Jinsutra Lecture 52 Chah Pathik Aur Chah Leshyaye - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho Rajnish's "Jinsutra Lecture 52: Chah Pathik aur Chah Leshyaye," drawing from the provided text:

Core Concept: The Six Lessions and the Six Travelers

The lecture expounds upon the Jain concept of leshyas, which are the mental states or "colorations" of the soul, and uses a story of six travelers to illustrate these states. Osho emphasizes that these leshyas are not merely abstract philosophical concepts but directly observable aspects of our inner and outer reality, now even scientifically validated.

The Six Lessions: A Spectrum of Consciousness

Osho introduces the six leshyas as described in Jainism:

Krishna (Black): The darkest, most negative state, characterized by intense ignorance, delusion, and darkness. The soul is completely obscured, unaware of itself or others. This is the state of living in "new moon darkness."
Neel (Blue): Still a dark state, but with a hint of blue, like the sky at dusk. There is still significant delusion, but a slight awareness might be present.
Kapoth (Pigeon-colored): A state associated with the color of a pigeon or the sky. It represents a middle ground, with some awareness but still limitations.
Tejo (Fiery/Yellow): The first "religious" or auspicious leshya, signifying the beginning of a fiery inner transformation, a spark of awakening.
Padma (Lotus/Pink): A state of increasing purity and spiritual development, like a lotus bloom.
Shukla (White): The purest, most luminous state, representing full enlightenment, like a full moon.

The Six Travelers and Their Choices: A Metaphor for Lessions

The story of the six travelers lost in a forest and encountering a fruit-laden tree serves as a powerful metaphor for the different leshyas:

First Traveler (Krishna): Wants to uproot the entire tree to eat the fruits. This represents an extreme, destructive, and ignorant approach driven by immediate gratification without regard for the consequences or the existence of others.
Second Traveler (Neel): Wants to cut down the main trunk (skandh). Still destructive, but slightly less so than the first.
Third Traveler (Kapoth): Wants to break off a branch. Less destructive, but still a forceful and incomplete approach.
Fourth Traveler (Tejo): Wants to break off a smaller twig (up-shakha). This signifies a more refined, but still not ideal, approach.
Fifth Traveler (Padma): Wants to pluck the fruits directly. This is a much more appropriate approach, focused on what is needed without harming the tree unnecessarily.
Sixth Traveler (Shukla): Decides to wait for the ripe fruits to fall naturally. This represents the highest state of patience, non-violence, and trust in the natural order.

Osho emphasizes that the thoughts, words, and actions of these travelers correspond directly to the six leshyas. The more they think of harming the tree, the darker their leshya. The more they align with natural processes, the brighter their leshya.

The Lessions as Veils of Consciousness

Osho describes the leshyas as "veils" that obscure the true nature of the soul. Krishna leshya is the thickest, darkest veil, completely hiding the soul. As one progresses through the leshyas towards Shukla, these veils lift, revealing more of the inner light. Even Shukla leshya, while pure, is still a veil of "color" or "subtlety," and the ultimate goal is to go beyond all color, beyond even white, to a state of pure formlessness and being.

The "Dark Night of the Soul" and the Process of Purification

The journey through the leshyas is presented as a process of purification. The darker leshyas (Krishna, Neel, Kapoth) lead to unfavorable rebirths (dur gati), while the brighter ones (Tejo, Padma, Shukla) lead to favorable rebirths (su gati). However, Osho stresses that these consequences are not necessarily in the distant future but occur instantaneously. When one acts out of anger or greed (Krishna leshya), they are immediately in a state of dur gati. Conversely, acting with compassion and detachment brings a state of su gati.

Osho highlights the scientific validation of this concept through Kirlian photography, which shows an aura around the body corresponding to one's inner state. Negative emotions like anger and greed create a dark halo, while positive emotions create a brighter one.

Key Themes and Insights:

Immediacy of Karma: The consequences of leshyas are immediate. You are already in dur gati when you think a harmful thought, not just when the action manifests externally.
Self-Responsibility: One cannot hide their inner state. The veils are self-created, and only by actively dissolving them can one experience true liberation.
The Nature of Desire: The story of the travelers illustrates the problem of excessive desire and the destructive tendencies it fosters. The sixth traveler, embodying detachment and patience, finds the most fulfilling solution.
Beyond Dharma: While the first three leshyas are considered "adharma" (unrighteous) and the last three "dharma" (righteous), Osho points out that even the righteous states are still subtle forms of conditioning. The ultimate goal is to transcend all leshyas, all colors, and all forms, reaching a state of pure, unconditioned being.
The Inner World: The lecture encourages introspection, urging listeners to observe their own leshyas in their daily thoughts, words, and actions.
The Nature of "Being": Osho distinguishes between merely "existing" (breathing, functioning) and "being alive" (experiencing joy, dance, celebration). The darker leshyas lead to a state of mere existence, while the brighter ones lead to vibrant life.
The Importance of Non-Attachment: The stories of Mulla Nasruddin and the lily flowers highlight the power of non-attachment. When one lives without demanding or clinging, needs are naturally met, and true joy is experienced.
The Illusion of Separation: The interconnectedness of all beings, including plants and animals, is emphasized. Harming one part of existence harms the whole, and by extension, oneself.
The "True Self": The ultimate aim is to shed all veils and discover the true, unconditioned self, which is described as pure, eternal, and inherently joyful. This is the state of "Namelessness" or "No-mind."

In essence, Osho's lecture provides a profound and practical framework for understanding the subtle workings of the mind and consciousness, guiding listeners towards self-awareness and the shedding of negative mental states to reveal the inherent divinity within. The six leshyas are presented as a path, and the ultimate goal is to transcend this path to reach a state of pure, unadulterated being.