Leaving again, no drama

[Kalevala]

That's what I do. I fight through it, but that's also fate. Everything that happens is fate imo. I'm winning the fight. That's why I feel so content.

It's not fate.  PLEASE get some help...I suspect that you have healthcare?  Take advantage of it.  Make an appointment and show up.  You can do it.

K

[AnotherSpin]

Very entertaining and insightful. Well written.
Of course one has to get out of it what one can use, but it's very satisfying to me this far.
There's some contradiction that he writes about nothingness while he describes it as energy.

I agree, Osho's books are well-written. My attitude towards him has changed very sharply through the years, unlike with almost anyone else. My first impression, in the late 70s or early 80s, was overwhelming. I remember that after Osho (back then he was still Rajneesh), I couldn't read anything for a month or two. Then, for many years, he seemed like harmful and dangerous reading, brainwashing people. About ten years ago, I returned to him, although I still don't agree with everything. Five or six years ago, I visited Osho's ashram in Pune, India, and that finally reconciled me with him. However, it's other Indian teachers that seem more appealing to me.

[Henk]

It's not fate.  PLEASE get some help...I suspect that you have healthcare?  Take advantage of it.  Make an appointment and show up.  You can do it.

K

There's absolutely no problem.. 🤗

[Henk]

I agree, Osho's books are well-written. My attitude towards him has changed very sharply through the years, unlike with almost anyone else. My first impression, in the late 70s or early 80s, was overwhelming. I remember that after Osho (back then he was still Rajneesh), I couldn't read anything for a month or two. Then, for many years, he seemed like harmful and dangerous reading, brainwashing people. About ten years ago, I returned to him, although I still don't agree with everything. Five or six years ago, I visited Osho's ashram in Pune, India, and that finally reconciled me with him. However, it's other Indian teachers that seem more appealing to me.

Intruiging personal history.

You made me curious, what other Indian teachers?

[AnotherSpin]

Intruiging personal history.

You made me curious, what other Indian teachers?

It seems to me that I have already finished my search, which took many years and travels. Nevertheless, I can mention a few names. One must understand, however, that in India, there were no teachers in the Western sense. It is believed there that truth is beyond words, and conveying it doesn't require carefully structured mental constructs. Non-verbal transmission may be more important. Moreover, none of the Indian teachers (I use this word for lack of a better one) wrote books; some didn't even speak at all. What is published is often recordings of conversations or satsangs. For me, the most important are Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, U.G.Krishnamurti, Papaji. Some Western followers of Indian masters, such as Robert Adams, Karl Renz, Gangaji. I'm sure I've forgotten someone. Paul Brunton's book, A Search in Secret India, may work for an introduction.

[vandermolen]

Osho - aka, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh - was a straight up criminal and bona fide cult leader. 

I read or partly read one of his book but didn't like the way that he rubbished the work of other writers. It put me off reading anything else by him but maybe my loss.

[Todd]

I read or partly read one of his book but didn't like the way that he rubbished the work of other writers. It put me off reading anything else by him but maybe my loss.

My biggest problems with the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh/Osho were that his cult literally destroyed the town of Antelope, Oregon and also conducted the first bioterror attack on the United States in the lovely Columbia River Gorge town of The Dalles, among other crimes.  From the Homeland Security Digital Library: Rajneeshee Bioterror Attack.  His actions more than offset his "ideas", such as they were.  A perfect, light-hearted analogy is Bill Cosby.  He was very funny back in the day.  He also drugged and raped dozens of women. Cosby and Osho are soulmates of a sort.

[Henk]

It seems to me that I have already finished my search, which took many years and travels. Nevertheless, I can mention a few names. One must understand, however, that in India, there were no teachers in the Western sense. It is believed there that truth is beyond words, and conveying it doesn't require carefully structured mental constructs. Non-verbal transmission may be more important. Moreover, none of the Indian teachers (I use this word for lack of a better one) wrote books; some didn't even speak at all. What is published is often recordings of conversations or satsangs. For me, the most important are Ramana Maharshi, Nisargadatta Maharaj, U.G.Krishnamurti, Papaji. Some Western followers of Indian masters, such as Robert Adams, Karl Renz, Gangaji. I'm sure I've forgotten someone. Paul Brunton's book, A Search in Secret India, may work for an introduction.

