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Osho on Expression

Expression

In the spirit of Osho's teachings, the myriad expressions of truth, molded by language and culture, reveal a singular essence; as Mohammed speaks in his own voice and Mahavira in his, we are reminded to transcend words and traditions, embracing the shared experience that unites us all.

Osho's perspective on Expression

When Osho Spoke About Expression

Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.

Nam Sumir Man Bavre · Discourse 5Question 1 1978-08-05 Pune Translated from Hindi by Osho Live

Swami Anand Maitreya has asked: “Jagjivan was a shepherd, uneducated—then where did he find such lovely words? How could such precious expression happen?”

Your beauty fills my gaze as I rise— the whole atmosphere shines like your raiment. The dawn breeze has passed through your bedchamber— my morning is fragrant with your very body. Then everywhere is his feel. The breeze becomes his touch; the sun, his spread; the rainbow, his bow; the waves, his resonance; the mountains, his uplifted head. Recognize once—and the path to recognition is love, not knowledge. Those lost in knowledge remained ignorant. Those who acknowledged their ignorance bowed at his feet and said: “I will grasp his feet and cajole him. I tell you: whom else do I know? I have come to your refuge. The love I have joined I will never break; this image I will not forget. I will grasp his feet and cajole him.” One who can say this—not on the surface but from the whole being—does not take long. He leaps onto the…
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

स्वामी आनंद मैत्रेय ने एक प्रश्न पूछा है: ‘जगजीवन तो चरवाहे थे, अपढ़, फिर ऐसे प्यारे शब्द कहां से खोज पाए? फिर ऐसी बहुमूल्य अभिव्यक्ति कैसे हो सकी?’

सब-कुछ नहा गया है। तुझे नहाया हुआ देखता हूं चारों तरफ। क्योंकि सारे रंग तेरे, सारे रूप तेरे। नसीम तेरे शबिस्तां से होके आई है और मुझे अब पक्का भरोसा है कि यह हवा, जो सुवास लेकर आ रही है, यह तेरे निवास स्थान से आ रही है, यह तेरे मंदिर से आ रही है। नसीम तेरे शबिस्तां से होके आई है मेरे सहर में महक है तेरे बदन की-सी और मेरी सुबह में जो महक मुझे मिल रही है, वह तेरे देह की महक है; वह तेरी महक है। फिर तो वर्षा होती है और जमीन से सोंधी गंध उठती है, उसी की गंध है। फिर तो सब उसका है। एक बार पहचान। और पहचान की रीति--प्रीति, ज्ञान नहीं। जो ज्ञान में भटके, अज्ञानी रह गए। और जिन्होंने अपने अज्ञान को पहचाना, उसके चरणों में झुके और कहा: पैयां पकरि मैं लेहुं मनाय।। कहौं कि तुम्हहीं कहं मैं जानौं, अब हौं तुम्हरी सरनहिं आय। जोरी प्रीत न तोरी कबहूं, यह छबि सुरति बिसरि नहिं जाय।। पैयां पकरि मैं लेहुं मनाय।। जो ऐसा कह सकता है, ऊपर-ऊपर नहीं, प्राणों से; अपनी समग्रता से, उसे देर नहीं लगती। …

Es Dhammo Sanantano · Discourse 36Question 3 1976-02-05 Pune Translated from Hindi by Osho Live
Question: Third question: Osho, isn’t expression nothing but a limitation? Certainly, expression is only a limitation. Whatever manifests has a boundary; the moment it appears, it is limited. That which remains unmanifest is the limitless. Creation has limits; the Creator has none. A poem has limits; the poet has none. A painting has limits, a frame; the painter has none. For the unmanifest is far more than what appears. It is infinitely more than what shows itself. What I have said to you has limits. What I will never be able to say to you has no limits. Buddha is walking through a forest. It is autumn; the forest floor is covered with dry leaves, and the wind is tossing them about with great clamor. Ananda asks, “Bhagwan, I have a question. Today we have a little privacy; no one else is here.
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

