Effort

And if we make effort now, then what...?

Absolutely. It is not even a question of self-effort and destiny. There is really no meaning to self-effort as something separate. You are free even now. And whatever you do today will become a decision, and from that a certain kind of destiny will be created. Look very closely and you will see: even liberation is a destiny. The man who decides—decides, decides, decides—to be free, ultimately becomes free. The world too is a destiny. Destiny simply means this: you made a decision, and then you reaped the fruit of that decision.

The second question is: Osho, if Lao Tzu says, “Do nothing,” then what becomes of effort?

Do you think that doing nothing is some petty effort? Doing nothing is the greatest effort in this world. The power of non-doing is the highest mastery there is. Doing—children can do that. There’s no great effort in doing; it’s something quite natural and ordinary. Animals are doing too. Non-doing is something very great. So don’t think that when Lao Tzu says “don’t do,” inaction, effort comes to an end. Surrender is the greatest resolve. Now this is very upside-down; it doesn’t occur to us, does it? We feel that surrender—placing one’s head at someone’s feet—means we are finished. But know that to place your head at someone’s feet is not within the capacity of an ordinary person! And to truly put your head at someone’s feet, to let go of yourself completely, is only possible for one who is utterly his own master. How will you let go? Simply…

The second question asked is: if lao tzu says do nothing then what happens to effort and labour?

Do you think that not doing anything is a small insignificant effort? To do nothing is the greatest effort in this world. The power to do nothing, is the greatest possession in this world. Actions even children perform. There is no labour required for it. It is a natural, ordinary happening. Even animals are active. Not to do anything is a very great thing. So when you hear that Lao Tzu advises inactivity, all efforts are nullified. Surrender is the greatest resolve. Now this seems contrary somewhat. It does not come within our understanding. We feel that by placing our head on someone's feet, we have annihilated ourselves. But do you know? It is not the capability of an ordinary man to place his head on someone's feet. And thus to truly place one's head on someone's feet, to let go of one's self, is only possible of one who…

Will the exhaustion of effort bring sleep?

Yes, the exhaustion of effort will bring sleep. When effort fails and one day you say, “To hell with this sleep, and to hell with this trying”—and you just lie there—then sleep will come. So now you have to take the second step. When even trying seems futile—otherwise, it doesn’t happen.