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

CHAPTER 16. ATHEISM, THEISM AND REALITY
A renunciate cannot impress history, he cannot leave any spectacular footprints on the sands of
time. What more can history say about him than that he renounced everything? On the other hand,
Krishna’s influence on India was far-reaching and profound. The truth is that with Krishna, India
touched a height she never touched again. Under his leadership, the Mahabharat was the greatest
war that India had ever made. Ever since, Indians have fought only petty wars and skirmishes. A
unique war like the Mahabharat could be possible only under Krishna’s leadership.
Generally we believe that war destroys a people. Since India did not fight any great war after the
Mahabharat, she should be the most advanced and affluent country in the world today. But the fact
is just the opposite: today she is one of the poorest and most backward countries. And the countries
that have passed through great wars are at the pinnacle of prosperity and advancement. Wars don’t
destroy a people, rather they awaken their sleeping energy and rouse their heroism. It is only in
moments of war when a community touches the highest peaks of its being. It is only in moments of
challenge that a people becomes fully alive and awake. After the Mahabharat we have never had
another such great moment to fully come into our own.
It is true that countries involved in the Second World War suffered heavily. Destruction of life and
wealth was colossal. But this is only a half truth. Japan suffered terribly in the last war, but just
in twenty years’ time, Japan has emerged as one of the most prosperous countries of the world.
Japan’s recovery and growth is spectacular and unprecedented; she had never reached this height
before. The same is true of Germany, which went through the worst of death and destruction. Not
one, but two wars visited her in the lifetime of a single generation.
Is it not amazing that twenty years after her defeat in the First World War Germany was again ready
for the Second World War? And no one can say that in another ten years’ time she will not be ready
for the Third World War. It is ironic that we emphasize only the destructive side of war and overlook
its creative possibilities. War awakens our slumbering consciousness. In facing the challenges of
war our energies come alive, active and creative. In fact, with destruction comes creativity; they go
hand in hand in life.
That is why Krishna, who lives a sensuous and colorful life, who plays the flute and loves singing and
dancing. also accepts the challenges of a great war and becomes its instrument. And he delivers
a spiritual sermon like the Geeta on the battleground. I For him there is no contradiction between a
flute and a missile and a Geeta.
People like Neminath don’t leave their mark on history. It is interesting that of the twenty-four Jaina
tirthankaras only two, the first and the twenty-third, are mentioned in Hindu scriptures. About the
twenty-second tirthankara, it is guessed that the person named as Ghor Angiras is no other than
Neminath. Even Mahavira is not mentioned in Hindu scriptures. All the tirthankaras were charismatic
and renowned, but they could not leave their mark on history. In fact sacrifice, renunciation means
severance of all ties with history; it means departure from the world of events, doings and nondoings.
Renunciation is the journey into a space where nothing is made and un made, where utter
emptiness reigns
There are things that Neminath can learn from Krishna, but he will not. And it is not necessary
for him to learn from Krishna. Neminath has a great treasure of his own. He has the heritage of
twenty-one tirthankaras, the essence of great spiritual experiences. He has enough provisions for
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 318 Osho