What is the significance of honor in relation to national identity?

Osho, in a recent article in the international herald tribune, william borders, a longtime observer of this country for the new york times' office in new delhi, wrote of how we are an embarrassment to "image-shy india". What is it about india that makes indians so concerned about their international image? And why cannot india be proud of you? Never has there been a religious leader in history that has received so much publicity abroad.

And if India really feels it has some claim to being spiritual, then let India disappear first. That will be proof. Let India disappear as a nation; let it become an international land. That will be proof, concrete proof. But people go on talking about non-violence in India, and go on preparing for war. They go on talking about brotherhood and the unity of all religions, and just go on doing the opposite of it. Because I am exposing things as they are, because I am functioning like an x-ray, they are angry. Nobody likes the x-ray, because it reveals your bones, your skeleton, your skull; and you have been thinking yourself so beautiful and all that comes out is just a skeleton? So this is you? You become angry, you become annoyed. Their annoyance with me is understandable. I perfectly understand it. India has lived for a thousand years…

Osho, Indians are rejected and disdained all over the world. Even the mere mention of Indian nationality changes people’s behavior—as if they were talking to a beggar or an antisocial person. Moreover, even in this ashram Indians are treated quite differently, and sometimes very harshly. Is being born in this country some misfortune or undesirable event? At times it feels even stranger, because in casual conversation your sannyasins are divided into Indians and non-Indians. Kindly say something about this situation.

Kamal Bharati!... Kamal has just returned from traveling around the whole world. Naturally this question must have arisen for him again and again: why are Indians rejected and disrespected?... We must look for the reasons. Are there reasons? First: the Indian ego—the claim that we are a holy land, a land of merit; that we are religious people, that we are virtuous—creates disrespect in the world. These proclamations of yours have become hollow. Ages have passed; long ago they turned hollow. Yes, once there were a few people in this country who, realizing the divine, became radiant; who had known the nectar. But because of a few people, no land called India becomes holy. Are lands anywhere holy or unholy? The earth is one. Even the land is not really separate. It’s not as if India and China are cut apart. It’s not as if India and Pakistan are truly…

Osho, I feel that I have nothing to lay at your feet, and this poverty is unbearable. Kirti has asked. Keep in mind what I was just saying: this meekness is also a form of ego. Do not think this meekness is anything very good; it is only the shadow of ego. What is the need to offer anything? What is the need to place something at my feet? Stay close to me and learn to be a zero—that is enough. Then everything has been offered. Just offer your ego—enough is enough.

In a Jain temple the talk goes on: “Jainism is the greatest.” No objection there. In a Hindu temple: “Hinduism is the greatest.” In the mosque: “There is no faith greater than Islam.” These discussions go on within their own boundaries, and everyone present nods—because they are all Muslims, or all Hindus, or all Jains. But try to see this truth: everyone says the same thing. If donkeys and horses could speak, they too would say the same: “None greater than us.” I have heard that when Darwin propounded that man evolved from apes, there was an uproar among humans. It didn’t sit well—they were hurt: “We evolved from apes!” They had always thought God created them; suddenly the paternity changed! From God to ape—what a switch! Where God—and where an ape! Humans were angry; none was ready to accept it. But I have heard, there was a great uproar…

Osho, I am a thoughtful young man who cannot stand the present condition of my country. Our India, crushed under superstitions and obscurantist, antiquated ideas, has become sheer hell. My blood boils seeing its rotten state, and I grow impatient to do something for this unlucky country. Osho, as an individual, what is my duty toward this nation? What can I do so that this country’s wretchedness, hunger, hypocrisy, indolence, and stench are wiped out?

In China, a six-thousand-year-old statement was found written on human skin: “I don’t like the present state of the country.” Six thousand years ago! In Babylon, on a brick almost as old, there’s a statement that if you read it you would think it is this morning’s Poona Herald editorial: “We don’t like the present condition. Students don’t listen to teachers; discipline is corrupt. Children don’t heed their parents. The very foundation of family has broken. Love has vanished from the world; hatred and enmity reign!” Six thousand years ago, the same complaint! And today, the same! When were conditions ever good? All the scriptures claim they were good before—but when was this “before”? There never was such a “before.” Conditions used to be worse. You call Rama’s time “Ram-rajya,” the rule of Rama. The conditions were worse than today. Don’t ever make the mistake of bringing Ram-rajya back! A…

Osho, what is the difference between surrender and blind imitation?

So be careful: the freedom you allow yourself, allow the other too. You have no right to judge another as blindly credulous or as a surrendered being. Drop that concern. You cannot judge anyway—how will you enter another’s heart? How will you know? Think only about yourself. See within whether, up to now, you have lived by blind belief or by surrender. Decide only there; leave worrying about others. Otherwise, all your judgments will be wrong. Jesus said: Judge not; do not set yourself up as a judge in relation to another. To the friend who has asked: if you are asking for yourself, good. Drop worrying about others. Look within and see: whatever I have been clinging to till now—have I ever staked my life to hold it? Have I meditated for it? Have I loved for it? Or am I just clutching what culture, society, civilization handed me?…