What is the relationship between faiths and conflict in history?

Question: it does not enhance human dignity to create friction between faiths -- and that too in the name of religion! There should be no conflict amongst various faiths; but, come to think of it, the world history of faiths is full of strife and wars. Not only that, even in one and the same faith, the various sects malign one another and quarrel amongst themselves! Why?

Ego is the root of all evil. There can not, and need not, be any friction between faiths. The differences lie only in the egoism of so-called followers of faiths. It is ego that is militant. And it is ego that creates frictions and factions even amongst followers of one and the same faith. Actually, not only in religious matters, but in all spheres of life, the underlying cause of conflict and disharmony is ego; and the solution to these fissiparous tendencies is dissolution of ego; because love -- which is the opposite of ego -- creates a common meeting ground for divergent groups of human beings. Ego is irreligion. Religion is not the cause of quarrels or battles or so-called holy crusades; these are caused by the lack of religion in the so-called followers of religion. And this will continue to be the state of affairs so long as…

Why are there so many religions in the world?

-- because there are so many types of people, because there are so many different kinds of people. Religion is one, but the languages of religion are different. The Jew understands one language, the Christian understands another language. The difference is of language. The Hindu speaks still another language -- but all differences are linguistic. Just as English can be translated into French and French can be translated into Italian and there is no conflict, so Christianity can be translated into Hinduism, Hinduism can be translated into Judaism -- there is no problem. One just needs clarity to see. A religious person will see that there is only one religion in the world -- although many are the manifestations. And there is nothing wrong. It is good. If these religions don't fight with each other and don't nag each other, it is perfectly good, it is enriching. It makes the…

Osho, what is the relationship between meditation and patience?

If you sit to meditate to remove mental restlessness, you will keep looking back again and again: “Has it gone yet?” And the irony is that when you begin to meditate, restlessness will increase. Because what has been repressed will start surfacing; catharsis will begin. The rubbish you have kept hidden within and never allowed to express—meditation will break open those doors too. It will clean the house. Dust piled up for years, for births, will rise again; there will be gusts and storms. For a while even the little peace you had will be lost. Then you will panic: “I came for peace, and even what I had is gone.” Without patience, you could even become unhinged, because meditation brings such a great storm. The disease is not from a day or two; it’s from lifetimes. Meditation will break through all the layers to reach your innermost core. In…

Osho, why has human faith in religion waned?

Then there is a further fall. This is when, around Buddha, people hear, oppose, accept. Then two-and-a-half thousand years pass. One generation hands it to the next. Those who had heard from Buddha, or at least seen him—some hint of truth must have reached their ears; some touch of Buddha’s presence must have touched them; some color of Buddha must have fallen upon their souls—however slight, it fell. Then their sons and their sons’ sons believe because the fathers believed, the forefathers believed, people have always believed—and then belief becomes blind belief. What you call religions are superstitions. They should have been bid farewell long ago. New editions of truth descend from the sky every day. A new Koran descends every day. God has not grown tired, has not exhausted Himself with Mohammed. Jesus is not God’s only son—as Christians say, the only begotten. Nor did God come to an…

Osho, wouldn’t it be good if there were only one religion on the earth? Wouldn’t that increase brotherhood and bring an end to violence, hostility and disputes?

Everyone their own paths, and from all paths together is formed that highway on which the feet of the age are advancing! Do not stop the advancing steps— life’s ocean is boundless. Life’s truth is not confined to one person. Do not stop the advancing steps— life’s ocean is unfathomable, life’s truth is not confined to one vision! Let multicolored flowers bloom here, with multicolored flowers is adorned that platter which worships life, which is great! Life’s truth is not confined to one color! Let everyone sing their own song of creation, freely! From all songs together is formed that great raga which bows to life, which is vast! Life’s truth is not confined to one song! Never confine life’s truth—to one song or to one Gita! Not to one color, one way, one style. It is the violent tendency in man that wants others to walk exactly as he…