewasYashodhara–thegapwaslledbyYashodharaandtherewasnopassageforthedivinetoenter.Mancannotattaintothedivinethroughlove.Hiswholeenergyistotallydifferentfromfemaleenergy.Firstheshouldattaintomeditation–thenlovehappenstohim.Thenthereisnoproblem.Firsthemustreachthedivine,thenthebelovedalsobecomesdivine.Aftertwelveyears,Buddhacomesback.Nowthereisnoproblem,nowinYashodharathegodis.Before,Yashodharawastoomuch,anditwasdifculttondthegod.Nowthegodistotallythere,thereisnospaceleftforYashodhara.Thetotallyoppositehappenstoawoman.Shecannotmeditatebecauseherwholebeingisanurgetowardstheother.Shecannotbealone.Wheneversheisalone,sheisinmisery.Soifyousay:Tobealoneisbliss,tobealoneisecstatic–awomancannotunderstandit.Thisemphasisonbeingalonehasexistedallovertheworldbecauseoftoomanyseekerswhoaremen–aBuddha,aMahavira,aJesus,aMohammed.Theyallwentintoloneliness,andtheyonlyattainedinloneliness.Theycreatedthemilieu.Awoman,wheneveralone,feelsanguish.Ifthereisalover,eveninhermind,sheishappy.Ifsomeoneloves,ifsomeoneisloved–ifloveexistsaroundawoman,itnourishesher.Itisanourishment,itisasubtlefood.Wheneverawomanfeelsthatloveisnotthere,sheissimplystarving,suffocating;thewholebeingshrinks.Soawomancanneverthinkthatlonelinesscanbeblissful.Thisfemaleenergyhascreatedthepathofloveanddevotion.Evenadivineloverwilldo–thereisnoneedtondaphysicallover.KrishnawilldoforMeera,thereisnoproblem,becauseforMeeratheotherexists.Hemaynotbethere,Krishnamayjustbeamyth,butforMeeraheis,theotherexists–andthenMeeraishappy.Shecandance,shecansing,andsheisnourished.TheVERYidea,theverynotion,theveryfeeling,thattheotherexistsandthereislove,andawomanfeelsfullled.Sheishappy,alive.Onlywiththislovewillshecometoapointwhentheloverandthebelovedbecomeone.Thenmeditationwillhappen.Forfemaleenergy,meditationhappensonlyinthedeepestmergeroflove.Thenshecanbealone,thenthereisnoproblem–nowshecanneverbealone–thebelovedhasbecomemerged,nowitiswithin.MeeraorRadhaorTeresa,theyallachievedthroughalover–Krishna,Jesus. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds132 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU Thisismyfeeling,thatwheneveramaleseekercomestomeheisinterestedinmeditation;andwheneverafemaleseekercomestomesheisinterestedinlove.ShecanbemadeinterestedinmeditationifIsaythatlovewillhappenthroughit.ButherDEEPdesireisforlove.LoveisGodforawoman.Thisdifferencehastobeunderstood,deeplyunderstood,becauseeverythingdependsonit–andGurdjieffISright.Femaleenergywilllove,andthroughlovewillowerthemeditativestate,thesamadhi.Satoriwillcome,butdeepdownintherootswillbeloveandsatoriwillbecometheower.Formaleenergy,satoriwillbeintheroots,samadhiwillbeintheroots,meditationwillbeintheroots,andthenlovewillower.Butlovewillbeaowering.Whenfemaleseekerscometome,itisboundtohappen:theywillfeelmorelove,butthenaphysicalpartnerwillbelesssatisfying.Wheneverthereisdeeplove,aphysicalpartnerwillalwaysbecomeunsatisfactory,becausethephysicalpartnercanfulllonlytheperiphery,hecannotfulllthecenter.That'swhy,inancientcountrieslikeIndia,weneverallowedlove–weallowedarrangedmarriages.Onceloveisallowed,thephysicalpartnerisgoingtobeunsatisfactorysoonerorlater,andthentherewillbefrustration.NowthewholeWestisdisturbed.Nowtherewillbenosatisfactionatall.Onceyouallowlove,thenanordinarymancannotfulllit.Hecanfulllsex,hecanfulllthesupercial,buthecannotfulllthedeep,thedepth.Oncethedepthisfunctioning,onceyouhavedisturbedthedepth,onlyGodcanfulll–nobodyelse.Sowhenfemaleseekerscometome,theirdepthisshocked.Theystartfeelinganewurge,anewlovearising.Nowtheirhusbandsortheirboyfriends,theirpartnerswillnotbeabletosatisfyit.Nowthiscanbesatisedonlybyamuchhigherqualitybeing.Thisisgoingtobeso.Soeitheryourboyfriend,yourhusband,hastobecomemoremeditative,createhigherqualitiesofbeing...onlythenwillhebefullling.Otherwisetherelationshipwillbreak,thebridgecannotremain;youwillhavetondanewfriend.Or,ifitisimpossibletondanewfriend–asitwouldhavebeenforMeera–difcult,thenyouhavetolovethedivine.Thenjustforgetthephysicalpart–nowitisnotforyou.Thesamehappenstomaleseekersinadifferentway.Whentheycometome,theybecomemoremeditative.Whentheybecomemoremeditative,thebridgebetweentheiroldpartnersisbroken,becomesshaky.Nowtheirgirlfriendortheirwifehastogrow,otherwisetherelationshipisontherocks,itcannotbemaintained.Rememberthis,thatallourrelationships,so-calledrelationships,areadjustments.Ifonechanges,theadjustmentisbroken–forthebetterorfortheworse,thatisnotthepoint.Peoplecometomeandtheysay:Ifmeditationbringshigherqualities,thenwhyistherelationshipbroken?Thatisnotthequestion.Therelationshipwasanadjustmentbetweentwopersonsastheywere.Nowonehaschanged,theotherhastogrowwiththem;otherwisetherewillbetrouble,thingswillbecomefalse.Wheneveramanishere,hebecomesmoremeditative.Themoremeditativeheis,themorehewantstobealone.Thewife,thebeloved,willbedisturbedbyit.Ifsheisnotunderstandingthenshe MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds133 Osho CHAPTER13.GODISINSEARCHOFYOU willstartcreatingtrouble–thismanwantstobemorealone.Ifsheisunderstanding,thenthereisnoproblem;butthatunderstandingcanonlycometoherifherlovegrows.Ifshefeelsmoreloving,thenshecanallowthisfriendtobelonely,alone,andshewillprotecthisloneliness.Shewilltrytoseethatitisnotdisturbed–thiswillbeherlovenow.Andifthismanfeels...ifBuddhafeelsthatYashodharaisprotecting,safeguarding,seeing,caring,thathismeditationisnotdisturbed,thathissilenceishelped,thenthereisnoneedtoescapefromthisYashodhara.ButthishappensonlyifYashodhara'slovegrows.Whenaman'smeditationisgrowing,awoman'sloveshouldgrow.Onlythencantheykeeppace,andahigherharmonywillariseanditwillgoon,higherandhigher.Andamomentcomeswhenthemanistotallyinmeditationandthewomanistotallyinlove–thenonlythePERFECTmeeting,thenonlythereal,supremeorgasmbetweentwopersons.Notphysical,notsexual–total!Twoexistencesmeetingintoeachother,dissolving.Thentheloverbecomesthedoor,thebelovedbecomesthedoor,andtheybothreachtotheone.Sowhosoevercomestomeshouldcomeperfectlyawarethatitisdangeroustobenearme.Youroldarrangementswillbedisturbed–andIcannothelpit.Iamnotheretohelpyouradjustments;thatisforyoutodecide.Icanhelpyougrow–growinmeditation,growinlove.Tome,bothwordsmeanthesame,becausetheyreachtothesameend.Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds134 Osho CHAPTER14 BothareNeeded 23May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUSAIDEVERYCHILDISBORNAGOD,YETMYTWOCHILDRENWEREVERYDIFFERENTRIGHTFROMBIRTH.ONEISVERYSERENEANDGOD-LIKE,BUTTHEOTHERSEEMEDDISTURBEDBEFORESHEWASINFLUENCEDBYANYCONDITIONING.HOWSHOULDWEDEALWITHTHEDIFFICULTONE?Thisraisesaverybasicquestion.Existenceitselfisdivine;thenfromwheredoestheevilcome?Fromwheredoesthebad,theimmoral,theunacceptablecome?ThegoodisokaybecausewehavemadeitsynonymouswithGod–goodmeansGod.Butfromwheredoesthebadcome?Thishaspuzzledhumanityforcenturies.Asfarbackaswecango,thisproblemhasalwaysbeenthereinthemindofman.Thelogicalsolution,thesolutionthatthemindcannd,istodivideexistence,tocreateaduality,tosaythatthereisGod,whichisgood,andthereisevil,thedevil,Beelzebub,Satan,whichisbad.Mindthinkstheproblemissolved–soallthatisbadcomesfromthedevil,andallthatisgoodcomesfromGod.Buttheproblemisnotsolved;theproblemisonlypushedbackalittle.Theproblemremainsthesame.Youhavepusheditbackastep,butnothingissolved–becausefromwheredoesthedevilcome?IfGodisthecreator,thenhemusthavecreatedthedevilinthebeginning,intherstplace–or,Godisnotthesupremecreator. 