The sixth question:

Question 6

I AM A CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN. I LOVE YOUR TALKS, BUT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING WHICH GOES AGAINST MY RELIGION THEN I AM TERRIBLY UPSET. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

THERE ARE THREE THINGS: first, only listen to that which suits you; don't listen to that which goes against you. That's what many are doing, otherwise it is going to be a rough journey. But when you are here listening, it is difficult -- how to avoid that? In fact, before you know it is against you, you have listened to it.

Then you need to do something which professors know how to do, pundits, scholars know how to do. When you listen to something which goes against you, first: think that it is trivial; it does not matter; it is not very relevant; it does not change your mind. It is a small thing! Maybe a little difference in the details, but basically Osho agrees with you. Keep that in the mind.

It happened:

A woman went to the doctor and complained she could not get passionate. The doctor examined her, and told her that if she would follow his special diet she would get very randy. This was agreed, but after a few weeks she was back and said, "There's something gone wrong! Last night I got so passionate I chewed my boyfriend's ear off."

"Oh, don't worry about that trifle," said the doctor, "it's only protein -- no carbohydrates."

This is the first way: that only in small details... it is nothing very important. You need not worry. That will help you and you will not get so upset.

The second thing is: interpret it -- mm? -- that's what Saraha goes on saying: Be interpretative! Interpret it in such a way that it comes closer to your idea. That can always be done; a little skill is need. A little logic, a little play with words that's all. It is not much of a problem; you can manage it. If you have really been a Catholic it will not be difficult at all.

Listen to this:

The Irish navvies were digging the road outside a house full of made-up floozies. A parson came along, pulled down his hat and went in. Says Pat to Mike, "Did you see that! Just what you'd expect with one of them parsons!"

Soon after, a rabbi arrived, turned up his collar, and in he went. Says Mike to Pat, "Is it not a terrible thing that the priest of God's Own People should go in there!"

Lastly a Catholic priest arrived, wrapped his cloak round his head, and dived quickly into the bawdy house.

"Pat, isn't that dreadful now, to think that one of the girls must have been taken ill."

This is an interpretation. When the rabbi goes, it is something else; when the priest goes, it is something else; when the Catholic priest arrives... you can change the interpretation. There is no problem in it: now some girl seems to be ill.

This is the second way to avoid me.

And the third way is: think that this guy here is mad. That is the surest of all -- if nothing else works, that works. Just think that this man is mad! Only a madman can say things against Catholicism. That will help you, and will not upset you at all.

The newly appointed priest thought he'd walk this vast parish and meet the flock. One day he followed a dusty track for miles to find a devout family with fourteen children.

"Good day, Connelly, you're a credit to Ireland -- the biggest family in the parish."

"Good day, father, but this is not the biggest family in the parish -- that's Doylan, over the hill."

It was a tired priest who greeted Doylan and his sixteen children... but "God bless all these eighteen little Catholics," he said.

"Sorry father, but this is a Protestant family!"

"Then I'll go at once," said the priest, "for it's nothing but a dirty sex maniac that ye are!"

If I go with you, "this man is great"; if I don't go with you think''this man is mad" -- that will help you.

These are the tricks others are playing and not getting upset. Now you know the secrets... you can do that too.

But if your whole effort is not to get upset, then why are you here? My whole effort here is to make you as much upset as possible. Then why go with me at all? Unless I upset you, I cannot transform you. Unless I destroy you, I cannot create you. Unless I am very drastic, there is no way, no hope for you.

It is my compassion that I go on hammering on your head -- because that is the only way! And I have to hammer too much: what can I do? -- you have such thick heads. Something upsets you because something true comes into your vision; otherwise it will not upset you.

Always remember: anything upsetting you is valuable... think over it, meditate over it. Allow it to have its whole say. Contemplate over it. Let it be there present in your being long so that you can look at it from all the angles possible -- because something upsetting simply means that something has made you aware that whatsoever you have been believing up to now is just a lie. Only truth upsets. Only truth destroys because only truth can create.

I am a chaos... and if you are really going to be with me, you have to pass through chaos. That's what Saraha says, that's what Tantra is all about -- destructuring, taking your character away, taking your ideology away, TAKING YOUR MIND AWAY! It is surgical.