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

5 October 1970 am in
Question 1
CHAPTER 20
Base your Rule on the Rule
QUESTIONER:
WHAT IS THE SUBTLE DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, BETWEEN MAHAVIRA’S TRANSCENDENCE OF
ATTACHMENT, CHRIST’S HOLY INDIFFERENCE, BUDDHA’S INDIFFERENCE AND KRISHNA’S
NON-ATTACHMENT? AND IN WHAT WAY ARE THEY THE SAME?
There is a good deal of similarity between Christ’s concept of neutrality, Buddha’s idea of
indifference, Mahavira’s transcendence of attachment, and Krishna’s non-attachment. These are
the ways of looking at and meeting the world. But there are some basic differences too. While their
end-points are similar, their approaches are very different. while their ultimate goal is the same, they
differ much in the ways and means they use to achieve their ends.
There is deep similarity between what Christ calls neutrality or non-alignment with the world at
large, and what Buddha calls indifference to it. As the world is, with all its strange goings-on, its
contradictions and conflicts, its struggles and trials, a seeker on the spiritual path will do well to keep
a distance from it. But remember, neutrality can never be blissful; deep down it makes one sad and
dull and drab. Therefore Jesus looks sad; even if he attains to some bliss he comes to it by way of
his sadness. And his whole path is dull and dreary; he cannot walk it singing and dancing. Neutrality
is bound to turn into sadness; Jesus cannot help it.
If I don’t choose life, if I reject it completely, if I say I take neither this nor that, then I will soon stop
flowing, I will stagnate. If a river refuses to move in any of the directions – east, west, north or south
– it will cease to flow, it will stagnate. It will turn into a closed pool.
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