April blogging #A-Z 2018- O

This post is written for the April blogging #A-Z 2018. 

I have chosen the theme Books and Authors for this year.

 O - OSHO

I have read Osho’s 4 volumes on Sayings of Jesus three decades ago while I worked in one of the organization, where most of the employees were Christians. Osho was the most controversial figure in those days, as he opposed traditions and religious practices in India.

One of my colleague a doctor, a staunch Christian found me reading this book and was shocked. He was very upset and expressed his disappointment that I being a Christian have chosen to read Osho. Those days Osho’s concepts of free love, marriage, were opposed to the norms and standards of the society J. 

This good friend of mine openly told me that I will get influenced by him may leave Christianity to follow the Rajneesh movement. A movement started by Osho wherein he promoted meditation and believed that religion was a personal affair and the state had no business to involve in the people’s personal choices. He had huge number of followers throughout the world and in India there were some very high profile personals who were his followers including celebrities from all walks of life. 

Since I heard so many talking about him and a some even fearing him; I was curious to know what was his philosophy and I found 4 volumes I,II,III,IV on sayings of Jesus in the Library and started reading. I found his writings were very critical and challenged the followers of Jesus and Christianity wherein he reinterpreted the sayings of Jesus J In few places I agreed his thoughts on the feedback of Jesus, as it was so very different from his followers J.Staunch Christians who are rigid in their thought patterns and not open to other opinions will definitely not like this book.

I found it very interesting as he frankly and openly shared his thoughts… after some time I got a gift book from one religious sister who presented a book by name, I TEACH RELIGIOUSNESS NOT RELIGION. BY OSHO – It’s a small book and easy to read, simple language and has 129 pages to read and the last two pages is a brief background of Osho – his birth place, education and the details of how he evolved himself travelling throughout the country sharing his thoughts, challenging orthodox religious leaders, questioning beliefs and his influence in the western world and what brought an end to his life.

This book has two parts: Part 1: Religion – The Methadone for the Masses wherein there are 13 chapters Part II:  Religiousness: Transformation, Not Renunciation – there are 9 chapters. Osho answering questions related to religion, belief, God, Guilt, Prayer, Celibacy Life, Love, Laughter, Enlightenment and silence – all the answers are  challenging the  seeker to question everything and do not take easy and readymade answers available, with sense of humor and highly critical about religions, particularly Christianity.

One can read this book once, to get an idea about this author who is well read, and travelled extensively, his views on  Religion and his interpretations of all the religious books are highly critical and thought provoking… for some it could be hurting their religious sentiments too. I feel we always have a choice to pick up those thoughts which are positive and empowering and leave the rest.

Few quotes from this book:

Religion is dead rock.

I teach you not religion but religiousness, a flowing river

continuously by changing its course, but ultimately reaching to the ocean.

A rock may be very ancient, far more experienced,

But a rock is a rock, and it is dead.

All religion which exist in the world, they are all dead rocks.

They don’t flow, they don’t change, they don’t move with times

And anything that is dead Is not going to help you.

“The first thing is to be oneself. And the second thing is to know who one is. So remain yourself, remain natural. Try to become more aware of what this life current is that is running in you.

Who is beating in our heart?

Who is behind your breathing? Just become more and more alert-about whatever you do, whatever you think, whatever you feel- just remain alert, watcher on a hill.”

Have you heard about Rajneesh who is called Osho??  What are your thoughts, would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading my post.

Be Blessed & Be happy!!