Osho personal life. The scandalous glory of Osho

Osho - Enlightened Master from India. All over the world he is better known as Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh. More than 600 books in 30 languages ​​have been published under this name. These books are records of his conversations, which he had with his students for 25 years. A year before his death, in January 1989, he announced that he was dropping the prefix "Bhagwan Shri" because for many it means "God." His disciples - sannyasins - decided to call him "Osho", a name that first appeared in ancient Japan. This is how disciples addressed their spiritual teachers. “O” means “with great respect, love and gratitude”, as well as “synchronism and harmony”. "Sho" means "expansion of consciousness in many dimensions" and "existence pouring out from all directions."

Osho was born on December 11, 1931 in Kushwad (Central India). The family loved him very much, especially his grandfather, who gave him the name “Raja”, which means “king”. He spent all his childhood at his grandfather's house. His father and mother took him in only after the death of his grandfather and grandmother. Before school, the boy was given a new name: Rajneesh Chandra Mohan.

His biographer writes: “The birth of Rajneesh was not an ordinary event. It was the birth of a man who had come to Earth in search of truth before. He traveled in countless ways, passed through many schools and systems. His last birth was 700 years ago in the mountains, where his mystical school was located, which attracted many students of different traditions and beliefs from various countries. Then the Master lived 106 years. Before his death, he began a 21-day fast, which was supposed to lead him to enlightenment. But he had a choice - he could take another birth before finally disappearing into eternity. He looked at his family of disciples: among them there were many who had stopped on their way and needed help. He also saw the great potential that was to emerge from the synthesis of East and West, body and soul, materialism and spirituality. He saw the possibility of creating a new man - a man of the future, totally cut off from the past. He, who had come so close to the ultimate attainment for which he had worked hard for many lifetimes, decided to incarnate again in a human body. Out of his pure love and compassion, he promised his disciples to return and share his truth with them, to help them bring their consciousness to a state of awakening.”

This promise defined his whole life. From early childhood, he was interested in spiritual development, studied his body and its capabilities, constantly experimented with different ways meditation. He did not follow any traditions and did not look for teachers. The basis of his spiritual search was an experiment. He looked very closely at life, especially at its critical, extreme points. He did not believe in any theories and rules and always rebelliously opposed the prejudices and vices of society. “Courage and fearlessness were remarkable qualities of Rajneesh,” said a childhood friend. He was very fond of the river and often stayed on it at night, swimming in the most dangerous places and diving into whirlpools. He later said: “If you fall into a whirlpool, you will be captured, you will be pulled to the bottom, and the deeper you go, the stronger the whirlpool will become. The natural tendency of the ego is to fight it, because the whirlpool looks like death, the ego tries to fight the whirlpool, and if you fight it in a rising river or near a waterfall, where there are many such whirlpools, you will inevitably disappear, because the whirlpool is very strong. You cannot overcome it.

But the whirlpool has one phenomenon: on the surface it is large, but the deeper you go, the narrower and narrower the whirlpool becomes - stronger, but narrower. And almost at the bottom of the funnel is so small that you can very easily get out of it without any struggle. In fact, near the bottom, the funnel itself will throw you out. But you wait for the bottom. If you fight on the surface, if you do anything for it, you cannot survive. I have tried with many whirlpools: this experience is wonderful.”

The experiences in the whirlpools were like the experience of death. Little Rajneesh faced death early. When he was five years old, his younger sister died, at the age of seven he experienced the death of his beloved grandfather. Astrologers predicted that he would face death every seven years: at seven, fourteen, and twenty-one. And although he did not physically die, his experiences of death during these years were the deepest for him. Here is what he experienced after the death of his grandfather: “When he died, I felt that it would be a betrayal to eat. Now I didn't want to live. It was childhood, but through it something very profound happened. For three days I lay and did not move. I couldn't get out of bed. I said: “If he died, I don't want to live. I survived, but those three days were a death experience. I died then, and I came to understand (now I can talk about it, although at that time it was only a vague experience), I came to the feeling that death is impossible...”

At the age of 14, knowing about the prediction of the astrologer, Rajneesh came to a small hidden temple and lay down there in anticipation of his death. He did not want her, but he wanted to meet his death consciously, if she did come. Rajneesh asked the priest not to disturb him and to bring some food and drink once a day. For seven days this extraordinary experience took place. The actual death did not come, but Rajneesh did his best to "become as dead". He went through several terrible and unusual sensations. From this experience, he learned that once death is accepted as a reality, then its acceptance immediately creates a distance, a point from which a person can observe the flow of events in life as a spectator. This lifts him above the pain, sorrow, anguish and despair that usually accompany this event. “If you accept death, then there is no fear. If you cling to life, fear will be with you.” Having gone through the experiences of the deceased being intensely and meditatively, he says: “I died along the way, but I came to understand that there is still something immortal here. One day you will accept death totally and you will become conscious of it.”

The third time it happened on March 21, 1953, when Rajneesh was 21 years old. On that day, enlightenment happened to him. It was like an explosion. “That night I died and was reborn. But the person who is reborn has nothing to do with the one who died. It is not a continuous thing... The person who has died has died totally; there was nothing left of him... not even a shadow. The ego died totally, completely... On that day, March 21st, a person who had lived many, many lives, millennia, simply died. Another being, absolutely new, not at all connected with the old, began to exist ... I became free from the past, I was torn out of my history, I lost my autobiography.

At this point, the story of Rajneesh actually ends. The man, whose name was Rajneesh Chandra Mohan, died at the age of 21, and at the same time a miracle happened: a new enlightened person was reborn, completely free of ego. (It should be noted that enlightenment is not a concept that can be explained in certain logical terms. Rather, it is an experience that surpasses any verbal description. The Buddha, the most famous Enlightened person on earth, called it “nirvana.”)

After this event, the outer life of Rajneesh did not change. He continued his studies at Jabalpur College in the Department of Philosophy. In 1957 he graduated from the University of Saugara with honors, a gold medal and a master's degree in philosophy. Two years later he became a lecturer in philosophy at Jabalpur University. He was very loved by students for his humor, sincerity and uncompromising desire for freedom and truth. During his 9 year university career, Osho traveled all over India, often traveling 15 days a month. A passionate and skillful debater, he constantly challenged orthodox religious figures. Addressing an audience of 100,000, Osho spoke with the authority that comes from his enlightenment, he destroyed blind faith to create true religiosity.

In 1966, Osho left the university chair and devoted himself entirely to spreading the art of meditation and his vision of a new person - Zorba-Buddha, a person who synthesizes the best features of East and West, a person who is able to enjoy a full-blooded physical life and is able to simultaneously sit silently in meditation, achieving heights of consciousness.

1968 Osho settled in Bombay and soon the first Western seekers of spiritual truth began to come to him. There were many therapists among them, representatives of the humanist movements who wanted to take the next step in their growth. The next step, as Osho said, was meditation.

Osho experienced his first glimpses of meditation as a child, when he jumped from a high bridge into a river, or walked along a narrow path over an abyss. There were a few moments when the mind stopped. This caused an unusually clear perception of everything around, one's being in it and complete clarity and separateness of consciousness. These experiences, experienced repeatedly, aroused Osho's interest in meditation and prompted him to look for more accessible ways. In the future, he not only experienced all the meditations known from antiquity, but also came up with new, revolutionary techniques specifically designed for modern man. These meditations are called "dynamic meditations" and are based on the use of music and movement. Osho brought together elements of yoga, Sufism and Tibetan traditions, which made it possible to use the principle of energy transformation through the awakening of activity and subsequent calm observation.

Osho first showed his morning dynamic meditation in April 1970 at a meditation camp near Bombay. On that day, everyone was dumbfounded and fascinated at the same time. Indian journalists were amazed to see the participants yelling, screaming and tearing off their clothes - the whole scene was fatal and very intense. But how strong was the tension in the first, intense stage, just as deep was the relaxation in the second part, leading to complete peace, not achievable in ordinary life.

Osho explained: “For 10 years I have been continuously working with the methods of Lao Tzu, that is, I have continuously studied direct relaxation. It was very easy for me and so I figured it would be easy for anyone. Then, time after time, I began to realize that this was impossible... Of course, I said “relax” to those whom I taught. They understood the meaning of the word, but could not relax. Then I decided to come up with new methods of meditation that first create tension - even more tension. They create such tension that you become crazy. And then I say "relax".

What is "meditation"? Osho talked a lot about meditation. Based on his conversations, many books have been compiled, in which all aspects of meditation are considered in great detail, from the technique of execution to explanations of the subtlest internal nuances. Here is a short excerpt from the Orange Book.

“The first thing to know is what meditation is. Everything else will follow. I cannot tell you that you should practice meditation, I can only explain to you what it is. If you understand me, you will be in meditation and there is no "must". If you don't understand me, you won't be in meditation.