निश्चित ही, अभिव्यक्ति मात्र मर्यादा है। जो प्रकट होता है, उसकी सीमा है; प्रकट होते ही सीमित हो जाता है। जो अप्रगट रह जाता है, वही असीम है। सृष्टि की सीमा है, स्रष्टा की नहीं। कविता की सीमा है, कवि की नहीं। चित्र की सीमा है, फ्रेम है, चित्रकार की नहीं। क्योंकि जो अप्रगट है, वह बहुत है उससे, जो प्रकट हुआ। वह अनंत गुना है उससे, जो प्रकट हुआ। मैंने तुमसे जो कहा, उसकी सीमा है। जो मैं तुमसे कभी न कह पाऊंगा, उसकी कोई सीमा नहीं है। बुद्ध एक जंगल से गुजरते हैं; पतझड़ के दिन हैं, सूखे पत्तों से सारा वन-प्रांत भरा है, हवाएं उन सूखे पत्तों को जगह-जगह उड़ाए फिरती हैं; बड़ा शोरगुल है। आनंद ने पूछा, भगवान! एक बात पूछनी है। आज निजी एकांत मिल गया है, कोई और नहीं है। मैं पूछता हूं, कि आप जो जानते हैं, वह सभी मुझसे कह दिया है? बुद्ध ने अपनी मुट्ठी में सूखे पत्ते भर लिए और कहा, जो मैंने तुमसे कहा है, वह इस मुट्ठी में बंद पत्तों की भांति है; और जो नहीं कहा, वह इन सारे सूखे पत्तों की भांति है, जिनसे पूरी पृथ्वी भरी है।

Mahaveer Meri Drishti Mein · Discourse 15Question 20 1969-09-25 Translated from Hindi by Osho Live

Is everyone’s expression different?

Expression is absolutely different; it is bound to be. Mohammed is Mohammed, Mahavira is Mahavira—the expression will be different. What Mohammed will speak is Mohammed’s speaking: it will be his language, the words of his tradition. Mahavira will have his own language, the words of his tradition. The expressions will be different; the experience is absolutely one.
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

प्रश्न: अभिव्यक्ति सबकी अलग-अलग है?

अभिव्यक्ति बिलकुल अलग-अलग है, होने ही वाली है। मोहम्मद मोहम्मद हैं, महावीर महावीर हैं, अभिव्यक्ति अलग-अलग होगी। मोहम्मद जो बोलेंगे, वह मोहम्मद का बोलना है, अपनी भाषा होगी, अपनी परंपरा के शब्द होंगे। महावीर की अपनी भाषा होगी, अपनी परंपरा के शब्द होंगे। अभिव्यक्ति अलग-अलग होगी, अनुभूति बिलकुल एक है।

The Razor S Edge · Discourse 7Question 1 1987-02-28 Chuang Tzu Auditorium English

Beloved Osho, what to do with the question when there are no words for it? And what to do with the secrets in our hearts when there is no way to express them?

Krishna Priya, there is some misunderstanding. There is no question in the world which cannot be asked. Yes, there are answers which cannot be answered. A question always comes from the mind; hence the mind always finds appropriate words for it. But the answer comes from your very being, from your depths of silence where no words have ever entered. The territory of the words and language is the mind, and that is also the territory of the questions. Every question can be brought into words -- only when you start feeling the answers, then the problem arises. I have been watching you for almost ten years. You have gone through such a transformation that what you are thinking is a question, is not a question. You have come very close to the answer -- that's why you cannot find words. But this is something that happens very rarely to…
You don’t have to talk about deep feelings—let tears, silence, or a natural gesture show them, and don’t copy others.
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People use different words and styles, but they’re pointing to the same inner truth.
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Words are like a finger showing the moon—look past the finger to the quiet sky it points to.
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Two hands up means reaching for the stars, and shouting “Yaa-Hoo” is a fun, happy way to feel God inside—like a laugh that tickles your tummy.
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Watching the hands makes your thinking mind take charge and blocks the quiet help meant for your heart; just listen and let it happen.
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Quiet your busy mind so you can hear your heart, and your feelings will naturally show themselves without trying to own or prove anything.
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He’s not empty or stubborn—he just needs the right outlet, and then it will flow by itself.
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Let go of your ‘me’ and be like a hollow flute so life or the Divine can speak through you.
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There’s no trick—hands move because it’s natural habit, so let them move naturally when you talk.
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Poetry can carry a teacher’s feel and truth when the teacher isn’t there, helping people understand.
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They don’t hide a big meaning—the hats showed up, and he welcomed them with respect and playfulness.
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If you really have to move or make sounds, let it happen and keep watching inside; others will manage the outside—see a doctor if it feels strange.
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When you can’t say it, don’t push—be quiet and kind, and the feeling will show itself through your life, like a seed growing into a flower.
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He found those beautiful words because his heart was full of love and empty of ego, so the right words just flowed out by themselves.
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They are dancing inside all the time; we just need clearer inner eyes to notice it.
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Profound Quotes on Expression

Explore our structured collection of meaning-mapped quotes regarding Expression.