How to know God

Osho – Shaikh Farid was a siddha, an enlightened one. He lived almost at the time of Nanak. One day he was going to the river for a bath when a seeker questioned him, ”How is God attained?” Farid said, ”Come along with me. Let us bathe first. Then I will show you; and if I get the opportunity I shall show you while you bathe.” The seeker was rather frightened. He is asking about God and this man takes him for a bath, and offers to show him during the course of the bath! He was troubled, but having already asked he couldn’t back down.

And Farid was a well known saint, so there was the possibility of being shown something in the river. His curiosity was great as he stepped into the river. No sooner had he dived in than Farid jumped astride him. Tiny and thin though he was and Farid a hefty person, he mustered all his strength and succeeded in throwing Farid off of his back. When he came out he screamed, ”You are not a saint but a criminal. What way is this? You must be mad. If you didn’t know why didn’t you tell me in the beginning?”

Farid replied, ”Later we shall settle this problem of my sanity or unconsciousness. Now I have to ask you before your weak memory gives way, when I pressed you under water, how many thoughts were there in your mind?” The seeker said, ”What thoughts? Surely you are mad. How could there be any thought other than how to save my life? The only idea was to shake you off and get a breath of fresh air.” ”That will do,” said Farid. ”You have understood. The day your mind is empty of all thoughts, and there is only the idea of God within you, you shall know all that is to be known. And remember, unless you risk your all in life, it is difficult to know God.”

Source: “The True Name, Vol 2” by Osho

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