Meditation is a state of no-mind. Meditation is a state of pure consciousness without content. Usually your mind is too full of nonsense, just like a mirror covered with dust. The mind is a constant crowd - thoughts move, desires move, memories move, ambitions move - this is a constant crowd. Day comes, day goes. Even when you are asleep the mind is functioning, it is dreaming. It is still thinking, still unrest and sadness. He prepares for the next day, continues his underground preparations.

This is the state of non-meditation. Just the opposite is meditation. When there is no crowding and thinking has stopped, not a single thought moves, not a single desire is held back, you are completely silent... such silence is meditation. And in this silence the truth is known, never again.

Meditation is a state of no-mind. And you will not be able to find meditation with the help of the mind, because the mind itself will move. You can find meditation only by putting the mind aside, becoming cold, indifferent, unidentified with the mind, seeing the mind pass by but not identifying with it, not thinking "I am it."

Meditation is the realization that "I am not the mind." As this awareness goes deeper and deeper, little by little there are moments-moments of silence, moments of pure space, moments of transparency, moments when nothing is held in you and everything is permanent. In these moments you will know who you are, you will know the secret of being.

There comes a day, a day of great bliss, when meditation becomes your natural state.”

Elsewhere Osho says: "Only meditation can make humanity civilized, because meditation will release your creativity and take away your destructive tendencies."

Being an enlightened person, Osho was more clearly aware of the fragility of the current existence of humanity on Earth. Constant wars, wild treatment of nature, when more than a thousand species of plants and animals die out every year, entire forests are cut down and the seas are drained, the presence nuclear weapons enormous destructive power - all this puts a person on the line beyond which complete disappearance.

“Life has brought us to a point where the choice is extremely simple: only two paths, two possibilities. Humanity will either commit suicide or decide to meditate, to be at peace, peace, humanity, love.

Live naturally, live peacefully, turn inward. Take some time for yourself, being alone and silent, watching the inner workings of your mind.

In this inner silence you will experience a new dimension of life. In this dimension, there is no greed, no anger, no violence. Love will appear, and in such abundance that you will not be able to contain it, it will begin to pour out of you in all directions. And this state gives a person meditation.

In 1974, Osho moved to Pune, where, together with his sannyasin students, he opened an ashram in the beautiful Koregaon Park. Hundreds of thousands of seekers from all over the world come there over the next 7 years to experience Osho's new meditations and listen to his talks. In his conversations, Osho touches on all aspects of human consciousness, shows the innermost essence of all existing religions and systems of spiritual development. Buddha and Buddhist teachers, Sufi masters, Jewish mystics, Indian classical philosophy, Christianity, yoga, tantra, zen... Here are some of his books: “Mustard Seed. Conversations about the sayings of Jesus”, “Wisdom of sand. Conversations on Sufism”, “Buddha: Emptiness of the Heart”, “Zen Proverbs”, “Tantra: Higher Understanding”, “True Sage. About Hasidic Parables”, “Esoteric Psychology”, “Book of Secrets”, “Priests and Politicians (Mafia of the Soul)”, “The New Man is the Only Hope for the Future”, “Meditation is the First and Last Freedom”, “Meditation: the Art of Inner Ecstasy ".

About his books, Osho says: “My message is not a doctrine, not a philosophy. My message is a certain alchemy, the science of transformation, so only those who have the will to die as they are now and be reborn into something so new that you can't even imagine it now...just a few such courageous people will be ready to hear, because what they hear will lead to risk, you will have to take the first step towards revival. This is not a philosophy that you can put on yourself and start showing off about it. This is not a doctrine by which you can find answers to your concerns... No, my message is not a verbal contact. It's much more risky. It is nothing more, nothing less than death and rebirth...”

Many people from all over the Earth felt this and found the strength and courage to touch this source and begin their own transformation. Those who are finally established in this decision take sannyas. The sannyas given by Osho is different from the traditional one. This is neo-sannyas.

Former sannyasins - people who completely devoted themselves to spiritual practice, went to monasteries or secluded places and practiced with their Master, minimizing contact with outside world. Neo-sannyas Osho does not require this. Neo-sannyas is not a renunciation of the world, but rather a renunciation of the madness of the modern mind that breeds division between nations and races, depletes the Earth's resources into weapons and wars, destroys the environment for profit, and teaches its children to fight and dominate others. Modern sannyasins, students of Osho, are in the thick of life, doing the most ordinary things, but at the same time they regularly engage in spiritual practice and, first of all, meditation, combining material life with spiritual life, synthesizing in themselves the love of life of the Greek Zorba and the height of spiritual consciousness Buddha. This is how it is formed new person- Zorba the Buddha, a man who will be free from the madness of the modern mind. In Osho's words, "the new man is the only hope for the future."

The one who becomes a sannyasin receives a new name, as a symbol of commitment to meditation and a break with the past. The name, usually derived from Sanskrit or Indian words, contains indications of a person's potential or a certain path. Women receive the prefix "Ma" - an indication of the highest qualities of female nature to cherish and take care of themselves and others. Men receive the prefix "Swami", which Osho translates as "self-mastery".

Osho met with his students every day, except for periods when he was unwell. His conversations went very well. Here is how Swami Chaitanya Kabir describes his meeting with the Master:

“We sit quietly listening;

He enters, arms folded in greeting.

The lecture starts with

A simple stunning statement.

And the morning pours into us.

Energy flows around words

Ideas, stories, jokes, questions,

Weaving them into a grand symphony

The repository of everything.

Mocking, great, blasphemous, holy...-

And always in touch with our consciousness,

Leading us straight to the center at the right moment.

Topics evolve on their own

Taking an unexpected turn

Reflecting in clarity into something opposite

And going back.

He talks until

Until we hear his words

In deafening silence.

The surf is roaring everywhere.

"Enough for today!"

He comes out smiling

Folded hands send hello to everyone

We are sitting".

1981 For many years Osho suffered from diabetes and asthma. In the spring his condition worsened and he sank into a period of silence. On the recommendation of doctors in June of this year, he was taken to the United States for treatment.

Osho's American disciples bought a 64,000-acre ranch in Central Oregon and established Rajneeshpuram there. In August, Osho arrived there. In the 4 years that Osho lived there, Rajneeshpuram became the most audacious experiment in creating a transnational spiritual commune. Every summer, 15,000 people from Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. As a result, the commune became a prosperous city with a population of 5,000 people.

1984 Just as suddenly as he stopped speaking, Osho spoke again in October. He talked about love, meditation, and human bondage in a crazy, heavily conditioned world. He accused priests and politicians of corrupting human souls, of destroying human freedom.

“I raise my hand against the past of all mankind. It was not civilized, it was not humane. It did not in any way contribute to the flourishing of people. It wasn't spring. It was a real disaster, a crime committed on such a huge scale that we renounce our past, we begin to live according to our own being and create our own future. ...People gathered around me are learning how to be happier, more meditative, how to laugh more joyfully, live more actively, love more deeply and bring love and laughter to the whole world. This is the only defense against nuclear weapons. We are not building armies here to conquer the world. We are creating a commune of individuals who have their own spirituality, because I want these individuals to be free, responsible, vigilant and conscious people who do not allow anyone to dictate to them, but they themselves do not impose anything on anyone.

From the very beginning of the experiment to create a commune, federal and local authorities tried to destroy it in any way. Documents subsequently confirmed that the White House was involved in these attempts.

In October 1985, the American government accused Osho of violating immigration laws and took him into custody without any warning. He was kept in handcuffs and shackles for 12 days in custody, with no bail. In prison, he suffered physical damage. According to the following medical examination, in Oklahoma he was exposed to a life-threatening dose of radiation, and was also poisoned by thalium. When a bomb was found in Osho's Portland prison, he was the only one who was not evacuated.

Worried about Osho's life, his lawyers agreed to admit a violation of the immigration law, and Osho left America on November 14th. The commune broke up.

The US government was not content with violating its own constitution. When Osho, at the invitation of his students, went to other countries, the United States, using its influence in the world, tried to influence other states so that Osho's work was disrupted wherever he went. As a result of this policy, 21 countries banned Osho and his companions from entering their borders. And these countries consider themselves free and democratic!

In July 1986, Osho returned to Bombay and his disciples again began to gather around him. In January 1987, as the number of people visiting him grew rapidly, he returned to Pune, where the Osho International Commune had by then formed. Once again, beautiful daily discourses, meditation weekends, holidays began. Osho creates several new meditations. One of them, the "Mystic Rose", he called "the greatest breakthrough in meditation 2500 years after the Vipassana meditation of Gautama Buddha." Thousands of people took part in the Mystic Rose meditation not only in the commune in Pune, but also in Osho meditation centers around the world. “I have created many meditations, but this one will probably be the most essential and fundamental. It can cover the whole world.”

