Osho Talks

Osho or Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was born in 1931 in Central India. He was a charismatic and gifted speaker who went on to become a leader of the new global spiritual movement. He is said to have attained enlightenment or enlightenment at the age of 21. At the time he was studying philosophy at Sauger University. After obtaining his master’s degree, he taught philosophy at Jabalpur University for nine years. In addition to teaching philosophy, he also began to encourage students to follow his own philosophical and religious eclecticism. In 1966, he decided to relinquish his teaching position to devote himself fully to the role of spiritual teacher.

In 1970, he temporarily lived in Mumbai. He initiates disciples (called new sannyasins) and assumes the role of spiritual master. In his lectures, he reinterprets the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974, he moved to Pune, India, with his students. Here, he established a new ashram in the comfort of 6 acres. In 1980, he was attacked by an Indian fundamentalist who disagreed with Osho’s unconventional approach to religion and spirituality. The attackers were never convicted due to police incompetence, it is said.

In 1981, Osho immigrated to the United States, and his followers formed an intentional community in Oregon that came to be known as Rajneeshpuram. Within a year, community leaders clashed with local residents, mostly over land use, with both sides hostile. Osho is also notorious for his extensive collection of Rolls-Royce cars. The Oregon Commune collapsed in 1985 when news emerged that some members of the Commune had committed a series of serious crimes, including a bioterror attack (food contamination) on residents of The Dalles.

Shortly thereafter, Osho was arrested and charged with violating immigration laws. He was deported from the United States under a plea agreement. Twenty-one countries denied him entry, prompting Osho to travel the world before returning to Pune, where he died in 1990. His monastery is now known as Osho International Meditation Resort. His fusional teachings emphasize the importance of meditation, awareness, love, celebration, creativity, and humor—traits that he believes can be inhibited by adherence to static belief systems, religious traditions, and socialization. His teachings have had a notable influence on Western New Age thought, and their popularity has grown significantly since his death.