According to Osho, satsang is the silent, egoless communion where no-thought flowers and two voids/two lamps meet—no debate, only heart-to-heart presence. When barriers drop, distance and time dissolve; a single moment bestows more than lifetimes of thought. Its glory is this alchemy of nearness—learning with the guru to open, then abiding anywhere in communion with the Divine.
It’s when you and a wise presence both become very quiet and open, like two lights joining, so you feel close and blessed even if far apart.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Osho, what is the definition of God?
Words are very small. If you say God is light, then what of darkness? The scriptures have said that God is light. Suppose we accept this as a definition—then what about darkness? Where will darkness go? Darkness is too; in fact it is far more than light. Light sometimes is and sometimes is not; darkness is always, eternal. Where will you place darkness? If you say God is light, darkness is left out. If you say God is darkness, then light is left out. If you say God is both darkness and light, a contradiction arises: they cannot be together. Try to have both darkness and light in the same room. If you bring in light, darkness disappears; if you preserve darkness, you cannot have light. Then how can both be together? That becomes an impossibility. So you cannot say “both” either. Then the fourth device is to say: it…
Osho, please be compassionate enough to explain the glory of satsang.
Pragya! Just be in satsang! What will you do by understanding its glory? It’s like walking into an orchard heavy with fruit and asking someone to explain the glory of the fruit. These juice-laden fruits! You won’t taste them—only learn their praise? And birth after birth passes in “understanding the glory.” Suck these mangoes! Drink! Digest this nectar! Let satsang happen with me! The glory of satsang…? Where taste is available, you still wait for words? Where food is at hand, you want to talk about food? Satsang can happen; it is happening. To all who are willing, it is happening. To all who have the courage to slide closer… what else does satsang mean—sliding close. Where Truth is glimpsed, sit there and settle in; don’t move from there. Keep edging nearer. Even if the Master pushes and drives you away, beats you and pursues you off, don’t worry. Just…
Yes, there will be a few people who will have to follow the door of truth, which is a desert path, but for a few people the desert is beautiful; it also has its own beauty. It depends on the person and his inner structure. Bet out of one hundred sannyasins ninety will find the door of beauty the closest to their heart. Satsang is a very specific word. It is almost impossible to translate it, but the flavour can be transmitted. Satsang means the miracle that transpires between the disciple and the master. Something does transpire; what it is exactly is indefinable. The disciple sits in silence with the master and the master is already absolutely silent; the master has nothing to say because the truth cannot be uttered, and the disciple has nothing to ask because whatsoever can be asked cannot be significant.
Osho, what is the definition of God?
Words are very small. If you say God is light, then what of darkness? The scriptures have said that God is light. Suppose we accept this as a definition—then what about darkness? Where will darkness go? Darkness is too; in fact it is far more than light. Light sometimes is and sometimes is not; darkness is always, eternal. Where will you place darkness? If you say God is light, darkness is left out. If you say God is darkness, then light is left out. If you say God is both darkness and light, a contradiction arises: they cannot be together. Try to have both darkness and light in the same room. If you bring in light, darkness disappears; if you preserve darkness, you cannot have light. Then how can both be together? That becomes an impossibility. So you cannot say “both” either. Then the fourth device is to say: it…
A friend has asked: Osho, what is the difference between sin and virtue? And as long as the mind is filled with sin, how can there be faith, devotion, feeling? How will prayer happen while the mind is full of sin? So first let the mind be filled with virtue; then prayer will happen!
It sounds right. It seems reasonable. Yet it is not right—and it is full of unawareness. It sounds right to say, “As long as the mind is full of sin, how can there be prayer!” But that is like a physician saying, “As long as you are sick, how can I give you medicine! First get well and healthy, and then take the medicine.” But once you are well, why would you need medicine? If you decide to pray only after you’ve dropped all sin, you will never get the chance to pray. As long as there is sin, you won’t pray. And when there is no sin left, why pray? What would be the meaning of prayer then? Prayer is the medicine. Therefore, one has to pray while still a sinner. And another thing: how will sin go? It cannot go without prayer. Those who try to remove sin…