Mahavir Vani Lecture 52 Samay Hai Santulan Ki Param Avastha

This text, Lecture 52 of Osho Rajneesh's "Mahavir Vani" series titled "Samay hai Santulan ki Param Avastha" (The Supreme State of Balance is Self-Control), delves into the Jain concept of samyam (self-control), particularly as understood through the teachings of Lord Mahavir. Osho emphasizes that true samyam is not about suppression or restraint but about understanding and balance.

Core Concepts:

• Understanding the Self and Non-Self (Jiva and Ajiva): The foundational principle of samyam, according to Mahavir, lies in discerning the difference between the soul (jiva, consciousness) and the non-soul (ajiva, matter, the body). A practitioner who understands these distinct realities can then comprehend concepts like virtue (punya), vice (papa), bondage (bandha), and liberation (moksha). Without this fundamental knowledge, true self-control is impossible.

• Samyam as Disconnection, Not Suppression: Osho clarifies that samyam is not about physically suppressing the body. Suppressing the body leads to a different kind of bondage, where the practitioner remains tied to the very act of suppression. True samyam is the state where the soul's flow towards the body is halted and the soul realizes its own mastery, becoming the owner rather than a slave to the body.

• A-yoga as the Supreme State: Mahavir's concept of "yoga" is not about union with the divine (as in Patanjali yoga) but about the union of the soul with the body and the material world. The ultimate state, therefore, is "a-yoga" (non-union), where this connection is broken. This is achieved through understanding, not suppression.

• The Importance of Awareness and Discrimination: The path to samyam is through bodh (awareness) and vivek (discrimination). This means recognizing the body as a separate entity, a vehicle for the soul, and not identifying with it. The practitioner remains a witness to the body's experiences—whether it eats, falls sick, or suffers discomfort—without being attached or disturbed.

• Breaking the Illusion of Union: The deep identification of the self with the body is the root of asamyam (lack of self-control). This union is described as a mistake or illusion, a "yoga" that binds one to the cycle of existence. True liberation comes from breaking this illusion.

• The Nature of Desire (Vasana): Osho highlights that desire (vasana) is inherently tied to the body. It's not the soul that desires, but the body. As long as one identifies with the body, desires will persist, even in old age, making true freedom impossible. Freedom from desire comes only through developing wisdom and awareness.

• The Role of Age vs. Wisdom: Age alone does not bring wisdom or freedom from desire. In fact, aging bodies can amplify desires in the mind, leading to a state of clinging to the physical form even as it decays. True maturity comes from inner growth and understanding, not just the passage of time.

• Death as Transformation: When one realizes their separation from the body before death, death becomes a mere shedding of old clothes, a purification process. It's the lack of this understanding, the clinging to the body, that makes death painful.

• The Danger of "Thotha Gyan" (Empty Knowledge): Merely reading scriptures or repeating philosophical statements without inner realization is dangerous. This "empty knowledge" is worse than ignorance because it creates a false sense of knowing. True wisdom comes from direct experience, from seeing the light within.

• The Inner Light and Overcoming Inner Darkness: The journey inward is often perceived as darkness because our eyes are accustomed to external light. This inner darkness is not a deficiency but a potential for inner light. Practices like meditation (or, in Mahavir's terms, samayik) involve sitting in this inner darkness and allowing the eyes of consciousness to adjust, gradually revealing the inner reality.

• The Practice of "Samayik": Osho distinguishes Mahavir's concept of samayik from conventional meditation. Samayik means "to be in one's own self," a state of being fully present within oneself, without external focus. It's not an action one "does" but a state one "is" in.

• The Illusion of External Restraint: Many religious followers practice external restraints and rituals without inner understanding. This leads to a state of being "boxed in" by their own self-imposed limitations, creating a "prison of cowardice." This is not true samyam.

• The Problem of Suppression and "Juicy" Negation: Osho criticizes the tendency in many spiritual traditions to simply negate or forbid things. This prohibition paradoxically creates a hidden desire and fascination for the forbidden. True freedom comes not from suppression but from understanding the nature of desire and realizing its impermanence.

• The True Nature of Ahimsa (Non-Violence): Contrary to popular belief, true ahimsa is not born out of fear or the inability to retaliate. It is the ultimate bravery, stemming from a state of complete fearlessness. Those who avoid violence out of fear are merely cowards rationalizing their inaction.

• The Illusion of Heaven and the Nature of Desire: Even the desire for heaven is seen as a form of desire, an extension of worldly desires for pleasure and avoidance of suffering. True moksha is not a destination but a state of being, an inner awakening that transcends all such desires.

In essence, Osho presents Mahavir's teachings as a radical call for self-discovery through deep understanding and awareness. True self-control arises not from external rules or suppression, but from an inner realization of one's true nature, leading to a state of effortless balance and freedom.