Osho Books – The Blacklist Years

The Story of Osho Books between 1985 and 1994

The blacklist Years

In some of Osho’s talks he emphasised the importance for disciples of “listening”  and imbibing the very tone of the spoken word, and even encouraged people at darshan to find ways to “listen” to those words through tapes, etc rather than read the books. However on other occasions he emphasised the importance of getting his words in book form to all the nations of the earth … . .

SN feels,  that many miss in the present disputations about the publishing of Osho’s books,  the significance of the so-called “Blacklist Years”, and the admirable  stickability of those who saw that through.

In 1985, Osho’s arrest and deportation by the US government brought external publishing by well known independent publishers of his books to a complete halt. (Some self-publishing by the commune continued).  As he traveled around twenty-one different countries in an unsuccessful attempt to find a country that was willing to host him, publishers around the world removed Osho books from their catalogues and dropped plans for future scheduled publications. Fueling that phenomenon was the fact that some booksellers, in an extraordinary act of marketplace censorship, returned all copies of their Osho books in stock, regardless of ongoing demand from their customers. By the Autumn of 1986 it was almost impossible to find an Osho book on commercial shelves –  though in places like London,  libertarian and rebellious booksellers still carried titles, and even carried the early magazine versions of SannyasNews!  

In a very short time, Osho became to some extent persona non grata and nearly all international publishers had canceled their publishing agreements with the main Foundation.

Politicians, churches, and the media used the occasion of Osho’s arrest and deportation to manipulate public opinion, in an effort to silence or at least discredit Osho completely. 

Between 1986 and 1994, as we say, Osho books almost completely vanished from commercial bookshops, libraries and public awareness. Many people were under the mistaken impression that his deportation from the USA and his death in 1990 had marked the end of his work. 

When representatives for Osho tried to reconnect with publishers during this time, they were quickly shown the door. In some cases they were even told outright: “Never, ever,  come back with any proposal relating to this author.”

Osho was aware of these developments. He mentioned repeatedly in public discourses and press interviews in the last years of his life that his books had been blacklisted – and in fact his books were “officially” blacklisted by the Vatican and various other totalitarian governments – apart from the unofficial capitalist ones which were equally manifold.

In order to guarantee the availability of his books after his return to Pune in 1987, Osho suggested a new self-publishing operation was created.  He also suggested the name – The Rebel Publishing House – and sketched the now well-known flame symbol which became the logo and trademark of this new publishing house. (It was very similar to the first logo used in association with his public speeches and publications in the early sixties.)

In point of fact for a number of years after his death,  despite many efforts, things continued to be barren on the external publishing front – until 1994 and the publication of the first Osho Zen Tarot.   But….  that is another story, (and will be told in a further string soon)

The significance of the Blacklist years, and its very great difficulties, needs to be acknowledged and told.

(SN Research Staff)

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109 Responses to Osho Books – The Blacklist Years

  1. shantam prem says:

    The Vatican and various other totalitarian governments just banned the books, the shameless totalitarian regime operating in the name of Osho has blacklisted many of the equally competent disciples.

    Parmartha and the staff…look inwards and stop blaming the other operators in the world.

    As far as books are concerned, be here and now and send SN Research Staff on fact-finding mission in nearby bookstores and ask, “How many Osho books are sold in a year?”

    • Parmartha says:

      Osho books are available and clearly sold in a number of London Bookshops, Watkins Bookshop near Trafalgar Square and Mysteries Bookshop in Covent Garden, to name two well-known ones. Watkins has a wide range of titles. The books obviously continue to sell well, otherwise they would not be published by commercial publishers or stocked in such bookshops.

      Your prejudice against dispassionate thinking on such issues, Shantam, is quite difficult to believe.

  2. prem martyn says:

    BLACKLIST WHITEWASH: Search for Truth called off as Editor confirms, ‘No sign of any Winners’

    In a surprising start to the New Year, a notorious yellow press online e-zine has been blacklisted from the world spiritual community for not being able to offer anything more than glimpses into the future whilst looking back so as to learn lessons for the here and now.

    Readers have been left to their own de-vices, collecting a vast array of half-truths, mere opinion, tittle- tattle and overheard conversations that are currently scattered around the web’s thoughtlines and fore-sure, having been brought in by recent turbulent surf and waves of doubt to bob around pointlessly on the e-zine’s hub.

    In a hark-back to less troubled times, a professional blog-roll writer declared the whole current ‘write-in-your-face area’ seemed like a ‘syllogistic disaster zone’ with a tidal reversal of the e-zine’s previous formula for harmonious Socratic enquiry, commenting, “We have recently been subjected to questioning forms that began quite innocently as ruthless, then suddenly we were left rudderless, changed tack and post, veering witlessly into absolute gormlessness without a clue as to how to proceed further.”

    An Inquiry into the enquiry has been ordered, athough experts say it is too early to say what to say.

  3. shantam prem says:

    Just sent the mail to one of the leading books distribution company, Book Depository.com
    I hope they answer my query.

    Dear Sir/Madam,

    Being a disciple of Osho, I am interested to know how many OSHO books you sell every year and which one is the maximum selling title, let us say in 2012, 2013, 2014?

    These figures will help us to understand the impact of Osho literature.

    Thanks.

    Yours sincerely,

    Shantam Prem

  4. Lokesh says:

    There are dozens of Osho books for sale on various Amazon sites, where you can also check sales rankings. Conclussion is that Osho books are widely available and sales are not exactly booming. There are also lots of favourable reviews, which is hardly surprising, considering Osho’s loyal fan base.

  5. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Wow, Prem Martyn,

    You must have had a good ´whirling´.
    Enjoyed your turnaround at 9.30 am; and sure enough, I still need time and effort to decipher…

    Have a ´Good New Year´, you-too!

    Madhu

  6. Dhanyam says:

    When I started the Viha Center in 1986 I didn’t focus on selling books, but in time I realised that there was a demand for Osho books and so I increased my stock and sales. By the early 90s I was selling to about 25 bookstores and to buyers all over the US and abroad.

    • Parmartha says:

      My experience of that time was that there was indeed a demand, and the demand was not being met through conventional bookshops. However, in the UK a number of left- wing and alternative bookshops did keep books and they continued to sell well.

      The point of this article can be missed. For example, in 1984, large UK bookshops, like Foyles and Waterstones, etc. stocked many Osho titles, but this was fully discontinued for some eight years between 1986 and 1994.

  7. Ma Yoga Videh and Swami Chidananda says:

    The Blacklist on Osho’s books is still a reality today…

    Do you know the difference between an original work of Osho and a Compilation or an Anthology?

    The original books of Osho have not been reprinted in their full original version since Jayesh found out that Anthologies and Compilations sell more to the masses than the original works of Osho, particularly when Osho is presented, like Osho International Foundation (OIF) does, as a Trademark and a commercial brand, and NOT as a human being who lived and walked amongst us.

    The masses prefer Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Armani and other brand names. Human beings are out of fashion, let alone spiritual masters! Osho sells more to the masses as a brand name rather than as a spiritual master or a mystic.

    Do we want to allow Osho to be reduced to just a brand name? Or do we want to respect his individuality and allow the world to know that another Buddha walked amongst us just a few years ago?

    The combination of Osho’s brand name and a long series of Anthologies made up as New Age catechisms with a tinge of Scientology are allowing somebody along the line to cash in quite a bit of money. Is this the birth of the new fortune cookie religion?

    Have you ever heard of a series of lectures by Osho named ‘Fame, Fortune and Success’, or ‘Mind-Body Balancing’? This is clearly New Age stuff that is being preached by fashionable Motivational Speakers and is being recycled by OIF in the name of Osho.

    Osho used to talk on other spiritual masters, philosophers, mystics or poets – and the title of each series was chosen by Osho personally.

    It is as if somebody in charge of Tolstoy Foundation would decide that ‘War and Peace’ has to be heavily edited and reduced to an Anthology and called ‘From War to Peace’, simply because it would sell more copies. It would be disgusting, wouldn’t it? So why nobody is objecting about Osho’s Anthologies? Have we all become sheep? Have we all gone asleep?

    OIF claims to own all the copyrights of Osho’s works, but who knows where all the money goes from the royalties deriving from these Compilations? Belize, Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands? Who knows?

    Meanwhile, not everyone knows that OIF has a debt of 9 million Swiss francs!

    (If Sannyas News wishes to know more details, we can provide the documentation).

    Since Rebel Publishing closed down, hardly any original books of Osho have been published by OIF anywhere in the world, except for Hindi books in India.

    Effectively, OIF has put a ban on anyone who wants to publish the original books of Osho by promoting this ‘cut and paste’ commercial operation called ‘Anthologies’.

