Stay close to the stars

A joyful heart is very close to the stars. It is only the sad and the sorrowful and the miserable who are going towards hell. They are creating their hell. The joyful and the singing and the dancing and the celebrating are creating their paradise by each of their songs, by each of their dances.

It is in your hands whether to create paradise or to fall into a darkness, into hellfire. These are not outside you; these both are within you. It all depends what you choose to be. Choose to be divine, choose to be more and more a celebrant, choose to be festive, so more and more flowers can blossom in your being, and more and more fragrance can become available to you.

And this way will not only help you, it will help all those with whom you come in contact. Joy is as infectious as any disease. When you see a few people dancing, suddenly you feel your feet are ready. Whenever you have an opportunity to laugh, join; whenever you have an opportunity to dance, join; whenever you have an opportunity to sing, sing - and, one day, you will find you have created your paradise.


It is a good beginning. With all my blessings, go deeper, in spite of any fear. Never listen to negative things, they can destroy your joy. And here are people who will dance with you, who will celebrate, because you have taken the first step towards existence. And I want to remind you that the first step is almost half the journey.

Abridged from The Razor's Edge, Talk #7, Osho Times International, courtesy Osho International Foundation.