What should I do if I feel entangled in scriptures?

Osho, I have been entangled in the scriptures all along; and you say scriptures are futile. What should I do now?

In the hands of one who knows, not only scriptures but the smallest happenings of life take on deep and grave meaning. Tattooed words, but trenches of meaning being dug— Sir is busy tattooing, tattooing and tattooing! “Malpua” scrawled across the belly, “house” written on the brow; “dhoti–kurta” written on the body— the devils laugh! On the back, “mountain ranges” inscribed, on the chest, “cremation ground”; tears labeled “pearls,” and read out as “charity”! On the ears, “sweet jaggery-balls” written, on the hands, “favor”; on the cheeks, “Ganga–Yamuna” written— and they keep taking a bath. Write “favor” on the hand—will it become favor? Write “meditation” on the forehead—will it become meditation? On the cheeks, “Ganga–Yamuna” written— and they keep taking a bath. Tattooed words, but trenches of meaning being dug— Sir is busy tattooing, tattooing and tattooing! The pundit goes on tattooing and re-tattooing. The pundit’s world is profoundly false.…

Osho, how can one be free of scriptures and doctrines? They have such a grip that no way to be free seems visible.

Scriptures are not to be discarded. Where have I discarded them? Has anyone given as much respect to scriptures as I have? So how can I tell you to drop them? I am saying something else. I am saying that nothing of your purpose will be fulfilled by scriptures until your own samadhi happens. To give value to samadhi I say, “Drop scriptures,” otherwise you will cling to scripture and go on missing samadhi. I have heard: A young man went to America’s great millionaire, Morgan, and said, I have written this book. It is so astounding that millions of copies will sell and millions will benefit. Please publish it. Morgan asked—without even taking the book in his hand—What is the name of this book? The young man said: Its name is “A Hundred Ways to Make Money.” Morgan looked him up and down—shabby condition. He asked: How did you…

Osho, I have always trusted the scriptures, and now you tell us to be free of scriptures. I am very confused. Please suggest a path.

I have heard: a pundit had a parrot. It chanted “Ram-Ram, Ram-Ram.” A very religious parrot! Parrots are often religious, and religious people are often parrots! That parrot was always wrapped in the shawl of “Ram-naam.” It sat there with a rosary hanging by its side, chanting “Ram-Ram, Ram-Ram.” It was famous. An old woman used to visit the pundit—other than old women, who else goes to pundits? She had nowhere else to go. Seeing the pundit’s parrot, she too bought a parrot. But it was a scoundrel. It abused. It had lived with an opium addict—the effect of company! It hurled pure, choice abuses. The old woman tried hard to make it chant “Ram-Ram,” but it said, “To hell with Ram-Ram!” She said, “This is too much! What kind of parrot is this?” She told the pundit, “My parrot is in a terrible state.” The pundit said, “Do this:…

A question that many friends have asked—asked in very many forms—let me take that up first: It has been asked: Osho, I seem to be against words, doctrines, and scriptures. In the search for the Divine, are doctrines and scriptures not supportive? Do they become obstacles between us and the Lord?

The man said, “What are you saying—‘Don’t worry’? I will die. When will those parapets be built? And I have already fallen—what use will parapets be now? Please have mercy and pull me out first.” He replied, “Where is there time to worry about individuals one by one? I want the transformation of the whole society. We need a social revolution. What difference does one person’s making or unmaking make? Become a martyr. Don’t worry—your name will be written in books. And fairs gather at the tombs of martyrs! Do not fear; fairs gather at the tombs of martyrs—fairs will gather at yours too. People will remember for thousands of years that one man fell into a well and thereby got parapets built on all wells! Be carefree; I am going right now to launch the movement.” The man kept shouting; the monk went into the crowd, climbed a platform,…

Osho, “Contemplation of the essence (tattva) is supreme; contemplation of scripture is middling; preoccupation with tantra is inferior; and wandering among holy places is worse than the worst. Without direct experience, the dull-witted person vainly delights in Brahman—like one pleased by tasting the fruit only as it appears reflected at the tip of a branch in the shade.” Please be gracious and explain the purport of these two aphorisms from the Maitreyi Upanishad.

Someone explain what this color of the tavern is: the cup’s fame rises because of the cupbearer’s glance. O tellers of the candle’s heat, you have not yet seen the moth’s dance. Seek the company of the intoxicated. If you want to see the dance, watch the moth, not the lecture. Where a Buddha is present, the tavern is alive. There wine-springs burst forth; there the drinkers gather. Once they gathered at the Kaaba—not for the stone of the Kaaba but for Muhammad’s presence. In Muhammad’s presence, even the stone of Kaaba intoxicated. The cupbearer’s eye—and the cup got the name! Thus tirthas are born; and for centuries people wander among them. The sutra speaks truly: Adhamā tantra-cintā ca tīrtha-bhrānty adhamā-dhamā. Anubhūtiṁ vinā mūḍho vṛthā brahmaṇi modate, pratibimbit-śākhāgra-phalāsvādana-modavat. A lovely image: “As one might, under a tree, savor the fruit that appears only in its shadow, reflected…” Sit beneath a…