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The secret of secrets

The secret of secrets

by Osho 1983 999 pages
4.32
256 ratings
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Key Takeaways

1. The Essence of Meditation: Shifting from Thought to Awareness

Contemplation means changing the gestalt. Ordinarily we look at thoughts: one thought, another thought, another thought. When you change the gestalt you look: one interval, another interval, another interval.

Shifting perspective. Meditation is not about suppressing thoughts, but about changing our relationship with them. Instead of being caught up in the content of thoughts, we learn to observe the spaces between them. This shift in awareness allows us to experience a deeper level of consciousness.

Practical application. To practice this shift:

  • Sit quietly and observe your thoughts
  • Notice the gaps between thoughts
  • Gradually expand your awareness of these gaps
  • Allow thoughts to come and go without engagement

As you cultivate this practice, you'll discover a vast, peaceful awareness beneath the surface of your mind. This is the foundation for all spiritual growth and transformation.

2. The Third Eye: Gateway to Inner Light and Consciousness

Release is in the eye...The seed-blossoms of the human body must be concentrated upward in the empty space.

Awakening inner vision. The third eye, located between the eyebrows, is a symbolic gateway to higher consciousness. It represents our capacity for intuition, insight, and spiritual perception. By focusing attention on this area, we can activate dormant spiritual faculties.

Techniques for activation:

  • Gently focus your attention between the eyebrows
  • Visualize a point of light in this area
  • Practice alternating focus between the tip of the nose and the third eye
  • Use mantras or breathing techniques to enhance concentration

As the third eye awakens, you may experience sensations of light, expansion, or deep peace. This is the beginning of a profound journey into the depths of your own consciousness.

3. Balancing Yin and Yang: The Path to Wholeness

Tao, Zen, Tantra – their insight is far deeper than the so-called religions of the marketplace. I am trying to create a great synthesis: the synthesis between Zorba the Greek and Gautama the Buddha, the synthesis between materialism and spiritualism.

Integrating opposites. True spiritual growth involves harmonizing seemingly opposite forces within ourselves. The goal is not to reject one aspect of life for another, but to find a dynamic balance between them. This integration leads to a more complete and fulfilling existence.

Key aspects of balance:

  • Embracing both material and spiritual aspects of life
  • Combining active engagement with passive receptivity
  • Balancing intellect with intuition
  • Harmonizing masculine and feminine energies

By cultivating this balance, we become more whole, resilient, and capable of living with greater authenticity and joy.

4. The Circulation of Light: A Transformative Practice

The circulation of the light is not only a fantasy.

Inner alchemy. The circulation of light is a profound meditative practice that involves visualizing and directing energy within the body. This practice is believed to awaken dormant spiritual potentials and lead to profound transformation.

Steps in the practice:

  1. Focus attention on the third eye
  2. Visualize light or energy circulating through the body
  3. Allow the energy to flow naturally, without force
  4. Gradually extend the duration and intensity of the practice

Regular practice of this technique can lead to increased vitality, clarity of mind, and spiritual insight. It is a cornerstone of many Taoist and Buddhist meditation traditions.

5. Contemplation vs. Concentration: The Key Distinction

Fixation without contemplation is circulation without light. Contemplation without fixation is light without circulation!

Balancing focus and openness. Many spiritual seekers make the mistake of either forcing concentration or getting lost in vague contemplation. The key is to find a balance between focused attention and open awareness.

Characteristics of effective practice:

  • Gentle but steady focus on the object of meditation
  • Allowing thoughts and sensations to arise and pass without attachment
  • Maintaining an attitude of relaxed alertness
  • Alternating between periods of concentration and open awareness

By cultivating this balanced approach, we can avoid the pitfalls of rigid concentration or aimless daydreaming, and make steady progress on the spiritual path.

6. Transcending Duality: Moving Beyond Self and Other

When the light enters into the third eye – the one eye, the single eye – all distinctions disappear: the rainbow again becomes a single ray of white light.

Unifying consciousness. The ultimate goal of spiritual practice is to transcend the illusion of separateness and experience the fundamental unity of all existence. This involves moving beyond the dualistic perception of self and other, subject and object.

Stages of transcendence:

  1. Recognizing the constructed nature of the ego
  2. Cultivating non-attachment to thoughts and perceptions
  3. Experiencing moments of ego dissolution in meditation
  4. Gradually integrating non-dual awareness into daily life

As we progress on this path, we begin to experience a profound sense of interconnectedness with all of life, leading to greater compassion, wisdom, and inner peace.

7. The Golden Flower: Symbol of Spiritual Awakening

The Golden Flower is the light. One uses the Golden Flower as a symbol.

Blossoming consciousness. The golden flower is a powerful symbol of spiritual awakening and the unfolding of human potential. It represents the culmination of inner work and the manifestation of our highest nature.

