I have started to believe of late, that one should try to keep away from the Osho communes and his followers. The master was so impressive that you start expecting his followers to match his virtuosity too, at least in some degree, which is too much of an expectation unfortunately. A majority of them can be found making stupid arguments and fighting amongst themselves if you ever visited the places frequented by the usual Oshoites. You may be amazed to see the number of times they might utter the phrases like spirituality, consciousness and love…yet providing no hint of any experience if they ever had about these words! You should expect a mass of dry and barren souls to come your way, if you ever decided to visit the ordinary Oshoites. At the same time, those knowing Osho better might hardly open up their mouths ever, since they too are tired of mingling with these meaningless heads.
I have also noticed, how the old timers are increasingly complaining about the changes being infused into the Pune commune and the movement’s overall mood. The problem lies again in what I stated earlier. Osho was so omnipresent during his heydays, that nothing could diminish his aura. However, the commune started fading away somewhat as soon as his physical existence ceased to exist. This is why perhaps, the Pune Ashram has now been given the facelift of a meditation resort, since they know it is simply not possible to embody what Osho stood for. Nobody can, to be frank. The original was so vast and fulfilling that none of his substitutes, including the communes, can ever think of imitating his presence in any manner. (There is one so-called Rajneesh incarnation as well who is selling his books free online…lolz)
Obviously, it was only after Osho’s demise that the anti-Osho forces began to sniff their first ever chance, something the past and disgruntled Oshoites like Christopher Calder have flourished upon in the recent years. In my opinion, it is the rot of Sanyasins more than Osho’s so-called misconduct, is what we have been witnessing through Calder’s outburst recently. No doubt, the guru must have donned the role of Mulla Nasruddin (read shrewdness) he often spoke of to make this circus he presided manageable, but the more I see the variety of Oshoites I mentioned above, the more I appreciate him for his impeccable performance. These Sanyasins are no ordinary souls for sure. They must have vigorously fought for sex, trance and drugs in those days and later diverted all the frustrations on master.
Even though, the present Osho movement lacks in courage to face up to the challenge posed by Calder, it is the movement’s own incapacities that might see its downfall (if it was to happen ever) more than any of Calder’s arguments in my opinion. The whole opposition to Osho survives on his presence around. They are playing out his shadow, nothing more, and so would always keep following into his footsteps. The shadows (or negatives) make out Osho more insightful, interesting, colorful and rational sounding than what (the two-dimensional portrayals) his core followers might seem to portray about him.
Osho’s healing discourses and words are more significant for a majority of his well-wishers, and it is this treasure, which needs being preserved for the future generations. Let Osho’s communes and his stagnant followers dilute into the air…who cares. But, the guru’s discourses must be digitalized and made available to each and all of those that might need his healing prowess. Remember, whatever the wounded Calder might say, we know how magical and healing Osho was and would always be. And this means more than anything else - which includes ongoing fights, claims and counterclaims by his supporters and detractors both – for a person like me.
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To the regular Oshoites: Please don’t taken my criticism too seriously. Hope you keep on flourishing.
One Osho sympathizer, Anthony Thompson, has been refuting most of the anti-Osho propaganda being circulated around. Click here to look at it (also shared in my previous post on this issue).
Check out more by Mr Thompson on this issue here.
Osho’s healing discourses and words are more significant for a majority of his well-wishers, and it is this treasure, which needs being preserved for the future generations. Let Osho’s communes and his stagnant followers dilute into the air…who cares. But, the guru’s discourses must be digitalized and made available to each and all who might need to go through his healing experience.
I absolutely agree with the above. Very well said.
new link to my article
http://truthaboutosho.blogspot.com/
Thanks Anthony. I have updated the concerned link.
