At The Doorsteps of God – A Hindu Spiritual Story by Osho

The fear comes at the moment when you come to dissolve your last part, because then it will be irrevocable; you will not be able to come back.

I have told many times a beautiful poem of Rabindranath Tagore. The poet has been searching for God for millions of lives. He has seen him sometimes, far away, near a star, and he started moving that way, but by the time he reached that star, God has moved to some other place.

But he went on searching and searching — he was determined to find God’s home — and the surprise of surprises was, one day he actually reached a house where on the door was written: “God’s Home.”

You can understand his ecstasy, you can understand his joy. He runs up the steps, and just as he is going to knock on the door, suddenly his hand freezes. An idea arises in him: “If by chance this is really the home of God, then I am finished, my seeking is finished. I have become identified with my seeking, with my search. I don’t know anything else. If the door opens and I face God, I am finished — the search is over. Then what? Then there is an eternity of boredom — no excitement, no discovery, no new challenge, because there cannot be any challenge greater than God.”

He starts trembling with fear, takes his shoes off his feet, and descends back down the beautiful marble steps. He took the shoes off so that no noise was made, for his fear was that even a noise on the steps… God may open the door, although he has not knocked. And then he runs as fast as he has never run before. He used to think that he had been running after God as fast as he can, but today, suddenly, he finds energy which was never available to him before. He runs as he has never run, not looking back.

The poem ends, “I am still searching for God. I know his home, so I avoid it and search everywhere else. The excitement is great, the challenge is great, and in my search I continue, I continue to exist. God is a danger — I will be annihilated. But now I am not afraid even of God, because I know His home. So, leaving His home aside, I go on searching for him all around the universe. And deep down I know my search is not for God; my search is to nourish my ego.”

Osho – “Beyond Psychology”

What Is the Spiritual Moral / Meaning of Osho's “At the Doorsteps of God” Story?

This parable beautifully unravels the spiritual lesson of the eternal search for the Divine. It delves into the paradox of seeking God while simultaneously fearing the culmination of that quest. It speaks of the longing to reach the abode of the Divine while fearing that such an attainment would end the journey, leaving one with an existential void. This conveys a profound spiritual truth: the human quest for the Divine is often intertwined with the fear of losing the excitement and purpose found in the pursuit itself.

The story embodies the notion of the ever-continuing spiritual journey. It symbolizes the human quest for the Divine as an endless exploration rather than a destination. The poet, having reached the physical address of God's home, experiences an existential dilemma. The realization that encountering God might terminate the quest creates an inner turmoil. This mirrors the spiritual journey, illustrating that the search for the Divine is not merely a quest for a geographical location but an ever-evolving, infinite journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.

It portrays the fear of annihilation upon encountering the Divine. The poet grapples with the fear of losing identity, purpose, and the thrill of seeking. This fear of losing oneself in the vastness of the Divine echoes the human struggle with the ego—a fear that one's individuality might dissolve in the vastness of the Divine existence. This fear reflects a common spiritual challenge: the reluctance to surrender the ego and embrace unity with the Divine.

This story touches upon the concept of duality within the spiritual path. The poet's admission of continuing the search to nourish the ego speaks volumes about the dual nature of human motivation. Despite seeking the Divine, there's an undercurrent of seeking to uphold one's identity, significance, and challenges in the pursuit. It reflects the intricate dance between the ego's desires and the longing for spiritual union, encapsulating the inherent duality within the human journey toward the Divine.

The narrative embodies the essence of spiritual growth through humility and self-awareness. The poet, realizing the duality within his quest, chooses to avoid God's home consciously. This decision stems from a newfound self-awareness—acknowledging that the true pursuit is not solely for the Divine but also to sustain the ego's desires. This moment of self-awareness underscores the significance of humility in acknowledging one's motivations and limitations along the spiritual journey.

Lastly, the story serves as a powerful reminder of the significance of the journey itself. It illuminates the inner conflicts and complexities inherent in the pursuit of the Divine. It speaks to the beauty and significance of the seeker's path, the constant evolution, and the profundity of self-discovery along the journey. The poet's decision to continue the search beyond God's apparent abode highlights the value of the ongoing quest, the learning, and growth inherent in the search for spiritual truth.

In essence, this tale encapsulates the intricate dynamics of the spiritual quest—revealing the interplay between seeking the Divine, the fear of losing oneself, the duality within motivations, the significance of self-awareness, and the profound value of the eternal journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

Personal Reflection Questions

Spiritual stories are an opportunity to reflect on your own life. Here are 10 questions you can use to go deeper with the teachings in this story:

1. Reflect on moments in your life when the prospect of a significant change or culmination of a journey filled you with fear. What was the source of this fear, and how did it influence your decisions?
2. Explore the concept of seeking and searching in your spiritual journey. Are there aspects of your quest for meaning or understanding that, when confronted, trigger a sense of apprehension or resistance?
3. Consider the symbolism of God's home as a representation of ultimate understanding or enlightenment. How do you relate to the idea of reaching a point where your seeking may come to an end? Does the fear of losing the excitement and challenge resonate with you?
4. Delve into the poet's realization that the search for God is, at its core, a way to nourish the ego. In what ways has your spiritual journey been intertwined with the desire to enhance or sustain your sense of self?
5. Reflect on the poet's decision to avoid God's home and continue searching elsewhere. Are there aspects of your life where you knowingly avoid a potential source of fulfillment or completion? What motivates this avoidance?
6. Explore your perception of God as a potential danger, leading to the fear of annihilation. How does the idea of surrendering to a higher power or ultimate truth resonate with your own fears and resistance?
7. Contemplate the poet's fast-paced retreat from God's home, symbolizing a newfound energy in avoiding the potential encounter. Have there been moments in your life when the fear of facing a profound truth led to unexpected bursts of energy or action?
8. Consider the relationship between excitement, challenge, and the ego in your spiritual journey. How do these elements interplay, and how have they shaped your ongoing search for meaning and understanding?
9. Reflect on the paradoxical nature of the poet's continuing search despite knowing God's home. How does this paradox resonate with your own experiences of seeking, knowing, and the simultaneous avoidance of potential fulfillment?
10. Explore the deeper layers of the poem, recognizing the complex dance between fear, seeking, and the ego. How does this narrative offer insights into your own spiritual journey, prompting a reevaluation of your motivations, fears, and the ongoing quest for meaning?