Ask Osho!

Is the saying 'mahājanah yena gatah sa panthāh' (the path is that which the great ones have trodden) wrong?

Synthesized from Source definition

"The true mahājan is your own soul; follow its voice, for you are the ultimate authority of your own consciousness."

Core Insight:
According to Osho, the maxim is misleading if taken to mean “follow others,” because deciding who a mahājan is already rests on your own discernment. Psychologically you can never walk behind another; the final authority is your consciousness. Thus, the true mahājan is your own soul—follow its voice. If it points to a master, you still follow yourself.
You can’t truly copy someone else’s path; you have to listen to your own inner voice to choose any path.
Why this matters practically
- Builds self-trust and responsibility instead of blind imitation.
- Avoids confusion from conflicting authorities by using inner discernment as your compass.
- Transforms guidance from teachers into conscious, voluntary learning rather than dependence.
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