Meditation lasts 21 days as follows: one week the participants laugh for 3 hours a day, the second week they cry for 3 hours a day, the third week they silently observe and witness for 3 hours a day. During the first two stages, participants simply laugh and cry for no reason, going through layers of stiffness, depression, and pain. This clears the space in which silent witnessing will happen later. After cleansing with laughter and tears, it is easier not to identify or get lost in everything that happens: in thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations.

Osho explains: “The whole of humanity has gone a little crazy for the simple reason that no one laughs heartily, completely. And you have suppressed so much sadness, so much despair and anxiety, so many tears - they all remain, closing, enveloping you and destroying your beauty, your grace, your joy. All you have to do is go through these two layers. Then, while witnessing, just open the clear sky.”

This meditation, like many others, is therapeutic in nature. Scientific research done during and after the Mystic Rose group meditation has shown that participants experience profound and permanent changes in many areas of their lives. They consist in deep inner relaxation, a decrease in psychosomatic illnesses and an increasing ability to feel and express one's emotions in everyday life and at the same time be detached from these emotions - to become a witness to one's experiences.

There are now many other therapeutic groups in the Osho International Commune. All of them are united in the Osho Multiversity. As part of the Multiversity: School of Centering, School of Creative Arts. International Health Academy, Meditation Academy, Transformation Center, Tibetan Pulsations Institute, etc. Each school offers its own program aimed at developing the spiritual qualities of a person. School leaders are people from different countries who share and support Osho's views on man and his place in this world.

The Osho Times International magazine is published twice a month, which is distributed throughout the world and is published in nine languages ​​(except Russian). There is an international Osho connection - a computer network between meditation centers and Osho ashrams in different countries.

Osho left his body on January 19, 1990. He was often asked the question, what will happen when he dies? Here is Osho's response to Italian television, transmitted through his personal secretary:

“Osho relies and trusts existence. He never thinks about the next moment. If at this moment everything is good, then the next moment follows from this and will be even richer.

It doesn't want to become a prison like other religions do. He even dropped the word "Bhagwan" just because one of the meanings of the word is "God". The moment somebody is God, then of course you are a slave, a created being. You can be destroyed without asking. Even the stars disappear, and what about human life?

He does not want all this to be in any way reminiscent of religion. His work is centered on the individual and his freedom, and in the end, it is one world, without any restrictions in skin color, race and nationality.

You ask what will happen when Osho dies. He is not God and he does not believe in any prophets, prophecies, or a messiah. They were all selfish people. Therefore, whatever he can do at this moment, he does. What happens after he leaves, he leaves to the will of existence. His trust in existence is absolute. If there is any truth in what he says, it will survive. That is why he calls his sannyasins not followers, but companions on the journey.

He said clearly, “Don't cling to the past. Keep searching. you can find right person because you've already tasted it." And this question is strange. No one asked what would happen when Einstein died. Existence is so limitless and so inexhaustible that people grow as naturally as trees, unless they are crippled by society. If they are not destroyed by people for their own purposes, then they will bloom on their own, Osho does not offer any program. On the contrary, he wants everyone to be deprogrammed. Christianity is a program. His job is to deprogram people and make their minds clear so they can grow on their own. Support is welcome, but not required.

Absurd questions are always asked by people who think they run the world, Osho is just part of the Universe. And everything will continue fine without him. It's not a problem. And he will be happy that there is no religion, and no one will proclaim himself the successor when he leaves. If anyone claims to be his successor, he should be avoided. Such people have destroyed Buddha, Christ, Krishna.

Everything he can do, he does. There is no definite plan to be implanted in your mind. This creates fanatics. Each individual is unique, so no program can make humanity happy, because then they wear other people's clothes and shoes that don't fit them. All humanity is like clowns.

The people who remain interested in his work will simply carry the torch. But they will not impose anything on anyone, neither by bread nor by sword. He will remain a source of inspiration. for us. And this is what most sannyasins will feel. He wants us to grow on our own... Qualities like love, around which no church can be built, like awareness - a quality that no one can monopolize, such as celebration, joy, a fresh, childish look. He wants people to know themselves, regardless of anyone else's opinion. And the path leads inward. There is no need for an external organization or church.

Osho for freedom, individuality, creativity, for our Earth to be even more beautiful, for living in this moment, and not waiting for paradise. Don't be afraid of hell and don't be greedy for heaven. Just be here in silence and enjoy while you are. The whole philosophy of Osho is that he seeks in any way to destroy everything that later becomes slavery: authorities, groups, leaders - all these are diseases that must be completely avoided.

Osho did not write books. All published books are records of his conversations with his students. The energy of the listeners, their readiness and interest determined the direction of the conversation. These conversations reflect the relationship of the Master with the disciples, their mutual penetration.

“These words are alive. They are the beating of my heart. This is not a teaching. My words are a knock on your door so you can get home. Accept my gift."

Do you want to know yourself deeper? Then my new idea...

This is probably why, for a start, you generally need to say who Osho is, because not everyone can know this.

Osho. short biography

Chandra Mohan Jain(December 11, 1931 - January 19, 1990) since the early seventies, better known as Bhagwan Shri Rajneesh (that blessed one who is God) and later as Osho (oceanic, dissolved in the ocean) - a famous neo-Hindu guru and mystic, inspirer of the neo-orientalist Rajneesh movement, preacher " philosophy of "total liberation", calling it the Sanskrit term "sannyas".

Criticism of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi and traditional religions made Osho a controversial figure during his lifetime. In addition, he defended the freedom of sexual relations, in some cases arranged sexual meditation practices, for which he earned the nickname "sex guru".

Osho is the founder of the system of ashrams (religious communities) in many countries. The ashram, according to the descriptions of the disciples, was at the same time "an amusement park and a lunatic asylum, a pleasure house and a temple."
During his stay in the United States, he founded the international settlement of Rajneeshpuram, several residents of which, until September 1985, committed serious crimes, including a bioterrorist act (infected more than 750 people with salmonella).

During the four years that Osho lived there, the popularity of Rajneeshpuram grew.
So, about 3,000 people came to the festival in 1983, and in 1987 - about 7,000 people from Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
A school, post office, fire and police departments, a transport system of 85 buses were opened in the city.
Between 1981 and 1986, the Rajneesh movement amassed about $120 million through various meditation workshops, lectures, and conferences with attendance fees ranging from $50 to $7,500.
By "the end of 1982, Osho's net worth reached $200 million tax-free."
Osho also owned 4 aircraft and 1 combat helicopter. In addition, Osho owned "nearly a hundred (numbers vary) Rolls-Royces."
Reportedly, his followers wanted to increase the number of Rolls-Royces to 365, one for each day of the year.
In 1984, the Federal Bureau of Investigation "brought a criminal case against the Rajnesh sect", because in Anteloope "weapons caches, drug laboratories were discovered on the territory of the center of Rajnesh."

On October 23, 1985, Rajnesh was arrested.
“The call for complete freedom, coupled with very liberal views on marriage and sexual relations, has caused public outrage throughout the world.
Osho disbanded his ashram in Oregon and publicly stated that he was not a religious teacher and stated that the "Rajneesh Bible" was published without his knowledge.
Also, his students burned 5,000 copies of the book "Rajneeshism", which was a 78-page compilation of the teachings of Bhagwan, who defined "Rajneeshism" as "a non-religious religion."
After being deported from America, Rajneesh was denied entry by 21 countries or declared him "persona non grata".

In a number of countries, Osho's organization was classified as a destructive sect and cult and was, including in the USSR, banned.

Teaching.
Osho's teachings are extremely eclectic (largely borrowed from other philosophical systems).
It is a chaotic mosaic composed of elements of Buddhism, Yoga, Taoism, Sikhism, Greek philosophy of Sufism, European psychology, Tibetan traditions, Christianity, Hasidism, Zen, Tantrism and other spiritual movements, as well as their own views.

He himself spoke about it like this: “I don’t have a system. Systems can only be dead. I am an unsystematic, anarchic stream, I am not even a person, but just a certain process. I don't know what I told you yesterday"
Many of Osho's lectures contain contradictions and paradoxes, which Osho commented as follows:
“My friends are surprised: Yesterday you said one thing, and today another. What are we to listen to? I can understand their bewilderment. They just grabbed the words. Conversations are of no value to me, only the spaces between the words I speak are what is valuable. Yesterday I opened the doors to my emptiness with some words, today I open them with other words.

