According to Osho, politics by its very nature is partial and prejudiced, so don’t expect an open, impartial investigation—or even a commission at all. Engage playfully if officials come, but don’t trust politicians; friendship and enmity with them are both risky. Their involvement is unavoidable, like weather, yet your task is to live and radiate your truth, not to seek validation from political mechanisms.
Politics isn’t fair, so don’t hope for a fair inquiry; if they visit, be friendly and show your life, but don’t rely on them.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, what is the first experience of samadhi like?
You will know only when it happens. It cannot be said; at most a few hints can be given. It is as if, in the dark, a lamp is suddenly lit. Or as if a dying patient, right at the edge of death, suddenly finds a medicine that works; life’s wave, life’s thrill spreads again—so it is. As if a corpse becomes alive—such is the first experience of samadhi. It is the taste of nectar. The experience of the ultimate music. But it will be only when it happens; and only then will you understand. You will not understand by my saying it. It is as with love. How can anyone explain it? To someone who has never loved, never known love, no matter how many explanations you offer—he will hear it all and still ask, “I haven’t understood; please explain a little more.” It is like explaining light to…
Osho, I can’t get interested in religion at all, but I am very eager about politics. What could be the reason?
I have heard: in a village a young man spread his bedding in a family’s veranda at night. The owner asked, “Why are you laying your bed here?” He said, “I am doing satyagraha.” “For what? What have I done to you?” “You did nothing. I want to marry your daughter. Until you marry her to me I will fast unto death. I will do satyagraha.” The news spread; a crowd gathered. Naturally, people side with satyagraha. “He is nonviolent, good, in khadi.” People garlanded him. First two or four of his friends did, then imitative people joined. Flags appeared. The poor father panicked. He did not want to marry his daughter to that loafer. What to do? The whole village condemned him: “What are you doing? Will you take his life? You’ll regret it all your life! See his love—this is love. Even Majnu didn’t do this. He has…
Beloved Osho, in canada, where I live, I have been asked to participate in national politics. Should I refrain, given the state of politics in the west, or should I accept and use the experience as another dimension of my process?
Rupananda, it is well known what I think about politics, but I will not say anything to you, this way or that. My whole approach to my people is that of freedom. You have to act out of your own intelligence. You don't have to depend on my advice. I go on giving you my experiences, my attitudes, but there is no compulsion that you have to follow them. You are not my followers, you are my friends. I cannot impose my ideas on someone I love; I give you absolute freedom to do whatsoever your intelligence, your meditativeness allows you. And I don't think you will go wrong. Just don't be attracted by ambition, don't be attracted by power, because those infatuations are destructive. And the people who become attracted by things like money, power, prestige, miss one thing: that is life. Balzar has a law about it: Life…
Osho, the scientific relationship of yoga, meditation, and spirituality—hearing your sweet words and beholding your presence, I consider myself truly blessed. Still, why do some religious and political people oppose such a beloved Master? I don’t like this opposition; what should I do?
You know the story of the two cats who brought their food to a monkey to divide. The monkey took a scale and began to weigh. If one side was heavier, he would take a bite from it; then the other became lighter, so he added a bit—nibbling again and again until he had eaten the whole thing. The cats watched helplessly. If you keep fighting, someone will exploit you. An intelligent society will be free of politics, free of priests, free of politicians. The days of organized religion are over, and of politics too—and those were ill days. I also say: your body is as beautiful as your soul. I do not want to create a split, a duality between body and soul. All your so-called religions are body-negative, life-negative. Their rule has been: the more enmity you have with life, the closer you come to God. I counsel:…
Osho, you make statements on politics; then why shouldn’t you be considered a politician?
Then just now, when Indira won, Vinoba remained silent; when he was informed that Indira had won, he clapped in happiness. The newspapers reported: Vinoba clapped in joy, became ecstatic! Two days later came the statement: I did not clap because of Indira’s victory; it just so happened that at that moment I was in a playful mood. At that very moment you were in ecstasy—neither a moment before, nor a moment after! What a coincidence that precisely then the mood to clap arose! Two days later he must have done the accounting that this clapping could prove costly. Politics is always calculation, arithmetic, maneuvering and cleverness. I tell you: by speaking on politics I am not a politician, and Vinoba, remaining silent, without giving statements, is a politician. Politics is a style of life; statements or non-statements make no difference. If there were even a little politics in me,…