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The Book Of Man by Osho: Osho's Books on Spirituality for Inner Self and Personal Transformation| Self Love Books with Contemporary Literature for Creative Mind Penguin
The Book Of Man by Osho's Books on Spirituality for Inner Self and Personal Transformation| Self Love Books with Contemporary Literature for Creative Mind Penguin
300 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2022
10 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,294 books6,796 followersRajneesh (born Chandra Mohan Jain, 11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990) and latter rebranded as Osho was leader of the Rajneesh movement. During his lifetime he was viewed as a controversial new religious movement leader and mystic.
In the 1960s he traveled throughout India as a public speaker and was a vocal critic of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindu religious orthodoxy.
Rajneesh emphasized the importance of meditation, mindfulness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humor—qualities that he viewed as being suppressed by adherence to static belief systems, religious tradition and socialization.
In advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality he caused controversy in India during the late 1960s and became known as "the sex guru".
In 1970, Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as "neo-sannyasins". During this period he expanded his spiritual teachings and commented extensively in discourses on the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974 Rajneesh relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established and a variety of therapies, incorporating methods first developed by the Human Potential Movement, were offered to a growing Western following. By the late 1970s, the tension between the ruling Janata Party government of Morarji Desai and the movement led to a curbing of the ashram's development and a back taxes claim estimated at $5 million.
In 1981, the Rajneesh movement's efforts refocused on activities in the United States and Rajneesh relocated to a facility known as Rajneeshpuram in Wasco County, Oregon. Almost immediately the movement ran into conflict with county residents and the state government, and a succession of legal battles concerning the ashram's construction and continued development curtailed its success.
In 1985, in the wake of a series of serious crimes by his followers, including a mass food poisoning attack with Salmonella bacteria and an aborted assassination plot to murder U.S. Attorney Charles H. Turner, Rajneesh alleged that his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela and her close supporters had been responsible. He was later deported from the United States in accordance with an Alford plea bargain.[
After his deportation, 21 countries denied him entry. He ultimately returned to India and a revived Pune ashram, where he died in 1990. Rajneesh's ashram, now known as OSHO International Meditation Resort and all associated intellectual property, is managed by the Zurich registered Osho International Foundation (formerly Rajneesh International Foundation). Rajneesh's teachings have had a notable impact on Western New Age thought, and their popularity has increased markedly since his death.
In the 1960s he traveled throughout India as a public speaker and was a vocal critic of socialism, Mahatma Gandhi, and Hindu religious orthodoxy.
Rajneesh emphasized the importance of meditation, mindfulness, love, celebration, courage, creativity and humor—qualities that he viewed as being suppressed by adherence to static belief systems, religious tradition and socialization.
In advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality he caused controversy in India during the late 1960s and became known as "the sex guru".
In 1970, Rajneesh spent time in Mumbai initiating followers known as "neo-sannyasins". During this period he expanded his spiritual teachings and commented extensively in discourses on the writings of religious traditions, mystics, and philosophers from around the world. In 1974 Rajneesh relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established and a variety of therapies, incorporating methods first developed by the Human Potential Movement, were offered to a growing Western following. By the late 1970s, the tension between the ruling Janata Party government of Morarji Desai and the movement led to a curbing of the ashram's development and a back taxes claim estimated at $5 million.
In 1981, the Rajneesh movement's efforts refocused on activities in the United States and Rajneesh relocated to a facility known as Rajneeshpuram in Wasco County, Oregon. Almost immediately the movement ran into conflict with county residents and the state government, and a succession of legal battles concerning the ashram's construction and continued development curtailed its success.
In 1985, in the wake of a series of serious crimes by his followers, including a mass food poisoning attack with Salmonella bacteria and an aborted assassination plot to murder U.S. Attorney Charles H. Turner, Rajneesh alleged that his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela and her close supporters had been responsible. He was later deported from the United States in accordance with an Alford plea bargain.[
After his deportation, 21 countries denied him entry. He ultimately returned to India and a revived Pune ashram, where he died in 1990. Rajneesh's ashram, now known as OSHO International Meditation Resort and all associated intellectual property, is managed by the Zurich registered Osho International Foundation (formerly Rajneesh International Foundation). Rajneesh's teachings have had a notable impact on Western New Age thought, and their popularity has increased markedly since his death.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2025
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.” — Jean-Paul Sartre
This book is a must-read—I repeat, a MUST read—for all adults. I know Osho always has some surprising elements to talk about, but this one really stands out.
There is a lot in this book.. It talks about suppression and repression of emotions. Osho declares, “There is no God!” and insists that priests are at the core of all problems. Families are another problem; they always want to control the emotions of children: don’t love, marry at this age, have children at that age, pray to this god, don’t do this, do that, and so on. There are plenty of rules set by families, those are all absurd and only do harm than good to the society.
The rest of the book challenges the masks we wear, the repression of natural instincts, and the burden of societal “shoulds.” Osho speaks candidly about sex, intimacy, celibacy, Tantra, marriage, family, politics, and religion, showing how suppression creates hypocrisy and suffering. He reminds us that every child is born innocent, but society imposes ideals that divide us from our true selves. His message is simple yet profound: love yourself, live authentically, rebel against false authorities, and embrace life fully in the present moment.
“The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. The moment you are unafraid of the crowd, you are no longer a sheep; you become a lion.” — Osho
This book is a must-read—I repeat, a MUST read—for all adults. I know Osho always has some surprising elements to talk about, but this one really stands out.
There is a lot in this book.. It talks about suppression and repression of emotions. Osho declares, “There is no God!” and insists that priests are at the core of all problems. Families are another problem; they always want to control the emotions of children: don’t love, marry at this age, have children at that age, pray to this god, don’t do this, do that, and so on. There are plenty of rules set by families, those are all absurd and only do harm than good to the society.
The rest of the book challenges the masks we wear, the repression of natural instincts, and the burden of societal “shoulds.” Osho speaks candidly about sex, intimacy, celibacy, Tantra, marriage, family, politics, and religion, showing how suppression creates hypocrisy and suffering. He reminds us that every child is born innocent, but society imposes ideals that divide us from our true selves. His message is simple yet profound: love yourself, live authentically, rebel against false authorities, and embrace life fully in the present moment.
“The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. The moment you are unafraid of the crowd, you are no longer a sheep; you become a lion.” — Osho
February 8, 2025
A wonderful book which was a good addition to the J Krishnamurti book I read before this. Before I discuss the similarities let me tell about the best parts. The best thing I liked is that the language is very easy and relatable. It tells us to be present in the moment and see things from own pov rather than ones driven by beliefs trained by others because this kills our creativity more and more. For this reason being the rebel is the best solution but you still need to be self aware so you do not dance to the tunes of anyone else. Osho really discusses different aspects of being a man. But yeah personally I think it is more so about being an individual than a man and yeah many examples and roles we must or we already do play in our lives as men. Coming to the cons; it was not a difficult read at all. It seemed to lack the depth J Krishnamurti's book had. But the message was somewhat the same. Be mindful of yourself and the choices you make. Of course from his point of view complicating things is thinking and we are trying not to think at all and be present. J Krishnamurti also had a similar philosophy albeit a bit more logical and having depth. Overall still a wonderful book.
February 22, 2025
My mind is blown by the contrarian wisdom contained within these pages. I had to read it twice in a row to bring clarity to any fuzzy understandings. I am looking forward to read more of his other books, next one will be The Book of Women.
If I have to choose the 3 main lessons for me from the book, below would be it:
1. Meditation is transformative. You do not need established religions as mediator between you and your self-actualisation. In fact, they only slow you down.
2. There is no God, except your consciousness. The heart is the midway between your head and your being.
3. Be both Zorba and the Buddha, where you live life to the fullest with materialism as well as deep spiritualism and contentment. All spiritual leaders have taught to live with only one or the other, but not Osho.
Be a rebel with a vision.
If I have to choose the 3 main lessons for me from the book, below would be it:
1. Meditation is transformative. You do not need established religions as mediator between you and your self-actualisation. In fact, they only slow you down.
2. There is no God, except your consciousness. The heart is the midway between your head and your being.
3. Be both Zorba and the Buddha, where you live life to the fullest with materialism as well as deep spiritualism and contentment. All spiritual leaders have taught to live with only one or the other, but not Osho.
Be a rebel with a vision.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews