For those who doubt Osho loved books

There is good (and some new) material here especially detailing the time Osho spent collecting and reading books. Anand Neeten, who is a retired Assistant Professor of Library Sciences at Skagen University – Denmark  kindly sent this to SN,  and offers it free to all those interested.

Both pre-enlightenment and post enlightenment bio-bibliograhy is included.

http://www.oshosourcebook.com/

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33 Responses to For those who doubt Osho loved books

  1. Fresch says:

    Thank you. Wow, i will read it right now.

  2. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Joining Fresch,
    in thank you, too!

    As i feel starting reading for a while
    this is a special source (and what a joke…coming out of Denmark)…

    Trust-worthy in the sense
    neither to be coloured by personal devotion which can be a trap for others too,
    nor coloured by the many text sources which are coloured (sometimes very subtly) by contempt.

    Takes time to let that all in.
    Taking a happy break just now outside in Nature.

    Love,

    Madhu

  3. Fresch says:

    Hi Madhu, lovely to read it with you.

    I am very much enjoying the reading. I am in Osho’s childhood period. It’s strange, but my own childhood memories are flooding in as well. Like, every summer until I was 7 years old my mother used to send my sister and me to her parents, who were farmers, for the whole 2 months. I had about 20 cousins and all of us were practically living there in a commune. We kids were left alone, so we just spent the summers with the cows, in the forest or by the lake…Total freedom.

    I used to condemn my mother not taking care, but really there is an other side to it, now I see even more. One interesting coincidence is that I had also my own ‘river of love’, like Osho. My first ever ‘boyfriend’ took me to a secret river where we had our meetings…At the age of 12…Well, we were not even holding hands.

    So, I am interested in your reflections..?

  4. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Once again, Fresch -
    really takes time to let that all IN -
    but I can say – at the moment, more flooded
    by memories of the time at His feet and the commune
    of sannyasin fellow-travellers and phases that went through

    really takes time – I just loved the flavour of that arduous work to put it all together. It seems in a way that I didn’t become ‘allergic’, disturbed (in the ways that quite often happen),
    so I wanted to share that joy,
    intimacy in a text without being sticky,
    and engagement with some facts without being fundamentalist (or copying projections). (MOD: PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN IN THIS SENTENCE, ESPECIALLY FROM intimacy in a text ONWARDS).
    That’s what I enjoyed and I hope with further reading that that will not vanish.

    I have been walking the afternoon by the river here.
    It was crowded with people enjoying their smartphone talks and plays,
    some playing outdoor sports or teaching their kids city life by the river.
    It’s a city with many, many dogs too.

    In a remote corner I have been sitting in the shade of a hung old, very old tree,
    where some of the impressions (of the reading and of life) could settle inside
    just watching the birds and the tree.

    I have been always like this, Fresch – also as a kid – looking for places where something inside could settle – and had to develop skills to reach that without any support by grown-ups from the very beginning.

    Wish a beautiful evening to you and everybody here.

    Madhu

  5. Fresch says:

    Oh, Madhu, you made me realise something with the river. I have not thought about it before, because I have sea as well as lakes near to me. For some reason, we took our ‘wedding photos’ with the father of my son by the river. The photographer used Photoshop to put us on the rapids, me being pregnant and sitting in the lotus position and him singing on the rocks.

    I loved it, you, Madhu, finding shelter by the river…in the city. Also, I feel the writer’s intimacy in the text. I am curious how Indian people feel a Danish writer describing Indian politics, atmosphere etc. How do you, Shantam, see Osho’s astrological chart?

    Also, many people must have lived the countryside of Pune, especially in Poona 1. What a luxury that was.

    Right now I am highly interested in Osho’s background with Tibetan tantra.. But I must read further on.

    • satyadeva says:

      “Right now I am highly interested in Osho’s background with Tibetan tantra”.

      Fascinating, Fresch. As long as you’re not under some illusion that “Tibetan tantra” (oh, how exotic that sounds!) has the remotest practical relevance to you and your actual living life!

      You might not be aware, but these stories of Osho’s ‘previous incarnation’, together with the one about what Lama Karmapa is supposed to have said about him, have been strongly questioned (I forget by whom) and are apparently now considered to be probably ‘fabrications’, basically made up by Osho or whoever was interested in attracting westerners to the ‘mystical’ East, back in the day.

