According to Osho, there is no irony: it’s the natural order. Only a living Buddha can save, because only the living flame can light your lamp. But the living Buddha is abused because he tries to ferry you across while you cling to the shore; his presence demands change. Once he’s dead, he cannot challenge you—then worship becomes safe, sentimental, and conveniently useless.
We fight the living teacher who pushes us to change, but we safely honor him after death when he no longer disturbs our habits.