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I Teach Religiousness Not Religion
WITH HIS INFALLIBLE POWER OF SPEECH, UNFAILING VOICE AND PECULIAR THOUGHTS, OSHO HAS CAPTIVATED THE HIGHLY INTELLECTUAL PEOPLE. THIS BOOK IS THE COLLECTION OF 22 OF HIS SELECTED LECTURES. ACTUALLY, CALLING THEM LECTURE IS AN INJUSTICE TO THEM, THEY ARE A BLEND OF LECTURES AND LEGENDS, THEY BLEND TOGETHER ALL THE QUALITIES OF THESE TWO FORMS. ONCE WE START READING THIS BOOK, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO NOTICE THE TIME THAT IS PASSING, WE WILL BE LOST IN IT. THE TITLE ITSELF IS A SYMBOL THAT OSHO CONSIDERS EVERYTHING FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. IN THIS BOOK, HE INTERSECTED THE WORD `RELIGION`. HE ADMITS TO BEING RELIGIOUS THOUGH. FOR HIM TRUE RELIGIOUSNESS LIES IN BEING GOOD, AND HAVING A PERFECT CONDUCT. HAVE WE UNDERSTOOD IT EARLIER? RELIGION HAS AFFECTED THE PUBLIC OPINION TREMENDOUSLY. IT HAS INFLUENCED THE SOCIETY WITH VIEWS LIKE GOD, SIN AND VIRTUE, HEAVEN AND HELL, RESOLUTION OF MIND, SACRIFICE, ETC. NATURALLY, SUCH A PERSON WILL FIND OSHO`S THOUGHTS REBELLIOUS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COME UP WITH SUCH THOUGHTS UNLESS ONE HAS STUDIED PERVASIVELY, CONTEMPLATED IN DEPTH AND HAS IMMENSE INTELLIGENCE. THE PECULIAR FEATURES OF OSHO"S LECTURES ARE HIS SWEET LANGUAGE WITH CONTINUOUS FLOW, HUMOUR, AND THE JOKES THAT HE TELLS IN BETWEEN. READING THE BOOK IS LIKE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HIM IN REAL. EVEN AFTER COMPLETING THE BOOK WE HEAR HIS DIALOGUES IN OUR MIND. WE KEEP ON FLOATING IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT FOR A LONG TIME...गेली सुमारे तीनचार दशके, आपल्या अमोघ वाणीने आणि वेगळ्या विचाराने बुद्धिमंतांना मंत्रमुग्ध करणाया ओशोंच्या निवडक बावीस व्याख्यानांचे संकलन म्हणजेच 'मी धार्मिकता शिकवतो, धर्म नाही' हे पुस्तक. ह्या पुस्तकातील लेखांना व्याख्याने तरी कसे म्हणायचे? व्याख्यान आणि आख्यान ह्या दोहोंचा समन्वय साधणारा हा आगळावेगळा प्रकार आहे. मात्र एकदा पुस्तक वाचायला सुरुवात केल्यावर आपण त्या वाचनात गुंगून जातो. ओशो प्रत्येक गोष्टीकडे वेगळ्या दृष्टिकोनातून पाहतात. हे त्यांचे वैशिष्ट्य ह्या पुस्तकाच्या नावावरूनच आपल्या लक्षात येते. त्यांनी इथे 'धर्म' ह्या संकल्पनेलाच छेद दिला आहे. मात्र 'धार्मिकता' ही संकल्पना ते मान्य करतात. अर्थात, 'धार्मिकते'चा त्यांनी लावलेला अर्थ 'योग्य, चांगलं आचरण' असा आहे. हा अर्थही आपल्याला अभिप्रेत असलेल्या अर्थापेक्षा वेगळाच आहे. धर्माने लोकमानसावर देव, पापपुण्य, स्वर्गनरक, मनोनिग्रह, त्याग अशा गोष्टींचा इतका जबरदस्त पगडा बसवला आहे, की ओशोंचे विचार अशा मनाला अतिशय क्रांतिकारक वाटल्यास नवल नाही. सखोल चिंतनशीलता, प्रगाढ बुद्धिमत्ता आणि व्यापक अभ्यास
- GenresNonfictionPhilosophy
140 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
4 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,359 books6,788 followersRajneesh (born Chandra Mohan Jain, 11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990) and latter rebranded as Osho was leader of the Rajneesh movement. During his lifetime he was viewed as a controversial new religious movement leader and mystic.