      • Arpana says:

        He did once say of his stories about Lao Tzu etc. that he made them up, followed by the remark, “How could I possibly know these things?” (Which I seem to recall finding rather fanny at the time).

      • Fresch says:

        Sorry, SD, but not true.

        Before going to Pune (in 19899 I visited Dharamsala briefly, as if saying hello to my friends, but for me no need to stay).

        What I find even more significant is that I have a country house I am renting out. One woman who rented it is the secretary of Tibetan culture in my country. She had two of the highest lamas (while Dalai Lama visited my country) staying at my place who were giving their blessings to the house. So, Tibetan lamas blessed my home. By coincidence again.

        • satyadeva says:

          Sure, Fresch, but these are fairly superficial things, aren’t they?

          What do you really ‘know’ of “Tibetan tantra” from your own experience? Do you actually have any clue what it is, what it’s about, what’s involved – not as a ‘subject’ separate from yourself, but, as I said, in terms of your actual living life, as part of your internal reality?

          We’re not talking ‘interesting hobby’ here, we’re discussing ‘real life’!

          Surely you know the difference by now?!!

      • Fresch says:

        And if I ever had a past life, I was in Tibet. I have seen those old films in 1989, I saw myself dancing on the street as monk dressed as a nun.

        • satyadeva says:

          Sounds suspiciously like deluded bullshine to me, Fresch.

          Very simply, who would be the “I” that is both ‘you’ here-now and whoever ‘last existed’ in Tibet?

          If you’re one of the people who fancifully talk of ‘past incarnation(s)’ then I suggest you make an effort to really find out the truth about such matters.

          Which will take away another ‘convenient crutch’ of the pseudo-spiritual variety from your comfort- seeking psyche.

          ‘Fascinating’, eh?!!

          • Fresch says:

            You are so easy to tickle, SD, I knew you would fall for this one.

            (MOD: FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY AND TO BE FAIR TO ALL READERS, FRESCH, PLEASE STATE WHICH POST OR POSTS YOU’RE REFERRING TO HERE).

            However, I am in Jabalpur right now, at a student hostel. The story feels like Osho would be writer’s uncle, right now. What are your reflections?

            • Fresch says:

              Mod, I was joking about the past life in Tibet, I know such stories irritate SD. Still, who knows?

              Now I am in the book just after he moved to Bombay. Of course there are hundreds of details, ahh, ohh, really, wow experiences, not possible to start listing them. Right now I am still very interested by him being raised by a tantric grandmother. And the real tantric scriptures not being written anywhere. Of course, it’s impossible to express with words. But sannyas’ scriptures must be Osho’s lectures. And direct energy phenomena from him, silence between the words. I do love reading this book, the problem is that I cannot put it down now.

              Also, Devageet is getting my sympathy and he is rising up in my grades. I did read ‘Golden Childhood’ long ago, of course, but I might pick that up as well.

              By the way, I was always so attached to the books, also as part of my image, so I gave them all away 3 years ago. I only have 3 books left now: ‘The Invitation’, ‘The Book of the Secrets’ and ‘The History of Modern Art’.

              Writer is telling the story as if Osho was his uncle, sweet.

              • satyadeva says:

                “Mod, I was joking about the past life in Tibet, I know such stories irritate SD. Still, who knows?”

                Ok, Fresch, so how about my general points about your “interest” in “Tibetan tantra” (my post of 7.37pm, May 19)?

                As for “Still, who knows?” re your reincarnation nonsense, well, if that’s not another attempted wind-up (= provocation) what is clear is that you have absolutely no clue about the topic and are apparently perfectly content to waft around it in conventional ‘New Age’ air-head fashion, as yet another ‘interesting’ thing for your mind to self-indulgently dream about.

                Wake up!

                • Fresch says:

                  SD, I do not have air in my head any more, no need for Tibetan tantra. I am breathing out; I only need Osho’s words and Osho meditations. Read my present post.

                  You might get it, who knows?

                • satyadeva says:

                  Exactly two days ago, Fresch, you wrote this:

                  “Right now I am highly interested in Osho’s background with Tibetan tantra”.

                  Wowee! Now you see her – now you don’t!

                  Is it a bird? (certainly is!)…
                  Is it a plane? (don’t think so)…

                  No, it’s…

                  Super-Sannyasin!

                  How DO you do it, Freschie?!!

