Quote of the day by Osho: “Be less of a judge and you will be surprised that when you…”

Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also commonly known as Osho, was an Indian godman, philosopher, mystic, and founder of the Rajneesh movement. (Picture: X)

• Osho urges observing thoughts without judging them.
• Self-criticism often leads to criticism of others.
• Witnessing brings calm, compassion, and emotional freedom.

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In a world where people constantly compare, criticise and form opinions about everything, one thoughtful idea can shift how you see yourself and others. Osho, an Indian spiritual teacher who spoke widely about awareness, meditation, once said, “Be less of a judge and you will be surprised that when you become a witness and you don't judge yourself, you stop judging others too.” The words reveal a deep truth about human behaviour. Most people believe their problems come from others, but often the real struggle begins within the mind itself.

What does the quote mean?

Osho’s message is about changing the role you play inside your own mind. Most people behave like strict judges. They judge their actions, their thoughts, their mistakes and even their emotions. If they feel angry, they criticise themselves. If they feel afraid, they think something is wrong with them.

This constant judging creates pressure. The mind becomes restless because it is always trying to prove something or fix itself.

Osho suggests a different approach, he says, become a witness. Instead of judging every thought or emotion, simply observe it. Notice what you feel, but do not immediately label it as good or bad.

When you stop attacking yourself mentally, your attitude towards others also changes. People who are harsh with themselves often become harsh with others too. But when you develop self-understanding, you naturally become more patient and compassionate.

Why Is witnessing important?

Judgement often comes from insecurity. When the mind is busy criticising itself, it looks for faults in others as well. This creates unnecessary conflict and misunderstanding.

Also read: Quote of the day by Shiv Nadar: “If you are calm about your ambitions, you become confident of achieving what you set out to do”

Witnessing brings awareness. You begin to see things more clearly rather than reacting instantly. Instead of blaming people quickly, you start understanding their situations and emotions. When you observe your mind calmly, your reactions slow down. You think before speaking. You become less defensive and more understanding. Life feels lighter because you are no longer constantly evaluating everything. Therefore, witnessing creates peace inside you. And when there is peace within, relationships outside also become calmer and healthier.

Lessons from the quote

• The way you treat yourself influences how you treat others.
• Self-criticism often turns into criticism of others.
• Awareness helps you respond calmly instead of reacting quickly.
• Understanding yourself makes you more compassionate towards people.
• Letting go of judgement creates emotional freedom.

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Tips to practice witnessing

• Notice your thoughts without immediately criticising them.
• Pause before reacting during emotional moments.
• Accept that every emotion is part of being human.
• Try to understand people instead of quickly judging them.
• Practise calm reflection instead of overthinking situations.