In the 1960s he traveled throughout India as a public speaker and was a vocal critic of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindu religious orthodoxy.
Rajneesh emphasized the importance of meditation, mindfulness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humor—qualities that he viewed as being suppressed by adherence to static belief systems, religious tradition and socialization.
In advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality he caused controversy in India during the late 1960s and became known as "the sex guru".
In 1970, Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as "neo-sannyasins". During this period he expanded his spiritual teachings and commented extensively in discourses on the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974 Rajneesh relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established and a variety of therapies, incorporating methods first developed by the Human Potential Movement, were offered to a growing Western following. By the late 1970s, the tension between the ruling Janata Party government of Morarji Desai and the movement led to a curbing of the ashram's development and a back taxes claim estimated at $5 million.
In 1981, the Rajneesh movement's efforts refocused on activities in the United States and Rajneesh relocated to a facility known as Rajneeshpuram in Wasco County, Oregon. Almost immediately the movement ran into conflict with county residents and the state government, and a succession of legal battles concerning the ashram's construction and continued development curtailed its success.
In 1985, in the wake of a series of serious crimes by his followers, including a mass food poisoning attack with Salmonella bacteria and an aborted assassination plot to murder U.S. Attorney Charles H. Turner, Rajneesh alleged that his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela and her close supporters had been responsible. He was later deported from the United States in accordance with an Alford plea bargain.[
After his deportation, 21 countries denied him entry. He ultimately returned to India and a revived Pune ashram, where he died in 1990. Rajneesh's ashram, now known as OSHO International Meditation Resort and all associated intellectual property, is managed by the Zurich registered Osho International Foundation (formerly Rajneesh International Foundation). Rajneesh's teachings have had a notable impact on Western New Age thought, and their popularity has increased markedly since his death.
In the 1960s he traveled throughout India as a public speaker and was a vocal critic of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindu religious orthodoxy.
Rajneesh emphasized the importance of meditation, mindfulness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humor—qualities that he viewed as being suppressed by adherence to static belief systems, religious tradition and socialization.
In advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality he caused controversy in India during the late 1960s and became known as "the sex guru".
In 1970, Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as "neo-sannyasins". During this period he expanded his spiritual teachings and commented extensively in discourses on the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974 Rajneesh relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established and a variety of therapies, incorporating methods first developed by the Human Potential Movement, were offered to a growing Western following. By the late 1970s, the tension between the ruling Janata Party government of Morarji Desai and the movement led to a curbing of the ashram's development and a back taxes claim estimated at $5 million.
In 1981, the Rajneesh movement's efforts refocused on activities in the United States and Rajneesh relocated to a facility known as Rajneeshpuram in Wasco County, Oregon. Almost immediately the movement ran into conflict with county residents and the state government, and a succession of legal battles concerning the ashram's construction and continued development curtailed its success.
In 1985, in the wake of a series of serious crimes by his followers, including a mass food poisoning attack with Salmonella bacteria and an aborted assassination plot to murder U.S. Attorney Charles H. Turner, Rajneesh alleged that his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela and her close supporters had been responsible. He was later deported from the United States in accordance with an Alford plea bargain.[
After his deportation, 21 countries denied him entry. He ultimately returned to India and a revived Pune ashram, where he died in 1990. Rajneesh's ashram, now known as OSHO International Meditation Resort and all associated intellectual property, is managed by the Zurich registered Osho International Foundation (formerly Rajneesh International Foundation). Rajneesh's teachings have had a notable impact on Western New Age thought, and their popularity has increased markedly since his death.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 9, 2020
Warning:
For those of you who are deeply religious and nurse steadfast beliefs, read no further. This book will leave you not merely nonplussed, but downright incensed. Trenchant, provocative, irreverent and radical, “I Teach Religiousness Not Religion” (the book) provides a more than just a sneak peek into the philosophy which made the self-proclaimed Godman Osho, one of the most reviled public figures in the realm of spirituality.