    From a juridical point of view, by its very definition an anthology is NOT an original work of an author, but a derivative work. Hence, an Anthology, to all effects, is AN INTERPRETATION OF THE AUTHOR’S WORK, not an original work.

    By compiling paragraphs that are fished out from different books and putting them together, out of context, according to his own discretion and needs, the ‘compiler’ is in fact distorting the original message of Osho by heavily editing the original text, adding on his own interpretations, and rearranging the concepts in a totally new way.

    OIF has managed to lead everyone into a hypnotic belief that what is being sold in the market are Osho’s original books, when in fact they are ONLY derivative works.

    Those derivative works sell millions of copies every year all over the world in 60 different countries. And everyone is made to believe that they are “original Osho books” when in fact they are NOT.

    Love,

    Chidananda and Videh

    • Parmartha says:

      In order to reach a dispassionate view, Chidananda and Videh, you have to have been around, and perhaps you were, when Osho was alive. There were very successful anthologies of Osho’s work authorised by him when alive. I am thinking of ‘The Book’, which was a three volume edition of 1984, a very useful reference, and which I still use today.

      A wonderful early collection was ‘The Long and the Short and the All’, published in 1979 in India, which was a collection of anecdotes, one-liners and answers to assorted questions. I remember at the time many who were turned on to Osho by that volume. I still retain it with pride of place in my library.

      And of course, many reached Osho not through books but the cheaper magazines and newspapers that were all in a way edited compilations of his work, etc. I include in this the very early and wonderful ‘Sannyas’ magazine that was first published, I think, in 1974. That was my own first, riveting Osho read.

      I am eager not to have a black-and-white debate about publication of Osho books, etc. It certainly would be silly to decry the many professionals who have given and continue to give time, attention and love to getting Osho’s words out. Given the choice between poor standard publication with poor reach, and well-produced books that reach many, then I know what I would choose.

      Of course, many punters may buy books and be untouched, or just use them as intellectual exercise. It was always thus. However, for the seed to reach it has to be thrown everywhere, and this does seem to be happening one way or the other, and compilations do no harm to this, as they do sell.

      One contradiction for your supporters is that people like Shantam always seem to hint that Osho books don’t sell, and even encourage research into sales to prove it. But it seems that your own research indicates that “millions of copies (are sold) every year, all over the world in 60 different countries.” Is he an ally, as he thinks, of yourselves or not?!

    • mandiro says:

      Chidananda and Videh:

      Thanks for making this so clear. My main issue with the people controlling the Ashram in Poona and Osho books are the many compilations;they are changing his words as you clearly explain.

      For my part, I only buy Osho complete books that are still available and to individuals interested, I advise them not to buy compilations. So I boycott the compilations.Thanks again for your writing on this subject.

  8. Arpana says:

    ‘The Book of the Secrets’ is a large ‘bible print’ hardback, which is usually about £25. Certainly that with postage.
    Here it is available for only £7.52 with postage

  9. shantam prem says:

    What a wishful thinking it is to presume Osho books are sold in millions! Are they the type of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ or ‘Men fuck, Women love’ kind of American best-sellers in pop psychology?

    In the category Osho books are published, one edition is not more than 10,000 copies. Which publisher wants to dump hundred thousand copies in go-downs?

    In English language, business is any way killed by the internet and facebook. Thousands of quotations are rotating on the daily basis. They simply kill the temptation to buy books. Youtube videos are another reason why one should buy books.

    Anyway, when was the last time some blogger has purchased Osho books? Has anyone given some book as present during the Christmas?
    Yes, in Chinese, Korean and Russian editions there is a scope of royalty too.

    Matter of the fact is, OFI is a loss-making venture. Not this much money is generated as it is believed and also their calculation has backfired. The idea was new people will jump towards Pune after reading compilations as it was during the old times. For this reason, they alsdo even took away all kind of sentimental symbiosis.

    But no, why someone should go to Pune for a crash course in Meditation? Such things are offered in a grand fashion in fitness studios.

    British firm ‘Fitness First’ is expanding rapidly. In Germany, it is constant news how fitness and wellness business is booming. At present, there are 8 million members of 6000 thousand studios! This growth is triggered by the demise of India-based religious movements. People have found out all the so-called disciples of Indian gurus are losers of Ponzi schemes. They may not say out of grace, reality is obvious.

    We can take solace in our master-s saying, “Only losers can win this game.”

  10. shantam prem says:

    Has Osho ever spoken something like this:

    “I leave you my books”?
    “My books will be my messengers, my message, my temples and synagogues”?
    “Jesus has millions of believers, I have millions of readers. Therefore I am Bhagwan, the blessed one”?
    “Disciples come and go. Books remain for ever and they don´t make fuss. For example, 20 disciples will rip each other off, but books remain in harmony in the bookshelf”?

  11. Ma Yoga Videh and Swami Chidananda says:

    Maybe you, Parmartha, are not aware that there are more than 400 Original books of Osho in English, of which we have the whole collection (Pune 1, Ranch, World Tour, Pune 2)?

    You are mentioning only 2 abridgements which were published during Osho’s lifetime – what about the other 398 books? They are all original versions which have become collectors’ items sold on the internet for exorbitant prices.

    Once our generation is gone, also the original books will be gone, only to be found on some dusty shelves in private collections. And that is a real pity.
    ‘The Book of Secrets’ is one of the very few original books that OIF has published since Rebel Publishing closed shop.

    We know all the ins and outs of publications because we have lived as permanent residents in ALL the three communes of Osho from 1974 on till he died. Videh met Osho in 1969 in Jabalpur. We know very well how much Osho loved and cared about his books that were published at the time and we know that he did not allow any Anthologies to be published during his lifetime, except for very few.

    Osho overlooked personally all the details of each book that was published. There is even a document which is posted on the internet on the website http://www.oshofriendsinternational.com signed by Osho, where he states that No abridgements should be published without his written permission.

    Mr. Klaus Steeg and his associates of OIF who promote this commercial operation of the Anthologies are responsible for the degradation of the literary work of Osho. The depth of Osho’s reasonings and of his words cannot come out in all its splendour in an Anthology, because there is too much interference on the part of the editors and compilers.

    Anyone who produces only Anthologies of ANY author is certainly a shrewd businessman, but for sure not a professional expert in literary work.
    Rebel Publishing made excellent quality books, all in original versions, before everyone in OIF got fascinated by the $$$$.

    Why do you say that you do not want a debate? Are you afraid? You didn’t answer nor object on the merit of our statements. And that shows that you don’t want to understand what was said in our letter. Not confronting, ignoring precise statements shows superficiality and fear. Are you trying to defend something or somebody?

    Love.

    Chidananda and Videh

    • Parmartha says:

      I am interested in debate, but not a black-and-white one where those who published Osho books in his lifetime are suddenly distrusted and treated as the personification of evil years later. Their work in the Blacklist Years seems totally forgotten by you. When many sannyasins ran from what they saw as a sinking ship, they stayed and stuck it out, and then turned it round in 1994.

      In fact, those who speak against them often use arguments which contradict each other. Many accuse OIF of making a mint out of the books, whilst others say that actually not many books are being sold. You can’t have you cake and eat it, just depending on what point scoring one is trying to make.

      Osho said a hundred and one things. Actually, he insisted that after each lecture, not each book, the words be written, “This discourse is complete unto itself.”

      Thousands of people who could not afford books, like myself at that time and many of the hippies from Goa, read tired-looking, much read magazine articles, etc. and these were ‘isolated’ from whole areas of other text. But the words did their job as bait, and got us to Poona.

      Such ‘editorial’ decisions were not made by Osho, they were delegated to those who edited and got together the magazines at that time.

      Osho never said the books should be ‘given away’, but produced at cost, and that cost to include the sustenance of those who did the producing. My guess is that is approximately what is now happening and has happened for some time.

      I am not on any side in this debate. I just want a ‘fair’ one, and one not contaminated by power politics. The people who criticise the books’ policies seem to invariably be those who seem to want to ‘take over’ the Resort and make it a Samadhi. The latter I am 100% sure would not have been one of Osho’s wishes.

      • satyadeva says:

        Good post, Parmartha, a fair-minded, balanced viewpoint.

        Surely there’s a case for keeping both compilations/anthologies and the pristine originals? Let’s not forget that Osho passed on 25 years ago and much change has happened in communications and people’s reading habits since his time in the world.

        There’s now so much information being continuously pumped out online, not least about gurus, teachers, New Age issues, therapies, meditation etc. etc. that there’s arguably a need for people to be able to get the general idea about something – a topic, a person, an area of interest = as an introduction in fairly easily digestible form, so they might investigate further, if so moved.

        Besides, Osho’s output is so vast that it’s unrealistic to expect people to get through more than one or two, or possibly a few full versions of his hundreds of series of discourses, before they decide whether he might be for them.

