Meditation

1. Meditation is the Art of Celebration, Not Utilitarian Work

Meditation is not something to be done to achieve some goal–peace, bliss–but something to be enjoyed as an end in itself.

Festivity over Function. Osho reframes meditation as a joyful celebration of the present moment, contrasting it with the goal-oriented, utilitarian mindset that dominates modern life. He suggests that the constant pursuit of achievement narrows our consciousness, alienating us from our full potential and the simple pleasures of existence. By embracing a festive, playful approach, we break free from these self-imposed limitations and open ourselves to a deeper connection with life.

Choiceless Awareness. The essence of meditation lies in choiceless awareness, allowing the total existence to come in without judgment or expectation. This contrasts sharply with the focused concentration required for work, where we narrow our attention to a specific task. In meditation, we release this narrowing and embrace the totality of experience, fostering a sense of communion with the universe.

Attitude is Everything. Osho emphasizes that any moment can be either a business moment or a meditative moment, depending on our attitude. If we approach an activity with a choiceless, playful mindset, it becomes meditative. This shift in perspective transforms ordinary tasks into opportunities for celebration and connection, infusing life with a sense of joy and wonder.

2. Yoga is the Science of Freeing Yourself from Boundaries

Yoga is the science of freeing yourself from subject and object boundaries.

Transcending Duality. Yoga, according to Osho, is not merely a religion or a set of physical exercises, but a comprehensive science aimed at liberating us from the limitations of duality. This involves moving beyond the confines of subject and object, self and other, to experience pure, unbounded consciousness. By transcending these boundaries, we can achieve a state of wholeness and integration that eludes those trapped in the imbalances of Eastern or Western approaches to life.

Double-Arrowed Awareness. The initial step in yoga involves cultivating a double-arrowed awareness, where we are simultaneously conscious of both the object of our attention and the source of our consciousness. This practice helps us avoid losing ourselves in the external world and maintain a connection to our inner being. It's about remembering yourself even when engaged with something else.

Beyond Subject and Object. The ultimate goal of yoga is to transcend both subject and object, dissolving the sense of self and other to arrive at a state of pure consciousness. This unbounded awareness is free from the limitations of the individual and the external world, allowing us to experience the true nature of reality. This is where the boundaries dissolve, and only consciousness remains.

3. Non-Doing is Achieved Through Doing

Non-doing is meditation, but when I say non-doing is meditation I do not mean that you need not do anything.

The Paradox of Effort. Osho introduces the concept of non-doing through doing, a dialectical approach to meditation that acknowledges the necessity of effort in achieving a state of effortlessness. He argues that simply trying to relax is often counterproductive, as it creates a new tension on top of existing ones. Instead, he advocates for a process of intense activity that leads to a natural state of relaxation.

Dialectical Movement. Life energy works in contradictions, creating its own opposite through struggle. This dialectical movement is essential for progress, as each thesis generates an antithesis, leading to a synthesis that becomes the new thesis. In meditation, this means that intense tension can lead to profound relaxation, and focused action can lead to effortless awareness.

Exhaustion as a Gateway. The key to achieving non-doing is to push activity to its extreme, exhausting all possibilities for effort. This creates a verge point from which dropping into passivity becomes possible. By allowing activity to run its course, we create the conditions for a natural shift into a state of effortless awareness, where meditation flowers spontaneously.

4. Dynamic Meditation Releases Inborn Neurosis

Unless you become consciously insane, you can never become sane.

Humanity's Neurotic State. Osho posits that neurosis is not an individual ailment but a fundamental condition of humanity, stemming from our immature birth and the repressive nature of culture. This inborn neurosis creates a division within us, a constant conflict between our conscious and unconscious selves, preventing us from experiencing true ease and bliss. The goal, then, is not to correct a few individuals, but to heal humanity as a whole.

Catharsis as a Cure. To address this widespread neurosis, Osho advocates for a cathartic approach that allows for the release of repressed emotions and the integration of divided selves. This involves accepting and expressing what we are, rather than condemning and suppressing it. By consciously embracing our "insanity," we can begin to dissolve the inner divisions that hold us captive.