The book is a short collection of discourses where Osho holds forth on various topics in an attempt to clarify doubts raised by his devotees/disciples. The topics dealt with cover a wide gamut of subjects both complex and simple such as God, guilt, belief, meditation, laughter and enlightenment. Writing in a style that is deceivingly simple, Osho intersperses his philosophical musings with ribald humour, risqué anecdotes and arresting Zen stories.
So what is this religiousness that is peculiarly divorced from religion? This according to Osho seems to be a fluid, albeit shifting and vibrant concept. “Religiousness is a flowing river continuously changing its course but ultimately reaching the ocean.” The man might be an avid believer in Heraclitus. While this might offer the reader a few points to ponder what succeeds the definition is pure mayhem unhinged.
Taking a swipe at all religions, Osho terms them all dead rocks leading no one anywhere. But his most vitriolic jibe is reserved for Christianity. Arguing that in o far as harming the humanity is considered, Christianity stands at the very top, he goes on to back this incredulous and incendiary claim with equally outlandish justifications. Consider this: “they have used beautiful words to hide the ugly acts they are doing against you – for example, unselfishness. A man who does not know himself, to tell him to be unselfish is so outrageously idiotic that one cannot believe that for two thousand years Christianity has been doing that.”
One of the most controversial chapters in the book (a very difficult choice to make since almost every chapter seems to written with the intention of muckraking and stirring hornets’ nests), seems to be the one lashing out at Celibacy. Although not surprising from a man whose philosophical corner stone revolved around a concept termed “From Sex to Salvation”, the ire Osho reserves for celibates is putting it mildly – intense. Terming celibacy a ‘deadly virtue’, Osho blames the religious leaders for propagating this ‘unnatural’ phenomenon. Employing a logic that is downright illogical and a figment of rabid imagination, he goes on to argue that a natural outcome of celibacy is AIDS. Yes, you read it right! “Teaching celibacy is against nature. Then putting monks into monasteries and nuns into separate places and not allowing them to meet, you created homosexuality, you created lesbianism. And now homosexuality has brought AIDS. Every Government of the should declare celibacy a crime. And anybody who preaches celibacy should be immediately imprisoned, because he is the cause of a deadly disease, AIDS, which is spreading far and wide. Of nuclear weapons don’t kill you, AIDS will kill you.” Wonder what this man’s notions on Corona virus and Ebola would have been.
Waxing eloquent on David Yallop’s controversial book on Christianity and the Vatican, Osho spews fire on everything religious and its attendants. No wonder this man was threatened with dire consequences by the Greek law enforcement agencies and made to leave the country along with its commune.
Like an author pumped up to his neck in steroids, Osho also offers ridiculous and asinine suggestions to heal a fractured world. Asking the Jews to abandon Israel, he offers his commune in the United States to be occupied by them. This commune may then be termed Israel!
Most of the chapters are nothing more than mere rants and rambles. The pointless ambling is interrupted at points by an adult joke or a lewd parable. Truly the spouting of a man unhinged. Osho attracted controversy like bees attracted by honey. Seeking to flee the wrath of the Indian Government for his controversial views and practices, Osho or Rajneesh fled to the United States with 2,000 of his disciples, preferring to settling on a 100-square-mile ranch in central Oregon, which he named Rancho Rajneesh. There, Rajneesh and his devotees commenced to construct their own buildings and design their own city, which they unimaginatively called Rajneeshpuram.