Aspects of the golden flower:

  • Radiance: The luminous quality of awakened consciousness
  • Beauty: The inherent perfection of our true nature
  • Growth: The gradual process of spiritual unfoldment
  • Transformation: The alchemical change from ordinary to extraordinary consciousness

By contemplating this symbol and embodying its qualities, we can accelerate our spiritual growth and align ourselves with the highest potentials of human existence.

8. The Role of the Body in Spiritual Practice

One looks with both eyes at the tip of the nose, sits upright and in a comfortable position, and holds the heart to the center in the midst of conditions.

Embodied awakening. While many spiritual traditions emphasize transcendence of the body, the Taoist approach recognizes the importance of working with the body as a vehicle for awakening. Proper posture and bodily awareness are crucial for effective meditation and energy cultivation.

Key aspects of bodily practice:

  • Maintaining an upright, relaxed posture
  • Using specific eye positions to facilitate inner focus
  • Cultivating awareness of energy centers in the body
  • Integrating breath work with meditation

By honoring and working skillfully with the body, we create a strong foundation for spiritual growth and avoid the pitfalls of disembodied spirituality.

9. Overcoming Obstacles in Meditation

If for a day you do not practice meditation, this light streams out, who knows whither?

Consistency and persistence. The path of meditation is not always smooth. We encounter various obstacles, such as restlessness, doubt, and distraction. The key to overcoming these challenges is consistent practice and a patient, non-judgmental attitude.

Common obstacles and solutions:

  • Restlessness: Practice shorter sessions with more frequent repetition
  • Doubt: Study teachings and connect with like-minded practitioners
  • Distraction: Gently but firmly return attention to the practice
  • Physical discomfort: Adjust posture and gradually build endurance

Remember that every moment of practice, even if imperfect, contributes to your overall growth and transformation.

10. The Integration of Eastern and Western Wisdom

I am trying to create a great synthesis: the synthesis between materialism and spiritualism. I am trying to create a spiritual materialism.

Bridging traditions. In our globalized world, we have the unique opportunity to integrate the wisdom of both Eastern and Western traditions. This synthesis can lead to a more comprehensive and balanced approach to spiritual growth and human development.

Areas of integration:

  • Combining meditation with psychological insight
  • Balancing individual growth with social responsibility
  • Integrating scientific understanding with spiritual practice
  • Harmonizing ancient wisdom with modern innovation

By embracing this integrative approach, we can create a more holistic and effective path of transformation that addresses the complex needs of contemporary life.

Last updated:

FAQ

What is The Secret of Secrets by Osho about?

  • Ancient Taoist Wisdom: The book is Osho’s commentary on the Taoist classic The Secret of the Golden Flower, focusing on inner transformation, meditation, and awakening the “golden flower” or inner light.
  • Synthesis of Traditions: Osho weaves together Taoist, Buddhist, Christian, and Zoroastrian teachings, highlighting the universality of spiritual truth and the journey from unconsciousness to consciousness.
  • Practical Spirituality: The text emphasizes living fully in the present, dropping beliefs and dogmas, and engaging in direct, experiential inquiry into one’s own being.

Why should I read The Secret of Secrets by Osho?

  • Accessible Ancient Wisdom: Osho makes esoteric spiritual teachings practical and relevant for modern seekers, reviving oral traditions that were once secret.
  • Transformative Meditation Guidance: The book offers active and passive meditation techniques suitable for contemporary life, helping readers release stress and enter states of stillness and bliss.
  • Profound Life Insights: Osho addresses fundamental issues like mortality, consciousness, and the nature of self, encouraging readers to live fully and prepare consciously for death.

What are the key takeaways of The Secret of Secrets by Osho?

  • Live, Don’t Believe: True religion is a lived experience, not a set of beliefs; drop all preconceived notions and become a sincere inquirer.
  • Circulation of Light: The core practice is circulating inner energy, especially through the third eye, leading to individuation, wholeness, and spiritual awakening.
  • Balance and Awareness: Spiritual growth requires balancing action and inaction, love and awareness, and integrating both inner and outer life.
  • Love and Trust: Love acts as a mirror for self-discovery, but must be complemented by awareness; trust grows through doubt, not by repressing it.

What is the significance of the “Golden Flower” in The Secret of Secrets by Osho?

  • Symbol of Awakening: The Golden Flower represents the blossoming of consciousness and the crystallization of inner light, leading to enlightenment and immortality.
  • Inner Alchemy: It is the result of harmonizing male (animus) and female (anima) energies within, transcending duality and achieving spiritual unity.
  • Stages of Growth: The metaphor describes stages from budding to full flowering, culminating in the appearance of the Buddha within and the realization of one’s true self.

