According to Osho, the 'secret' of Guru Purnima on Ashadha’s full moon is poetic, not astronomical: the full moon is a metaphor for totality, innocence and luminous presence through which the guru’s wisdom can be reflected; grasping this symbolism—neither dismissing it as fantasy nor mistaking it for fact—opens the heart to the mystery of discipleship.
It’s a symbolic festival: the bright full moon stands for a clear, pure heart that can mirror the teacher’s light.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, what is the definition of God?
Words are very small. If you say God is light, then what of darkness? The scriptures have said that God is light. Suppose we accept this as a definition—then what about darkness? Where will darkness go? Darkness is too; in fact it is far more than light. Light sometimes is and sometimes is not; darkness is always, eternal. Where will you place darkness? If you say God is light, darkness is left out. If you say God is darkness, then light is left out. If you say God is both darkness and light, a contradiction arises: they cannot be together. Try to have both darkness and light in the same room. If you bring in light, darkness disappears; if you preserve darkness, you cannot have light. Then how can both be together? That becomes an impossibility. So you cannot say “both” either. Then the fourth device is to say: it…
Osho, on this sacred occasion of Guru Purnima, kindly accept our prostrations offered with deep love and gratitude by all of us disciples. Also, in the following guru-prayer verse the Guru is said to be the forms of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, but then he is further called “the very Parabrahman made manifest”! Please shower your grace and help us understand these diverse forms of the Guru. The verse is: gurur brahmā gurur viṣṇuḥ gurur devo maheśvaraḥ | guruḥ sākṣāt parabrahma tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ||
A disciple is one ready to be annihilated. A student is busy polishing himself: more knowledge, more information, more degrees, more certificates, more medals. The student is engaged in self-decoration. The curious has just begun the journey—Brahma’s work has begun—the seed is sown; creation begins. The student moves a little ahead—two leaves unfold. The disciple is one ready to die, to be dissolved—who says, “I am ready to offer everything to the Guru.” From that readiness a disciple is born. Not every student is a disciple. A student’s eagerness is for knowledge; a disciple’s eagerness is for meditation. Knowledge feeds and polishes your ego; meditation kills and dissolves it. - The fourth state is the devotee. A devotee means one who has already dissolved. The disciple began; the devotee completed. The devotee knows the state of Parabrahman—the one who, before the Guru, has utterly dissolved; nothing remains even to say,…
The full-moon night has a very alchemical impact on the human consciousness. Buddha became enlightened on the full-moon night -- not only that, he was born on the same full moon night, he became enlightened on the same full-moon night, he died on the same full moon. His birthday, his death day, his enlightenment day, all fall on one day -- the full-moon night... the same month, the same night. The full moon has tremendous importance, so just do one thing: you can remain available, that's all. If it happens, good; if it doesn't happen don't feel worried about it. Next time again you try -- when the full-moon night comes, start at least five days before, sitting in the night, just waiting. Wait one hour every night for five days, then the full moon will come.
Why do Puranic, mythic tales gather around enlightened ones? Please explain.
The full moon is a symbol of fullness. Grasping that symbol, the Purana says: the Buddha was born whole—born on a full-moon night—born cool, radiant, with the complete beauty, carrying a unique ambrosia. Then, on a full-moon night, that hidden nectar within him flowed forth, blossomed, opened like a lotus—he attained. And on a full-moon night he departed, for even the death of a buddha is full, as his birth was full. Everything in the Buddha’s life is complete. To say this—that everything in the Buddha’s life is complete—we chose the symbol of the full moon. People choose different symbols, but the value lies not in the symbol itself; the value is in the meaning we pour into it. That is why Puranas arise around enlightened ones; mythic stories are created. Through the meanings hidden in those stories you can understand what buddhahood signifies. There are two kinds of fools…
The master bankei's talks were attended not only by zen students but by persons of all ranks and sects. He never quoted sutras nor indulged in scholastic dissertations. Instead, his words were spoken directly from his heart to the hearts of his listeners.
HIS LARGE AUDIENCES ANGERED A PRIEST OF THE NICHIREN SECT BECAUSE THE ADHERENTS HAD LEFT TO HEAR ABOUT ZEN. THE SELF-CENTERED NICHIREN PRIEST CAME TO THE TEMPLE, DETERMINED TO DEBATE WITH BANKEI. "HEY, ZEN TEACHER!" HE CALLED OUT. "WAIT A MINUTE. WHOEVER RESPECTS YOU WILL OBEY WHAT YOU SAY, BUT A MAN LIKE MYSELF DOES NOT RESPECT YOU. CAN YOU MAKE ME OBEY YOU?" "COME UP BESIDE ME AND I WILL SHOW YOU, " SAID BANKEI. PROUDLY THE PRIEST PUSHED HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD TO THE TEACHER. BANKEI SMILED. "COME OVER TO MY LEFT SIDE." THE PRIEST OBEYED. "NO," SAID BANKEI, "WE MAY TALK BETTER IF YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. STEP OVER HERE." THE PRIEST STEPPED PROUDLY OVER TO THE RIGHT. "YOU SEE," OBSERVED BANKEI, "YOU ARE OBEYING ME AND I THINK YOU ARE A VERY GENTLE PERSON. NOW SIT DOWN AND LISTEN." The Master laughed and…