What is transference in psychoanalysis?
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definition
"Transference is the dance of two asleep minds, where unmet love needs breed dependence; true healing arises only when trust is guided toward awakening, not entanglement."
According to Osho, transference is the patient’s projection of unmet love needs onto the analyst—treating the therapist as the beloved or caregiver. In ordinary psychoanalysis this becomes a “double transference,” because the analyst projects his own needs too; two ‘asleep’ minds collide, breeding dependence, hate, and possession. Transference helps only with a master beyond attachment, where trust (shraddha) is guided toward awakening, not entanglement.
You start loving and depending on your therapist like a parent or partner, and if they also need love, you both get stuck—only a truly wise, unattached guide can turn that love into growth.
Why this matters practically
- Notice when you’re projecting unmet needs onto helpers, partners, or teachers.
- Choose guidance from people with maturity and inner freedom, not similar cravings.
- Shift from possessive love to trusting awareness (shraddha) to reduce conflict and dependency.
- Choose guidance from people with maturity and inner freedom, not similar cravings.
- Shift from possessive love to trusting awareness (shraddha) to reduce conflict and dependency.
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