Osho's perspective on Politics
When Osho Spoke About Politics
Passages from the discourses where this theme comes alive.
Osho, what is the most astonishing law in this world?
A Sufi story. A thief, at night, began to climb into a house through a window. The window frame gave way, he fell, and broke his leg. The next day he went to court and blamed the householder for his broken leg. The owner was summoned and said in his defense: The one responsible is the carpenter who made the window. The carpenter was called; he said the contractor who built the wall hadn’t made the windowed section strong enough. In his defense the contractor said: My mistake happened because of a woman who was passing by—she drew my attention away. When the woman was presented in court, she said: At that time I was wearing a very fine dress. Normally no one even looks at me. So the fault lies with the dress, which was so exquisitely sewn. The judge said: Then summon the tailor who sewed it; he…
In your opinion, which is the ideal political regime and which is the worst?
Fascism is the worst, and meritocracy is the best. The criterion is anarchism. Whichever regime is closer to anarchism is better -- the closest to anarchism is the best -- whichever is farther away from anarchism is worse. Fascism is the farthest, dictatorship the farthest; they are the worst. Anarchism is my criterion. The best regime can only be meritocracy, which will be very close to anarchism. Just one step more and all regimes disappear. Anarchism... No government means absolute freedom, and freedom is the ultimate value of life.
Osho, why are you so opposed to politics?
I am not against politics. Politics is only a symptom. I am against the inferiority complex in man; that inner sense of smallness. And politics is a symptom of that very disease. The more a person suffers from an inferiority complex, the more he hankers after position. The more he is filled with inferiority, the more he hankers after wealth. Understand this. An inferiority complex means: inside you feel, “I am nothing, a nobody, a two-bit fellow.” But this rankles. “I—and two-bit!” The mind cannot swallow it. “I will show the world that I am somebody. I’ll become a prime minister, a president. I’ll amass the world’s wealth and prove to the world that I am somebody.” Politics is the device to fill that inner sense of two-bit-ness, meaninglessness, emptiness. Politics means ambition—whether for money or for office, it makes no difference. Sometimes it is even the ambition for renunciation;…
Osho, you make statements on politics; then why shouldn’t you be considered a politician?
Then just now, when Indira won, Vinoba remained silent; when he was informed that Indira had won, he clapped in happiness. The newspapers reported: Vinoba clapped in joy, became ecstatic! Two days later came the statement: I did not clap because of Indira’s victory; it just so happened that at that moment I was in a playful mood. At that very moment you were in ecstasy—neither a moment before, nor a moment after! What a coincidence that precisely then the mood to clap arose! Two days later he must have done the accounting that this clapping could prove costly. Politics is always calculation, arithmetic, maneuvering and cleverness. I tell you: by speaking on politics I am not a politician, and Vinoba, remaining silent, without giving statements, is a politician. Politics is a style of life; statements or non-statements make no difference. If there were even a little politics in me,…
"Politics is the playground of the foolish, for true intelligence lies not in dominating others, but in mastering oneself."
Can politicians ever become contemporary?
definition"Politics is an obsolete game; true humanity emerges when we transcend national egos and embrace a shared responsibility in a law-governed global village."
"To rise above politics, one must transcend the mind, for the mind itself is the very essence of ambition and power games; true freedom lies in the stillness of no-mind."
Do politicians have brains?
definition"True intelligence seeks creativity, love, and meditation; politics, however, attracts those who are blind to the richness of awareness."
"First transform yourself through meditation, for only then can your actions arise from clarity rather than ambition, preventing the cycle of injustice from repeating."
"Speak bluntly and fearlessly; challenge politicians to abandon their vested interests and urge religious leaders to confront their second-hand beliefs, for only then can they guide others towards the truth."
"I am not here to be a politician, but to ignite the flame of rebellion, guiding you to challenge the chains of enslavement and embrace a movement of freedom, life, and love."
"True humanity transcends politics; it is the peacemakers, not the power-seekers, who deserve our honor and dedication."
Is it possible for a politician to be a religious man or for a religious man to be a politician?
definition"Politics is born from ego and power-lust, while true religion transcends the self; they cannot coexist without corrupting the spirit."
"Genuine intelligence seeks self-knowledge, while politics thrives on ego and manipulation; an honest, intelligent, religious politician is a contradiction in terms."
Is politics the opposite of spirituality?
definition"Politics is the collective lust for power, while spirituality is the surrender of ambition; true maturity arises when power bows to wisdom."
"True rebellion is not about imitating the enemy but about transforming oneself; it is the choice of love, meditation, and freedom over borrowed ideologies and violent struggle."
"Criminals and politicians are two sides of the same coin, driven by a lust for power; one is the unconscious brute, while the other is the calculated hypocrite. In the realm of evil, the criminal is often the lesser threat."
What are the defects of the present political system in India and what is a suitable remedy?
definition"To heal India, we must discard the colonial mindset and cultivate leadership that serves the people, designing a political framework that is as diverse and unique as the nation itself."
"Individuality is the essence of existence; there are no true similarities between unique beings, only the illusion of connection."
What happens if I participate in national politics given the current state of politics in the West?
outcome"Enter politics only if your meditativeness can humanize it; otherwise, it will seduce you into ambition and power, draining your essence and degrading your spirit."
"When politics and religion feel distant, rejoice; it means your heart is guiding you beyond the confines of the mind. Embrace what resonates with your love and lived experience, and let the rest pass without guilt."
"Grace cannot be found in the corridors of power; it flourishes only in the gardens of self-mastery and trust."
"Criticism of a truth-teller often becomes their invisible protection, transforming hostility into a catalyst for deeper change and amplifying their message."
What have politicians been doing since peace was restored to the world after World War Two?
definition"Politicians have never known peace; they thrive on the illusion of tranquility while preparing for the next war, turning the world into a marketplace for conflict and death."
What is Osho's perspective on communism?
definition"True communism honors the individual, celebrating the unique consciousness of each person rather than reducing them to mere cogs in a machine."
What is Osho's perspective on politicians?
definition"Politics is the art of deception, driven by a mind that seeks power and control; true change arises not from politics, but from a meditative consciousness that fosters creativity and compassion."
What is politics?
definition"Politics is organized deception, a sly game of bloodless violence that exploits trust and trades in empty promises. It is time to transcend this era of power-seekers and embrace a more conscious, humane way of being."
What is socialism and its significance in France, particularly regarding President Mitterrand?
definition"Socialism is a half-hearted compromise that seeks justice while clinging to capitalist interests; true change requires using modern science to create abundance for all, not equality in poverty."
What is the background of the political stance regarding Morarji Desai and Indira Gandhi?
definition"Choose leaders who embody flexibility and contemporary wisdom, not those who cling to outdated dogmas and impose their superstitions on the masses."
Profound Quotes on Politics
Explore our structured collection of meaning-mapped quotes regarding Politics.
Open Quotes Library →