        Compilations are convenient ways of attracting potential interest and as long as the original books remain available then they’ll be read as well by genuine seekers for whom Osho might be useful – and/or life-changing.

    • satyadeva says:

      I am curious, Chidananda, Videh:

      Is this issue of Osho’s books the sole area of concern for you, or do you have other criticisms, what one might even term an ‘agenda’ re the ‘Sannyas Movement’, the Pune ashram, etc?

      Also, may I ask what nationality you both are?

  12. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    It´s kind of difficult for me, Yoga Videh and Chidananda, to respond to your post, as it seems to be connected with the next legal ´round´ about trademarks, ´fraud’ testaments and so on. But what I agree on lies in these lines of yours:

    “The combination of Osho’s brand name and a long series of Anthologies made up as New Age catechisms with a tinge of Scientology are allowing somebody along the line to cash in quite a bit of money. Is this the birth of the new fortune cookie religion?

    Have you ever heard of a series of lectures by Osho named ‘Fame, Fortune and Success’, or ‘Mind-Body Balancing’? This is clearly New Age stuff that is being preached by fashionable Motivational Speakers and is being recycled by OIF in the name of Osho….”

    However, the now young generations have indeed other ways, being on the recipient line, so to say, and I often feel alien to these ways and also to new talking manners and attitudes.

    And Parmartha, I also know that in Osho’s lifetime in the body there were compilations; I also have a few and enjoy that. But as far as I know, He Himself authorized what was compiled and how.

    I also see a quite different quality how that is happening now, and found out when looking inside them,´fresher´ ones don´t attract me that much, and not just because of old age ´stuff´, I feel.

    Anyway, this (editing, compiling) process is not at all new, it´s been happening for quite a long while now, and my feeling is that´s just one more ´uproar’ of the whole legal fights going on and with any ´weapon´ available.

    The latter in my eyes a shame and very sad.

    Madhu

  13. shantam prem says:

    Has Osho also spoken something like, “In future, I will have two disciples who will spread my message like wildfire. One will be called Swami Facebook and another will be Ma Youtube”?

  14. shantam prem says:

    In the auditorium in Godly Kingdom, soon there will be a conference:
    ‘Future masters visiting Earth should leave behind one book, many books or shelf full of books?’

  15. shantam prem says:

    We are discussing the sale of books when almost every cult/sect/religion/spiritual movement originating in India has its own tv channel or has bought regular slot on tv.

    It is the followers and disciples who in the long run attract and inspire new arrivals on the path. Books are clever, as well as poor substitute. For what the hell Osho encouraged Sannyas Initiation and change of names?

    After all, He was not making his work in the line of Paulo Coelho but giants who are remembered and worshipped centuries later after their demise.

  16. Parmartha says:

    Having found your arguments on the Books destroyed, Shantam, you now shift ground and talk, as far as I can see, about the need for the real thing. Seeing, hearing Osho on the social media, etc. Very good.

    Had you read the string head article properly you would have seen it was introduced by exactly that point.

  17. prem martyn says:

    Why stop at books? Go for the merchandising and strike at the inflated claims of tantra, religious belief and aloneness in one go…

    http://www.passionshop.com/Virgin-Mary-Sex-Doll.html

    http://hediedformygrins.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Catholicism
    ————-
    And beat your friends with belief…

    http://hediedformygrins.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Board%20games

  18. Kavita says:

    Ma Yoga Videh and Swami Chidananda, this sounds more like Ma’s voice rather than Swami’s, as in my research I have seen mostly in Osho’s Sannyas World the Mas become the voice & Swamis go mute. Correct me if I am wrong.

  19. Kavita says:

    For a short time during 95-96 I used to work for six hours in the Purchase Dept. as an assistant to Swami Vairagya – Indian/marble (MOD: KAVITA, PLEASE CLARIFY!) (the Dept. was recently separated physically from the Finance Dept. but is situated very close to the Finance Dept., behind the bookshop). I got a monthly entrance pass at that time.

    My observation about this is that OIF had become very economical in their activities (books, audio & PR), not only financially but also time-wise.

    They have cut their maintenance costs gradually & drastically after Jayesh (I use his name because he made investments in the market on OIF’s behalf) lost a lot of money (no idea about the amount) during the mid 90′s-2000.

    • Kavita says:

      MOD : There were three Indian Swami Vairagyas at that time in the Ashram, so to identify them they were given a second name, eg this Swami was responsible for the marble in Osho’s bedroom/Lao Tzu House.

  20. Legend says:

    While major booksellers in the UK might not have stocked Osho’s books, there was no shortage of Osho books being published during 1985-1994. Hundreds of Osho books were published from 1985 to 1994, in more than 28 languages. 1985 saw dozens of books published. In 1986, the number went to its lowest at 22 published titles. Starting in 1987, the numbers began to increase, with 75 titles in 1987, 106 titles in 1988, 104 titles in 1989, peaking at 122 titles in 1994.

    There simply was no “blacklisting” in any sense that prevented titles from being published. Even excluding sannyasin-run publishing enterprises like Rebel, between 1985 and 1994 many Osho books were published all over the world.

    Osho books were available during those years (1985-1994) in both bookstores and in libraries and they are still available. There was no official purge or suppression or censorship. And there still isn’t. The listing on the Vatican’s index probably increased readership of Osho. This claim of “blacklisting” does not appear to have applied to publishing.

    For instance, in 1985, there were various publishers of Osho: W. Heyne (Germany), Ch’ŏngha (Korea), Bompiani (Italy), Pensamento (Brazil), Zorn, cop. (Holland), Editorial Sirio (Spain), and Mondadori (Italy), St. Martin’s Press (USA).

    In 1988-1989, there were even more publishers of Osho: Labyrinth Publishing (Switzerland), Dāyamanḍa Pôkeṭa Buksa (India), le Voyage intérieur (France), Wu ling chu ban she (China), Altamira (Holland), Ronan Denniel (France), Aoxiu chu ban she (China), Meru Kumāru (Japan), Tāo Pabliśiṅga (India), Almasta éd (Switzerland), Sādhanā Pokeṭa Buksa (India), Fang zhi chu ban gong si (China), Dharm Tirta Publications (India), Kōdansha (Japan), Munhwa Ch’ulp’an Kongsa (Korea), Stara Buksa (India), Slobodan Vučković (Serbia),

    By 1993-1994, there were even more publishers, including commercial publishers of Osho: Charles E. Tuttle (USA), C. W. Daniel (UK), New Age International (India), Les Éd. du Relié (France), Chŏngsin Segyesa (Korea), TH (Ecuador), Esotheria (Serbia), Anand Publishers (India), Ambani (India), D.Celan (Slovenia).

    St. Martin’s Press (USA) published ‘Power, Politics, and Change: What can I do to help make the world a better place?’ in 1985 and then published the ‘Osho Zen Tarot’ in 1994.

    • prem martyn says:

      History lesson:

      St Martin’s Press is the Christian arm of Macmillan’s publishing house – which was also tied into the Dolphin publishing house of New York, under one of the Macmillan family who was responsible for Dolphin’s libertarian output back in the 70s and the publishing of various anarchist texts of Bakunin and Kropotkin et al, in the yippie heyday.

      From what I remember, the libertarian-leaning owner of Dolphin was a direct descendant of the Macmillan family chain, who in turn were the multi-million dollar magnates responsible for the deforestation and pulping of the British Columbian old growth redwood and mixed forests in Canada, leaving only a tiny stand of a few dozen centuries-old trees which I visited and tree-hugged some years ago. ‘Old Mac’ was one of the famous conservative British PM’s of the UK govt. of the fifties.

      The corporate pulping of old forest trees is a major issue in the world, which results in the neutralising of wildlife for toilet paper, packaging and all sorts, including books etc. St Martin’s, because of its Christian ethics, had a ‘run-in’ briefly with Sannyas after first publishing, then withdrawing from print, ‘The Mustard Seed’ of Bhagwan, because of their own pro-Christian stance.

      Video versus Books:
      I used to love the tonic of falling asleep to Osho vids and waking slightly zombified and other-worldly ‘relaxed’ and sexed-up…in a nice way. The difference between the videos and his presence was a gazillion miles, if anyone ever remembers that difference.

      I was never the slightest bit interested in what he said via books because that’s not what he was. Therefore I cannot sell his words in books to anyone. All I know is that for a brief while he and I shared something that was diffused in some ways between people.

      I don’t believe that ‘guarantees’ any added value for people…being that people are prone to their own narrative etc. It might, it might not. One can always be aware of the possibilities that it might, as being generatively useful though.

