OSHO: Meditation for Busy People a 21 day meditation program for people with no time to meditate

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THINK WITH A YES-SAYING MIND The subject of today’s meditation is realizing our oneness with all of life, with the universe. A very timely topic in a world which seems rife with division and disrespect for other species, races, the natural environment. Theoretically we know this oneness must be the case…but how to realize it, live it? “Right thinking” is one of the steps. You can think in two ways: you can think negatively, then it is wrong thinking. Or you can think positively, then it is right thinking. Negative thinking starts with denial, negating, “no” is its starting point. Observe within yourself whether you start with no. Whenever something is said, what is the first feeling that comes up? – no or yes? And you will find ninety-nine percent of the time a no is arising in you. You may not have observed it. Even for futile things where no “no” is needed, “no” comes up; we may not even know why we would be saying no, “no” is our basic attitude. I will read out a passage from Osho which prepares you for practicing the method for 24 hours. While listening watch the “no” or “yes” arising in your mind. THINK WITH A YES-SAYING MIND Why is “no” our basic attitude? – because when you say no, you feel you are somebody. The other is negated, the other’s ego is hurt, and your ego is fulfilled. No is ego fulfilling; it is food for the ego, which is why we train ourselves in saying no. Go anywhere in life and you will find no-sayers everywhere because with no you feel your authority – you are someone, you can say no. To say, “yes, sir” makes you feel inferior; you feel that you are someone’s subordinate, a nobody. Only then do you say “yes, sir.” Remember this: “no” is ego fulfilling; “yes” is the method to discover the self. Yes is positive and no is negative. No is strengthening the ego; yes is destroying it. Right thinking means yes-saying: Whatever is happening, first find out whether you can say yes. If you cannot say yes, if it is impossible to say yes, only then say no. Our normal method is first to say no; if it is impossible to say no, only then, with a defeated attitude, do we say yes. THINK WITH A YES-SAYING MIND Try it. Take a vow that for twenty-four hours you will try in every situation to start with yes. And notice what deep relaxation it offers you. Just ordinary things… For twenty-four hours, try in every way to start with yes. You will feel great difficulty because you will become aware that immediately the no comes first! In anything, the no comes first – that has become the habit. Don’t use it; use yes, and then see how the yes relaxed you. Right thinking means to start out thinking with yes. It doesn’t mean that you cannot use no; it only means to start with yes. Look with a yes-saying mind. And then if it is impossible, say no. You will not find many points where you need to say no, if you start with yes. If you start with no, you will not find many points to say yes. The start means ninety percent is concluded – ninety percent, done. Your start colors everything, even the end. Right thinking means think, but think with a sympathetic mind. Think with a yes-saying mind. Use logic, use reason, but use them as instruments to find out how to say yes. We go on using reason and logic as a structure to find out how to say no. It should be the other way around; then it is right thinking. So here is your invitation for today – live this day with a yes-saying mind, in “right-thinking”!