Solitude

A question has been asked: If a person, like a lotus in water, can remain immersed in worldly work and, by being submerged in it, still attain peace, then what is the need to come to Matheran and to solitude? What is the need to come into this aloneness and to go far away from everything?

Only after self-knowledge is non-delusion possible; when non-delusion is there, non-attachment flowers. But do not fall into the self-deception that “We are already householders; let us comfortably remain where we are—non-delusion will arise here, non-attachment will arise here. And like that fakir I spoke of, who lived in palaces, we too will live in palaces—no harm.” Do not give yourself this cheat. He lived in palaces—but his way of living was utterly unique. He was living in the palace just as he had lived under the trees. Perhaps for him there was no palace at all; perhaps he was still under a tree. It made no difference to him. If that inner vision happens in you, then live anywhere. But do not deceive yourself. Do not set up arrangements for deceiving yourself. We have made many such arrangements. And these fine words—karma-yoga, the yoga of non-attachment, sannyas while remaining in…

It is asked: “We are suffering alone—who is responsible?”

When you are building something, even if sweat runs from your brow, there is joy—because you know, this is labor. And behind this labor there is fruit. This is labor, creation. Behind it gratitude flows. Behind it is attainment. From this very solitude the Divine will come to you. The day you become silent, that day He will speak. The day you become alone, on that very day His hand comes into your hand. He is not far—He is near. But you are so entangled in the crowd that you cannot see Him. He dwells in the heart, yet draws a veil over the eyes, Yes—the real delight is to go on seeking even after having found. Such is the delight at play. It is already found, and we go on seeking what is already found. We have never really lost Him, but the eyes are entangled in the crowd.…

[A sannyasin says: I'm isolating myself -- and I feel I should be doing something else. At first I felt good alone, but now it's changed.] Then move out of it! One should always be watchful, because if one is not feeling happy in any situation, in any mood, then one should come out of it. Otherwise that becomes your habit, and by and by you lose sensitivity. You will go on being miserable and living in it, which simply shows a very deep insensitivity. There is no need! If you are not feeling good in isolation, then come out of it. Meet with people, enjoy company, talk and laugh -- but when you feel you are fed up with it, move into isolation again. Always remember to judge everything by your inner feeling of bliss. If you are feeling blissful, everything is alright.

Beloved Osho, the other day you talked so beautifully about the sadness which follows the first experience of our innermost silence. Is it necessarily so, that when I first experience this silence, I also feel with my whole being that I am absolutely alone on my journey?

Aloneness is also one of the fundamental experiences as you enter silence. In silence there is nobody else, you are simply alone. The deeper your silence will be, thoughts will be gone, emotions will be gone, sentiments will be gone -- just pure being, a flame of light, burning alone. One can get scared because we are so much accustomed to living with people -- in the crowd, in the marketplace, in all kinds of relationships. You may not be aware that in all these relationships -- with friends, with your husbands, with your wives, with your children, with your parents -- you are basically trying to avoid the experience of aloneness. These are strategies so that you are always with somebody. It is a well-known fact, psychologically established, that if a person is left alone in isolation, after seven days he starts talking... a little like whispering. For seven…