      Videos:

      The free video website for the listening and watching of Osho has been removed so if anyone knows of an alternative, then do flag it here. It will inevitably be removed under copyrights, but hey, you might save some forests and feel free of the ongoing debate in the meantime. Of course, you can pay or watch on youtube too.

      More importantly, one can get involved somewhere along the line of becoming and try out the theories and ideas. There’s loads, of which the Satori process of endless repetitive questioning worked well for me. It was farrrrr-outttttt. Absolutely, absurdly wonderful.

      I’m glad that there are those dedicated disciples out there who still offer their wares (and unawares too) to the world in differing forms, from their contact with Osho. Inevitably, it’s also and always was a mix of self-promotion and marketability and people’s needs, in a big washing machine.

      Apparently, enlightenment, if you want it, is available too for free via many teachers online now, who peddle, even in all honesty, that stuff, even skyping interactively.

      The main trademark issue as defined by these advaitists is being able to create tautological sentences in an atmosphere of reverence and silent attention to the one that is two that is none. Enough said.

    • Parmartha says:

      Mr Legend,
      You are trying to rewrite history and take it away from those who lived it and though not within the commune, tried to look after Osho’s name and interests, such as myself, during that very difficult period.

      Had you ever tried to go into leading commercial bookshops as I did with someone trying to sell Osho books during those years you would not be trailing out this long list of self-activating “publishers”.

      OIF, who were trying to sell books in those years, certainly freely admit to big problems, and the quote “Never, ever come back with any proposal relating to this author” is a quote from them.

      It’s no good quoting 1985; for most of that year, books, yes, did sell, and it took at least a month or two to realise that there was a real scandal, in conventional terms, going down at the Ranch after the denouement of September, 1985.

      1994 is the year when things recovered, due to the distance that history provided and the excellent marketing of the then new Osho Zen Tarot pack.

      I can’t really see your interest in departing from history, when I think whatever side people are now on realise that Osho was a blacklisted author by many leading publishers after the Ranch.

      Either you did not live through that period or you are guilty of a sort of wish-fulfillng history that might suit the present-day critics of OIF.

  21. Videh and Chidananda says:

    It seems that many of you have missed the point on what we are trying to say:

    What has happened in the past is done. Cannot undo the past, but now it is in our hands to change the tide.

    The general public should be informed on what books of Osho they are buying. The general public who buys Osho’s books does not know whether the book is an original text or just an Anthology/Compilation. People should be informed – that was always what Osho encouraged – to inform the people, to educate them.

    There may be people amongst the public that would like to buy the unedited versions of what Osho said in his discourses/books.

    We should try and get as many sannyasins as possible to get the whole integral complete archives of Osho, so that Osho’s original words do not get lost forever and can be passed on to the future generations. If OIF does not want to do it, we sannyasins can do it.

    Keep in mind that Osho World and Osho Viha are selling the complete archives of Osho’s works (all his complete discourses in an audio/video format).

    We do not know what Osho said behind closed doors to any of his secretaries – we were not present – hence we do not have any proof of what Osho really said. We are gullible into believing anything the secretaries say. We should use our ability to discern.

    The secretaries would come out of Osho’s room and say whatever was convenient in that moment, and keeping in mind their future personal interests. The only thing we know for sure is what Osho said in the discourses. But if the discourses are being edited heavily, we will never come to know – will we? Who knows what ‘Osho said’, apart from the discourses that he gave in public?

    We should remember that the original words of Osho (usually 2 hours of discourses) in their original sequence are the pure outpourings of Osho’s heart, whereas any Anthology is just a mediocre planned strategy to attract people who are not sensitive enough to perceive the outpourings of Osho’s heart.

    We have in our hands the official figures on the sales of the Anthologies that OIF has submitted to the Swiss Authorities in the course of the current legal proceedings. We can assure you that the figures are high. All these documents will be made public soon on a website, so there will be no more misunderstandings on the amount of Osho books sold worldwide.

    Love,

    Videh and Chidananda (We have worked together for decades)

    • satyadeva says:

      “The general public should be informed on what books of Osho they are buying. The general public who buys Osho’s books does not know whether the book is an original text or just an Anthology/Compilation.”

      Totally agree about this, V & C.

      “We do not know what Osho said behind closed doors to any of his secretaries – we were not present – hence we do not have any proof of what Osho really said. We are gullible into believing anything the secretaries say. We should use our ability to discern.”

      But here you’re on shaky ground. Yours would be just one viewpoint/interpretation on this – not necessarily correct either, of course, and possibly influenced by factors not so far mentioned here; I might “discern” differently; others likewise, according to their wont…

      All uninformed speculation, with likely not too much chance of being unsullied by bias of one sort or another, a veritable minefield, based on mutual suspicion, distrust – and resulting in ever-increasing ‘internecine’ problems.

      Welcome, everyone, to the wonderful world of Sannyas Politics, ie the world of power: who has it – and who wants it….

      “We have in our hands the official figures on the sales of the Anthologies that OIF has submitted to the Swiss Authorities in the course of the current legal proceedings. We can assure you that the figures are high.”

      So the anthologies/compilations are doing their job – great! As long as the pristine originals are also made available to the public, what’s the problem?

  22. Kavita says:

    Probably the next posting shall be by VidehAnanda!

  23. Videh and Chidananda says:

    Hi Legend,

    Would like to know who you are: Sannyas name and if possible, a few details about you. Could you tell us how you got access to all the historical records of OIF publishing activities?

    By the way, the titles that you mention in your message are ANTHOLOGIES – these are NOT Osho’s original books. They are derivative works – heavily edited.
    You can see the titles of Osho’s original books/discourses in the link below:

    http://www.sannyas.org/index.php?title=Osho_Discourses

    Do you see the title, ‘Power, Politics, and Change’, that you have mentioned in your letter, in the link above? If not, that means that it is derivative work, an anthology where Osho’s words have been manipulated and heavily edited for commercial purposes.

    Osho’s discourse series were immediately transcribed and published as books.

    Love,

    Videh and Chidananda

    • Parmartha says:

      V and C,
      It is noticeable that some important works of Osho have been left out of the list you speak of, though you speak of it as having absolute authority. Three for example:
      ‘Diary of a Madman’
      ‘Glimpses of a Golden Childhood’
      ‘Books I Have Loved’.

      All published in 1985 before Osho left the Ranch…I wonder why they have been omitted? I suspect that for some reason they are seen as tainted. But not by me – they contain some of the finest Osho stuff, in particular, ‘Diary of a Madman’.

      You seem to think that Osho disapproved of the editing and compiling of his work. There were, however, a lot more than the two examples which I gave before. What about:
      ‘LSD: A Short-Cut to Samadhi’ – compilation Laxmi, Feb 1971, and
      ‘Who Am I?’ – 1968, published by Sundarelal Jain?

      They would not have just compiled these titles up without Osho having very much approved at that stage of his ministry.

      You have found some kind of (fundamendalist) criteria with which you want to beat up anyone who looks at publishing as a practical activity and departs from your evangelical and Biblical stance.

  24. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    “As long as the pristine originals are also made available to the public, what’s the problem?”

    The problem is, Satyadeva, that the originals are NOT made available to the ´public´. Quite very soon after his departure, in the mid-to-end of the nineties.

    Here in Munich, there were stored all audio originals (at least) in Leela Centre; then they were neither to be borrowed from there, or anything, and quite soon they disappeared. So when I hear now that Viha (California) is merchandizing the whole stock (of everything available), it´s also quite something, I feel.

    Sell it to whom? If? Sold it to whom? What for, and why?

    Well, as you said it, Satyadeva:
    “Welcome, everyone, to the wonderful world of Sannyas Politics, ie the world of power: who has it – and who wants it.”

    However – like pretty always – I´d like to add that the whole procedure sheds as well clear light on ALL of us, and not only on some ´prominent legal fighters´.

    Those, in all their ugliness, come on stage when the basement is ready for them, and that they know. And when the basement is indifferent for a long enough time. For whatsoever reasons.

    Or when some like to indulge in platitudes, like those, Prem Martyn, you today came up with (at 3.28 am). Yes, they are funny, but they don´t fit the issue, they just give a short comatose laughter and that´s it. Old shoes…no good for dancing…

    Otherwise – it is like it is.

    And, quite often, I also feel that all is perfectly going totally in imperfection. When I go inside and watch my ´complaining part´ just disappear, like the crystal white snow, which here melted into nothingness in just the last24 hours.

    Wish you well, all of you, from this, another day -

    Madhu

    • frank says:

      Madhu, you suggest that Sannyas politics “sheds a clear light on all of us.”
      Sounds like a very Xtian notion, as in: “Jesus died for our sin, we are all sinners.”
      You can count me out of that bit of hand-wringing, love…If you want to bang that nail into yourself, go ahead…I cancelled my subscription to the resurrection a long time back.

