Jinsutra Lecture 20 Palkan Pag Ponchu Aaj Piya Ke

Here is a summary of Osho's lecture "Jinsutra Lecture 20: Palkan Pag Ponchu Aaj Piya ke" (Twenty-first Discourse: Today I shall wipe the feet of my Beloved), based on the provided text:

This lecture addresses a question from a listener who experiences lethargy and sadness after hearing about detachment and renunciation but feels uplifted and joyful when the discussion turns to love and devotion. The listener feels paralyzed, attacked by good and bad thoughts, and fears their own helplessness. They also question why Osho repeatedly emphasizes love, especially when discussing concepts like Mahavir's ahimsa or Buddha's Shunyata, and ask for guidance on what meditation to practice, noting that knowledge can sometimes lead to ego.

Osho's central message is that joy is the ultimate criterion for truth and the right path. He advises the listener to forget imposing their own definitions of what is right onto others, as this is where violence begins. Instead, they should follow what genuinely brings them joy and bliss. He emphasizes that true happiness is not about escaping pleasure but about experiencing it fully, even if it initially seems like a mirage. True pleasure, when experienced, reveals itself, and if it's false, it will not last.

Key themes and advice from the lecture include:

• The Supremacy of Joy (Ananda): Osho defines Brahman as "Sachidananda" (existence, consciousness, bliss). He asserts that joy is the only reliable compass. If something leads to joy, it is the right direction. Doubt joy, and you will lose your way. Even if a joy seems false, experience it, for it will reveal its true nature.
• Individuality and Personal Truth: Osho stresses that what is "right" is personal and relative to each individual. He uses the analogy of different plants needing different soil to illustrate that a spiritual path that works for one person might not work for another. Mahavir's or Buddha's words are their truth, not necessarily yours. One must listen to their own heart.
• The Nature of Truth and Experience: Truth is not a universal decree but an individual experience. Osho explains that all teachings are "auto-biographical" – the experiences of the speaker. He clarifies that he is not necessarily interpreting Mahavir but sharing his own understanding through Mahavir's words.
• The Trap of Following Others Blindly: Many accept teachings simply because others do. This can lead to denying one's own inner voice, which Osho calls the "voice of the soul." This disconnect results in suffering.
• Embracing Your Own Path: If discussions on detachment bring sadness, one should leave them. It doesn't mean those teachings are wrong, but they are not for you. Similarly, if love and celebration bring joy, follow that path.
• The Role of Suffering in Growth: Osho acknowledges that the inner journey can be disorienting. The emptiness or stillness within can feel overwhelming, and the mind may try to fill it with thoughts. This is a natural process. He advises accepting this emptiness and the thoughts that arise without resistance. This phase of "helplessness" is necessary for the birth of inner strength.
• The Illusion of Solitude: When one turns inward, they find themselves truly alone. This is a private experience, even more so than relationships with loved ones. This realization can be frightening initially.
• The Danger of Habituation, Even to Suffering: People often cling to familiar patterns, even suffering, because it's known. They fear the unknown of letting go.
• The Nature of "Madness" and "Sanity": The initial stages of inner exploration can feel like madness, with emptiness within and chaotic thoughts without. Osho suggests embracing this "madness" and finding joy in the emptiness. This experience of inner "madness" is preferable to external "sanity" if it leads to greater joy and authenticity.
• The True Meaning of Ahimsa (Non-violence): Osho argues that ahimsa is not merely about not harming others but is rooted in love. If love is absent, ahimsa becomes a dry, lifeless concept, leading to inner violence. True ahimsa arises from a deep wellspring of love, where one's joy is found in the happiness of others.
• Love as the Essence of Religion: Osho emphasizes that love is the essence of all religions. When love is separated from religion, it becomes a dead ritual. He advocates for love in all its forms, even the seemingly "lower" forms, as a path to liberation.
• Surrender and Devotion (Bhakti): For those who find joy in surrender, Osho advises deepening that experience rather than seeking external meditation techniques. Tears of joy are a sign of spiritual progress, not a reason to stop. The act of waiting for the divine, even in the absence of the beloved, is a form of preparation.
• The "Bowls" (Bavle) Tradition: He mentions the "Bavle" mystics of Bengal, who embrace a state of divine "madness" and joy, finding it more valuable than conventional sanity.
• Embracing the Unknown: Osho encourages choosing the unfamiliar path in life, as it leads to new revelations and the discovery of truth.
• The Danger of Imitation: Following others blindly is self-destruction. True growth comes from finding one's own truth.

In essence, Osho guides the listener to trust their inner experience of joy and to follow that feeling as their true path. He emphasizes self-reliance, personal experience, and the transformative power of love and surrender, urging them to let go of fear and embrace the unknown for spiritual growth.