Osho, the insightful sage, reveals that in the past, the understanding of memory as a collection of thoughts and thought waves was limited, but today, it has become more accessible and comprehensible.
Let’s begin by addressing a set of thought-provoking questions that someone has asked:
- What does it mean when you say we carry the wounds of others?
- Is this simply adopting another person’s thought pattern?
- If adopting someone else’s wound is easy, why do we struggle to embrace our own Buddhahood?
The complexity of this question demands a thorough exploration, and I’m ready to provide the answers. It’s important to recognize that we all carry wounds, not just from our own experiences, but also from the broader context of the society we live in. In a world where anger, hatred, and the desire to cause pain abound, these surface-level wounds are apparent and easily understood. But the subtler layers are where the challenge lies.
Even within the realm of so-called religious saintliness, there’s a tendency to induce guilt and label people as sinners, creating a narrative that fosters misery. This misery becomes familiar, almost cozy, although it is, in reality, a life of hell. Surprisingly, this misery receives support from society. When we’re miserable, we find sympathy from others, reinforcing this unfortunate cycle. But have you ever noticed that when you’re joyful, people may even become jealous? This, in essence, reveals the twisted dynamics we’ve come to accept.
In my view, it’s time to change the very foundation of life. Sympathy should be reserved for moments of pleasure, joy, and celebration, not for misery. We must emphasize that this misery is a choice we make, and it’s within our power to drop it instantly and revel in the dance of joy and bliss.
Let’s delve even deeper into the concept of reincarnation, a prevalent idea in Eastern religions, suggesting the migration of the self from one body to another, one life to the next. Interestingly, even psychiatrists are finding evidence suggesting the validity of this notion. However, I want to challenge this belief. Reincarnation, as commonly understood, is a misconception. When a person dies, their being becomes part of the collective whole, regardless of whether they were a sinner or a saint. What carries forward is the mind, the memory.
Here’s where Gautam Buddha’s wisdom shines. While he hinted at this idea, he lacked the evidence available today. Buddha mentioned that when a person dies, their memory travels to a new womb, not the self. This concept is now more understandable. As you approach death, you leave traces of memory in the air. If you’ve been miserable, these miseries find new locations, entering other memory systems. Sometimes they aggregate in a single womb, leading to memories of a past life. However, these aren’t your memories but those of another individual you’ve inherited.
Most people don’t remember past lives because they possess fragments of various memory systems, creating their misery patterns. Those who die joyfully, with no mind, leave no trace. They simply disperse into the universe. The enlightened ones are never reborn. In contrast, the unenlightened continually perpetuate misery, attracting more of the same with each death.
Misery patterns, like radio waves, invisibly search for hosts, and if you’re miserable, you become the perfect recipient. But blissful individuals leave no trace. They dissolve their minds through meditation, disappearing like birds in the sky, leaving no track. This contrasts sharply with the unenlightened, who keep reincarnating, contributing to the ever-thickening cloud of misery.
The time has come to understand and dissolve this accumulated misery. Otherwise, it becomes an overwhelming obstacle, stifling your ability to live and experience true laughter.
Your consciousness is untouched by wounds. It knows nothing of misery. Your consciousness is pure, innocent, and inherently blissful. We’re working to bring you in touch with this consciousness, shifting your focus away from the mind, which houses your wounds and miseries. The mind often creates wounds without your awareness.
An example from within our community illustrates this phenomenon. Zareen, once joyful upon arriving at the commune, has become less so. This change stems from the mind, which has turned the commune into her house, allowing all the misery from her previous life to surface. The urge to return home is merely a manifestation of this ingrained concept. Yet, going back won’t solve the problem; it would intensify the darkness, making the husband appear even more distant. Instead, she can choose to be happy wherever she is.
Let go of the past, and embrace the path of freedom, love, and compassion. You possess the capacity to be joyful, and no reason justifies misery. Often, people invent reasons to be miserable. However, those reasons are fabricated, and without a valid basis. Happiness is our natural state. Joy requires no cause.
This commune should be a haven of understanding, mindfulness, and self-awareness. Recognize that the mind’s patterns are not yours. You are the observer, detached from the mind.
I’ll now introduce you to the path out of misery patterns, whether ancient or new: the path of witnessing. This is the only route, as no one has transcended the mind without becoming a witness. As you witness, you’ll find yourself laughing at the superficiality of your miseries, realizing that they’re mostly borrowed, not inherent.
Understand that every time you share your misery, you’re unconsciously transferring a miserable pattern. This is how you end up carrying other people’s wounds. The person listening may think they’re just hearing you out, but they’re also absorbing the vibe of misery.
To eradicate this cycle, we must all become mindful, meditative, and aware. Misery patterns will dissipate when they find no house, no shelter. This transformation is possible. If it’s possible for me, it’s possible for all.
Now, let’s address the final part of your question: why do we find it easier to accept someone else’s wound, but struggle to embrace our own Buddhahood?
The rarity of encountering a Buddha and the gap in understanding his language play significant roles. Buddhas are scarce, and when we do encounter them, their language seems alien. They talk of bliss while we are familiar with misery. They speak of eternal health when we know only death. This mismatch makes understanding difficult.
In truth, embracing our own Buddhahood should be straightforward. It’s evident that our very being is already Buddha-like, but we’ve forgotten the path to our inner being. We’ve embarked on various external paths, forgetting the small, unexplored space within us.
Meditation serves as an exploration of this neglected inner space, a space that, when discovered, reminds us of our inherent Buddhahood. This isn’t a philosophical concept; it’s an existential experience. By going inward, this inner experience erupts, affirming our Buddhahood. No one can convince you of it; you can’t be otherwise.
However, finding a Buddha is rare, and understanding their language is challenging. Yet, it’s essential to recognize that you possess the capacity for joy, for Buddhahood. It’s time to explore this hidden aspect of yourself, to embrace it fully, and let it radiate in your life.
Together, as a community, let’s foster a culture of understanding, self-awareness, and mindfulness. As you uncover your
inner Buddhahood, you’ll witness the transformation, the realization that you’re not just your mind. I’m here to teach you to be the watcher, to witness the mind and transcend its limitations.
The path out of misery patterns is clear: witness, observe, and laugh at the superficiality of these borrowed miseries. As you share your joy, your dances, songs, and silences, this transformative energy will ripple through the world, and wounds will find no shelter.
Remember, your consciousness is free of wounds. It knows no misery. It is innocence and pure bliss. Together, let’s walk the path of awareness, letting go of the past, and embracing our inner Buddhahood. This is the way to a life of authentic joy, freedom, and compassion.