When I become enlightened, who will be the first to know?

Question: BELOVED OSHO, WHEN I BECOME ENLIGHTENED, WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW? Milarepa, as far as you are concerned, I will be the first to know. As far as others are concerned, they may be able to know. But Milarepa is a special case.

Question: OSHO, WILL I ONLY RECOGNIZE YOU WHEN I AM ENLIGHTENED? That's why even a man like Sariputra, Mahakashyapa or Moghalan, the great disciples of Buddha, when they became enlightened still remained disciples. Again and again they had been asked, "Now you are enlightened -- why are you yet a disciple? You are a Master on your own!" This is a strange thing that happens: the ego wants to be a Master as quickly as possible; the ego wants to be on its own. It hurts to be a disciple. Just a few days ago one sannyasin wrote to me, "I am going to the West. How to behave there? -- because I cannot say to anybody that you are my Master, that I am somebody's disciple. That I cannot say." Why can't he say that he is a disciple if he is a disciple?

My beloved Osho, when I feel enlightened: a. Do I tell you? B. Do you tell me? C. Is my ego asking this question?

No for all the three. When you become enlightened, the enlightenment says everything, shows everything. There is no need for you to tell me, there is no need for me to tell you. Enlightenment is self evident; it needs no certificate. It is self evident, as if in the night suddenly a ray of light enters. There is no need to say anything about it. You will not really be able to say anything -- all your thinking will stop. It is so tremendously silent. And it has such absolute certainty that there is no need to ask anybody. So there is not going to be any need from your side or from my side to tell. And, "Is my ego asking the question?" No. The ego never asks about enlightenment. It cannot ask about it, because enlightenment is going to be its death. When you start meditating, loving, laughing,…

Osho, I think I have become enlightened. What do you say about it?

THE moment one becomes enlightened, one does not think that one is enlightened; one simply knows. Thinking is guessing, it is not knowing. And when one becomes enlightened one never asks 'whether I have become enlightened', because it is self-evident; no certificate is needed. And Nisarga, when you become enlightened I will come to you to bless you. You will not need to come to me and ask. An old Welsh lady, seventy-five years old, is in the doctor's surgery. "Well, I know it is hard to believe, Mrs. Jones, but the tests are conclusive: you are pregnant!" the doctor tells her. "But I am seventy-five years old, doctor, and my husband is eighty-five years old. Are you certain? This will be such a shock for him." "Yes, I am certain. You must tell him very carefully because of his age. I suggest you telephone him from my office now."…

Osho, when Swami Chaitanya Bharati goes to conduct camps, he says, “I too have attained enlightenment.” From what attitude does he say this?

You have erected a needless Gaurishankar. Enlightenment is no Gaurishankar; it is walking on level ground. Even “walking” is not right—it is sitting on the plain ground. Enlightenment is rest; it is repose. But we waste time in pointless questions and problems. If Chaitanya Bharati says it, then clap heartily and welcome him, garland him with flowers. What’s the harm? Say: “Good—one more person has become enlightened!” Strike up the band, play the shehnai. Be exuberant. What is wrong in it? No catastrophe has occurred. But I want to say to my sannyasins: I will make your announcement. Do not be in haste. Haste is the hallmark of the ignorant. If I can speak for you, you remain silent. By speaking you will raise unnecessary obstacles for yourself. And the fear is that in your speaking there may be the very juice of ego—the greater likelihood is exactly that. Your…