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

CHAPTER 10. SPIRITUALISM, RELIGION AND POLITICS
be neutral, but pretension is pretension. Krishna could pretend to be neutral, but it would be
meaningless. Friends have come to ask for his help, not his neutrality. And Krishna has to say
yes or no to their request; neutrality is not an answer. If he says he is neutral, it only means that
he is not their friend, that he has nothing to do with them. Neutrality means indifference, neutrality
means that one is not concerned with the fate of the war.
Krishna cannot say that he is not concerned with the war; he is really concerned. Although he is a
friend to both, he clearly wants the Pandavas to win, because he knows the Pandavas are fighting for
righteousness and the Kauravas are against it. But he is friendly to both of them; even the Kauravas
look to him as their friend, they have no enmity with him. They respect him, they love him.
By and large, these people are very simple, and their behavior is frank and open. Even their
differences and divisions are clear-cut; they don’t hide their likes and dislikes. In a domestic war,
they divide themselves clearly between the two camps. Issues are well-defined, so they don’t take
long to decide.
Krishna is not indifferent, apathetic. He is aware that great issues are at stake; he cannot be neutral.
He is also aware that both sides look to him as their friend, and he is prepared to give each its
share. But he does not treat them equally, because he knows who is just and who is not. And he
also knows that the way he will divide his help and cooperation between the two warring camps is
going to be a decisive factor in the impending conflict.
So the way he divides himself is extraordinary; it is of immense significance. He tells them that they
have two options: he and his army; they can choose either him or his whole army. This division
makes things still clearer as far as which side stands for righteousness. It is obvious that no one
anxious for victory would choose Krishna without his army. Only he who cares for values and not for
victory, who trusts the spiritual force much more than the material one, will choose Krishna alone.
The way the choice is made is also significant. Representatives of the two sides arrive at Krishna’s
place at the same time to ask for his help in the war. Krishna is Lying on his bed. The representative
of the Pandavas comes first and takes his place at the foot of his bed. Next comes the representative
of the Kauravas, who sits at the head of his bed. Krishna is asleep, but he wakes up with their arrival.
The way the two emissaries take their seats is meaningful. Only a man of humility can sit at the feet
of the sleeping Krishna; an arrogant person will sit near his head. Even such small things speak for
themselves. Our every act, even a twitch of the nose, reveals us. Actually we do that which we are.
It is not accidental that the Kaurava representative sits near his head, and the Pandava sits near his
feet. And when Krishna awakens, his eyes fall first on the Pandava and not on his rival. Of course
he gives the Pandavas first choice.
This is how humility wins. Jesus has said, ”Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
The Pandavas have the first choice. This makes the Kaurava representative anxious, lest his rival
get away with the best prize. The army, and not Krishna, is the best prize in the eyes of the Kaurava
who believes in physical force. He knows Krishna’s army is vast and thinks that whoever has it is
going to win the war. Krishna alone will be of no use in a matter like war. But he is immensely
pleased when the Pandava representative opts for Krishna and leaves his whole army to be taken
by the Kauravas. He thinks the Pandavas’ envoy has acted foolishly and their defeat in the war is
guaranteed.
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 194 Osho