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Osho on Liberation

Liberation

In the dance of duality, where the lover and beloved exist until the final breath, true liberation emerges as the dissolution of separation, revealing a profound oneness that transcends all paths, culminating in pure being and devotion.

Osho's perspective on Liberation

When Osho Spoke About Liberation

Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.

Krishna Smriti · Discourse 19Question 4 1970-10-04 Bombay Translated from Hindi by Osho Live

Osho, why do the Jain scriptures say that women cannot attain liberation? The topic will shift a bit. There’s a small question. Since the topic will change, let’s do it briefly, then we’ll sit for meditation. The question is: Why do the Jain scriptures say that women cannot attain liberation (moksha)?

The reason is that the Jain scriptures were created out of a masculine mind. Jain sadhana is a masculine sadhana. Its whole process is aggressive, attacking. And so the Jain scripture cannot even conceive how a woman could attain moksha. If we ask a devotee of Krishna, he will be in great difficulty! He will say, how could anyone other than a woman attain liberation? How will a man be liberated? Because a Krishna devotee, even if he is a man, makes himself a woman and falls in love with Krishna. When Meera went to Vrindavan she was stopped from entering the temple, because the priest there would not look at women. When Meera was stopped she said, ask that priest one question: Is there any man other than Krishna? And being a priest of Krishna, are you still a man? Then the priest said, let her come. I have…
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

ओशो, जैन-शास्त्रों में ऐसा क्यों कहा है कि स्त्रियों के लिए मोक्ष नहीं है? बात जरा बदल जाएगी। एक सवाल छोटा सा पूछा है। बात बदल जाएगी, इसलिए थोड़े में करें, फिर हम ध्यान के लिए बैठेंगे। पूछा है कि जैन-शास्त्रों में क्यों कहा है कि स्त्रियों के लिए मोक्ष नहीं है?

उसका कारण है कि जैन-शास्त्र पुरुष-चित्त के द्वारा निर्मित शास्त्र हैं। जैन-साधना पुरुष-साधना है। जैन-साधना की पूरी प्रक्रिया एग्रेसिव है, आक्रामक है। और इसलिए जैन-शास्त्र सोच ही नहीं सकता कि स्त्री को कैसे मोक्ष हो सकता है? अगर कृष्ण के भक्त से हम पूछें तो वह बहुत मुश्किल में पड़ेगा! वह कहेगा, स्त्री के सिवाय और किसी का मोक्ष हो ही कैसे सकता है? पुरुष का मोक्ष होगा कैसे? क्योंकि कृष्णभक्त अगर पुरुष भी है, तो अपने को स्त्री बना कर कृष्ण के प्रेम में पड़ता है। मीरा जब गई वृंदावन और वहां के मंदिर में प्रवेश पर उस पर रोक लगाई गई, क्योंकि उस मंदिर में जो पुजारी था वह स्त्रियों को नहीं देखता था। और जब मीरा को रोका तो मीरा ने कहा, एक सवाल उन पुजारी से पूछ लो कि क्या कृष्ण के अलावा और कोई पुरुष भी है? और कृष्ण के पुजारी होकर अभी तक पुरुष बने हुए हो? तो उस पुजारी ने कहा, उसको आने दो। मेरी भूल मुझे पता चल गई, मैं गलती में था।

Jin Sutra · Discourse 35Question 1 1976-07-13 Pune Translated from Hindi by Osho Live

Osho, you say the same thing in countless ways. But when I listen to you, it feels as if I am hearing it for the first time. And I feel so much joy that I don’t feel like going back home. What should I do—what can I do—so that I can just keep listening to you!

You will feel as if you have been made to rise out of season, before time—as if you were not yet to go and yet had to go. And if you go in that way, your home will become even more desolate than before. I do not want to make your home desolate; I want to make your home a temple. I want that when you go home, your home’s new form is revealed. I do not want to tear you away from home, from the world, from family life. That is the newness of my sannyas: I do not want to sever you from the world; I want to join you to the world in such a way that your connection with the world becomes a connection with the Divine. Let the world no longer be a barrier between you and the Divine; let it become a means. If…
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

पहला प्रश्न: ओशो, आप एक ही बात कहते हैं अनेक-अनेक ढंगों से। पर जब आपको सुनता हूं तो उस समय यही लगता है कि पहली बार सुन रहा हूं। और इतना आनंद मिलता है कि वापस घर लौटकर जाने का जी नहीं करता। क्या करूं, मैं क्या करूं कि आपको सुनता ही रहूं!

… ऐसा लगेगा जैसे अभी जाना न था और जाना पड़ा। और अगर ऐसे तुम गये, तो घर और भी उदास हो जाएगा। जितना पहले था, उससे भी ज्यादा। मैं तुम्हारे घर को उदास नहीं करना चाहता। मैं तुम्हारे घर को मंदिर बनाना चाहता हूं। मैं चाहता हूं कि तुम जब घर जाओ, तो तुम्हारे घर का अभिनवरूप प्रकट हो। मैं तुम्हें घर से, संसार से, गृहस्थी से तोड़ नहीं लेना चाहता। वही मेरे संन्यास का अभिनवपन है कि मैं तुम्हें संसार सेे तोड़ नहीं लेना चाहता। …

Questioner: why do jaina scriptures say that there is no liberation for women?

This question will change the context of our discussion and therefore I would deal with it briefly and then we will sit for meditation. You ask why the Jaina scriptures say that women cannot attain to freedom. The reason is that Jaina scriptures are the handiwork of the male mind. The truth is, the whole of Jaina discipline is male-oriented, it is aggressive. Therefore Jaina scriptures cannot think how women, who represent passive energy can attain to liberation. But devotees of Krishna think otherwise. If you ask one of them about it he will immediately say women alone can attain to it, no one except them can. The male mind is simply incapable of reaching God, according to Krishna's philosophy. Even male devotees of Krishna turn into feminine minds so they can fall in love with Krishna. There is a beautiful anecdote in the life of Meera, the renowned devotee…
Jo Ghar Bare Aapna · Discourse 8Question 5 1970-11-12 Bombay Translated from Hindi by Osho Live

Osho, if in your presence a person has an inner experience but later cannot, what is that? Would you call it a direction toward liberation or dependence?

There can be two kinds of reasons. In fact there can be many, but broadly two will do. - One: he may only be imagining, not actually experiencing. Even for imagination my presence gives support. Alone, even imagining becomes difficult. Imagination too asks for props. So in my presence he will be able to imagine more easily, and it will be easier to mistake imagination for experience. At home, if the same kind of thing happened, he might suspect it is only imagination. - The other, less frequent, possibility: you did not imagine; you actually took a leap. For a moment you jumped two feet off the ground; you lifted your head and saw a little higher. Then you fell back to the ground. That is possible too. Both can be useful. Even imagination is an indicator that you want to imagine—really, that you want to experience; that is why…
ओशो के मूल हिंदी शब्द · Osho's original Hindi

प्रश्न: ओशो, आपके सान्निध्य में व्यक्ति आंतरिक अनुभव करे, मगर बाद में न कर पाए, यह क्या बात है? इसको आप मुक्ति की दिशा कहेंगे या परावलंबन कहेंगे?

इसके दोहरे कारण हो सकते हैं। ऐसे तो बहुत हो सकते हैं, लेकिन मोटा दो का विभाजन अच्छा होगा। या तो यह हो सकता है कि वह सिर्फ कल्पना कर रहा है, अनुभव नहीं कर रहा। तो कल्पना करने में भी मेरी मौजूदगी में उसको सहारा मिलेगा। अकेले में मुश्किल पड़ेगी कल्पना करने में। कल्पना भी सहारे मांगती है। तो मेरी मौजूदगी में वह जल्दी कल्पना कर पाएगा। और कल्पना को अनुभव समझने में बड़ी आसानी मेरी मौजूदगी में हो जाएगी। घर वैसा अनुभव हो तो शायद सोचे कि कल्पना ही हो रही है। तो एक तो संभावना, बहुत संभावना यही है कि जो अनुभव मेरी मौजूदगी में होता है, खयाल में आता है, और पीछे नहीं होता, उसमें निन्यानबे मौके पर यह है कि वह कल्पना की गई थी, कल्पना कर ली गई थी। लेकिन एक संभावना यह भी है कि तुमने कल्पना नहीं की थी, सच में ही तुमने एक छलांग लगाई थी, तुम जमीन से दो फीट ऊंचे कूद गए थे। एक क्षण को तुमने अपनी गर्दन उठा कर कुछ ऊंचाई पर देख लिया था। लेकिन फिर वापस तुम जमीन पर खड़े हो गए हो। इसकी भी संभावना है।

It’s like mistaking a rope for a snake—when you see clearly, the snake (world) vanishes, and both sides are amazed that the other ever seemed real.
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Freedom isn’t made by two opposite forces; it happens when you stop clinging and rejecting, everything becomes still, and you realize you were free inside all along.
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No—you can’t wake up without knowing it; sit quietly, relax, and be aware, and freedom shows itself.
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No: like waking up, a soul must move from deep sleep through grogginess by living in the world before it can be fully free.
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Trying to feel free keeps you chasing; stop trying to become anything and just be as you are—freedom is already there.
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Chanting won’t free you if you’re chasing a reward; stop grasping and relax now, and your built-in freedom shows up.
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When someone is truly free, there’s no ‘me’ left—only clear awareness.
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Once you’re fully awake (liberated), you can’t fall back into the unconscious loop called nigod.
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It only works if you've remembered God your whole life, because your last thought follows your habits, not a last‑minute word.
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We feel stuck because we keep doubting and clinging to a big ‘me’; trust and quiet awareness set us free.
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Like untying a knotted scarf by reversing how it was tied, Patanjali’s yoga undoes the mind’s habits so your natural freedom shows.
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Admit you’re lost and stop pretending, and then real help and learning can reach you.
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You’re truly free only when “me” and “the other” vanish, leaving just quiet, loving being.
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If you love God, you let your ego melt away, not the Beloved; on other paths, even the idea of God can be let go.
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Don’t try to get free someday; stop wanting and be fully here now, and freedom appears by itself.
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If you can’t repeat it, check whether you changed inside; no change means you imagined it, some lasting clarity or courage means you truly glimpsed something.
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If you’re truly free right now, that freedom grows and you don’t come back; only those still tied up are reborn.
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Freedom is already who you are; stop comparing, be gently aware, and let the pretend parts fall away—no need to run, chant mechanically, or fear your “laziness.”
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Stop searching for a special doorway; open your heart like a child, and freedom will come to you.
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The group gives you a boost, but to keep it you must grow your own inner strength without trying to copy the past.
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Wanting to be born again is like asking to ride the same merry-go-round; life lets you keep spinning until you truly want to get off.
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If you try to boss others, you get trapped too; real freedom comes when you stop controlling and choose kind, free relationships.
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You stop running anywhere else, wake up to who you truly are right here, and then natural joy and a sense of one life appear.
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Narada has no ego of his own; he lets God act through him, so he may look mixed-up, but he really connects heaven and earth and is truly free.
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Stop looking outside, sit silently until thoughts fade, and in that inner emptiness true freedom and joy appear.
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Profound Quotes on Liberation

Explore our structured collection of meaning-mapped quotes regarding Liberation.