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Death: The Greatest Fiction
Book by Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree
100 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Osho
4,351 books6,858 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.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 21, 2021
As controversial as the Osho community is, what's written in this book is truly AMAZING! So much of life should not be taken for granted, so much time should not be wasted. We need to learn to live and to die at the same time, and to fear less of death but embrace and celebrate it.
April 26, 2026
I didn’t expect Death: The Greatest Fiction by Osho to hit me this personally. I thought it would just be another philosophical read—but it actually made me stop and think about things I usually avoid.
The way he talks about death is very different from what we’re used to. He doesn’t treat it like something dark or tragic. Instead, he almost questions whether it’s something to fear at all. At first, that idea felt strange, even a little hard to accept. But as I kept reading, it started to make more sense in a quiet way. What really stayed with me was his idea that we’re not actually afraid of death—we’re afraid of losing control, losing our identity, everything we’ve built around ourselves. That felt a bit too real. It made me realise how much of what we do is just to avoid that feeling.
There were moments where I had to pause, not because it was hard to understand, but because it felt too honest. Especially when he talks about how we hold onto things—people, beliefs, achievements—just to feel secure.
One idea that stuck with me is that maybe it’s not death that’s the problem, but the way we live. That if we really understood life, death wouldn’t feel so scary.
The writing is simple and calm, but it stays with you. Even when he repeats ideas, it doesn’t feel unnecessary—it just makes you think about them more.
I’d honestly rate it 5 out of 5. Not because it’s perfect, but because it made me think in a way most books don’t. It didn’t feel like I was just reading. It felt like I was being quietly questioned the whole time.
If u ask me if u should read it ? I'll answer "IT'S A MUST".
The way he talks about death is very different from what we’re used to. He doesn’t treat it like something dark or tragic. Instead, he almost questions whether it’s something to fear at all. At first, that idea felt strange, even a little hard to accept. But as I kept reading, it started to make more sense in a quiet way. What really stayed with me was his idea that we’re not actually afraid of death—we’re afraid of losing control, losing our identity, everything we’ve built around ourselves. That felt a bit too real. It made me realise how much of what we do is just to avoid that feeling.
There were moments where I had to pause, not because it was hard to understand, but because it felt too honest. Especially when he talks about how we hold onto things—people, beliefs, achievements—just to feel secure.
One idea that stuck with me is that maybe it’s not death that’s the problem, but the way we live. That if we really understood life, death wouldn’t feel so scary.
The writing is simple and calm, but it stays with you. Even when he repeats ideas, it doesn’t feel unnecessary—it just makes you think about them more.
I’d honestly rate it 5 out of 5. Not because it’s perfect, but because it made me think in a way most books don’t. It didn’t feel like I was just reading. It felt like I was being quietly questioned the whole time.
If u ask me if u should read it ? I'll answer "IT'S A MUST".
February 10, 2021
Life changing book, really gives a different perspective of life and death, such a simple but life changing message.
December 24, 2016
Хлам, а не книга
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews