Buddhism Quote by Osho
““Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, Bodhidharma, Sosan – they are the Masters of this law of reverse effect. And this is the difference between Yoga and Zen. Yoga makes every effort and Zen makes no effort, and Zen is truer than any Yoga. But Yoga appeals, because as far as you are concerned doing is easy – howsoever hard, but doing is easy. Non-doing is difficult. If someone says, ”Don’t do anything,” you are at a loss. You again ask, ”What to do?” If someone says, ”Don’t do anything,” that is the most difficult thing for you. It should not be so if you understand. Non-doing does not require any qualification. Doing may require qualification, doing may require practice. Non-doing requires no practice. That’s why Zen says enlightenment can happen in a single moment – because it is not a question of how to bring it, it is a question of how to allow it. It is just like sleep: you relax and it is there, you relax and it pops up. It is struggling within your heart to come up. You are not allowing it because you have too much activity on the surface.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Book of Secrets by Osho, 1974
Zen emphasizes effortless being, contrasting with yoga's active effort; true enlightenment arises from allowing, not doing.
In simple terms: Zen teaches non‑effort leads to insight.
Practice non‑attachment and allow insight.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Meditation
- creative work
- stress relief
- decision making
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you cultivate allowing without losing motivation?
- When does effort become counterproductive?
Non‑effort can be misunderstood as passivity.