How do you find new names for your sannyasins?

Question: OSHO, HOW DO YOU ALWAYS FIND NEW NAMES TO GIVE TO YOUR SANNYASINS? TWO WOMEN were looking into new arrivals in a bookshop. One woman was very much interested in one book; the title of the book was: How to Torture Your Husband. She told to the other woman, "Look at this book! I am going to purchase it! Are you also interested in it?" The other woman said, "NO, I have my own system!" I also have my own system, but I cannot tell YOU! Certainly I have given more names than anybody may have ever given in the whole history -- almost two hundred thousand sannyasins are there in the world! -- but my system is such that I can give names to the whole humanity. One Red Indian boy was asking his father, "Father, what is the way how you give names to new children?

Osho, how do you choose the names of people being initiated into sannyas just by taking one look at them?

Shraddhanand! An old hippie was getting his hair cut. The barber asked, “Were you ever in the navy?” The hippie asked in surprise, “How did you know? Are you also...!” “No, sir,” the barber said, “I just now found this sailor’s cap tangled in your hair.” It doesn’t take much investigation. Now, for example, Shraddhanand, I looked at you—no shraddha (faith), no anand (bliss)—so I said, all right: Shraddhanand! There are two things you need: shraddha and anand. This is a prescription, brother. It’s not your name; it’s a prescription for the medicine you need—these two things. On your face I saw doubt, your expression funereal, as if you were about to cry any moment, if not already crying—so I quickly said: Shraddhanand! Brother, don’t cry! What’s done is done. Hearing “Shraddhanand,” you did brighten a little; you felt steadied, heartened. The very word anand cheered you up: “Ah, me…

(To June) This is your new name: Ma Sadhyo. Sadhyo means the end, the goal. The goal is not outside -- you are the goal. The target is not somewhere else -- you are the target. You are both the means and you are the end. Unless one discovers oneself one remains just a means. The moment one has discovered oneself one has found the end. The circumference of your being is the means: the body, the mind, the heart. Use all of them to reach the innermost core, the very center -- and that is the end. In finding it one finds everything that is needed to be found. In knowing it all is known. In reaching it one reaches god.

Osho, when you initiate disciples into sannyas you give them beautiful names. Please be kind enough to explain the mystery and meaning of these beautiful names.

A name is just a name. If I have to give one, I give a beautiful one—why give an ugly one? If I wished I could say, “Swami Chuhadmal Fuhradmal.” A name is just a name. And if I must give it, I give a beautiful one. There isn’t much in it. What meaning can a name really hold? Meaning belongs to action. Don’t get stuck relying on a name. If you do something, something will happen; if you allow something to happen, something will happen. However beautiful a name I give you—what will that do? If only life changed by changing a name—how simple it would be! By giving you a beautiful name I am expressing my aspiration, my longing for you. By giving you a beautiful name I am blessing you: I have desired the most beautiful in you! Now you must do something. By giving you a…

Deva Rahi: It means a traveller to the divine, a pilgrim of the divine -- deva means divine, rahi means a traveller. You are a traveller and you have been a traveller for a long time, many lives. This is not the first time that you have become interested in it; you are an old one. But every time you have tried, you have tried only half-heartedly, hence you have travelled long but you have not arrived yet. Many times the goal was very close by and you missed it. Many times it was within your reach but you go tired, or just when the tide was going to turn you left the effort; you turned back or you went astray into some other thing.... That's how you have been missing. Please, don't miss this time!