There are three steps in the spiritual growth– steps or stages. They can differ with each individual but there are always three. One is independence. That is an egoistic state: you want to be independent of all which is false, which is not possible because you are not independent, you cannot be. You are a part of this vast whole, of this cosmos. How can you be independent? You have to depend on millions for millions of things. You have to depend for light on the sun, for life on the sun, you have to depend for life on the air, on the oxygen, you have to depend on the trees for food. How can you be independent? You cannot. That is an egoistic effort and is bound to fail.
When independence fails, suddenly dependence arises; you move to the other pole. Because you don’t know how to be in the middle and how to create a harmony, you move to the other pole. Then you become dependent. Then you become afraid that if the object of your dependence is lost, what will happen to you? Then there is panic. But this is a second state: independence is false, dependence is also false.
Then there is the third point which has to be achieved, which I call the harmony. That is interdependence – a feeling of interdependence – you depend on the whole, and not only that, but the whole also depends on you.
I am reminded of a Jewish mystic, a Hassid mystic, Zusya, who used to say to God in every prayer: ”I know my Lord, that I depend on you, but you must also know that you depend on me. I know that without you I cannot be but let me remind you that without me you also cannot be.”
How can a God be there without YOU? – impossible.
Scientists say that the plants, the trees, the whole vegetation on the earth, depend on the sun, without the sun they cannot be. But now they have started suspecting that this idea of one-way traffic must be wrong somewhere, because in life it is always two-way traffic, never one-way traffic. If the plants depend on the sun, somehow the sun must depend on the plants, because it is a mutual give and take. They have started suspecting, and sooner or later they will discover how the sun depends on the plants. Everything depends on everything else.
You feel happy when you look at a flower, a rose – your happiness is created by the rose. Now scientists have proved that when you are happy the rose also feels happy. It depends on you, it waits for you to come and if you don’t come it is just like a lover, feels very sad. No, it is a scientific fact, not poetry. Now it has been absolutely proved that when a lover comes to a rosebush the whole bush thrills, celebrates; it depends on you. Now they say that if you love the rosebush it will grow faster, it will produce bigger flowers because somebody is there to care and love and see. And somebody waits. How can the bush betray you? It has to produce bigger flowers. If nobody loves, and the garden is neglected, and nobody bothers, only servants come and water the plants without any care, then for what, for whom should the bush try to bring big flowers? Then small flowers will do; even without flowers there will be no harm. For whom to flower? For whom to bloom? The rosebush depends on you.
Never pass a tree without saying hello in your heart; never pass a tree without looking at it with deep care and concern. It costs nothing. And remember: if you can make a tree happy, the tree will make you happy. You can try the experiment; it is simple – big scientific instruments are not needed for it. It is a simple experiment. You choose a plant, a tree in the garden of your house or in a public garden. Go every day to the tree, talk to it, become friendly.
It is difficult to persuade the tree because human beings have treated trees so badly that they have become afraid of all human beings. The moment you enter all the trees say: Human being is coming – the most dangerous animal on earth. It can harm without any cause. No animal does that. If a cow is hungry, she will eat the grass, but man can simply sit and go on pulling, for no reason at all.
She is not hungry; she is not going to eat it. Why are you pulling it? Why are you destroying it? The inner destructiveness of the mind, the inner destructive mind, goes on being destructive. You pass by the tree; you pull a branch off – and then you throw it away. Are you absolutely asleep? If it is needed for food… then too… The whole tradition in all the primitive societies, the old traditional lore in Mexico, in primitive aboriginal tribes in India, in Thailand, in many countries, says: Go to a tree.
If you need something, ask her. If you need a few leaves, five leaves for your worship, ask the tree, take permission, and pull the leaves off as carefully as possible. Don’t hurt the tree. Then the tree is always ready to give and there will be no hurt feeling left behind. And thank the tree: You gave me five leaves when I needed them. Whenever you need something, don’t be shy, just tell me.
Go to a tree, talk to the tree, touch the tree, embrace the tree, feel the tree. Just sit by the side of the tree, let the tree feel you, that you are a good person, and you are not in a mood to harm. By and by friendship arises and you will start feeling that when you come the quality of the tree immediately changes. You will feel it. On the bark of the tree, you will feel tremendous energy moving when you come; when you touch the tree she is as happy as a child, as a beloved; when you sit by the tree you will feel many things. Soon you will be able if you are sad to come to the tree, and just in the presence of the tree your sadness will disappear. Then only will you be able to understand that you are interdependent – you can make the tree happy, and the tree can make you happy. And the whole of life is interdependent.
This interdependence I call God, Lao Tzu calls Tao– this whole interdependence. God is not a person somewhere, this whole interdependence is God, Tao, dharma. The Vedas call it rit, the law. Whatsoever you like to call it, call it, but this interdependence is the whole thing. And if near me you can learn interdependence, you have learned all.
First your independence will drop – that is not very difficult, because independent you feel so burdened, you are always ready to drop the burden. That is not very difficult. Then you become dependent. That can be more difficult, because when the burden is thrown on somebody else you feel good, unburdened, weightless. Then the fear comes: If this man leaves the world, is no more in the body, then what will happen? Then you are afraid, then– panic.
Don’t cling to it. This is a phase– just as the first was a phase this is also a phase; this is the reverse aspect of the first phase. Try to feel more and more interdependence.
Independence, you have dropped, now drop dependence also– become interdependent. And this is just a learning here, let your interdependence spread to the whole existence – feel interdependent everywhere. And you are! – that is the reality. Dependence is false; independence is false; only interdependence is true, only God is true.
God is interdependence.
Osho: Tao: The Three Treasures, Vol 1: CHAPTER 4. EMPTINESS Q 3
इस बार इंतिज़ाम तो सर्दी का हो गया
क्या हाल पेड़ कटते ही बस्ती का हो गया………….. नोमान शौक़
ees baar intizām to sardī kā ho gayā
kyā haal peḌ kaTte hī bastī kā ho gayā ………….NOMAAN SHAUQUE
“This time, the arrangements for winter were made,
But what became of the settlement once the trees were cut down?”
When Osho says “God is interdependence.” I am reminded of this very heartwarming song from the film “Hum” (1991) Sung by Alka Yajnik, Mohammed Aziz, Sonali Vajpaee, Sudhesh Bhosale and Udit Narayan, written by Anand Bakshi and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. “Ek Dusre Se Karte Hain Pyaar Hum”, it beautifully reinforces the same idea of collective love and unity. The song expresses the joy of togetherness, care, and mutual support, reflecting a sense of family, community, and shared existence—all aspects of interdependence.
As we celebrate Diwali and welcome the New Year, may we embrace this spirit of togetherness, lighting up not only our homes but also our hearts. May this season bring love, harmony, and a deeper understanding of our shared existence. Wishing you all a joyous Diwali and a prosperous New Year filled with light, peace, and connection.
Beautifully written!
Congratulations on writing such an inspiring and profound piece, “3 Stages of Spiritual Growth.” Your exploration of independence, dependence, and interdependence masterfully captures the essence of spiritual evolution and highlights the deep connections that bind all forms of life. By weaving scientific insights and philosophical reflections together, you have created a narrative that encourages readers to nurture relationships, not just with fellow humans but with nature itself. Your work is a testament to understanding life as an interconnected whole, beautifully resonating with timeless wisdom and contemporary thought. Wishing you continued success and fulfillment in your writing journey.