Equanimity

Osho, the inner lamp of equanimity and bliss, even after remaining steady for a long time, sometimes begins to flicker. Is this a phase in my growth, or the result of some slackness on my part? Please, from your experience, illumine my path so that this well-being, this joy of rightness, may remain forever unshaken.

If you understand this rightly, you have the whole principle of karma and conditioning. What you did yesterday will affect your today. Yesterday is gone; there is no way to change it now. Be gracious enough to change today—because today will become the tomorrow that harasses you. What you did in your past birth you are reaping now. And now you are busy thinking about the next birth, and this birth is slipping out of your hands. This empty, wasted life will again set you wandering on a road full of darkness. You ask how the lamp of equanimity can burn forever. Simply taste it for a moment. When equanimity is thick, hum, dance, drown in it. When equanimity is thick, drink—don’t delay. Don’t bring in even so much thought as, “Will it stop?” There is a Zen story: At a temple gate two monks are arguing about what is…

How can we accept life's joys and sorrows with equanimity?

He gives joy, he gives sorrow: the giver, the master is one. Everything comes from him. Accept with equanimity and you will see this truth: that everything comes from him. There is nothing other than he. Then suffering too has its greatness. Sorrow is not useless. Sorrow polishes, sorrow cleanses, sorrow awakens, sorrow gives depth. Only sorrow makes you deserving of joy. So don't make suffering an enemy. One who makes suffering an enemy remains deprived of joy also. Make sorrow steps to him, steps to his temple. Yes, there will be difficulties in climbing; I admit. Tiredness comes, breathing increases, sweat comes; I admit. But these are the steps to his temple. His temple is very high, there are many steps to his temple. His temple is a Mount Everest. There is difficulty in climbing, certainly, but the more difficulty in climbing, the more the bliss in reaching. And…

How can we accept life's joys and sorrows with equanimity?

He gives joy, he gives sorrow: the giver, the master is one. Everything comes from him. Accept with equanimity and you will see this truth: that everything comes from him. There is nothing other than he. Then suffering too has its greatness. Sorrow is not useless. Sorrow polishes, sorrow cleanses, sorrow awakens, sorrow gives depth. Only sorrow makes you deserving of joy. So don't make suffering an enemy. One who makes suffering an enemy remains deprived of joy also. Make sorrow steps to him, steps to his temple. Yes, there will be difficulties in climbing; I admit. Tiredness comes, breathing increases, sweat comes; I admit. But these are the steps to his temple. His temple is very high, there are many steps to his temple. His temple is a Mount Everest. There is difficulty in climbing, certainly, but the more difficulty in climbing, the more the bliss in reaching. And…

But many people ask—one friend even asked today—how to be free of the ego?

You won’t get rid of the ego directly. Grow love. As love grows, the ego will begin to dissolve. For the very energy that becomes ego is the energy that becomes love. In both love and ego, the same force is at work. So if you are very egoistic, don’t be discouraged. A great capacity for love lies hidden within you. Do not be disheartened; you have a vast source. If this same energy is freed, it will turn into love. But don’t fight the ego head-on. Whatever you do directly against it will not erase it. Begin instead to expand toward love. Start letting love spread from anywhere. Wherever your inclination goes, let love flow in that direction. Keep just one thing in mind: don’t let it stop. Let it go on increasing. Let its boundaries widen as much as they can. In that widening, one day you will…