According to Osho, there are no real differences between races or nationalities; all such distinctions are superficial—skin color, noses, passports, and political borders. Humanity is one and the earth undivided. Clinging to labels like Hindu, Christian, American, or Chinese inflates ego and breeds conflict. True religiosity recognizes our shared being and drops identity-based pride, seeing diversity as minor variations within a single human family.
We may look and live differently, but we’re one human family and borders and labels are just made-up lines.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Is there any real difference between different races, nationalities, etcetera, etcetera?
Ramananda, there are no real differences, there cannot be. All differences are superficial. The Jew is not different from the Hindu, the Mohammedan is not different from the Christian, the Chinese is not different from the American, the Negro is not different from the English. Man is one, differences are superficial. Yes, they are there, obviously. A Negro is a Negro: he has black skin, he looks different from the white man. But the difference is not a difference that makes a difference. The difference is so small: just a little more black pigment in his skin, four ANNAS' worth more -- just that is the difference, four annas. And remember, he is four annas more than the white man, not less -- richer by four annas. But the difference of the color of the skin or the difference of the length of your nose is not an important difference.…
Question: OSHO, ARE NOT DIFFERENT RACES OF MAN REALLY AND BASICALLY DIFFERENT? There are Jains in India who believe in absolute vegetarianism. I was born in a Jain family. In my childhood, even tomatoes were not brought in the house because of their color -- they look like meat. In fact, I don't know whether they look exactly like meat or not because I have never seen meat; not even now, I have not seen meat yet. Just the idea that meat must be red and the poor tomatoes also look red... My grand mother was very much against the poor tomatoes. I had not eaten tomatoes up to I was eighteen, and when for the first time I ate tomatoes I vomited immediately. I could not take it in, I had to throw it out; it was so repellent. Now I know there is no problem.
Beloved Osho, are there real differences in different races, or is it just superstition?
And this is not a superstition. One of my secretaries, a beautiful Italian woman, well educated -- she was a professor in the university of Rome. She had all the degrees in philosophy, post graduation, Ph.D., D.Litt., and she was the first Italian to come into contact with me. She destroyed my interest in spaghetti, because she prepared spaghetti one day for me. That woman never used to take a bath. I don't think she had ever taken one in her whole life. Her face had layers of powder, centuries old; she went on putting more powder but she would not take a bath. I used to tell her to sit a little far away. Very lovingly she brought the spaghetti. I could not refuse -- it looked too unmannerly -- so I said to her, "Leave it on my dining table, but you leave the room." She said, "I…
Beloved master, are there great differences between the different races of mankind?
Every race has passed through different phases, different climates. This is a hot country. A hot country makes people lazy, so you cannot compete with Indians as far as laziness is concerned. They are utterly lazy and lousy! You cannot compete with them, it is impossible; they will surpass everyone in that. No country can have any superiority as far as laziness and lousiness is concerned. Indians are the tops! Because it is a hot country and the climate is not provoking people to work more, people have remained poor. If one person in the whole family earns then it is enough. If just enough is available to survive, Indians are satisfied, more than satisfied. Of course, they find rationalizations for it, they find great spiritual rationalizations for it -- "We are very contented people." That is all nonsense. The reality is that they are simply lazy and the climate…
Question: OSHO, AREN'T ALL PEOPLE REALLY THE SAME? Sudarsho, ESSENTIALLY YES, BUT ACCIDENTALLY NO. At the center yes, on the circumference no. Essentially we are made of the same stuff called God, but on the circumference God comes in every shape and size, in every color, in every form. There is much difference And it is beautiful because if people were really the same, both at the center and on the circumference, the world would be a very boring place. But it is not a boring place. It is immensely interesting; it is immensely beautiful, rich. And the richness comes because of variety. No two persons are the same on the circumference, although everybody is the same at the center -- not only people but trees and rocks, they are also the same at the center. Call that center the soul and it will be easier for you to understand.