Shaktipat

Osho, is psychic exploitation possible in the name of shaktipat? How is it possible, and how can a seeker avoid it?

It is possible; in the name of shaktipat a great deal of spiritual exploitation can happen. In fact, wherever there is a claim, there will be exploitation. Wherever someone says, “I will give you something,” he will also take something—because giving, as such, does not happen without taking. If someone says, “I am giving,” he will also take back from you. The coin can be anything—he may take it as money, as respect, as reverence—in some form he will take. Where there is giving—insistently, claimfully—there will be taking too. And the one who claims to give will take more than he gives. Otherwise, why would he need to shout in the marketplace? In truth, he is “giving” the way a fisherman puts dough on a hook—because fish won’t eat a bare hook. Perhaps some day fish can be persuaded to swallow a naked hook; so far, no fish eats a…

Questioner: in case a contact with the medium is not maintained, does the effect of shaktipat wear off?

The effect is bound to decline. In fact, every effect wears off gradually. Effect itself means that it has been caused by an outside agency, and so it will decline. But the energy rising from within you is going to stay, because it is your own. Energy coming from without is bound to diminish and disappear. But what comes from your inside is not going to diminish; it will stay. Also that energy will stay which rises under the impact of shaktipat. Your basic capital does not wear off, but the effect does.

Is psychic exploitation possible in the name of shaktipat? How is it possible and how is the meditator to guard against it?

Then these ten slowly spread word of the "miracle," and the crowd around increases. This is why every such shop has salesmen and advertisers. Those who say their son got a job are not telling an untruth; nor have they been bought over by the shopkeeper. Such a man had also come seeking, and it happened that his son got a job. Those whose sons did not get a job left long ago to seek other gurus who would fulfill their desires. Those whose desires are fulfilled begin to frequent the shop often; they come on each festival every year. The crowd increases day by day, and a group forms around such a so-called guru. Then what they tell becomes his indisputable testimony. If so many people's wishes were fulfilled, why not yours? Now this is the worm; the hook which traps the man is within. Never ask or else…

Osho, is the effect of shaktipat short-term or long-term? Does it carry one all the way to the final journey, or is shaktipat needed many times?

The real point is: whatever is arising within you, that alone will be long-lasting; shaktipat can only be a support, it can never become the root. It cannot become the root. What is already within you will become the root. That alone is your wealth, your real wealth. Shaktipat will not increase your wealth; shaktipat will increase the capacity of your wealth to grow. Understand this distinction clearly. Shaktipat will not increase your wealth, but the pace at which your wealth grows, the speed at which it expands, will become more intense. Therefore shaktipat is not your wealth. It is like this: you are running, and I come after you with a gun. My carrying a gun behind you is not going to become part of your running’s wealth, but because of my gun you will run faster. You will still be the one who runs; the energy will still…