No two teachers of the twentieth century were compared more often than Osho and Jiddu Krishnamurti — and Osho did most of the comparing himself. He called Krishnamurti enlightened without hesitation, sent his own sannyasins to listen to him, told mischievous stories about him, and in the same breath explained why Krishnamurti's fifty years of teaching had, in his view, produced so few transformed people.
Each passage below links to the complete discourse it comes from.
“When truth is shared, silence, joy, and inner resonance become the only real conversation between awakened beings.”
Understanding Osho's Vision of J. Krishnamurti
The threads that run through his discourses on j. krishnamurti.
Is Krishnamurti Enlightened? Osho's Direct Answer
Asked point-blank, Osho answered point-blank — and then spent an entire discourse explaining what Krishnamurti's enlightenment did and did not accomplish for his listeners.
Question: Osho, is J. Krishnamurti enlightened?From Personality to Individuality, Chapter 7 →
Their Actual Connection
Osho described a real, if never public, connection between the two — including personal visits and his account of Krishnamurti's final years.
Question: Can you tell us about your connection with J. Krishnamurti? I went to his house. He was resting in a dark room and I entered slowly...Socrates Poisoned Again After 25 Centuries, Chapter 25 →
Why Osho Praised Him and He Never Returned It
A disciple noticed the asymmetry: Osho spoke of Krishnamurti with love; Krishnamurti did not reciprocate. Osho's answer is one of his most generous readings of another master.
The way you speak of Shri J. Krishnamurti with love and praise, he does not speak of you in the same way... So do not be angry with Krishnamurti.Es Dhammo Sanantano, Chapter 99 →
On Krishnamurti's 'No Master, No Method' Teaching
Krishnamurti taught that following any tradition, religion or master forecloses freedom. Osho agreed with the destination and disputed the route — pointing at the audience Krishnamurti actually produced.
Osho, could you please tell me your opinion about J. Krishnamurti, who is saying that you won't be free and therefore not happy as long as you follow any tradition, religion or master?I Am That, Chapter 3 →
Questions Osho Answered on J. Krishnamurti
1 questions in the library — the most sought-after:
They were deeply connected without meeting, like two wise friends who don’t need to talk to know they understand each other.
Frequently Asked
Yes, unambiguously — Osho repeatedly affirmed Krishnamurti's enlightenment. His critique was never of Krishnamurti's realization but of his method: pure intellect-to-intellect teaching that, in Osho's view, informed people without transforming them.
Krishnamurti rejected all technique, tradition, and the master-disciple relationship; Osho embraced devices — meditation techniques, sannyas, the master as catalyst — as scaffolding to be discarded after use. Osho summarized it as: Krishnamurti is right about the goal, but nobody reaches a goal by being told there is no path.
They never shared a public platform, and accounts differ on private contact; Osho himself told of visiting Krishnamurti and spoke of a wordless mutual recognition — while their organizations kept a careful distance. See the discourse linked above for Osho's own account.