Extremes

Does that mean the extreme is necessary?

Yes. Basically they are one and the same point; both end up standing at the same place. One has reached there through the extremity of sorrow: all his hope has withered; he says, “Now no happiness is going to come, so why live anymore?” The happy man says, “Now all pleasures have been had; now there is no further pleasure to be had—so why live anymore?” In my view there is no difference between the two. At the extreme of suffering too, a person gets bored, because then there is nothing but suffering. Then if even the hope of attaining happiness is no longer there… if some hope remains, he will not die yet. If even that hope is gone, he will say, “All right, the matter is finished,” and he will die. But to reach the extreme of suffering is very difficult, because a person’s capacity to endure suffering…

Osho, please comment on the art of balanced living. Mr life is often an experience of extremes, with the middle road difficult to maintain for any length of time.

Masochists have always moved towards religion. Religion has a great attraction for masochists. In fact, so many masochists down the ages have moved towards religion -- it was very natural, that movement -- that religion became dominated by the masochists. That's why religion goes on insisting on being life-negative, life-destructive. It is not for life, it is not for love, it is not for joy. It goes on insisting that life is misery. By calling life misery, it rationalizes its own clinging to misery. I have heard a beautiful story -- I don't know how far it is correct, I cannot vouch for it: In paradise, one afternoon, in the most famous cafe, Lao Tzu, Confucius and Buddha are sitting, and talking sweet nothings. The bearer comes and in a tray brings three glasses of the juice called life and offers them. Buddha immediately closes his eyes and he says,…

Question: Osho, One day the great Sultan Mahmud was strolling through the streets of his capital, Ghazni. He saw a poor porter staggering under the heavy burden of a great stone on his back, almost at his last breath. Moved to compassion, Mahmud gave a royal order: “O porter, drop that stone.” The command was obeyed at once. But the stone lay there on the road for many years, an obstacle to passersby. In the end many citizens petitioned the king to issue an order for its removal. Thinking with administrative prudence, the Sultan said, “What has been done by royal decree cannot be annulled by an equal decree. People would then think that royal edicts are born of mere whim. The stone will remain where it is.” The result was that during Sultan Mahmud’s lifetime the stone stayed there.

When the deep meaning of things is not understood the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

THE WAY IS PERFECT LIKE VAST SPACE WHERE NOTHING IS LACKING AND NOTHING IS IN EXCESS. INDEED, IT IS DUE TO OUR CHOOSING TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THAT WE DO NOT SEE THE TRUE NATURE OF THINGS. LIVE NEITHER IN THE ENTANGLEMENTS OF OUTER THINGS, NOR IN INNER FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS. BE SERENE WITHOUT STRIVING ACTIVITY IN THE ONENESS OF THINGS AND SUCH ERRONEOUS VIEWS WILL DISAPPEAR BY THEMSELVES. WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP ACTIVITY TO ACHIEVE PASSIVITY YOUR VERY EFFORT FILLS YOU WITH ACTIVITY. AS LONG AS YOU REMAIN IN ONE EXTREME OR THE OTHER YOU WILL NEVER KNOW ONENESS. THOSE WHO DO NOT LIVE IN THE SINGLE WAY FAIL IN BOTH ACTIVITY AND PASSIVITY, ASSERTION AND DENIAL. Logic will say something absolutely different. Logic will say, "Practice rest the whole day, so in the night you can rest beautifully." Mulla Nasruddin went to his doctor. Coughing, he entered.…