135 CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Thedevilhasalwaysbeenthere,justasanenemy,theantagonisticforce–thenbothareeternal.Ifthedevilisnotcreatedthenthedevilcannotbedestroyed,sotheconictwillcontinueeternally.Godcannotwin,thedevilwillalwaysbetheredisturbing.ThisistheproblemforChristiantheology,Mohammedantheology,Zoroastriantheology,becauseallthesethreetheologieshavefollowedthesimplesolutionthatmindsuggests.Butmindcannotsolveit.Thereisanotherpossibilitywhichdoesn'tcomefromthemindandwillbedifcultforthemindtounderstand.ThatpossibilityhasarisenintheEast,particularlyinIndia,andthatpossibilityisthatthereisnodevil,thereisnobasicduality–onlyGodexists,thereisNOotherforce.ThisiswhatADVAIT–thenondualphilosophy–means:onlyGodis.Butweseetheevilisthere!Hindussaythattheevilexistsinyourinterpretation,notinitself.Youcallitbadbecauseyoucannotunderstanditorbecauseyouaredisturbedbyit.Itisyourattitudethatmakesitbadorappearbad.Thereisnoevil.Evilcannotexist.OnlyGodexists,onlythedivineexists.NowIwilltakeyourproblemagainstthisbackground.Twochildrenareborn–oneisgood,oneisbad.Whydoyoucallonegoodandwhydoyoucalltheotherbad?Isitreallyrealityoryourinterpretation?Whichchildisgood,andwhy?Ifthechildisobedient,thechildisgood;ifthechildisdisobedient,thechildisbad.Onewhofollowsyouisgood,onewhoresistsisbad.Whatsoeveryousay,theoneacceptsit.Ifyousay:Sitsilently–theonesits.Buttheothertriestodisobey,triestoberebellious–theotherisbad.Thisisyourinterpretation.Youarenotsayinganythingaboutthechildren;youaresayingsomethingaboutyourmind.Whyistheobedientonegood?Infact,theobedientoneshaveneverbeenbrilliant,haveneverbeenveryradiant,theyhavealwaysbeendull.Noobedientchildhasbeenagreatscientistoragreatreligiousman,oragreatpoet–nochildwhoisobedient.Onlydisobedientoneshavebeengreatinventors,creators;onlytherebelliousonetranscendstheoldandreachestothenewandintotheunknown.Butfortheparents'egotheobedientonefeelsgood,becauseithelpsyourego.Whenthechildfollowsyou,whatsoeveryousay,youfeelgood;whenthechildresistsanddeniesyou,youfeelbad.Butareallyalivechildwillberebellious.Whyshouldhefollowyou?Whoareyou?Whyshouldhefollowyoujustbecauseyouareafather?Whathaveyoudonetobeafather?Youhavebeenjustapassage–andthattooveryunconscious.Yoursexisnotaconsciousact,youhavebeenpushedbyunconsciousforcestomoveintoit.Thechildisjustanaccident.Youwereneverexpecting,youwerenotconsciouslyawaretowhomyouweregivinganinvitationtocome.Thechildhassuddenlycomeasastranger.Youhavefatheredit,butyouarenotthefather.WhenIsayyouhavefatheredit,itisabiologicalthing.Youwerenotneeded,evenasyringecandothat.Butyouarenotafatherbecauseyouarenotconscious.Youhavenotgiventheinvitation,you MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds136 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED havenotaskedaparticularsoultoenterthewombofyourwife,yourbeloved.Youhavenotworkedforit.Andwhenthechildisborn...whathaveyoubeendoingtoit?Whenyousaythechildshouldfollowyou,areyoucondentenoughthatyouknowthetruththatheshouldfollowyou?Areyoucondentenough,certainthatyouhaverealizedsomethingthatthechildshouldfollow?Youcanforceyourselfonthechildbecausethechildisweakandyouarestrong.Thatistheonlydifferencebetweenyouandyourchild.Otherwise,youarealsochildish,ignorant;youhavenotgrown,youarenotmature.Youwillgetangryjustlikethechild,youwillgetjealousjustlikethechild,andyouwillplaywithtoysjustlikethechild.Yourtoysmaybedifferent,alittlebigger,that'sall.Whatisyourlife?Wherehaveyoureached?Whatwisdomhaveyougainedsothatthechildshouldfollowyouandshouldsayyestoyouwhatsoeveryoudemand?Afatherwillbeconsciousofit;hewillnotforceanythingonthechild.Rather,hewillallowthechildtobehimself,hewillhelpthechildtobehimself.Hewillgivefreedomtothechild,becauseifhehasknownanything,hemustknowthatonlythroughfreedomdoestheinnergrow.Ifhehasexperiencedanythinginhislife,heknowswellthatexperienceneedsfreedom–themorefreedom,thericherisyourexperience.Thelessfreedom...thereisnopossibilitytoexperience.Ifthereisnofreedomatall,thenyoucanhaveborrowedexperiences,imitations,shadows,butnevertherealthing,nevertheauthentic.Fatheringachildwillmeangivinghimmoreandmorefreedom,makinghimmoreandmoreindependent,allowinghimtomoveintotheunknown,whereyouhaveneverbeen.Heshouldtranscendyou,heshouldgoaheadofyou,heshouldsurpassalltheboundariesthatyouhaveknown.Hemustbehelped,butnotforced,becauseonceyoustartforcing,youarekilling,youaremurderingthechild.Thespiritneedsfreedom–itgrowsinfreedomandonlyinfreedom.Ifyouarereallyafather,youwillbehappyifthechildisrebellious,becausenofatherwouldliketokillthespiritofthechild.Butyouarenotfathers.Youareillwithyourownillnesses.Whenyouforceachildtofollowyou,youaresimplysayingthatyouwouldliketodominatesomeone.Youcannotdoitintheworld,butthissmallchild,atleastyoucandominatehim,possesshim.Youarebeingapoliticiantothechild.Youwanttofulllsomeunfullleddesiresthroughthechild–domination,dictatorship.Atleastyoucanbeadictatortothechild;heissoweak,heissoyoungandhelpless.Andhedependsonyousomuchthatyoucanforceanythingonhim.Butbyforcingyouarekillinghim.Youarenotgivingbirthtohim,youaredestroyinghim.Thechildwhofollowswilllookgood–becauseheisdead.Thechildwhoisrebelliouswilllookbadbecauseheisalive.Becausewehavemissedlifeourselves,weareagainstlife.Becausewearealreadydead,deadbeforedeath,wealwayswanttokillothers.Subtlearetheways.Inthenameoflove,youcankill.Inthenameofcompassion,youcankill.Inthenameofservice,youcankill.Beautifulnameswend–deepdown,themurdererissitting. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds137 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Realizethis,thenyouwillnotthinkintheseterms–thatthischildisgoodandthatchildisbad.Don'tinterpret!Everypersonisunique,everypersonisdifferent.Thedivinecreativeforceissuchthatitneverrepeats.Soonlysaythismuch,thatthischildisdifferentfromthatchild.Don'tsaythisisgoodandthatisbad.Youdon'tknowwhatisgoodandwhatisbad.Thischildisobedient,thatchildisdisobedient;butnooneknowswhatisgood.Anddon'tforce.Ifthischildbyhisownspontaneityisobedient,thenitisgood–thisishisnature,helpittogrow.Andifthatchildisrebellious,disobedient–thisishisnature,helphimtogrow.Letonegrowtobeadeepyes-sayer;lettheothergrowtobeadeepno-sayer.Butdon'tinterpret,becausethemomentyouinterpret,youstartdestroying.Thisishisnaturetosayyes,andthatishisnaturetosayno.Bothareneeded.Lifewillbeveryatanddullifthereisnobodytosayno.Ifeverybodyisayes-sayer,itwillbeabsolutelydullandstupid.Theno-sayerisneeded,thatisthepolaropposite.Obediencewillbemeaninglessifthereisnobodytorebel.Don'tchoose,simplyfeelthedifferenceandhelp.Anddon'tforceyourselfonthem,don'tbeviolent.Everyfatherisviolent,everymotherisviolent,andyoucanbeviolentbecauseyouareviolentinthenameoflove.Nobodyisgoingtocriticizeyou,becauseyousayyouloveyourchildsomuchthatyouhavetobeathim,youlovehimsomuchthatyouhavetoputhimright.Yousaybecauseyoulovehimthat'swhyyouaretryingtoputhimright–he'sgoingwrong.Areyoucertainwhatiswrongandwhatisgood?Nobodyiscertain,nobodycanbecertain–becausethephenomenonissuchthatathingwhichisgoodthismomentbecomesbadthenext;thedirectionthatseemsbadinthebeginningturnsouttobegoodintheend.Lifeisaux,everymomentchanging.Soarealfatherorarealmotherwillgivehisorherchildrenonlyawareness,notmorals,becausemoralsaredead.Yousay:Thisisgood,follow!Butthenextmomentthethingbecomesbad,andwhatisthechildsupposedtodo?Thenextmomentlifechanges.Itischanging,itisacontinuumofchange,andyourmoralsarexed–yousaythisisgood,thishastobefollowed.Thenyoubecomedead.Lifegoesonchangingandyougoon,xedwithyourmorals.That'swhyreligiouspersonslooksodull–theireyesvacant,supercial,withnodepth,becausedepthispossibleonlyifyoumovewiththeriveroflife.Sowhatshouldafatheroramothergiveasagifttotheirchildren?Onlyawareness.Makethechildrenmoreaware.Allowfreedomandtellthem:Bealertandmovewithfreedom.Evenifyouhavetoerr,don'tbeafraid,becauselifelearnsthrougherrorsalso.Onebecomesalertthrougherrorsalso–sodon'tbeafraid.Itishumantoerr.Andifyouerrwithalertnessonlyonethingwillhappen:youwillnotcommitthesamemistakeagainandagain.Onceyoucommitthemistake,youwillexperienceit,youwillbecomealertaboutit,anditwilldisappear.Itwillmakeyouricher,andyouwillgoahead,unafraid.Justrememberonething,thatwhatsoeveryoupassthrough,bemoreconscious.Ifyousayyes,sayitconsciously.Ifyousayno,sayitconsciously. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds138 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Don'tgethurtwhenachildsaysno–becausewhoareyoutoxachild?Hecomesthroughyou,youarejustapassage.Don'tbecomeadictator–loveneverdictates,andifyouneverdictate,thenthisgoodnessandbadnesswilldisappear.Thenyouwillloveboth,yourlovewillowunconditionally.That'showGod'sloveisowingtothisworld–unconditionally.Ihaveheard....SomebodysaidtoJunnaid,aSumystic:Averyevilmancomestolistentoyouandyouallowhimtoomuchclosenessandintimacy.Throwhimout,heisnotagoodman.Junnaidsaid:IfGoddoesnotthrowhimoutofexistence,whoamItothrowhimout?IfGodacceptshim...IamnotsuperiortoGod.Godgiveshimlife,Godhelpshimtobealive;andthatmanisstillyoungandfreshandhewilllivelong,longerthanyou.SowhoamItodecide?Godisshoweringonboththegoodandthebad.Thesituationisabsolutelyclear,crystal-clear–thatforGodthereisnogood,nobad.WhenIsayGod,Idon'tmeanapersonsittingsomewhereupinthesky.Thatisananthropocentricattitude:weconceiveofGodinourownimage.Thereisnobodysittingthere.Godmeansthewhole,thetotalityofexistence.Abadmanbreathesasbeautifullyasagoodman.Asinnerisasacceptedbyexistenceasasaint.Existencemakesnodifferentiation.Butbecauseofdualisticthinking–Christian,Mohammedan,Zoroastrian–wethinkintermsofconict.Thereisastory:Therewasatown,Sodom,inoldIsrael.Thepeoplewereverymuchpervertedinthattown,sexuallyperverted–homosexuals.SoitissaidthatGoddestroyedthetown.Thewholetownwasdestroyed.Agreatredescendedandeverybodywaskilled.Aftermany,manycenturies,oneHassidicsaint,oneHassidicmystic,wasasked:WhenGoddestroyedSodomtheremusthavebeenatleastafewgoodpersonsinthetown–allweredestroyed.Sothequestionersaid:Wecanacceptthatthebadweredestroyedbecausetheywerebad–butwhythegood?Nowlookatthecunningmind.TheHassidthoughtitoverandsaid:Hedestroyedthegoodalsosothattheycouldbewitnessesthatthesebadpeoplewerebad.Thisisacunningcalculation,thisisjustsavingface.Therealthingis:forGod,thereisnogood,nobad.Whenhecreates,hecreatesboth;whenhedestroys,hedestroysboth–unconditionally.Thisisreallyfoolish,thisattitudeofgoodandbad.Apersonsmokingcigarettesbecomesbad,apersonenjoyingalcoholbecomesbad,apersonwhohasfalleninlovewithsomebodyelse'swifebecomesbad.WethinkGodissittingthereandcalculating:Thismansmokes,thismanisanalcoholic,thismanhasfallenintoadultery,letthisfellowcomeandIwillsee.ThisisfoolishifGodiscalculatingaboutsuchtrivialthings!Thisisourtinymind.Forexistence,thereisnointerpretationandnodivision.Goodandbadarehumanconceptions,notdivine.Everysocietyhasitsownconceptionsofgoodandbad:everyagechangesandhasitsownconceptionsofgoodandbad.Thereisnoabsolutenessaboutgoodandbad.Goodandbadarerelative–relativetosociety,toculture,relativetous.Godisabsoluteforhim,thereisnodistinction. