Mahavir Vani Lecture 15 Vinay Parinati Nirahankarita Ki

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho Rajnish's lecture "Mahavir Vani Lecture 15: Vinay Parinati Nirahankarita Ki," focusing on the concepts of humility (vinay) and egolessness (nirahankarita) as explained from a Jain perspective, particularly referencing Mahavir's teachings.

The lecture begins by quoting a Jain aphorism: "Dharma is the greatest auspiciousness. What dharma? The dharma of non-violence, restraint, and austerity. Even gods bow to the person whose mind is always absorbed in this dharma." This sets the stage for understanding true auspiciousness rooted in ethical conduct.

Osho explains that vinay (humility) is the second step after prayschit (atonement/repentance) in the journey of inner austerity. True vinay can only arise when one stops focusing on the faults of others. As long as we believe everyone else is wrong and only we are right, humility cannot develop. The ego feeds on finding faults in others. Trying to shed the ego while constantly looking at others' flaws is like trying to starve the ego while feeding it simultaneously – it's a contradiction. Mahavir's scientific sequence is crucial: repentance first, which stops feeding the ego.

The ego's addiction to fault-finding is explored in depth:

• Self-justification: We look for others' faults to make ourselves appear more blameless. The more others are perceived as wrong, the more innocent we seem. If others are seen as virtuous, we feel guilty. We paint others negatively to appear pure by comparison.
• Inherent pleasure in negativity: We don't question the evidence when someone speaks ill of another, readily accepting it. Conversely, when hearing praise, we demand proof and are inclined to disprove it. This is because the internal drive is to prove ourselves innocent, which is an unsuccessful attempt as innocence cannot be proven, only lived.
• The pleasure of criticism vs. praise: We readily believe criticism, even without proof, and relish amplifying negative stories. When compelled to praise, we do so reluctantly, and our satisfaction is short-lived, often leading us to criticize the same person later to "balance the scales."
• Blindness to one's own faults: We can see others' faults from miles away, but our own remain hidden even when they are close. The lecture uses humorous anecdotes of Mulla Nasruddin to illustrate this self-deception, where he blames others for his problems, even when he is clearly the source.

The limitations of the conventional understanding of humility:

• The common definition of vinay: Many traditions define vinay as respecting those who are superior to you (gurus, elders, etc.). Osho argues this is fundamentally flawed.
• The problem of comparison: If you can see someone as superior, you can also see someone as inferior. Comparison implies a scale with two ends. Respecting the "superior" necessitates disrespecting the "inferior." This creates an imbalance, and life naturally seeks equilibrium, making it impossible to truly be humble if you are constantly judging and ranking others.
• The illusion of respect: Respecting someone because they are "superior" is not a virtue; it's a compulsion. It doesn't transform you. True humility is a positive, internal quality, not a conditional response. Osho uses the example of appreciating a diamond versus a pebble; true appreciation comes when you see the same beauty in the pebble as in the diamond.

The meaning of genuine humility and egolessness (nirahankarita):

• Mahavir's emphasis on positive development: Mahavir didn't advocate for "nirahankar" (egolessness) directly, but for "vinay" (humility). Egolessness is negative; it's the denial of the ego. To deny the ego, you must first acknowledge its existence. True humility, however, is a positive state where the ego is naturally dissolved.
• The danger of negative approaches: Trying to be egoless can be a subtle form of ego. The ego might wear the cloak of egolessness and declare, "I have no ego." This hidden ego is more dangerous.
• Vinay as a spontaneous inner quality: True vinay arises when one begins to see one's own faults. This realization fosters compassion and understanding towards others' weaknesses. People who have committed certain "sins" might be more compassionate than those considered "virtuous" because they understand human frailty from personal experience.
• Unconditional respect: Vinay is not about respecting the "superior." It's about unconditional respect for life, for existence itself. It's honoring that something is, regardless of its form or perceived status – a stone, a flower, a thief, a saint. This is an inner quality that arises after self-repentance.
• The role of karma: Osho emphasizes the Jain principle of karma. Everyone acts according to their own karmic trajectory. Another person's actions are not directly responsible for our reactions. A person who appears to be the cause of our suffering is merely a nimitta (an instrument or occasion). The reaction (anger, pain, etc.) is stored within us due to our own past karma.
• The "well" analogy: Anger is like water in a well. Someone else's words or actions might be the bucket that draws it out, but the water (anger) is from the well (our own past karma). A truly humble person thanks the "bucket" for revealing their inner state.
• The criticism of external observances: Respecting elders, gurus, or saints simply because they are prescribed by tradition or society is not true vinay. This is merely a social game or a superficial adherence. It's like the superstition of wearing a mask to be considered humble or virtuous.
• True vinay is unconditional: It doesn't depend on the other person's actions or status. It's a respect for their being, their existence. Jesus's teaching to love one's enemies is interpreted in this light: respect their existence, not necessarily their actions. Schweitzer's concept of "reverence for life" is cited as a Western parallel.
• The consequence of true humility: When one stops connecting oneself to others' actions and understands the independent flow of karma, suffering ceases. Anger, which arises from egoic obstruction, disappears. The ego cannot stand firm when there is no perceived opposition or imbalance.
• The importance of "games" in life: While true vinay is an inner realization, social conventions and rituals can be seen as "games" that add color and meaning to life, especially for those who haven't attained that inner state. These games provide structure and memory. However, they should not be mistaken for genuine inner transformation.

In essence, Osho's lecture argues that true humility (vinay) is an inward-looking, spontaneous state that arises from self-awareness and the recognition of one's own faults after sincere repentance. It's about unconditional respect for all existence and understanding the independent nature of karmic actions, leading to the dissolution of the ego and the cessation of suffering. It's distinct from the socially conditioned practice of respecting those deemed "superior," which is seen as a form of conditional behavior driven by the ego.