Dynamic Meditation. Osho's Dynamic Meditation technique is designed to facilitate this catharsis through a series of stages involving chaotic breathing, emotional release, and sound vibration. This process aims to break down the rigid structures of our conditioned minds and create a space for genuine transformation to occur. It is a method to become consciously mad, with a method.

5. Dynamic Meditation vs. Silent Meditation

With a mad dance, you begin to be aware of a silent point within you; with sitting silently, you begin to be aware of madness.

Active vs. Passive Approaches. Osho contrasts Dynamic Meditation with traditional silent meditation practices, arguing that the latter can be counterproductive for those burdened by inborn neurosis. He suggests that attempting to suppress the mind's activity through silent sitting can lead to increased frustration and a heightened awareness of inner turmoil. Instead, he proposes a more active approach that allows for the release of pent-up emotions and the discovery of inner stillness through movement.

The Value of Catharsis. Dynamic Meditation begins with a cathartic release of repressed emotions, allowing for the expression of anger, sadness, and other suppressed feelings. This process of emotional cleansing creates a sense of lightness and freedom, making it easier to access deeper states of meditation. It's about allowing your madness to come out so that you can find the silence within.

From Movement to Stillness. By engaging in vigorous physical activity, Dynamic Meditation helps to exhaust the mind's habitual patterns of thought and create a space for stillness to emerge spontaneously. This contrasts with silent meditation, where the mind is often left to wander aimlessly, reinforcing its chaotic tendencies. The goal is to move from movement to stillness, from action to non-action, through a process of conscious release.

6. Find the Divine by Moving Deeply into the Known

Do not long for the unknown; go deep into the known.

The Futility of Seeking. Osho challenges the conventional notion of seeking the divine, arguing that we can only seek what we already know. Instead, he encourages us to delve deeply into the present moment, to explore the depths of our own experience, rather than chasing after some distant, unattainable goal. By going deep into the known, we can stumble upon the doors to the unknown.

Being vs. Seeking. The act of seeking creates a sense of separation and postponement, trapping us in a cycle of desire and dissatisfaction. True fulfillment, according to Osho, comes not from seeking but from being fully present in the moment, from embracing the totality of our experience without judgment or expectation. It is about finding the divine within the ordinary.

The Actor's Dilemma. Osho identifies the "actor" within us as the source of our division and suffering. This actor is driven by desires, expectations, and memories, constantly projecting into the future and clinging to the past. By dissolving the actor and embracing the present moment, we can experience a state of non-divided consciousness, where the doer disappears and only the doing remains.

7. Kundalini: The Dialectical Awakening of Life Force

Kundalini is not felt because it is rising; kundalini is only felt if you do not have a very clear passage.

Beyond Theoretical Knowledge. Osho cautions against relying solely on theoretical knowledge about kundalini and chakras, arguing that such knowledge can be more harmful than helpful. He emphasizes the importance of direct experience and feeling, rather than imposing preconceived notions on our inner landscape. The path to awakening is deeply individual, and what works for one person may not work for another.

Resistance and Flow. The sensation of kundalini is not necessarily a sign of progress, but rather an indication of blockages in the energy channels. When the passage is clear, energy flows freely without being felt. It is only when there is resistance that we become aware of the kundalini's movement. Therefore, the goal is not to feel the kundalini, but to clear the path for its unobstructed flow.

Irrational Methods. Osho advocates for the use of irrational methods, such as Gurdjieff's Stop Exercise, to bypass the rational mind and access deeper levels of consciousness. These methods are designed to push us beyond our comfort zones and force us to confront the limits of reason. By embracing the irrational, we can open ourselves to transformative experiences that defy logical explanation.

8. Enlightenment: An Endless Beginning

Enlightenment has a beginning, but it never ends.

Beyond Degrees of Enlightenment. Osho asserts that enlightenment is not a gradual process with incremental improvements, but a singular event, a complete transformation of consciousness. Once it occurs, it is absolute and irreversible. However, this is not the end of the journey, but rather the beginning of an endless exploration of the divine.

The Nature of Mystery. Enlightenment is not about solving the mystery of existence, but about recognizing its inherent unsolvability. It is about embracing the unknown and surrendering to the vastness of the universe. This understanding brings a sense of peace and wonder, replacing the anxiety of seeking with the joy of simply being.