“The ultimate goal of the religious practice of Rajnesh is to achieve a state of enlightenment and total liberation. The ways to achieve this state are the rejection of stereotypes of culture, upbringing, traditions, the rejection of everything that society imposes. At the same time, "the destruction of 'social barriers and stereotypes' should occur during communication with the 'teacher', and the acquisition of inner freedom through the practice of 'dynamic meditation' and sexual orgies presented under the guise of Tantrism."

Despite hundreds of dictated books, Rajneesh did not create a systematic theology. During the period of the Oregon commune (1981-1985), a book was published called "The Bible of Rajneesh", but after the dispersal of this commune, Rajneesh stated that the book was published without his knowledge and consent, and urged his followers to get rid of "old attachments", to to which he attributed religious beliefs.

Osho also used a wide range of Western concepts. His views on the unity of opposites are reminiscent of Heraclitus, while his description of man as a mechanism condemned to uncontrolled impulsive actions stemming from unconscious neurotic patterns has much in common with Freud and Gurdjieff.
His vision of the "new man" transcending the limits of tradition is reminiscent of Nietzsche's ideas in Beyond Good and Evil.
Osho's views on the liberation of sexuality are comparable to those of Lawrence, and his dynamic meditations are indebted to Reich.

Osho calls for doing what comes from feeling, flows from the heart: "Never follow the mind ... do not be guided by principles, etiquette, norms of behavior."
He denied the asceticism and self-restraint of the classical yoga of Patanjali and stated that "the craving for violence, sex, money-grubbing, hypocrisy is a property of consciousness", also pointing out that in "inner silence" there is "neither greed, nor anger, nor violence", but is love.

He encouraged followers to throw out their base desires outward in any form, which found its expression "in convulsive shudders, hysterical behavior."
It is considered likely that for this reason, the Rajneesh ashrams became the object of criticism for anti-social activities: promiscuity (promiscuous, unrestricted sexual intercourse with many partners), accusations of delinquency, etc.
Osho promoted free love and often criticized the institution of marriage, calling it the "coffin of love" in early conversations, although he sometimes encouraged marriage for the opportunity for "deep spiritual fellowship."

“I am the founder of a single religion,” Rajneesh declared, “other religions are a hoax.
Jesus, Mohammed and Buddha just corrupted people...
My teaching is based on knowledge, on experience.
People don't have to believe me. I explain my experience to them. If they find it right, they accept it. If not, then they have no reason to believe in him.”
Osho's talks, recorded between 1969 and 1989, have been collected and published by followers in the form of several hundred (more than 600) books.

Sexual Practices and Tantra
Osho became famous as a sex guru in the 1970s because of his tantric teachings (an Indian radical teaching about sex; one of the mystical tantric practices, the main content of which is the intimacy of partners) about the "integration of sexuality and spirituality", as well as from - for the work of some therapeutic groups and the encouragement of sexual practices among sannyasins.
Osho believed that tantra influenced his teachings to the greatest extent, along with Western sexology, based on the writings of Wilhelm Reich. Osho tried to combine traditional Indian tantra and Reich-based psychotherapy and form a new approach:
"All of our efforts up to now have failed because we have not made friends with sex, but have declared war on it; we have used repression and lack of understanding as ways of solving sexual problems... And the results of repression are never fruitful, never pleasant, never healthy."
Tantra was not the goal, but the method by which Osho freed the followers from sex:

"The so-called religions say that sex is a sin, and tantra says that sex is only a sacred thing... After you have cured your illness, you don't continue to carry the prescription and vial and medicine. You drop it."
Osho believed that only through intense "experiencing sexual emotions" is it possible to "understand their nature" and liberation from sexual "passion-weakness".

According to eyewitnesses, there was a problem of emotional violence in the Osho movement, it was especially pronounced during the functioning of Rajneeshpuram.
Some people were severely injured.
They returned with tales of "sexual perversion, drug dealing, suicide", as well as tales of physical and mental damage from Poona's programs.
But even among the people who were injured, many were positive about their experience, including those who had already left the movement. In general, most of the sannyasins assessed their experience as positive and defended it with arguments.

New person
Osho neo-sannyasins reject the past and the future, living here and now, but do not reject sex and material wealth.
Desires were to be accepted and transcended, not denied. Once the "inner flowering" has taken place, the drives, such as the drive for sex, will be left behind.
Rajneesh called himself a "guru for the rich" and said that poverty is not a true spiritual value.

Rajneesh sought to create a "new man" that combined the spirituality of Gautama Buddha with an interest in the life of Zorba, embodied in the novel Zorba the Greek by Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis. By Zorba, Osho meant a person who “is not afraid of hell, does not aspire to heaven, lives fully, enjoying the little things of life ... food, drink, women. After a hard day's work, he picks up a musical instrument and dances for hours on the beach."

The new man, according to Osho, will no longer be trapped in institutions such as family, marriage, political ideologies and religions...
(Wikipedia)
In full: http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki....8%F8%29

For example, quotes about love, but when you look at the source, some kind of strange love turns out.

He says "enjoy, live here and now," and even though the grass does not grow there.
The result is promiscuous group sex, elevated to the rank of "meditation" in the ashrams and outside the ashrams.
And since children come from "pleasure", he offers sterilization, which is actively, and, as they say, under pressure from the leadership, was practiced in ashrams.
And it was called "freedom". And where does love, it is not clear at all.

And where is the illumination? Really blinding. But by the way, no one was forced into Osho's disciples and into these ashrams. People came to him voluntarily. And even most people rated their experience as positive and defended it. Probably to each his own. For me, this is a sect, in which there is no smell of freedom.

As Osho teaches - one must do, but not be a "doer". There is movement. Perpetual motion. But this is a movement from one stage to another, from one milestone to another milestone. There is action. And action means a result. There is no result - the action loses its meaning.

All this is trite. Indeed a mosaic of many teachings.

No comments.

"Here is an excerpt from the memoirs of visiting the ashram in Pune around the year 80:
"Murders, rapes, mysterious disappearances, threats, arson, explosions, abandoned children of the 'Ashramites' begging on the streets of Pune, drugs - all this [here] is in the order of things ...
Christians working in psychiatric hospital Poons, will confirm everything that has been said, not forgetting to mention the high level of mental disorders, due [in particular] to the fact that the ashram took political power into its own hands and there is no one to complain about it"
(Martin W. op. cit. p. 288).
But this is the outside.

And here is the internal, that is, the teaching:
"Rajneesh preached the freedom of fornication and perversion, while calling the family and children an unnecessary burden. He said:

"There is nothing wrong with pure simple sex..."
Who is arguing with this? And there is. Intimate relationships are not sin or immorality.
But promiscuous sex (or fornication according to the church), as a source of contagious diseases and many human misfortunes, is certainly condemned by both society and religions.

And further:
"No obligation, no duty, no obligation in this. Sex should be full of play and prayer" (Osho. Sex. Quotes from conversations. M., 1993).
In this regard, "when Rajneesh hinted that a woman burdened with children could not achieve enlightenment, right at the cult center in Laguna Beach, many female sannyasins were surgically sterilized" ...

“Develop your sexuality, don’t suppress yourself!.. I don’t inspire orgies, but I don’t forbid them either” (“Parismatch”, 11/08/1985. Quoted from: Privalov K. B. S. 35).

Then:
"Visitors to the commune in Pune returned with stories of such sexual orgies, as well as perversions, drug addiction and drug trafficking! "Rajneesh. (Barker A. op. cit. p. 244).

He promised "a tit in the hand", and even a cranein the form of freedom, enlightenment without any labor, without any restrictions, on the contrary, through the cultivation of the basest passions and vices that only exist in a person.
There is no God, there is no morality, there are no prohibitions, obligations ... but everything that brings pleasure and wealth is allowed. Those who had a need for any of the above went to his ashrams, because his ideology allowed them to justify themselves, primarily in their own eyes, and not feel like moral outcasts or freaks in their environment or society.
Also, I think he had hypnotic powers. The internet is full of videos of his performances.
Complete demagoguery, but the people are spellbound. You don't have to be a great specialist to look at their faces and determine that the audience is, some more, some less "influenced".

"Love yourself.
Don't judge yourself. You have been condemned so much, and you have accepted all this condemnation. Now you keep hurting yourself..."

What an attractive ideology for many, a kind of "sweet candy" for morning tea.
No matter what offense you commit (after all, they don’t condemn for good), no matter what harm you cause, no matter how scum you are, “do not condemn yourself ...”, but “be yourself and enjoy ... "

Conscience, repentance are counterbalances and stoppers to non-commitment, including repeated, of something subject to condemnation (and this is always evil done to someone / something and someone’s pain), they, therefore, sideways, forget about them and do whatever you want, at least walk over the corpses, if only you feel good at the same time and the main thing is "do not condemn yourself", so as not to interfere with yourself "enjoy", but "be yourself".

