Compassion vs Desire: Buddha’s Spiritual Paradox

 

Buddha on Compassion, Desire, and the Illusion of Ego

Our world is strange—upside down, filled with deep contradictions and paradoxes.

Those who are full of desire, we call emperors.

And those who are full of compassion, we call beggars.
Those who only give are called beggars,
and those who only take are called emperors.

Buddha’s Paradox of Compassion and Desire

There is a profound irony in Buddha calling himself a bhikshu—a beggar.

And we readily agree, because Buddha does ask us for two pieces of bread.

So we conclude: yes, He must be a beggar.

But what Buddha gives us—can its value ever be measured?
And yet, he makes every effort that we do not even realize that he is giving.

That is why he accepts two pieces of bread from us and becomes a beggar,
so that we may never feel that he is doing us a favor by giving.
Compassion does not even wish to leave the shadow of obligation behind.

And we are so unconscious that if we came to know

that Buddha is giving us something,

our ego would be hurt.

Perhaps we would shut the very door of receiving.

How Buddha’s Silent Giving Destroys the Ego

So Buddha takes two pieces of bread from us.

Our ego feels delighted.

But we do not realize that we are fighting a deeply losing battle.

Buddha takes two pieces of bread—

and what he gives us, we do not even notice.

Two pieces of bread give Buddha nothing,

but what he gives us will completely burn our ego to ashes.

It will reduce to dust that false identity within us,

the idea of “I” that we have been carrying.

Compassion means: to live in order to give.

Desire means: to live in order to take.

Desire is the real beggar;

compassion is the true emperor.

But who can give?

Only one who already has.

And only that can be given which one possesses.

That which we do not have cannot be given.

Only what is within us can flow outward.

~ From the Nirvan Upanishad by Osho (Hindi Discourse), Discourse 4 – Translated