Osho,
The other day you told me that my gorilla had turned into a lotus flower – a buddha. I know that you were joking and meant that, like all your sannyasins, I am a buddha but sleeping still. But your saying it has triggered something. My gorilla really has stepped out of his hairy suit, and someone is standing pink as a peach and as new as the dawn looking at me, daring me to trust what is happening.
Osho, even your jokes are nuclear – or am I being too simple?

Devageet, my jokes are not jokes; they are my method to catch hold of you unawares. When you are listening to the joke, you are more intent not to miss the punch line…and that is a great opportunity for me to do my operation.

Your gorilla is dead. It was not a hairy suit; it was something in your heart – but it has been taken out. You are free from it.

Sometimes simple things can bring to you great experiences – because existence makes no difference between the simple and the great. Jokes have never been used for spiritual growth. All kinds of methods have been used, but nobody has dared to use jokes as a method…afraid that the joke may make the whole thing very nonserious.

I can use the joke as a method because to me, to be serious is not to be spiritual – it is only being psychologically sick. To be playful, to be smiling, to be laughing…when you burst forth in laughter, your ego disappears. A joke kills the ego without any murder, without any bloodshed. Just in the laughter, you are suddenly fresh; all the dust that had gathered on you falls away.

I was wondering if the operation had been successful or not, because Devageet has been silent for a few days. Gorillas cannot remain silent so long; they cannot even sit in one place for a few moments. They are really very active people…but Devageet is free from his gorilla.

And buddhahood is not an attainment, it is only freedom from the gorilla, and nothing else. The animal in you disappears…and the God in you is discovered. It is difficult to believe, Devageet, but believe it or not, it has happened. I am responsible for killing the poor gorilla. Nothing was wrong in the gorilla, but it was preventing your buddhahood and its growth. The gorilla had to be removed.

With great love, I have taken it with a simple joke. Now you have to be a little alert, because the world is full of gorillas. I have taken one; another may enter in you. Many gorillas are searching for some place, some shelter, and you are a perfect shelter…and the post is vacant – so be alert! Keep the doors closed. Just write on the door: “Gorillas not allowed in anymore.”