What do you think of Osho books??

[V A L E N]

If you have read Osho, share what you think. Did it helped you with something?? do you people think his methods are good with the crazyness style of life people live in the cities right now. Does it work?? 

[Matthew]

VALEN,

I can't remember the exact quote but it went something like this:

"People ask why I have Rolls Royce cars. Why not? It's much easier to meditate in the back of a Rolls Royce than on a cart pulled by a donkey - the ride is smoother".

It was from his autobiography/biography I read some time ago and I found it interesting and informative in places - and funny. His level of realisation was certainly advanced though I do not consider him to have mastered all the perfections.

Warmly, in the Dhamma,

Matthew

[Jhananda]

I find a 28 year old Chevy van comfortable enough for the practice of meditation, so why would Rajnish need 1 Rolls Royces, let alone 100 of them?  How does chaotic meditation lead to peace?  It did or does not seem to have done so for Rajnish or his devotees.  Rajnish was known for drugging his followers when they came to visit to assure they had a positive experience.  He also poisoned the population of Antelope Washington to manipulate a local election. So, maybe in this reference we should remember a quote from the Christian Gospels, "You know a tree by its fruit."  It seems Rajnish's 'fruit' was spoiled.

[Matthew]

I find a 28 year old Chevy van comfortable enough for the practice of meditation, so why would Rajnish need 1 Rolls Royces, let alone 100 of them?  How does chaotic meditation lead to peace?  It did or does not seem to have done so for Rajnish or his devotees.  Rajnish was known for drugging his followers when they came to visit to assure they had a positive experience.  He also poisoned the population of Antelope Washington to manipulate a local election. So, maybe in this reference we should remember a quote from the Christian Gospels, "You know a tree by its fruit."  It seems Rajnish's 'fruit' was spoiled.

I think this is the greatest danger of having mastered part of the path and not all the perfections. What is left of ego becomes extremely distorted.

Warmly,

Matthew

[V A L E N]

That's dangerous. I am reading "ORANGE BOOK" I found some interesting things and some funny things too. But I always felt there was something extrange about him jeje. I just wanted to know what you think of it. Thanks for answering both of you 

[atomjack]

Osho is very misunderstood and often judged quickly by the wide variety of rumors about him. Many things he says are taken literally and he puts people off by his blunt honesty. He had many odd ways to make a statement, including his diamond bracelet and his cars which he cared nothing about. He is a wise man and I definitely recommend reading his books, but of course like with every spiritual teacher, don't take everything in so heavily at once. Take in what works for you, and polish away any ego that could be getting in the way of your interpretation and form your own opinion. Some of his practices I agree with and some I don't, but I find his books informative, especially his book "Awareness."

[dhruv]

I like oshos writings. There's a book on creativity and one on zen that I read, and they are indeed very insightful texts.

[san]

I come across a book by Osho some 17 years ago and literally got addicted with his writings, and read his almost every book, and they are 650.
I never come across such a clarity except in latter years in books by Jiddu Krshnamurti.
I also gone through some Osho meditations and they are designed to get free from suppression and remove blocks. I find his techniques specially Dynamic Meditation is really helpful to the modern man than anything currently available in the world.
There is vast difference between vipassana I did for 6 years before doing dynamic meditation and vipassana I did after 3 months of dynamic meditation which I can not express in words. 
The difference is like a bullok-cart and Jet.

[idud]

The message is what matters, the messenger is not important. Capture what you need and what does not, forget it.

[rideforever]

Osho.  Is Love.

If you look at a picture of a Rolls Royce and stop there - what are you doing ?  What are you thinking ?

He hasn't mastered the perfections ?  Who can judge.

His fruit ?  His people, and they feel like a people are truly blessed with joy laughter and seriousness all at the same time.  It is a path that does not require the outside to die, but to be regarded as it is.  The outer life is what it is.

Hi meditations - how can chaos help you ?  You are chaos, so go with it.  And then, when the energy runs out sit down and be.  That is Osho - start where you are - do not pretend to be still. 

He communicates beautifully, noisily angrily with clarity.  Who else comes close ?

Yes JK is beautiful as well, and Buddha. 

[Morning Dew]

Osho.  Is Love.

Osho. Is a Big Fart.

So is Krishnamurti so is Buddha so are you so am I

[maybeiam]

I red about his life , and never red a book from him
he would slap me in the face if he was alive and if i would say something like this to him.

Look forward to read his books now, specially after what san told here

[rideforever]

Osho On Witnessing
http://www.messagefrommasters.com/Meditation/Awareness/osho_witnessing_identification_disappear.htm

Osho on Love
http://www.messagefrommasters.com/Shiva-Shakti/Difficult_for_me_to_love_myself.htm

... there is a big resource of Osho and other masters

[Lokuttara]

I think this is the greatest danger of having mastered part of the path and not all the perfections. What is left of ego becomes extremely distorted.

I find this statement extremely interesting. I think it applies to all of us on this path, as - depending on our conditioning - we may more easily master certain parts and not others. So many of us may go through this process. I feel that I went through this to some degree at one point, but now I have naturally found a more balanced, compassionate, relaxed, practise.

Have many others found this?

