Nigod

Yes, what does nigod mean? The notion of nigod is uniquely Mahavira’s—very original, and also quite complex. Yes, the meaning of nigod is… We understand two words: there is samsara and there is moksha. Moksha means: souls that have gone beyond all bonds. Samsara means: souls that are still in bondage, who can go beyond. Nigod means: souls dormant in bondage—the reverse of moksha.

Samsara is the middle, nigod is the first, moksha is the last. From nigod the soul rises and enters samsara; from samsara it rises and enters moksha. Moksha is liberation; nigod is complete non-liberation—where everything is sheer darkness, the grip is deep; that is, where there is not even the awareness that there is bondage, where bondage itself is everything. The very awareness of bondage is the beginning of freedom. The moment one knows there are chains on one’s hands, the struggle has begun. One will no longer tolerate the chains; they will have to be broken. In nigod, there isn’t even that much awareness. Nigod means: the realm of stupefied, unconscious souls. From that realm of stupefied souls, slowly, souls rise and come into this middle realm, where half-stupor and half-non-stupor operate; at times the mind awakens, at times it falls asleep; sometimes we appear awake, sometimes asleep; sometimes…

Osho, in Nigod the soul remains unconscious!

Exactly—that is the meaning. Unconscious means just that. It will be conscious in moksha. And it will become conscious only when it takes on sorrow, suffers pain, undergoes hardship—only then will it become conscious. When it misuses its freedom, only then will it become conscious.

Question: The first question: Osho! About thirty years ago in Jabalpur, when a pandit was disputing topics like moksha, Daddaji said, “You may know the scriptures and doctrines; I only know that this is my last birth.” On another occasion, he went to Kashi on work and attended a muni’s satsang. Finding Daddaji a stranger, after the discourse the muni asked, “I haven’t seen you here before!” He said, “Yes, I am not from here.” He asked, “Where have you come from, and where will you go from here?” He said, “I have come from Nigod and I will go to moksha.” Five years ago, when he had a heart attack, seeing Mother anxious he said, “Do not worry. I still have five years of life left.” Osho, please shed compassionate light on the mystery behind these proclamations of his.

Osho, are the English word “salvation” and the Sanskrit terms moksha, Vaikuntha, and nirvana all synonymous?

Nirvana is the final notion. No one remains. This will frighten you too. That is why not many are drawn to nirvana—no one remains! Then what is the point? You want bliss, yes—but you also want to remain; otherwise, what is the point even of bliss! And Buddha says: as long as you are, suffering remains. You are the suffering. The very notion of “I” is suffering. Where you are not, there is bliss. Now this becomes a little difficult. It has to—when things reach such heights they become difficult. They go beyond logic. They slip out of the grasp of the intellect. These four words are different, as I said, in practical terms. In the transcendental sense, they are not different. Whether one goes by the path of salvation, or by Vaikuntha, or by moksha, or by nirvana, ultimately one will arrive only at nirvana. Because those that do…