According to Osho, yes—rebirth, like God, moksha, and the soul’s immortality, is a consolation when held in ignorance. Such beliefs mask fear, panic, and death-anxiety; they are whitewashed tombs that prop you up but cannot transform you. Only direct, courageous experience—not belief—ends fear and births real freedom.
If you believe in rebirth just because you’re scared, it’s like grabbing a straw while drowning; only facing fear and knowing for yourself truly helps.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, You oppose consolation; then isn’t rebirth also a kind of consolation? To think “this birth is all there is; after this there is nothing” is frightening; compared to that, the idea that the soul is immortal, that only the body perishes, that we will take a new birth and return to this world—thinking like this gives some relief and reassurance.
Prem Veetrag! In ignorance, whatever you believe is consolation. God is consolation, moksha is consolation, the soul’s immortality is consolation, rebirth is consolation. In ignorance you believe precisely because inside you there is fear, panic, anxiety. How to hide that anxiety? How to suppress that fear? How to erase that panic? All these fine words, these sweet notions, prop you up. These beliefs at least give you enough strength to keep going. At least they drag you through life! They cannot create a dance, because no matter how much you believe, deep within you know you don’t know. So consolation remains on the surface, a coat of plaster. Like graves that someone has carefully plastered and painted—yet they are still graves; inside there is a rotting corpse. Jesus has often said your beliefs are like whitewashed tombs that shine from afar, especially in a moonlit night—how they gleam! But what…
Osho, I am extremely sad. Since my wife’s death, my sorrow has known no end. I have come to you seeking consolation.
Then you have come to the wrong place. I don’t give consolation here to anyone. If you want truth, take it; don’t ask for consolation. All consolations are false. They are bandages on the wound, not its healing. Since you have come here, it is better to let the pus of the wound drain out. Better to open the wound, let open air and sunlight touch it. Don’t hide the wound, because hidden wounds do not heal. Expose the wound so that it can be healed. You say: I am extremely sad. Then cry—let the wound flow—open the wound! Why be afraid? You found happiness in your wife; should someone else bear the sorrow? When you had happiness, you didn’t come saying, “I am so happy—please take a little of it too.” Now that sorrow has come to you, you have come to take consolation! Whoever receives happiness will also…
Question: The first question: Osho! About thirty years ago in Jabalpur, when a pandit was disputing topics like moksha, Daddaji said, “You may know the scriptures and doctrines; I only know that this is my last birth.” On another occasion, he went to Kashi on work and attended a muni’s satsang. Finding Daddaji a stranger, after the discourse the muni asked, “I haven’t seen you here before!” He said, “Yes, I am not from here.” He asked, “Where have you come from, and where will you go from here?” He said, “I have come from Nigod and I will go to moksha.” Five years ago, when he had a heart attack, seeing Mother anxious he said, “Do not worry. I still have five years of life left.” Osho, please shed compassionate light on the mystery behind these proclamations of his.
Osho, I don’t want liberation. I want to be born again and again. What do you say?
Ramadhar! Even if you desire liberation, is it so easy to get? You don’t want it? Then you won’t get it—don’t panic. Don’t carry needless anxieties. No liberation is chasing you! Even if you chase liberation, will it happen? Not easily. You are surrounding yourself with pointless worries. Is anyone handing out liberation somewhere that you say, “I don’t want it”? You sound as if you’re afraid I’m ready to dump liberation on you! Liberation isn’t a garment I can change for you. It isn’t a dye I can color you with. It isn’t an object I can thrust on you against your will. Liberation is never by force. Do you understand what liberation means? Supreme freedom. If you don’t want it, it won’t happen. Be at ease—birth after birth, be at ease. For all eternity, be at ease. If you don’t want it, it won’t happen. Liberation happens only…
Beloved Osho, you speak of reincarnation. I have not experienced it, and I don't want to believe in anything I don't experience. What to do?
Who is asking you to believe in reincarnation? And why are you concerned to do something about it? There must be some lingering belief. If you don't believe in reincarnation, that is the full stop. Why bother about what to do? Don't believe in reincarnation! Just live this incarnation, and you will come to experience that reincarnation is not theory, it is a reality. Just live this incarnation. Do you believe in this incarnation, or not? Reincarnation is either in the past or in the future, but you are here, alive. Life is throbbing in you. I know reincarnation is a truth. But I am not saying that you should believe it because I say so. Never believe anybody else's experience; that is a hindrance. I can only say to you, just live this incarnation. That will open doors and you will be able to see backwards, you will be…