Osho's perspective on Perception
When Osho Spoke About Perception
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
What is the difference between waiting for godot and waiting for god?
It is as if the sun has risen in the morning and you are sitting in your room with closed doors and windows, in darkness. Open the doors, you become available to the sun. The sun was already available -- just the meeting happens. You cannot wait for God. All waiting is for Godot. Godot means the one who never comes, who CANNOT come, whose arrival is impossible. And the only impossible thing is that which has already happened -- how can it happen again? You are alive, and you are waiting for life, Now, this is ridiculous. The real man of religion does not think in terms of God. He thinks in terms of life or, even better, of living -- because life can again become an abstract idea. Living, moment-to-moment living. In that very living, one knows what God is, because one knows who one is. Your idea…
Beloved master, do all ordinary people think that others have something more or better than they do?
That's the definition of ordinary people. They are continuously comparing themselves with others. Comparison is their whole life's work. Certainly people have... somebody has a better house, somebody has a better nose, somebody has a better body, somebody has a better mind. There are thousands of things. You can find in every person something better than you. Even a beggar may have something better than you. Just the way he walks may have a grandeur, a carelessness. He has no worries, he has nothing to worry about. He sleeps in the street better than you sleep on the best mattress in the best house. The better the mattress, the worse the sleep. It is very strange but that's how it is, because for sleep what is needed is at least eight hours of hard work. That's the way your physiology is built. It has a built-in program. If you don't…
Beloved master, the other night, I could have sworn I saw a man reading a newspaper in anando's room during the discourse. Was I just seeing things?
Milarepa, not only have you seen him; Kaveesha has seen the same man sitting on a chair reading the newspaper, and because of the newspaper nobody could see his face. People could see only the legs, the shoes, the socks, the hands and the newspaper; nobody has seen his upper body and his face -- and nobody has dared to go in there. When Kaveesha saw it she shrieked -- and Kaveesha is a great occultist, a hypnotist, a knower of witchcraft and black magic; and if she shrieks it means something really substantial! I have seen it too because when I passed after the discourse, the fellow was reading the newspaper. In fact I have suggested to Anando... because the ghost that lives in that room goes on knocking and disturbing Anando's sleep. Now she has got an air conditioner and she keeps it on full speed, so noisy…
I have been observing that whenever press people come to the ashram they are always looking for something negative -- sex, money, etcetera, etcetera. Can't they see what is happening here?
They can see. They see it but they can't report it. You have to understand. The people who read the newspapers and the magazines are constantly searching for the negative, they are looking for the negative. To them, good news is no news. Only the bad news is news, only the negative has appeal for them. If somebody murders it is news, if somebody rapes it is news. George Bernard Shaw used to say that when a dog bites a man it is not news, but when a man bites a dog it is news. Something unusual, something that should not be, has to be reported. Only then are people thrilled. People live on negativity. And the consumer decides; because he purchases, his needs have to be fulfilled. The people who read the newspapers are sexually repressed; they are hankering for something sexual. That is a vicarious satisfaction but they…
"Real seeing is the unmediated contact with what is, where the seer and the seen dissolve into one seamless experience."
"When your gaze stops attacking and begins to reflect, you will see the formless Divine in every form, and the 'other' will reveal itself as your own self."
"You cannot see anything as it is until you drop the mind; only in the silence of meditation does reality reveal itself in its purest form."
"Drop comparison, and you will see that every person is unique; in that recognition, jealousy dissolves into gratitude for life's unpurchasable gifts."
Do we need a window to see the sky?
definition"A window can guide you to the sky, but true liberation lies in stepping beyond all frames and experiencing the vastness of direct awareness."
"True seeing arises when you release your hold on the seen and turn your awareness toward the seer, allowing the essence of all that is to descend into your being."
"To understand life beyond your own experience, awaken to both your sleep and awareness, and embrace the diverse tapestry of humanity with open arms."
Is dirt really dirty?
definition"Dirt is not inherently dirty; it is merely a judgment of the divided mind, while true awareness transcends all opposites."
Is it possible to cooperate with perceived tricks for personal benefit, or is this all just madness?
outcome"What appears as madness can be a compassionate device, a skillful illusion that shakes you awake to the truth that already resides within you."
"In the depths of silence, the senses merge, allowing you to see with your ears and hear with your eyes, unveiling a reality that transcends the confines of individuality."
"In meditation, let go of distractions and choose what serves your total involvement; whether it’s taking off your glasses or keeping them on, the essence lies in your freedom to be fully present."
Was my perception of seeing a man reading a newspaper in Anando's room during the discourse real?
outcome"Reality is not confined to the physical; even the unseen can be a part of our experience, inviting us to acknowledge and respect the mysteries that dwell around us."
What do you see when you look at us?
definition"Be a joke unto yourself; when you watch your life with humor, suffering becomes light and the path to enlightenment unfolds."
"Let lies run; they self-erase, for false perceptions wobble on borrowed feet and cannot withstand the weight of truth."
"First restore your normal eyesight; only then can you truly see the light of enlightenment."
"The outer world is but a reflection in the mirror of the mind, while the inner world is the true essence of awareness; as we deepen into this awareness, the illusion of separation dissolves, revealing our oneness."
"Looking is a prejudiced search that distorts reality, while seeing is an open, silent awareness that allows truth to reveal itself."
"Only total, conditionless surrender can dissolve the tricks of perception, transforming the perceiver into pure awareness. When the head bows utterly, seeing becomes clear, simple, and awake."
"Real questioning arises from choiceless awareness, where perception is a clear seeing, free from the distortions of judgment and conditioning. Drop your conclusions and watch freshly; only then can understanding unfold without the violence of comparison."
"We do not see reality as it is; we see it through the lens of our conditioning, and true understanding requires us to remain alive and responsive to the present moment."
"True perception recognizes that everyone is already a Buddha, and the labels we attach are mere illusions; in essence, we are all playing games of hiding and revealing our true nature."
"True perception transcends the mechanical mind; it is the awakening to the living essence beyond mere forms and conditioned patterns."
What is the nature of perception?
definition"True perception arises when the mind is silent; in that stillness, you become the pure witness of reality."
"The seer and the seen are but two faces of the same reality; in the end, the observer is the observed, and only the One remains."
"Truth is not determined by consensus; it is found in the depth of your own awareness and personal inquiry. Stand alone, observe, and let your experience guide you, not the opinions of the many."
Profound Quotes on Perception
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