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

CHAPTER 17. DON’T IMITATE, JUST BE YOURSELF
So when I am speaking to you about Krishna, let no one think even mistakenly that I want you to be
like Krishna. I am against all following, all imitation, all comparisons. Every suffering that comes to
man from external sources is secondary; the suffering that imitation and following brings in its wake
is real and colossal. You cannot become like Krishna without being dead. And it is only dead people
who are afraid – afraid of everything. You are afraid of being beaten by the public if you dance and
sing like Krishna. This is the fear of the dead, the imitator. A man who is fully alive is himself; he
does not imitate. The more one is alive the more he is himself. And an alive man, a real individual
is not afraid of society; on the contrary, the society is afraid of him. And that is why the society
condemns him.
It is amusing that every society slanders and condemns the free individual, who is the only alive
person – but this is not the whole story. The free individual is condemned in the beginning and
worshipped in the end. It has always been the case. If a fully alive man remains alive to the end, he
is destined to be condemned first and worshipped and adored later. And a really free person is not
afraid of condemnation, ostracism, even crucifixion.
Krishna is one of those rare beings in man’s history who choose to be themselves. He is not
concerned about what you say about him. Do you think he was accepted as Bhagwan or God in his
own times? No, he was accused and condemned in every way. And even today you will not spare
him unless you shut your eyes to many episodes of his life.
Do you know how Jesus was crucified? He was condemned as a disreputable and dangerous
person. When he was hanged he was not alone: he was placed between two thieves who were
going to suffer the same fate. This was a declaration that Jesus was no better than the criminals. It
is interesting that not only the people of Jerusalem – who had gathered in thousands to witness his
crucifixion – had ridiculed him. Even one of the thieves on the cross made a joke at Jesus’ expense.
He is reported to have said, ”Since you and I are going to die together, we are kith and kin. So
please save a place for me too in your father’s kingdom when I reach there.” Even a thief mocks
Jesus and his kingdom of God. Not only his persecutors, not only the public of Jerusalem – even
a criminal who was going to be hanged for theft thought Jesus was a good-for-nothing vagabond.
He thought himself better because while he had done something to deserve punishment Jesus was
going to be hanged for nothing.
The society in which Krishna or Christ, Mahavira or Buddha are born does not accept them as
Bhagwans, incarnations and messiahs. At first it condemns them, calls them names, mocks them,
persecutes them. But they are brave people and cannot be intimidated. They bear the insults and
humiliations with a smile of compassion on their faces. So how long can you go on? You will feel
embarrassed, conquered by their love, their forbearance and com passion. And you begin to honor
and worship them. But they take your worship with the same detachment and equanimity with which
they take your insults and curses, because really nothing affects them – neither fame nor infamy.
And then the society hails them as God-incarnates.
I attach importance to a discussion of Krishna’s life not because I want you to emulate him, but
because he is the most beautiful and rare example of a multidimensional person. And if his treasures
are laid before you they will help you uncover your own hidden treasures. This much importance
Krishna has for me, nothing more. And remember, Krishna’s treasures are Krishna’s, and your
treasures will be your own. And no one can say your treasures will not be even richer than Krishna’s.
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 333 Osho