Mahavir Vani Lecture 47 Bhikshu Ki Yatra Antaryatra Hai - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho Rajneesh's lecture "Mahavir Vani Lecture 47 Bhikshu ki Yatra Antaryatra Hai" (The Monk's Journey is an Inner Journey), based on the provided text:

The lecture, drawing from Jain teachings and specifically Lord Mahavir's pronouncements, focuses on the essence of a bhikshu (monk) and the nature of their spiritual journey. Osho emphasizes that the true journey of a monk is an inner journey.

Defining the True Monk (Bhikshu):

Osho begins by referencing a bhikshu-sutra, which defines a monk as one who:

Considers all six types of living beings as equal to their own soul, based on the teachings of Lord Mahavir.
Fully adheres to the five great vows (Mahavratas), including non-violence (ahimsa).
Practices restraint over the five influxes (asravas), which are the gateways to karmic influx.
Possesses right vision (samyak-darshana) and is not bewildered by duties.
Firmly believes in knowledge, asceticism (tapas), and self-control (samyam).
Destroys past sins through asceticism.
Restrains mind, speech, and body from pathways of sin.

The Importance and Nature of Shraddha (Faith/Trust):

A significant portion of the lecture is dedicated to understanding shraddha.

Shraddha as a Response to the Unknown: We cannot directly know the unknown, the unexperienced, the invisible, or the taste of the divine. For this, an introduction is necessary. Shraddha is this initial introduction, a glimpse received through someone who has experienced the unknown, who is liberated, and whose consciousness transcends the body. This glimpse is indirect, mediated through such a person.
Shraddha is Not Blindness: It is not about blindly accepting anyone. Rather, it's a receptive, sensitive state of being open to someone who has gone beyond us, willing to take a few steps with them on unfamiliar paths.
Shraddha as Courage and Leap of Faith: Life is complex and a puzzle. We often fear leaving the familiar, even suffering, because the unknown is frightening. Continuing on familiar paths leads to a circular existence. Shraddha is the courage to embark on an unknown path with someone else, as seeing their example provides reassurance.
The Example of Mahavir: Mahavir's life, free from suffering despite all opportunities for it, is a testament to something he has attained that transcends suffering. This inner stillness and unshakable center, though not directly visible to us, can be inferred by observing him. This inference forms our shraddha.
Openness is Key: Approaching Mahavir with a critical mindset, with preconceived notions from our known world, will lead to misunderstanding. Our language and experiences are not applicable to a new realm he represents. Shraddha requires an open heart, not a closed, critical one.
Shraddha vs. Love: Love is a natural, biological phenomenon driven by hormones. It's an expression of desire. Shraddha, however, is an unearthly phenomenon, not dependent on the physical body. It arises in the flow of desirelessness and is a leap of faith, a willingness to gamble one's life on something beyond it.
Shraddha as a Negative Process: One cannot force shraddha like trying to pull the sun into a house. It's about not creating obstacles. It's about leaving the door open for the unknown to enter. Therefore, the birth of shraddha is inherently negative, a cessation of resistance.
Fear of Shraddha: Many people fear shraddha because it implies transformation, a disruption of their current life. They fear losing their ego and the familiar patterns of suffering.

The Inner Journey vs. the Outer Journey:

The bhikshu's journey is fundamentally an inner journey.
A king's (Samrat) journey is an outer journey, focused on collecting and possessing things.
A bhikshu is the true owner, not of external possessions, but of their own being. They have no possessions, no property (parigraha). They realize that external things are transient and trying to own them is a source of suffering.

The Role of the Guru and the Evolution of Shraddha:

Shraddha is crucial in the initial stages. A master (Guru) provides a supportive hand, like a parent holding a child's hand, to prevent them from falling due to fear or lack of experience.
A true master (Sadguru) aims to liberate the disciple from dependence on them as quickly as possible. The goal is for the disciple to walk on their own path, where shraddha is no longer needed because they have attained direct experience.
Unconditional dependence on a guru can be detrimental, leading to stagnation, like a child never learning to walk independently.
Shraddha is the first spark, the initial ignition. While valuable, the ultimate goal is to transcend even shraddha through direct realization.

The State of Being "Amoodh" (Unbewildered/Awakened):

Right Vision (Samyak-darshan) is essential, meaning seeing things as they are, without imposing one's own projections, assumptions, or desires.
We tend to project our own desires and beliefs onto reality. For example, we see beauty in someone because we are in love, not necessarily because they are objectively beautiful. Similarly, our perception of "holiness" is often based on our own conditioning and cultural biases.
Bewilderment (Moothta) is a state of sleepwalking through life, driven by the crowd and its conventions. It's a lack of conscious awareness, decision-making, and discernment.
A bhikshu or renunciate is someone who awakens from this bewilderment, who lives consciously, makes choices based on awareness, and doesn't blindly follow the crowd.
Living consciously leads to the cessation of new negative karma. Past karma begins to burn away in the fire of awareness.

The True Owner vs. the Slave:

We often mistakenly believe we are owners of possessions, but in reality, these possessions have become our masters. We are enslaved by our desires and attachments.
The bhikshu, having renounced external possessions, becomes the true owner of their inner world. This inner kingdom is vast and is claimed through shraddha initiated by faith in someone who has already mastered this inner domain.

The Final Meaning of Bhikshu:

The true bhikshu is one who lives with complete awareness, free from the bewilderment of the past, the desires of the future, and the confusion of the present. They are detached from the results of their actions, viewing them as transactions completed. In this state of conscious living, they have truly attained inner mastery, and their journey becomes an inner journey of profound being.