      No-one should feel guilty about being in a religious and ideological scuffle or even mini-jihad for Osho or anyone else. Celebrate everything! Be human! Hadn`t you noticed: That`s what spiritual movements do when the main man pops his clogs…the disciples all get together and have a bloody good ruck.

      It’s the way. There is nothing that is not the Tao. A rose is a rose is a rose. Don`t pretend it`s something only “the masses” do!

      Videh and Chidananada spent a long time translating and publishing all and everything Osho said about the Bhagavad Gita so they know better than anybody the central message here…
      If there`s a massive fight going on, don`t bottle it.

      That`s what Arjuna tried to do but Krishna caught him by the scruff of the neck and said, “Not so fast, chicken biryani – now, get in there, kick a bit of ass and give the enemy a good hiding. Remember, if you finish him off, so be it, he was gonna croak it sooner or later anyways.

      And it`s all just a big play anyway, so chill, play your part and if that part is bustin` some loser’s ass, then ok…it`s God doing it anyway.”

      Enjoy the fight! That’s what these sannyas politics guys are doing. No need to be ashamed. Have a bloody good jihad and enjoy every minute of it. It`s perfectly human. Yobbos like it at a football match or a religious riot.

      We are more refined. Battling about the words of living buddhas is a lot more highbrow. And battling about the Samadhi of an enlightened one is a lot more cool than just scrapping about who wins the Cup or who gets to shag the hostages and so on…

      Its ok to talk about “The masses” but as long as you`re in there, rough and tumbling with your rival religionists, albeit religionless ones, you`re one of them…

      Do you have a problem with that?
      I don`t.
      Bring it on.
      Have a go, if you think you are enlightened enough!

  25. Parmartha says:

    Noticeable that there is very little economic discussion here.

    When the fantastically well-produced books of the Poona 1 period were made, Greek shipping magnate money, Parsi money from Bombay, and Jain money from all over, was supporting Osho’s work, and he as a person was very much alive and inspiring and hypnotising that.

    I strongly suspect that such amazing productions were seen as gifts to the commune, and they remain luminous-looking volumes. Nonetheless, even at the time there were many in the underclass of sannyasins who could not afford them.

    Later, after 1985, there was Hollywood money, etc. and again inspired by Osho’s living presence. By 1994, those trying to ‘do’ something about the publishing were in a very different boat. Things had to become economic, and that had something to do with the fact that Osho was no longer amongst us. By economic, I don’t mean making some big profit, I mean just making ends meet.

    To produce and sell books such as the Poona 1 volumes in the mid-nineties just made no sense at all. And also betray what I myself found when living around Osho, which was constant change, and a willingness to adapt to it.

    • Arpana says:

      “What I myself found when living around Osho, which was constant change, and a willingness to adapt to it.”

      Spot on.

      Forget not, that part of the reason those books were produced to such a high standard, was because of those of us who worked at the ashram, and gave our time, energy, love, committment, creativity, skills, for free, and paid to keep ourselves in India at Osho’s ashram.

      Bravo, us.

    • shantam prem says:

      There was no Jain money or Parsi money pouring in Osho´s work once Acharya Rajneesh took the tag of Bhagwan Shree. Till today, Jains don´t feel any oneness with their Rajneesh Jain!

      Yes, few disciples poured their money. As far as I know from the history, first Pune property was purchased by Mukta´s money. Then the co-operative took over. New disciples were encouraged to do groups and it filled the bags for the daily deposits in the bank.

      As I have seen in Pune 2, all kind of alternative therapies were integrated in the daily life. It not only kept the western disciples busy, it helped to finance the expansion of the property.

      Once Jayesh and Amrito started treating Osho´s work as their daddy’s beer factory, sources of money started getting dry. Star therapists do their work privately, neither they go to Pune nor they encourage others.

      This old saying, ‘Those who live by the sword die with the sword’ is true for Osho too. Whole life, He was poking fun at other religions, their followers and priests, and selling the flats in new constructions called New Man, New Future, New Humanity; it looks like housing colonies in Spain where Britishers pumped their money!

      • Parmartha says:

        Parsi money bought the first Koregaon Park property, according to most sources.
        Laxmi herself was a Jain. And from a rich family. The Jain money did not dry after 1970, though it may well have been less.

        In 1974 – and I was there Shantam – there were mainly low-priced meditation camps. I don’t remember groups at all until 1975. Mukta was said to be supporting a lot of the work at that time.

        The fact of the matter was that whenever Laxmi wanted to do something, somehow backers were found. And the living presence was there to inspire it.

        In 1994, a completely different situation appertained, especially as Osho was NOT alive! Don’t you get it?

        Once again, Shantam sort of invents the facts he wants to support his arguments. Similarly to Mr Legend.

        • shantam prem says:

          Parmartha, I don´t invent the facts, neither I draw sentences out of great patriarch´s mouth.

          Linguistically and metaphorically, some spice may be added, but factually; anyone who has spent substantial time in Pune 2 (1987-2000) and Pune 3 (2001 till Mr. Jayesh began to preside) can get the opportunity to correct me at any time.

          As far as I know, Parmartha, from your posts, hardly one time you have been to Pune during last 28 years.

  26. shantam prem says:

    First of all, disciples need to ask their head priest in which category they keep Osho. Is Osho in the league of Jesus or Buddha?
    If yes, why they feel embarrassed to celebrate the birthday of their latest deceased man? When dead men are walking thousands of years after their death, why not Osho?

    Whether it is bluff or reality, in his own words, man like Him are born every 2500 years. Though It looks like in the last 25 years, humanity has already covered 25 centuries in population growth, money generation and technological development.

    Those disciples who are full of books fetish should ask themselves, “Did not they get a living, thriving community of meditators after coming in contact with Osho books, did not they get the presence of the Master too?”

    And now, when there is no community, not disciples doing meditation in the radius of 250 kms., why encourage people to buy lottery which is not valid any more?

    I mean, to get much from life and then give little bit is neither love nor compassion. It is simply Jehovah the Witness mind-set.

  27. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    “Madhu, you suggest that Sannyas politics “sheds a clear light on all of us.”
    Sounds like a very Xtian notion, as in: “Jesus died for our sin, we are all sinners.” ”

    No, Frank, you misunderstood my post here. Brought it into a direction I was not up to.

    But you energized the stream, sure.
    And that´s good.

    Madhu

    P.S:
    Light is light is light, same as roses and thorns and other stuff.

  28. prem martyn says:

    Sannyas was never a strategically designed, accountable, mutual, non-hierarchical, non-elitist, accessible, fund-sharing, kick-starting, micro-crediting, co-sponsoring, forfeit-paying, redress-offering, shared microphone & bulletin board community. It allowed and deliberately created stupidity.

    The idea that having printed the template of what life could be like in myriad forms (Osho books) we are somehow preserving the truth for another generation to have a crack at, seems indulgently, exclusively naive and filled with a massive edit, itself.

    When was the last time anyone here read a sixth century Buddhist sutra and thought themselves into a panegyric eulogy of creation itself? Or try reading Rumi’s ‘Mathnawi’ without Coleman Barks chopping off loads of the original Persian.

    Language is user-friendly, it is out-of-date even by 50 years and generally utterly inappropriate when out of context.

    Storytelling is an art between teller and audience.

    Gotta go now, man, like, yeah, can you dig it? Gotta catch some ZZZs. Stay cool and don’t flip your wigs. Chill-out.

  29. Videh and Chidananda says:

    Try one simply experiment:

    Take your time. Sit in a room with an Anthology of Osho and an Original book of Osho of Pune 1 (if you have it). Read through them with a lot of care and attention and see the difference.

    If you cannot see the difference, then go to this website

    http://www.oshofriendsinternational.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69&Itemid=127

    Go through each and every chapter and see how much OIF is interfering with the original discourses of Osho.
    Chapter 4 is completely erased!

    We are looking forward to seeing your comments posted on SN.

    Love,

    Videh and Chidananda

    • Arpana says:

      Dr. Johnson, one of the great linguists of the English language, has written a great dictionary, compiling all the English words available at that time. I am saying this because the English language is the only language that goes on evolving each year – accepting at least eight thousand new words. It is not a dead language like Sanskrit or Arabic; it is not afraid, it goes on growing.

      When the dictionary was published, after a few days, three old ladies, seventy, seventy-five, and eighty – very old, with thick glasses – came with the dictionary to Dr.Johnson and said, “You seem to be destroying the morality of the country.”
      He said, “What have I done?”
      They said, “You have published this sexual book.”
      He said, “Sexual book? This is a dictionary.”
      They said, “Dictionary? There are three words in it which are obscene.” And they had underlined three words in those thousands of words. Those three old women had done such a great job.