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds139 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Andifyouaredeepinmeditationwherethoughtsdisappear,thenthereisnodistinction–becausegoodandbadarethoughts.Whenyouaresilent,whatisgoodandwhatisbad?Themomenttheideaarises:Thisisgood,thatisbad,thesilencehasbeenlost.Indeepmeditationthereisnothing–nogood,nobad.LaoTzuisreportedtohavesaid:Ahair'sdistinction,andheavenandhellaresetapart.Inthemindofameditator,ifevenaslightdistinctionarisesthenthewholeworldisdivided.Meditationisnon-distinction,NOdistinction.Yousimplylook,andyouseethewholeanddon'tdivideit.Youdon'tsay:Thisisugly,thatisbeautiful;thisisgood,thatisbad.Youdon'tsayanything.Yousimplyare.Youdon'tsayanything,youdon'tmakeanydivision.Thenon-dualisthere.InmeditationyoubecomeGod.PeoplethinkinmeditationtheywillseeGod.Thisiswrong;thereisnobodytobeseen.Godisnotanobject.InmeditationyoubecomeGod,becausealldistinctionsdisappear.Inmeditationyoubecomeonewiththewholebecauseinmeditationyoucannotdivideyourselffromthewhole–alldivisionshavefallen!Youaresosilentthatnoboundaryisthere.Everyboundaryisadisturbance.YouaresosilentthereisnoI,nothou.Youaresosilentthatallboundarieshaveblurredanddisappeared.Oneexists,unityexists.ThisiswhatHinduscalltheBrahma–theone,theunity,theultimateunityofexistence.Itismindthatdivides,makesdistinctions,saysthisisthis,thatisthat.Inmeditationthereisisness,undivided.YouareGodwhenyouareinmeditation,andonlyinmeditationwillyoucometoknowunconditionallove.Ifyouareafather,bothyourchildrenwillbejustchildren–strangers,comingfromanunknownworld,movingintoanunknownexistence,growing,maturing.Outofyourloveyougivetothem;youshareyourlife,yourexperiences,butyouneverforceanything.Whenyoudon'tforce,thenwhoisobedientandwhoisdisobedient?Whenyoudon'tforce,howcanyoudecidewhoisgoodandwhoisbad?NowIcometothelastpoint.WhenyouDON'Tforce,howcanonebeobedientandanotherdisobedient?Thewholephenomenondisappears.Thenyouaccepttheother–thechild,thewife,thehusband,thefriend–asheis,asafact.Ifwecanaccepteachotherasfacts,withoutanyoughts,shoulds,withoutanygoodandbad,lifewillbecomeparadisethisverymoment.Wereject.Evenifweacceptsomebody,weacceptinpart.Wesay:Youreyesaregood,buteverythingelseisjustdirty.Isthisacceptance?Wesay:Thisactofyoursisgood,butallelseisbad,cannotbeaccepted,andIacceptonlythatwhichisgood.Thatmeans:Iacceptonlythatwhichisaccordingtome.Youmaynotknowhowyouaredestroyingeachother,becausewhenevertheparentssaytothechild:Weacceptonlythispart,notanythingelse–whenawifesaystothehusband:Iacceptonlythisinyou,nottheother–whatareyoudoing?Youarecreatingadivisionintheother'smindalso.Whenthefathersays:Don'tdothis,Idon'tacceptthis,Iamangryaboutthis–whenhepunishesachildbecauseHEthinkshehasdonesomethingwrong,whatishedoing?Whenheappreciatesthechild,giveshimatoy,bringsowersforhim,sweets,andsays:Youhavedonewell,youhavedonesomethinggoodwhichIapprove–whatishedoing?Heiscreatingadivisioninthechild.By MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds140 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED andby,thechildwillalsorejectthepartthattheparentshaverejected,andhewillbedivided:hewillbecometwoI's.Youmayhaveobservedlittlechildren–theyevenpunishthemselves;theyevensaytothemselves:Bobby,thisisnotgood.Youhavedoneabadthing.Theystartrejectingthepartthathasbeenrejectedbytheirparents.Thenadivisioniscreated.Therejectedpartbecomestheunconscious,thesuppressedpart;andtheacceptedpartbecomestheconscious,theconscience.Thentheirwholelifewillbeahell,becausetherejectedandtheacceptedwillgoonghting.Continuously,therewillbeaturmoil.Therejectedcannotbedestroyed.ItisYOU,itisTHERE!Itisalwaysworkingwithinyou–youmayhaveputitinthedark,that'sall.Butonceyouputpartofyouinthedarkthatpartbecomesmoreforciblebecauseitworksthroughdarknessandyoucannotseeit,youcannotbeawareofitandittakesitsownrevenge.Wheneverthereisaweakmomentandyourconsciouspartisnotverystrong,itwillcomeout.Youmaybegoodfortwenty-threehours,butforonehour,whentheconsciousistired,theunconsciousassertsitself.Soevensaintshavetheirsinnermoments,evensaintshavetogiveleavetotheirsainthood.Theyareonholiday,sometimestheyhavetobe.Soifyoucatchasaintonhisholiday,don'tbedisturbedtoomuch,everybodyhastohaveaholiday.Everybodygetstired–unlessoneiswhole.Thenthereisnotirednessbecausethereisnootherpartwhichisconstantlyghting,creatingtrouble,assertingitself,takingrevenge.Sowehavetwowords:oneissaint,theotherissage.Thesaintalwayshasthesinnerhiddenwithinhim;thesageisthewhole.Thesagecannotbeonholidaybecauseheisalwaysonholiday–thereisnorejectedpart;helivesasawholetotality.Hemovesmoment-to-momentasawhole;heneverrejectsanything.Hehasacceptedhimselfcompletelytherejectioniscreatedbytheparents,bythesociety.Asmallchildisalwaysagreatdiscoverer,andofcoursehebeginshisdiscoverywithhisownbody,thatisthenearestexistencetohim.Hecannotgotothemoon,hecannotgotoEverest,theyareveryfar;somedayhemaygo,butrightnowthenearestpartishisownbody.Hestartsdiscoveringit.Hetoucheshisbody,heenjoysit.Observealittlechildtouchinghistoes–happy,happyasyoucanneverbeevenifyougotothemoon.Hehasdiscoveredhisbody!Hetoucheshistoe,enjoysit,bringsittohismouthbecausethesearethewayshediscovers.Hewilltasteit,smellit,touchit.Butwhenhecomestohissexualparts,parentsbecomedisturbed.Thatdisturbanceisintheparents,notinthechild.Hedoesnotmakeanydistinctions;thetoeorthesexualorganarethesame.Thereisnodivisioninhisbodyuptonow.Thewholebodyisthere:ngers,eyes,nose,sexualorgans,toes,areoneow.Thereisnodivisionoflowerandhigher.Hindushaveadivision;allovertheworld,allthecultureshavedivisions.Hindussay:Nevertouchwithyourrighthandbelowthenavel,becausethatpartbelowthenavelisdirty.Touchbelowthenavelwithyourlefthand;touchabovethenavelwithyourrighthand.Thebodyisdivided,andthedivisionhasgonesodeepinthemindthatbyrightwemeangood–wesayyouareright–byleft MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds141 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED wemeanbad.Soifyouwanttocondemnsomebody,justsayhe'saleftist,acommunist.Theleftisbad.Achilddoesn'tknowwhichisleft,whichisright–thechildiswhole,heisaunity.Hedoesn'tknowwhichislower,whichishigher–thebodyisundividedow.Hewillcometodiscoverhissexualparts,andparentsbecomedisturbed.Wheneverachild,boyorgirl,touchesthesexualorgans,immediatelywesay:Don'ttouch!Weremovethehand.Thechildisshocked.Youhavegivenanelectricshocktohim.Hecannotunderstandwhatyouaredoing.Andthiswillhappenmanytimes.Youarehammeringintothechildthatsomethinginhisbodyhastoberejected,thesexualpartofthebodyisbad.Psychologically,youarecreatingacomplex.Thechildwillgrow,buthewillneverbeabletoaccepthissexualorgans.Ifyoucannotacceptyourbodyinitstotality,therewillbeproblems,therewillbetrouble,becausethechildwillmakelove,hewillmoveintothesexualact,buttherewillbeguilt:Somethingwrongisgoingon,somethingbasicallywrongishappening.Heiscondemninghimself.Makinglove,themostbeautifulthingintheworld,heiscondemningandisguilty.Hecannotmakelovetotally;hecannotmovetotallyintotheother,becauseheisholdingback.Halfismoving,halfisbeingcontrolled.Thiscreatesaconictandlovebecomesamisery.Thishappensinalldimensionsoflife.Everythingbecomesmiserablebecauseineverythingtheparentshavecreatedadivision:thisisgoodandthatisbad.Thisiswhyyouaremiserable–becauseofyourparents,thesociety.Don'tdothesametoyourchildren.Itwillbeverydifcultbecauseyouaredivided,youwouldliketodividethechild–itisunconscious!Butifyoubecomealert...ifyouarereallymeditatingyouwillbecomealert.Don'tcreatethesameschizophreniainyourchild;don'tdivide,don'tmakeasplit.Youhavesufferedenough;don'tcreatethesamesufferingforyourchild.Ifyoureallyloveyouwillnotdividehimbecausedivisioncreatessuffering.Youwillhelphimtoremainwhole,becausewholenessisholy,andwholenessgivesecstaticpossibilities,opensdoorsforthepeakexperiences.Howcanyouhelpachildtoremainwhole?Onething:remainalertsoyoudon'tdividehimunconsciously.Don'tcondemnathing.Ifyoufeelitisharmful,tellthechildthatthisisharmfulbutdon'tsaythisisbad–becausewhenyousayharmful,youarestatingafact;whenyousaybad,youhavebroughtavaluationintoit.Parentshavetosaymanythingstochildren,becausechildrendon'tknow.Youhavetosay:Don'tgonearthere–butsay:Thisisharmful.Ifyougetburned,youwillsuffer,butthenstillitisuptoyou.SaythisismyexperiencethatwheneverIwasburned,Isuffered;andItellyoumyexperience,butevenifyouwanttodoit,youcandoit.Thisisharmful.Saywhatisharmful,saywhatisbenecial,butdon'tsaygoodandbad.Ifyouarealert,youwilldropthewordsgoodandbadfromyourvocabulary–becausewithgoodandbadyouarebringingyourvaluationtothings.Sayharmful–andstillallowfreedom,becauseyourexperiencecannotbecome MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds142 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED thechildren'sexperience.Theywillhavetoexperiencethemselves.Sometimesevenharmfulthingswillhavetobedone–onlythencantheygrow;sometimestheywillhavetofallandgethurt–onlythenwilltheyknow.Theyhavetopassthroughthings,gethurtandscarred,butthatistheonlywayonegrows.Ifyouprotectthechildtoomuchhewillnotgrow.Manypeopleremainchildren,theirmentalagenevergrowsbeyondthatofachild.Theybecomeold,theymaybeseventy,buttheirmentalageremainsnearaboutseven,becausetheyhavebeensomuchprotected.Lookatveryrichfamilies:Theirchildrenareprotectedtoomuch,theyarenotallowedanyfreedom–toerr,toexperience,togoastray,togoofftheroad.Almosteverymomentsomebodyisfollowingthem–theservants,thetutor,thegoverness;theyareneverleftalone.Thenlookwhathappenstothem:almostalways,richfamiliesproducemediocrechildren,stupid,silly.Greatmindshavenevercomefromrichfamilies–itisdifcult–innovatorsnevercomefromthem,adventurersnevercomefromthem–theycannot.Theyaresomuchprotected,theynevergrow.Forgrowth,unprotectednessisneeded,protectednessisalsoneeded–bothareneeded.Lookatagardenerworkingwithhistrees:hehelpsthem,heprotectsthem,butstillhegivesthemfreedomtomoveinthesun,intherains,inthestorms.Hewillnottakethosetreesinsidethehousetoprotectthemfromthestormandfromthesunandfromthedangersthatarealwaysthereoutside.Ifyoutakethetreeinsideitwilldie.Ahothouseplantisunnatural,andweallbecomehothouseplantsbecauseofover-protectiveparents.Don'tprotectthechildren.Don'tleavethemunprotected.Followthemlikeashadow.Lookafterthem,becarefulandcreateabalance,sowheneveritissodangerousthattheymaydie,youprotectthem;butwheneveryoufeelthatitisnotgoingtobesodangerous,youallowthem.Themoretheygrow,themoreyouallow.Bythetimeachildbecomessexuallymature,youshouldgivehimtotalfreedom–becausenaturehasmadehimamannow.Nownoneedtobetoomuchworried.Sometimesaccidentswillhappen,buttheyareworthit.Givethechildawholeness.Makehiminfectioustoyourawareness.Lovehim,tellhimwhatyourexperienceis,butdon'ttrytomakehimfollowyourexperience.Don'tforce.Ifhefollowsofhisownaccord,itisgood;ifhedoesn'tfollow,wait–thereisnohurry.Itisdifculttobeafatherortobeamother,theMOSTdifcultthingintheworld.Andpeoplethinkitistheeasiest.Ihaveheard:Onewomanwascominginataxitoherhomefromthemarket,andthetaxi-driverwasjustcrazy.Hewasgoingzigzag;anymomenttherewouldbeanaccident.Andhewasgoingsofast...thewomanwasvery,verynervous,sittingontheedgeoftheseat,andmanytimesshesaid:Don'tgosofast,I'mscared.Buthewouldn'tlisten.Thenshesaid:Listen!Twelvechildrenarewaitingformeatmyhouse;ifsomethinggoeswrong,whatwillhappentothetwelvechildren?Sothedriversaid:Andyouaretellingmetobealert?!Difculttofollowit?Heissaying:Youhavegivenbirthtotwelvechildren!Youwerenotalert,andyouaretellingmetobealertindriving! MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds143 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Itiseasytogivebirthtomanychildren;thereisnoproblem,animalsdoiteasily.Buttobeamotherisverydifcult,themostdifcultthingintheworld.Tobeafatherisevenmoredifcult–becausetobeamotherisnatural,tobeafatherisnotsonatural.Fatherisasocialphenomenon.Wehavecreatedthefather;itdoesn'texistinnature.Tobeafatherisstillmoredifcult,becausethereisnonaturalinstinctforit.Itisdifcultbecausethisisthemostcreativeact,tocreateahumanbeing.Bealert.Givemorefreedom.Don'tmakedistinctionsofgoodandbad;acceptboth,andhelpbothtypestogrow.Soonthishelpingthechildrentogrowwillbecomeadeepmeditationforyou–youwillalsogrowwiththem.Andwhenyourchildowersintoayes-sayer,orano-sayer...becausetherehavebeenbeautifulno-sayers:Nietzscheisano-sayer–butbeautiful!HisgeniustosaynoissuchawonderfulandbeautifulphenomenonthattheworldwouldnotbesorichiftherewerenotpeoplelikeNietzsche.HeCANnotsayyes.Itisdifcultforhim.Noishiswholebeing.Buddhaisano-sayer.Hesaid:ThereisnoBrahma,thereisnosoul,thereisnoworld.Youcannotndagreaterno-sayer.HeleftNOTHING.Hesays:Thereisnothing.Hegoesonsayingno,goesoneliminating.Itisverydifculttondayesfromhim–impossible.Butwhatabeautifulbeingevolvedoutofthatno!Thatnomusthavebeentotal.Therehavebeenyes-sayers,thedevotees–theBHAKTAS:Meera,ChaitanyaorJesusorMohammed–theseareyes-sayers.Andtherearetwotypesofreligion,ofcourse:onewhichisaroundano-sayer,theotherreligionswhicharearoundayes-sayer.Youalsowillbelongtooneortheother.Ifyouareano-sayer,thenBuddhismwillbeagreathelptoyou.Ifyouareayes-sayer,thenBuddhismcannothelpyouatall;itwillbedestructive.Christianitycanhelp,Hinduismcanhelp.Bothareneeded.WhenIsaythis,Imeantheyalwaysexistinaproportion,justlikemenandwomen–almostalwaysthenumberisthesame.Thewholeworldisdivided–halfmen,halfwomen.Andhownaturekeepsthisproportionisamiracle.Ineveryotherdimensionthesameproportionismaintained:alwayshalfno-sayersandhalfyes-sayersintheworld,alwayshalfwhocanfollowthepathofknowledgeandhalfwhocanfollowthepathoflove.Loveisyes-saying.Knowledgeisalwaysno-saying.Andthisproportionismaintainedbynaturealways.Soifyouhavegottwochildren,oneisayes-sayerandtheotherisano-sayer,thisistheproportion!Thisisgoodthatyouhavegotbothinyourhome.Youcancreateaharmonyoutofthem.Don'ttrytodestroytheno-sayer,don'ttrytopushandhelponlytheyes-sayer.Createaharmonybetweenthetwo;thesetwochildrenarerepresentativeofthewholeworld,theyinandyang,theopposites,thepoles.Createaharmonybetweenthemandyourfamilywillreallybeafamily,aunit,aharmoniousunit.Butdon'tinterpret,don'tcondemn,don'tbemoralistic.Justbeafather,amother.Lovethemandacceptthemandhelpthemtobethemselves.Thisisthebaseofalllove:tohelptheothertobehimself.Ifyouwanttopull,manipulate,youarenotinlove,youaredestructive.Question2BELOVEDOSHO,INTHEWEST,MOSTOFOURGROWTHMETHODSTENDTOBEGROUP-ORIENTED–LIKEENCOUNTERGROUPSANDPSYCHODRAMA. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds144 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED INTHEEAST,ALTHOUGHTHEREAREASHRAMSWHERESEEKERSLIVETOGETHER,THESTRESSSEEMSTOBEONTHEINDIVIDUAL.WOULDYOUTELLUSABOUTTHETWOAPPROACHES?Therearetwotypesofgrowthmethods.Youcanpursueyourspiritualgrowthalone,oryoucanworkthroughagroup,throughaschool.BothtypeshavealwaysexistedevenintheEast.Sumethodsaregroupmethods.InIndiaalso,groupmethodshaveexistedbutwereneversoprevalentasinIslamorSusm.Butthisisanewphenomenonasfarasquantityisconcerned–thattheWestistotallygroup-oriented.Neverbeforehavetherebeensomanygroupmethodsalive,andsomanypeopleworkingthroughthemasexistnowintheWest.SoinawaywecansaythattheEasthasremainedwithindividualefforts,andtheWestisnowgrowingtowardsgroupmethods.Whyisthissoandwhatisthedifference?Andwhythisdifference?Groupmethodscanexistonlyifyouregohascometoapointwhereitisaburdentocarryit.Whentheegohasbecomesoburdensomethattobealoneistobeinanguish,thengroupmethodsbecomemeaningful,becauseinagroupyoucanmergeyourego.Iftheegoisnotveryevolvedthenindividualmethodscanhelpyou.Youcanmovetoamountain,youcanbeisolated,orevenlivinginanashramwithamasteryouworkalone,youdoyourmeditation,othersdotheirmeditation.Youneverworktogether.InIndia,Hindushaveneverprayedingroups.WithMohammedans,groupprayerenteredIndia.Mohammedansprayingroups;Hinduswerealwaysprayingalone;eveniftheywenttothetemple,theywouldgoalone.Itisaone-to-onerelationship–youandyourGod.Thisispossibleiftheegohasnotbeenhelpedtogrowtoapointwhereitbecomesaburden.InIndia,ithasneverbeenhelpedtogrow–fromtheverybeginningwehavebeenagainsttheego.Soyougrowinego,buttheegoremainsvague,blurred;youremainhumble,youarenotreallyanegoist.Itisnotapenetratingpeakinyou,itisatground.YOUAREegoistic,becauseeverybodyhastobe,butnotabsoluteegoists.Youalwaysthinkitiswrongandgoonpullingyourselfdown.Incertainsituationsyoucanbeprovokedandyouregobecomesapeak–butordinarilyitisnotapeak,itisatground.InIndiatheegoisjustlikeanger–ifsomeoneprovokesyou,youbecomeangry;ifnobodyprovokesyou,youarenotangry.IntheWest,theegohasbecomeapermanentsubstance.Itisnotlikeanger,itisnowlikebreathing.Thereisnoneedtoprovokeit–itisthere,itisaconstantphenomenon.Becauseofthisego,agroupbecomesaveryhelpfulthing.Inthegroup,workingwithagroup,mergingyourselfinthegroup,youcanputyouregoasideeasily.That'swhynotonlyinreligion,butinpoliticsalso,afewphenomenacanexistonlyintheWest:fascismforexamplecouldexist,couldbecomepossible,inGermanywhichisthemostegoisticcountryintheWest,themostWestern.ThereisnothingliketheGermanegoallovertheworld. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds145 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED That'swhyHitlercouldbecomepossible,becauseeveryoneissoegoistic,everybodyisinneedofmerging.Nazirallies,millionsofpeoplemarching–youcanloseyourself,youneednotyourselfbethere.Youbecomethemarch,thebandplaying,themusic,thesound,thehypnotizingHitler,acharismaticpersonality.EverybodylookingatHitler,thewholemassaroundyoulikeanocean–youbecomejustawave.Youfeelgood,youfeelfresh,youfeelyoung,youfeelhappy.Youforgetyourmisery,youranguish,yourloneliness,youralienation.Youarenotalone.Suchagreatmassiswithyouandyouarewithit.Yourindividualprivateworriesdrop.Suddenlythereisanopening–youfeellight,asifyouareying.Hitlerbecamesuccessfulnotbecausehehadaverymeaningfulphilosophy–hisphilosophywasabsurd;itwaschildish,immaturenotbecausehecouldconvincetheGermanpeoplethathewasright...thatwasnotthepoint.ItisverydifculttoconvinceGermanpeople,oneofthemostdifcultthings–becausetheyarelogicians,theyhavelogicintheirminds,rationalineveryway.Itisdifculttoconvincethem,andtohavebeenconvincedbyHitlerwouldhavebeenimpossible.No,henevertriedtoconvincethem.Hecreatedahypnoticgroupphenomenon.THATconvincedthem.ItwasnotaquestionofwhatHitlerwassaying;itwasaquestionofwhattheywerefeelingwhentheywereinthegroup,inthemass.Itwassuchanunburdeningexperience,thatitwasworthittofollowthisman.Whatsoeverhewassaying–wrongorright,logical,illogical,foolish–itwasgoodtofollowhim.Theyweresomuchboredwiththemselvestheywantedtobeabsorbedbythemass.That'swhyfascism,nazismandalltypesofgroupmadness,becamepossibleintheWest.IntheEastonlyJapancouldfollow,becauseJapanisthecounterpartofGermanyintheEast.JapanisthemostWesterncountryintheEast.Thesamephenomenonwasthere,soJapancouldbecomeanallytotheHitleritemadness.Thesameishappeninginothereldsalso–inreligionalso,inpsychologyalso.Groupmeditationishappening,andonlygroupmeditationwillhappenforalongperiodtocome.Whenahundredpeoplearetogether–youwillbesurprised,particularlythosewhodon'tknowtheWesternmind,theywillbesurprised–justholdinghands,onehundredpeople,sitting,justholdinghands,feelingeachother,andtheyfeelelated.NoIndianwillfeelelated.Hewillsay:Whatnonsense!Justholdinghandswithahundredpeoplesittinginacircle,howcanitbeanelation?Howcanyoubecomeecstatic?Youcanfeelatthemosttheperspirationoftheother'shand.ButintheWestahundredpeopleholdinghandsareelated,ecstatic.Why?–becauseevenholdinghandshasbecomesoimpossiblebecauseoftheego.Evenwifeandhusbandarenottogether.Thejointfamilyhasdisappeared,itwasagroupphenomenon.Societyhasdisappeared.IntheWestnow,nosocietyexistsreally.Youmovealone.InAmerica–Iwasreadingthestatistics–everymanmoveswithinthreeyearstoanothertown.NowamaninavillageinIndiaremainsthere–notonlyhe,hisfamilyhasremainedthereforthousands MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds146 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED ofyears.Heisdeeplyrootedinthatsoil.Heisrelatedtoeveryone,heknowseverybody,everybodyknowshim.Heisnotastranger,heisnotalone.Helivesaspartofthevillage,healwayshas.Hewasbornthere,hewilldiethere.InAmerica,everythreeyearsonaveragepeoplemove.Thisisthemostnomadiccivilizationthathaseverexisted:vagabonds–nohouse,nofamily,notown,novillage,nohomereally.Inthreeyearshowcanyougetrooted?Whereveryougoyouareastranger.Themassisaroundyoubutyouarenotrelatedtoit.Youareunrelated,thewholeburdenbecomesindividual.Sittinginagroup,inanencountergrouporinagrowthgroup,touchingeachother'sbodies,youbecomepartofthecommunity.Touchingeachother'shandandholdingeachother'shand,justlyingneareachother,orlyingontopofeachotherinapile,youfeeloneness,areligiouselationhappens.Ahundredpeopledancing,touchingeachother,movingaroundeachother,becomeone.Theymerge,theegoisdissolvedforafewmoments.Thatmergerbecomesaprayerfulthing.Politicianscanuseitfordestructiveends.Religioncanuseitforverycreativephenomena–itcanbecomeameditation.IntheEast,peopleareinthecommunitytoomuch.Sowhenevertheywanttobereligious,theywanttogototheHimalayas.Societyistoomucharound.Theyarenotfedupwiththemselves,theyarefedupwiththesociety.Thisisthedifference.IntheWest,youarefedupwithyourselfandyouwantsomebridge,howtobecommunicativewiththesociety,withothers;howtocreateabridge,howtomovetotheother,soyoucanforgetyourself.IntheEast,peoplearefedupwiththesociety.Theyhavelivedwithitsolong,andthesocietyisallaroundsomuchthattheydon'tfeelanyfreedom.Sowheneversomebodywantstobefree,tobesilent,herunstotheHimalayas.IntheWest,youruntothesociety;intheEast,peoplerunfromthesociety.That'swhylonelymethods,individualmethodshaveexistedintheEast;groupmethodsareinexistenceintheWest.WhatamIdoing?Mymethodisasynthesis.IntherststepsofDynamicMeditationyouarepartofthegroup;inthelastpartthegroupdisappears,youarealone.Iamdoingthisforaparticularreason,becausenowEastandWesthavebecomeirrelevant.TheEastisturningtowardstheWest;theWestisturningtowardstheEast.BytheendofthiscenturytherewillbenoEastandnoWest–oneworld.Thisgeographicaldivisionhasexistedtoolong;itcannotexistanymore.Technologyhasalreadydissolvedit,itisalreadyoutofexistence,butbecauseofahabitualattitudeinthemind,itcontinues.Itcontinuesonlyasamentalphenomenon,itactuallyexistsnolonger.BytheendofthiscenturytherewillbenoEast,noWest–justoneworld.Itisalreadythere.Thosewhocansee,theycanseeitisalreadythere.Asynthesiswillbeneeded–groupandindividualboth.Youworkinagroupinthebeginning;intheend,youbecometotallyyourself.Startfromsocietyandreachtoyourself.Don'tescapefromthecommunity–liveintheworldbutdon'tbeofit.Berelated,butstillremainalone.Loveandmeditate.Meditateandlove.Whatsoeverhappenedbeforeisnotthequestion;whatsoeverfollowsisnotthequestion.Meditateandloveifyouareaman,loveandmeditateifyouareawoman–butdon'tchoose.Loveplusmeditationismyslogan. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds147 Osho CHAPTER14.BOTHARENEEDED Enoughfortoday. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds148 Osho CHAPTER15 ShareThroughYourBeing 24May1974aminBuddhaHallQuestion1BELOVEDOSHO,YOUSAIDTOUSTHISWEEKTHATWESHOULDNOTCONCERNOURSELVESWITHOTHERS.BUTMOSTOFUSFROMTHEWESTHAVEFRIENDSANDRELATIVESWITHWHOMWEWOULDLIKETOSHAREWHATWE'VEFOUND.WHATSHOULDWETELLTHEMABOUTSANNYAS?WHATSHOULDWETELLTHEMABOUTYOU?HOWCANWEEXPLAINTHEUNEXPLAINABLE?Therearethingswhichcannotbetold,youcannotsharethemverbally.Butthereisawaytosharethemandthatisthroughyourbeing.Beasannyasin;thatistheonlywaytotellotherswhatsannyasis.Ifyouareasannyasin,yourwholebeingwillsaythatwhichcannotbesaid.Thenyourwholewayoflifewilltellstorieswhichcannotbeconceptualized.Languageisimpotent.Itcannotsaythatwhichisalive,itcansayonlydeadthings.Youcansaysomethingaboutsannyas,butitwillnotbetrue.Howcanyousayanythingaboutsannyas?Itisaninnerowering,itisaninnerfreedom,itisaninnerecstasy,abenediction.Youcanshareitofcourse,butthesharingwillbethroughyourbeing,throughyourverybeing–thewayyouwalk,thewayyousit,thewayyoulook,youreyes,yourbody,yourverybreath.Thesilence 149 CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING thatsurroundsyou,theblissthatgoesonandonbeingthrownallaboutyou,thevibrationsofyou,theywilltellandonlytheycantell.Beasannyasin;thatistheonlyway.Andwhatissannyas?Itisafreedomfromthemind.Itwillbedifculttounderstandsannyasifyoudon'tunderstandwhatmindis.Mindistheaccumulatedpast.Allthatyouhaveexperienced,allthatyouhaveknown,allthatyouhavelivedthroughisaccumulatedinthememory.Thataccumulatedpastisthemind.Somindisalwaysdeadbecauseitbelongstothepast.Mindisalwaysdead,neveralive.Wheneverathinghasbecomedeaditbecomespartofthemind.Itisjustlikedustthatatravelergathers.Youarehereandnow,andmindisalwaysinthepast.Mindisyourshadowthatfollowsyou.Sannyasisgettingfreefromthepast,livinginthemoment–notcarryingthepastinthehead,notbeingburdenedbyit.Moment-to-moment,dietothepast,asifitneverexisted,asifyouarebornanew.Everymomentbefreshandyoung.Putasidethepast.Don'tgatherthedust.Ifyougatherthedustyouwillgetdulleranddullereveryday,yourconsciousnesswillbecovered,yourmirror-likebeingwillnotbeabletomirroranything.Thelongeryouhavelivedwiththepast,themorethemirrorwillbecovered.Itwillnotreect.Youwillbecomelessandlesssensitive.Thisiswhathashappened.Sannyasmeansabreakthrough.Lookingatthepast,understandingthatitisuselessbecauseitisnomore,understandingthatitisuseless,aburden,youputitaside.Thenyouarehereandnowthisverymoment,inthepresent,intheplenitudeofthepresent.Sannyasmeanslivingwithouttime:notbeinginuencedbythepast,andnotbeingcarriedbythefuture.Noburdenofthepast,andnodesireinthefuture,sannyasisagoalless,purposelesslife.Ifsomebodysaysthatsannyasisameanstoachievegod,heistalkingnonsense.Sannyasisnottoachieveanything.Sannyasistoliveinsuchawayasifyouhaveachievedeverything.Itisnotadesire,becauseitmakesnodifferencewhetheryoudesirewealth,power,prestige,oryoudesiregod–MOKSHAitmakesnodifference.Thebasicmechanismremainsthesame:youdesire.Andwheneveryoudesire,thefuturecomesin.Wheneverthefutureisthere,itisnothingbutaprojectionofthepast.Wheneverthefutureis,itisnothingbutthemodiedknown.Itisnevertheunknown.Howcanyoudesiretheunknown?Thatwhichyoudon'tknow–howcanyoudesireit?Godcannotbedesired.Ifyoudesire,itissomethingelse.Godistheunknown,howcanyoudesireit?Godistheunexperienced,howcanyoudesireit?Youcandesiresex,youcandesirepower,youcandesiretheego,becauseyouhaveknownthem.Youhaveknownthemformany,manylives.Buthowcanyoudesiregod?Howcanyoudesirelove?Howcanyoudesireecstasy?Youhaveneverknownthem,desireisimpossible.That'swhyallthescripturesandallthebuddhassay:Godhappenstoyouwhenyouaredesireless.Mokshacomestoyou;younevergotomoksha.Youcannotgobecauseyoudon'tknow.Nirvanahappenstoyouwhenyouaredesireless.Sannyasisdesirelessness,anddesirelessnessmeanslivinginthenow. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds150 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Andremember,nowisnotpartoftime;nowisbeyondtime.Timecomesinonlywhenyouthinkintermsofthepast,intermsofthefuture.Thisverymomentisnotpartoftime.Thisverymomentisnotrecordedonyourwatch,becausethewatchisalwaysmovinginthefuture.Itisalwaysmovinginthefuture,neverhereandnow.Itiscomingfromthepastandmovingintothefuture.Thewatchisrepresentativeofyourmind,itisNEVERhere!Themomentyousayitishere,ithasmoved.Themomentyouseewhereitis,ithasbecomepast.Frompasttofutureitisjumping.Ifyoulookminutelyatyourwatch,youwillseeitisnotmoving,itisjumping.Theminutehandlooksasifitismovingbecausethejumpisveryslow,butthehandthatrecordsseconds,youcanseeitisjumping.Itjumpsfromthepasttothefuture.Itisneverhereandnow.Andthisisthewayofthemind.Nowisbeyondtime,itistimeless;oryoucancalliteternal.YouNEVERleaveit.Itisalwaysthere.Younevergointoit,younevercomeoutofit–itisthere.Ifyoucanliveinsuchawaythatyourwholelifeissurroundedbythenow,youareasannyasin,youaredesireless–youdon'tdesireevengod.Themomentyoudesiregod,youhavemadegodintoacommodity.Thenyouwillbeexploitedbythepriestsbecausetheysellthatcommodity.Thenyouwillbeexploitedbytemplesandchurchesandmosques,becausethosearetheshopswherethatcommodityissold.Asannyasinhasnothingtodowithtemplesandchurches,becausegodisnotacommodity.Whathappenswhenyouarenotdesiring?Itdoesn'tmeanthatyoukillyourself,suppressyourself;itdoesn'tmeanthatyoukillyourdesires.Thepointhastobeunderstooddeeply,becausethishashappened.Scripturessay,thosewhohaveknownsay:Whenyouaredesireless,thedivinehappenstoyou.Thenthemindjumps,justlikeacatjumpingonamouse,catchesholdofthisdesirelessnessandsays:Okay,ifgodcanbeattainedthroughdesirelessness,thenIwilldesiredesirelessness.Nowthisbecomesthedesire,andagainyouhavemissed.Thensannyasinstrytobedesireless,sothisstateofdesirelessnessbecomesthethingtobeachievedinthefuture.Sowhatcanyoudo?Youcankilldesireandthinkthatyouaredesireless.Desirelessnessisnotthedeathofdesire,becausewhendesiredies,youarealsodead.Thiswilllookverysubtleanddifcult:ifthereisnodesire,ifyouhavekilledalldesire,youwillalsobedead.Thatisnotthewayfordesirelessnesstohappen.Itisnotthedeathofdesirebutatransformationofthedesire.Desiremovingintothefutureisonewayofdesire;desireremaininghereandnowandenjoyingthepresentisanotherwayofdesire.Thesecondwayisdesireless,becauseitisnotmovingintothefuture.Amanwhoisdesirelessisnotdead.Heismorealivethanyoubecausehisdesireisconcentratedhereandnow.Ifheiseatinghisfood,youcannotevenconceivehowhappyheis–eatinghisordinaryfood,justbreadandbutter.Hiswholebeingishere:heisnotjustthrowingthingsinside.Amanwholivesinthefuturenevereatswell.Heisjustthrowingfoodinside.Heisnotconcernedwitheatingbecausehismindisconcernedwiththefuture.Helivesinambition.Hecannoteatwell; MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds151 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING hecanthinkofwhathewilleattomorrow,buthecannoteatthismoment.Hecanimaginewhattypeoffoods,whereheisgoingtoeattomorrow,buttodayisvacantandempty.Andeverytomorrow,unfortunately,becomestoday–hewillmisshiswholelife.Whileheismakinglovehedoesn'tfeelanything–heisfrustrated–buthethinksofotherwomenthatheisgoingtocaptureinthefuture.Andthesamewillhappenagainwitheverywoman,witheveryman–becausethemeetingishereandnowandthemindalwaysmoves.Hewillnotbeabletomakelove.Hewillnotbeabletoeatwell.Hewillnotbeabletoenjoytheblissthatnaturegives,continuouslyshowersallaroundyou.Asinautumnwhenleavesarefallingdownfromatreesilently,theblississhoweringeverymomentsilentlywithoutmakinganynoisearoundyou.Everythingisbeautiful,everythingisabenediction–butyouarenotpresent.Soasannyasindoesn'tmeanamanwhohaskilledhisdesires.Asannyasinmeansamanwhohasbroughtallhisdesiringforcehereandnow.Helivestotally.Whatsoeverheisdoingheistotallyabsorbedinit.Nothingisleftstandingbehind.Heisnotdivided.Whileeating,hebecomeseating.Whilemakinglove,hebecomeslove.Whilemoving,hebecomesmovement.Buddhahassaid–andveryfewhaveunderstoodwhathemeans–whenyoumove,onlymovementexists,notthemover;whenyoutalk,onlytalkingexists,notthetalker;whenyoulisten,onlylisteningexists,notthelistener;whenyouobserve,onlyobservationexists,nottheobserver.Thisiswhatasannyasinis.Theactivitybecomessototalthattheactorislostintheactivity.Thereisnobodystandingbehind–nodivision.Youhavemovedcompletely;youhaveowedintotheactivity,whatsoevertheactivity.Thenenjoymentbecomesperfect.Soasannyasin,amanwhoisdesireless,isnotamanwithdeaddesires.Heisamanwhosedesiring-forces,alltheenergiesthatcandesire,haveturneduponthepresentmoment.Theyarenotrunninginthefuture,theyhaveturneduponthepresentmoment.Hisdesiresareconcentratedhereandnow.Hehasbecomeaworld.Everythingmovesbackintohim.Nothinggoesintothefuture,becausefutureisfalse,itisnonexistential.Ifyourdesiresmoveintothefuture,itisasifariverismovingintoadesert:itwillbelost,itwillneverreachthesea,itwillneverenjoytheecstasythatcomestoariverwhenitmeetsthesea.Whenariverreachesanocean,theorgasmisfeltallovertheriver,thedance,theecstasy,theblessing.Itwillnotcomeifarivermovesintoadesertandislost.Itwillevaporate,itwilldie.Therewillbenocommunionwithexistence.Whendesiremovesintothefuture,theriverofdesirehasmovedintothedesert.Futureisnowhere,itisalwaysthepresent.Futureisacreationofthemind–itisfalse,itisadream.AsannyasinlivesINthereality,notinthedream.Heenjoysthereality.Sorememberthis:Iinsistagainandagainthatasannyasinisnotamanwhoisagainstlife;really,heisthemanwhoisforlife.Andasannyasinisnotamanwhohaskilledallhisbeinganddesiresandhasbecomeadeadthing.Heislifeinabundance,heisagreatsourceofaliveness.Whathappens?