Osho

Osho

Hindu mystic and spiritual teacher
Date of Birth: 11.12.1931
Country: India

Content:
  1. Biography of Osho
  2. Early Life and Spiritual Awakening
  3. Controversies and Exile

Biography of Osho

Chandra Mohan Jain, also known as Acharya Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, or Osho, was an Indian mystic and spiritual teacher who gathered a significant number of followers worldwide. He was born on December 11, 1931, in Kuchwada, a small village in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. As the eldest of eleven children of a cloth merchant, Osho's upbringing was greatly influenced by his grandmother, who gave him almost unlimited freedom without imposing societal norms or restrictions.

 Osho

At the age of seven, Osho experienced the death of his beloved grandfather, which deeply affected him. In his youth, he also faced the death of his cousin, further intensifying his preoccupation with questions about mortality. Despite these tragedies, Osho excelled academically and became known for his talent and rebellious nature. He participated in debates and discussions, showcasing his intellect.

 Osho

In his adolescence, Osho became an atheist and delved into hypnosis. He collaborated with socialist movements and two independent Indian organizations, the Indian National Army and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. From the beginning of 1988, Osho primarily focused on Zen Buddhism. In December 1988, the mystic announced that he no longer wished to be called Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and adopted the name Osho. By this time, his health had significantly deteriorated.

 Osho

Osho's teachings emphasized the importance of meditation, awareness, love, creativity, and humor. According to Osho, these qualities were intentionally suppressed in individuals by traditional beliefs, religion, and moral norms. His principles strongly influenced the development of the Western New Age movement, and his popularity continued to grow after his death.

 Osho

On January 19, 1990, Osho passed away at the age of fifty-eight due to heart failure. His ashes were interred in one of the main structures of the Pune ashram. The epitaph read, "Osho. Never born. Never died. Only visited this planet from December 11, 1931, to January 19, 1990."

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening

In 1951, at the age of nineteen, Osho enrolled in Hitkarini College in Jabalpur. However, conflicts with his teachers led to his expulsion. He found a new home in D.N. Jain College in Jabalpur, where he studied philosophy. Osho experienced his spiritual awakening on March 21, 1953. He was meditating under a specific tree in the Bhawartal Garden in Jabalpur when he received spiritual wisdom. Over the following years, he worked as a professor of philosophy, traveling across India and delivering lectures.

During this time, Osho actively protested against socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and the bureaucratic religious system. He also preached a more liberated approach to human sexuality, earning him the title of a "sex guru" in India and later worldwide. In the 1970s, Osho established a community in Mumbai, where he gained numerous followers. This movement became known as the "neo-sannyasins."

In 1974, Osho relocated to Pune, where he founded a new ashram that attracted many Western seekers of wisdom. The ashram offered innovative healing techniques, which evolved from the Human Potential Movement, tailored for Western audiences. Osho's charismatic speaking skills and the government's tolerant approach to such organizations contributed to the widespread recognition of the ashram throughout India and abroad. However, by the late 1970s, even the Indian government could no longer tolerate the activities of the guru.

Controversies and Exile

In 1981, Osho and his followers moved to the United States, settling in a newly established commune in Oregon named Rajneeshpuram. Within a year, the community faced conflicts with the locals, primarily concerning land rights. Both sides engaged in aggressive behavior during the legal disputes. The presence of Osho's extensive collection of Rolls-Royces also raised uncomfortable questions.

In 1985, the Oregon commune was closed after evidence emerged linking the community's leadership to several serious crimes, including a bioterror attack involving food poisoning in Dallas. Osho himself was arrested and faced immigration issues. As part of a plea deal, he was deported from the United States. Twenty-one countries denied him entry, but after traveling for some time, Chandra returned to Pune, where he eventually passed away.

Today, his ashram, known as the Osho International Meditation Resort, continues to operate in Pune.

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