A recurring theme in Osho’s transcripts is the metaphor of the shadow. He suggests that the ego is merely a shadow of the real self. However, a shadow cannot exist without a person standing in the light. Paradoxically, the ego tries to convince you that it is the person, and the soul is the shadow.
So, how can we transcend the ego and realize our true nature? Osho's teachings offer several insights and practices that can help. osho ego pdf
: Osho describes the ego as a kind of "darkness". Just as darkness is simply the absence of light, the ego is the absence of self-knowledge. Once you know your true self, the ego naturally evaporates because it cannot exist in the light of awareness. A recurring theme in Osho’s transcripts is the
Because the ego is false, it is constantly under threat. It requires constant "feeding" through praise, power, and attention. This is why we feel hurt when criticized—it is not Paradoxically, the ego tries to convince you that
Osho defines the ego not as a thing, but as a process —a constant, anxious activity of claiming, “I am this body,” “I am this mind,” “I am successful,” or “I am spiritual.” In reality, he argues, the ego has no substance.