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Osho on Are all great masters false if one is against all religions?

Are all great masters false if one is against all religions?

Rejecting religions means embracing the universal science of consciousness; true mastery reveals the inner flame present in all, beyond the idols and hierarchies.

— Osho
According to Osho, opposing ‘religions’ means rejecting sectarianism, not Religion itself. Religion is one universal science of consciousness; doctrines and labels divide. He is not against great masters—only the idol-making that creates hierarchies and diminishes others. True mastery points to the same inner flame present in everyone. Honor the universal truth within, not the temples of names, scriptures, or manufactured greatness.

Real spirituality is one light in everyone; skip team labels and hero-worship, and look for that light in yourself and others.

In His Own Words

From the Discourses

Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.

Maha Geeta · Discourse 72
1977-01-22 · Pune · Hindi · English translation

Osho, why does there seem to be so much conflict between the world and God?

It is as if someone were sleeping deeply in this garden. The cuckoo comes and sings, birds are chattering, the sun rises, breezes dance through the trees; but someone is fast asleep. The breezes touch him, the birds’ songs echo at his ears, the sun’s rays play on his face, but he knows nothing. Then someone comes and shakes him awake. His eyes open—the glory of the sun is revealed, the song of the passing breeze is heard, suddenly the cuckoo’s call, the fragrance of flowers. Do you think something new has happened? Everything was already there, just as it is. Only this man has become new—nothing else has changed. The same garden, the same sun, the same flowers, the same birds—everything the same; only a small difference: he was asleep; he is awake. The meaning of “world” is: you are asleep in God. The meaning of “God” is: you…
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Geeta Darshan · Vol 17 · Discourse 9
Hindi · English translation

Osho, true masters are different, and a follower of one master cannot accept another. But we find ourselves bowing to Buddha, Mahavira, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Krishna—everyone. Perhaps it is because you yourself have oriented us toward them. Even on seeing the living master Krishnamurti, our hearts overflowed with joy, our feet began to dance. Why? And we cannot understand why Krishnamurti’s lovers cannot accept you?

True masters are certainly different. Broadly, three kinds can be seen. First is the kind of master like Krishnamurti; Mahavira and Buddha belong to the same line. Such a master has one central message: become utterly free, do not depend on anyone. Your liberation lies in your freedom. Liberation is not a final event waiting at the end; you must learn freedom from the very first step—only then will it flower at the last. Krishnamurti’s famous book is The First and the Last Freedom: the first freedom is the last freedom; the very first step of freedom is already the last step. So: do not go into anyone’s refuge, do not surrender anywhere, do not bind yourself to any ideology; avoid belief. Mahavira called this the state of ashraya-shunyata—no refuge. Take no shelter. Buddha’s last message at the time of his death—Ananda asked for a final word to treasure forever—was:…
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Sat Chit Anand · Discourse 20
1987-12-01 · Chuang Tzu Auditorium · English

Beloved Osho, thank you for letting us taste from your ocean of consciousness. Both krishnamurti and gurdjieff were talking about their waves of consciousness. Beloved master, are they the waves of your ocean?

And in the fourteenth there is only one man, their own master, who was not known outside Agra. All his following is centered in Agra. A few people have moved to different places, but basically, it is a one-city-oriented religion. They asked me what was my opinion about this map. I said, "Who has made this map?" They said, "It is in our holy scripture. Our master himself has made this." I said, "Your master is right. He is in the fourteenth." They looked at me, because before me they had shown that map to many people. Everybody disagreed because their masters were put in the fifth degree, somebody's master in the third degree, somebody's master at the most in the seventh. After the seventh, the other six planes are empty. The fourteenth, the highest reach of consciousness, has been achieved by their master. Naturally no Hindu will agree, no…
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Satyam Shivam Sundram · Discourse 6
1987-11-09 · Gautam the Buddha Auditorium · English

Beloved Osho, I don't understand why enlightened masters are critical of each other. Are they not all working towards the higher good? Are they not different flavors of the same truth?

"My wife, Bridget," Sean confided to Paddy, "is an angel." "You are lucky," said Paddy, "my wife Maureen is still alive." Hymie Goldberg was having his first session with the psychoanalyst. "Do you cheat on your wife?" asked the shrink. "My God," said Hymie, "who else could I cheat on?" A Californian psychiatrist was driving along in his car, when he saw a man lying on the sidewalk. He stopped his car and got out. It turned out the man had been mugged and left for dead. "Quick," said the shrink, "tell me who did this to you; he needs help immediately!" An Indian businessman who had made millions after a childhood of poverty was on his deathbed giving advice to his son. "Listen, son," he said, "I owe my success to two principles -- honesty and wisdom. Honesty is if you promise to deliver some goods, no matter what…
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I Am That · Discourse 3
1980-10-13 · Buddha Hall · English

Osho, could you please tell me your opinion about j. Krishnamurti, who is saying that you won't be free and therefore not happy as long as you follow any tradition, religion or master?

GAUTAM THE BUDDHA has divided the enlightened persons into two categories. The first category he calls the ARHATAS and the second BODHISATTVAS. The ARHATA and the BODHISATTVA are both enlightened; there is no difference between their experience, but the arhata is not a Master and the BODHISATTVA is a Master. The ARHATA has attained to the same truth but he is incapable of teaching it, because teaching is a totally different art. For example, you can see a beautiful sunset, you can experience the beauty of it as deeply, as profoundly as any Vincent van Gogh, but that does not mean you will be able to paint it. To paint it is a totally different art. Experiencing is one thing, helping others to experience it is not the same. There have been many ARHATAS but very few BODHISATTVAS. The BODHISATTVA is both enlightened and skillful to teach what has happened…
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