According to Osho, when unconscious material surfaces during relaxation, do absolutely nothing—just remain a detached witness. Any attempt to act or interfere mixes you up with it. Through simple, aloof watching, the arising thoughts, emotions, and images lose energy and slowly disappear, like smoke dissolving into the sky; awareness itself is the only needed remedy.
When mind-stuff pops up while relaxing, don’t touch it—just watch, and it fades away on its own.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
We are so anxious that the inner current of anxiety that is flowing is not even visible. And when we become quiet on the surface, the inner current will seem to be moving as a great anxiety; panic may arise and it will feel, “What is happening?” Even then, relax completely; even then, remain silently in the attitude of the witness. Even then, keep on watching; do nothing. The moment you do something, the disturbance begins. (The audio recording of the question is not clear.) No, do not do anything. Practice non-cooperation. Do not give any kind of support to thought. Sit silently, just watch, and they will pass. Thoughts are there, they are moving, but thoughts are powerless in themselves—until my cooperation is given, until I lend them energy. They have no energy of their own.
Osho said that there was no need to try to still the mind, to stop the thoughts. He said that just as the traffic goes by and one remains on the sidewalk, unaffected, just a watcher, so one should simply witness the thoughts as they went by. We are not our thoughts, and recognising that we are the witness is enough. The very acceptance of the thoughts makes one more relaxed. The relaxation helps to create a distance, to separate oneself. To evaluate a thought as good or bad means that you are attached to your thoughts -- so one should not put labels on them.] ... put yourself aside, sit under a tree, and just watch the traffic. Soon, one day, the traffic disappears and the road is empty. Suddenly there is an interval and in that interval is meditation. But that interval cannot be created or cultivated.
(Osho remains silent for a few minutes, then begins to offer suggestions.)
Keep looking within... keep looking within... let everything outside become dead. Let it go... utterly dead... remain just watching... remain only the witness... drop everything... as if you have died... as if everything outside has died—the body too... thoughts too... only an inner flame remains, watching. Only the seer remains, only the witness remains. Let go... let go... let go completely... (Silence… solitude… hush…) Whatever happens, let it happen... let go completely... keep only looking within and let go completely... drop every grip... (Silence… solitude… hush…) The mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become utterly empty... If there is even a slight holding, drop that too... let go completely... dissolve... as if you are not. The mind has become empty... the mind quiet and empty... the mind has…
(Osho remains silent for a few minutes, then begins to offer suggestions.)
Keep looking within... keep looking within... let everything outside become dead. Let it go... utterly dead... remain just watching... remain only the witness... drop everything... as if you have died... as if everything outside has died—the body too... thoughts too... only an inner flame remains, watching. Only the seer remains, only the witness remains. Let go... let go... let go completely... (Silence… solitude… hush…) Whatever happens, let it happen... let go completely... keep only looking within and let go completely... drop every grip... (Silence… solitude… hush…) The mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become utterly empty... If there is even a slight holding, drop that too... let go completely... dissolve... as if you are not. The mind has become empty... the mind quiet and empty... the mind has…
(Osho remains silent for a few minutes, then begins to offer suggestions.)
Keep looking within... keep looking within... let everything outside become dead. Let it go... utterly dead... remain just watching... remain only the witness... drop everything... as if you have died... as if everything outside has died—the body too... thoughts too... only an inner flame remains, watching. Only the seer remains, only the witness remains. Let go... let go... let go completely... (Silence… solitude… hush…) Whatever happens, let it happen... let go completely... keep only looking within and let go completely... drop every grip... (Silence… solitude… hush…) The mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become quiet and empty... the mind has become utterly empty... the mind has become utterly empty... If there is even a slight holding, drop that too... let go completely... dissolve... as if you are not. The mind has become empty... the mind quiet and empty... the mind has…