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Osho on What is the mystery of the eight crookednesses of Ashtavakra?

What is the mystery of the eight crookednesses of Ashtavakra?

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Truth is already our nature; the question of "how" is irrelevant, for even in crookedness, the Self remains untouched.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source definition
Core Insight:
According to Osho, Ashtavakra’s eight crookednesses symbolize a curse deforming Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga, declaring that neither scripture nor sadhana yields truth. Even if body and mind are twisted, the Self stays untouched—like space in a crooked pot. The real mystery: truth is already our nature, so the question “how” is irrelevant.
No matter how your body or mind seems, the real you is like open space—already fine without doing anything.
Why this matters practically
- Relieves pressure to “achieve” spirituality; rest in innate being.
- Shifts practice from techniques to direct awareness of the Self.
- Encourages acceptance of imperfections without self-judgment.
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