Blessed

Questioner: you explained to us this saying of jesus: "blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" there is another saying of jesus: "blessed are the pure in heart, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." can you say something about it?

Yes, there is another saying of Jesus: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." But there is a small difference between the two sayings: "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth," and "Blessed are the pure for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." In fact, humility is the beginning and purity is the end, the attainment. To be humble is to be on the first leg of the journey to purity. The humble has yet to be on the first leg of the journey to purity. The humble has yet to be pure; he is on his way to it. One cannot be pure without being humble, because there is no greater impurity than ego. One who is full of ego can never be pure, but one who drops his ego, who is humble, who is surrendered, is on the path…

Osho, you said, “Blessed are the meek, for theirs is the kingdom of earth.” But regarding “Blessed are the pure in heart, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” what do you say?

There is another saying of Jesus: Blessed are those whose hearts are pure, for the kingdom of heaven shall be theirs. There is a slight difference between the two. Blessed are the humble—the earth will be theirs, the kingdom of the earth. Blessed are the pure—the kingdom of heaven will be theirs, the kingdom of heaven. In truth, humility is the beginning; purity is the culmination. Humility is the first step; purity is the fulfillment. Those who are humble have stepped onto the first rung. They have opened the door to purity. They are not yet pure, but by becoming humble they open the door to becoming pure. Those who are not humble can never be pure, because there is no greater impurity than the ego. The ego-filled can never be pure; but those who become humble, who drop the ego, who bow down, who surrender—they open the door to…

When he says 'Blessed are the poor in spirit,' he simply means those who are egoless, humble, simple. innocent -- but that is what I call richness. Why call it poverty? -- it is not poverty. The person with an ego is poor; the person with pretentions is the poor person, Alexander the Great is a poor person, not Jesus; Jesus is the richest person the world has ever known. But I know by his idea of poverty he means exactly what I mean by richness. But I like a direct approach. Why go round about? -- first calling it poverty and then explaining it so that it becomes richness. Why not say it directly? But there is a reason why he used the word 'poverty'; that word has a tremendous appeal for the so-called religious people.

Matthew 5

1. AND SEEING THE MULTITUDES, HE WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN: AND WHEN HE WAS SET, HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM: 2. AND HE OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND TAUGHT THEM, SAYING, 3. BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 4. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: FOR THEY SHALL BE COMFORTED. 5. BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. 6. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED. 7. BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. 8. BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART, FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD. 9. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD. 10. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE: FOR THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN 12. REJOICE, AND BE EXCEEDING GLAD: FOR GREAT IS YOUR REWARD IN HEAVEN: FOR…