Ever taste an Oregon peach? Boy are they good, just the way a peach should taste: soft, sweet, and juicy. Mmm! But wouldn't you rather taste one yourself instead of listening to me rave on about them? Like with truth. Why would you ask someone else what truth is. Not that I haven't asked Osho my share of questions about it. Like with peaches, wouldn’t you prefer to taste something as good as truth yourself instead of watching someone else have all the fun? At best, I might draw you a good map how to find the Hood River Valley in Oregon where these divine peaches come, just as any master worth his salt will point your eyes in the right direction of the moon. There's a Zen phrase that says it well: "Look where I'm pointing. And don't bite my finger!"

I used to think a lot about truth. I harassed Osho on more than one occasion about it. Like the time I asked: "Beloved Master, What is the difference between my mind and no-mind." To which he responded: "Milarepa, it is basically the difference between you and me." The next day, he surprised me with a question he wrote himself and signed my name to: "Bhagwan, why am I a philosopher?" This was the last time I ever asked someone else about the truth, ultimate or otherwise. One could say from that moment on I started eating peaches.

When I was growing up, truth was something you got into trouble for telling. Later, truth became something to pondered whether or not to tell my girlfriend. Then I met Osho, who would say things like " truth is that which can't be said" and then talk about it for hours on end. Truth is, I don't know what truth is. It's one of those big words like love. If you really want to know about love, you ask a woman, right? Because every woman knows what love is. I have never met one who doesn't. Truth though? It seems to be a male thing, something the male mind like to chew on like enlightenment. Hey, there's another big bone for the mind. Don't believe me? Try asking your girlfriend tonight 'what is enlightenment?' and see how it feels sleeping on the sofa.

Funny thing, truth. It creates a lot of trouble for people. Like poor Mansoor, the Sufi mystic. He couldn't help himself saying the truth and a crowd of people cut him up into small pieces. What did he say that stirred them up so much? Three words: "I am God". Maybe it was true as far as he was concerned, but wow! It sure upset people. Pissed them off, in fact. Big time! Moral of the story? Watch out for the truth.

Some people always seem to get in trouble with the truth like some people always seem to get in trouble with the Law. Take Osho, for example. He's had some brushes with the Law, like an occasional speeding ticket, but it's his truth-filled statements like "violence is the religion of America" that seemed to land him the hot water and make people like Ronald Reagan shit a brick. Truth it seems can be very uncomfortabe. Why else would anyone get their knickers in a twist over someone owning ninety-eight Rolls Royces?

Lao Tzu says, "Truth is that which can’t be said". Well, that’s still saying something isn't it? Still, I would have to agree with old Lao Tzu: Truth is a hard thing to put into words. I'm directly experiencing it writing this article!

Truth is inspirational. In fact, nothing inspires more than seeing truth manifest through another human being, let alone oneself. To live in truth requires courage, maybe more courage than most people can afford in their lives. Because to live in truth one needs to have courage to stand alone and be oneself even if it means standing up to the whole world. Notice I said live in truth, not living my truth. I think it shows a misunderstanding to say ‘living my truth’. This statement has never made sense to me. My truth? What exactly does this mean? Can one own truth? I think truth is something bigger than all of us.

When I am in love, I feel closest to truth. In love, my life feels worth living, has meaning, purpose, and value. This is true. In love, I feel my unique place in the vast scheme of things, a sense of at-homeness. Also true. When I am feeling most alive, love flows effortlessly in my life. How true.

Truth is like a woman. Shy. I find truth shyly hiding in small everyday things of life. Ordinary things like a good cup of tea. Even an Oregon peach. I'm not sure how Osho would feel about me speaking about peaches - especially ones from Oregon - and truth in the same breath, but I suspect it might make him chuckle. For he is someone who knows better than anyone a good belly-laugh is the best way of realizing truth. That's the truth!

“A master is one who has become the truth and is available for all those who are ready to absorb him. Hence, Jesus says to his disciples, 'Eat me.' Truth can be eaten. It cannot be taught.”  

Osho, Just Like That - Talks on Sufism