“Not being able to see one’s prejudices, clingings, attachments and addictions, is stupidity,” says Osho in a discourse.
A mural in Lindavista, Distrito Federal, Mexico, depicting a prostitute and a priest
People live with such tremendous stupidity that if you watch their life you will be surprised. How do they manage? How can they go on befooling themselves?
I have heard:
Two Irish Catholic laborers were repairing the underground cables in the street opposite a well-known house of prostitution. While they had the advantage of seeing the street, they could not be observed.
Along came a rabbi who carefully looked in all directions to make sure he was not being observed and quickly ducked into the house. Pat turned to Mike: “Look at that dirty no-good Jew going into that evil house!”
A few moments later they saw the Methodist minister look carefully about him before he too entered this house. Again Pat turned to Mike: “Look at that heathen bastard sneaking into the evil house.”
And about one hour later who should appear on the scene but the parish priest who also looked carefully in both directions before entering the house. Pat turned to Mike: “Poor Father O’Toole, I wonder who happens to be sick at that place?”
Now it is different. Now it is your own priest, the whole interpretation has changed. This is stupidity. Not being able to see one’s prejudices, clingings, attachments and addictions, is stupidity. And man is really very stupid.
Osho, Unio Mystica, Vol 1, Ch 5
Series compiled by Shanti
All excerpts of this series can be found in: 1001 Tales
Comments are closed.