Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy - Osho - Oshorajneesh.com

CHAPTER 1. THE FUTURE BELONGS TO KRISHNA
This contest for space is similar to another historical contest that happened about three hundred
years ago when the countries of Europe were rushing towards Asia. Merchant ships of Portugal,
Spain, Holland, France and Britain were all sailing towards the countries of Asia – because
occupation of Asia had become immensely important for the expansionist powers of Europe. But
now it has no importance whatsoever, and so, soon after the Second World War, they left Asia. The
people of Asia believe they won their freedom through their nationalist struggles, but it is only a
half-truth. The other half of the truth is quite different.
In the context of the modern technology of warfare, the occupation of Asia in the old way has become
meaningless; that chapter is closed forever. Now a new struggle for the conquest of lands altogether
different and distant from this earth has begun. Man has raised his sights to the distant stars, to the
moon and Mars and even beyond. Now war will be fought in the vastness of space.
Life is an adventure, an adventure of energy. And people who lag behind in this adventure, for lack
of energy and courage, eventually have to die and disappear from the scene. Perhaps we are such
a dead people.
In this context also, Krishna’s message has assumed special significance. And it is significant not
only for us, but for the whole world. In my view, the West has reached a point where it will, once
again, have to wage a decisive war, which of course will not take place on the planet Earth. Even if
the contestants belong to this earth, the actual operation of the war will take place elsewhere, either
on the moon or on Mars. Now there is no sense fighting a war on the earth. If it takes place here
it will result in the total destruction of both the aggressor and the aggressed. So a great war in the
future will be fought and decided somewhere far away from here. And what would be the result?
In a way, the world is facing nearly the same situation India faced during the Mahabharat war. There
were two camps, or two classes, at the time of the Mahabharat. One of them was out-and-out
materialist; they did not accept anything beyond the body or matter. They did not know anything
except the indulgence of their senses; they did not have any idea of yoga or of spiritual discipline.
For them the existence of the soul did not matter in the least; for them life was just a playground of
stark indulgence, of exploitation and predatory wars. Life beyond the senses and their indulgence
held no importance for them.
This was the class against which the war of Mahabharat was waged. And Krishna had to opt for this
war and lead it, because it had become imperative. It had become imperative so that the forces of
good and virtue could stand squarely against the forces of materialism and evil, so that they were
not rendered weak and impotent.
Approximately the same situation has arisen on a worldwide scale, and in twenty years’ time a
full replica, a scenario of the Mahabharat will be upon us. On one side will be all the forces of
materialism and on the other will be the weaker forces of good and righteousness.
Goodness suffers from a basic weakness: it wants to keep away from conflicts and wars. Arjuna of
the Mahabharat is a good man. The word ”arjuna” in Sanskrit means the simple, the straightforward,
clean. Arjuna means that which is not crooked. Arjuna is a simple and good man, a man with a clean
mind and a kind heart. He does not want to get involved in any conflict and strife; he wants to with
draw. Krishna is still more simple and good; his simplicity, his goodness knows no limits. But his
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 15 Osho