Soon a flash point was reached between the local Government and the commune as its inhabitants went on a crazy spree of murder, wiretapping, voter fraud, arson and a mass salmonella poisoning in 1984 that affected more than 700 people. Deported by the United States Government and denied entry by many others the defamed and defanged Godman was forced to spend his remaining life in India, until his death due to heart failure in 1990.
I teach religiousness not religion – an obnoxious exercise in indecipherable blasphemy.
For those of you who are deeply religious and nurse steadfast beliefs, read no further. This book will leave you not merely nonplussed, but downright incensed. Trenchant, provocative, irreverent and radical, “I Teach Religiousness Not Religion” (the book) provides a more than just a sneak peek into the philosophy which made the self-proclaimed Godman Osho, one of the most reviled public figures in the realm of spirituality.
The book is a short collection of discourses where Osho holds forth on various topics in an attempt to clarify doubts raised by his devotees/disciples. The topics dealt with cover a wide gamut of subjects both complex and simple such as God, guilt, belief, meditation, laughter and enlightenment. Writing in a style that is deceivingly simple, Osho intersperses his philosophical musings with ribald humour, risqué anecdotes and arresting Zen stories.
So what is this religiousness that is peculiarly divorced from religion? This according to Osho seems to be a fluid, albeit shifting and vibrant concept. “Religiousness is a flowing river continuously changing its course but ultimately reaching the ocean.” The man might be an avid believer in Heraclitus. While this might offer the reader a few points to ponder what succeeds the definition is pure mayhem unhinged.
Taking a swipe at all religions, Osho terms them all dead rocks leading no one anywhere. But his most vitriolic jibe is reserved for Christianity. Arguing that in o far as harming the humanity is considered, Christianity stands at the very top, he goes on to back this incredulous and incendiary claim with equally outlandish justifications. Consider this: “they have used beautiful words to hide the ugly acts they are doing against you – for example, unselfishness. A man who does not know himself, to tell him to be unselfish is so outrageously idiotic that one cannot believe that for two thousand years Christianity has been doing that.”
One of the most controversial chapters in the book (a very difficult choice to make since almost every chapter seems to written with the intention of muckraking and stirring hornets’ nests), seems to be the one lashing out at Celibacy. Although not surprising from a man whose philosophical corner stone revolved around a concept termed “From Sex to Salvation”, the ire Osho reserves for celibates is putting it mildly – intense. Terming celibacy a ‘deadly virtue’, Osho blames the religious leaders for propagating this ‘unnatural’ phenomenon. Employing a logic that is downright illogical and a figment of rabid imagination, he goes on to argue that a natural outcome of celibacy is AIDS. Yes, you read it right! “Teaching celibacy is against nature. Then putting monks into monasteries and nuns into separate places and not allowing them to meet, you created homosexuality, you created lesbianism. And now homosexuality has brought AIDS. Every Government of the should declare celibacy a crime. And anybody who preaches celibacy should be immediately imprisoned, because he is the cause of a deadly disease, AIDS, which is spreading far and wide. Of nuclear weapons don’t kill you, AIDS will kill you.” Wonder what this man’s notions on Corona virus and Ebola would have been.
Waxing eloquent on David Yallop’s controversial book on Christianity and the Vatican, Osho spews fire on everything religious and its attendants. No wonder this man was threatened with dire consequences by the Greek law enforcement agencies and made to leave the country along with its commune.
Like an author pumped up to his neck in steroids, Osho also offers ridiculous and asinine suggestions to heal a fractured world. Asking the Jews to abandon Israel, he offers his commune in the United States to be occupied by them. This commune may then be termed Israel!
Most of the chapters are nothing more than mere rants and rambles. The pointless ambling is interrupted at points by an adult joke or a lewd parable. Truly the spouting of a man unhinged. Osho attracted controversy like bees attracted by honey. Seeking to flee the wrath of the Indian Government for his controversial views and practices, Osho or Rajneesh fled to the United States with 2,000 of his disciples, preferring to settling on a 100-square-mile ranch in central Oregon, which he named Rancho Rajneesh. There, Rajneesh and his devotees commenced to construct their own buildings and design their own city, which they unimaginatively called Rajneeshpuram.
