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Osho on What happens to man's ego when God is denied?

What happens to man's ego when God is denied?

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Denying God does not diminish the ego; it merely shifts its ground, allowing it to thrive in new beliefs of disbelief. True liberation comes not from clinging to concepts, but from the silent seeing that dissolves both God and self.

— Osho
Synthesized from Source outcome
Core Insight:
According to Osho, denying God does not kill the ego; it often feeds it. The same ego that boasts 'I believe' can also boast 'I disbelieve.' Without awareness, the ego simply relocates and may even swell, judging others from a new stance. Only dropping both concepts—God and the self (anatta)—through direct, silent seeing dissolves the ego and reveals nirvana.
Even if you say there’s no God, your pride can still puff up; only letting go of both “God” and “me” makes pride vanish.
Why this matters practically
- Spot how ego hides in both beliefs and disbeliefs; practice nonjudgment.
- Use meditation and awareness to drop labels like “believer” or “atheist.”
- Choose humility and direct experience over taking positions.
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