According to Osho, don’t strive to be rich in possessions; cultivate inner richness—awareness, sensitivity, gratitude. Whether you have a hut or a palace, inner light makes life abundant. Enjoy what is already given; you are inherently rich. Outer wealth without awareness breeds poverty of being; inner growth transforms any circumstance into a fulfilling, beautiful life.
Don’t chase money; enjoy what you already have, because real wealth comes from a grateful, aware heart.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Question: BELOVED MASTER, SHOULD ONE TRY TO BE RICH OR NOT? Asango, meditate on Murphy's maxim: Don't care if you are rich or not as long as you can live comfortably and have everything you want. That's exactly what I have been doing and that's exactly what I would like you to do. Why bother whether you are rich or not? In fact, people go into unnecessary worries. Whatsoever you have, enjoy it -- it is already too much. You cannot look at it because your mind is constantly occupied with doing this, becoming that. And all that existence goes on giving you, you go on neglecting. You never even thank existence for it; you don't have any gratitude. Otherwise, even if you don't possess anything, you can live a very rich life. A rich life is something inner.
Osho, I want to be rich, I want a high position, and I want a beautiful woman too. What should I do?
A man once placed an advertisement—meant for people like you: “Send two rupees and learn the formula to become a millionaire overnight.” Now who wouldn’t want to become a millionaire for two rupees! Almost a hundred thousand people sent their money. A week later, everyone who had sent the two rupees received the reply: “Do exactly what I did.” He had indeed become a millionaire overnight! One lakh people sent two rupees each—two lakhs landed in his lap. This is how you’re being duped—through gambling, matka. And it’s not only people who run these scams; governments do it too. Governments that claim to be Gandhian run lotteries! A lottery is gambling—a cheat dressed up nicely. But the greedy get hooked: “Just one rupee for a chance at lakhs. If it comes once, that’s enough…!” But what will you do after getting lakhs? There’s a famous story by Tolstoy: A tailor…
Question: BELOVED OSHO, THEN SAID A RICH MAN, SPEAK TO US OF GIVING. AND HE ANSWERED: YOU GIVE BUT LITTLE WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOUR POSSESSIONS. IT IS WHEN YOU GIVE OF YOURSELF THAT YOU TRULY GIVE. FOR WHAT ARE YOUR POSSESSIONS BUT THINGS YOU KEEP AND GUARD FOR FEAR YOU MAY NEED THEM TOMORROW? AND, TOMORROW, WHAT SHALL TOMORROW BRING TO THE OVER-PRUDENT DOG BURYING BONES IN THE TRACKLESS SAND AS HE FOLLOWS THE PILGRIMS TO THE HOLY CITY? AND WHAT IS FEAR OF NEED BUT NEED ITSELF? IS NOT DREAD OF THIRST WHEN YOUR WELL IS FULL, THE THIRST THAT IS UNQUENCHABLE? THERE ARE THOSE WHO GIVE LITTLE OF THE MUCH WHICH THEY HAVE -- AND THEY GIVE IT FOR RECOGNITION AND THEIR HIDDEN DESIRE MAKES THEIR GIFTS UNWHOLESOME. AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE LITTLE AND GIVE IT ALL.
Osho, Sant Palatu Das says the looting of the divine treasure is going on and “whoever wants may take.” If that is so, why is it that among millions only one or two become wealthy with it?
When Buddha left his palace, his old charioteer—who had driven him since childhood and loved him like a son—fell at his feet in the forest and pleaded, “What are you doing? Where are you going—leaving this marble palace, your beautiful wife Yashodhara, your newborn son Rahul, your aged father? You are his staff in his old age. What will you find in the jungle? I’ve roamed the forests; there is nothing there. The whole world wants to come to palaces, and you are leaving one! Anyone would want to be a king, and kingship is in your grasp—yet you turn away?” The old man wept. From his side too, he was right: the forest showed him nothing; all value was in the palace. To the poor man, wealth seems to live in palaces; it takes an actual rich man to discover that palaces are empty. Having seen, he finds no…
I have always dreamt of becoming a world-famous man, rich and successful. Osho, can you help me in the fulfilment of my desire?
No, sir, not at all, never, because your desire is suicidal. I cannot help you to commit suicide. I can help you to grow and be, but I cannot help you to commit suicide, I cannot help you to destroy yourself for nothing. Ambition is poison. If you want to be a better musician, I can help you, but don't think in terms of becoming world-famous. If you want to be a better poet, I can help you, but don't think in terms of Nobel prizes. If you want to be a good painter, I can help you -- I help creativity. But creativity has nothing to do with name and fame, success and money. And I am not saying that if they come then you have to renounce them, if they come it is okay, enjoy them. But don't let them become your motivation, because when a person is…