And who would doubt that with such a formulation of the question, the ashrams will burst with those who wish.
But what about enlightenment? It does not fit into this scheme.

Zombies based on meditation techniques and breathing exercises

The Only Religion of Osho Shri Rajneesh

It originated in India, in 1970, based on the philosophy of Zen Buddhism.

Not without spiritual trepidation, I begin the story about the teachings of the great teacher Osho Shri Rajneesh, which I followed for several years.

Like most religious teachers of the East, Osho expounded his teaching, referring not to any earlier schools and philosophies, but to his own spiritual development experience. At the end of the sixties, the Master came to the conclusion that all beliefs existing on Earth are false, and it is time for people to open their eyes to the one and only true religion.

Thanks to the great prophetic gift, Osho was able to gain a large number of followers and in 1971 founded his first ashram in Pune. Until 1981, up to fifty thousand people a year passed through this school, which once again testifies to the high spiritual saturation of the new teaching.

In 1981, the government of Indira Gandhi banned the sect under the pretext that drugs were used in the ashram of Osho Shri Rajneesh to achieve nirvana, and during meditation there were fights and stabbings. The teacher was forced to move to the United States, where he was elected mayor of Enteloope, Oregon. There he founded a new ashram. Soon, rumors began to circulate in the district about strange deaths among the homeless beggars and vagrants of the town, as well as rampant sexual orgies within the walls of the sect. Under pressure " public opinion free America” Osho was arrested, and he, in order to avoid the escalation of the conflict, publicly announced the dissolution of the sect. To heighten the effect, five thousand brochures specially printed for such an occasion were burned in front of journalists and television cameras.

On November 14, 1985, in Portland, Oregon, after a high-profile trial by Osho, Shri Rajneesh was sentenced to ten years in prison ... probation, and quietly released on all four sides.

On his grave in Pune, India, there is a white marble slab with a laconic inscription: "Never born and never died, just visited this land from 1931 to 1990", and the teaching continues to live and develop in almost the entire civilized world and traditionally Buddhist countries.

The basis of this scandalous religion is Zen (Chan) Buddhism, and when giving recommendations for self-improvement, Osho often directly refers to well-known representatives of various Zen movements, as well as Confucian philosophers. The main differences from traditional schools are the use of motor meditation techniques and the theory of “reasonable egoism” created by the teacher.

It was the stay in the sect of Osho Shri Rajneesh that showed me the whole abyss that separates those who convince people to abandon sectarianism and those who are in sects. So, about the teachings of Osho on the part of popularizers it is said at the following level:

“He preached liberation from one's own “I”, from conscience. One must live without thinking about anything, without burdening oneself with thoughts of either the past or the future, or the family, or daily bread. And the way to this is in meditation, chants, ritual dances, similar to the dances of the first hippies, only you need to hang the image of a guru on a wooden chain around your neck ... But, as Rajneesh taught, one cannot do without love in this world. “Develop your sexuality, don't repress it! he called. “Love is the beginning of everything. If you missed the beginning, you will not have an end ... "And he added:" I do not inspire orgies, but I do not forbid them either. Everyone decides for himself"

CONTINUED IN COMMENTS

We welcome you, our dear visitors and subscribers to updates of our site. Would you be interested to know how a person born in a small Indian village became famous all over the world, became famous for his non-standard views on religion and the universe, achieved the highest degree of freedom and spiritual enlightenment, organized a whole commune, acquired a Rolls-Royce park and other interesting facts?

If yes, then read on, we will tell you about the great Indian leader, mystical inspirer, who comprehended the highest secrets of life, the founder of a qualitatively new religious and cultural movement, Osho. The biography of this person deserves special attention. Although the great sage himself said that he had no biography, and for the past thirty-two years he was an absolute nothing. In the article you will read the most outstanding, interesting and amazing facts from the life of a great mentor.

In the small Indian village of Kuchvade, in the state of Madhya Predesh, on December 11, 1931, a boy was born, who was named Chandra Mohan Jein. This is the official name of the future spiritual leader. His father was a textile merchant. And over the next few years, ten more children were born consecutively in their family. Chadra Mohan Jain was the eldest.

In his book "Glimpses of Golden Childhood" Osho describes his village as a place where there was no post office and no railroad. He writes that there was a beautiful lake and small hillocks, houses were covered with straw. And the only brick house in the whole village was the one where Rajneesh himself was born, but this house was also small. There was not even a school in the village, for this reason Osho did not study until the age of nine. And these years were the most valuable. Fifty years later, this village has not changed, there is no hospital and no police, but no one gets sick there. Some people from these places have never seen a train or even a car in their lives, but they live quietly, blissfully and happily.

Your first seven years of life Osho lived with his beloved grandparents maternal line. He was so attached to them that he called his grandmother mom. And he called his real mother "baby", this term means "wife of the elder brother." His family belonged to the religious community of the Jains. The religion of Jainism preaches non-violence, non-harm to all living things in the world, the main thing is the self-improvement of the soul to achieve omniscience and eternal bliss. It was the relatives who came up with the boy's nickname Rajneesh or Raja, which means king.

When the boy was seven years old, death claimed a very close and beloved person - his grandfather. It was the hardest blow. Osho lay on the couch for three days without moving, hoping to die. When this did not happen, he concluded for himself that death was impossible. The boy began to follow funeral processions in order to understand the essence of death, but this did not bring him anything.

And at the age of fifteen he lost his girlfriend (Shashi's cousin), she died of abdominal type. These deaths have consistently had a very strong impact on Rajneesh's mental state. He suffered from depression, headache, melancholy, tortured himself by running twenty kilometers a day and long meditations.

Osho studied well at school, but he often clashed with teachers, skipped classes, did not obey, and provoked his classmates in every possible way.

Later, in his literary writings, Osho openly writes that he hates teachers, at least in the old sense. He even beat his teachers. In his youth, he was distinguished by arrogance and selfishness, impudent views, the denial of all social norms and rules.

Education and work.

• Osho went to school to study at the age of 9 years.
• At the age of 19, Rajneesh began his studies in philosophy at Hitkarine College, but as a result of a conflict with one of the teachers, he left this educational institution, continuing his studies at Jain College.
• At 24, Osho graduated from college, and a couple of years later, having received a diploma with honors, he left the gates of Sagar University with a master of philosophical sciences.
• Until 1966, Rajneesh taught philosophy to students, traveled the world at the same time and held speeches, preaching his views. There were conflicts with the leadership because of its too free atheistic views, denying any conventions, traditions and requirements of social norms.
• After 1966, Osho began to actively present the art of meditation to the world, preaching the full joy of physical life and enlightenment through meditation.

Meditation and absolute enlightenment.

From early childhood, Chandra conducted experiments on his own body, studied his endurance and other abilities. He dived into the funnel of the whirlpool, reached its sources and floated to the surface. I walked along a thin path over the abyss. He claimed that during such experiences his mind stops, and then comes complete clarity and awakening.

In addition, he practiced various types. And now, as a result of these studies, at the age of 21, the young man first experienced "satori" (a state of absolute enlightenment, happiness). This is an experience that cannot be described in words. The Buddha called this state "nirvana". Osho himself believed that he died that night, and then was reborn, and now he is a completely different person than he lived before.

Rajneesh experienced the effect of all possible meditations and created new technology"dynamic meditation", it involves the use of loud music and erratic movements.

For the first time, Osho arranged such a meditation in 1970 near Bombay. It was an incredible, shocking sight. People ran, jumped, shouted, yelled, tore off their clothes. The meaning of this technique was relaxation, that is, in order to completely relax and free your mind, you first had to get a lot of tension, so that in the second part of the meditation, complete relaxation would be an intoxicating contrast.

Relationship between sex and superconsciousness.

In 1968, Osho moved to live in Bombay and was invited to hold a conference on the theme of love. There, the sage proclaims his views on sexuality, explains that sexual energy, transforming, develops into meditation and love. And sexual satisfaction promotes the release of kundalini energy. This is the energy “coiled into a snake”, which “lives” at the base of the spine in the region of the coccyx.

Osho denies the need to suppress sexual desires, because, in his opinion, during forced abstinence, love and meditation are not possible. And accordingly, it is not possible to achieve superconsciousness and personal inner freedom.

He had a negative attitude towards marriage and the birth of children, but preached free love and loneliness. Loyal to drugs and alcohol.
With such views, he provokes the anger and indignation of the public, and conversations on the topic of "love" have to be held in a narrower circle in Mumbai's central park. Subsequently, on the basis of these conversations, the most popular osho book"From Sex to Superconsciousness". They even began to secretly call him "Sex Guru".

In 1970, the guru holds his meditation camps and initiates the first group of select people into "neo-sansyan". They must completely renounce the world, all their property and personal life, and take a vow of celibacy. They wear red robes, beads and medallions with the image of the mentor himself.

