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Osho on Ashtavakra

104 discourses in which Osho speaks about Ashtavakra, most mentions first. Each line is his own sentence from that talk.

  1. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #1: Ashtavakra: The Purest Expression of Truth · 88 mentions · 11 September 1976
    “Man has many scriptures, but none comparable to the Gita of Ashtavakra.”
  2. Maha Geeta #1 · 82 mentions · 11 September 1976
    “Humanity has many scriptures, but none like the Ashtavakra Gita.”
  3. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #6: The Touchstone of Truth · 49 mentions · 16 September 1976
    “Hearing Ashtavakra, many people will feel, "Far out, everything is already attained."”
  4. Maha Geeta #6 · 44 mentions · 16 September 1976
    “Many who hear Ashtavakra feel, “Ah, then everything is already attained!””
  5. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #5 · 39 mentions · 15 September 1976
    “It is for reference use only.]Ashtavakra said;”
  6. Maha Geeta #5 · 36 mentions · 15 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra said, 'O son!”
  7. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #2: Strangers in a Strange Land · 34 mentions · 12 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra's words are absolutely unique.”
  8. Maha Geeta #2 · 34 mentions · 12 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra’s utterances are very unique.”
  9. Maha Geeta #63 · 33 mentions · 13 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra's sutras are such that no other scripture-writer ever dared go so deep.”
  10. Maha Geeta #15 · 30 mentions · 25 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra was not satisfied by giving words alone.”
  11. Maha Geeta #9 · 29 mentions · 19 September 1976
    “He has just brought Ashtavakra; Ashtavakra has just spoken a little — and the event has happened in Janaka!”
  12. Maha Geeta #17 · 29 mentions · 27 September 1976
    “Therefore, this joy of Janaka—Ashtavakra did not accept it silently.”
  13. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #8 · 28 mentions · 18 September 1976
    “This is why I go on speaking -- sometimes on the Geeta, sometimes on Ashtavakra, sometimes on Zarathustra, sometimes on Buddha, sometimes on Jesus, sometimes on Krishna -- who knows which words will stir your heart.”
  14. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #9 · 28 mentions · 19 September 1976
    “He had just brought Ashtavakra there, Asthavakra said a few things and Janak's enlightenment happened!”
  15. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #3: The Lifting of the Veil · 27 mentions · 13 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra said,”
  16. Maha Geeta #3 · 26 mentions · 13 September 1976
    “‘Ashtavakra said, You are the one witness of all and forever truly free.”
  17. Maha Geeta #8 · 26 mentions · 18 September 1976
    “That is why I go on speaking—sometimes on the Gita, sometimes on Ashtavakra, sometimes on Zarathustra, sometimes on Buddha, sometimes on Jesus, sometimes on Krishna.”
  18. Maha Geeta #76 · 26 mentions · 26 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra is as freshly new today as he ever was—and he will remain so forever.”
  19. Maha Geeta #79 · 26 mentions · 29 January 1977
    “With this sutra Ashtavakra warns you — do not conclude, listening to me, that I am supporting your indulgence; I am not supporting your renunciation either — what to speak of supporting your indulgence!”
  20. Maha Geeta #90 · 26 mentions · 9 February 1977
    “Ashtavakra’s entire teaching is: by hearing alone.”
  21. Maha Geeta #45 · 25 mentions · 25 November 1976
    “Ashtavakra’s sutras are unparalleled!”
  22. Maha Geeta #89 · 23 mentions · 8 February 1977
    “As a tree comes from a seed and then the tree again bears seeds, so a small inquiry arose in Janaka—like a seed—Ashtavakra made it a tree, and now Janaka is making it seed again.”
  23. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #7 · 21 mentions · 17 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra is very fortunate in having such a worthy listener as Janak.”
  24. Maha Geeta #7 · 21 mentions · 17 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra too is fortunate to have found a listener like Janaka.”
  25. Maha Geeta #27 · 21 mentions · 7 October 1976
    “Ashtavakra says: 'When have the done and the undone karmas — and the dualities, the wrestle of pleasure and pain — ever been quieted in anyone!'”
  26. Maha Geeta #21 · 19 mentions · 1 October 1976
    “First Ashtavakra tested Janaka.”
