What causes people to react with antagonism to others' beliefs and actions?

What is it inside people that makes them react to what you say and what you are with such antagonism? Why can't people who disagree with you just live their own lives the way they feel, and leave you to yourself?

The responsibility is not with the people, the responsibility is with me. They are not doing anything. They can leave me to myself, it is me who is not leaving them to themselves. They are simply reacting, and their reaction is natural. It has been always so, and it will be always so. I am a rebel. Whatsoever I say goes absolutely against their conditioning. They have been conditioned to look at life in a certain way, to think in a certain way, to live in a certain way. What I say disturbs them. And I do it knowingly, I have to disturb them, otherwise there can be no transformation in their lives. And whenever you say something which unsettles the old mind, the old mind becomes defensive. Nothing is wrong in it -- it is natural, because the old mind is accustomed to a certain pattern of living which…

It is asked: “Forget about changing—when will the explosion happen? How will it happen? Far from changing, people are actually opposing you.”

A Jewish Hasid mystic had written a book—a very rebellious book. Hasids are very rebellious mystics. He sent the book to the chief rabbi of his country—sent it by his own wife’s hand. And he told her, “Don’t worry about anything. Whatever happens, do not get involved—just watch what happens, and come and report it to me exactly.” She went. As soon as she put the book into the rabbi’s hands, he turned it over, saw that it was by a Hasid mystic, and he flared up as if a live coal had been placed in his hand. He snatched up the book and threw it out of his house. He said, “My hands have been defiled; I must bathe.” He became red with rage. Beside him sat another rabbi. He said, “Granted, he is rebellious—but he sent the book as a gift. You could have waited a little, at…

Osho, even though there is so much love for you, why do restlessness and anger sometimes arise while listening to you?

I have heard: a politician died, and his ghost went along with his bier. Another ghost was there at the cremation ground—an old ex-politician. The new politician’s ghost said, “Had I known that in dying such a crowd would gather, I’d have died long ago! Never in my life did such a crowd assemble. If only I had known earlier, I’d have died long ago!” There is a great relish in gathering a crowd. Behind it is a psychological truth. If no other way is found, a person resorts to upside-down means. In the early part of this century, in America, a man wanting to become famous shaved off half his hair and half his beard and mustache. He wandered the streets of New York for three days. Wherever he went, people stared in shock: what happened! His name was in every newspaper. In three days he was on everyone’s…

Beloved Osho, if people don't like what we are doing, why don't they just leave us alone to do it?

Scientists are searching for the center; there must be a center to the universe. I am not a scientist but I know the center. Let them search, they will never find it, because their very methodology will not allow them to find love. Love is the center of the whole universe; the suns, the moons, the planets, the stars -- all are moving around it. And we have created this small commune on the same existential principle. Everybody feels responsible. I don't say to you that you are responsible towards the commune, towards me, towards my philosophy; I have never said anything like that. But you feel to be responsible because somebody trusts you. Somebody loves you in spite of yourself. Somebody accepts you in your totality, as you are. I never judge anybody -- love knows no judgment. I don't see that somebody is good and somebody is bad.…

Osho, why are so many people attracted towards you from all parts of the world?

DON'T know! I am also surprised; it should not be so. The government is against me, the society is against me, all the religions are against me, and still people go on coming. All kinds of barriers are created, still people go on coming. Something mysterious is happening, something which cannot be explained. Something is transpiring which is elusive. That's why those who come as observers or spectators or journalists cannot catch hold of it. So they collect rumors in the town from people who never come here, and they go on reporting. Almost all over the world, in almost all the languages, there are rumors and rumors. This is very strange! The people have not experienced what is happening here, they have not been participants, and yet they think they have understood. There are things which can be understood only when you participate. You cannot know what love is…