Osho's perspective on Self-Realization
When Osho Spoke About Self-Realization
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
And you have asked, “Have designations like dharma and spirituality been unnecessarily attached to self-realization?”
No, not in the least. Those appellations are deeply meaningful. Dharma means: intrinsic nature. It is a very suggestive word. Dharma does not mean religion or creed. Religion or creed we call sampradaya. The meaning of dharma is far deeper. That by virtue of which Islam is called a dharma, Christianity is called a dharma, Jainism is called a dharma, Hinduism is called a dharma—because of which all these are called “dharmas”—that which is the essence of all, that is named dharma. These are all paths that lead to that dharma; therefore they are sampradayas. Christianity is a sampradaya, Hinduism is a sampradaya, Jainism is a sampradaya, Buddhism is a sampradaya, Islam is a sampradaya. Dharma is that which these sampradayas lead up to. So it is not proper to call Islam a dharma, nor Hinduism a dharma—sampradaya! The word sampradaya is good. It means: a path by which we…
Is the only purpose in life self-realization?
No sir, not even that. Even self-realization is not the purpose. Somehow, you cannot live without purpose. You have an obsession with purpose, some purpose HAS to be there. Now if there is no other purpose, let it be self-realization. And you will feel good, you will feel very good -- at least there is some purpose: self-realization. Again you have settled, again you have started thinking in terms of means and ends. Again desire will flower, you have to attain to self-realization. Again the future enters in, again you can dream. Before, it may have been money, power, prestige. It may have been God, moksha, nirvana, the kingdom of God. Now it is self-realization. But you have to keep some goal there. And Hakuin says all is here. You want to have something on the other shore. And Hakuin says this is the only shore. The other shore is…
A friend has asked, Osho, can a worldly person not attain God? Are home, family and woman the obstacles to attaining God? Is there no way for a householder to attain God?
Break this sleep. Running will do nothing. Remove this sleep. Let this mind be filled with awareness; let the dreams depart; let the waves of thought subside; let this mind become quiet and silent—then His touch will begin immediately. His flowers will start blooming, His fragrance will begin to waft, His song will be heard; His sun will just now cut through your darkness and you will be filled with light. Therefore in my view, the one who is running knows nothing. It may be that you have been hurt by the world and therefore you run. But the suffering of the world is also your own creation. So wherever you run, you will prepare new sources of suffering. If this is not visible on the surface, go and see. Look at people sitting in ashrams, at renunciates. If they have not awakened, you will find them entangled in a…
In this connection another question has been asked: Shouldn’t self-realization come through service? Isn’t it proper that self-realization happen through service?
After him a Christian missionary arrives at the well. He looks down, the man cries out. The missionary takes a rope from his bag, ties it, lowers himself, and pulls the man out. The rescued man falls at his feet and says, “You seem a truly religious man. You have done me great kindness by saving me! But tell me, why did you have a rope in your bag?” The missionary says, “We leave home prepared. Service is our very vocation. We set out ready—someone may fall into a well, somewhere there may be a fire, something may happen—so we carry our preparations. We keep everything with us. For us, service itself is religion. Because God—Jesus—said that only those who serve will find salvation. You fell into the well—thank you; the path to our salvation became clear. Teach your children as well to fall into wells, so that our children…
"Within each of us lies an innate buddha, a magnetic pull toward self-realization; when we turn our gaze inward, truth eagerly rushes to meet us."
"In realization, the self dissolves, and there is neither a separate 'I' to be recognized nor an 'other' to recognize; true awakening transcends the need for validation."
Can a self-realized person remain unaffected by worldly circumstances throughout their life?
outcome"A self-realized person is not affected or unaffected; they are the transparency of existence, witnessing the dance of life while remaining untouched, like a lotus blooming in muddy waters."
"Self-realization is not a destination to be reached for a lifetime, but the mastery of this moment, where stillness and presence become your true nature."
"Self-realization is a journey that can be supported by others, but true awakening comes from within; prepare yourself first, for only you hold the key to your own liberation."
"Self-realization is a sudden awakening, but it blossoms only after the diligent preparation of practice; in the end, it is the art of letting go that reveals the truth within."
"A self-realized being remains untouched by the pleasure or pain of others, for they see both as mere dreams; their compassion shines like a light, awakening you from the illusions of your own making."
Do self-realized individuals experience mental pain while being aware of their separation from it?
outcome"An awakened one feels pain more acutely, yet remains untouched by it; suffering arises, but without the 'me' to cling to, it cannot pierce the essence of who you are."
"A true master tests the disciple not to create doubt, but to strip away illusions, ensuring that self-realization is a pure, unfiltered experience of the present moment."
Have designations like dharma and spirituality been unnecessarily attached to self-realization?
definition"Dharma and spirituality are not mere labels; they are the essential expressions of your innermost nature, guiding you to the divine seed within through the silence of pure awareness."
"Words can only hint at realization; true knowing speaks with a freshness and authority that transcends the ego and resonates deeply within."
"Only by engaging fully in the marketplace of life can awareness ripen; true freedom arises not from withdrawal, but from conscious participation in every encounter."
"Live life totally, for it is in the fires of joy and sorrow that the soul ripens; whether you choose the worldly path or the path of renunciation, both can lead to self-realization."
"Self-realization is not about embracing everything externally, but about penetrating the illusion of the self until it dissolves, revealing the nonduality that has always been within."
"Self-realization is not a necessity; it is a rare miracle that transforms the finite into the infinite, a grace that graces only a few."
"Bliss is not the pursuit of pleasure or the avoidance of pain; it is the profound realization of your true self beyond all definitions."
"Life is not about self-realization; it is about dropping the illusion of purpose and embracing the present, where the ego dissolves and suchness reveals itself."
"True service arises not from self-interest, but from the realization that there is no separation between 'I' and 'other'; in caring for another, we are simply caring for ourselves."
"Self-realization does not perfect the body; it merely reveals that the body is a temporary vessel, fragile and bound to its karma, while the awakened spirit transcends its limitations."
What is self-realization and how does it relate to existence and relationships with people?
definition"Self-realization is the dissolution of the self; in that emptiness, you discover your oneness with existence, transcending the illusion of duality in relationships."
"Self-realization is the awakening to the liberating truth of your own being, and the only path is moment-to-moment awareness. Cultivate watchfulness, for awareness itself is both the way and the goal."
What is the meaning of effort for liberation if the self dissolves in Existence after death?
outcome"Effort is not about annihilation, but about expansion; when the drop dissolves into the ocean, it uncovers the bliss of existence here and now."
"True realization transcends all proclamations; it is the silence of the self where only the Divine remains."
"Self-realization blossoms in the fertile soil of freedom, where love, meditation, and inquiry nurture the divine seed within."
"Self-realization is the awakening of the God within, transforming you from a rock asleep in dreams to a conscious, limitless sky."
Profound Quotes on Self-Realization
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