What should we do if someone prevents us from following our spiritual path?

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:…

Osho, what is the first experience of samadhi like?

You will know only when it happens. It cannot be said; at most a few hints can be given. It is as if, in the dark, a lamp is suddenly lit. Or as if a dying patient, right at the edge of death, suddenly finds a medicine that works; life’s wave, life’s thrill spreads again—so it is. As if a corpse becomes alive—such is the first experience of samadhi. It is the taste of nectar. The experience of the ultimate music. But it will be only when it happens; and only then will you understand. You will not understand by my saying it. It is as with love. How can anyone explain it? To someone who has never loved, never known love, no matter how many explanations you offer—he will hear it all and still ask, “I haven’t understood; please explain a little more.” It is like explaining light to…

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, Jesus used to tell his disciples that if anyone stops you from walking with me, kill him and come along. Such a command from Jesus, the priest of love? You don’t give us such a command. But if such a situation arises for us too, what command would you give—the same as Jesus gave?

Kill! But you haven’t understood what Jesus meant, and that’s where the difficulty began. No one outside can really stop you; the ones who stop you are within. How can a wife stop you if you are moving toward truth? Poor wife—how will she stop you? If she cannot stop you from dying, how will she stop you from taking sannyas? If something is meant to be, if it is ready to happen, how will a wife prevent it? And if even a wife can prevent you, then something inside you is shaky. You are using the wife as an excuse. Jesus says, kill that shakiness. Jesus is hardly telling you to kill your wife. Surely he had at least as much sense as you do—trust him for that much intelligence at least. What hinders is inside—attachment, infatuation, greed, anger. The enemy is within, not without. What you see outside…

Osho, for years I have been thinking about taking sannyas, but some obstacle or other arises and I stop. What should I do, what should I not do? You tell me. And also tell me what God is—who is God?

What will happen if I tell you? You will think again. Will you follow what I say? If you could have, would you have delayed for years? I am saying the same thing every day—unceasingly I tell you: Wake up. But you say, a beautiful dream is going on—how can I wake up now? Let it complete. This sleep is so sweet, the music of slumber and trance so honeyed: don’t wake me yet. You turn over once more, pull the blanket over you, and go back to sleep. And you will repent, greatly repent, because whatever time has slipped away is gone; it cannot be returned. Do not delay any more—that much I can say. You have already delayed too long; do not delay further. If the longing for sannyas has arisen, do not let this seed remain a seed—let it sprout, let it become real. And you ask:…