      Dr. Johnson said, “You are a miracle. Just within three days…My work is to collect words, but amongst thousands of words, how could you find these three words only? You are not concerned with the whole dictionary, you were looking for these words. And because of these three words, the dictionary has become a sex manual.”

      Osho.
      The Last Testament, Vol. 6
      Chapter #9

    • satyadeva says:

      V & C, may I ask again, what are your nationalities?

    • swamishanti says:

      “Sannyas is going to undo all that the society has done. It is not just accidental that priests are against me, politicians are against me, parents are against me, the whole establishment is against me; it is not accidental. I can understand the absolutely clear logic of it. I am trying to undo what they have done. I am sabotaging the whole pattern of this slave society.

      My effort is to create rebels, and the beginning of the rebel is to trust in oneself. If I can help you to trust in yourself, I have helped you. Nothing else is needed, everything else follows of its own accord.”

      This is one of the deleted passages from chapter three.

      • swamishanti says:

        I was surprised when visiting the Meenakshi temple in Madurai, last winter, which is one of Hinduism’s largest pilgrimage sites in South India, to find one of Osho`s titles in one of the bookstands inside the temple complex.

        • Parmartha says:

          Nice to know that, Swamishanti.

          By the way, even when Osho was alive there were ‘editors’ of his books. Satyadeva, who makes comments here, was the first editor of ‘The Mustard Seed’, in 1974/5.

  30. shantam prem says:

    New Zen Economics:
    Let us eat the seeds and plant the leaves…
    The crop will grow, if we keep Osho Radio on 24×7.

  31. lokesh says:

    El Chudo enquires, “Is Osho in the league of Jesus or Buddha?”

    The answer is a definite no. It takes a couple of thousand years of myth-building to enter such a league. Osho is still too human, too full of faults. It takes time to erase such things from collective memory banks.

    Some Catholic sannyasins somehow manage to fast-track the process. This is done by wearing very thick blindfolds and ear plugs, and repeating ‘Osho was a Buddha, Osho was a Jesus’ repeatedly over the course of some years.

    As for humanity as a whole, the process takes much longer. I doubt Osho will have the momentum and times are tipping on the planetary survival clock like never before. Time is running out, in other words.

    What it all boils down to is that Osho was an Osho. Unfortunately, people are generally never satisfied and always want more, and of course, every satisfaction brings a new dissatisfaction. The wheel keeps turning.

  32. Legend says:

    Mates, I also object to the publishing of “heavily edited” works, on any level, if editing is involved that modifies Osho’s words. To edit is to “prepare (written material) for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it.” Anthologies that contain complete questions and Osho’s complete, verbatim, answers are not objectionable as edited works, in my opinion.

    Osho’s complete oeuvre spans decades and must, of necessity, be chopped up into books. The books are then often ‘compiled’ into ‘series’. The series (e.g. ‘Dhammapada’) being chopped up into several distinct volumes. Volumes contain discourses and the volumes arbitrarily start and stop with certain discourses. Individual discourses are comprised of Questions and Answers, which is what really matters.

    If letters, words or sentences are changed or omitted, that is editing that should not be allowed. If only part of a question is provided, or part of an answer, then that is objectionable editing. Publishing a thematic compilation, source citations to the discourses should be provided. Publishing should provide unedited questions and answers, in which the entire question is provided, as well as the entire answer Osho gave.

    Such a compilation may well contain a nugget that leads someone to explore Osho’s oeuvre more. Few of us were present for the full seven-course meal that Osho prepared for us.

    When one is hungry, an entire seven course meal is not needed to satisfy that hunger. A plate of fish ‘n’ chips might just do. Maybe only OIF or Rebel can provide the complete 400 volumes that make up that seven course meal. But most people cannot afford that expense either. For most people a fish ‘n’ chips compilation satisfies hunger.

    Even an hors d’oeuvre can be prepared by a fine chef with nutritious ingredients to truly satisfy hunger. Appreciation for finer cuisine might grow over time, but I still doubt many will be buying or reading all 400 books of Osho’s entire ouevre, which of necessity has been chopped up into books and series containing discourses.

    The fundamental existential unit during a discourse is a Question and an Answer, and that human interaction between disciple and Master should be preserved intact…as unedited Q&A, whether in a book or in a compilation.

    That is exactly what was happening during 1985-1994, when publishers around the world effectlvely became a global Osho Samizdat of books, audiotapes, videos…sharing their output, as well as sharing output from Sannyas-sponsored publishers like OIF, Rebel, Element, RFI, RFE, Chidvilas, Osho Publikaties Nederland, etc.

    • lokesh says:

      Even the best authors require editing. Osho’s books are transcripts from relatively spontaneous discourses and darshans. A good edtor will cut out the dross. Only a fool would not recognize that Osho’s talks contained dross. Some of what Osho said was perhaps relevant to the time but is now obsolete.

      His earliar discourses were more concise. In later years, he rambled at times and talked a lot of unscientific rubbish, his hyberbolic scaremongering about the AIDS epidemic is one good example. Who needs to read such unsubstantiated nonsense? Why not get rid of what is obsolete?

      Osho told some terrible jokes and I do mean simply disgusting and distasteful. It was all good, dirty fun back then but today it just seems crass. If you were there it was brilliant no doubt, but today, minus his presence and so many amazing people around him listening to his ridiculous jokes, it just does not work any more.

      A good editor would not damage Osho’s words, he/she would make them more concise, fluid and communicable.

      • satyadeva says:

        Good points, Lokesh, hard to disagree with at first sight. Although all depends on the judgment and integrity of those responsible, as there’s always going to be the danger of those that want to interfere rather too much with the original text in order to present Osho in a certain light, as Swamishanti has demonstrated, ie not necessarily by changing his words, but simply by leaving out what some would regard as ‘awkward’ bits.

        As I’ve said, as well as ‘compilations’, I’m also very much in favour of keeping Osho’s discourses exactly as they were – economic factors, ie costs, permitting (having read Parmartha’s points re this) – although making more, unedited videos/dvds available (if economic) would also help secure absolute authenticity.

        As Martyn recently noted, books aren’t necessarily the most powerful medium for ‘communing’ with Osho (or any master/teacher). I well recall my first experience of Osho was not reading but listening to audios of him speaking at meditation camps at Mt. Abu, laying down, exhausted but deeply relaxed, after doing dynamic at the Bell Street Centre, London.

        What a combination that was – I was hooked, from the very first one I knew I was going to get out there, by hook or by crook. And of course, the presence and anecdotes of one or two others who’d already done that very much played their part.

        Still, I suppose at least there are plenty of Osho videos on youtube.

      • prem martyn says:

        Osho joke below from a facebook site dedicated to them…and it got me giggling…

        However, he often would tell them without expression, apparently uninvolved in the jokery. But he did beam at his own mishaps and wacky stories… his own dissolving into absurd giggling was all the more wonderful for its rarity – a joy to behold and a lovely barometer for all of us. I wish I had been there at the muppet toys series of new Hindu gods.

        “Before we enter into our meditation, I have to wake up all those who have fallen asleep by now.
        Jimmy is lost in the desert with two friends, Billy and Sammy. They wander around for two days, almost dying of thirst, until they come to a nunnery.
        They knock on the door and the Mother Superior answers.
        ”Water, water, please give us water!” they groan.
        ”Oh, no,” says the nun. ”We had a man in here before. If you want to come in here for water, you have to let us cut off your pricks.”
        The three guys run back out into the desert. But two days later they figure that they will die anyway, so what the hell. They go back to the nunnery and say that they accept the condition.
        They are brought in and the head nun takes Billy into another room. There is a short scream and then the nun comes back for Sammy. She takes him into another room and there is another, longer
        drawn-out, scream. But when she comes back for Jimmy, he is terrified.
        ”Just a minute!” he cries. ”How did you cut their pricks off?”
        ”Simple,” says the nun. ”We ask them what their profession is. The first guy is a butcher, so we cut it off with a knife. The second guy is a carpenter, so we sawed it off.”
        At this point, Jimmy starts laughing hysterically with tears rolling down his cheeks.”What’s so funny?” asks the nun.
        ”You’re gonna have trouble with me,” laughs Jimmy. ”I work for Kwality Ice Cream!” “

  33. shantam prem says:

    Videh and Chidananda,
    Is it not coming in your brain that as long as two gentlemen are in deciding position, things will be as they are? They listen to no one but their self-interests and therefore OSHO as a whole will be shared with the world like a Cobra without the poison gland.

    The attached photo is very symbolic. The trinity of Master, doctor and property developer, all three joined together.

    Other disciples are just like nobodies.

    It is really greatness of the master, he did not chose any of them or anyone else as the Successor, the way another famous guru, Mahesh Yogi, from the same Jabalpur did.

