According to Osho, physical immortality is sheer nonsense: whatever is born must die. Belief cannot cancel biology; at best, science may prolong life, never abolish death. Chasing immortalist promises springs from fear and gullibility. Instead, see death as a natural rest and returning of elements. Live so fully that death becomes a friend, not an enemy.
No belief can stop your body from aging and dying; treat death like sleep and focus on living well now.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Beloved master, is there any truth in the philosophy of physical immortality which says that it is only our belief in the inevitability of death which produces old age, disease and death? To what extent do our thoughts manifest results?
John Fisant, man is afraid of death; hence he goes on creating all kinds of stupid ideas. Physical immortality is sheer nonsense because anything that begins is bound to end. Physical immortality is possible only if you are not born through parents but manufactured in a factory. If you are made out of plastic, if you are not a real man, then there is a possibility. Plastic seems to be the only immortal thing. So if you don't have skin but plastic instead, if you don't have real blood but synthetic blood which you can change any time -- you can go to the petrol pump -- and all that you have in your body -- your bones, your joints, everything -- is replaceable so whenever there is some problem, things can be replaced; you just have to change a few parts and parts will be available.... You may have…
Osho, I have only one dream in my life, and that is to attain physical immortality. Can you help me to realize my dream? I hate the momentariness of life.
Surendra, MEDITATE over these three maxims of Murphy. First: If life were a bed of roses, some people would not be happy until they developed an allergy. Now what is wrong the momentariness of life? Just think of a kiss with a woman which is eternal... Just think about it. Eternal! Now there is no way to escape. What is wrong with a kiss? A kiss has to be momentary, only then is it beautiful. I have heard about a Mohammedan king whose wife fell in love with one of his slaves. He was so angry that he wanted to punish him, and punish him in such a way no man has ever been punished. He asked his wise advisors... One old man said, "Do this: bind them to a pole and let them make love to each other, and keep them chained to the pole in a state of…
Someone asked Osho's views on death and dying.
There is nothing as sure as death. Where there is life, there is bound to be death. He who bears not this fact in mind, wastes life, whereas he who knows this truth, obtains that which is immortal. I do not feel depressed at anybody's death, because there is no need to feel anything about it. However, it is a matter of sorrow, no doubt, if I see a life wasted. We have not to grieve after a dead body, but over a wasted life. You know, King Janak was called 'videh', i.e., without or beyond the body. Once, a young minister of his asked him, 'Your Excellency! How can you be considered without a body, when you do have a physical body? The king smiled but said nothing. After a few days, however, the king invited the minister for lunch. Such an invitation from the king himself was a…
Osho, forget even talking about death—I am afraid of the very word. How can one get rid of death?
Kusum Rani! There is no getting rid of death. One will have to die! Death is the other side of the same coin as birth. Once you are born—once you have taken one side of the coin—how can you avoid the other? Death already happened in birth. It may take you seventy years to find out, that’s all; but the event has already occurred. The very day a child is born, cry then and there; death has arrived. Now, whether anything else happens in life or not, one thing is certain: there will be death. Life is wondrous! In it, nothing is certain except death. Everything else is uncertain—may or may not be; but death will surely be. However much you run and hide, no one can escape death, no one can outrun it. And the more you fear, the more you die. Death comes only once, but to the…
Search for life. If you don't, death will claim you. Every moment it comes nearer and nearer. After birth, each moment brings you closer to death's victory. And no matter what you do, unless you decide to live a real life this victory is already decided. Property, power, fame -- all these count for nothing in the wake of death's triumph. The realization of the existence of the self is the only thing that is outside death, because the self alone exists outside time. Living in the realm of time is rushing towards death. I see everyone running towards the jaws of death. Stop and think about the direction you are moving in. Someone dies every day and yet each of you still remains a disinterested spectator. If you were aware of the truth you would recognize your own death in his.