  6. shantam prem says:

    “For those who doubt Osho loved books”: this title sounds too catchy, but inappropriate.

    I don´t think someone has ever doubted about Osho´s love for books. On the other side, most of the world has believed and still believes, Osho is a good author, inspirational orator; The Acharya Shree!

    During last 20 years (India started blossoming after the death of last century spiritual giants), something in India has changed. Books are being purchased for reading and also for status symbol.

    As I have seen, other than school, college and university text books, majority of people were buying magazines and newspapers. I have not seen a single house in my life in India with some sort of private library.

    So from the area and surroundings Osho came from, love for books is amazing. If one looks from the eyes of an astrologer, Sagittarius sun with Gemini ascendant means words, words and love for more words and that too, wise words in printed format.

    All such people may not become enlightened and create their own school of thought. All over the world, people who engage in public speaking, in love with microphone in their churches, mosques and Satsangs have quite often this quality.

    It is like car mechanic and the CEO of Jaguar or Opel etc. have one thing in common: love for auto technology.

    Let us say, Osho loved books, we all love books, Millions of educated people in the West love books, but does it mean we are in the same boat?
    As I have observed, most of us love books as consumers, they provide food for mind or deeper. From the photos and gestures, one can say without doubt, Osho was reading not for entertainment purpose but as a man with a mission.

    He was born and destined to be a world leader in his chosen domain. Once ground work was done, He did not hesitate to create His own school, own religion (call it religionless religion), own rituals bring him in the same league as ancient entrepreneurs.

    Jayesh or Lokesh, Satya Deva or Parmartha, Amrito or Shantam did not go to the book author but to the cult/religion/spiritual movement.

    Surely, western mind in many such people feel sheepish to accept this, therefore too much emphasis on the books side.

    If someone thinks it is justified, it is their business, I find it utterly dishonest, clever and Goatish!

  7. Fresch says:

    Oh, no…my long-time sannyas lover was living by the riverside in Poona. We were always watching the water buffaloes to swim while having the dinner. This is a nice book; it seems to connect many things together for me. Wow.

  8. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Truth is a living energy – not a corpse,
    but most of the people prefer corpses
    and by that I mean:
    - Approaching what they call ‘truth’ with the energy of a rapist.
    - Approaching like a secret service torture specialist
    - Approaching like a bargainer and businessman selling parts of the corpse (very common is the latter) as rumours and lies bring much money and power these days).
    - Then there are the innumerable ways to condition people in what is called ‘black pedagogy by bereaving people of their own (not only) freedom of thought as expression.

    And so on and so forth.

    There is this saying: The first that dies in wartime (of all kinds) is the truth.

    Rarely somebody proves a lover of truth and behaves that way
    like a lover of loving and being civilised this way.

    It does not sell…

    For me this work of a Danish fellow-traveller is a lover of truth’s effort.

    And, dear Fresch – the following memories came up in me throughout the night:
    Beginning of the nineties, last century, a book of a psychoanalyst (female) story-teller, a healer, went around.
    One of her many tales from stories from all over the world about simple people was one where a fisherman, one day, found in his fishing net instead of a big fish
    a human skeleton.

    He was a very poor man -
    no fish – no food.

    But by a miracle he was thrilled by the unknown and unknowable ‘story’ how that skeleton had come in the ocean and in his net.
    So he brought it home to his hut,
    sitting there by the fire,
    and having nothing else to do in the night, started arranging the bones, which were totally in disorder.
    And – having arranged them anew, then he was sitting in silence beside the bones.

    Deep silence and sitting this way
    brought a tear into his eyes.

    And the story goes that his tears (of compassion) gave flesh to the bones and a breathing to the corpse, that started to be alive again,
    and also the story of the crime that had been happening before a living being became a corpse, thrown in the water.
    The whole story is a deep metaphor – individually, even collective too, and maybe even beyond…

    (Name of the women healer, Fresch, is Clarissa Estes (South American but living partly at that time in North America) – I wrote a letter to her long, long ago and even received a loving answer).

    The thread issue, presented like this – as well as my first read (and also the second one)
    for me brought up the memory of how a ‘fisherman’ would shed compassion – on an unknowable story -
    may be one and may be the only way to get closer to understanding by getting glimpses of a story of a more than ‘remarkable man’ and our meeting with the mystery.