How does Osho define and teach the “circulation of the light” meditation method in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Core Technique: The practice involves directing inner energy to circulate within the body, focusing on the third eye (between the eyebrows) to harmonize animus and anima.
  • Backward Flow: Emphasizes reversing the usual outward flow of energy, gathering scattered thoughts and transforming them into concentrated awareness.
  • Spiritual Effects: Regular practice leads to the crystallization of the self, awakening the “seed-pearl,” and ultimately the blossoming of the Golden Flower, resulting in spiritual illumination and balance.

What is Osho’s view on the ego and its role in suffering and enlightenment in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Ego as Illusion: The ego is a bundle of thoughts and the root of suffering, creating a false sense of “I” that separates us from our true nature.
  • Obstacle to Enlightenment: Enlightenment is inherent and ever-present, but the ego must be dropped for it to be realized; “when you are not, you are.”
  • Compassion and Egolessness: True compassion arises only when the ego disappears, allowing for unconditional love and the dissolution of self-other duality.

How does Osho explain the relationship between love, awareness, and spiritual growth in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Love as Mirror: Love is essential for spiritual growth, acting as a mirror that reflects one’s true self and prepares the ground for meditation.
  • Polarity with Awareness: Love is outgoing and relational, while awareness is inward and solitary; both are necessary for transcendence and wholeness.
  • Frustration as Growth: Love often leads to frustration, which is necessary to turn inward toward awareness and deeper realization.

What does Osho say about belief, doubt, and trust in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Belief as Repression: Belief is likened to a drug that represses doubt and creates a closed, imaginary world, blocking genuine inquiry.
  • Doubt as Friend: Doubt is essential for spiritual growth, keeping the seeker alert and preventing self-deception.
  • Trust Through Doubt: True trust arises from an open, undrugged consciousness that neither believes nor disbelieves, but remains innocent and aware.

How does Osho address societal conditioning and its impact on spirituality in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Conditioning as Hypnosis: Society conditions individuals with beliefs and conclusions from childhood, acting like hypnosis and preventing genuine self-knowledge.
  • Belief Systems as Prisons: Inherited beliefs create closed worlds and division, making people prisoners of their own minds.
  • Call for Pure Inquiry: Osho urges dropping all inherited beliefs and becoming pure inquirers, open to experimentation and truth.

What is the role of the Master and disciple in spiritual enlightenment according to The Secret of Secrets by Osho?

  • Master as Catalyst: The Master facilitates the disciple’s awakening, not by providing answers but by provoking inquiry and creating a space for inner transformation.
  • Surrender and Receptivity: The disciple must surrender and become receptive to the Master’s presence, allowing for transmission beyond words.
  • Beyond Attachment: True enlightenment requires eventually transcending attachment to the Master, embodying freedom and individuality.

How does Osho describe the experience of meditation and the disappearance of thoughts in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Thoughts as Shadows: Thoughts are insubstantial and cannot be forcibly removed; trying to suppress them only strengthens their hold.
  • Natural Silence: When silence descends naturally, all mental entanglements disappear, leaving a state of pure awareness and unity.
  • Loss of Ego: In deep meditation, the duality of observer and observed dissolves, leading to the highest peak of self-knowledge and the experience of “I don’t know.”

What is Osho’s teaching on Tao, non-doing, and living in the present in The Secret of Secrets?

  • Tao as Naturalness: Tao is the way of spontaneity, patience, and trust, requiring no effort or practice—just allowing things to happen naturally.
  • Unity of Opposites: Tao is the undivided One that gives rise to yin and yang, male and female, which are complementary and necessary for wholeness.
  • Non-Doing and Surrender: Meditation is a state of non-doing, where one lets go of will and ego, becoming open and available to existence, and living fully in the here and now.

Review Summary

4.32 out of 5
Average of 256 ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

The Secret of Secrets receives high praise for its profound spiritual teachings and Osho's unique perspective. Readers appreciate the book's depth, poetic language, and ability to challenge conventional thinking. Many find it life-changing, offering insights into meditation, Taoism, and personal growth. Some note its length and Osho's controversial nature as potential drawbacks. Overall, reviewers describe it as a powerful, enlightening work that requires patience but rewards with wisdom and new perspectives on life and spirituality.

Your rating:
4.62
27 ratings

About the Author

Rajneesh, later known as Osho, was a controversial Indian spiritual leader and mystic. Born in 1931, he gained fame in the 1960s for his unconventional teachings on meditation, sexuality, and spirituality. Osho established ashrams in India and later in Oregon, USA, attracting a large Western following. His movement faced legal issues and accusations of criminal activities. Deported from the US in 1985, Osho returned to India, where he died in 1990. Despite controversies, his teachings have significantly influenced Western New Age thought, with his popularity continuing to grow posthumously. The Osho International Meditation Resort in Pune, India, now manages his legacy and intellectual property.

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