  34. prem martyn says:

    I remember going out to bookstores in central London back in the eighties with books of his to hawk around, just the once, one afternoon, for the UK distributor.

    Got to the theosophical bookshop near the British Museum. No sooner had I opened the door and suggested the assistant take a look than I was met with a “We don’t sell that crap in here, get out!”

    Shocked that any theosophist could explete so spontaneously, I replied just as quickly, “Oh, what crap do you sell in here then?” To which the assistant menacingly threatened me to get my foot out of the doorway. Osho was definitely in my books that day. I smiled from ear to ear: “Come buy your crap here, read all about it”.

    The sooner Osho gets removed from the incense-burning and crystal aura-soma bookshopping experience and is printed on recycled toilet paper as thought for the day, then we may find all sorts of proto-theosophicalists benefiting from the experience of being flushed with wonder and relieved to have something to read on the toilet.

  35. Kavita says:

    As far as I know, Mukta bought Lao Tzu House & the papers are still in her name. J & A team tried their best to get it in their hold but she has nominated her boyfriend & he is banned from the commune.

  36. Kavita says:

    I am not sure if her boyfriend was banned before or after the nomination. She has been living with him & his family since few years now in Austria.

    When Mukta was in the commune, due to her fragility she was asked to have a guardian & Big Prem took care of her till few months before she left for Austria.

  37. Kavita says:

    V & C, we discussed this some time back, here’s the link: http://sannyasnews.org/now/archives/3113

  38. shantam prem says:

    World is in a very bad shape.
    Solution: Osho books, original editions.
    Economy is growing but only for the top 5%.
    Solution: Osho books with catchy names. Just releasing on 19th January, ‘Rupee and Rouble’. It will be released by honourable Prime Minister of America!

    Our master has solution for all the world´s problems!

    • lokesh says:

      El Chudo announces, World is in a very bad shape.”

      As a man believes the world to be so it will appear.

      • shantam prem says:

        Lokesh represents the mind of the hyper-active sannyasins who are indulging in the plastic surgery of Osho´s words and work.

        For example, he writes assertively, “El Chudo announces, World is in a very bad shape.”
        Have I ever said this?
        Yes, they are my words, but a small piece cut out of context.
        Complete post is visible to see.

        Few people think if they cut ’7 inches piece’, it will still remain of the same size!

        No, sir, world is getting tired from the people who hide behind the cut and paste pieces of this great or that great.

        • lokesh says:

          El Chudo blurts, “World is getting tired from the people who hide behind the cut and paste pieces of this great or that great.”

          As a man believes the world to be so it will appear.

  39. Kavita says:

    I don’t think it is possible to have totally unedited audio discourses in future, but videos can be more reliable. Hope the persons who have the originals / masters (technical term for original recording ) are able to keep the originals intact as far as possible.

    Lokesh, I don’t get your sense of editing & re what SD says about it: “Although all depends on the judgment and integrity of those responsible, as there’s always going to be the danger of those that want to interfere rather too much with the original text in order to present Osho in a certain light”, I wonder how far these points shall be carried out. But maybe it’s better to leave them in their original form.

    Of course, I am only stating my view on this, I don’t think any of us here on SN are in any position to change the course of things, only hope it’s for the best.

  40. shantam prem says:

    If I am the chairman of Osho Foundation, I will instruct the Swami Doctor, “Please stop doctoring the books and Pune property.”

    It is the right time to concentrate on Prince Andrew. Go and give him the copy of ‘Sex to Super-Consciousness’ and ask him to join our next Tantra course in London.

    We are going to add a new meditation: ‘Fuck a Cougar and visualise 16+!’

    • lokesh says:

      Chud meister declares, “If I am the chairman of Osho Foundation we are going to add a new meditation: ‘Fuck a Cougar and visualise 16+!’”

      Which is one very good reason that his fantasy of being the chairman of Osho Foundation will never materialise, because he is clearly off his rocker.

      • shantam prem says:

        Are you brain-dead, Lokesh?
        My wife will be really ashamed of me if I treat satire as statement.

        • lokesh says:

          , “If I am the chairman of Osho Foundation we are going to add a new meditation: ‘Fuck a Cougar and visualise 16+!’”

          Satire? This is not satire. This is absurd nonsense. Usually, satire is a comical piece of writing which makes fun of an individual or a society to expose its stupidity and shortcomings. In addition, the writer hopes that those he criticizes will improve their characters by overcoming their weaknesses.

          Ehm…so, Chudo, where is the satirical element in your writing?

          For a start, if you want to criticise someone they have to understand what you are talking about. Your mumbo-jumbo is indecipherable.

  41. shantam prem says:

    “Sannyas is going to undo all that the society has done. It is not just accidental that priests are against me, politicians are against me, parents are against me, the whole establishment is against me; it is not accidental. I can understand the absolutely clear logic of it. I am trying to undo what they have done. I am sabotaging the whole pattern of this slave society.

    My effort is to create rebels, and the beginning of the rebel is to trust in oneself. If I can help you to trust in yourself, I have helped you. Nothing else is needed, everything else follows of its own accord.”

    Just in 25 years time, the above paragraph looks like a constitution preamble of a country which has ceased to exist, or glossy catalogue of Lehman Bros!

  42. prem martyn says:

    The basic equation to come out of all of this is that knowledge is power. Hence the attraction of ownership of that formal repository of knowledge via the books. Contrarily, we should commend all forms of dispersal of that which holds the originality of the text intact. “At first was the Word. And the Word was with God.”

    Osho’s words do have a reverberation or can have, but you can’t eat them as is. They are evidence not of certainty, but of our need to assuage doubt, from the core of trust itself – of one’s trust in him. They remain extrinsic, however intrinsic and alluring. They also reveal our fear of self-ignorance and need for further hunger-inducing reminders.

    Although by refusing to be ideologically dependent on them we are obliged to enter our own remedies and create our own liturgy and coherence for daily life, however wide or narrow.

    The example he lived was exquisite and that is extremely valuable in a relative world because by example we are provoked to mirror what we most esteem. It enlivens us.

    And that is the message in this world, that when “everything is falling everywhere” (Rumi), there is that voice inside ourselves which is held in common and yet unique, because we tasted it and ate it. The tongue tip taste of Tao. That voice, in my experience, is both ruthless and compassionate and is available in myriad ways.

    But borrowed knowledge is like a painting that you’ve bought, but not made yourself.

    If knowledge stirs us to become more, live more and generously, then that becomes our knowing. What we do best in the collective mind is to willingly enter the most personal dynamics and then extrude collective significance, that profoundly strengthens the urge or quest individually. It’s a form of inspiration quite different from motivation, and is able to be immensely flexible even in unknown territory.

    The world of natural bounty and generosity, faced with its imminent and ignored destruction by mankind, will only have a voiced integrity to depend upon as an antidote to survivalism and Darwinist materialism in these closing years. If one has been exposed to the power of Osho’s vision (not only its fault-lines) one will no doubt continue to voice that which he dissolved into his friends, by symbiosis and with knowing.

    I believe that ability across the emotive and psychological field, trailing behind the meteor of starry self-realisation, continues to be our contribution and courage in the quest and gives authentic context to our interactions, through intent and the speaking of truth to power and the realisation of life, of one another, in this immediacy.

    P.S:
    Just found this…looks very readable…
    ‘Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion;
    September 9, 2014
    by Sam Harris

    • Kavita says:

      Marty, so very shockingly & interestingly readable.

      “Osho’s words do have a reverberation or can have, but you can’t eat them as is.”
      To me, this realisation took a lot of time; happily/sadly, by then I had digested most of it. Now I have been able to fairly eat & digest well whatever is on my plate, but now I know there is no guarantee of a good bowel movement. If it gets bad I keep a bottle of Digene syrup always handy.

  43. madhu dagmar frantzen says:

    Dear Kavita,
    Thank you for mentioning one of the last year´s thread about the issue; I loved to re-read its sincere contributions, sincere to the topic and less driven to actual ongoing legal fights, I felt.

    When you write today, “I don’t think any of us here on SN are in any position to change the course of things, only hope it’s for the best”, that´s meeting my feelings too; otherwise, everything is already said and chewed on again and again.

    Would like to ask you if you know how Mukta is doing, if she is well and well being taken care of? I didn´t know that she is in Austria now.

    And I also didn´t see the beautiful Garden for so long time now. It’s a living memory though, one which is planted in my body. So many memories came along with that, memories of the garden and memories of beautiful people working in it, myself included.

    And I am grateful for that.

    Love,

    Madhu

  44. shantam prem says:

    Spirituality without religion is possible; after all, homosexual pairs like Elton John and his husband too have got kids. Everything is possible!

