While he seemed to love riches, his attitude towards the poor is shockingly petty. His ashram in Pune was accused of tax fraud. His commune earned millions of dollars and there were no social missions undertaken by him. If Osho’s teachings on life were close to Zen, his attitude towards money leaned towards Ayn Rand’s Objectivism – he was the first to cater to the rich and hedonistic. Osho claimed to be a rich man’s guru, while washing his hands off any need for wealth on a personal level.Īnd yet, Osho’s personal fleet consisted of 90 Rolls Royces. Nearly every aspect of Osho’s teachings hold paradoxes that are clear to the naked eye. As an orator and performer, he ticked all the boxes of Max Weber’s definition of a ‘charismatic leader’.īut scratch the surface, and you’ll find that all Osho’s teachings held gigantic contradictions – mostly by Osho himself. But there was one crucial differentiator - Osho could speak in English. This got him thousands of devotees from the West.Īnd yet, after decades – how do Osho’s teachings hold up?Īn analysis of Osho’s teachings throw up two remarkable qualities – he was radical for the time he lived in. He borrowed heavily from Zenism, as well as from ancient Indian texts. Unlike most gurus whose past is unknown, and they suddenly ‘arrive’ on the scene - Osho studied Philosophy, was a professor in Philosophy, and was conversant with philosophical treatises from around the world. In fact, there are ancient texts that specify the importance, and exact way in which to conduct a debate. However, none of them have been as radical, as controversial, and (some would say) as ‘different’ as ‘Bhagwan’ Rajneesh, who later took on the name Osho - Japanese word for ‘master’.īut what was it about Osho that drew millions of devotees? In a land that sees spiritual gurus by the dozens, what made Osho’s philosophy so appealing to disenchanted youngsters around the world?ĭebating has been a Hindu tradition for hundreds of years. The two Krishnamurtis - Jiddu and UG - also boasted legions of faithful followers worldwide. Mahesh Yogi counted The Beatles as his disciples, Sathya Sai Baba had millions of devotees around the world.
(And if you haven’t, fair warning: spoilers ahead!) Osho wasn’t the first Indian guru to win followers in the West. If you’ve watched Wild Wild Country, the stunning documentary on Osho’s sojourn to USA - you have no doubt seen clips of Osho speaking. Osho - a cynic amidst believers, a human amidst ‘gods’. Wild Wild Country Is Not So Much About Osho, But The Woman Who Led To The Rise Of His Cult
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