Why are there so many religions if truth is one?

Truth is one, you say. Then why are there so many religions?

Truth is one, but interpretations are many and can be millions. Truth is one, but the people who see truth are different. Their eyes give different angles. Christ has his own unique personality, as Krishna has. When Christ looks at the truth the truth reflects in his eyes; that becomes Christianity. When Krishna looks at the truth, truth reflects in his eyes, and that becomes Hinduism. Hinduism is not direct truth. Christianity is not direct truth. They have come via unique persons, and the unique person's uniqueness is always reflected in it. When Buddha comes to truth, truth becomes Buddhist, has to become; it takes the color of Buddha. When you will come to see the truth, there will be a meeting of you and the truth. The truth will transform you and you will transform the truth, and the ultimate result will be a cross-breeding between you and truth.…

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, why have I found nothing but suffering in this life?

Sujata, if you have found nothing but suffering, you must have worked very hard to get it—great effort, great discipline, great austerity! If you have found only suffering, you must have acquired great skill. Suffering does not come just like that; it isn’t free. You have to pay for it. Bliss, on the other hand, comes of its own accord; it is free—because bliss is your nature. Suffering has to be earned. And what is the first rule for earning suffering? Ask for pleasure, and suffering will arrive. Ask for success, and failure will come. Ask for respect, and insult will follow. Whatever you demand, the opposite will be given. Whatever you desire, the opposite will happen—because this existence does not move according to your desire; it moves according to the will of the divine. Jesus made a final prayer: O Lord, Thy will be done! That is the final…

Osho, what is religion, and why are there so many religions in the world? Is it not possible to have just one religion for the whole humanity?

No, even to support that idea is dangerous because that simply means, destroy others. But who are we? If somebody wants to remain a Hindu or a Mohammedan or a Christian, then it is his choice. It is nobody else's business. Religion is a private concern, a personal concern. You like a certain flower, and I don't like it, but that does not men that we are enemies. No, there is no need of one religion. But there can be one religiousness. People can belong to different kinds of religions but still they can carry the same quality of religiousness. Then there is no problem about whether they go to the church or to the synagogue or to the temple, or nowhere. They may not go anywhere their own house is a temple. It is possible -- not only possible, it should be made actual -- that there could be…

Question: do you consider all faiths same and equal?

There is only one religion, because there is only one Truth. But the paths to that one Truth, that peak experience, can be several. In fact, there are as many paths as there are seekers of Truth. Each individual has to create his own path, because there are none already laid out. The individual has to start from where he is. Others can not be expected to start from the same place, simply because others are not in the same place. The starting points are all different, but the destination is the same. The starting points are different because the mental make-up is different in us all; the destination is the same because religion is one, and only one. The diversity in faiths can not be laid at the door of religion because the diversity belongs to the individuals; sects are born of this diversity. There are factions called sects…