According to Osho, “Polacks” is his playful label for Polish people—used to spark laughter and loosen national egos—while also honoring them as brave seekers longing for sannyas despite communist repression. He welcomes more Polish disciples, even envisioning a Polish sub-community, showing how humor can unite diverse cultures and celebrate courage on the spiritual path.
Osho jokes to help people drop national pride while praising Polish seekers who still pursue truth even when it’s hard.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Question: OSHO, WHY DO YOU CALL MORAJI DESAI A POLACK? All godly people have been godless. They have to be -- AES DHAMMO SANANTANO -- because this is the ultimate law. When you know, you know there is no God. Your very knowing, your awareness, your consciousness, is all that is. But people who live in words go on talking about these things unconsciously. One hundred Italian soldiers had only ninety-nine rifles with bayonets. Their sergeant said, "Everybody rush up the hill. You, Luigi, without a rifle, you just say, 'Bang, bang -- stick, stick.' " They charged up the hill. Luigi came face to face with a six-and-a-half-foot-tall Polack. Luigi shouted, "Bang, bang -- stick, stick." The Polack said, "Tank, tank!" This is how theologians go on talking: God-God, Self-Self, Truth-Truth! But there is nothing else. "Why are you huffing and puffing, Zbigniew?
Osho, I love the way you appreciated the intelligence of the polish people.
ARE YOU TOO A POLACK? -- because there are Polacks everywhere. India particularly has Polacks. They are masquerading as Indians. Polacks are found in every shape and size, everywhere. Remember, Polacks don't belong only to Poland; in fact, we should rename the whole earth "Poland" Polacks are everywhere! India has many Polacks, very famous Polacks -- Morarji Desai is a Polack, Muktananda is a Polack. Do you know, Sant Maharaj, if Jimmy Carter, Leonid Bresznev and Morarji Desai together went sky-diving and none of their chutes opened, who would be the last one to hit the ground? Of course, Morarji Desai, because he would have to stop to get directions -- or maybe a few times to sip his own water of life. Just the other day when I was talking about the mouse who was saying to the other mouse, "Don't believe a thing that I say because I…
Question: BELOVED OSHO, DO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT OR PREVENT POLACKS WITH YOUR JOKES? Deva Yachana, I never thought that you were also a Polack! There are many Polacks here -- through my jokes I have discovered them; otherwise they hide themselves so perfectly! It is my way of discovering who are the Polacks among my sannyasins. In Poland all are not Polacks, and outside Poland all are not non-Polacks either. So don't be worried -- I am not saying anything against Polacks as such. They are beautiful people, innocent people; they are simple people. And sometimes simple people are also simpletons, but I love them. Those who can understand me will be attracted, and those who cannot understand me, whether I tell the jokes or not will not make any difference to them. A Polack traveling on a train goes to the toilet for a piss.
Question: BELOVED MASTER, AND WHAT ABOUT THE POLACKS? Purnananda, my God, are you a Polack? I was aware that one of my sannyasins, Anando, was a Polack, but I was not talking about Polacks because one Polack cannot do much. But two Polacks are too much; then there is danger! Polacks are great people, even greater than the Italians. Italians are nothing compared to the Polacks! You see, they were searching for a pope, they could not find one in Italy -- they had to choose a Polack. If you are searching for a fool you have to go to Poland. Swami Anando has contributed this authentic letter from his Polish mother: Dear Son, Just a few lines to let you know that I be still alive. I writing this letter slowly because I know you not able to read fast. You won't know the house when you get home.
Question: OSHO, HAVE YOU COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN ABOUT US, THE POOR POLACKS? It is impossible for me to forget the Polacks, but once in a while it is good for you to remind me because I have to take care of so many kinds of idiots that I cannot devote my whole time to the Polacks! Marlboro cigarettes were advertised for the first time ever on Polish television recently. The response startled advertising executives throughout the world... sales of horses and cowboy hats went up by five hundred percent! What does it say at the bottom of a Polish Coca-Cola bottle? 'Open other end.' Did you hear about the Polack who lost his girlfriend? He could not remember where he laid her. How can you tell if a Polack has been in your backyard? The garbage is gone and the dog is pregnant.