What should I do when teachings conflict with my religious beliefs?

I am a catholic christian. I love your talks, but when you say something which goes against my religion then I am terribly upset. What should I do?

THERE ARE THREE THINGS: first, only listen to that which suits you; don't listen to that which goes against you. That's what many are doing, otherwise it is going to be a rough journey. But when you are here listening, it is difficult -- how to avoid that? In fact, before you know it is against you, you have listened to it. Then you need to do something which professors know how to do, pundits, scholars know how to do. When you listen to something which goes against you, first: think that it is trivial; it does not matter; it is not very relevant; it does not change your mind. It is a small thing! Maybe a little difference in the details, but basically Osho agrees with you. Keep that in the mind. It happened: A woman went to the doctor and complained she could not get passionate. The doctor…

Osho, from the very beginning of life everyone is taught: speak the truth, do good deeds, do not be violent, do not sin. But we sannyasins are trying to walk exactly on this path; then why are we opposed? Please kindly explain this contradiction.

So Mahavira would not turn at night lest a bug be crushed. And naked Mahavira must have been tormented by bugs and mosquitoes—no doubt. Mahavira told his disciples: mosquitoes will disturb meditation—don’t worry; it’s a test. Mosquitoes have always been enemies of meditators! I once heard a mosquito telling his kids, “If you behave today, in the morning I will take you to Buddha Hall for discourse! But only if you behave!” Mosquitoes are old enemies. Mahavira said: mosquitoes will torture you; they will create obstacles in meditation. The ascetic pays them no attention; he remains in his meditation—let them bite; he won’t move a muscle. And Mahavira must have been all the more tormented—Jains say that when a snake bit him, milk flowed instead of blood! Will mosquitoes leave milk? So cheap—without going to a dairy—just suck Mahavira and drink milk! They must have swelled with joy! So Mahavira…

Osho, my family members and others say that you corrupt religion. But my heart says: O Lord of the worlds, You alone are my support; without You, in this world, we have no one. But that is only my own conviction. I have to live among those who oppose you. So please tell me, graciously, how I can protect my truth?

Here I am teaching you that you are nothing; only the Divine is. You are not—make space. Vacate the throne; you have sat there long enough. My call is only for those who are supremely audacious. Religion is ultimate courage—it is not the path of the weak. That is why the weak, even in the name of religion, do politics. Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Christian—these are all politics. The names are religious, the flags are religious—inside, politics. Churches, temples, priests, pundits—talk of religion; go a little deeper and you will find politics: the race for the world, for position, prestige, wealth, empire. Christianity wants to dominate the whole world—less zest for finding God than for covering the world. Islam wants to make the whole world Muslim—by the sword if necessary. If people must be cut for their own good, then cut them! If villages must be burned, settlements razed—still, man must…

Osho, why is it that the moment we cling to some belief—whether theism or atheism—the mind feels so reassured? Why does it seem almost impossible for it to stand in the middle, dropping both?

There is no greater courage than to stand in existence without conclusions. By “without conclusions” I mean: no belief, no superstition. It means: we will see existence as it is, without bringing our notions in between. We will neither say “God is” nor “God is not.” We will neither say “the soul is” nor “the soul is not.” We will inquire. But inquiry is hard. Inquiry means you must pay a price. Who wants that bother? So we borrow beliefs on credit. We say, Mahavira knew, Buddha knew, Krishna knew—why should we get into the mess? We’ll cling to them, hold their feet, and pass through. That is not faith; it is only weakness. And the weak do not move. It is not trust to think we can walk to freedom by holding Buddha’s feet. If you have no trust in yourself, how will you trust Buddha? No real trust…

Osho, the scientific relationship of yoga, meditation, and spirituality—hearing your sweet words and beholding your presence, I consider myself truly blessed. Still, why do some religious and political people oppose such a beloved Master? I don’t like this opposition; what should I do?

You know the story of the two cats who brought their food to a monkey to divide. The monkey took a scale and began to weigh. If one side was heavier, he would take a bite from it; then the other became lighter, so he added a bit—nibbling again and again until he had eaten the whole thing. The cats watched helplessly. If you keep fighting, someone will exploit you. An intelligent society will be free of politics, free of priests, free of politicians. The days of organized religion are over, and of politics too—and those were ill days. I also say: your body is as beautiful as your soul. I do not want to create a split, a duality between body and soul. All your so-called religions are body-negative, life-negative. Their rule has been: the more enmity you have with life, the closer you come to God. I counsel:…