    In the age of liberal values, one just needs to find out what kind of person one is, and what one expects from the others. Others can be the priests, gurus and event creators.

    • anand yogi says:

      Yes, Shantambhai…
      It shows what kind of Kali-Yuga we are living in when Anglo-Saxon homosexual subjects of Her Majesty are having more happy marriages than you!

      You are a deeply spiritual soul who has been raised wearing the same holey underwear that has been passed down through generations and is fully infused with the substance of the wisdom of mighty Bhorat!

      Why cannot the fools who are doctoring Osho’s vision see it?

      One such as you, bhai, should be riding high at the helm of the mighty re-invigorated Osho movement, raising Osho into the category of Buddha and Jesus…thus taking your rightful place alongside Ananda, Peter, Paul, Mary, Dhyanraj…so that in posterity your posterior will shine forth as a beacon of the true religion of holy Bhorat!

      Those forefathers who wore the holey underwear that you now offer to the world in all humility would be deeply dishonoured by the fact that one such as you, bhai, has to satisfy himself with dreams of German sausage at Lidl whilst Elton John is furnishing and gorging himself with every possible sweetmeat as a result of the perverted liberal values of the western mind which is nothing other than mind!

      It is scandalous that a man such as yourself who has clearly stated that “in the matter of words it does not matter if the underwear is outside the trousers” has not been consulted in the matter of editing Osho`s books and the job is left to those who can actually read and write English!

      It is good that some are attempting, like yourself, to realise Osho`s vision and not just sitting writing utter rubbish at the computer all day like some of the brain-dead Anglo-Aaxons at SannyasNews!

      Your emphasis on homosexuality, Anglo-Saxons and the royal family is perfectly correct!
      These red-bottomed homosexual baboons with liberal values need to be hammered by a true man!
      Then they will come to know the truth about mighty Bhorat!

      And remember, as you have pointed out, to think deeply about Prince Andrew! It will deepen your spiritual path beyond all expectations! Make it a meditation!

      Yahoo!
      Hari Om

      • lokesh says:

        Chudo, Yogi’s above post is good satire and for my taste, laugh out loud funny.

        Bow down at the man’s hobnail bootees and learn a few new tricks, instead of hanging onto your rusty old revolver that can only fire blanks, even if you could get it to work.

      • Kavita says:

        Anand Yogi, I am so curious to know about the beginning of your detailed journey with Osho, if it’s not too much trouble.

        Just to let you know, I have been very curious since a long time now. Praying you do consider my request.

  45. Kavita says:

    Dear Madhu,
    Actually, I am not in touch with her in any way right now. After Big Prem’s demise I don’t have any first-hand information about Mukta in Austria. I was in touch with her through FB (Antaro – her bf – and sometimes a female caretaker would respond on Mukta’s behalf ); last year she had a surgery & was recovering.

    After my withdrawal from Facebook last year I don’t have any contact, but I guess she is taken good care of.

    Always in Love,

    Kavita

  46. shantam prem says:

    Those who want to spread Osho through his books should adopt a novel strategy to capture the market share.

    Jehovah the Witness people do it in their way, Hare Rama people have their own style, J. krishnamurti never created the army of disciples, he was insisting teachings in the books were complete unto themselves.

    Osho way will be to present attractive people selling books in city centres. Braless women with hairy armpits; this will be not only nostalgic but enhancing brand value of the ‘Old Monk Whiskey’.

  47. Kavita says:

    “J.Krishnamurti never created the army of disciples” – well then, Shantam, you need to visit one of their centres to know that! Trust me, you shall enjoy that.

  48. shantam prem says:

    As this string is about Osho books, and in general about books:

    Since yesterday, I came across two articles about books. India´s one of the top two weekly magazines has even cover story.

    Not a single panellist has taken any book from that genre called Religion/Spirituality. It is not surprising, though, I am sure, these educated elites know about Osho and others in the same sector.

    So this idea of Osho´s books selling in millions is a far-stretched idea. New age spirituality has some readers, but multi times less than the cooking or travel books readers.

  49. Parmartha says:

    Mr Legend practises sophistry with this entry:

    “In 1988-1989, there were even more publishers of Osho: Labyrinth Publishing (Switzerland), Dāyamanḍa Pôkeṭa Buksa (India), le Voyage intérieur (France), Wu ling chu ban she (China), Altamira (Holland), Ronan Denniel (France), Aoxiu chu ban she (China), Meru Kumāru (Japan), Tāo Pabliśiṅga (India), Almasta éd (Switzerland), Sādhanā Pokeṭa Buksa (India), Fang zhi chu ban gong si (China), Dharm Tirta Publications (India), Kōdansha (Japan), Munhwa Ch’ulp’an Kongsa (Korea), Stara Buksa (India), Slobodan Vučković (Serbia).”

    These were small self-publishing outfits, to say the least, and as Martyn mentions and also I found, whoever the publisher was between late 1985 and until 1994 it was extremely difficult to get any books into bookshops in the West, except for a very few free, independent-thinking places like ‘Compendium’ in Camden Town.

    Mr Legend’s separate references to 1985 and 1994 are correct, but those years are not in dispute. Until the demise of the Ranch in October, 1985, Osho books were taken everywhere for sale. From 1994, after the Osho Zen Tarot pack made headlines, the sale of Osho books began to recover.

    And who is this Mr Legend, eh? Very noticeable that he does not use his real name.

  50. shantam prem says:

    Parmartha, books may be in the blacklist but look at the videos of Pune of the time frame you have mentioned. Record number of people were making Pune as the most happening spiritual place on the planet Earth. It even gave launching pad to the new entrants.

    And now, books may be everywhere and look at the thin crowd in Pune. Osho Resort’s facebook page is evidence. A village pub in UK has more lively energy than there.

  51. Legend says:

    “…whoever the publisher was between late 1985 and until 1994 it was extremely difficult to get any books into bookshops in the West.”

    Parmartha,
    I am simply sharing that this was not my experience. I published Osho during that period. I distributed Osho compilations on human rights, women’s liberation, etc. in the late 80′s (88-90) in a city of 2 million people.

    There was no problem at all getting Osho’s books into all the bookstores, except for bookstores dedicated to a specific religion, like the Catholic bookstores. The Catholic bookstores refused to accept the book, ‘Priests and Politicians: The Mafia of the Soul’.

    But everywhere I went, people of different religions were receptive to Osho. There was a hunger for his message in the late 1980s (post-Ranch). There was no “blacklisting” of Osho in those three years when I was in the book business: from 1988 to 1990.

    Perhaps, Parmartha, you are generalising from your anecdotal experience in the UK. That is why you think 1986-1993 was a period of Osho blacklisting? That was not my experience from 1988-1990.

    Is it really necessary that I use my real name to post here? I prefer to avoid ad hominem and want to respond to the substance of your post: your claim of post-Ranch “blacklisting.” I am suggesting perhaps your perspective is a bit Eurocentric. That is why I listed a few of the dozens of independent presses in countries around the world who were publishing Osho 1986-1993, mostly outside the OIF orbit.

    Perhaps the small and independent press runs were of only a few thousand for each title, but those got into bookstores around the world during the time you say Osho was blacklisted.

    I travelled a lot during 1986-1993. I remember seeing Osho titles in airport bookstores. So, in addition to my own experience with publishing and distribution of Osho books to bookstores, I am pretty sure there was no blacklisting going on 1986-1993, because I would see Osho’s face smiling at me in airport bookstores. It was my form of blissful ‘airport darshan’. :)

    • Parmartha says:

      Thanks your reply, Legend. You can imagine my dilemna though if you don’t say who you are, and, for example, in which city of 2 million people you were trading in Osho books?

      It is certainly not just my view that there was a blacklisting of the books between 86 and 94. In the general consciousness of the intelligentsia in Europe and America Osho’s name was, sorry to be blunt, mud, due to the Ranch denouement. Are you sure you yourself were fully aware of this?

      I am certainly willing to listen if you say that maybe in India this was not the case. The view from OIF was also the same re this period, and despite all, they were still the main purveyors of Osho books.

  52. Kavita says:

    “I prefer to avoid ad hominem and want to respond to the substance of your post” – sounds so truly paradoxical, lucky if you can manage that all through your SN active visit, Legend!

  53. shantam prem says:

    “Is it really necessary that I use my real name to post here?”

    Legend,
    I think if you are happy and proud to share your thoughts and they are not illegal, criminal and paedophilic by nature, real name gives substance to the being.

    A man who was in distribution of Osho books feels shy to reveal his identity, it means books are hot air. After all, Osho books are not some kind of Jihadist literature. Still, it is your choice.

    Two things you can tell anyway:
    Why you dropped your missionary work of Osho books distribution?
    And what you see nowadays at airport bookstores? Airport darshan of some living Indian guru?

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