According to Osho, darkness persists because people are 'enemies of light': they idolize lamps and statues but extinguish the living flame. The presence of enlightened beings exposes our inner ignorance and demands change, so the collective ego resists, ridicules, or even kills the bringers of light. We prefer safe rituals and appearances over transformative truth, thereby snuffing out illumination even before it can spread.
When real light appears, people fear changing themselves, cling to rituals and symbols, and try to silence those who reveal their darkness.