Moving to Pune

In 1974, the great sage moved to live in the city of Pune. There he organizes an ashram (shelter of his followers). Hundreds of people from all over the world come there to listen to Osho's talks. He touches upon the topics of human consciousness, spiritual development, enlightenment, explains the essence and meaning of the religions of the world. According to his conversations, more than a thousand books were published by authors from different countries.

Osho followed the path of forming a new person, Zorba-Buddha. This is the one who, accepting and enjoying all the gifts of life (Zorba), has grown a higher spiritual consciousness (Buddha). Every day the master had very beautiful talks with his students and followers.

American commune.

For several years, Osho suffered from asthma and diabetes, his condition worsened significantly in 1981. Then he was taken to the United States for treatment. The great sage fell into silence. The followers of Rajneesh organized the commune of Rancho Rajneeshpuram in the territory they had purchased. Osho lived there for four years with his students.

Gradually, Rajneeshpuram grew to a whole city of about five thousand people. And the desert area has turned into a real green oasis. Every summer, admirers of Osho's philosophy from all over the world came there. It was a bold, unparalleled precedent for the attempt to create a transnational communist society. In the five years of its existence, not a single child was born in the commune.

Researchers of the biography of Osho Rajneesh note that by the end of 1982, his fortune had reached the figure of two hundred million dollars (due to various seminars, meditation practices, conferences and lectures), which were not taxed (Osho hated taxes. There was a case when he was still working professor, he was offered to raise his salary, but the sage refused, citing the fact that he did not want to pay taxes). In addition, his fleet of about a hundred Rolls-Royces, followers wanted to increase their number to three hundred and sixty-five, one for each day of the year. The mentor owned four more aircraft and one helicopter.

During the period of silence of the great teacher, the assistant to his personal secretary, Ma Ananda Sheela, took over the management of the commune. Osho himself lived as a guest, practically without leaving home, and not participating in the management of the commune. Besides, he starts everything big problems with health.

During the reign of Shila, disagreements and contradictions arise in the commune, from which some students leave Rajneeshpuram. And the top of the board, headed by Sheela, use illegal methods: drugs, poison, weapons, bioterrorism.

In 1984, Osho suddenly ended his vow of silence and started talking.

According to one version, Osho himself claims other followers who disappeared from Rajnipuram to Shila. The FBI begins an investigation, finds a weapons cache, drugs and even a secret passage on the ranch in case an escape is necessary. According to the testimony of the inhabitants of the commune, Shila and her assistants arranged all this. In 1985 they were arrested and later convicted.

Opponents of the teachings of Rajneesh adhered to the version that the teacher himself was the organizer of all the lawlessness that was happening in the commune, and Sheela was his accomplice.

Rajneesh himself is facing 34 charges, of which he admits only two - of illegal emigration (he entered America on a tourist visa). Moreover, they detain him without a warrant and without an indictment.

In his conversations, the educator sincerely wondered how the US authorities could bring 34 charges against a man who spent four years in captivity, in complete silence. The mentor is sentenced to 10 years of probation in prison, fined and ordered to leave the United States as soon as possible. During the 12 days spent by Osho in the prisons of America, in his opinion, he significantly undermined his health and they even tried to poison him with thallium (a highly toxic heavy metal).

Osho's reputation has been damaged, especially in the west. As a result, twenty-one states refused entry to the educator. The Rajneesh organization was classified as a destructive sect. In the USSR, his movement was strictly prohibited.

Trip around the world.

In 1986, the mystic goes on a journey around the world. Having visited the countries of Greece, Switzerland, England, Ireland, Canada, Holland, Uruguay, from most of which he was expelled (except Uruguay), he returns to Bombay. There, his followers again began to gather around him in large numbers, and the master returned to Pune, where he organized the Osho International Commune. Conversations, holidays, the creation of new meditation practices began again.

Death of Osho

Rajneesh loved the Himalayas, he believed that this was the most better place, in order to die. Living there is wonderful, but for death it is the best place on the ground. He sincerely believed that death would not be a complete stop for him, death would be a holiday, a new birth.

Osho left his body shell in 1990 in Pune.

According to eyewitnesses, on January 19 he became ill, he refused medical care, intuition told him that the Universe itself knows when and who should leave. He knew that he was about to die, quietly closed his eyes and left this world.

There are several versions of his death. Some believe that he died of a heart attack, others broadcast that from AIDS, oncology or drugs.
But this is not the main thing, the main thing is that after the death of Rajneesh in India and around the world, the attitude towards his philosophy changed. He came to be regarded as a very important spiritual mentor, and his teachings are revered and studied in many countries.

The Osho Times International magazine is published twice a month, it comes out in nine languages ​​(Russian is not among them). Osho's meditation centers and ashrams continue to operate in many countries of the world. There are several Osho meditation centers in Moscow (for example, the Winds Center), founded by his followers.

names in life.

During his life, the great mentor changed names several times.

Basic commandments of Osho.

Osho during his lifetime was against any rules and postulates. Once, when asked by a journalist about the ten commandments, the sage, for the sake of a joke, formulated the following:

1. Never follow any commandment unless it comes from yourself.
2. Life is the only god, and there are no other gods.
3. The truth is within you, you don't have to look for it in the outside world.
4. Love is nothing but prayer.
5. The way to comprehend the truth is to become nothing. Nothing is the goal of enlightenment.
6. You need to live here and now.
7. Wake up. Live consciously.
8. You don't need to swim - you need to swim.
9. Try to die every moment so that you can be new every moment.
10. Nothing to look for. You have to stop and see. It is what it is.

The main ideas of his movement are the third, seventh, ninth and tenth commandments. It is worth considering, they really have a deep meaning.

It's just short description the main stages of the life and spiritual activity of the great Osho. He died, but his works and the works of his followers around the world continue to exist and attract more and more people with their magical texts. If you are interested in him life path, his teachings or commandments, then you can purchase the books of the great enlightener in the Magic Book online store:

We wish you a pleasant reading, and we, in turn, will delight you with new interesting articles. Subscribe to updates of our site, share with friends.

May peace and good be with you!

Secrets of Osho's pseudonyms

Throughout his life, Osho often used various pseudonyms, which was a consequence of his spiritual path and rethinking of himself.

His most common pseudonyms were Rajneesh and Osho.

The name Rajneesh is literally translated from Hindi as "Mr. full moon". So he was nicknamed as a child in the family. Therefore, this pseudonym Osho can be considered the very first.

Osho also used such pseudonyms as Acharya Rajneesh (from the mid-sixties to the early seventies), Bhagwan - (from the early seventies to the end of 1988). The first pseudonym Osho is translated as "teacher", and the second - "enlightened". Tellingly, at the end of 1988, Osho personally abandoned this name, commenting as follows: “Enough! The joke is over."

The most famous pseudonym, of course, was the name Osho, it was under him that he went down in history as a spiritual leader and teacher.

There is an assumption that this pseudonym was suggested to him by the students themselves, who often hear Dezen parables from Osho. The fact is that Osho is a title that literally translates as “monk” or “teacher”. There is even a legend that this is how Bodhidharma, the first Chan (Zen) patriarch in China, was addressed with respect. But whether this is true or not, it is already impossible to establish.

Also, some researchers of Osho's biography say that Osho liked the name, especially since it sounded like English word"Ocean" ("Ocean"), which brought a new meaning to the pseudonym. But, one way or another, the pseudonym Osho became the main name for Chandra Mohan Jain, and all his works published today are signed exactly as Osho

Osho's childhood

Osho was born on December 11, 1931 in India, in the city of Kuchwada, Bhopal state (according to some sources - Madhya Pradesh).

At birth, Osho received the name Chandra Mohan Jain.

The family of Osho's parents was large, while he himself was the eldest of eleven children. Osho's father was busy with work - woven trade, so grandparents played a big role in the upbringing of the future mystic.

Like most people in India, Osho's parents were devout and belonged to the Jain religious community. But the religiosity of such a plan was never brought to Osho himself, on the contrary, in the public understanding, Osho became a militant atheist and subsequently criticized cumbersome rituals and blind faith a lot.

Osho's School Years

At school, Osho studied very well, quickly grasped everything, but his performance was spoiled by an unbearable character - his constant pranks, absenteeism and constant attempts to incite classmates to various pranks.

As a teenager, Osho had a hard time, as he faced the ruthlessness of the phenomenon of death quite early - when he was seven years old, Osho's beloved grandfather died, and seven years later his cousin ill with typhus. All this plunged the young Osho into prolonged depression and prompted desperate attempts to understand what death is and what its meaning is. Biographers note that during this period, Osho, in order to cope with difficult emotional states run from 15 to 25 km a day and arranged long meditations for himself, bringing himself to exhaustion with them.

