Why did enlightened ones not take care to prevent the formation of sects?

Osho, yesterday you called sects footpaths and religion the royal road. But almost all sects were formed in the wake of the enlightened ones who walked the royal road. Why, then, did those supremely enlightened ones not take care to see that sects did not arise behind them? And what are you doing to prevent it?

And know for certain: the sect that will arise behind Krishnamurti will be more dangerous—inevitably so, because Krishnamurti gave no help in its making. The one that will arise behind me will be as dangerous as any sect is, but less dangerous than Krishnamurti’s, because I have supported you. I have given you robes, names, sannyas. I have given you every facility for forming a sect. Because I know that what is bound to happen will happen; the best is that I cooperate. It will be a little more well-shaped, a little more far-reaching. The footpath will be a little closer to the royal road. What you would build on your own would wander very far afield. If it is built leaning on the royal road, it will remain alongside it. From that footpath it will not be too difficult to come onto the royal road. Whenever you wish, one…

Osho, while Buddha was alive in the body, his monastic sangha remained united. But after Buddha’s passing, as time went on, Buddhism began to split into many branches and sub-branches. The ignorant create sects, but even Buddha’s enlightened disciples divided into many different and even opposing sects. Please shed some light on this phenomenon.

On Mahavira’s tree there were only two branches—Digambara and Shvetambara. That’s all. And even between them there isn’t much distance; the differences are trifles. One worships Mahavira adorned, another worships him naked. Within adornment too, Mahavira remains naked; and within nakedness there is his great adornment. There is no great gap. His nakedness itself is ornament—what else is there to decorate? To decorate him further is like sticking legs onto a snake: the snake walked perfectly well without legs; don’t spoil it by pasting on more. To paint a peacock with extra colors—he was colorful enough; please don’t ruin his colors with your kindness. In Mahavira’s nakedness there is exquisite adornment. Has such beautiful nakedness ever appeared? But then it is your whim. Your mind does not rest—not because there is some lack in Mahavira, but because your mind won’t accept anything without doing something. You want to do. What…

Osho, why is it that all enlightened ones teach the central transformation of awareness and awakening, yet the religions founded on them shrink into conduct codes and rituals? Aren’t all organized religions merely parts of society?

But the wife would not agree. She said, “I don’t get into talk of mistakes and corrections. Some ill omen might occur! What harm is it to us?” Lines remain: “It happened this way, it was done that way, it was said so.” Then our meanings, our blindness, are added to them. Religion becomes superstition; truth loses its peaks and becomes the falsehood of the valleys. And around that falsehood, crowds gather. Those who reached the Buddha in the beginning reached through their own awakening. Then they had children; those children had nothing to take from the Buddha, nothing to give. For them, religion is only a rite. Born in a Buddhist home—Buddhist; had they been born in a Hindu home—Hindu; in a Muslim home—Muslim. It is a matter of accident. Being born in a Hindu home is as accidental as a white cat sitting by a pot of curd.…

Osho, why does there seem to be so much conflict between the world and God?

It is as if someone were sleeping deeply in this garden. The cuckoo comes and sings, birds are chattering, the sun rises, breezes dance through the trees; but someone is fast asleep. The breezes touch him, the birds’ songs echo at his ears, the sun’s rays play on his face, but he knows nothing. Then someone comes and shakes him awake. His eyes open—the glory of the sun is revealed, the song of the passing breeze is heard, suddenly the cuckoo’s call, the fragrance of flowers. Do you think something new has happened? Everything was already there, just as it is. Only this man has become new—nothing else has changed. The same garden, the same sun, the same flowers, the same birds—everything the same; only a small difference: he was asleep; he is awake. The meaning of “world” is: you are asleep in God. The meaning of “God” is: you…

Osho, you have said that, in order that the chain not continue and no sect remain, you will present every religion before us. But wouldn’t that itself create a sect—one that takes up every religion in a new way and includes people from every religion? Why don’t you think that all religions could take on a single new form?

It will arise of its own accord.