Religion is not knowledge. Religion is love.

When Osho says “Religion is not knowledge. Religion is love,” he is speaking of the intrinsic limitation of knowledge itself. You see, knowledge is of the mind, a collection of facts, theories, and understanding that you accumulate over time. It is external; it can be transferred from one person to another. You can read it in books, hear it in lectures, and compile it into vast libraries. Knowledge is essential, of course, for functioning in the world, but it is not the deepest aspect of your being.

Religion, in its truest essence, transcends this surface level of knowledge. It is not about absorbing a set of beliefs or performing certain rituals mechanically. It is not the dogma preached in places of worship or the scripture recited without understanding. These are just superficial expressions that have been mistaken for religion.

The core of religion – or spirituality, if you prefer – is love. It is the felt experience of oneness with existence. Love is the very quality of being that connects you with everything and everyone. It is an inner flowering of awareness that transcends the mind’s dualities and brings a deep communion with life itself.

So when you approach religion as love, you are engaged in a transformative process that reshapes your very consciousness. You start seeing the divine in the mundane and the sacred in the profane. Your actions are no longer guided by the ego, but by a compassionate understanding of the interdependence of all life.

To live religiously, in this way, is to live in love – unconditionally. To meet each moment with an open heart, to see the divine in each person you encounter, and to act from a place of deep connectedness. This cannot be learned or taught – it can only be experienced, through meditation, mindfulness, and the courage to let go of preconceived notions about oneself and the world.

This love is the religion Osho speaks of: a love that needs no temples, no sacred texts, no intermediaries. It is the direct experience of the vast, infinite ocean of existence in which you are not a separate drop, but an integral part.

Embark on this journey within, and you will see that knowledge becomes a stepping stone to wisdom, and wisdom is realised through the power of love. This is the path to true liberation, to enlightenment.