  27. Maha Geeta #22 · 19 mentions · 2 October 1976
    “So naturally, Kapila spoke to those before him, Ashtavakra to those before him, and Krishnamurti speaks to those who are before him.”
  28. Maha Geeta #19 · 18 mentions · 29 September 1976
    “Ashtavakra gave a very difficult test.”
  29. Maha Geeta #30 · 18 mentions · 10 October 1976
    “And Ashtavakra, in the womb, listened.”
  30. Maha Geeta #41 · 18 mentions · 21 November 1976
    “All these sutras of Ashtavakra are sutras of space.”
  31. Maha Geeta #87 · 18 mentions · 6 February 1977
    “The sutras Ashtavakra gave to Janaka are unparalleled keys to awakening.”
  32. Maha Geeta #25 · 17 mentions · 5 October 1976
    “In the carving of that channel Ashtavakra lends his hand—first testing, then offering temptation.”
  33. Maha Geeta #29 · 17 mentions · 9 October 1976
    “Ashtavakra said:”
  34. Maha Geeta #71 · 17 mentions · 21 January 1977
    “The whole message of Ashtavakra is the search for the seer.”
  35. Maha Geeta #91 · 17 mentions · 1 December 1976
    “We have listened to the talk of two mad lovers, Ashtavakra and Janaka.”
  36. Peevat Ramras Lagi Khumari #6 · 17 mentions · 16 January 1981
    “You neither raised the question of ochre robes nor of the mala; neither of Ashtavakra nor of Krishnamurti.”
  37. Maha Geeta #11 · 16 mentions · 21 September 1976
    “A few have died—the likes of Ashtavakra, Buddha, Mahavira—they died.”
  38. Sat Chit Anand #27: Crossianity · 15 mentions · 5 December 1987
    “His name was Ashtavakra.”
  39. Kano Suni So Juth Sab #6 · 15 mentions · 16 July 1977
    “Then naturally the question arises: Ashtavakra says there is no path.”
  40. Maha Geeta #31 · 15 mentions · 11 November 1976
    “Rarely is there one Ashtavakra, rarely does someone awaken; most people sleep and dream their dreams.”
  41. Maha Geeta #47 · 15 mentions · 27 November 1976
    “This is the entire proclamation of Ashtavakra.”
  42. Maha Geeta #65 · 15 mentions · 15 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra said, 'The ignorant man does not attain happiness by effort or by non-effort; and the wise man, simply by knowing the essence with certainty, becomes happy.'”
  43. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #10 · 14 mentions · 20 September 1976
    “If you can understand Ashtavakra then any effort will be useless, then you are practicing rites and rituals uselessly.”
  44. Geeta Darshan Vol. 17 #6 · 14 mentions
    “He was Ashtavakra.”
  45. Maha Geeta #10 · 14 mentions · 20 September 1976
    “If Ashtavakra makes sense to you, then you are laboring in vain, your rituals are in vain.”
  46. Maha Geeta #75 · 14 mentions · 25 January 1977
    “Krishna says, dedicate the desire for fruit to the Lord; Ashtavakra says, dedicate the beginning of the fruit to Him.”
  47. The Mahageeta, Vol 1 #4: Meditation: The Only Medicine · 13 mentions · 14 September 1976
    “You can see this in Ashtavakra.”
  48. Maha Geeta #34 · 13 mentions · 14 November 1976
    “While listening to Ashtavakra, keep this in mind: Ashtavakra is not a partisan of meditation, nor of samadhi, nor of yoga—he is opposed only to method as such.”
  49. Maha Geeta #35 · 13 mentions · 15 November 1976
    “In truth, all the aphorisms of Ashtavakra’s Gita are unique, but at certain places they touch the ultimate height—beyond which going seems no longer possible.”
  50. Maha Geeta #23 · 12 mentions · 3 October 1976
    “This is Ashtavakra’s Maha-Gita.”
  51. Maha Geeta #40 · 12 mentions · 20 November 1976
    “Ashtavakra has a sutra: “The talkative become silent; the great doers appear lazy.””
  52. Maha Geeta #46 · 12 mentions · 26 November 1976
    “This very state Ashtavakra has called swacchanda—utterly free.”
  53. Maha Geeta #61 · 12 mentions · 11 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra’s sutras are not such that only if you understand an entire scripture will they be useful.”