–becausethisissubtle–whathappens?Whatwillbethedifference?Youfeelhunger.Youstartthinkingaboutfood.Youneverfeelthehungerinitstotality,otherwiseithasits MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds152 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING ownbeauty.Apersonwhocannotfeelhungerisalreadydead.Whenhungeristhere,hungerisinthepresent,butyoustartthinkingaboutfood.Whenfoodisthere,youstartthinkingaboutsomeotherfoodthatyouaregoingtogettomorrow.Asannyasin,amanwholivesinthepresent,enjoyshungerwhenhungeristhere.Heistotallyhungry,hebecomeshunger.Everycellofthebodywaitingforfoodasifithasnotrainedformanydaysandtheearthiswaitingfortherains.Everyporepraying,waiting,inviting;thewholebodywaiting,inviting,enjoyingthehunger.Thenfoodisthere.Thenheenjoysthefoodandsatisfactioncomestothewholebeing,spreadsalloverthebodyandmindandsoul.Heenjoysthiscontentment.OneZenmasterwasasked:Whatismeditation?Hesaid:WhenIamhungry,Iamhungry,andwhenIfeelsleepy,Ifallasleep.Thequestionercouldnotunderstand;hesaid:Iamaskingaboutmeditation,notaboutyou.Themastersaid:Thisisallthatweknowmeditationtobe:whenIfeelhungry,Ifeelhungry.Thereisnodivision.WhenIeat,Ieat;andwhenIfeelsleepy,Igotosleep.Noghtwithlife,noresistance–surrender,oating,becomingawhitecloud.Asannyasinisawhitecloudmovinginthebluesky,enjoyingeverymomentthatGodhasgiven,enjoyingeverygracethatcomestohim.Ifthisispossible–andthisISpossible;thishashappenedtomany,thiscanhappentoyou;onlyadeepunderstandingisneeded–thennokarmaisaccumulated.Thenyoudon'taccumulateanything.Youeat,youlove,youdoeverything–butyoudoitsototallythatthereisnoegotoaccumulateanymemoryoutofit.Youneversay:Ididthis.Howcanyou?Whenthedoingwasthereyouwerenotthere,sowhocansay:Ididthis?Ifyousaytoasannyasin:Youwerehungryandyouhavetakenyourfood;hewillsay,”Iwasnothungry,Ihavenottakenthefood.Hungerwasthereandthehungerhastakenthefood;noactiononmypart,Iwasnotthere”.Ifyouarenotthere,iftheactorisnotthere,whowillaccumulatekarma?That'swhatKrishnasaystoArjuna:Dowhatsoeverhappenstoyou,whatsoeverthesituationdemands,doit,andforgetthedoer.Don'tthink:Iamdoing;rather,think:Godisdoingthroughme.Thisisanotherwayofsayingthesamething:Godisdoingthroughme.IamjustaNIMITTA–aninstrument,apassage,avehicle.Iamjustaute,hollowwithin,nothingsubstantial.Godgoesonsingingandbringingnewtunes,creatingnewsongs,Iamjustapassage,abambooute.Asannyasinisabambooute,apassage.Heisnotthere.Muchhappensaroundhim,muchhappensthroughhim,butheisnotthere.Becomeasannyasin,becausethis...thisisbeautiful!Thismustcometoyourmind,thatyouhavetoshare.Youarehere.Yourmotherwillbewaitingathome–yourwife,yourhusband,yourchildren–andlovealwaysshares.Youwillgoback.Youwillnotbetakinganyvisiblethingwithyou–notapresenttoyourmotheroryourwife,someornamentsorsomethingfromthiscountry–youwillbetakingsomethinginvisible. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds153 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Thisinvisiblecannotbetalkedaboutbecauseyouarenottakingaphilosophywithyou.Iamnotgivingyouaphilosophy,Iamnotgivingyouanyideology,Iamgivingyouadifferenttypeoflife,awayofbeing.Itwillbedifculttotellthem.Iftheyaskdirectly,itwillbedifcult.Don'ttrytosayanything,becausethatwillnotbeofanyhelp,thatmaycreatemoreproblems.Rather,beopentothemsotheycanshare.Rather,bevulnerable.Bewiththem–laugh,enjoy,eat,meditate,andtellthemtoshareyourbeing,anewwayoflifethathashappenedtoyou.Yourverypresence,yourbeingwhichislaughing,enjoying,willbecomeinfectious–itbecomesandtheywillfeelit!Thiswilltaketime.Itwillnotbeeasy,itwillbedifcult.Sobeforeyougo,beprepared.Bereadytoshare.Theywillnotalwaysunderstand.Inthebeginning,thereisgoingtobemisunderstanding,morepossibilityofmisunderstanding,becausetheyhaveneverthoughtaboutit.Thisissomethingunknown,andwhenevertheunknownknocksatthedoorthemindfeelsscared,becausethemindcannotcategorizeit,themindcannottackleit.Itisshatteringandshocking.Mindalwaysfeelshappyifitcancategorizeathing,putitintoacornerandsay:Thisisthis–labelitandbenished.Mindisalwayshappyifitcananalyzeathing–divideit,cutit,lookintoit,andbenishedwithit.Butsannyascannotbecategorized.Itisnotacategory.Itissuchanaltogetherdifferentqualityofbeing,thereexistsnocategoryforit.Itcannotbeanalyzed,itcannotbebrokenintofragments.Itisnotamechanism;youcannotbreakit,takethepiecesapartandputthemtogetheragain.No,itisanorganicunity.Ifyouanalyzeit,itisnolongerthere,andyoucanneverputitbacktogetheragain.Itisimpossible.Sannyasisaliveforce–organic,justlikeaower.Analyzetheower,takeeachpetalaway,breakit,lookinsideit,besatisedthatyouhaveinquired,thentrytoputitbacktogether.Bythattime,theowerisgone,thepetalsaredeadandtheycanneverbeputbackagaininthesameway,becauseitwasanorganicunity,itwasnotamechanism.Sannyasisaowering,aoweringofhumanconsciousness–justasowerscomingonatreeshowthetreehascometoacompletionandsoonerorlater,fruitswillfollow.Flowersarejustindicationsthatthetreeisreadytogivefruits.Thetreeisready,itisfullled.Flowersarejusttheecstasyofthetreebeforeitstartsgivingfruit,becausefruitmeansthefulllment.Thetreehascometoitspeak,itsclimax;ithasachievedthecrescendoofitsbeing.Itishappy,itenjoysit–itslifehasnotbeenfutilenowfruitsaregoingtocome.Thetreeisecstaticandgivesowers.Sannyasisaowering,andMOKSHAisthefruit.Sannyasmeansnowyourinnerbeing,yourinnertree,hascometoapointwherethejump,wheretheexplosionisgoingtohappen.Beforeithappens,thewholebeingenjoysit.Youarefullled.Ithasnotbeenawaste.Many,manylivesyouwaited–andithascomenow.Solongawaiting,somuchpatience...butithasbeenmeaningful.Nowyouhaveachieved,youhavereached.Thewholebeingowers.Hindushavechosenred,orange,ochre,asthecolorofsannyasbecauseofowers.Greenandredarethebasiccolorsinnature.Greenisthetree,redistheower.Yourbeinghascometoaowering.Soonthefruitswillfollow.Soontheseedswillbecoming.Takethisoweringwithyou.Itisgoodthatyouthinkhowtosharewithlovedones,withfriends,withwifeandhusband,withthefamily:howtoshareit?Itisbeautiful,itisgood.Itisvirtuoustothinkofsharingsuchabeautiful MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds154 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING thing,butyoucanshareonlyifithashappenedtoyou.Ifyouhavebeenonlylisteningtome,thinkingaboutowersandyouhavenotowered,youcannotshare.Ifyoutakemywords,theywillnotberealowers,becausewordscannotbereal–theywillbeplasticowers.Youcancarrythem,youcangivethemtoyourfriends,buttherewillbenofragranceinthem.TheywillnotsaywhatIhavebeensayingtoyou,theywillnotconveyanything.Therewillbenocommunicationthroughthem.Soifyouwanttosharesannyas,meditation,bemeditative,becomemoreandmoredeeplyinvolvedinthiswayoflife.Desireless,stillenjoyeverydesirewhenitcomes.Whateverhappens,keepenjoyingitasagift,asagrace,butneveraskingforit,neverdemandingit,neverplanningforit,neverthinkingaboutit.Livetotally,andnotthroughthought.Thoughtisthecorruptingforce.Itcorruptseverythingandcorruptsabsolutely,becausethoughtiscunning–itiscunningnesspersonied.Themoreyouthink,themoreyouwillbecomecunning.Youwillthinkitiscleverness,youwillthinkitisintelligence.Itisnot,becauseifthereisintelligence,thenthoughtisnotneeded.Intelligenceisenough;thoughtisnotneeded.Youneedthoughtbecauseintelligenceisnotthere.Ifintelligenceisthere,thenyourespondmoment-to-moment.Youneednotthinkaboutwhatyoushoulddonext,becausewhenthenextmomentcomes,intelligencewillbethereandyouwillrespond.Amirrorneverthinks:Whenanothermancomesinfrontofme,whatamIgoingtodo?Thereisnoneed!Themirroristhere,soitmirrors.Ifintelligenceisthereyouneverthinkaboutthenextproblem,becausewhentheproblemisthere–theintelligencewillrespond.Youcanrelyonit.Becausewedon'thaveintelligence,wethinkaboutit.Thinkingisasubstitute.Greaterintelligence–lessthinking.Whenintelligenceisperfect–nothinking.Abuddhaneverthinks–thereisnoneed!Whatsoeverlifebringsbeforehim,heresponds.Youthinkbecauseyoucannotrelyonyourintelligence,soyouhavetoplanbeforehand.Whenthemomentcomes,thenyouwillfollowtheblueprintthatyoupreparedinthepast.Whattypeoflivingisthis?Youliveoutofthepast!That'swhysomanyerrorsareunnecessarilycommitted,andeverythinggoesstaleanddead–becauseyoualwaysactoutofthepast.Lifegoeson,neweverymoment,riverlike,changing.Thechangeneverstops,butyouhavestoppedinthepast.Youcarryablueprint.Wheneverlifegivesyouaproblem,youlookinyourmemory,theblueprint,theplanning–andthenyouactoutofit.Youhavemissed.Lifeisalwaysnew.Blueprintsarealwaysold.Lifeisjustlikebirdsyinginthesky.Theyneverleaveanymark,thereisnopath.Whentheyhaveown,theskyisasvacantasitwasbefore.Itisnotlikeearthwherepeoplewalk,andthroughtheirwalking,throughtheirfootprints,pathsarecreated.Lifeislikethesky–nopathsarecreated.Asannyasinislikeabirdyinginthesky,followingnofootprints,followingnopaths,becausenopathsexist.Hemoves,moment-to-momentthroughhispresentintelligence,notthroughhispastmemory. