What is the relationship between total aloneness and individuality?

Last night you said that total aloneness is the essential nature, is the ultimate reality of man. Another day you explained that individuality is false and man is a wave in the organic whole of existence. How is a reconciliation possible between aloneness and wholeness?

There is no need of reconciliation. Aloneness is wholeness. But aloneness doesn't mean individuality. You are an individual because of society. When you are totally alone you will not be an individual. An individual means a part of a society, a unit of a society. When you are in the crowd you are an individual; when you move out of the crowd not only is the crowd dropping behind, the individual also is dropping behind. That individuality was given to you. Individuality and society are two poles of one phenomenon. Alone you are not an individual; the individual has to exist in a pattern of society. It is just as when I said that alone you are neither good nor bad, alone you are neither sage nor sinner, alone you are neither beautiful nor ugly, alone you are neither wise nor foolish. Both the dualities drop. The dichotomy drops. The…

Abide in some place endlessly spacious, clear of trees, hills, habitations. Thence comes the end of mind pressures.

CONSIDER THE PLENUM TO BE YOUR OWN BODY OF BLISS. Man is born alone and dies alone, but between these two points he lives in society, he lives with others. Aloneness is his basic reality; society is just accidental. And unless man can live alone, can know his aloneness in its total depth, he cannot be acquainted with himself. All that happens in society is just outer: it is not you, it is just your relations with others. You remain unknown. From the outside you cannot be revealed. But we live with others. Because of this, self-knowledge is completely forgotten. You know something about yourself, but indirectly -- it is said to you by others. It is strange, absurd, that others should tell you about yourself. Whatsoever identity you carry is given to you by others; it is not real, it is just a labelling. A name is given to…

In the past few weeks, just when I am feeling overwhelmed with the mystery and miracle of life and this world, I suddenly feel everything outside me descending closer and closer until it goes inside my eyes. I then find myself looking at what seems like a one-dimensional screen sitting just at my eyes. It seems as though there is nothing but me and I am so alone. But then people are on the scene interacting with me and I become confused. And what about you? You also seem just part of the painting. Even though this lasts only a few seconds, I become so terrified when this happens. Is this my mi

The Zen Master said, 'The end-point of man's journey is NOT union with God, because there has never been a separation. All that is needed is the flash of insight that makes one see it.' Tao, Zen, Tantra -- their insight is far more deep than the so-called market-place religion. Christianity thinks in terms of joining with God, of being one with God, but the Zen Master's insight is far more penetrating, and deeper. He says: But where has there been a separation? When? It has not happened at all, you have been dreaming that you are separate. Just come out of the dream! There is no union, you have ALWAYS been one with existence. Not for a single moment has there been a separation, there is no possibility of separation. Maitri, you are coming to a very very important, significant insight. If you don't get frightened and run out…

Osho, though I live in a family, I feel there is no one who is truly mine; I am utterly alone. I also find that old age is beginning to come, and I feel empty, dry; there isn’t even a single drop of love in me. I am a little disabled in one leg, so I can’t dance to my heart’s content at the camp. The family doesn’t particularly like you either. Now, listening to you, tears flow and I can’t think what to do! Is there any ray of hope for me?

Mulla Nasruddin’s sons had made just such a car, and they said, “Papa! Now we’re going for a drive—come along too.” Seeing the paint and polish, he also sat in. But a car doesn’t run on paint and polish! It runs on what is hidden under the bonnet; that cannot be seen. When has a car ever run on paint! He sat in. The car went two, four, ten steps and every bone rattled. It veered off the road into a field, parts scattered everywhere. Mulla sat holding his head. His son said, “Father! Are you hurt, in pain? Shall I take you to a doctor?” He said, “What will happen by taking me to a doctor! Take me to a veterinary! If I had any brains, would I have sat in your car? Admit me to the animal hospital. My treatment will only be there.” This is your image.…

Question: BELOVED OSHO, IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST HURDLES THAT FACES A HUMAN BEING IS TO BE ALONE, TO STAND ALONE IN THE FACE OF THE OPINIONS OF THE WORLD, TO STAND ALONE IN THE FACE OF THE LIES OF THE WORLD, TO BE ABLE TO BE PHYSICALLY ALONE, AND, ULTIMATELY, TO BE ALONE WITHOUT EVEN OUR MINDS -- THE COMPANION OF LAST RESORT. WE REALLY KNOW WE ARE ALONE, WE KNOW WE WILL DIE INTO ALONENESS, WE KNOW THAT EVERY CONTACT OUTSIDE OURSELVES IS TRANSITORY -- ONLY YOU REFLECT THE SILENCE OF THE STARS, THE SILENCE OF INFINITY, THE SILENCE OF ETERNITY -- YET JUST BELOW THE HEART THERE IS A PAIN, A KNOT, A FEAR... THE FEAR OF BEING A LITTLE BOY WITHOUT FRIENDS, THE FEAR OF FAILURE AND REJECTION, AND THE PAIN OF PRETENDING I DON'T CARE.