According to Osho, if Mulla Nasrudin ran a group, it would be a Sufi device that unteaches: he would ask if they know, confound every answer, and finally walk away—insisting only silence can learn. His group dissolves the teacher’s role, exposes participants’ greedy yes, cynical no, and clever half-half minds, leaving true work to silence and simple sharing.
He’d run a playful trick that makes you quiet—if you claim to know or not know, he leaves—so you discover only a silent, open heart can learn.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
If mulla nasrudin came to the ashram, would you put him in one of the groups? Or would you tell him to run a group of his own? If so, what kind of group would;t be?
I have done it before. It didn't work. Mulla Nasrudin is a leader of leaders. He cannot be put in a group as a participant; his ego won't allow it. I had asked him. He said, "Okay, you can make me a leader." I gave him an opportunity, a three-day group; and all the fools and all the wise guys gathered to participate. Because Mulla Nasrudin has appeal for both. Those who are fools, they think him a fool. Those who are wise, they think him a wise man. He is tricky, or his is just a border case -- he stands on both the sides. He can be interpreted as a foolish man; he can be interpreted as one of the most wise ever. He stood before the group and he said, "Do you know what I am going to teach you?" Of course everybody said, "How can we…
I went in search of mulla nasrudin and could not find him. So, upon your suggestion, I looked up swami yoga chinmaya and asked him why you threw your towel. He gave a half-hour-long discourse on the deeply symbolic and highly esoteric reasons. I came away laughing. Osho, you tricked us again! Swami yoga chinmaya is mulla nasrudin.
HE IS TRYING HARD BUT HE IS NOT YET. It is a very difficult thing to be Mulla Nasrudin. To be Mulla Nasrudin means two things: Be foolish in your wisdom and be wise in your foolishness. It is a very great contradiction. Be wise in your foolishness and be foolish in your wisdom. Yoga Chinmaya is trying -- hard; but he has only been able to do the second part up to now. The first part is more difficult. If he goes on working hard at it, he may succeed. You should be aware of the fact that Mulla Nasrudin is a Sufi device. It is to make you clear that life is wise in its foolishness. And when you try to be wise you become a fool. The greatest wise people are like fools. And the greatest foolish people are those who pretend that they are wise. Socrates…
Bahaudin el-shah, great teacher of the naqshbandi dervishes, one day met a confrere in the great square of bokhara.
THE NEWCOMER WAS A WANDERING KALENDAR OF THE MALAMATI, THE "BLAMEWORTHY". BAHAUDIN WAS SURROUNDED BY DISCIPLES. "FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?" HE ASKED THE TRAVELER, IN THE USUAL SUFI PHRASE. "I HAVE NO IDEA," SAID THE OTHER, GRINNING FOOLISHLY. SOME OF BAHAUDIN'S DISCIPLES MURMURED THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF THIS DISRESPECT. " WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" PERSISTED BAHAUDIN. "I DO NOT KNOW," SHOUTED THE DERVISH. WHAT IS GOOD?" BY NOW A LARGE CROWD HAD GATHERED. "I DO NOT KNOW." " WHAT IS EVIL?" "I HAVE NO IDEA." " WHAT IS RIGHT?" "WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR ME." "WHAT IS WRONG?" "WHATEVER IS BAD FOR ME." THE CROWD, IRRITATED BEYOND ITS PATIENCE BY THIS DERVISH, DROVE HIM AWAY. HE WENT OFF, STRIDING PURPOSEFULLY IN A DIRECTION WHICH LED NOWHERE, AS FAR AS ANYONE KNEW. "FOOLS" SAID BAHAUDIN NAQSHBAND. "THIS MAN IS ACTING THE PART OF HUMANITY. WHILE YOU WERE DESPISING HIM,' HE WAS DELIBERATELY…
Question: BELOVED OSHO, DID MULLA NASRUDDIN BECOME ENLIGHTENED? He must have -- because if he is not enlightened then nobody can be. Mulla Nasruddin is a Sufi figure, one of the oldest figures of Sufi anecdotes, and he shows whatsoever I have been saying here: that the world is a cosmic joke -- he represents that. He is a very serious joker, and if you can penetrate him and understand him, then many mysteries will be revealed to you. Mulla Nasruddin illustrates that the world is not a tragedy but a comedy. And the world is a place where if you can learn how to laugh you have learned everything. If your prayer cannot become a deep laughter which comes from all over your being, if your prayer is sad and if you cannot joke with your god, then you are not really religious.
Osho, what is the first experience of samadhi like?
You will know only when it happens. It cannot be said; at most a few hints can be given. It is as if, in the dark, a lamp is suddenly lit. Or as if a dying patient, right at the edge of death, suddenly finds a medicine that works; life’s wave, life’s thrill spreads again—so it is. As if a corpse becomes alive—such is the first experience of samadhi. It is the taste of nectar. The experience of the ultimate music. But it will be only when it happens; and only then will you understand. You will not understand by my saying it. It is as with love. How can anyone explain it? To someone who has never loved, never known love, no matter how many explanations you offer—he will hear it all and still ask, “I haven’t understood; please explain a little more.” It is like explaining light to…