Arms

Osho, do you still have pistol-carrying aides? Are you against guns? What is your opinion about the arms race?

I am against all kind of violence. The arms race is leading humanity to absolute destruction. And this is such a loss to the universe, that we cannot even imagine. This vast, infinite universe is alive only because of us. It is conscious only because of human beings; otherwise, those big stars, millions of solar systems, are just dead. It is to the credit of this earth, that we have been able to produce people like Socrates, Gautam Buddha, Lao Tzu, Pythagoras. To destroy humanity means to destroy the effort of millions of years that existence has been making. Existence is trying to become conscious through us; it is trying to become aware through us. It is a long journey from a stone to becoming a Gautam Buddha, and to destroy this whole effort by stupid politicians is unforgivable. The whole arms race should stop immediately. The Russian prime minister…

Question: First question: Osho, in the context of the arms build-up by neighboring countries and the rising tensions it has caused, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has criticized Mrs. Indira Gandhi’s recent warning, given in a speech about national security. He says the government should use his Transcendental Meditation (TM) and the TM-Sidhi program to free the country from such fear and uncertainty. Calling his method the essence of Vedic knowledge, he says that through its practice people become free of their stresses, their consciousness is elevated, and they become effective in establishing harmony in society. According to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, if his meditation is adopted there will be no need for an army or weapons; at very little cost India’s security can be ensured, its problems solved, and sattva will arise in the country’s consciousness. Osho, how much truth is there in this claim made by Shri Mahesh Yogi?

Osho, you know that right now the world is abuzz with talk of war. What can each of us do to avert this danger?

In one sense this is good, because we will have to decide. Only in moments of such danger do people decide; otherwise they don’t. When life itself is at stake, then decisions are made. Now life is at stake. Before this century ends, the world will have to decide: if you want war, let nations continue; if you do not, bid nations farewell. Once nations are gone, India need not keep an army—against whom would it keep one? Pakistan need not keep an army—against whom? And right now armies are devouring everything. Seventy percent of the world’s wealth is eaten up by armies. This world could become a paradise. Just imagine if that seventy percent were invested in productive work, and these idle people who do nothing all day but drill—foolishness! Left turn! Right turn! What is the point of left turn and right turn? Why on earth are you…

Beloved master, you have said that some of sheela's security measures came out of paranoia. I feel very uncomfortable about the guns we have in rajneesh mandir right now, and elsewhere on the ranch. Beloved master, these guns freeze my heart. Please, can we get rid of the guns? Do we need them?

We will get rid of the guns, but you are a mouse, not a man. How did you get initiated into sannyas? Those guns have done no harm to anybody, and those guns are not to do harm to anybody. Those guns are here so that no harm is done to you. The whole world is full of guns, nuclear weapons, atomic bombs. It is perfectly right to have your own defense system. It has nothing to do with Sheela's paranoia. Just a simple understanding.... If you don't have guns, and tomorrow the fanatic religious groups which are there, they come on their motorbikes and start destroying your things, what are you going to do? I am a nonviolent man, but that does not mean that I will allow anybody to practice violence on me. We will never do any harm to anybody, but those guns are perfectly right. Even…