Salvation
Christians go on saying that Jesus is the salvation, but that is nonsense because if Jesus is the salvation, then why is the world still in misery? Jesus has happened! He would have solved everybody's problems. He has not solved anybody's problems, not even the Christians' -- he cannot! Nobody can do it, and it is good that nobody can do it, because if others can do it then they can undo it too. And if your freedom can be given by others it won't be much of a freedom; it will be another kind of bondage.
Freedom has to be achieved by your own efforts. Nobody can give it to you; hence nobody can take it away from you. It is absolutely yours.
-Osho, "The Dhammapada: The Way of the Buddha, Vol 7, #9"
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Question 3
Osho,
Through the ages, incarnations like Jesus and Buddha have accepted to come and help humanity. If life is no more than a joke, why do they take the trouble?
That too is part of this great cosmic joke. Buddha and Christ – they are part of this great game, this play, this leela. Don’t take them seriously, they are not serious people. They are playing a game. It is all a joke.
When I say “It is all a joke” I simply mean don’t take it seriously and don’t take it sadly. Let it be fun.
Nobody is a savior – neither Buddha nor Jesus – nobody is a savior. I am included in it. Nobody is a savior. Then what is a buddha? A buddha is just a salvation. Not a savior, a salvation. If you understand him, if you look into him, if you partake of him, your life is no longer a misery. It is a bliss.
Not that Buddha saves you, not that Jesus saves you. Nobody can save anybody. Only you can save yourself. But they are salvations. And the secret of salvation is: be joyful, don’t be sad. The secret of salvation is: don’t go on creating misery. And the serious face, the long face, is the unreligious face. That’s why I say, “This life is a cosmic joke.” It is not to disparage it, it is not disrespectful. It is the greatest respect that I can show to it – that it is a play. That’s why Hindus call it leela, a play.
Be playful, and in that playfulness is your salvation. And it is you and only you who can save yourself. I can make my heart available to you. I’m not a savior, I am a salvation.
-Osho, "Sufis: The People of the Path, Vol. 2, #12, Q3“