Soon a flash point was reached between the local Government and the commune as its inhabitants went on a crazy spree of murder, wiretapping, voter fraud, arson and a mass salmonella poisoning in 1984 that affected more than 700 people. Deported by the United States Government and denied entry by many others the defamed and defanged Godman was forced to spend his remaining life in India, until his death due to heart failure in 1990.
I teach religiousness not religion – an obnoxious exercise in indecipherable blasphemy.
June 19, 2013
still along way to go.
June 28, 2021
*The content of this book is not suitable for the pious or those sensitive about their religious beliefs
What I liked
The content and delivery was great. This book is reader friendly and is very easy to follow as it contains short and concise speeches from Osho.
There were some very interesting and highly debatable topics in this book. These topics contained different and unique perspectives about life and religion, and was occasionally eye-opening. I particularly enjoyed Chapter 7 and 13 of Part 1.
The sentiments shared by Osho were somewhat relatable and logical. He believes in the unity of the soul and body, in constant vigilance, and is opposed to the idea of renunciation. I felt that there was truth in his statements, although harsh and sometimes difficult to digest.
Chapter 8 of Part 1 was my personal favourite.
Overall, this is a great book for the open-minded and helps to broaden perspectives.
What I didn't like
The content is unnecessarily harsh. He is 100% anti organised religion, and calls it a crime numerous times. He does not explore the alternative arguments to his thoughts.
For example, it can be argued that his methods and philosophy will be counterintuitive to those who inherently lack empathy i.e those with mild psychopathic and/or serial killing tendencies where the only thing stopping them may well be their belief in God and religion.
Some parts of his content lacks fact-checking.
What I liked
The content and delivery was great. This book is reader friendly and is very easy to follow as it contains short and concise speeches from Osho.
There were some very interesting and highly debatable topics in this book. These topics contained different and unique perspectives about life and religion, and was occasionally eye-opening. I particularly enjoyed Chapter 7 and 13 of Part 1.
The sentiments shared by Osho were somewhat relatable and logical. He believes in the unity of the soul and body, in constant vigilance, and is opposed to the idea of renunciation. I felt that there was truth in his statements, although harsh and sometimes difficult to digest.
Chapter 8 of Part 1 was my personal favourite.
Overall, this is a great book for the open-minded and helps to broaden perspectives.
What I didn't like
The content is unnecessarily harsh. He is 100% anti organised religion, and calls it a crime numerous times. He does not explore the alternative arguments to his thoughts.
For example, it can be argued that his methods and philosophy will be counterintuitive to those who inherently lack empathy i.e those with mild psychopathic and/or serial killing tendencies where the only thing stopping them may well be their belief in God and religion.
Some parts of his content lacks fact-checking.
March 10, 2023
Its a collection of short answers to questions asked by people, mostly related to religion and its beliefs. It rejects all the religions with logic. Infact ot holds religions responsible for all the misery and sufferings of human kind.
If you are a religious person believing one religion to be supreme over others, there are high chances that you will get offended at one or other point. But if you are open to logical arguments , you will like it.
If you are a religious person believing one religion to be supreme over others, there are high chances that you will get offended at one or other point. But if you are open to logical arguments , you will like it.
June 24, 2024
Osho makes compelling arguments against religions and the Gods the way world pursue them. Although some of the examples are factually inaccurate, but they still drive the point home. Its a good read and definitely questions the set wisdom by religions.
April 28, 2022
At times the book sounds quite offensive and feels like surfacely criticizing religions without complete story on mind. But the take away message is excellent 🙏
June 9, 2015
Man is crushed between the devil and the god, between good and evil. Amazing read !
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April 23, 2019Excellemt book
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews