Ah This!

by Osho

In these talks, Osho introduces his audience to Zen, with its emphasis on being alert and attentive to the simplest acts of ordinary life as a way to experience meditation. Zen stories serve as a starting point for several talks in the series, illuminating the nature of that rare human capacity to transcend the limits of the rational mind.

Genres: Spirituality, Philosophy, Zen, Buddhism, Audiobook, Nonfiction, Religion

Audio CD

First published December 1, 1982

About the author

Rajneesh (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.

Reviews

[Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took a long time over this and savoured it. A nice collection of Zen stories, interpretations, and Osho's piercing insights.

"…all conclusions are dangerous because once you conclude you become fanatical about your conclusion, you start clinging to it. You become afraid of truth, because who knows? truth may disturb your conclusion, and your conclusion is so cozy and so convenient, and it has helped to give you a certain feeling of security…"

[Amanda FIRST NAME · Rating 5 out of 5]

Osho, forever my guru. One of the most enlightening reads and discourses.

[Bhakta Kishor · Rating 3 out of 5]

To see the false; that is see our illusions, and move away from the false, then that which is, is truth. But we have so many illusions, and these are the contributory factors of our disorder. To be aware of this whole movement of disorder, not to say I must dissolve them, in order to have order, but to observe it very closely, with all your energy, then that state of disorder in oneself disappears entirely. That is to put one's house in order. There is order then, and there is no contradiction. You mean what you say, exactly. There's no double talk. That means one has to be a light to oneself, not follow anybody. In the realm of the spirit there is no authority, no intermediary between you and that reality, the truth. But we have allowed ourselves to have intermediaries, leaders and so on. So if we understand this nature of disorder, then out of that comes, naturally, easily and sweetly, order - which is the highest form of virtue, in our action, in our thinking and so on.

☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯

[Diane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So odd!

I picked this up because of the title. I had been contemplating how to label unproductive thoughts as they arose during the day. I don't really like the phrase, "It is what it is" as it seems a bit too accepting. I was searching for something that could be used that was equally non-judgemental but also didn't dismiss a need to change.

So, "Ah, this" jumped out at me. I realize this isn't Osho's invention but it is a useful phrase.

The rest of the book was a bit of a mishmash of ramblings, spiritual aphorisms and politically incorrect (but funny) jokes. There was a chapter on sexual freedom and then the book suddenly came to an end, with an invitation to the meditation centre in Pune India. Think I will definitely pass on that!

Ah, this!

[Chimedee M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, this!

[J. Maximilian Jarrett II · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and insightful commentary on the essence and life transforming power of Zen practice. Highly recommended.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth bombs. Deeper than any Tony Robbinsish character is touting on social media. Thank you once again OSHO!

[Laurent Szklarz]

...

[Ha Hoang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Osho's take on meditation. Humorous and humble, as always. And also turn his back on all kinds of religion, as always.

[red-tulip]

Tôi muốn bạn hoàn toàn bị bật gốc, bị khó chịu, bị xáo trộn. Tôi muốn tạo ra hỗn loạn trong bạn, vì chỉ từ hỗn loạn, những ngôi sao mới được sinh ra

[Trần Văn Tiến · Rating 5 out of 5]

Done.

[Surendhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to be remembered.

All I received this time is “fragments of an unknown teaching”. Need to read it again.

Be aware and take no notice. Quite contrary right? That is Osho for you! 😊

[Manpreet Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learn in this book is "take no notice"😇

[Mr B Agunbiade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seem radical but revolutionary

This should actually be taught in schools although it's deemed not to be a teaching. However the earlier this is practiced the better. Amazing ideology.