Ego, that is, the spirit of “I”, sitting in the depth of human existence is the element about which there has been a debate in religion, philosophy and psychology for centuries. Almost all spiritual traditions say that renunciation of ego is necessary to get liberation. But Osho Rajneesh – a revolutionary spiritual thinker – reverse this notion. According to him, the ego cannot be abandoned, because the renunciation is the ego.
What is ego in Osho’s eyes?
Osho says, “Ego is not an object that you throw away, this is a shadow – the shadow of your ‘self’.” When you do not know who you are, then you create a fantasy – “I am this”, “I am big”, “I am something special.” This is “I” ego. This is the creation of your own image – which is made up of society, family, education and experiences – but it is not real. Osho calls it a fake identity, which covers our original nature. When you say “I left the ego”, even then he is speaking “I” – that is, the ego has now returned in more refined form. Osho jokingly says, “Now he says – Look, I have become very humble, I have become egoless – and this is the biggest ego.”
Renunciation is not possible, understanding is necessary
Osho clarifies the illusion that abandoning the ego is not a simple action. It becomes stronger than discarding it. When you try to suppress or remove the ego, it comes in another form – sometimes in the form of righteousness, sometimes in the mask of humility. He says, “Look at the ego, understand, understand – and as soon as you look at him with full senses, he will fall himself.” This is a process of self -realization – he is not destroyed, he falls ‘fall’ because he has no real power.
How to identify ego?
Another big thing of Osho is that ego has many faces. Sometimes it appears in the form of power and domination, sometimes in renunciation and penance, sometimes in the pride of looking poor. Osho says, “Someone ego on rich, someone on fakiri. Some do ego on knowledge. Some say-I know, and someone says-I do not know, but both remain ‘I’.” So Osho warns us again and again that we do not recognize the ego only in its traditional forms. The ego hidden in humility is the most dangerous, because he covers the cloak of righteousness.
Then how to get liberation?
Osho considers meditation as the only remedy for freedom from ego. He says that when you drop the “doer” in meditation – then only pure consciousness remains. It does not have “I am”, only existence. There is neither comparison nor ambition, no image. Dhyan means to live with awakening, to see whatever is happening within yourself. As soon as you start catching ego in anger, jealousy, in righteousness, in knowledge-he gradually starts to weaken, because his power comes from ignorance.
Osho’s contradictory but deep approach
Osho’s views are completely different from traditional beliefs. They openly question religious appearances, false sacrifice and social morality. He says, “The more you act of renunciation, the more the ego will deepen. Only the light of truth is its end.” According to him, ‘renunciation’ can also be an egoistic action, if it does not come from consciousness. Therefore, they do not want a fight with ego, but should be calm, consciously acceptance of its existence – so that it can disappear automatically.
Osho’s message is clear – ego is not a solid object that can be broken or thrown. It is an illusion, a shadow, which can only be removed from enlightenment. This knowledge is not a study, but experience – which comes from meditation and deepening of one’s own. When you start looking at “I” without any effort-just witnessing-then that “I” gradually becomes invisible. Osho teach us that self-purpose is not a task, but a awakening. And as soon as you wake up – the ego breaks down. This is the true revolution of Osho’s spirituality – who does not want any religion, nor any tradition – just consciousness.