    And some ‘flesh’ of truth and maybe some ‘breathing’ of a truth unspeakable but yet to be experienced.
    It’s not a personal ‘thing’, not even collective,

    but in a lover’s approach to truth,
    to see or get a glimpse of the immense complexity in respect to a life story in a body, it’s necessary to broaden our vision.

    And as these publishers have not been into stating their own importance as experts (of drug abuse, for example – or having a special identity)
    but simply quite cleanly mirroring the complexity of social and political (historical) surroundings and backgrounds as well as quoting, then this way of adding very private notes about a more than ‘remarkable man’ is a gift for us all – that’s how I feel it.

    And I will continue these days – to read more,
    looking to keep balanced
    whatever comes up through it.

    In love for fellow-travelling and in, as to my best capacity, living the interdependence in that all

    is me in the now (here),

    Madhu

  9. Fresch says:

    The third, oh, no. I thought I was over with history. But this book took me to Ms. Helena Blavatsky (my backround in Steiner school and Summerhill School/Tolstoy).

    Never seen ‘The Dnieper River’ or Ukraine, but might be relevant right now. Wow.

  10. Tan says:

    Fresch and Madhu, loved your posts. Maybe it is the fanny talking, but I totally can relate to them. Cheers.

  11. Parmartha says:

    I copy and paste these four Footnotes (from the 1945 to 1950 period) outlined in Neeten’s work as they represent gems which could be easily overlooked.
    I am particularly interested in the third one, and would welcome someone (maybe Arpana?) telling us where one might read an English translation of ‘Some moments of the Night have still to be passed’, which Osho wrote after his girlfriend Shasti died in 1947.

    1) Prayas (Effort). Periodical. Issue nr. 2, 1945. Osho’s first publication at the age of fourteen. Handwritten magazine with titles and some pages printed in toy press with rubber letters. All articles written by Osho, 3-4 in his own name (Rajneesh Mohan Chandra/RMC), some under pseudonym, others in the names of his classmates and friends. Contains drawings, jokes, poetry, e.g. a folk song on Rani Durgavati. Also letters to friends to be read in a mirror. Annual. 1944-issue missing. Format A5. Coloured. Wastepaper.

    2) Accessions register. From age 12 in 1943, when Osho was in primary school, he organised and kept an early book catalogue over his first library collection in Gadarwara. It is an accessions register in chronological order, handwritten in large quarto format and containing 1106 entries, covering the accession of new books for his collection in the period 1943-1950. All entries in the accessions register are most professionally listed according to: / entry number / title / author / price / subject /.

    3) Abhi Root Kuch hai (Some Moments of This Night are Still to be Passed). Fictional writing by Osho from 1950-51 before his enlightenment. Written to the memory of his girlfriend Shashi, who had died in 1947. The full story in Hindi is reprinted in the Hindi edition of the magazine Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, October/November issue, 1984. Editor: Ma Prem Bharti. Published by Rajyoga Rajneesh Dhyan Kendra, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi. English translation in ten pages by Gyan Bhed. Also translated as The Night Is Not Over Yet and printed in toto in Ageh Bharti (2012) pp.108-114.

    4) Adhoori Vasana (Unfulfilled Passion) is a romantic story written by Osho when he was 21. It was published in Nav-Bharat, a daily newspaper in Jabalpur where Osho was among the staff, on November 28, 1953 with an editorial note. Nav-Bharat again published this story in its issue of August 23, 1984 now with an editorial note on Rajneesh’s work since he left Jabalpur. The story with both editorial notes was published by Osho Times International, 1999:2, pp. 51-53. Also translated as Unfulfilled Desires and printed in toto in: Ageh Bharti (2012), pp. 104-107.

    • Arpana says:

      “I am particularly interested in the third one, and would welcome someone (maybe Arpana?) telling us where one might read an English translation of ‘Some moments of the Night have still to be passed’, which Osho wrote after his girlfriend Shasti died in 1947.”

      I’m sure I’ve seen a translation of that in the glossy Osho Times.
      I’ll have a search anyway some time.

  12. Fresch says:

    I am not so sure what is happening. This book is really from Indian perspective. I have nothing against it, but I need to slow down and let this sink.

    Also, it’s quite obvious why some people here do not give any response.

    And then, why on earth Shantam brings also Neelam here right now? Is this after all some Indian advertising campaign?