  54. Maha Geeta #69 · 12 mentions · 19 January 1977
    “This tendency lives in all of us; therefore Ashtavakra warns.”
  55. Maha Geeta #70 · 12 mentions · 20 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra says, “All is his.””
  56. Maha Geeta #72 · 12 mentions · 22 January 1977
    “Kabir criticized, Nanak criticized, Ashtavakra criticized.”
  57. Maha Geeta #85 · 12 mentions · 4 February 1977
    “Today’s sutras of Ashtavakra will be the last.”
  58. Athato Bhakti Jigyasa #12 · 11 mentions · 22 January 1978
    “Ask Shandilya, or Ashtavakra, or me—the answer will be the same: whatever supports the rhythm within you is good; whatever obstructs the rhythm within you is inauspicious.”
  59. Maha Geeta #16 · 11 mentions · 26 September 1976
    “Once in a while a Buddha, an Ashtavakra, a Christ, a Mohammed attains that state.”
  60. Maha Geeta #49 · 11 mentions · 29 November 1976
    “This is Ashtavakra’s emphasis: whatever is to be seen, see it now, in this very moment.”
  61. Maha Geeta #68 · 11 mentions · 18 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra says: the knower becomes without pulsation.”
  62. Maha Geeta #78 · 11 mentions · 28 January 1977
    “Don’t even ask about Ashtavakra!”
  63. Maha Geeta #83 · 11 mentions · 2 February 1977
    “When Ashtavakra says ‘for whom earth, stone and gold are alike’, he means: of equal value in the ultimate sense — not equal in the practical sense.”
  64. Es Dhammo Sanantano #91 · 10 mentions · 31 May 1977
    “This man must have been supremely lazy—what Ashtavakra calls the crest-jewel of laziness.”
  65. Kano Suni So Juth Sab #10 · 10 mentions · 20 July 1977
    “Then you are a connoisseur of skin; a dealer in hide—what Ashtavakra called a tanner.”
  66. Maha Geeta #33 · 10 mentions · 13 November 1976
    “Therefore I say again and again: it is impossible to improve upon Ashtavakra’s Gita.”
  67. Maha Geeta #58 · 10 mentions · 8 December 1976
    “Are you not hearing Ashtavakra?”
  68. Maha Geeta #13 · 9 mentions · 23 September 1976
    “Janaka might have gone mad had Ashtavakra not been present.”
  69. Maha Geeta #28 · 9 mentions · 8 October 1976
    “But Ashtavakra says the supreme state of knowing is when you experience the Veda only within yourself.”
  70. Maha Geeta #52 · 9 mentions · 2 December 1976
    “Would Ashtavakra?”
  71. Maha Geeta #55 · 9 mentions · 5 December 1976
    “Today’s first sutra of Ashtavakra is wondrous: Yasya bodhodaye—‘at whose dawning’.”
  72. Maha Geeta #67 · 9 mentions · 17 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra says: one who leans on the seen will never find himself.”
  73. Maha Geeta #86 · 9 mentions · 5 February 1977
    “If that does not appeal, and the words of Buddha, Mahavira, Patanjali, Ashtavakra set you trembling with awe within—as if a window opens inside and a gust of wind enters, the sun’s rays come in, and you feel, “Yes—this is it, it fits,” the heart leaps—then lea…”
  74. Kahe Kabir Main Pura Paya #10 · 8 mentions · 21 September 1979
    “You are saying that when I speak on Ashtavakra, I should stay with Ashtavakra alone.”
  75. Maha Geeta #56 · 8 mentions · 6 December 1976
    “Ashtavakra’s essence is this: be absorbed in seeing—be the seer.”
  76. Man Hi Pooja Man Hi Dhoop #9 · 8 mentions · 9 October 1979
    “Great pundits came—including Ashtavakra’s father.”
  77. Sumiran Mera Hari Kare #9 · 8 mentions · 29 May 1980
    “The second event in that great assembly: the arrival of Ashtavakra.”
  78. Maha Geeta #26 · 7 mentions · 6 October 1976
    “Ashtavakra speaks of that one—of that supreme sannyas, that supreme state—where neither indulgence nor renunciation applies, where neither rule works; neither enjoyment nor renunciation—where only witnessing is sufficient.”
