The First Enlightened Man I Loved… Was a Liar
I remember the gentle trail of a tear on my cheek, and then—boom.
The moment we discover a cheating lover or a lying guru is an unforgettable moment. The prompt is a creation of the author, and the image is from Google's artificial intelligence.
I once felt betrayed by a man I deeply loved.
Imagine believing in a writer's philosophy and shaping your life around it, only to discover that the results are the exact opposite of what was promised.
I have been involved with Osho since I was twenty-one years old.
I believed in meditation and spirituality.
I envisioned enlightenment as a garden of pure bliss—an unwavering harmony with existence.
Imported Illusions
I wasn't alone.
An Asian friend of mine read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, quit her corporate job, and travelled to Egypt in search of a treasure—just like Santiago in the novel.
She lived by the desert and the sea, expecting joy and meaning at every step. The reality was… different.
The "Boom" Moment
During one LSD trip, I engaged in deep self-meditation.
I remember the gentle trail of a tear on my cheek, and then—boom.
Nothing.
Enlightenment was emptiness.
A kind of electric hum, alive yet dark.
A Lie on the Master's Lips
Later, I opened Osho's largest book on meditation techniques—one I had bought in Beirut with a dear friend. My eyes fell on a single line:
"Yes, I am a liar. All spiritual teachers, all enlightened ones, all prophets are liars."
I laughed, hard.
A liar admitting to his deception.
It was the most genuine moment I had ever heard from a so-called enlightened guru—a linguistic awakening: the truth of the lie.
The Language of the Desert
My deep bond with Osho was strengthened by his unique way of speaking, which I refer to as "desert minimalism."
Use simple words. Write short sentences. Leave space between them, like sand between stones, allowing the listener to think, feel, and connect with their own experiences.
Why Must the Teacher Lie?
In that talk, Osho asked:
How else can a guru entice people into meditation if not through deception?
How else could the prophets of Israel inspire people toward virtue, except through tales of heaven and hell, the pleasure of God's blessing, and the curse of His wrath?
Science has uncovered many of these lies.
Earthquakes and volcanoes are not punishments from a deity. Illness is not a moral judgment. Wealth and poverty result from social systems, not divine rewards.
Living in the Void
I started to spend long periods of time living in that emptiness.
A moment of stillness between breaths.
A pause between thoughts.
In that space, everything turns into a lie—even my own existence.
The Café in the Dream
In a vivid lucid dream, I met a young dark-skinned woman with beautiful features reminiscent of southern Egyptians.
She was drawn to me.
We sat in a café that frequently appears in my dreams.
She asked: "You're not from this world, are you?"
I wanted to lie, but I really liked her.
Rather than telling a heroic story about descending from the skies and battling gods to change humanity, I asked, "Do you want the truth?"
"Yes."
"Be silent."
I sat in meditation in front of her.
The world shook.
A series of gray layers spread across the scene.
She looked at me in fear: "You did this? Who are you?"
Back to Osho
When I woke up, I recalled Osho's words about lying. I wondered: Do the enlightened live in this world as a lucid dreamer lives within a dream?
The Last Laugh
I envision a prophet of Israel discussing heaven, hell, angels, and demons. Here I am, writing to you with that same laughter resonating within me: "If I told you I am a liar... would you believe me?"