According to Osho, the resolve in meditation is repeated not because quantity creates transformation, but because repetition increases the chance that the distracted, ‘deaf’ mind truly hears it. Among crowds within and without, a single clear hearing triggers the work in one stroke. Repeating the sankalpa anchors attention, cuts through inner noise, and readies the decisive moment.
We repeat our meditation promise so our busy mind finally hears it once—and that one real hearing starts the change.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, a friend has asked: in the practice of resolve (sankalpa), doesn’t a little repression slip in? In the practice of resolve, doesn’t a touch of bodily mortification (kaya-klesh) come in?
Two things need to be understood here. First: if a resolve is taken in order to suppress a tendency, that is a different matter. For example, a person has a habit of overeating. If, to get rid of this habit, he takes a vow of fasting, then there will be repression. But if there is no habit of overeating, nor any idea of fighting overeating, and he takes a vow to fast, then it is simply a resolve; there is no repression in it. In this meditation camp the resolve I have spoken of is not to suppress any tendency, but to expand resolve itself. Resolve can be used to suppress a tendency—it can be, it is, it has been. But that is the negative form of resolve. I go out of this room: two possibilities are there. I go out because being outside feels joyous, or I go out…
Another friend has asked: If a seeker takes sannyas, will it help him in meditation?
To those friends who come to watch, I would say: try doing it as well. Because from outside, nothing at all can be seen. You will see people dancing and jumping; what is happening within them, you will have no idea. And what is happening within—that alone is the real thing. If that could be seen, something would be seen; otherwise, nothing has been seen. Some things can be seen from the outside; some things can be seen only from within. Meditation and religion are such things that can be seen only from within; they cannot be seen from the outside. Look from the outside too—one day, stand outside and watch; another day, stand inside and watch as well. Standing outside, chatting and laughing, let no one think that he is very intelligent. Having watched from outside, do not conclude that these people are mad and I am wise. In…
Osho, is there any method to increase willpower?
So do not take a very big resolve all at once, one that you already know is beyond you—and this is what often happens: those who set out on the journey of resolve take resolves beyond their limits. Your own mind counsels you, “Yes, take it.” And then you get stuck, and you fall. Then the same mind says, “Now drop it. You’re not anyone’s slave; you took it yourself, now leave it.” Why does the mind do this? Because the greater your resolve becomes, the smaller your mind becomes. The day a resolve is fulfilled, the mind dies; it cannot survive. Mind and resolve are opposing forces. Mind is the name of your weakness; resolve is the name of your soul. Mind is your disease; resolve is your health. Therefore the mind will keep putting you in difficulties. It will say, “Take a big one.” When you take it,…
Disease, languor, doubt, carelessness, laziness, sensuality, delusion, impotency and instability are the obstacles that distract the mind. Anguish, despair, tremors and irregular breathing are the symptoms of a distracted mind.
TO REMOVE THESE, MEDITATE ON ONE PRINCIPLE. Children are not lazy. They are bubbling with energy. You have to force them to go to sleep; you have to force them to be silent; you have to force them to sit for few minutes in order to relax. They are not tense: this is your idea. They are full of energy -- such tiny beings with so much energy From where this energy comes? They are still unfrustrated. They don't know that in this life, whatsoever you do nothing is achieved. They are unaware -- blissfully unaware: that's why so much energy. And you have been doing many things, and nothing is achieved -- laziness settles. It is like dust settling in you -- of all failures, frustrations, every dream gone sour. It settles Then you become lazy. In the morning, you think, "For what to get up again? For what"…
Being beyond the limits of time he is the master of masters. He is known as aum.
REPEAT AND MEDITATE ON AUM. REPEATING AND MEDITATING ON AUM BRINGS ABOUT THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALL OBSTACLES AND AN AWAKENING OF A NEW CONSCIOUSNESS. Remember this -- desire and need -- these two words. Desire is of the mind; need is of the body. Desire and need, then you are a clock with hands. Only need, no desire, then you are a clock without hands, and when need also drops, you have gone beyond time. This is eternity; beyond time is eternity. For example: if I don't look at the watch -- and I have to look continuously the whole day -- if I don't look at the watch, I don't know what is the time. Even if I have seen it five minutes before, again I have to look because I don't know exactly, because now -- no time inside -- only the body is ticking. Consciousness has no…