Jinsutra Lecture 19 Dharm Ki Mul Bhitti Abhay - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho's lecture series "Jinsutra Lecture 19: Dharm ki Mul Bhitti Abhay" (The Foundation of Dharma: Fearlessness), based on the provided Jain text:

Core Theme: Fearlessness (Abhay) as the Foundation of Dharma

Osho's lecture, drawing from Jain scriptures and the teachings of Mahavira, emphasizes that true Dharma (righteousness/spiritual path) is fundamentally built upon fearlessness (Abhay). He contrasts this with a superficial religiosity born out of fear.

The Fleeting Nature of Life and the Urgency to Awaken:

Life is Short: Osho highlights the extreme brevity of life, situated between birth and death. He warns against wasting this precious time in slumber or ignorance, which leads to an unfulfilled existence devoid of self-discovery.
The Need for Courage: To truly awaken and seek the eternal, one needs immense courage – a "gambler's heart" that dares to stake everything. Mere cleverness or meticulous accounting of small gains (like saving every penny) will lead to the loss of the entire treasure of life.
The Illusion of Awakening: Many dream of awakening but remain asleep, mistaking dreams for reality. True awakening requires a fervent resolution and a willingness to risk everything.

Fear-Based Religiosity vs. True Dharma:

Religiosity of Fear: Osho describes a common form of religiosity driven by fear – fear of punishment, fear of hell, fear of being caught for wrongdoing. While such individuals may refrain from outward transgressions, their hearts harbor deceit, and this "honesty" is merely superficial.
Better to be Fearless than Fearful: He argues that it's better to be openly irreligious than religiously fearful, as the latter breeds inner hypocrisy.
The True Foundation: Mahavira declared fearlessness (Abhay) as the fundamental pillar of Dharma. This is because the spiritual path involves letting go of the visible world and seeking the unseen, the mysterious – a quest that is impossible without courage.

The Nature of the Soul (Atman) and the Importance of Time:

Mahavira's Concept of Time: Mahavira gave the soul the name "Samay" (Time). This is a profound insight: to waste time is to waste the soul. to manage time is to manage the soul.
Space and Time as Fundamental: Osho draws a parallel with Einstein's understanding of space and time as the building blocks of existence. While objects occupy space, the soul exists and manifests within time.
Love as an Event, Not an Object: Love, for example, is not a tangible object but an event that happens in time. Its location is "when" rather than "where." This emphasizes the temporal nature of consciousness.

The Three Realms of Experience: Knowable, Knowledge, and Knower:

Osho introduces Mahavira's concept of existence being divided into three realms:

The Knowable (Gneya): These are the external, objective things we perceive and try to possess – wealth, status, physical objects. Those attached to the knowable are chasing the material world.
Knowledge (Gyan): This is the understanding that arises from the interaction between the knower and the knowable. It is the bridge between the self and the external world.
The Knower (Gyata): This is the pure consciousness, the seer, the witness, the "I" that experiences. This is the deepest reality, the soul itself.

The Essence of Jain Sadhana: Discovering the Knower:

Beyond the Knowable: Many are engrossed in the knowable, accumulating material possessions and status.
Beyond Knowledge: A more evolved seeker pursues knowledge – scientific, philosophical, artistic. However, Mahavira suggests this is still "outside."
The True Pursuit: The Knower: The ultimate spiritual seeker investigates: "Who is this knower?" This inquiry into the "I" behind all knowing is the essence of Dharma.
The Paradox of Self-Knowledge: Mahavira's central teaching is that the soul (Atman) is the Knower (Gyayak), not the Knowable (Gneya). You cannot "know" your soul as you know an object. If you could, you would be dissecting it and losing its essence. The soul is that which knows, not that which is known.
Beyond the Duality of Sleep and Wakefulness: The soul is neither asleep nor awake, as both are states of consciousness that the soul observes. The true self is the witness of these states.

The Problem of "Mine" (Mamta) and the Illusion of Identity:

The Root of Ignorance: The ultimate ignorance, according to Mahavira, is the assertion of "mine." Whether it's "my house," "my son," "my religion," or "my guru," any attachment to something external as "mine" is a manifestation of ignorance and ego.
The Illusion of Self: The "I" that we usually identify with is a construct built from our possessions, relationships, and beliefs – a rope tying us to the external world. This false "I" is not the true soul.
The Homelessness of the Truly Free: True spiritual seekers, like the Sufi mystic Osho describes, do not claim ownership even of a cave or a spot on the street. They understand that everything is transient, and true freedom lies in non-attachment.
The "Many Minds": Humans are not "one-minded" but "multi-minded." We are a collection of desires, thoughts, and impulses, each vying for control. The true self is the single, unchanging witness of these internal shifts.

The Path to Pure Consciousness: Detachment and Non-Identification:

Breaking the Chains: The key to spiritual liberation is to break free from the illusion of "mine" and the false identification with the external. This is achieved by observing the impermanence of all things and realizing that nothing truly belongs to us.
The Power of Renunciation: By letting go of attachment and ownership, one's ego naturally dissolves. This is not about forcefully renouncing but about a natural unfolding of understanding.
True Purity is Beyond Duality: Purity is not just about being "virtuous" or "good" but about transcending all dualities, including those of attachment and detachment, sleep and wakefulness, the knowable and the knower.
The "Wee-Raga" State: Mahavira's concept of "Wee-Raga" (beyond attachment and aversion) signifies a state where one is neither drawn to nor repelled by anything. It's a state of being unaffected.

The Practical Application: Living as the Witness:

Integrate the "Knower" Consciousness: Osho urges the listeners to consciously adopt the "knower" consciousness in every activity. When walking, remember you are the witness of the walking. When eating, remember you are the witness of the eating.
The Inner Melody: By constantly remembering the "knower" within, an inner melody of awareness will play throughout life, leading to a state of unity with the true self.
The True Temple is Within: The true temple is not an external structure but the inner sanctuary of the soul. By learning to manage time and enter this inner space (Samaayik), one can find true liberation and inner wealth.
Mahavira's Words as Experience: Mahavira's teachings are not mere philosophical statements but the direct experiences of a great seeker. To understand them, one must strive to live them.

In essence, Osho's lecture emphasizes that true Jain Dharma is an inward journey of courageously confronting the illusion of self and the impermanence of existence, leading to the discovery of the eternal, fearless, and pure "Knower" within.