According to Osho, imagination and reality can’t be contrasted side‑by‑side; they never appear together. Test them by awareness: whatever vanishes when watched is imagination, whatever grows clearer is reality. Like darkness versus light, the unreal is only absence—a shadow, a signature on water. Therefore, don’t analyze; simply be watchful, and the unreal will dissolve, leaving only the real presence.
Shine the light of attention: make‑believe fades, and what’s truly there remains.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Beloved Osho, I cannot distinguish between imagination and reality. Can I assume that I do not know reality yet, so why not enjoy watching the whole movie without trying to distinguish? Or, is it necessary to be aware of the difference between imagination and reality?
There is no question of making any distinction between imagination and reality. Imagination is that which disappears if you become aware of it, alert to it. Reality is that which becomes more real if you become aware of it, alert to it. You cannot distinguish between the two, because both are never present simultaneously. And you need not worry about it. All that you have to do is simply be watchful. Whatever passes through your experience -- thoughts, feelings -- don't let it go unwatched, and the unreal will disappear on its own accord. It cannot face the watching eyes; only the real will remain. So for the watcher, there is only the real. For the sleeper, there is only the unreal. And they never meet, so the question of distinction does not arise. It is not that you can put reality on one side and imagination on the other…
Beloved Osho, does it really matter that I can't distinguish imagination from reality? If I can be aware that "I am", is this not enough?
It is certainly enough. It does not matter. There is no need to make any effort to discriminate between imagination and reality. You simply remain aware of yourself. And whatever is imagination will slowly disappear, and whatever is real will remain. It is again from Chetana. But remember, your friendship with ghosts.... Those ghosts will disappear. Because you cannot discriminate between who is a ghost and who is a real person, there may be fear that perhaps you are thinking that this is a real person -- and he disappears. But that much risk has to be taken. In the commune Milarepa used to disappear. That was because of your awareness of yourself. Then you can't find where he is. So if you are not afraid, then there is no problem. You simply remain aware of yourself. And I have never been teaching discrimination. Imagination is that which disappears. Reality…
Beloved Osho, my imagination is very strong. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I see myself sitting with you and there are no more questions. Then I feel loved and accepted. Whenever I experience this, I feel so joyful. Is this real, or just a mind-game to keep me away from reality?
If you can manage it exactly the same, again and again, then it is not imagination. Then it is not the stuff dreams are made of, because you cannot repeat a dream. But if you can imagine such a thing only once, and you cannot manage to experience it exactly the same again and again, then it is a dream; then it is a mind game. Don't waste time on it. This is the distinction between dream and reality: reality is that which remains as it is. Dream is something that happens once and is gone. And it is not in your hands to bring it back, you cannot manage to dream it. Every morning you will open your eyes -- your room will be the same. Every night you will close your eyes -- your dreams will be different. That which remains the same is the real, and that…
Image spirit simultaneously within and around you until the entire universe spiritualizes.
WITH YOUR ENTIRE CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE VERY START OF DESIRE, OF KNOWING, KNOW. O SHAKTI, EACH PARTICULAR PERCEPTION IS LIMITED, DISAPPEARING IN OMNIPOTENCE. IN TRUTH FORMS ARE INSEPARATE. INSEPARATE ARE OMNIPRESENT BEING AND YOUR OWN FORM. REALIZE EACH AS MADE OF THIS CONSCIOUSNESS. You are here listening to me. This very listening can become a transformation. If you are entirely here, this very moment here and now, if listening is your entirety, that listening will become a meditation: you will enter a different realm of ecstasy, a separate reality. But you are not entire. That is the problem with the human mind, it is always partial. A part is listening. Other parts may be somewhere else, or may be asleep, or may be thinking about what is being said, or arguing inside. That creates a division and division is a dissipation of energy. So when doing anything bring your entire…
Kalpana means imagination and deva means divine -- divine imagination. And that you have to remember: that your path will go through imagination. You have a tremendous capacity to imagine. If you can use it, it can be an immense help. If you don't use it, it can become a barrier. If one has some capacity, one has to use it, otherwise it becomes like a rock on the path. One has to step over it and transform it into a stepping stone. You have a very deep potentiality for imagination. So use it. Start three things. One is -- imagine yourself as happy as possible. Within a week you will start feeling that you are becoming very happy -- for no reason at all. That will be proof of your dormant capacity. So the first thing to do in the morning is to imagine yourself tremendously happy.