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

CHAPTER 11. DRAUPADI: A RARE WOMAN
with life totally. There is a saying of Lao Tzu: Be like the winds; move with the winds; go wherever
they take you. And don’t choose.
I am reminded of a small Zen parable:
There is a river which is flooded. It is rushing toward the ocean with tremendous speed and force,
and two small stalks of some plant are also flowing with its currents. One of the stalks has placed
itself crosswise against the currents; it is tense and anxious, tries to fight against them... it makes no
difference for the currents which are too powerful to be resisted. The currents are not even aware
that a little straw is in their way, trying to resist their triumphant advance. But as far as the little stalk
is concerned, it is fighting for its life and wasting all its energy for nothing.
The other stalk has left itself lengthwise in the currents, which are taking it with them effortlessly.
This stalk is relaxed and joyous and festive. It is dancing with the ripples of the river; it has a feeling
of sharing and celebrating with the great river. The ways of the stalks make not the least difference
to the river, but make all the difference to themselves.
Like the two straws there are two kinds of people in the world. One is demanding, aggressive and
resistant like the first stalk which places itself against the river and fights with it and suffers at every
step. And there are people – the other kind of people – who say ”Yes” to life, who cooperate with it
like the other stalk, which places itself in the currents lengthwise and moves effortlessly and happily
with them. These people have a sense of deep kinship with existence; they move with it, with a song
in their hearts.
There is a flute in Krishna’s hands because he has left himself completely in the hands of existence;
he flows effortlessly with its currents. He does not come in the way of life, he does not fight with it.
That is how he sings and dances and plays the flute and goes blissfully through life. You cannot put
a flute in the hands of Mahavira; he cannot play it. It is unthinkable.
Only Krishna can afford a flute, because he is totally with life, not against it. He is ready to go
wherever the river of life takes him. He is as happy in Dwarka as he was in Mathura or anywhere
else. And wherever he is, he is dancing and celebrating. That is the way of a choiceless person.
And choicelessness is the door to bliss, ecstasy.
Question 8
QUESTIONER: A LEGEND SAYS THAT KALAYAVAN BELIEVES THAT KRISHNA IS RUNNING
AWAY, WHILE IN FACT KRISHNA IS DRIVING KALAYAVAN INTO A CAVE WHERE MUCHKUND
IS ASLEEP. THE LEGEND ALSO SAYS THAT AS MUCHKUND WAKES UP HE LOOKS AT
KALAYAVAN AND KILLS HIM WITH HIS LOOK. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
LEGEND.
These names are symbolic and they are parts of Krishna’s story. They are part metaphor, part
events and part metaphysics. That Krishna is driving someone into a cave is how it seems to us.
Even the person concerned can think so, but I understand it differently. A person like Krishna does
not drive anyone, although someone can be driven to a point on his own. And it is possible that
Krishna follows him. The situation is rather complex.
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 213 Osho