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds155 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Look!Wehavedonesomethingquitethecontrary–wehavemadeeverythingaplanning.Evenahusbandcomingbackfromhisofce,fromhiswork,thinkshowhehastomeethiswife;heplansinside,talkswithhimself.Hewillsaythis,hewilltouchherhandthisway,hewillgiveheralongkiss–orsomething.Whatistheneedtoplanit?Don'tyouhaveanylove?Ifloveisnot,thenplanningisneeded,becauseyoucannotrelyonyourself,youmaycompletelyforget.Ifyouhavenotplanneditbeforehand,youmayreachhomeandyoumaycompletelyforgetthatyourwifehasbeenwaitingthewholeday–preparingfoodforyou,washingyourclothes,justsurroundedbyyou,byyourlove.Shehasbeenwaitingandwaitingandwaiting,andgettingimpatient.Andnowyouhavecome,andyoudon'tevenlookather.YousitinyourchairandyoustartreadingyourpaperoryouputonyourradioorTV,asifthewifedoesnotexist.Youareafraidofthis,youcan'tdothis,soyouplan.Youmakeitapointtoremember.Youhavetoremindyourselfhowtobehavewithyourwife,withyourbeloved.Whattypeofloveisthiswhichcannotrespondwithoutplanning?Ifloveisthere,therewillbenothinkingaboutit.Thesameistrueaboutintelligence.Ifintelligenceisthere,therewillbenothinkingaboutit.Thinkingisasubstitute.Thoughtisverycleverandcunning.Itcancreatetheillusionofthereal–thatisthecleverness.Youcansmilewithoutsmiling.Asmilecomestoyourlips,butitisonlyonthelips,justapaintedsmile,notrelatedtoyouatall.Thereisnobridge.Itisnotbubblingfromthecenterofyourbeing.Ithasnotcomefromyou;youhavejustputiton,itisamask.Thoughtcandothatandthenbyandbyyougoonbecomingmoreandmorefalse.Cunningnessmeanscreatingapseudo-lifearoundyourself.Asannyasinisreal.Ifhesmiles,hissmilecomesfromhisbeing.Ifheisangry,angercomesfromhisbeing.Ifheloves,helovesfromhisbeing.Heisnotpseudo,heisnotaphoney.Heisrealandauthentic.Youcanrelyonhim.Ifheloves,heloves.Ifheisafriend,heisafriend.Ifheisnot,youcanrelyonhim–heisnot.Butheisnotdeceptive.ThisiswhatImeanbyareallyvirtuousman–authentic,reliable.Whatsoeveris,isREALLYthere.Hewearsnomasks;heusesnofalsefaces.Heliveswiththereal.Andremember:youcancometotherealonlyifyouarereal.Ifyouarefalse,youcannevercometothereal.Ifyouareunreal,thentheworldthatyouseeisgoingtobeunreal,becausetheunrealcanbeconnectedonlywiththeunreal.Youareunreal.That'swhytheworldisillusory,amaya.IfyouAREreal,theworlddisappears:itbecomesdivine,itbecomesreal.Thewordmayaisbeautiful.Itmeansthatwhichcanbemeasured.Mayameansthatwhichcanbemeasured.Mindisthemeasuringphenomenon.Mindgoesonmeasuringthings,mappingout,analyzing.Mindtriestomeasureeverything.That'swhyHindushavecalledtheworldmayathatwhichcanbemeasuredbythemind.Whatisyourscience?Nothingbutmeasuring.HinduscallscienceAVIDYA.Theycallitnotknowledgebutanti-knowledge;itisnotrealknowing,becausethatwhichisrealcannotbemeasured.Itisimmeasurable,itisinnite.Ithasnobeginningandnoend.Therealisimmeasurable;theunrealismeasurable.Andwithmeasurecomereason,logic;withtheimmeasurable,logicdrops,reasondrops.Mindisverycleverandcunning,ithascreatedtheworldofillusion. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds156 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Thenwhatisasannyasin?Heisnotamind;onthecontrary,heisinnocence.Heisinnocent,likeachildjustborn–withnopast,withnoideaofthefuture.Asannyasin,everymoment,isachildjustborn.Thisistheprocess:everymomenthediestothepast.Whatsoeverhaspassed,hethrowsitaway,herenouncesit,becauseitisadeadthing,dust;noneedtocarryit.Hecleanseshimself;hismirrorbecomesagainfresh.Hegoesoncleansingthemirror.ThiscleansingIcallmeditation.Peopleaskme:Whenwillwebeabletodropmeditation?Youwillnotbeabletodropit.Itwilldroponedaywhenyouarenot,butyouwillnotbeabletodropit,becauseyouwillneedcleansing.Youbecomecontinuouslydirty;everymomentthedirtgathers–it'sthenatureoflife.Everymomentyouneedabath,acleansing.Whenyouarenotthere,thennothing,thereisnoproblembecausethereisnoonewhocangetdirty.Butyouarethere,someditationhastobecontinued.Itisanefforttoremaininnocent.Look!Ifyouareinnocent,thereisnothingyouarelacking.Ifyoucanlookwithinnocenteyestowardsthesky,youbecomethesky.Withmindyoustartmeasuring.Yousay:Thisisbeautifulornotbeautiful,ortoday'sskyisclouded,ortomorrow'sskywillbebetter,oryesterday'sskywasmorebeautiful.Youstartmeasuring.Butifyouareinnocent,notamind,butjustabeinglookingatthesky,thereisnothingtosay,nothingtothink.Theskyisthere,andyouarealsolikeasky:theinnerandtheoutermeet.Boththespacesbecomeoneandthereisnoboundary.Theobserverbecomestheobserved.That'swhatKrishnamurtigoesonsaying:theobserverbecomestheobserved.Theouterandtheinnerlosetheirboundaries,becomeone.Ifyoulookatatreewithinnocence,withnomindmeasuring,whathappens?Therearenottwo,thetreeandyou.Somehow,thetreehasenteredyouandyouhaveenteredthetree.Onlythendoyoucometoknowwhatatreeis.Youlookatthestars,youlookatariver,youlookatalineofbirdsyingagainstthebluesky....Boundariesgoonmerging.Alldifferentiationislost,alldistinctionislost.Unityarises.Itisnotaunityputbythought.Itisnotaunityofphilosophers.Itisatotallydifferentunity.Youdon'tthinkthatitisone,yousuddenlyknowthatitisone.Youdon'tsayinsideyourmind:ThisisonebecausetheUpanishadshavesaidso,becausetheVedashavesaidso.Itisone.IftheVedasareinyourmindandtheUpanishads,youarenotinnocent,youarecunning.Measurementiscontinuing.Youaremeasuring,applyingmindandthought,comparing.Youarecleverandcunning,youarenotintelligent,andhowsoevercleveryouare,aclevermindismediocre.Intelligenceisneeded.Achildisbornintelligent,notclever.Helooksattheworldwithcleareyes;hisperceptionisabsolutelyclear,unclouded.WhenIsayinnocenceissannyas,Imeanyourperceptionshouldbeclear,withnothoughtstobecomebarriers.Youshouldlook.Youshouldbecomealook.Youshouldobserve,butthereshouldbenoobserverbehindyoumanipulating.Thisinnocenceispossibleandonlythisinnocencegoesbeyondtimeandspace.Onlythisinnocencereachestotheultimate,tomoksha,theabsolutefreedom. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds157 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Becomeasannyasin–aninnocentone,reborn,cleansing,movingmoment-to-momentintotheunknown.Thenyouwillbeabletoshare.Thewholeprocessofhumaneducation,culture,conditioning,isjusttheopposite:itteachesyouhowtobecunningandclever.Itteachesyouthemind,itneverteachesyoutheinnocence.Itteachesyouautomatization.Thiswordhastoberemembered,itmakesyoumoreandmoreautomatic,becauseifyouaremoreandmoreautomatic,youaremoreefcient.Youlearndriving:inthebeginningitisdifcult.Thedifcultyisnotinthedrivingorinthecarorinanythingelse–thedifcultyisinyou,becauseyouhavetobealert.Inthebeginningyouhavetobealert;thedangeristhere.Youhavetobecontinuouslyconsciousofwhatyouaredoing.Youhavetobealerttothetrafc,tothepeoplepassing,tothemechanism;youhavetobealerttotheclutch,tothegear,tothewheel–andeverything.Youhavetobealerttosomanythingsthatyourmindcannotcontinueitsroutineinnerchattering.Ithastobealert.Thatcreatesthetrouble.Lateron,afterafewdays,youbecomeautomatic.Nowthehandgoesonworking,thelegsgoonworking,thecarandyouhavebecomeonemechanism,andyourmindcancontinueitsinnerchattering.Thereisnoproblem,yourmindisnotneeded.ThisiswhatImeanbyautomatic.Nowyourbodyisamechanism;itfunctions.Youwillbeneededonlyincertainrarecases.Ifthereisgoingtobeanaccident,suddenlyyouwillbeneeded.Thenyourthinkingprocesswillhavetostop.Suddenlytherewillbeashock,yourwholebodymechanismwillshiver,andyouwillhavetobethere,youwillhavetobealert.Buttheseareraremoments.Otherwiseyoucancontinue:youcansmoke,youcansing,youcaneventalkwithsomebody,youcanlistentotheradiooryoucancontinueyourinnertalk,theinnerdialogue–thereisnoneedtobethere.Youhavebecomeautomatic.Butthisismoreefcient,becauseifyouneedtobecontinuouslyaware,youcannotbeveryefcient,youcannotgoveryfast–becauseyoudon'tknowhowtobeaware.Becauseofthisfactor,becausepeoplearenotaware,theyliveunconsciouslives.Societyhaslearnedatrick:makeeverybodymoreandmoreautomatic.Thewholeofschoolingisnothingbutmakingyouautomatic.Language,mathematics–everythingbecomesautomatic.Youcandoitwithoutbeingworriedaboutit.Itbecomesmechanical.WhenIsaybecomeinnocent,itmeansade-automatization.Itmeans:whatsoeveryoudo,dofullyconscious.Ifyouaredrivingacar,thendriveonly–becomedriving;don'tdoanythingelse,don'tcontinuetheinnertalk.Justbecomesodeeplyinvolvedandalertthatthereisnodriver–onlydriving,fullyconscious.Itwillbedifcult–that'swhysocietieshavenotbotheredaboutit.Onlyindividualscanpassthroughsuchanarduouspath.Doeverythingconsciously;byandby,yourbody-automatismwilldissolve,youwillbecomede-automatized.Theninnocencewillower.Achildisinnocentbecausenothingisautomaticyet.Hehasnotlearnedanything,heisnotconditionedyet.Soonerorlaterwewillconditionhim.Hewilllearnthings,thenmoreandmoremindwillbethereandlessandlesshehimself.Lessandlessbeingandmoreandmoremindwillbethere.Thenhewillbecomejustanautomaton,amechanism–efcient,workingwell,servingthesociety,butdead. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds158 Osho CHAPTER15.SHARETHROUGHYOURBEING Serve,helpthesocietywork,butdon'tbecomeautomatic.Asyouhavealreadybecomeautomatic,de-automatizeyourself.Byandby,bringmoreandmoreconsciousness.Whatsoeveryouaredoing,bringmoreconsciousness,becausewhatsoeveryouaredoing,ifyouarelessconsciousitbecomesautomatic.Thatisthewayofautomatization,beinglessandlessconscious,doingthingslikeamechanism.Moreandmoreconsciousdoing,notlikeamechanism,butapresence,theninnocencewillowerinyou.andthatinnocenceisthegreatestthingthatcanhappentoahumanbeing.Innocent,youaredivine.Innocent,youhavebecomegods. MyWay:TheWayoftheWhiteClouds159 Osho