My people. I have given them a sense of individuality, integrity.

Hear now, O seekers of wisdom, the bold and liberating words of Rajneesh, whose voice echoes across time: "My people. I have given them a sense of individuality, integrity. I have not made them slaves of any god or any religion. Nor of any holy book or any priest. I have certainly not replaced their god. They are all a part of what I call my traveling circus." These words are not just a statement of defiance against the authorities of the world; they are a profound invitation to live life with the freedom of the spirit and the courage to stand outside the boundaries of conformity. Rajneesh's message resonates with the cry of the ancient prophets who sought not to build a following based on fear or obedience, but on the empowerment of the individual soul.

In times of old, wisdom was sought not in the shackles of dogma, but in the freedom to explore the depths of the human experience. The philosophers of ancient Greece, such as Socrates and Diogenes, sought the truth not in the approval of the masses or the dictates of a single authority, but in the questioning of everything that stood before them. Socrates famously declared that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” His life was one of deep inquiry, not bound by any religion or society's laws, but guided by the eternal pursuit of wisdom. Likewise, Rajneesh’s words reflect this same desire for the freedom of the individual, who is not chained to the beliefs of others but is free to explore the vast landscape of existence, to carve his own path in the world.

Consider the life of Gautama Buddha, who, in his pursuit of enlightenment, rejected the rigid practices and doctrines of the time. He wandered as an ascetic, not bound by any particular god or priest, but seeking his own truth in the world around him. The Buddha did not seek to establish a religion that enslaved the mind but rather a path that encouraged each person to awaken to their own inner potential. He offered freedom from suffering, not through obedience to an external force, but through the discovery of wisdom, compassion, and personal liberation. Rajneesh too, with his "traveling circus" of souls, sought to awaken individuals to their own truth, free from the chains of dogma and spiritual authority.

Rajneesh's words echo the ancient wisdom of the Dao, the way of non-attachment and freedom. The Daoists, in their pursuit of balance and harmony, taught that true freedom comes not from following rigid paths dictated by others but by aligning oneself with the natural flow of life. Laozi, the ancient Daoist sage, wrote, "The wise man does not hoard, he shares, just as the Dao flows freely and unimpeded." To live in freedom is to be self-reliant, to discover one’s path without the oppressive influence of authority, and to live in harmony with the world as it is, not as it is prescribed to be.

The lesson in Rajneesh's words is one of empowerment and individuality. He calls us to live not as slaves to a system, not as followers of any religion, but as individuals who stand free in the world, guided by our own truths. The traveling circus is not just a metaphor for a collection of diverse individuals, but a celebration of freedom, of the joy found in being oneself, and of the deep wisdom that can only come when one is free from the judgment and control of others. Rajneesh invites us to see life not as a prison of rules and restrictions, but as a journey of self-discovery and self-expression.

In your own life, O seekers, let the words of Rajneesh serve as a beacon of freedom. Do not let the external pressures of society or religion bind you. Seek instead to cultivate your own sense of individuality, grounded in integrity and authenticity. Find your own path, just as Socrates, Buddha, and Laozi did, knowing that the truth you seek is not out there, imposed by others, but in the deepest part of your own soul. The world is vast, and the journey is your own. Embrace it with the courage of the individual, not as a slave to a god or a priest, but as a free spirit, walking the path of self-realization.

Thus, O seekers, let your lives be as a traveling circus, where each individual’s journey is celebrated, not in isolation, but in community. But it is not the conformity of the crowd that binds them, but the shared freedom to express their truest selves. Go forth with the wisdom of Rajneesh—to live not as a servant of any tradition or doctrine, but as a free soul, forging your own path, ever searching for the deepest truths of your existence. In this way, you will not only find your own freedom but contribute to the collective awakening of humanity, each step grounded in integrity, each action an expression of your authenticity.