    Politics from everybody?

  13. Parmartha says:

    Shantam,
    Re your earlier post on this thread:
    Many early western sannyasins reached to Poona because of having ‘met’ a book of Osho. Of course not all, but many. I cannot believe it is so different these days, I am sure whoever is publishing the books, well, it is important work.

    On Osho’s own love of books – well, it is as it is. The point of what Neeten has done is that this does not get lost. Osho was an intellectual as well as a mystic, and that is part of the key as to why so many in the West were drawn to him.
    The picture of Osho that some devotees live with is a long way from how he really was as an individual living in a small town in the middle of India in the forties and fifties. I am sure he was very rare from such a background in having any sort of library, but that was his predilection.

  14. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Dear Parmartha,

    From the many ‘nuggets’ of the long and complex thread issue posted here, just one – being put in context of a life:

    “If I had read that book as Gandhi did, I would not have come to the same conclusion. It is not the book that matters, it is the man who reads, chooses and collects.”

    I would say this quote is relevant for any one of us;
    just looking inside outside to the responses (or ‘follow-ups’) so different and unique to some given trigger in form of letters and words.

    Words are just containers – yet sometimes they may give a promise for a life we are, or have been, yearning for.

    That is the role printed books have been for me from early childhood on, but it made such a difference when in the last century, in the sixties or the seventies, I could meet people in flesh and blood ‘beyond the small family’, having that flavour to live what they say and say what they live.

    And the most important thing has been: doing that by way of celebrating – the latter has been very convincing, or you could say, a magnetic pull.

    Short glimpse of and in a rainbow gathering,
    and what a rainbow is, we all know.

    It’s a happening, where many, many components need to come together for a blissful moment of awe, including our standpoint as a viewer – so we are part of it
    – or not.

    How to cherish this in gratefulness, without being hooked to the past (that will never come again this way) – and staying open and available, awake, for next ‘rainbows’ to come?

    Or even being open for – how that then feels – the acceptance of the possibility
    of never experiencing being part of a ‘rainbow’ again…

    Yes,

    even the latter…
    and maybe that kind of “yes” opens doors, instead of closing them.

    I just love to get a glimpse of the work of Neeten – posted here,
    just a little bit of it, or from it, and I did not make it to the not-ending end.
    Yet, I love it, like the chance to taste the NOT-knowing, by support of a thoroughly done ‘rainbow-weather-conditionings’ reminder, including participants of such a happening
    of yesterdays-todays-maybe-tomorrows.

    It’s where a scientific approach promises to meet
    the art of LOVING-WHAT-IS.

    And that is rare, especially these days, I feel.

    As, for example, the ‘tantric-approach to life’, many people reduce to a fuck-story with or without dope.
    Yet – there is much more – in that.

    Madhu

    P.S:
    I remember Osho having spoken on the word ‘patience’ – saying, that patience is not just a word….

    • satyadeva says:

      Madhu, you say:

      “Short glimpse of and in a rainbow gathering,
      and what a rainbow is, we all know.

      It’s a happening, where many, many components need to come together for a blissful moment of awe, including our standpoint as a viewer – so we are part of it
      – or not.”

      This is all rather vague so I don’t know what you mean. I can only guess (and probably wrongly) that you’re referring to some sort of collective event that triggers a ‘peak experience’ (some sort of ‘satori’?).

      Could you describe this “rainbow” idea/experience in more detail, please, Madhu, with an actual example, if possible, to make it clear what you mean?

  15. Fresch says:

    Hi Anand Neeten,
    Thank you for your beautiful book. I used to love history; I worked 5 years with history on different projects. I was also every time madly in loving with my subject. I can really feel that it’s for you even more so, with Osho. During my ‘history period’ it would have been my biggest dream to make something like this.

    So, you really made it to be scientific and intimate in this one. And still we’re never really objective, but it’s a subjective approach.

    At this time of my life I have to agree with Madhu: the past can be something you can get stuck with. History has passed for me, no more there. To leave this moment open is scary, but seems like the only way for me right now. And from this moment next moment is born.

  16. Fresch says:

    SD, it’s exactly like that for me: I do not remember what I was interested in yesterday.

    Today is today.

  17. Fresch says:

    So, SD, do not ask me to be logical for 2 reasons: 1. I am a woman 2. I am a sannyasin. Ok?

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