According to Osho, the prelude to omniscience is the shift of attention from all dualities—attachment and aversion—back to the centered witness within. When consciousness no longer chases indulgence or renunciation but simply stands and watches, the door to the self opens. In this equanimous, self-rooted awareness, one enters the supreme threshold from which true knowledge unfolds.
Stop chasing or rejecting things and rest as a quiet watcher inside; that’s where real knowing begins.
From the Discourses
Passages where Osho speaks to this question — each links to the complete discourse.
Is that the prelude to omniscience? Absolutely. That is precisely the prelude to omniscience. The moment someone stands in himself, he arrives at the gate from which knowledge begins. But standing in oneself is the first point; from there the journey can move inward.
And we are either in attachment or in aversion—outside ourselves. To be in attachment and aversion means: to be outside oneself, to be elsewhere. Whether on a friend or on an enemy, our consciousness, our attention, will be somewhere else—in attachment as well as in aversion. The man who is mad to accumulate wealth will have his attention on wealth. The man who is mad to renounce wealth will also have his attention on wealth. For both, wealth remains the focal point. And when the focal point of vision returns from all dualities and stands upon oneself, one quietly begins to see: here is renunciation, here is indulgence; I neither indulge nor renounce; I stand and watch. In such a state the door to the self opens, from where one can enter the supreme prelude to knowledge. Let’s take one more and the whole thing will be complete. Yes, there…
Osho, the one who sees all and dwells within everyone—why does he still not come to be known? How does that Seer and Witness of all come to be known? Please explain.
Only such a light, subtle sensing will be there—a faint intimation. But you will not be able to see it. You cannot hold it in your hand. It is inexorably the Seer and cannot become the seen. So what to do? Then what to do? Only one thing can be done: bid farewell to the seen. Whatever is seen, let it be dismissed. Let no scene remain upon the screen. Have you ever noticed? You go to the cinema to watch a film. It begins—the play of light and shadow starts upon a blank white screen—and you become absorbed. When you are completely absorbed in watching, when the story grips your very life, you lose awareness of yourself—you forget that you are the watcher. The seen becomes everything; the Seer becomes null. The Seer is forgotten; the scenes become all in all. If the scene is tragic, tears stream from…
The appreciation of objects and subjects is the same for an enlightened as for an unenlightened person. The former has one greatness: he remains in the subjective mood, not lost in things.
BELIEVE OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT, PERVADING. So nothing is attracting you -- YOU get attracted. Be alert and the bridge will be broken and you will regain balance inside. Go on doing it more and more. The more you do, the better. And a moment will come when you will not need to do it because the inner power will give you such a strength that the attraction of things will be lost. It is your weakness which is attracted. Be more powerful and nothing will attract you. Only then for the first time are you master of your own being. That will give you real freedom. No political freedom, no economic freedom, no social freedom, can be of much help. Not that they are not desirable, they are good, good in themselves, but they will not give you the things which the innermost core of your being is longing for --…
Each thing is perceived through knowing. The self shines in space through knowing. Perceive one being as knower and known.
BELOVED, AT THIS MOMENT LET, MIND, KNOWING, BREATH, FORM, These techniques are to change knowledge into experience. These techniques are to change acquaintance into understanding. That which belongs to a Buddha or to a Krishna or to a Christ, through these techniques can belong to you -- that can become your own. And unless it becomes your own, no truth is true. It may be a grand lie, a beautiful lie, but no truth is true unless it becomes your experience -- individually, authentically your own. Three things. First: always remember that your house is on fire. Second: don't listen to the Devil. He will constantly say to you that there is no hurry. And thirdly: remember, acquaintance is not understanding. Whatsoever I am saying here will make you acquainted. It is needed, but it is not enough. It starts you on a journey, but it is not the end.…
Osho, you said... then you will find that the devotee is God. The question arises: if one devotee prefers to be God and another wants to remain only a devotee, then which of the two is superior?
The one who wants to be God will not be able to be. And the one who wants to remain a devotee will become God. The question of superior or inferior does not arise, because only one of the two will happen. The one who does not want to be will be. The one who wants to be will be deprived. That very wanting is of the ego. But the matter is a little delicate. Sometimes humility too belongs to the ego. Beware that your humility may not be of the ego. Perhaps you are saying, “No, I don’t want to be,” because you know that those who refuse are the ones who attain. Then you are clever. Then your humility is adulterous. Your humility is not pure, not sacred, not virginal—it is like a prostitute. The one who wants to be God, whose ego says, “I must become God,”…