Thanks, will search for the book by Brunton.

[AnotherSpin]

Thanks, will search for the book by Brunton.

Feel free to pm me if you want any input on books on Indian topics

[AnotherSpin]

Osho - aka, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh - was a straight up criminal and bona fide cult leader. 

As Jesus.

[Todd]

As Jesus.

LOL.

[LKB]

Good luck, Henk. 

[AnotherSpin]

I read or partly read one of his book but didn't like the way that he rubbished the work of other writers. It put me off reading anything else by him but maybe my loss.

Honestly, I don't recall any examples of Osho rubbishing the work of others. Yes, he didn't hold Sigmund Freud, M.K. Gandhi, or Karl Marx in particularly high regard, but he always explained what specifically triggered his criticism. On the other hand, any critical statements toward Buddha or Christ were mainly directed at the traditional interpretations of Buddhism or Christianity. Osho often combined respect with criticism, using provocative methods to make people reconsider their beliefs or concepts. He enjoyed pushing people out of their comfort zones and waking them from their complacent slumber.

Added: Your comment made me think, as there have indeed been cases where famous philosophers spoke ill of each other. The first thing that came to mind was Schopenhauer's repeated attacks on Hegel. Now that was some real rubbishing! Wittgenstein on Popper, the poker story. Camus and Sartre. Surely, there are other examples as well.

[Todd]

He's also a shit writer whose books are full of platitudes, which is not unlike Nietzsche, so it makes sense that if you liked one, you'd like the other.

Steve-O is more spiritually fulfilling and profound than Osho.  Plus, he's not a terrorist.

[AnotherSpin]

He's also a shit writer whose books are full of platitudes, which is not unlike Nietzsche, so it makes sense that if you liked one, you'd like the other.

Osho did not write books.

[Todd]

He turned out to be so wholesome, and also not a terrorist. I like that as a modifier to a name.

One would think that pointing out someone's non-terrorist nature would be unnecessary, but, alas, that is clearly not the case.

[vandermolen]

Honestly, I don't recall any examples of Osho rubbishing the work of others. Yes, he didn't hold Sigmund Freud, M.K. Gandhi, or Karl Marx in particularly high regard, but he always explained what specifically triggered his criticism. On the other hand, any critical statements toward Buddha or Christ were mainly directed at the traditional interpretations of Buddhism or Christianity. Osho often combined respect with criticism, using provocative methods to make people reconsider their beliefs or concepts. He enjoyed pushing people out of their comfort zones and waking them from their complacent slumber.

Added: Your comment made me think, as there have indeed been cases where famous philosophers spoke ill of each other. The first thing that came to mind was Schopenhauer's repeated attacks on Hegel. Now that was some real rubbishing! Wittgenstein on Popper, the poker story. Camus and Sartre. Surely, there are other examples as well.

Thanks. I think that I threw the book out or gave it to the local charity shop. As far as I recall he was very dismissive of a book called 'Peace of Mind' by Joshua Liebman, which I had found very helpful. Yes, it may have been rather superficial but I still found it helpful. The author, who died young, was a rabbi and I wondered if 'Oshu's' dismissal of the book was motivated by anti-semitism but maybe this was indicative of my own paranoia. Of course Marx and Freud were also of Jewish origins.

[Henk]

Feel free to pm me if you want any input on books on Indian topics

Thanks for the offer.

[AnotherSpin]

Thanks. I think that I threw the book out or gave it to the local charity shop. As far as I recall he was very dismissive of a book called 'Peace of Mind' by Joshua Liebman, which I had found very helpful. Yes, it may have been rather superficial but I still found it helpful. The author, who died young, was a rabbi and I wondered if 'Oshu's' dismissal of the book was motivated by anti-semitism but maybe this was indicative of my own paranoia. Of course Marx and Freud were also of Jewish origins.

Osho spoke positively about Einstein, who was Jewish. Of course, Osho mocked all forms of organized religion, but at the heart of his teaching was the need to overcome identity-based conflicts. I have never heard of Joshua Liebman and do not recall seeing any mentions of him by Osho. Therefore, I have nothing to say in this regard.

[Florestan]

All my best to you, @!Henk! May you have a good and fulfilling life, whatever you chose to do!