Contemporary

Osho, in India today, on the spiritual plane, is there any ongoing lineage of figures like Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, or Aurobindo? In these past two or three hundred years, has there been anyone like that?

Yes. Here, in the past two–three centuries, the most influential figures have been Ramana and Krishnamurti. But no lineage could form behind Ramana, and behind Krishnamurti it will not form either. Krishnamurti is opposed to creating one. And behind Ramana it could not form. A man of that caliber was not found who could carry the matter forward or add something to it. Ramakrishna found Vivekananda. Vivekananda is a very powerful person, but not experienced. Because of his power he did set the wheel in motion, but there isn’t much life in that wheel, so it is not going to go far. Ramakrishna is deeply experienced, but he is not in the position of being a teacher, of being a Tirthankara. He cannot be a teacher. So for the first time... It happens many times that when someone cannot be a teacher, he places the work of teaching on another’s…

Osho, could you please tell me your opinion about j. Krishnamurti, who is saying that you won't be free and therefore not happy as long as you follow any tradition, religion or master?

GAUTAM THE BUDDHA has divided the enlightened persons into two categories. The first category he calls the ARHATAS and the second BODHISATTVAS. The ARHATA and the BODHISATTVA are both enlightened; there is no difference between their experience, but the arhata is not a Master and the BODHISATTVA is a Master. The ARHATA has attained to the same truth but he is incapable of teaching it, because teaching is a totally different art. For example, you can see a beautiful sunset, you can experience the beauty of it as deeply, as profoundly as any Vincent van Gogh, but that does not mean you will be able to paint it. To paint it is a totally different art. Experiencing is one thing, helping others to experience it is not the same. There have been many ARHATAS but very few BODHISATTVAS. The BODHISATTVA is both enlightened and skillful to teach what has happened…

Question: OSHO, IS J. KRISHNAMURTI ENLIGHTENED? This man, Raj Gopal would have proved far better for the Theosophical movement and their purpose. He proved extremely clever, cunning, and of immense patience, really a man of strong will. He waited long enough to betray Krishnamurti: he must have been carrying the idea for fifty years but nobody could detect it in him. Even Krishnamurti was completely unsuspicious. How can you believe that a person who has been serving you for fifty years will suddenly one day cut off your head? -- someone who has not even raised a single question, a single doubt, about you. Raj Gopal would have been far better for the Theosophists. J. Krishnamurti certainly was the best, but not for their purposes. That was proved immediately, because the day he was going to declare himself the world teacher....

Osho, sensitive people from the far corners of the world are being drawn to you. Yet it is surprising that your voice does not seem to reach saintly men like Krishnamurti, Vinoba, Jayaprakash, and Kripalani. Why can they not perceive that here in Poona there is a person who holds the medicine for humanity’s fundamental malady?

With Krishnamurti the ease, the benefit, is that your intellect will always remain satisfied. One who once begins to walk with him keeps on walking. No occasion will arise to leave, because the very reason for joining will never be contradicted—Krishnamurti will go on confirming it again and again, a thousand times. His intellectual conviction will become stronger and stronger. But the danger is that he will remain stuck in the intellect and never reach the heart. And you ask about Kripalani? Krishnamurti cannot come to me; there is no need. Krishnamurti is religion embodied. Kripalani also cannot come to me; there is no need—because Kripalani is pure politics; he has nothing to do with religion. Krishnamurti cannot come because he is established in religion; Kripalani cannot come because he has nothing to do with religion. His whole life has gone into politics—setting up moves and counter-moves, arranging pawns! A…