As many others preachers, words from Oshos must be taken with certain caution. In what concern to meditation first steps, no problem, for this is a universal teaching. But when Osho talks about history, in many instances, he makes many deep and wrong interpretations. In this case, he steals the beauty of the hsytory and gathers beautyful things just in one basket. Unfortunatley he wants to put his authority on this. History has its reasons and causes, good or bad and it evolves as the time goes. Buddha is more than he talks, Krishna and Jesus-Christ too. The reason for their existence in “our” world is not only our “nirvana” or to awaken us. Many things run parelled to this. But Osho´s refusal to history has made him incomplete. The issue is more deep than he could aprehend. Regards
I think it also depends on how you look at what Osho professed and from which intellectual position you do this. I distinctly divide Osho’s well-wishers and critics into two groups. The first one consists of those who might have personally known Osho or had been to his communes. They had and do still have a deeper understanding about all things Osho, and in many cases a little far more than what they should have known about him.
The other side consists of a distant listener like this blogger, who has no idea of what transpired in and around Osho. This group also consists of a large number of his critics who have funny reasons to look down at him. One of my friends who did not pursue Osho’s transitional ways when at home in India, once told me the reason of hating him as a preacher. She had listened to his sound track on her way to the USA, while awaiting in a lounge for her connecting flight, and within two minutes of listening to his arguments, she came to the conclusion, this man was a complete jerk.
I believe a large number of Osho’s well-wishers, including myself, never bother about how he describes the history or its figures. For them, Osho’s ability to read through their minds is a miracle, a reassuring act and a bigger aspect than any other thing. The rest becomes insignificant in the later journey (though it may vary from individual to individual). I could connect with Budhdha, Krishna and Meera more deeply than ever before, after listening to Osho’s discourses on them and the effort he made to de-condition you from popular beliefs surrounding them. De-conditioning was the key in my case and not exactly how Osho does it. I could find myself an enhanced human being after having listened to his ideas. Whether this was complete or not in someone’s opinion doesn’t matter in my case. The fact that Osho ceased to be my guiding force and later became a companion in my inner journey, is impressive in itself. However, I can not generalize and enforce my own views onto others. They should make their own judgment regarding Osho’s preaching caliber, and all opinions count in this context – however diverse they may be.
That message was only intended to test you. Due to the answer, it will not be fruitful, for both sides, continuing. I deeply apoligise for giving you work on answering that. I do not have this right.
Ricardo, from what I’ve seen, people often indulge in fruitless chatters about Osho. This includes some very serious debaters. I’ve spent enough time observing this in the real and cyber domains, both. And this was also the reason for starting to write about him in my own blog. I’ve a very specific opinion about him, which seeks taking the good and leaving the bad out of him. Those who spent years following him until the point of his demise – and my criticism, if any, is directed more towards them – before beginning to complain, do not make any sense to this blogger. They still have had my sympathy and it only helped me better understand the Osho phenomenon by listening to their side of the story. The official stand is somewhat Utopian and unrealistic beyond a certain degree.
The rational of examining “good Osho”, is what my whole blogging means to be, specially to help those who might be in two minds about his legacy, also the reason why I answer any critical opinion about him to keep my blog targeted upon my own perceived goal. In any case, it is futile IMHO to try measuring people through an odd comment such as my previous one. My previous reference “from which intellectual position you opine” had its own inherent meaning in this regard.
Finally, I hope to give my visitors a separate area for debating Osho and all sundry stuff here soon. I do not intend to intervene in those arguments, whenever I can do it.
Once the master departs, there is nothing left but the business. I am not surprised that the Koregaon park one does not share bliss vibes. It is more like a resort now.
Here you can fine so many Osho’s audio, videos and e-books
http://www/oshoworld.com and http://www.messagefrommasters.com
Lol.. Trying Osho meditations will certainly provide some clues to what he is “really” trying to convey. But, if people are only interested in research and analysis meditations are not necessary; still they can make beautiful castles off of his words. Frankly, understanding Osho through logic is not a wise thing to do. Because, Osho himself will soon blew those castles away (without notice). Hey, but it is fun!