Sufism, Vol. 1 Sufis: The People Of The Path Chapter 16: A Lotus on the Lake of Emptiness, Question 6

The last question:

Question 6

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DIE? STAY TOGETHER AND RUN THE RISK THAT THE MOVEMENT WILL TURN INTO A STALE SORT OF RELIGION, OR DISSOLVE AND BE OPEN FOR THE CALL OF ANOTHER LIVING MASTER?

The question is from Swami Anand Adi.

First, have you heard my call yet? The living Master is confronting you -- have you heard my call yet? And if you cannot hear my call, what hope is there that you will hear some other living Master's call?

The very idea shows that you are missing me -- otherwise who bothers about death? If you have heard me, there is no death. If you have heard me at all, in that very hearing death has disappeared. Why are you concerned about my death? How can I die? I am no more. Death is possible only to the ego. Yes, the body will disappear but I cannot disappear.

Raman Maharshi was dying and a disciple started crying. Raman opened his eyes and said, 'What is the matter? Why are you crying?' And the disciple said, 'Bhagwan, you are leaving us. It is unbearable.' And although in great pain -- because he was suffering from throat cancer it was very difficult even to speak -- Raman laughed. And he said, 'But where can I go? I will be as much here as I am right now. Where can I go? You tell me. There is nowhere to go. There is NOWHERE to go.'

The same I say to you, Adi. How can I die? The one who could die has already gone, and the one who cannot die is here con-fronting you.

But it seems you are missing me. Because you are missing you think, 'What will happen to me when Osho is gone?' Rather than being concerned with that, be concerned right now with what is happening to you when Osho is here. That should be the concern. When I am here and you are here then let there be a meeting, let there be a dissolution, let there be a communion. What nonsense you are asking -- what to do when I die. Do something while I am here.

And I don't care a bit what you will be doing when I am gone. If you cannot do anything while I am here, what can be hoped about you? If you go on missing me while I am alive, naturally you will go on missing me when I am dead. It will not make much difference to you.

And it will not make much difference to others who are not missing me right now. They will never miss me. Even when I am gone I will be there in their heart, as alive as ever. Once you are really in contact with a living Master, that living Master becomes your living Master forever. Then there is no need.

But if you are not in contact, naturally you will have to find somebody else. In fact, you are already looking. This very question shows that you are already worried and the search has started. In fact, you are asking me, 'Osho, die soon so I can find another living Master.' That's what your question really means. If you want, I can do that. Just for your sake I can die so you will be free to find another Master.

But you are free right now. Have I to die to make you free? You are free. If you do not feel any contact with me, then who is holding you here?- Don't deceive yourself. You are absolutely free. I am nobody's bondage. I am here to liberate you, not to create a prison for you. If you cannot make a heart-to-heart contact with me, then escape from here. This place is not for you.

Your question is very clear. It says: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU DIE? STAY TOGETHER AND RUN THE RISK THAT THE MOVEMENT WILL TURN INTO A STALE SORT OF RELIGION, OR DISSOLVE AND BE OPEN FOR THE CALL OF ANOTHER LIVING MASTER? If you have heard me there is no need to worry. If you have not heard me then there is every need to escape from here. Then I am not for you.

But think of this moment. Don't be worried about the future -- that is none of your concern.

The second thing: each religion becomes a Church by and by. It has to, by the very nature of things. While the Master is alive it is one thing; when the Master has gone it is quite another. But for those who loved the Master, the Master is always there. For the people who loved Raman Maharshi. the Master is there. They still have the same feeling. when they go to Arunachal, his place, his mountain, and when they sit near his samadhi, it still has the same fragrance, the same freshness, the same presence, the same radiance. And Raman still answers and Raman still instructs and Raman still comes into their dreams, into their visions. For them there is no need to go anywhere; they have found their Master.

There are others also who go to Raman's place -- but he is no longer present there. They think that he is dead, they know that he is dead. It is only a graveyard now, an old temple, relics. They cling to the sect. They still cherish the idea that they are followers of Raman. They are the dead people. It is good if they find some new Master -- because with the old they missed. They should find a new Master.

So I cannot make a categorical statement about what you are to do when I am gone. For those who have contacted me I will never be gone and for those who have not contacted me I am already gone. They should leave right now. They should not wait for my death. Yes, after death they have to leave -- but I am saying they should leave right now. Don't waste your time.

It depends on you whether my religion will remain alive or not when I am gone. It depends on you. To a few it will be dead... to them it is dead now. To a few it will remain alive... to them it is alive now and it will be alive forever. So each one has to decide for himself. If when I am gone you feel that I am there to help you, I will be there to help you. If you feel I am no longer there to help you, naturally you have to choose another Master.

And I am saying that you have to choose right now. Why wait for that moment? I may not die so soon. People like me are unpredictable. I may die tomorrow or I may not die so soon. So don't depend on that. You just listen to your own heart. If your heart is growing with me, blooming, new foliage is coming, new buds are opening, then I am your Master. If it is not happening, then seek and search somewhere else with all my blessings.

Sufism

VOL. 1, SUFIS: THE PEOPLE OF THE PATH

Chapter-16

A Lotus on the Lake of Emptiness