Buddha’s deny to Nirvana – A parable

This is a short story about Buddha that when he reached the gate of Nirvana, the gates were thrown open. Rarely does it happen – millions of years pass before a person comes to the gate. For millions of years the gatekeeper was just waiting and waiting for somebody to come. Rust must have gathered on the gate, it had not been opened for so long, for so many million years. The gatekeeper was happy, he opened the door. But Buddha didn’t enter the gate. The gatekeeper asked, “Why are you standing outside? Come in, you are welcome. You have earned it.” Buddha said, “I cannot enter. I have taken a vow: unless all living beings enter into the nirvana before me, I cannot enter. I will be the last. So I will have to wait – you can close the door. And I will have to wait infinitely, because millions and millions of beings are suffering and groping in the dark, trying to come. When they all have passed, when I see that now nobody is left behind, then only will I enter.”

This is just a parable but of immense significance. The meaning is: when you start meditating, don’t become too self conscious. Help, be compassionate. Help others to meditate. And whatsoever you gain out of meditation, shower it on others. Share it – in sharing it will grow.

Whenever you meditate and you come upon beautiful spaces, immediately pray to existence. “Let my joy be showered over every being – conscious, unconscious. I don’t want any personal claim over it.” When you attain to satoris, share. Don’t hold then, don’t become possessive. If you become possessive you will kill them.

There are things which are immediately killed, the moment you possess them. In your experience there is only one thing that is immediately killed if you possess it – that is love. Similarly when you attain to the silent space, a meditative experience inside, don’t possess it! This is the vow. Don’t say, “This is mine.” Don’t become egoistic about it, don’t start bragging. Don’t start walking in a special way, don’t start looking at people, thinking, “These poor people, they have not attained yet.” Don’t start pretending that you are a Buddha.

If you have attained Satori, become more humble, feel more grateful. And share it and shower it on others. Don’t hold it - it is not a treasure to guard, it is a treasure to be shared. And the more you share, the more will be coming to you. The more you hoard it, you will be surprised one day, to find your fists are empty.

- Osho