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What happens when one feels further away from enlightenment after years of seeking?

“

When you feel further from enlightenment, it is a sign that you have made it a future goal; drop the goal and simply rest in the present, for enlightenment is a by-product of being here-now.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source outcome
Core Insight:
According to Osho, feeling farther from enlightenment after years of seeking means the mind has turned enlightenment into a future goal, pulling you out of the only place it happens—the present. Mind lives in past/future, not now. Drop the goal, clean the moment of memory and imagination, rest in no-mind; then enlightenment appears on its own as a by-product of being here-now.
If you chase enlightenment like a prize, it keeps running ahead; stop chasing, be here now, and it shows up by itself.
Why this matters practically
- Ends exhausting spiritual striving by dropping future-oriented goals.
- Cultivates present-moment awareness and reduces anxiety about past/future.
- Gives a practical focus: no-mind—gently let go of memories and imaginings.
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