According to Osho, gurus call the mind the only barrier because the whole guru–disciple affair is a mind-made game: seriousness and ego turn play into bondage. The teaching is a compassionate device—'as if' leading you somewhere—to make you aware that you’re already home. When you see the game, the mind’s dreams lose authority, the ego starves, and reality—beyond mind—remains.
Teachers say the mind blocks you so you stop taking its serious games as truth and notice you’re already okay right here.