Are we really the owner of our children? Osho relates

You ask me: Have You never wanted to have a child Yourself ?

No, for the simple reason that I don't want to burden this earth.

It is already burdened too much.

I used to live in Raipur for one year. One day I just saw the neighbour beating his small child, so I rushed into his house and told him 'What are you doing? I will call the police!'

He said 'What are you talking about? This is my kid! And I can do anything that I want to my kid! And who are you?'

I said 'This is not your kid. This is God's kid. And I can claim as much as you can claim.'

He could not believe what nonsense I was talking.

He said 'This is my kid. Don't you know?—you have been living here for one year.
He could not understand because of the claim—the claim that 'This is my kid, and I can do anything that I want to do.

For centuries parents were allowed to kill their child if they wanted to. They were allowed, because the thought was accepted that 'You have given birth.' How can you give birth? You have been just instrumental. Don't claim.

No child belongs to you. All children belong to God, they come from God. You are at most a caretaker.
-OSHO