Spiritual book discussion - Maturity: The Responsibility Of Being Oneself.

From Maturity: The Responsibility Of Being Oneself by Osho

"Listen to your being. It is continuously giving you hints; it is a still, small voice. It does not shout at you, that is true.

And if you are a little silent you will start feeling your way.

Be the person you are. Never try to be another, and you will become mature.

Maturity is accepting the responsbility of being oneself, whatever the cost.

Risking all to be oneself, that's what maturity is all about." p.xxii

Comment:

This idea of being oneself and not trying to be like someone else is part of the perennial psychology which comes up repeatedly in most religions and philosophy.

We seek the genuine, the authentic, the sincere, the "real deal."

We spend a life time comparing ourself to others, and trying to belong. We compete to succeed and take pride in our success in becoming superior to others, outperforming others, wanting to be special, wanting to be "the best."

There is something about this striving which is antithetical to maturity. This comparsion with others and competitiveness seems childish.

While striving, competing, comparing may be necessary in the first stage of life, it blocks are further spiritual awareness of our true self and our natural inheritance of recpients of Unconditional Love as the Universalists have taught us.

Osho reminds us that true maturity is becoming aware of our ordinariness, our lack of specialness, that we like everyone else are unique but part of the Oneness.