Gesture

Daily you come folded-handed, smiling, and the same way you go back after the lecture. What is the meaning of this gesture?

I am saying, come smiling, go smiling. That is the meaning of tathagatha: thus come, thus gone. Let this coming and going be just a smile, nothing more substantial than a smile. A smile is the most non-substantial thing in the world. You cannot catch hold of it; it slips, it is elusive, ineffable. Let your life be just a smile. Come smiling, go smiling. And, of course, folded-handed, otherwise somebody can get hurt. If you smile without your hands folded, somebody's ego can get hurt. He can say, 'What do you mean? Smiling at me?' So just to protect any misinterpretation.... But don't try to make it an empty gesture, because a smile which is false is one of the most dangerous things to learn. Never smile falsely, because once you start smiling falsely, you will forget how to smile authentically. Never corrupt your smile. Otherwise it is just…

Beloved Osho, last night, when you stood up to leave, you saluted with the gesture that we call in germany the "hitler" greeting. May I ask you what was your idea in doing this? What were you conveying through this gesture?

Now look Niskriya, how many troubles you are creating for me! This question is from Hilmar Pabel and Inge Byhan, photographer and journalist for BUNTE. Soon you will see my photograph on the cover of BUNTE with the salute... and I hope with a negative article. I enjoy negative articles! And Pabel, I know you are not negative. You have loved the place, you have loved my people. You will be in difficulty now. You will have to write lies. But write! If you write anything positive about me, the article will not be published. I am just making you aware and alert: if you want your photographs and article to be published, make it as negative as possible. I love all kinds of things. Your question may seem superficial to others -- it is not. As far as I am concerned there are many kinds of greetings. The Hindus…

Beloved, it was you who sang whatever songs I wrote. It was you who gave crimson to the sky that day, you mirrored yourself in the dawn, you lent your raga to birdsong, your light to the sun’s rays, your fragrance to the southern breeze, and to the trembling lotus you gave your sweet pollen of delight. The devotee is no more—the Lord himself dances in the devotee. A unique rasa! A festival of joy, a great celebration! Flowers upon flowers bloom; reed upon reed plays; ever-new curtains of mystery rise; lamps flare everywhere. Diwali has come—and Holi too—both at once. Jagjivan beseeches and asks only this: let me never forget. Only one prayer remains: that I never forget, never again fall into oblivion. Mark this—and ask for nothing else. “I know this vision did not come because I was worthy. I am unworthy.

Question: BELOVED OSHO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE RAISED HAND AND "YAA-HOO"? Neelam, you must have seen that today I have raised both my hands, because the German idiots have made a law in Germany that raising one hand is a criminal act. And what about all the dogs? They are not just raising one hand, they are raising one leg all over the Fatherland and pissing! They are the real followers of Adolf Hitler. I had not been aware that Germany will never become intelligent. It is unfortunate that they have banned me from entering Germany; otherwise I would have been in jail by now, another deportation... I have missed a great experience! Because if you have seen a German jail the American jail is nothing you have seen the very hell. But the Germans themselves have prevented me; otherwise I would have raised one hand, without fail!