During the same period, Osho was actively interested in hypnosis and tried to find himself in various social movements, for example, he took part in activities in the communist, socialist and two nationalist parties that fought for the independence of India. But this was of a short duration.

The intransigence of an atheist, high intelligence and love of freedom in early years created the image of Osho as being supremely arrogant, uncooperative and rebellious. Moreover, such a characterization of Osho himself was quite satisfactory.

Osho's student years

At the age of nineteen, Osho embarked on a more serious and systematic education, enrolling at the Hitkarine College in Jabalpur in the Faculty of Philosophy. But due to a conflict with the teachers, he had to quickly change his place of study to D. N. Jain College, also located in Jabalpur. He graduated in 1955 with a bachelor's degree. But Osho himself was dissatisfied with his education and decided to continue it for another two years at Saugar University, from where he graduated with a master's degree in philosophy.

Osho's first mystical experience

Osho called the beginning of his spiritual transformation the date of March 21, 1953, when he meditated during the full moon in the Bhanvartal park of the city of Jabalpur. At some point, Osho felt that he was overwhelmed with happiness, joy, light, he felt the unity of everything and everything, in other words, Osho experienced spiritual enlightenment. Osho himself described it as follows: “That night I died and I was reborn. But the person who is reborn has nothing to do with the one who died. It is not a continuous thing... The person who has died has died totally; there was nothing left of him... not even a shadow. The ego died totally, completely... On that day, a person who had lived many, many lives, millennia, just died. Another being, absolutely new, not at all connected with the old, began to exist ... I became free from the past, I was torn out of my history, I lost my autobiography.

"Career" Osho

Osho began his short "working career" as a philosophy teacher at the Raipur Sanskrit College. But the rebellious and freedom-loving nature of Osho also manifested itself there, as a result of which he was fired, as they considered that he was too detrimental to the religious feelings of students, although Osho was simply trying to help young people choose their own path, and not blindly follow the beliefs imposed on them. .

But, one way or another, in 1958 Osho got a job as a teacher of philosophy at another university - in Jabalpur, where his "career" develops more successfully and in 1960 Osho becomes a professor. And then he begins to make "lecture tours", in which he actively expresses his point of view on various phenomena of society and, first of all, criticizes socialism and Mahatma Gandhi. Osho believed that the course he had chosen was not correct, and that emphasis should be placed on the development of capitalism, high technology, science, and so on. Also, prone to atheism from childhood, Osho also sharply criticizes the orthodox religious principles of India, considering them empty rituals and hypocritical from the point of view of true spirituality.

Naturally, this behavior of Osho caused a stormy response, creating him both ardent opponents and admirers. But the scandalous fame of a freedom-loving person and a person who debunks established norms led to the fact that in 1966 he stopped teaching at the university and devoted himself entirely to individual spiritual practice.

A new round of Osho's life

With the departure from the path of teaching began new life Osho. He continued his speeches on various aspects spiritual life. From this period, Osho began to pay special attention to personal spiritual consultations, especially since wealthy people and businessmen began to turn to him more and more often.

Also hallmark a new stage in Osho's life was the orientation of his lectures to a Western listener, since before that Osho had lectured in Hindi.

All this together began to bring him more and more fame and opportunities to preach his teaching and increasingly hold various meditation camps under the auspices of the Awakened Life movement he founded.

The level of increased fame and popularity of Osho is at least indicated by the fact that he developed close ties with the leaders of the country, such as Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Morarji Desai, whose daughter became a devoted student and first secretary of Osho.

Osho Dynamic Meditation

Osho's well-known practice of dynamic meditation was first introduced by him in the spring of 1970 at a public meditation event in Bombay. A little later, around the middle of summer, Osho rented an apartment in the same city, where he held meetings with his followers and received those who longed for his personal consultations.

A little later, at the beginning of autumn (September 26, 1970), Osho founded the first school of "neo-sannyasins." And a year later, the first students from Western countries. This was the reason that Osho increasingly began to lecture in English.

Osho Residency and Ashram in Pune

In Bombay from excessive vigorous activity and an unsuitable climate, a significant deterioration in Osho's health began, in particular, asthma, diabetes mellitus worsened, and allergies began. These events, and the fact that his personal apartment became too small to receive visitors, forced Osho to change his place of residence. The choice fell on a house in Pune. Two neighboring villas were also bought there, with a total area of ​​​​approximately 2.5 acres. The money for all these purchases came from patrons and students, in particular, from Ekaterina Venizelos (Ma Yoga Mukta), heiress to the fortune of a famous Greek figure.

In fact, with the acquisition of these buildings, Osho's ashram was founded, where he moved in March 1974.

The Ashram has been actively developing all the time, and already in 1981 it had its own bakery, cheese production, art and craft centers for tailoring, jewelry, ceramics and organic cosmetics, a private medical center and much more. In addition to the actual spiritual activities, various concerts and performances were often held in it.

It is interesting to note that most of the economic activities of the ashram were headed by women. This is because Osho supported the feminist movement.

Life itself in the ashram was active, Osho himself conducted various meditation classes and answered questions from students.

The scandalous glory of Osho

Unfortunately, Osho was surrounded not only by numerous followers, but also by a very scandalous fame, since his worldview and some statements were clearly provocative. He was accused of everything - blasphemy, heresy, sectarianism, disrespect, sexual unbridledness, and so on. At the same time, Osho himself often supported this fame, for example, by openly promoting the freedom of sexual relations and, as some researchers of his biography note, even arranged sexual meditation practices, for which he received the nickname “sex guru”. Not a small role in the latter was played by his scandalous book "From Sex to Superconsciousness".

Hard times for Osho

The more actively the Osho ashram developed, the more negative reviews were published about it in various media. And the apogee of a negative attitude towards Osho was an attempt on his life, committed in 1980, when, during Osho's speech, a knife was thrown at him by Hindu fundamentalist Vilas Tupe. Luckily, he missed.

But Osho's troubles didn't end there. The then Prime Minister Morarji Desai, whose policy was criticized by Osho, decided to take revenge on the mystic and began to complicate the life of the ashram in every possible way, to the extent that he “incited” the tax police on him and forbade the issuance of visas for foreigners who wanted to visit Osho’s ashram.

"Silence" Osho

Harassment in the media, constant troubles and bans from local authorities and the deterioration of Osho's health, led to the fact that on April 10, 1981, Osho took a vow of silence. At least in the evening meetings with students, he stopped talking, and began to practice joint silent meditation.

Osho's stay in the USA and Rajneeshpuram

The intense deterioration of Osho's health (especially diabetes and asthma) led to the fact that, at the insistence of his most devoted students, he agrees to go to the USA to undergo more intensive treatment there.

In order for Osho to feel comfortable and continue his spiritual activities, his students bought for him $ 5.75 million Big Muddy ranch with an area of ​​​​64 thousand acres in Central Oregon, where the settlement of Rajneeshpuram (now a suburb of Antelope) was later founded. ), in which about fifteen thousand followers of Osho began to live.

But we must pay tribute, Osho himself, having arrived in Rajneeshpuram, lived in a trailer.

Rajneeshpuram developed so rapidly that it soon opened a school, post office, fire and police departments and even a transport system of 85 buses!

Also, the financial strength of the Osho movement grew with incredible speed. So over the five years since 1981, about $120 million has been accumulated through various meditation seminars, lectures, and conferences with attendance fees ranging from $50 to $7,500. Although, according to some sources, Osho's fortune then reached $200 million. Among other things, Osho himself at that time already owned 4 aircraft, 1 combat helicopter, and a huge number of Rolls-Royce cars.

New Ashram Problems and Osho's Arrest

No matter how quickly and successfully the ashram developed, serious conflicts ripened inside it, as many of Osho's followers were extremely dissatisfied with the activities of the new secretary and press secretary of Osho, who was prone to tough solutions to various problems and did not disdain even criminal methods. Plus, discontent also grew rapidly. local authorities activities of Osho himself and his ashram. As a result, in 1984, the Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal case against the "Osho sect". For this reason, in September 1985, Sheela (Osho's secretary) and her team left the commune in a hurry. And apparently, her activities were indeed largely related to the violation of the law, since immediately after this event, Osho convened a press conference at which he reported information about their crimes and asked the prosecutor's office to initiate an investigation. But even this step could no longer save the damaged reputation of Osho himself. And the last point in this "nightmare" was October 23, 1985, when a federal jury in a closed session considered the indictment against Osho in connection with violations of immigration law. And on October 27, 1985, an order was given for the arrest of Osho, which was carried out on October 29, 1985, when Osho's personal plane landed for refueling in the city of Charlotte (North Carolina). After the arrest, Osho was placed in prison without the right to release on bail.

