Prem and Moh – These two words have been at the center of discussion for centuries in Indian philosophy and lifestyle. Often people consider them synonymous with each other, but according to Osho, these two are opposite each other. Where love gives liberation, there is fascination. Love gives freedom, fascination slavery. Love is pure, fascination is full of expectations. The ideas that the spiritual guru Osho shared about love is as relevant today as he was in his time. He believed that as long as love is considered ‘owner’, ‘ownership’ or ‘to get someone’, it is not love but love.
Fascination: an emotional slavery
According to Osho, fascination is the situation in which the person wants to hold authority over the front. He wants the person in front of him to be only that, he should listen to him, go according to his wish. This type of feeling breaks relationships, does not add. In fascination, a person wants to control the life of another, while in love he protects the other’s freedom. There is fear in the moh – to lose, to be rejected, to remain alone. For this reason, there is a feeling of insecurity in attachment, which leads to a sense of jealousy, doubt and control. Osho says, “Where there is fear, there cannot be love.” Moh is actually a form of fear, which comes in the guise of love.
Love: Accept without expectation
Osho connects love with full freedom and ease. According to him, “Love is only possible when you do not want anything from anyone, when you only know how to give, don’t take it.” This does not mean that nothing is found back in love, but does not have to ask for anything in love. When love is true, it flows on its own, its expression is easy. The person in love accepts the person in front. He does not try to change it. Osho says, “Love is like a flower, you enjoy his fragrance, but don’t try to uproot it from the root.”
Basic Difference: Selfless vs. Surrender
Moh is born with selfishness. There the feeling of ‘I’ is strong – I want, I like it, it is mine. At the same time, there is a feeling of ‘Tu’ in love – you are as good as you are. There is dedication in love, there is no ego. Osho believes that most of the people who call ‘love’ are really ‘fascination’. Therefore, sorrows, cracks and conflicts arise in relationships. If a person understands the true nature of love, then he will neither consider relationships as a burden nor depend on anyone.
Independent love in Osho’s eyes
Osho’s love is another name for ‘freedom’. He says that two people can come together in love, but with their freedom. It is love to give wings to each other, captured in a cage. According to them, “If your love is giving you bondage, it is not love. Love does not have a bond in love-love gives wings, not.” Osho’s ideas become even more important in modern times, when expectations, rights and ownership feelings often become prominent. Today’s person wants love, but cannot understand it. He considers fascination as love and then breaks down.
Relevance of Osho’s ideas in modern relations
Today, when relationships are being limited to social media, immediate feelings and superficial dialogues, then this knowledge of Osho becomes even more useful. They teach us that love is an internal journey, you have to get down within yourself before wandering in search of someone from outside. According to them, if you cannot love yourself, then true love from someone else is not possible. Love is the quality of soul, nature. He does not come by trying, it happens – when the ego disappears.
The answer to this question determines the direction of our life. Osho warns us repeatedly that we start looking at our relationship-is there freedom or bonding? Is there surrender or expect? There is familiarity or right? If you are in love, you will be ready to give – unconditionally. But if you are with just to get, then it is fascination. And the fascination eventually gives pain only. So this is Osho’s learning – understand love, live it, but do not tie it with your ego. Only then will love be able to blossom in life – like a beautiful, pure flower.
