According to Osho, the pendant (mala) means whatever your own living understanding gives it—an expression of your freedom, joy, and inner search—not a dogma to be defended with borrowed words. Stop leaning on him for ready-made meanings; answer from your heart. If nothing arises, acknowledge your inner blockage and inquire directly; responsibility and intelligence must mature within you.
It means whatever it honestly means to you—speak from your heart, and if you’re unsure, admit it and look within.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, this pendant—what does it mean?
Use a little of your own intelligence too. It is not right to lean on me for every little thing. Otherwise you will remain forever helpless. Today someone asks you about a pendant; tomorrow they will ask something else—and again you will wait for me to tell you what to say. Use your own intelligence. And always remember: the less you have to depend on me, the better. The more you can be free of me, the better. Let answers arise from within you. And if no answer arises, you can at least say: “It’s my freedom, my joy.” I don’t go around asking people, “Why are you wearing that kind of collar? Why those shoes?” No one has the right to ask me why I wear this mala. I have that much right. But the difficulty does not come from others; it comes from your own mind. You keep…
Deva means divine or godly, and kalyani means one who brings blessings. The full name will mean: one who brings divine blessings... and each of us has the power to become a blessing to the world. The same energy can become destructive and a curse. The energy is the same; whether it becomes destruction or creation depends on one's choice. The energy in itself is neutral -- you can use it this way or that. Millions of people have decided to be destructive because they think that if they are destructive to others they are not going to be destructive to themselves. They think that to protect themselves, to be safe, to be secure, the only way is to be destructive to the world, to others. But their whole logic is against nature; it doesn't happen, it can't happen.
Beloved Osho, in the last sitting you spoke about the mala, about changing the color of the clothing, about changing the name, and the reasons for these things. Why do you wish your own picture to be worn around the neck, especially when you deny being a guru?
If someone comes, I give him the mala and the picture with it. It is predictable that he should ask, "Why this picture of yours?" This is very predictable. But if he does not ask -- if he simply takes the mala and asks no questions, if he is not curious -- he has given a deeper hint about himself, that things which cannot be questioned can be delivered to him. There are things which cannot be delivered if questioned, because no proof can be given for them, no reasoning can be given for them. There cannot be answers to some questions. They are bare statements of knowing -- with no proofs, with no criteria. So if I see someone who comes to me, and I have given him things about which the ordinary mind is prone to ask questions and he does not ask them, he has proven capable…
Deva means divine and shubha means goodness -- divine goodness. Human beings are good, but their goodness is also part of their policy. They say that honesty is the best policy. Even through goodness they want to earn something. It is a bargain. To be good is beneficial, hence they are good. Their goodness is not unconditional; it is conditional. They want you to be good to them, that's why they are good to you. When I call it divine goodness, it means unconditional. And let this become your very style of life. Be unconditionally good -- not that because some person is good to you, you have to be good. Even if some person is bad towards you, you have to be good. That's the meaning when Jesus says to love your enemy. It is very simple to love your friend; everybody loves their friend.
Osho, you have said that sannyas is the realization of truth. Then are ochre robes and the mala also essential for sannyas? And can a person not walk on your path without initiation? Kindly guide.
The day before yesterday a friend asked—he has taken sannyas, a simple-hearted man—he asked, “What is the scientific reason for this mala?” How can a mala possibly have a scientific reason? Its reason is religious, inward—not scientific. I told him, “If you want something ‘scientific,’ ask Laxmi.” A scientific reason? Does love ever have a scientific reason? A young man fell in love with Mulla Nasruddin’s daughter. He came and said, “I am in love with your daughter; please permit me to marry her.” Mulla said, “First prove it—what is the cause of your love?” The young man replied, “There is no cause, sir! Love has happened. Where there is a cause, can there be love? Where there is a cause, there is business, a bargain. Love is causeless.” Your love has happened with me; mine with you. Now some symbol becomes necessary. Think of this mala as the seven…