The desire to rule over others, the will to power, is one of the greatest crimes that man has committed.
Two identical things do not exist at all, so there is no need to be ‘somebody.’ You just be yourself, and suddenly you are unique, incomparable. That’s why I say that this is a paradox: those who search fail, and those who don’t bother, suddenly attain.
Everyone is born unique. No comparison is possible. You are you, and I am I.
You have to be again innocent, ignorant, not knowing anything, so that the questions can start arising again. Again the inquiry becomes alive, and with the inquiry becoming alive you cannot vegetate. Then life becomes an exploration, an adventure.
Religion can be condensed in a single phrase: total freedom to be oneself.
The world has known only very few rebels. But now is the time: if humanity proves incapable of producing a large number of rebels, a rebellious spirit, then our days on the earth are numbered. We have to change our consciousness, create more meditative energy in the world, create more lovingness.
When you understand yourself, that very day you have understood the whole of humanity. Then nobody can make you miserable...
The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer a sheep, you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom.
My whole teaching consists of two words, meditation and love.
I am all in favor of the skeptical mind. Do not believe anything unless you have experienced it. Do not believe anything – go on questioning, however long it takes.
All of the religions are looking after the poor. At least leave me alone to look after the rich. I am the rich man’s guru.
There is no god, so how can I consider myself a god? God is the greatest lie invented by man.
If you have difficulties making a decision, choose the lesser of the two evils.
I am going to be contradictory to myself many times for the simple reason that I am trying to bring all the religions to a higher synthesis. Different approaches have to be joined together. I am creating an orchestra.
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.
What I am teaching is religiousness, a quality. Religion is a dead dogma, fixed principles, frozen fossils. What I am teaching to you is a living, flowing religiousness – an experience like love.
Rajneeshism is creating a Noahs Ark of consciousness, remaining centered exactly in the middle of the cyclone. You can only escape within, and thats what I teach. I do not teach worship of God or any other ritual but only a scientific way of coming to your innermost core.
Life is a constant challenge to know oneself.
Enlightenment is when all hope disappears. Enlightenment is disappearance of hope.
God is your very being. So the first thing is, don’t think about enlightenment as a goal.