[Matthew]

Lokuttara,

Quite true. Balance in practice and between on/off the cushion takes time to establish - and there are many dirty side roads one can get caught in on the path. The reply was to a poster who is a Jhana-Junkie and who has spent thirty years in rapturous bliss and is as enlightened as a pig in shit.

Matthew

[chintan]

I have not read a single Osho book but heard a lot of his talks. He speaks very well - much better in Hindi than in English. He has (had!) an excellent knowledge of various subjects including religion / philosophy. Thirty years ago he was a craze amongst the intellectuals and there are some in my family who were deeply influenced by him.

The problem I had with the whole Osho experience was that it was only talk - no concrete take aways. To my rational / logical mind there were no clear answers. I have met a lot of people who swear by Osho and am sure take away a lot from his talks / meditation techniques / books but I was not able to.

Give me a Dhamma talk anyday or a Vipassana retreat.

[Venetian]

I find Osho so funny, so challenging! He likes to provoke people with his talks.   

[dragoneye]

Journey To The Heart.
I carried this book around for years. In 2003 I decided to open it and I was pleasantly rewarded.
At the time I had just started my Yoga practice and he really helped me to find my heart.
The book convinced me of the existence of "subtle" energy and provided a context for me to step on to the path.
I have to admit that at the time I didn't know who Osho was. I was very interested in the ideas of Sufism then and contemplated that and did some more research on it. Again, I hit the "dogma wall" and left the interest in Sufism behind for awhile.
Reading that book seemed to open me to another important book for me, Power of Now.
There, thats what I think, Peace,
DE

[lente]

I read Osho, he certainly is funny and occasionally brilliant, but there is to much drama surrounding him to say It's just people misunderstanding Osho. More likely is that he wasn't a great person, but just someone with strong meditation experiences and a sharp mind. In short, be cautious with Osho. 

Whenever a question like this pops up I'm always reminded of the following: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

This duck had a lot of strange behavior that doesn't jive with many of the things the Buddha taught.

[rideforever]

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.

This is the rationale of the world.  People think they know, and that gives them a sense of satisfaction and they go no further.  Some cling to religion, some to science, some to vice.  And they go no further.

If you understand even a little about the workings of the mind, and see this clinging, then the only rational viewpoint is to say 'I don't know', and then decide whether you want to investigate or not.  Do you want to investigate or not ?  To search like a scientist, and to come to your own judgement.  Or you can sit in the armchair and discuss ducks.

There is this idea that spirituality means people are like a quiet monk sitting very still - Osho used to dance a lot and enjoy himself (so obviously he is not spiritual !!!!!!!!!!). 

This is a very interesting idea people have that to be spiritual is to be kind of dead still, no smiling !!!!!  Okay you go for that kind of spirituality if you want.

The problem I had with the whole Osho experience was that it was only talk - no concrete take aways.

You are very mistaken here.  Osho made great great efforts to create techniques to achieve nirvana.  Very concrete technique that are very effective.  Famously the 'Dynamic Meditation', and the 'Kundalini Meditation'.  Here's a link :

Osho Dynamic Meditation

Yes, I know he wants to meditate with music and dance, rather than sitting bolt upright pretending to be a monk - because he knew that if you pretend to be a monk you aren't going to get anywhere.  He wants to break through your layers of pretending.  He wants to shake it out of you.  He also describes Zazen and Vipassana in his books - he was a master of all styles.

In his discourses he throws in a lot of jokes.  But he does not laugh.  This is a technique to shake you out of your certainty.

See this book in which he clarifies many techniques (it's a great book, clear, easy, no doctrine or sanskrit or anything like that - just straight to the heart) :

Meditation - The First and Last Freedom

or this one were he describes the 112 techniques of the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra in very down to earth language :

Osho - The Book of Secrets

Maybe he wasn't perfect.  But he was some man.

Rideforever (defender of Osho !!!)

[Matthew]

...

This is a very interesting idea people have that to be spiritual is to be kind of dead still, no smiling !!!!!  Okay you go for that kind of spirituality if you want.

...

To understand this a good piece to read is "Beat Zen, Square Zen and Zen" by Alan Watts.  What you are describing, rideforever is what Watts termed "Square Zen". It's available freely online.

Nice post.

Matthew

[lente]

This is the rationale of the world.  People think they know, and that gives them a sense of satisfaction and they go no further.  Some cling to religion, some to science, some to vice.  And they go no further.

If you understand even a little about the workings of the mind, and see this clinging, then the only rational viewpoint is to say 'I don't know', and then decide whether you want to investigate or not.  Do you want to investigate or not ?  To search like a scientist, and to come to your own judgement.  Or you can sit in the armchair and discuss ducks.

There is this idea that spirituality means people are like a quiet monk sitting very still - Osho used to dance a lot and enjoy himself (so obviously he is not spiritual !!!!!!!!!!). 

This is a very interesting idea people have that to be spiritual is to be kind of dead still, no smiling !!!!!  Okay you go for that kind of spirituality if you want.

You seem defensive about it. I wasn't attacking you or your point of view. The only thing I wanted to say is be careful with Osho. It never hurts to be careful does it?