Osho's perspective on Freedom
When Osho Spoke About Freedom
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
Osho, do you feel that a child should be given the freedom to inquire about the facts of his birth and about sex?
The ignorance of our society and the traditional foolishness of parents is what spoils children. It is not obvious to us on the surface, because when children create such messes we want to make our old rules even stricter: “Look, everything is going wrong—tighten the old rules.” And we do not see that it is because of those very rules that the mess is happening. Make them stricter and the disorder will only increase. I want to give unconditional freedom to the whole of life. No one has the right to stop anyone. But freedom is not license. And the curious thing is: a free person is never licentious; only the dependent person becomes licentious. Dependence unnerves so much that dependence is one extreme. When the dependent man gets a chance, the other extreme is his licentiousness. He never pauses in the middle, where freedom is. If you lock a…
Osho, are being a mere instrument (nimitta) and being spontaneous/free (swachchhand) only differences of expression? Please explain.
But if it doesn’t suit you, that doesn’t mean the Divine is narrow and reachable by only one road. If this doesn’t suit you, then what is its opposite—does that suit you? Does spontaneity suit you? Does rebellion suit you? Does it appeal to declare: Enough—I will live in my own way? Then live so. Shape yourself to your own cadence. Live in complete freedom. Do not become an instrument. Do not surrender. Live spontaneously. What Ashtavakra calls spontaneity, Mahavira calls asharan—without refuge. What Krishna calls becoming a mere instrument, Chaitanya and Mira call surrender. They are the same things. If I distill all this, I would say: one path is feminine, and one path is masculine. The masculine path means: he cannot surrender, cannot become an instrument; he will proclaim himself. The path of spontaneity, of being without refuge, will suit him. Feminine means: she will not proclaim herself—that’s…
Beloved master, could you please say something about the fear of freedom? There is such a longing to be free, yet especially in the last two weeks I see so much fear coming up at the same time. Is it nothing else but avoiding aloneness and responsibility?
It is natural, because from the very beginning of your childhood you have been told to depend on others, their advice, their guidelines. You have grown older, but you have not grown up. All animals grow older. It is only man who has two possibilities: either he can grow old like every other animal, or he can grow up. Growing up means getting rid of all dependence. Naturally, in the beginning it will create fear. You were surrounded by your own projections, and thinking that you were protected. For example, you have been told from the very beginning that God is protecting you. Even small children are told in the night, "Don't be afraid. Go to sleep. God is protecting you." That child is still within you -- and I say, "There is no God. You can sleep in darkness in safety. Nobody is protecting you." But that means you…
What do you say about sex education for small children?
Truth is truth, and nobody should be debarred from it. Just because children are small, do they have to be fed on lies? Is truth only for grown-ups? Does that mean truth is dangerous for the delicate consciousness of the child? Truth is never dangerous, untruth is dangerous. And if you tell an untruth to the grown-up he may be able to defend himself; it can be forgiven. But never tell an untruth to the child, because he is so helpless, so indefensible. He depends so much on you, he trusts so much in you -- don't betray him. This is betraying! Telling any lie means you have betrayed the child. And finally you will be in trouble. Sooner or later, the child will discover that you have been telling lies. That very day, all trust in you will disappear. If young people start rebelling against the parents, the responsibility…
"To be a mere instrument is to embrace spontaneity; in surrendering the ego, we discover the freedom of our true nature flowing through us."
"Surrender is not to a person or a God, but the dissolution of the ego; in that oneness with existence, true freedom arises."
"Your chains are mere beliefs, self-hypnosis reinforced by fear; true freedom arises not from fighting them, but from becoming utterly intoxicated with life’s inner wine of awareness and love."
Can building log cabins in the mountains and living independently work as an approach to freedom?
outcome"True freedom is not found in escape, but in the courage to pursue it within the bounds of truth and law."
"Mistakes do not arise from freedom; they emerge from unconsciousness and the misuse of choice. Embrace freedom with awareness, and your actions will blossom into compassion and integrity."
"True freedom is the highest form of care; a Master who allows you to soar does not abandon you, but instead ignites your wings to embrace your own responsibility."
"Love is not about possession; it is the recognition of the other’s freedom as their birthright, which in turn deepens our own."
Does the Absolutely Free also have any law?
definition"Absolute freedom is not lawless; it is its own law, arising effortlessly from the harmony of being itself."
Does the change in clothing requirements imply that followers were not totally free before?
definition"Freedom is not defined by outer forms; it is an ever-expanding inner liberty that invites deeper expressions of our true selves."
How can I be freed from the mind?
practice"Understanding itself is freedom; the imagined knot of bondage dissolves in total, heedful awareness."
"True freedom for India can only be realized when its women are liberated from the chains of pseudo-religious morality, allowing both men and women to embrace their authentic selves and unleash the nation's creative potential."
"Awaken to the present moment, and let your memories surface without judgment; as a witness, you will find that the past loses its grip and transforms into wisdom."
"In supreme freedom, true discipline and responsibility arise effortlessly, for they are the natural expressions of an awakened awareness, free from the chains of duty and dependence."
How can freedom be misused?
definition"Freedom is misused when we choose the comfort of chains over the risk of true adventure, turning our lives into a self-made prison."
"True freedom arises not from scriptures, but from the courage to drop your clinging and discover your own truth. Use scriptures as hints, then let them go; only in living awareness do they find their meaning."
"True freedom from animal instincts is not a feeling of liberation, but the simple joy of living in the present, where sensuality fades and sensuousness blossoms."
How do freedom and law coexist?
definition"Freedom and law are not opposites; true law is the inner order of existence that invites you to create your own essence. Embrace this inner law, and you will find that freedom expands choice, responsibility, and creativity."
"A true master ignites transformation through love-born trust, while freedom is the flowering of your individuality, unmediated by dogma or dependence."
How to be free anywhere?
practice"Real freedom is not a matter of circumstances; it is an inner state of consciousness that can thrive even in the most confining situations. Honor your own freedom by respecting the freedom of others, and you will find that you can be free anywhere."
How to be free of the world?
practice"You are not bound by the world; it is your attachment that creates the illusion of bondage. Recognize this grasp, and in that awareness, you will walk free."
Is fear the basis of the dark use of intelligence to suppress individuality and enlightenment?
definition"Fear is not the root of our darkness; it is the unconscious desire for endarkenment that fuels the suppression of our individuality and the light of enlightenment. Only a conscious will-to-live can shatter this self-destructive pull."
"Love can be given but never demanded; true freedom in marriage arises when you allow each other space to be individuals."
Is there no law for freedom?
definition"Freedom cannot be engineered by rules; it blossoms from awareness and responsibility, for true order arises from inner consciousness, not imposed codes."
Should a child be given the freedom to inquire about the facts of their birth and about sex?
definition"A child must be given the freedom to inquire about birth and sex, for truth is the bridge that nurtures trust and reverence between parent and child. When life poses a question, respond simply; clarity dissolves confusion."
"To act contrary to your intrinsic nature is to invite suffering; only by embracing your true self can you transform happiness into bliss."
Profound Quotes on Freedom
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