Jinsutra Lecture 40 Prem Ki Aakhiri Vistar Ahimsa

This is a comprehensive summary of Osho's lecture series "Jinsutra Lecture 40: Prem ki Aakhiri Vistar Ahimsa" (The Last Expansion of Love: Non-violence), based on Jain scriptures. The lecture focuses on understanding the profound essence of Ahimsa (non-violence) as taught by Mahavir.

Core Theme: Ahimsa is the Heart of Everything, and its True Essence is Love.

Osho begins by explaining the first sutra, which states that Ahimsa is the heart of all living beings, the essence of all scriptures, and the core of all virtues. He emphasizes that Ahimsa is not merely about external actions but an internal state of being.

Ahimsa as Creative Energy:

• Dual Nature of Energy: Osho draws a parallel between the cosmic churning of the ocean (Sagar Manthan) which yielded both poison and nectar. Similarly, human energy can be either destructive (poison) or creative (nectar). The choice depends on our consciousness.
• Creativity is Ahimsa: Mahavir's entire teaching is about the art of being creative. When energy is channeled into creation – building, nurturing, creating beauty (singing, painting, composing) – it becomes Ahimsa.
• Destruction as a Manifestation of Suppressed Creativity: Conversely, when creative energy is blocked, it turns destructive. The example of Adolf Hitler is used – his desire to be a painter (creative) turned into immense destruction when he faced rejection. This highlights that suppressed creative aspirations can lead to violence.
• The Paradox of Amrit and Vish: Osho suggests that in life, "nectar" is a distorted form of "poison," and "poison" is a refined form of "nectar." The same words and sounds can become a song or an abuse, depending on the creative intent.

Beyond Rituals and Rules: The True Meaning of Ahimsa

• Critique of Superficial Adherence: Osho criticizes the common understanding of Jain practices like filtering water, not eating at night, or abstaining from meat as the sole definition of Ahimsa. He argues these are peripheral, secondary aspects. True Ahimsa is not achieved by these actions alone.
• Ahimsa Springs from Inner Transformation: Ahimsa is not about abstaining from actions but about transforming the inner attitude. If one is not creative and lacks inner joy, even abstaining from meat won't end violence. Violence will find new avenues.
• The Danger of Suppression: Suppressing anger or desires doesn't lead to Ahimsa. If creative energy isn't expressed positively, it will erupt destructively. The analogy of a blocked river becoming a destructive flood is used.
• The Essence is Letting Go of the Desire to Destroy: Ahimsa is defined as rising above any destructive impulse, releasing the urge to break things. It's about developing a love for building and creation. If destruction is necessary, it should be for the purpose of greater creation (e.g., demolishing an old building to construct a new one).

Love as the Foundation of Ahimsa:

• Ahimsa is Love: Osho boldly states that if we remove the word "Ahimsa" from Jain scriptures and replace it with "Love," the meaning remains the same. Ahimsa is not the opposite of violence; it is the opposite of attachment (raag).
• Love is Creative and Unattached: True love is creative and does not bind. It flows freely, like a river or the wind. When love becomes stagnant and attached to one person or object, it turns into attachment (raag), which is the opposite of Ahimsa.
• The Ultimate Expansion of Love is Ahimsa: Ahimsa is achieved when love expands to encompass all beings and all existence, leaving no room for possessiveness or prejudice.

The Concept of Parigraha (Possessiveness) and Murcha (Infatuation/Delusion):

• Murcha is True Parigraha: Osho delves into the second sutra, explaining that Mahavir redefined "possessiveness" (Parigraha) not as the accumulation of possessions but as "infatuation" or "delusion" (Murcha).
• Attachment to Objects is the Root of Suffering: It's not the things themselves, but our deep attachment and identification with them ("mine") that constitutes Murcha and leads to suffering.
• Breaking the Illusion: The core task is to break this infatuation, not just to abandon objects. Renouncing possessions without releasing the underlying attachment is futile, like a beggar giving away his begging bowl but still clinging to the idea of begging.
• The Cycle of Desire: The mind, even in dreams, continues to seek. If the root of desire (Murcha) is not addressed, one dream may end, but another will begin.

The Importance of Viveka (Discernment/Consciousness) and Yatna (Effort/Carefulness):

• The True Path is Awakening: Osho stresses that running away from life (e.g., to mountains) or suppressing desires does not lead to liberation. The key is "awakening" (Jago) and living with awareness.
• Viveka and Yatna are the Tools: Viveka (discernment) and Yatna (careful effort) are the means to achieve Ahimsa. Living with full awareness in every action – walking, sitting, eating, speaking – prevents the bondage of karma.
• Action from Awareness is Virtue: Any action performed with awareness (Viveka) is virtue (punya). Any action that cannot be done with awareness is sin (paap).
• The Nature of Karma: Osho explains that karma is created by our intentions and our state of consciousness, not just the external action. Killing an insect accidentally while walking with awareness is different from intentionally thinking about killing someone.
• The Danger of Suppression vs. Integration: Suppressing desires (like lust) does not eliminate them; it only makes them more potent and pervasive. True liberation comes from understanding and integrating these energies.

Critique of Superficial Religious Practices:

• The Flaw of Externalism: Osho criticizes religious groups that focus on rigid rules and external observances without addressing the inner transformation. He uses the example of the Swaminarayan sect's emphasis on strict celibacy, contrasting it with Mahavir's emphasis on naturalness and inner freedom.
• The Illusion of Renunciation: He points out that many ascetics, while renouncing the world, are still trapped by their attachments and desires, often experiencing envy towards those who are enjoying worldly pleasures.

The True Struggle is Within:

• The Inner Battlefield: The concept of "Kurushetra" (the battlefield in the Bhagavad Gita) is interpreted as the inner realm. The real war is against our own negative tendencies, anger, greed, and unconsciousness.
• Fighting the Inner Enemy: Osho urges people to fight their internal battles, not external ones. The real enemies are within us.
• The Light of Mahavir: The lecture concludes by advocating for the illumination of our lives with the light of Mahavir's teachings – Ahimsa and Love, fueled by Viveka and Yatna.

In essence, Osho's lecture guides the audience to understand Ahimsa not as a set of prohibitions but as a state of being characterized by love, creativity, awareness, and freedom from inner attachment and destructive impulses. The true path to Ahimsa lies in awakening to our inner nature and transforming our consciousness.