  79. Maha Geeta #32 · 7 mentions · 12 November 1976
    “Mahavira knew truth, Buddha knew truth, Ashtavakra knew truth.”
  80. Maha Geeta #39 · 7 mentions · 19 November 1976
    “In Ashtavakra’s Gita you will often feel, “This is being repeated.””
  81. Maha Geeta #42 · 7 mentions · 22 November 1976
    “Films and plays pass through your heart; Ashtavakra does not.”
  82. Maha Geeta #51 · 7 mentions · 1 December 1976
    “Someone has asked: Ashtavakra gave such an important scripture to the world—why did no sect form around him?”
  83. Maha Geeta #53 · 7 mentions · 3 December 1976
    “What happened to Ashtavakra can happen to you.”
  84. Maha Geeta #64 · 7 mentions · 14 January 1977
    “When Ashtavakra says: Drop choosing—drop all choosing; drop all doership; drop the sense of the doer—you will be afraid: “Won’t this produce a scattering?””
  85. Maha Geeta #81 · 7 mentions · 31 January 1977
    “This is what Ashtavakra says again and again—the wise lives by self-sprungness.”
  86. Shiv Sutra #9 · 7 mentions · 19 September 1974
    “His name was Ashtavakra.”
  87. The Great Path #9: Right Search, Wrong Direction · 6 mentions · 19 September 1974
    “He was Ashtavakra.”
  88. Maha Geeta #57 · 6 mentions · 7 December 1976
    “If you accept this upon hearing Ashtavakra, it will not be certain knowledge.”
  89. Maha Geeta #74 · 6 mentions · 24 January 1977
    “You heard Ashtavakra yesterday?”
  90. Maha Geeta #77 · 6 mentions · 27 January 1977
    “Understand exactly as Ashtavakra says.”
  91. Bodhidharma: The Greatest Zen Master #7: Get ready and claim your inheritance · 5 mentions · 8 July 1987
    “There is a beautiful story about one of the very great mystics, Ashtavakra.”
  92. The Messiah, Vol 2 #5: Not even the heart... only a witness · 5 mentions · 22 January 1987
    “His name was Ashtavakra.”
  93. Bhakti Sutra #17 · 5 mentions · 17 March 1976
    “He invited all pundits—except one: Ashtavakra, a unique knower—whose body was crooked in eight places—hence his name.”
  94. Jagat Taraiya Bhor Ki #4 · 5 mentions · 14 March 1977
    “A few days ago you beat the drum for Ashtavakra’s witnessing, and then you struck up the tune of devotion to compassion.”
  95. Maha Geeta #43 · 5 mentions · 23 November 1976
    “Ashtavakra said, "In whatever you see, it is only you that shines forth.”
  96. Maha Geeta #73 · 5 mentions · 23 January 1977
    “Ashtavakra’s first sutra:”
  97. Maha Geeta #80 · 5 mentions · 30 January 1977
    “Buddhas, Krishna, Ashtavakra, Meera, Kabir—they too are in nature, but unbenumbed, awake.”
  98. Samadhi Ke Sapat Dwar #8 · 5 mentions · 13 February 1973
    “He became like Ashtavakra—bent in eight places.”
  99. Sanch Sanch So Sanch #11 · 5 mentions · 31 January 1981
    “You know the story of Ashtavakra—perhaps no one more intelligent ever lived, but his body was crooked in eight places; hence his name.”
  100. Maha Geeta #36 · 4 mentions · 16 November 1976
    “Ashtavakra’s way too is the way of truth; therefore he emphasizes witnessing.”
  101. Maha Geeta #60 · 4 mentions · 10 December 1976
    “Ashtavakra has said again and again: live the life that is given to you as it is; do not demand otherwise.”
  102. Tao Upanishad #82 · 4 mentions · 21 November 1973
    “You must have heard the story of Ashtavakra.”
  103. Jyun Tha Tyun Thaharaya #3 · 3 mentions · 13 September 1980
    “Thate, has just written a book on the Ashtavakra Gita.”
  104. Maha Geeta #50 · 3 mentions · 30 November 1976
    “Krishna said something, Ashtavakra says something else, Buddha said something, Christ said something—yet they have not said different things.”