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Osho on What did Nansen mean by 'special treatment' for Joshu?

What did Nansen mean by 'special treatment' for Joshu?

Special treatment is not privilege; it is the vigilant, loving attention that nurtures the imminent flowering of a soul on the brink of awakening.

— Osho
According to Osho, 'special treatment' was not a privileged job but vigilant, loving attention: recognize Joshu’s nearness to awakening, don’t neglect him among the many monks, and provide a supportive, alert environment because his ‘flowering’ was imminent. Having tasted satori, he needed careful guidance on the clear, lighted path so his ripening could mature into full enlightenment.

Treat Joshu gently and pay close attention, because he’s about to wake up inside—like a bud about to bloom.

In His Own Words

From the Discourses

Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.

Joshu The Lion S Roar · Discourse 2
1988-10-16 · Gautam the Buddha Auditorium · English

Maneesha has asked: beloved Osho, whatever nansen meant when he requested "special treatment" for joshu, apparently it didn't mean joshu moving into lao tzu house and having private, daily chats with the master. On the contrary, joshu's first job was in zorba the buddha restaurant, slaving over a hot stove. What is the lesson here for us?

She must have asked him, and he was happy. There was a question of putting someone else as the ashram in-charge. I had one idea in my mind and I told Neelam, "You ask a beautiful woman, perfectly capable -- Zareen." She has been doing so well with her job at the gate with the visitors, with the receptionists, taking people around the ashram. I thought perhaps she would be good as the in-charge of the ashram. Neelam talked to her, and Zareen went to Hasya, who is the international secretary. Zareen told Hasya that she is not a "puppet type." She will do whatever she wants to do; nobody can dictate to her. It is perfectly good, but in a commune it will immediately create conflicts. I had to drop the idea. Without Anando, I would have not known and things would have gone wrong. Anando informed me --…
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Joshu The Lion S Roar · Discourse 1
1988-10-15 · Gautam the Buddha Auditorium · English
Question: BELOVED OSHO, JOSHU, ALSO KNOWN AS CHAO-CHOU, WAS BORN IN 778. WHEN HE FIRST MET NANSEN, JOSHU ENTERED THE MASTER'S ROOM IN THE MONASTERY. NANSEN WAS LYING DOWN, AND HIS FIRST QUESTION TO JOSHU WAS: "WHERE HAVE YOU COME FROM?" ANG TEMPLE," REPLIED JOSHU. ("JUI-HSIANG" MEANS HOLY IMAGE). "DO YOU STILL SEE THE HOLY IMAGE?" NANSEN ASKED. "NO, I DON'T," REPLIED JOSHU, "I ONLY SEE THE TATHAGATA LYING DOWN." AT THIS, NANSEN GOT UP, SAYING, "ARE YOU A MONK WHO HAS A MASTER OR ONE WITHOUT A MASTER?" "With A MASTER," REPLIED JOSHU. "WHO IS YOUR MASTER?" NANSEN ASKED. "EARLY SPRING IS COLD," SAID JOSHU. "I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE WELL." NANSEN CALLED THE SENIOR MONK AND SAID, "GIVE HIM SPECIAL TREATMENT." Nansen was lying down. Now without saying directly that "You are the buddha; now what have I to do with any holy image?"...
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Nansen The Point Of Departure · Discourse 10
1988-10-14 · Gautam the Buddha Auditorium · English
Question: BELOVED OSHO, ONCE NANSEN SAID TO THE ASSEMBLED MONKS, "THE WAY IS NOT OUTSIDE THINGS; OUTSIDE THINGS THERE IS NO WAY." JOSHU ASKED, "WHAT IS THE WAY WHICH IS OUTSIDE THINGS?" NANSEN IMMEDIATELY STRUCK HIM. JOSHU CAUGHT HOLD OF THE STICK AND SAID, "FROM NOW ON, DON'T STRIKE SOMEBODY BY MISTAKE!" NANSEN SAID, "IT'S EASY TO SPEAK OF A DRAGON, BUT DIFFICULT TO PLEASE ME!" AND THROWING DOWN HIS STICK, HE WENT BACK TO HIS ROOM. AT ANOTHER TIME, JOSHU ASKED NANSEN, "WHEN ONE REALIZES THAT `THERE IS,' WHERE SHOULD HE GO FROM THERE?" NANSEN REPLIED, "HE SHOULD GO DOWN THE HILL TO BECOME A BUFFALO IN THE VILLAGE BELOW!" JOSHU THANKED NANSEN FOR HAVING LED HIM TO HIS FULL ENLIGHTENMENT. IN RESPONSE, NANSEN COMMENTED, "LAST NIGHT, AT THE THIRD WATCH, THE MOON SHONE THROUGH THE WINDOW.
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