Ask Osho!
Osho on Is it true that John the Baptist nearly drowned his disciples during baptism, and is this type of experience necessary for a disciple?

Is it true that John the Baptist nearly drowned his disciples during baptism, and is this type of experience necessary for a disciple?

A true Master must drown you existentially, stripping away the familiar so that the new can blossom; it requires total commitment and the courage to embrace the unknown.

— Osho
According to Osho, yes: John the Baptist’s near‑drowning baptism dramatizes the disciple’s necessary symbolic death—of past, beliefs, and second‑hand knowledge—so true resurrection and rebirth can happen. Every real Master “drowns” you existentially, not physically, stripping the familiar so the new can flower. This demands total commitment—one Master, dropping prior initiations—and the courage to risk the unknown promise over old securities.

It’s not about water; it’s about letting your old self die so you can start fresh, trusting one guide fully to help you through.

Keep Exploring

Related Questions on Baptism