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

CHAPTER 20. BASE YOUR RULE ON THE RULE
For this reason Buddha refuses to answer questions about the transcendental. Is there God? What
is liberation? What happens after death? Questions like these Buddha never entertains; he gently
laughs them aside saying, ”Don’t ask such questions that have to do with the distant future; they will
distract you from the immediate present, which is of the highest. The thought of the distant future
will give rise to the desire to travel to it, and to reach it. And this desire will create restlessness. I am
utterly contented with what I am, where I am. I have nowhere to go; I have nothing to choose and
find.”
So Buddha is not only indifferent to this world, he is also indifferent to the other world of God and
nirvana. Jesus is indifferent to this world, but he is not indifferent to the other, to God. He has for
sure chosen God against the world.
But Buddha says, ”Even to find God you will have to pass through the swamp of hopes and fears,
attachments and jealousies. Why should a river yearn to reach the sea? What is she going to
achieve if she finds the sea? There is not much difference between the two except that there
is a lot more water in the sea than in the river.” Buddha then says, ”Whatever I am, I am; I am
utterly contented, I am in perfect peace.” So his indifference has no objective, no goal whatsoever to
achieve. Look at Buddha’s face, his eyes; there is not a trace of agitation in them. They are as silent
as silence itself. It is like a still lake where not even a ripple rises.
Naturally Buddha’s peace is negative; it can have neither Krishna’s outspoken bliss nor Mahavira’s
subtle joy. It is true that a man of such tremendous silence, who has no desires whatsoever – not
even the desire to find the ultimate – will attain to bliss without asking. But this bliss will be his inner
treasure, this lamp of bliss will shine in his interiority, while his whole external milieu will be one of
utter peace and silence. His halo will reflect only harmony, stillness and order. Bliss will form his
base and peace will make his summit.
One cannot think of Buddha and movement together; he is so relaxed and rested. Looking at his
statue you cannot imagine that this man has ever risen from his seat and walked a few steps or
said a word. Buddha is a statue of stillness. In him all movements, all activities, all commotions, all
strivings have come to a standstill. He is peace itself.
Buddha represents cessation of all tensions, of all desires, including the desire for liberation. If
someone says to him he wants to find freedom, Buddha will say, ”Are you crazy? Where is freedom?”
If someone says he wants to discover his self, his soul, Buddha will say, ”There is nothing like a soul.”
In fact, Buddha will say, ”So long as there is the desire to find something, you can never find. Desiring
takes you nowhere except to sorrow and suffering. Cease seeking and you will find.”
But Buddha does not say in words that ”You will find”; he keeps silent on this point. He is aware that
the moment he talks about finding freedom or something, you will begin to desire it and run after it.
So he negates everything – God, soul, freedom, peace – everything. So long as there is something
positive before you, you will want to find it and so long as you strive to find something you cannot
find it. It is paradoxical, but it is true. It is only in utter stillness, in absolute silence, in total emptiness
– where all movement ceases – that truth, nirvana, or whatever you call it, comes into being.
Desiring, which is tanaha in Buddha’s language, keeps you running and restless. So desiring is the
problem of problems for Buddha. And indifference, upeksha is the solution, the key that releases you
Krishna: The Man and His Philosophy 377 Osho