Mahavir Vani Lecture 03 Sharnagati Dharm Ka Mul Aadhar

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho Rajnish's "Mahavir Vani Lecture 03: Sharnagati Dharm ka Mul Aadhar" (Surrender is the Foundation of Dharma), based on the provided text:

The lecture, drawing from Jain scripture, explores the fundamental concept of Sharnagati (Surrender) as the cornerstone of Dharma. Osho contrasts the approach to surrender in different spiritual traditions, highlighting the evolution of spiritual discourse and the challenges of achieving genuine surrender in the modern era.

Key Concepts and Comparisons:

• The Divine Command vs. The Seeker's Plea:

  • Osho contrasts Krishna's call in the Bhagavad Gita, "Sarva-dharmam parityajya, mamekasharanam vraja" (Abandon all dharmas and come to Me alone), with the approach of Buddha and Mahavir.
  • Krishna's statement, according to Osho, reflects an era of profound faith and simplicity. In such a time, a direct command from the divine was accepted without questioning.
  • However, by the time of Buddha and Mahavir, humanity's consciousness had shifted towards reason and logic. A direct command might be perceived as egoistic. Therefore, their approach had to originate from the seeker.

• Jain and Buddhist Approach to Surrender:

  • The core of Jain and Buddhist surrender lies in the seeker's initiative. The Jain mantra, "Arihante saranam पवज्जामि" (I take refuge in the Arihantas), "Siddhe saranam पवज्जामि" (I take refuge in the Siddhas), "Saahu saranam पवज्जामि" (I take refuge in the Sahu/monks), and "Kevalipannattam dhammam saranam पवज्जामि" (I take refuge in the Dharma spoken by the Kevalis), is presented as originating from the seeker.
  • Buddha's famous saying, "Buddham sharanam gacchami" (I go to the Buddha for refuge), "Sangham sharanam gacchami" (I go to the Sangha for refuge), and "Dhammam sharanam gacchami" (I go to the Dharma for refuge), also stems from the seeker.

• "Gachchhami" vs. "Pavvajami": The Stages of Surrender:

  • Osho draws a subtle but crucial distinction between "gachchhami" (I go) and "pavvajami" (I accept refuge).
  • "Gachchhami" represents the initial step, the beginning of a journey towards refuge. It implies a process, with the possibility of turning back or facing obstacles. The mind's logic and ego can still interfere.
  • "Pavvajami" signifies the final stage, the ultimate acceptance of refuge. It's described as a "point of no return," a total leap where the seeker has completely surrendered. This act involves the immediate rejection of the self.

• Surrender as the Death of Ego:

  • The core of surrender is the annihilation of the ego. Osho argues that any true spiritual growth begins with the dissolution of the ego.
  • In an era of faith, the divine might command surrender. In an era of doubt, the seeker must initiate it.
  • Mahavir remained silent, not even explicitly accepting the seeker. This silence, Osho suggests, was to prevent the ego from being re-established in the seeker, who might interpret Mahavir's acceptance as validation of their own importance.

• The Scientific Basis of Surrender (Lying Down):

  • Osho uses scientific examples to illustrate the profound impact of surrender, particularly through the physical act of lying down.
  • He references Dr. Lorenzo of Bulgaria, who found inspiration for his educational methods in the yogic Shavasana (Corpse Pose).
  • Shavasana is a state of complete physical relaxation and surrender. Osho explains that lying flat on the ground (like in sashtanga pranam) allows cosmic energies to enter the body effortlessly.
  • When we stand, our ego also stands erect. When we lie down, the ego relaxes, defenses drop, and resistance to the world diminishes.
  • Robert Pavlita's experiments with sick individuals, lying them down under a healthy cow or tree, demonstrate how surrendering the body to a force outside oneself can lead to rapid healing and rejuvenation.

• The Power of Inner and Outer Geometry:

  • Osho connects physical postures to inner transformation. Standing creates a 90-degree angle with the ground, signifying a certain internal geometry. Lying down makes one parallel to the earth, changing the internal configuration.
  • The pyramid shape is also discussed as having profound energetic properties. The ancient "fool's cap" worn by jesters, resembling a pyramid, is seen as a "wise-cap" that can alleviate headaches and mental disorders.
  • This highlights how outer shapes can influence inner states, and conversely, changing one's inner "geometry" through surrender can lead to profound transformation.

• Dmitri Dozonov and the Phenomenon of Levitation:

  • The example of Dmitri Dozonov, who levitated four feet off the ground for ten minutes, further illustrates the power of surrender.
  • Dmitri attributes his ability to an act of complete surrender to the divine, stating he doesn't rise by his own strength but by a higher power. He can only levitate when he forgets himself.
  • This suggests that when one lets go of the "I," the limitations of ordinary physics, like gravity, can be overcome.

• Mahavir's Health and the Loss of His Secret:

  • Osho marvels at Mahavir's extraordinary health and resilience, noting that he ate very little over twelve years, yet possessed an incredibly powerful body.
  • He suggests that Mahavir possessed a secret method for sustaining himself, perhaps related to a deeper understanding of Prana (life force), which is now lost.
  • He critiques the current understanding of upavasa (fasting) among some Jain monks as merely starving oneself, devoid of the scientific process Mahavir might have utilized.

• The Paradox of Self-Discovery:

  • Osho presents a paradox: to find oneself, one must lose oneself. Those who cling tightly to their ego eventually lose even themselves.
  • The journey of surrender involves shedding the self, not grasping it.

• The Nature of True Devotion:

  • True surrender is uncaused and unconditional. If surrender is motivated by a desire for miracles or personal gain (a "bargain"), it is not genuine surrender.
  • When miracles are the reason for surrender, it is merely a salutation to the miracle, not to the divine.
  • Osho emphasizes that genuine surrender can occur even before a divine being or a miracle. The willingness to surrender to a stone idol, if approached with the right inner attitude, can still open doors to the divine.

• The Danger of Intellectualizing and Finding Excuses:

  • The lecture warns against the human tendency to find logical excuses and rationalizations to avoid surrendering.
  • People often focus on the flaws in the "vessel" (the enlightened being) rather than the "light" (the divine truth) they represent. They dissect the imperfections of a lamp while ignoring the illumination it provides.
  • The desire to prove something intellectually or to find logical proof of the divine can become a barrier to surrender, turning the divine into a mere object.

• The Journey from the Individual to the Universal:

  • Buddha's path, as described by Osho, progresses from seeking refuge in the individual Buddha ("Buddham sharanam gacchami") to the collective Sangha ("Sangham sharanam gacchami") and finally to the formless Dharma ("Dhammam sharanam gacchami"). This signifies a movement from the personal to the impersonal, from the form to the formless.

Conclusion and Practice:

Osho concludes by emphasizing that surrender is the shedding of the ego, the opening of oneself to the infinite sources of energy and life. He encourages the listeners to practice the Jain mantra throughout the day and night, to cultivate the "inner geometry of surrender." Only by creating this inner disposition can one truly enter into Mahavir's teachings, a feat not achieved in the past 2500 years.

In essence, the lecture posits that surrender, understood as a deep, uncaused, and unconditional letting go of the self, is the most fundamental and transformative act in spiritual life, leading to a profound opening to life's ultimate energies and truths.