Mahavir Vani Lecture 54 Sanyas Prarambha Hai Siddhi Ant

Here's a comprehensive summary of Osho Rajnish's "Mahavir Vani Lecture 54: Sanyas Prarambha hai Siddhi Ant," based on the provided text:

This lecture series delves into the spiritual path as elucidated by Lord Mahavir, focusing on the journey from the beginning of renunciation (sanyas) to the ultimate state of liberation (siddhi). Osho interprets Mahavir's teachings through a contemporary lens, emphasizing the nature of the mind and the path to inner peace and liberation.

The Core Message: The Mind and Liberation

The central theme of the lecture is that the mind is the sole ailment. There is no remedy to "cure" the mind, but rather, the only solution is to dissolve the mind and go beyond it. The lecture clarifies that peace and the mind are mutually exclusive: where there is mind, there is no peace; where there is peace, the mind ceases to exist. The ultimate goal of all spiritual practice is to transcend the mind, to be free from it, and to go beyond it.

Understanding and Dissolving the Mind

Osho strongly advises against trying to suppress or numb the mind, as these methods are ultimately futile and even harmful.

• Suppression (Dabana): When emotions like anger or desires arise, people often try to push them down. Osho explains that these suppressed emotions don't disappear; they gather force internally and will eventually erupt, often with greater intensity and destructive power. He likens this to a volcano that, when suppressed, builds immense pressure leading to a catastrophic eruption. Suppressing emotions leads to neurosis and even madness. Children, who express their emotions freely, are less prone to major transgressions because they release their pent-up feelings quickly.
• Numbing (Murcchit Karna): Another common approach is to make the mind unconscious or numb. This can be achieved through various means, including alcohol or repetitive chanting. Osho points out that these methods merely provide temporary oblivion, like a soporific. The underlying issues remain unresolved and resurface when the numbing effect wears off. He likens repetitive chanting to a lullaby that tires out the mind, leading to sleep rather than true understanding. He even includes modern practices like Transcendental Meditation (TM) within this category, suggesting they induce a form of sleep or numbing through repetition.

The Path to True Peace: The "Shaileshi" State

Mahavir's teachings, as interpreted by Osho, offer a path to genuine liberation that involves understanding the mind's nature and transcending it.

• The Nature of the Mind: The mind is not a fixed entity but a continuous flow of thoughts and sensations. Every thought creates a ripple, causing agitation and keeping us bound to the world of duality. The desire for constant new sensations (thrill) to avoid boredom is the mind's inherent characteristic. This constant seeking for novelty keeps the mind agitated and prevents stillness.
• "Shaileshi" (Unwavering State): Mahavir speaks of a state called "Shaileshi," which means "like a mountain" or "unwavering." This is a state of absolute stillness and immobility of consciousness, like the Himalayas that appear unmoving from a distance (though scientifically they are indeed moving). This state is characterized by the absence of any inner or outer disturbance. It's a state of being completely centered within oneself.
• The Role of Desire: The core of agitation and change is desire (vasana). Where there is desire, there is change, and where there is change, there is the experience of time. The desire for external experiences and validations creates the illusion of self and perpetuates the cycle of suffering.

The Process of Realization

The lecture outlines the steps towards achieving the "Shaileshi" state and ultimately liberation (Siddhi):

• "Pratikraman" (Turning Inward): This is a crucial concept, meaning a complete turning of consciousness inward. It's not an external ritual but an internal shift of energy. It's like a snake eating its own tail, creating a circle of self-contained awareness.
• Detachment from the External: Osho stresses that all our actions, relationships, and even our language are ultimately oriented towards the external world and others. When consciousness turns inward, the need for these external dependencies dissolves. Clothes, language, homes – they are all for interaction with others. When the "other" disappears from our focus, these external accoutrements become irrelevant.
• The Nature of True Knowledge ("Kevalgyan"): Mahavir speaks of "Kevalgyan" (Omniscience) and "Kevaldarshan" (Omnivision). This is not just knowing facts but a direct, unmediated experience of reality. Osho relates this to the concept of "Saraswati" in the Triveni Sangam (confluence of three rivers) – the invisible, knowing consciousness itself, beyond the knower and the known.
• The Realization of "Jina": A "Jina" is one who has conquered himself, one who is not dependent on anyone or anything external. Their existence is complete in itself.
• The "Siddha" State: This is the ultimate state of liberation, where all karmas (actions and their consequences) are dissolved, and the soul becomes completely pure. This state is beyond time and change. A "Siddha" is one who has reached the destination, for whom the journey has ended, and who has no further desires or quests.

The Paradox of Seeking

Osho highlights a fundamental paradox: the very things we seek in the external world (happiness, fulfillment, peace) are found within. We often look for happiness in wealth, power, or relationships, but these external pursuits only lead to more suffering. The true source of fulfillment is within. The constant search for novelty is the mind's attempt to escape its own inherent boredom, but it only perpetuates the cycle.

The Meaning of "Lok" and "Alok"

Mahavir's concept of knowing "Lok" (the universe of matter and existence) and "Alok" (the anti-universe or non-existence) is also discussed. Osho relates this to modern scientific concepts like anti-matter and the principle of duality governing existence. The Siddha state is one where consciousness transcends this duality, yet understands its fundamental nature.

Key Takeaways:

• The mind is the source of all suffering; its dissolution is the path to liberation.
• Suppression and numbing of the mind are ineffective and harmful.
• True peace comes from stillness and detachment from external desires and sensations.
• The inward journey ("Pratikraman") is the key to self-realization.
• The ultimate goal is the "Siddha" state, a state of pure consciousness, devoid of desire and change, residing in eternal peace.
• The search for fulfillment in the external world is misplaced; true fulfillment lies within.

In essence, Osho's lecture on Mahavir Vani is an invitation to understand the nature of the mind, to dismantle its hold, and to embark on the inner journey towards the timeless and absolute state of liberation. The starting point is renunciation (sanyas), and the ultimate end is Siddhi.