Osho's perspective on Guru
When Osho Spoke About Guru
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
Beloved Osho, need one be absolutely sure about a guru to become his disciple?
Alan Watts has written about Gurdjieff and has called him a rascal saint -- because sometimes he would behave like a rascal, but it was all acting and was done knowingly to avoid all those who would take unnecessary time and energy. It was done to send back those who could only work when they were certain. Only those would be allowed who could work even when they were not certain about the master, but who were certain about themselves. And to surrender to a Gurdjieff will transform you more than surrendering to Ramana Maharshi, because Ramana Maharshi is so saintly, so simple, that surrender doesn't mean anything. You cannot do otherwise. He is so open -- just like a small child -- so pure, that surrender will happen. But that surrender is happening because of Ramana Maharshi, not because of you. It is nothing as far as you are…
Disciples need a guru, does a guru need disciples?
A flower opens in a deep forest. Nobody will ever pass. The fragrance will still continue to spread around. It does not wait for a traveller, does not wait for somebody to come and appreciate -- that's not the point at all. If somebody comes and appreciates -- good; if nobody comes and nobody appreciates, it is as good as the other. There is no distinction. no difference. The Master and the disciple both exist in the disciple. When the disciple's mind becomes awakened, he will laugh and he will come to know who is a disciple and who is a Master. The whole game becomes ridiculous. But since the disciple is not yet alert, the game continues. Krishnamurti is right when he says no Master is needed. Yes, one day you will also know that no Master is needed, but you will know only when somebody has awakened you…
How can I find a guru, a master? How am I to be certain that someone is the right master for me? What are the criteria to judge? How am I to know whether this is the man to lead me? How can I be certain? And if one is not certain, then how can one surrender?
Remember, no harm is going to happen to you if you surrender. Surrendering, in itself, is a miracle. Even if you have surrendered to a false master, you may learn many things from him. In this existence, nothing is a wastage. Even living with a false master is a learning. You are growing, you are becoming aware of certain things that you would never become aware of with an authentic master. You are maturing, you are becoming adult. And now, after learning from a false master, no false master will ever appeal to you again. At least you will now be able to judge who is false. You may not be able to judge who is true, but the other half has already been learned: you can now judge who is false. And this is something worth learning! Now you can eliminate the false teachers, and the true teacher will…
What makes someone a guru, a spiritual master?
When you are not there, when you have completely disappeared, the other becomes an open book to you. The more other-oriented you are, the less you can know what is happening to the other. The more you become self-oriented, the more possibility there is of knowing what is happening within someone else. A moment comes when you are completely dissolved. Then you know the other totally. Then the other is not the other; he is not something separate from you. You don't react him; there is no need. There is a response, not a reaction. Only in this way can one become a guru and help others, otherwise not. To me, a spiritual master needs this capacity of being totally uninvolved, of being totally unrelated -- just being an absence: with nothing to impose, nothing to project, no need to react. Then he can help you. He cannot come to…
"True guidance comes not from masters or spirits, but from your own awareness and integrity."
Do you claim to be a disciple of any guru?
definition"True discipleship is not about clinging to a guru, but about learning from the entirety of existence; when you are open, the universe itself becomes your guide."
Does a guru need disciples?
definition"A true guru has no need for disciples; it is the disciple's longing that creates the illusion of separation. The master simply shines, and those who are ready will bloom in their own time."
"A true master cannot be found; when you are ripe, the master chooses you, and in surrendering your ego, you prepare for rebirth."
"Real sannyas is not about adopting robes or seeking a Guru; it is the profound dropping of the ego, realizing that God is already here. When seeking falls away, understanding arises, and nothing is needed to attain what is already within."
"Be absolutely sure about yourself and your search; from that inner certainty, total surrender becomes possible."
"Let all of life be your master; wisdom can arise from the most unexpected sources if you remain humble and open."
What can a guru do for you?
definition"A guru undoes your false self and, through a profound transformation, guides you to become a Master in your own right."
What defines a guru?
definition"A true guru does not offer worldly solutions but ignites the flame of inner truth in those who have tasted the futility of success and yearn for the divine."
"A true guru guides the poor in spirit, revealing that wealth is not in possessions but in the richness of inner fulfillment. Only those who recognize their inner poverty can truly appreciate the kingdom that lies within."
What is the definition of a guru?
definition"A true guru does not inform you but transforms you, stripping away your second-hand beliefs so you can rediscover the innocence and awe of a child."
"A guru can be a mere teacher, but a sadguru is the one who embodies truth, illuminating your path with the light of direct experience rather than borrowed knowledge. Choose the presence that transforms you, for that is the essence of true guidance."
"A guru guides you not to wealth in possessions, but to the richness of your being—sensitivity, creativity, and receptivity. True spiritual insight emerges only after the basic needs of body and mind are fulfilled."
"Accepting a guru should not mean surrendering your freedom; true growth lies in walking beside each other as friends, not in becoming a shadow."
What is the significance of having a guru?
definition"A guru is not a giver of doctrines but a living mirror that awakens your own awareness, guiding you to dissolve the ego and turn inward until your inner guru blossoms."
"A true guru is not a master to be imitated, but a compassionate alarm clock that awakens your own awareness, guiding you gently towards self-reliance and clarity."
What kind of Indian guru are you?
definition"True spirituality transcends all labels; it is the drop dissolving into the ocean, shedding every identification to taste the boundless freedom of existence."
"A true guru is not a teacher but a mirror; in their silent presence, they reveal you to yourself, helping you from their emptiness rather than imposing any doctrine or discipline."
"When you feel a revolt against your guru, do not repress it; instead, bring it into the light of awareness, for rebellion can become the fuel for your awakening."
"The true Guru points you to Govind, guiding you to transcend the teacher and embrace the divine. In gratitude, touch the Guru's feet, but remember, he is merely a finger pointing to the moon."
Who is greater - mother or guru?
definition"Honor both the mother and the guru, for the mother gives you the body and the foundation, while the guru awakens your soul and fulfills your true potential."
"True success is not measured by popularity, but by the depth of understanding; if few grasp your vision, it is dignity, not failure."
"A guru is the bridge to the Divine, a living presence that helps you dissolve the ego's resistance; through surrender, you discover that the guru within you is the boundless ocean of existence."
"A guru is not a crutch but a catalyst; he gives you the courage to leap into the unknown, but the journey to the Divine is yours alone."
Profound Quotes on Guru
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