This whole "saga" ended with the fact that on November 14, 1985, Osho was sentenced to probation for 10 years in prison, he was fined 400 thousand dollars and he was deported from the United States without the right to return back for 5 years. The ashram itself was also dissolved, and Osho's students, at the insistence of their teacher, burned 5,000 copies of the book Rajneeshism, which was a 78-page compilation of the basic postulates of Osho's teachings.

Osho's round-the-world wanderings

After the difficulties and failures that befell Osho in the United States, on January 21, 1986, he decides to travel around the world. And the first place he goes is to Greece on a thirty-day tourist visa. But, scandalous fame overtakes Osho and then - on March 5, 1986, on "inciting" local Christians, he was arrested right at the villas of the local film director, with whom Osho was visiting. To be released, he had to pay a $5,000 fine. On this occasion, Osho made an official statement: “If one person with a four-week tourist visa can destroy your two thousand years of morality, your religion, then it is not worth keeping. It must be destroyed."

After that, the next day, Osho flies to Switzerland and there, too, "notoriety" catches up with him, he instantly becomes "persona non grata" due to "violation of US immigration laws."

So Osho's round-the-world trip turns into a round-the-world wandering.

On March 7, Osho flies to Ireland, where, it would seem, everything is going well - he is issued a tourist visa. But, the good ends immediately - literally on the morning of the next day after arrival, the police burst into the hotel where Osho rented a room and demanded that he immediately leave the country.

Also, Canada, Holland and Germany were denied entry to Osho.

The only country that not only agreed to accept Osho, but also to provide him with the possibility of permanent residence was Uruguay. But even here, Osho was not allowed to stop.

A small respite for Osho came in Lisbon, but from there he was also forced to fly away.

In total, Osho's world tour ended after he was rejected in 21 countries around the world!

As a result, Osho again finds himself in Bombay, where he opens a center for psychotherapeutic and meditation programs. And then on January 4, 1987, Osho returns to Pune to the house where he has lived most of his life.

The last period of Osho's life

Upon his return, Osho again continues to lecture, conduct meditations and develop new methods of spiritual improvement. The people seeking the truth again reached out to him. But already taught by the experience of previous ashrams, Osho shows caution in many ways.

In November 1987, Osho's health deteriorated rapidly.

In April 1989, Osho delivers his last public lecture.

Literary heritage of Osho

Osho left behind an incredibly large literary heritage, although he himself wrote few books, the vast majority of them were written down by his devoted students during conversations. So, according to some sources, in the period from 1969 to 1989, Osho "dictated" about 1000 works!

Death of Osho

Feeling the approach of death, Osho on October 6, 1989, Osho gathers twenty-one closest students to give them important instructions and instructions.

On January 17, 1990, Osho's health deteriorated sharply, it became difficult for him to move around. And two days later, on January 19, 1990, Osho left our world at the age of 58.

Above his urn with ashes is an inscription that Osho dictated before his death. It says: "OSHO. Never born, never died, only visited this planet.”

"Dear friends! Dear companions along the way!

January 16, 1990 Osho was sitting with us, as usual, in a ten-minute daily meditation, when the drum sounded, announcing the end of meditation, opening my eyes, I saw that Osho's head, as never before, was bowed to His left shoulder. The thought instantly flashed: “I hope He didn’t leave the body!?” After a few seconds, He opened His eyes and slowly got up from His chair. Then, more slowly than usual, He did namaste. ... when He looked into my eyes, regardless of me, the words flashed: "Good by Osho, thank You." After He left, I was in some inexplicable state, I did not know if I would see him again .. .
That same evening, Osho dictated the words and asked them to be written in His Samadhi:
Never born
Never died
just visited this planet earth
between December 11, 1931 and January 19, 1990.

The next evening, January 17th, when we gathered as usual in the Buddha Hall , we were told that Osho would not be able to sit with us in meditation and would only come out to greet us and asked us all to greet Him with our eyes open (usually many sit or dance with their eyes closed).
Again, very slowly, He walked across the podium, greeting His sannyasins, but this time, as if nothing had happened.
January 18th, He didn't come out at all. Amrito, Osho's personal physician, said that Osho would sit in his room to meditate with us.
Gradually, gradually He prepared us for His departure...

January 19th at 7 p.m. Amrito announced to everyone at the Buddha Hall that Osho left his body at 5 pm and that according to His wish, the body would be taken to the Buddha Hall for ten minutes and then taken to the cremation site. "In his death, He was just as you could imagine - magnificent!" said Amrito; "And when I started to cry, He looked at me and said - No, no, this is not the way - Let's see our beloved Masters in a way that fits the life of a man who has lived his life in a way that no one has ever lived."
At 8 o'clock, Osho's body was taken to the Buddha Hall... Then, to the music and singing, thousands of His snow-white sannyasins escorted the body of their Master to the cremation site.
Saying goodbye to us and this planet for the last time, His body burst into flames.
There was dead silence... thousands of hearts were beating as one heart...
Music began to play and gradually everyone began to sing along ... tears and laughter merged into one inexplicable whole ... we will no longer see Him, His eyes, His smile, His graceful body, which greeted us day after day ...
But, sitting next to the flaming body, completely devastated and at the same time filled with some inexplicable joy that He finally got rid of his poisoned and sick body, I suddenly looked into the sky full of stars - sparks aspiring to the stars and disappearing into the open space - where do they all disappear to? Where has our Master gone? And suddenly a feeling, a very strong feeling - He has not gone anywhere, He is here now, He has merged into all of us, just as He promised, He is everywhere ...

“Remember, when I leave, you will not lose anything. You might even get something you didn't even know existed. When I leave, where can I go? I'll be here in the wind, in the ocean. And if you love me, if you have trust, you will find a thousand and one ways to experience me. In moments of silence, you will suddenly feel my presence. Since I am free from the body, my consciousness will be in the entire universe. Then you don't have to look for me. Wherever you are, with your thirst, your love, you will find me in your heart, in its beating." Osho

The next day, as usual, we gathered in the Buddha Hall and sat in meditation with Him. His presence in the hall was unusually strong... and it's not just words...
Since then, every day, we continue our ten-minute meditation with the Master, after which a video of His previous lectures is shown.
Hundreds of people come to the ashram every day from all over the world, many who have never seen Osho in the body continue to take sannyas, our meditativeness has deepened much, our consciousness has increased.
I personally experience His presence as a tremendous energy of love that spreads not only in the Buddha Hall, but throughout the planet and the entire universe.
He said many times that "Love is my message to mankind" and only now I began to understand what He means...
And the feeling that Osho's death is the beginning of something new and inexplicably beautiful! Not only for His sannyasins, not only for all those who are deeply connected with Him, but for all of humanity.
The commune He left behind is an invaluable gift for all those who are linked by their love for the Master, who work on themselves and on the growth of their consciousness, where the path is full of love, songs and dances.

Osho's last words: "I leave you my dream."

Now, everything is in our hands, and if we have correctly understood His message, then we cannot remain ungrateful...
He dedicated his life to us, as He himself said:
“My work with myself has long ended, I linger here on this shore only for you ...”
"Before you leave this planet, make it more beautiful place for life,.."
“Don't be afraid, don't worry about what will happen to my words when I leave. I will not leave until I have planted the seeds of these words in you. The day I leave, your responsibility to live will become greater - to live me, to become me. My leaving the body will be a response in you that leaving one body, I can be in all your bodies. And I am absolutely sure, incredibly happy that I have chosen the right people who will be my books, my temples and synagogues. It all depends on you, because who will distribute me throughout the world?” Osho

Our Master's Samadhi is now in a beautiful room recently built for him. This room used to be Zhuang Tzu's auditorium, where Osho gave evening darshans and lectures for many years. When Amrito asked His kula to put His ashes, Osho replied, "Just put it under my bed."
Now, in His samadhi there are 3 daily meditations lasting one hour each. Nothing in the Ashram has changed, only one more magnificent place for meditation has been added.

“I am an incurable dreamer. No miracle has ever happened until you make it a reality. I want this ashram to be the first synthesis between religiosity and a scientific approach to life. This will fulfill my dream that man is inseparable internally and externally. When I say that this will happen, it is not "I" who say it, I am simply a means in the hands of existence. I know for certain that when it comes from my absolute emptiness, it is a message from Being itself. This will happen. Nobody can stop it. And this is the only hope for the new man and the new humanity.”

All Western European countries refused to accept Osho - now there are no barriers to him - He is now in all countries of the world, in our bodies, in our hearts, no country in the world can now refuse Him! And all He offers the world through us is meditation, love, laughter and joy.
With eternal love and gratitude to the beloved Master,

Ma Jivan Mada - Jivan Mada, Osho Commune International, 17 Koregaon Park, Poona 411-001, India