Mahavir Vani Lecture 41 Chah Leshyaye Chetna Me Uthi Lahre

This document is a discourse by Osho Rajnish on the Jain concept of "Leshyas" (leshya), which are six types of mental dispositions or "colors" of consciousness. The lecture, titled "Chah Leshyaye Chetna me Uthi Lahre" (Six Leshyas: Waves Rising in Consciousness), draws heavily from Mahavir Swami's teachings, particularly the "Lokatatva-Sutra."

Here's a comprehensive summary:

The Core Concept of Leshyas:

• What are Leshyas? Osho explains Leshyas as waves or mental dispositions (vrittis) in consciousness, akin to what Patanjali called "chitta-vritti." Pure soul is like a calm ocean, while an impure soul is like a disturbed ocean with many waves (leshya). When all these waves subside, the pure soul is realized.
• Categorization by Color: Mahavir classified these mental waves based on color, which has a scientific basis recognized by modern psychology and physics. Colors are seen as manifestations of energy, influencing mood and behavior.

The Six Leshyas (Classified by Color and Outcome):

The six leshyas are presented in ascending order of spiritual progress, with the first three considered "adharma-leshya" (unrighteous) leading to lower realms of existence (durgati), and the last three "dharma-leshya" (righteous) leading to higher realms (sadgati).

1. Krishna Leshya (Black): * Characteristics: Represents the lowest state of consciousness, characterized by intense violence, anger, lust, and a desire to harm others. The individual finds pleasure in the suffering of others, even at their own expense. This is the state of ultimate selfishness and malice. * Behavioral Examples: The text provides an example of a dying father instructing his younger, naive son to dismember his body and scatter the pieces to frame neighbors, deriving pleasure from the subsequent suffering and arrests. Another example is the story of a devotee who, when granted a boon by Shiva that whatever he asked for would be doubled for his neighbors, asked for one eye to be destroyed, knowing his neighbors would lose both. * Scientific Analogy: Black is the absence of all colors, absorbing all rays. It symbolizes the absence of life, joy, and spiritual awareness. People in this state are often depicted with a dark aura.

2. Neel Leshya (Blue): * Characteristics: Better than black, but still self-centered. This individual harms others for their own gain but avoids harming themselves. They are driven by self-interest and can manipulate or exploit others if it benefits them. They are "selfish." * Behavioral Examples: This is illustrated by the common behavior of driving through red lights when no police are present. While not actively malicious like Krishna leshya, they disregard rules and others' well-being for personal convenience. The story of Mulla Nasruddin's friend driving recklessly and being stopped by the police, with Nasruddin trying to excuse him by saying he's "dead drunk," highlights this tendency to disregard rules. * Scientific Analogy: Blue is a step up from black, signifying a slight lessening of darkness. It's associated with a more structured self-interest.

3. Kapot Leshya (Pigeon-Throat Colored/Grayish-Blue): * Characteristics: This is the lowest of the "dharma-leshya" or righteous dispositions. The individual avoids harming others, even if it means some self-inflicted harm or inconvenience. They begin to show concern for others, which is the first step towards love and compassion. However, this concern is often still rooted in a sense of "mine" (e.g., protecting one's wife because she is his wife, not necessarily because of the intrinsic value of the other person). * Behavioral Examples: Protecting one's wife from an attacker, but only because she is his wife. If it were someone else's wife, he might not intervene. If the wife proves unfaithful, the compassion might disappear. The text mentions Marquis de Sade (sadism) and Masoch (masochism) as extreme examples of Krishna leshya, where love and sexual pleasure are tied to violence. Kapot leshya is seen as a precursor to genuine love. * Scientific Analogy: A pale blue or grayish hue, indicating a transition from darkness.

4. Tej Leshya (Fiery/Red): * Characteristics: This is the first stage of genuine righteous action and deep love. Love becomes selfless, focused on giving rather than taking. The individual's life is centered around love, and their actions are driven by it. * Behavioral Examples: The text connects this to the saffron/ochre color of Hindu monks, symbolizing the beginning of the spiritual journey. This color represents the burning away of ego and selfishness, leading to a state of intense, selfless love. People in this state are often passionate about their spiritual path. * Scientific Analogy: Red is an activating color, symbolizing passion, energy, and the beginning of a journey.

5. Padam Leshya (Lotus/Yellow): * Characteristics: This is the state of deep meditation and inner peace. The ego is completely dissolved, and the individual is absorbed in their inner self. There is no longer a focus on self or other; only profound stillness and equanimity. * Behavioral Examples: This is linked to the yellow robes of Buddhist monks, representing the middle path and inner absorption. The individual is content and peaceful, unconcerned with worldly affairs or conversions. Hinduism and Judaism are also cited as religions embodying this yellow-colored state due to their lack of proselytization and focus on inner practice. * Scientific Analogy: Yellow signifies inner peace and wisdom, a calmness after the fiery passion of red.

6. Shukl Leshya (White): * Characteristics: The highest state of consciousness, pure white. All desires and mental waves have ceased. The individual has transcended even the state of meditation and is established in pure being. This is the state of liberation or "moksha." * Behavioral Examples: The white robes of Jain monks symbolize this final state of purity and detachment. While this state still involves existence and a refined form of consciousness, it is the ultimate goal of transcending all leshyas. * Scientific Analogy: White represents the union of all colors, signifying totality, purity, and transcendence.

Osho's Perspective on Mahavir's Teachings:

• Scientific and Practical: Osho emphasizes that Mahavir's teachings are not based on poetry or mere logic. They are a scientific exploration of life, a guide to understanding the inner mechanisms of consciousness and how to navigate them. Mahavir offers a "spiritual map."
• Logic vs. Experience: Osho critiques logic (reason) as being inherently negative and divisive, like a "prostitute" that can argue for any side. True understanding comes from direct experience, not intellectual debate. Poetry can express the joy of experience but not its science.
• The Nature of Logic: Logic is like a double-edged sword; it can both support and refute. True knowledge doesn't come from logic. Poetry is an expression of joy, but not the science of how that joy is experienced. Mahavir spoke from a scientific angle, aiming to provide the "how" of spiritual experience, not just the "what."
• The Feminine and the Electrical Nature of the Body: Osho delves into the electrical nature of the human body and how it relates to emotions and consciousness. He discusses recent findings about how women's hormonal cycles affect their bio-electricity, leading to emotional fluctuations that are difficult for men (and even psychology) to understand. This electrical nature is also linked to the subtle energies that create the aura or halo observed around enlightened beings.
• The Goal of Transcending Leshyas: The ultimate aim is to transcend all leshyas, as they are binding forces. When all leshyas fall away, the true nature of the soul (Atman) is revealed – a state called Brahm, Nirvana, or Kaivalya.
• The Significance of Birth and Death: The leshya present at the moment of death determines the nature of the next birth, just as the last thought before sleep influences the first thought upon waking. This highlights the importance of dying consciously.
• The Nature of Shukl Leshya and Liberation: Even Shukl leshya, while the highest attainment, still implies a subtle form of existence. The ultimate state beyond Shukl is not a leshya of consciousness but the pure nature of the soul, where even white disappears as there is no attachment to any color or state.

In essence, Osho's lecture breaks down Mahavir's complex doctrine of Leshyas, making it accessible through scientific analogies and everyday examples, emphasizing that these are not mere philosophical concepts but practical states of being that can be observed, understood, and transformed. The ultimate goal is the transcendence of all mental coloring to realize the pure, unconditioned state of the soul.