Osho's perspective on Bliss
When Osho Spoke About Bliss
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
Osho, in the bitter darkness of my past, tell me—what did you see? Was I entangled in the whirling of time, or did you see me coming out of entanglements? (What did you see in the deep darkness of my past? Was I caught in the wheel of fate or coming out of it?) Dinesh has asked:
Yes, you are still entangled. And a man remains entangled in the wheel of fate until he is fully awake. The very meaning of the wheel of fate is that we keep moving in unconsciousness. Fate belongs only to the unconscious person. One filled with awareness has no fate. About the unconscious person, astrologers can make predictions. About the one who is awake, no astrologer can predict anything. Because what an aware person will do is not decided by the past. What the unconscious will do depends entirely on the past. If your past is known and can be told, then your future can also be announced. You were angry yesterday, you were angry the day before yesterday, and further back you were angry—so you will be angry tomorrow too; there’s no obstacle in that. Because you will do what you have always done. You live by habit, mechanically. Fate…
Osho, what is the difference between surrender and blind imitation?
So be careful: the freedom you allow yourself, allow the other too. You have no right to judge another as blindly credulous or as a surrendered being. Drop that concern. You cannot judge anyway—how will you enter another’s heart? How will you know? Think only about yourself. See within whether, up to now, you have lived by blind belief or by surrender. Decide only there; leave worrying about others. Otherwise, all your judgments will be wrong. Jesus said: Judge not; do not set yourself up as a judge in relation to another. To the friend who has asked: if you are asking for yourself, good. Drop worrying about others. Look within and see: whatever I have been clinging to till now—have I ever staked my life to hold it? Have I meditated for it? Have I loved for it? Or am I just clutching what culture, society, civilization handed me?…
Kindly explain: does bliss come from knowledge, or does knowledge come from bliss?
People often ask questions like, Which came first—the chicken or the egg? But even if you find out, what will you do with it? And what substance is there in such knowing? Suppose it becomes definitively clear that the chicken came first, or that the egg came first—then what will you do? What will it solve? What revolution will it bring to your life? The intellect is very skilled at raising such futile questions that have no essence. I was once a guest in a village. Two old neighbors came to see me at night. They said, We’ve waited a long time for you. Now that you’re here, please settle a question—we’ve been quarreling over it for thirty years. One was a Jain, the other a Hindu. We’ve been arguing whether God created the world or not. The Jain says no—there is no God, no creator; existence has been flowing…
Osho, living in the ashram I feel very blissful; but sometimes, suddenly, I become sad. What is this sadness that comes and goes? Please explain.
Even so, Ranjan will sometimes remember. The husband may not remember. In America, a husband whose wife has gone off to India—will he remember! For him it’s like the cat’s luck finding the cream pot open. He must be tasting freedom. But Ranjan—she has a woman’s heart—sometimes worry will come, and sadness will seize her. Watch that sadness with witnessing. Gradually it will disappear. And if ever you do go back home, go only as a witness. Do not go before that. So that there, too, you can see it all as a dream—whether sweet or bitter. Whatever happens outside in this world has no ultimate value. What happens within is the only value. Ranjan, look to the inner! Unfurl, O petals—open your fragrant doors. On the little couch of the far horizon dawn has awakened, the sky has smiled. The splendor of the rising sun is scattered on the…
"Real bliss is not a fleeting high but an existential state that remains undisturbed by doubt; embrace your unease, for it is the beginning of true intelligence and the path to lasting sweetness."
"To find bliss, you must first understand the hell of your ego; only by witnessing it without resistance can you dissolve its structures and awaken to the freedom of no-self."
"Bliss is not found in the simplicity of village life or the complexity of city life; it arises only from a transformed consciousness."
Do the songs of saints and the words of enlightened masters come from the experience of bliss?
definition"The songs of saints and the words of enlightened masters do not come from an experience of bliss; they arise from the very essence of bliss itself, which is our true nature."
"Bliss and knowledge are not separate; they are two sides of the same coin, and the journey to one inevitably reveals the other. Seek the essential transformative experience rather than getting lost in speculative debate."
How can bliss remain for longer?
outcome"Bliss remains longer when you stop grasping and demanding it; be open, patient, and non-possessive, allowing life to flow through you like sunlight in an open room."
"Real bliss is an unconditional state that flows from within, untouched by the external world; deepen your meditation until it becomes your constant companion."
"Bliss is born from living with total intensity and courage, embracing each moment as if it were your last; in that fearless commitment, the divine reveals itself."
How can we attain bliss?
practice"Bliss is not found in rituals, but in the totality of living—where passionate aliveness meets deep relaxation, flowing into the ocean of consciousness."
"When thoughts fall silent, bliss emerges as the recognition of your true, unbreakable nature; what can break was never truly you."
"Once you taste the non-sensory bliss, its depth unfolds effortlessly, like a river finding its course, deepening and widening with each moment of awareness."
"Transform the seer, and the seen changes; in true bliss, only flowers bloom in the garden of your perception."
Is bliss related to the body?
definition"Bliss is not a product of the body; it is the fragrance of awareness that blossoms when you transcend identification with the body and mind."
Is it right for individuals to pursue their own bliss while leaving their parents in anguish?
outcome"Your first responsibility is to yourself; only a fulfilled person can share true joy, for in pursuing your own bliss, you offer the greatest gift to those you love."
Is the whole of tradition wrong in its outlook on sorrow compared to the attitude of bliss?
definition"Clinging to tradition deadens the living truth; only your direct experience of love and bliss can transform suffering into joy."
"Self-consciousness is the veil that separates you from the bliss of life; transcend the self, and happiness will flow back into your being."
"After a glimpse of supreme bliss, doing ends and being begins; celebrate this moment, for in joyful presence, your capacity for deeper bliss expands."
"After supreme bliss, there is no “after”; to ask “what next?” is to pull yourself away from the present moment and the fullness of your being. Embrace the now, for from this bliss, the next moment will naturally unfold."
"When you blossom in bliss while others languish in unhappiness, your joy can become a thorn in their side; remain centered and let your inner light shine, for it is not your duty to dim your radiance for their comfort."
"Tears during meditation are the first fine drizzle of awakening, a sacred expression that cleanses both the outer and inner eye, allowing the beyond to flow into your being."
"When a strange vibration stirs within, the heart and mind dissolve, allowing a glimpse of the divine and igniting an unquenchable thirst for truth and love."
"True bliss arises when the sense of doership dissolves, and in that egoless void, you become a pure, empty space where separation vanishes and grace flows effortlessly."
"When you attain bliss, the illusion of separateness dissolves, and your inner light becomes a guiding lamp, radiating peace and awakening in others. True altruism emerges not as duty, but as the spontaneous sharing of your realized joy."
"When bliss fades, it is the mind's cleverness that intrudes; drop your questions and embrace whatever arises with simple, natural awe."
"Bliss arises in the absence of the person; when the ego dissolves, the nectar of existence flows freely."
Profound Quotes on Bliss
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