Mahavir Vani Lecture 42 Panch Samitiya Aur Tin Guptiya

This document is a discourse by Osho Rajnish on Lecture 42, "Panch Samitiya aur Tin Guptiya" (Five Restraints and Three Secrecies) from Mahavir Vani. The core of the discourse revolves around the eight principles for spiritual practice outlined by Lord Mahavir, which are considered "Pravachan-Mataen" (Mothers of Discourse).

The Eight Principles:

• Five Samitiya (Restraints/Conscientiousness): These are the active, positive aspects of spiritual practice.

  1. Irya Samiti: Mindful movement and action. Osho emphasizes the importance of awareness in every action, from walking to eating. He likens this to Gurdjieff's "self-remembering" and Krishnamurti's "awareness." The core idea is to act with full consciousness, not in a state of sleepwalking or unconsciousness.
  2. Bhasha Samiti: Restraint in speech. This involves speaking only when necessary, truthfully, and for the benefit of others, with the ultimate aim of achieving silence. Osho highlights that inner chatter is a major drain of energy and that controlling speech can lead to inner stillness and mastery over the mind.
  3. Eshana Samiti: Restraint in accepting sustenance and necessities. This means accepting only what is essential for survival and spiritual practice, with utmost awareness and without desire or greed. Osho uses the analogy of Mullā Nasruddīn and the lottery to illustrate how excessive desire leads to ruin. He emphasizes living minimally, similar to birds and lilies, and warns against the accumulation of wealth and desires.
  4. Adan-Nakshep Samiti: Mindful handling of possessions. This involves accepting gifts or help only when truly needed and with awareness, and being mindful when giving or using things.
  5. Ucchar (or Utsarg) Samiti: Mindful excretion and discarding. This extends beyond physical excretion to include all that is thrown out into the world – words, knowledge, actions. The principle is to ensure that whatever is released does not cause harm, pain, or distress to any living being. Osho elaborates on the subtle meanings, emphasizing that our interactions and expressions should not cause harm, whether physical or emotional, and that this principle is not about avoiding impurity but about not causing suffering to others.

• Three Guptiya (Secrecies/Controls): These are the passive, negative aspects of spiritual practice, focused on withdrawal and mastery.

  1. Manogupti: Control of the mind. This involves restraining the mind's tendency to wander and spread out into desires and imaginations. Osho compares the mind to a restless monkey or a spreading vine, advocating for its contraction and centering.
  2. Vachanagupti: Control of speech. This is a deeper aspect of Bhasha Samiti, focusing on retaining one's words internally, allowing them to be processed and integrated, rather than impulsively projecting them outwards. It's about mastering speech so that words don't become a source of entanglement or chaos.
  3. Kayagupti: Control of the body. This involves shrinking the physical self, both literally and metaphorically, by reducing the ego's identification with the body. Osho presents two paths: expanding the self to encompass the universe (Brahma-vidya) or shrinking the self to an atomic level, leading to detachment from the physical form. The latter is favored in Mahavir's teachings for self-discipline.

Key Themes and Concepts:

• Active vs. Passive: Osho contrasts the five "Vidhayak" (active) samitis with the three "Nishedhak" (passive) guptis, explaining that mastering both leads to transcending them and achieving true religion.
• The Danger of Unconscious Action and Speech: A recurring theme is the harm caused by unconscious actions and speech. Osho argues that many "sins" are committed through negligence and lack of awareness, and that even inaction (being a passive participant in wrong) is a form of sin.
• The Ego and "Being Special": Osho strongly criticizes the ego's desire to be special and unique, which drives many actions, including crime and the pursuit of fame. He suggests that many acts of wrongdoing are attempts to gain attention and feel significant.
• The Power of Silence and Inner Stillness: The discourse places immense value on silence and the mastery of speech, viewing it as the ultimate control over the mind and the gateway to true understanding.
• The Nature of Desire (Eshana): Osho emphasizes that all desires, even the desire for life itself, can become a hindrance if not kept within the bounds of necessity. He stresses the importance of limiting wants and living minimally to foster spiritual growth.
• The Meaning of Renunciation: True renunciation, according to Osho, is not about outward poverty but about inner detachment from desires and the ego's need to be "special."
• The Body as a Tool for Spiritual Practice: Osho explains that the body is necessary for spiritual practice, but its desires and expansions should be consciously controlled and minimized.
• The Interconnectedness of Actions: The discourse highlights the ripple effect of our actions and words, emphasizing the Jain principle of non-violence (ahimsa) in its broadest sense – ensuring that nothing we do or say causes harm to others.
• The Importance of Inner Transformation: Osho concludes by stressing that true spiritual progress comes from inner transformation, not from external practices alone. He encourages individuals to experiment with these principles and discover their profound effects.

In essence, Osho's discourse on Mahavir's "Five Samitiya and Three Guptiya" is a profound exploration of the practical, disciplined, and conscious way of living that leads to spiritual liberation. It underscores the idea that true spiritual practice involves meticulous attention to every aspect of one's being, from the smallest physical movement to the deepest mental processes, all guided by awareness and a deep commitment to non-harming.