Jealousy, what is it?

Society has exploited the individual in so many ways that it is almost impossible to believe. It has created devices so clever and cunning that it is almost impossible even to detect that they are devices. These devices are to exploit the individual, to destroy his integrity, to take away from him all that he has - without creating a suspicion in him, even a doubt about what is being done to him.

Jealousy is one of those tremendously powerful devices. From the very childhood, every society, every culture, every religion teaches everybody comparison. And the child is bound to learn it. He is just a tabula rasa, a blank paper without any writing; so, whatsoever the parents, the teachers, the priests write on him, he starts believing that is his destiny, his fate.


Man comes into existence with all the doors open, all directions available; all the dimensions are there for him to choose. But before he can choose, before he can be, before he can even feel his being, he is spoiled. And spoiled by those who think they love him: crushed, crippled, conditioned with all the good intentions in the world....

Drop competition, drop jealousy. It is absolutely a cunning device created by the priests so that you can never be yourself - because that is the only thing all the old religions are afraid of. If you are yourself, you have found contentment, fulfilment, ecstasy.

Abridged from 'From Personality to Individuality', courtesy: OSHO Times International, www.osho.com