From Seeking to Being. The path to enlightenment involves a shift from seeking to being, from striving to achieve a goal to simply existing in the present moment. This requires letting go of our attachments to the past and our expectations for the future, and embracing the totality of our experience without judgment or resistance. It is about finding the divine within ourselves, rather than searching for it in the external world.

9. Initiation to a Master: Surrendering to Awakening

By initiation it is meant that you have surrendered to someone who is awakened.

The Need for Guidance. Osho emphasizes the importance of surrendering to an awakened master as a means of breaking free from the cycle of sleep and delusion. This involves acknowledging our own limitations and seeking guidance from someone who has already traversed the path to enlightenment. It is a recognition that we cannot awaken ourselves, but require the help of someone who is already awake.

Total Surrender. Initiation is not a partial commitment, but a total letting go of the past and a complete trust in the master's guidance. This involves surrendering our dreams, our projections, and our entire sense of self to the care of someone who is capable of leading us to awakening. It is a leap of faith that requires courage and vulnerability.

Responsibility and Witnessing. From the master's perspective, initiation is an assumption of responsibility for the disciple's spiritual journey. The master becomes a witness, a guide, and a source of support, helping the disciple to navigate the challenges and obstacles that arise on the path to enlightenment. It is a sacred bond that requires both surrender and commitment.

10. Sannyas: A Playful Dying to the Past

Sannyas means that you have come to realize that you are a seed, a potentiality.

Freedom from Obligation. Osho redefines sannyas as a playful and liberating experience, free from the constraints of traditional religious obligations. It is not about renouncing the world, but about embracing life to the fullest, living each moment with awareness and spontaneity. This involves shedding the burdens of the past and embracing an uncharted, unplanned future.

The Decision to Grow. Sannyas is a decision to grow, to move into the unknown, to live in indecision. It is a renunciation of the security of the seed, a willingness to embrace the uncertainty and vulnerability of life. By taking this leap of faith, we transform ourselves from potentiality to actuality, from a closed seed to a flowering tree.

Outward Symbols. Osho acknowledges the importance of outward symbols, such as the mala and the robe, as reminders of our commitment to sannyas. However, he emphasizes that these symbols are merely tools to aid our inner transformation, and should be discarded once they have served their purpose. The true essence of sannyas lies not in external appearances, but in the inner state of awareness and freedom.

11. Total Desire: The Path to Desirelessness

If you become concerned with death, your life comes to be revealed to you for the first time.

Embracing Death. Osho challenges our cultural aversion to death, arguing that it is an essential part of life and a gateway to deeper understanding. By becoming concerned with death, we can gain a new perspective on life, recognizing its impermanence and appreciating the preciousness of each moment. This awareness allows us to live more fully and authentically.

The Futility of Desiring. Osho identifies desire as the root cause of our suffering, arguing that it creates a sense of lack and separation that prevents us from experiencing true fulfillment. He encourages us to recognize the futility of desiring itself, rather than simply changing the objects of our desire. By letting go of our attachments and expectations, we can open ourselves to a state of effortless awareness.

Effortless Action. The path to desirelessness involves a paradoxical combination of effort and surrender. We must engage in practices like meditation and self-inquiry, but we must also recognize that these efforts are not the cause of our transformation. True awakening comes in the moment when we let go of all striving and simply allow ourselves to be.

12. The Soul: Total Aliveness Beyond Definition

By body I mean the part of your soul that always exists in relation to the outside existence.

Beyond Conceptualization. Osho acknowledges the limitations of language and thought in capturing the true nature of the soul. He suggests that any definition is bound to be incomplete, as the soul transcends the realm of concepts and categories. Instead, he offers a series of pointers and metaphors to guide us toward a direct experience of our own being.

Total Aliveness. The soul, according to Osho, is not a static entity but a dynamic state of total aliveness, consciousness, and bliss. It is a state of being fully present in the moment, without dependence on external causes or conditions. This aliveness is not something we acquire, but something we discover within ourselves.

Transcending Individuality. The question of whether the soul is individual or not is ultimately irrelevant, as the concept of individuality is a product of the mind. By transcending the mind and its limitations, we can experience a state of oneness with the universe, where the boundaries between self and other dissolve. This is the ultimate goal of spiritual practice: to realize our true nature as pure, unbounded consciousness.

Last updated: February 24, 2025