Zorba, the Buddha
Pleasure is a poor substitute for Happiness. It should come
from within. Zorba the Buddha should learn this primer to avoid ending up as a
nervous wreck.
In philosophy, it is no longer possible to introduce a brand
new stream and get universal acclaim. All original thoughts have been
presented. No single thought –system can be practiced in these days of
“grab-all” mind-set without causing injury to the practitioner. It seems mixing
philosophies is the only way-out.
People should be able to live life with dignity. Nobody
should be degraded. At the same time
your mindset should be enlarged so as to encompass all. Nobody should be
sidelined. One should possess a burning desire to embrace everything into one’s
fold. We know that this kind of embrace is possible only through Love. The
Bible says precisely that. However, cultivating Love in a modern-day
environment is impossibly difficult. Fear is the block. You have it but somehow
you’re reluctant. Now, add the Red Book to Bible. You have a formidable
combination there. You’re believing in the Bible and the Red Book
simultaneously. One step further, you tend to believe that both are essentially
the same! As a result, you can practice the Bible in letter and spirit. Oddly
enough, you’re impressing no one with your mix. Anybody can quote Bhagavat Gita
and deflate you, the idea is nothing new.
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| sajitha r. shankar |
Osho also mixes philosophies. He introduces a role-model -
Zorba, the Buddha. Zorba represents one part and Buddha, the other. The
summation of qualities of Zorba –the pleasure seeking ordinary mortal (samsari)
and that of Gauthama, the Buddha is taken and offered as the new role-model.
Zorba, the Buddha. Osho presents his ‘brave new man’ for us. According to him,
the Enlightened Samsari does not shy away from sensual delights! She /he is
perfectly balanced between physical and
metaphysical, i.e., dabbling in the
material world with his/her anchor grounded safely in spirituality. He/She
welcomes the pleasures experienced through the sense organs keeping the
enlightened state intact! The spiritual anchor detaches the body (and its
pleasures) and watches the events just as a witness. The sakshi-bhava, that is.
In other words, Zorba the Buddha is a ‘brave new Yogi’ who flaunts his various
credit-cards to make an easy entry into a floating casino. He disembarks the next
morning without his conscience bothering him. He/She celebrates every moment of
life but never gets involved. What’s the idea in subjecting your body to
torture, after all?
Get the best of both worlds.
Osho shuns selflessness. Zorba the Buddha is not the type
who practices idealism. What’s the use, Osho asks. In a span of 3000 years, we
have fought at least 5000 wars. Did you
ever get a chance to celebrate your life? Abstinence is no answer (for
anything).
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| sajitha r.shankar |
Fine Sir! Indulge yourself. But, be prepared for the state
when pleasures are denied! Pleasure and pain are always packed as a
combo-offer. As you become sophisticated, your tolerance level decreases. You
can’t take even a minor refusal in your stride. One who derives pleasure from
the physical world cannot say “I have had enough!”. His/her wish-list is
unending and ever-expanding. And a stage comes when the body cannot sustain its
vitality and the senses become weak. Precisely at this time, the desires keep galloping!
Of course, money/ power can get you various objects of desire but you’re unable
to consume them. Choicest food is being served on a silver platter, exclusively
for you. What’s the use, you have tongue
cancer.
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| sajitha r.shankar |
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