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And The Flowers Showered Discourses On Zen
Using eleven Zen stories as a starting point and diving deep into their mysterious world, he then weaves his magical clarity on many diverse contemporary topics. From the true meaning of happiness to an understanding of the process of death, it's all here. To begin reading this book is to commence a journey into the world of wonder.
Buddha’s disciple Subhuti is showered with blossoms upon experiencing sublime emptiness. But isn’t emptiness usually an absence of something? Through his commentary on this seemingly strange tale, Osho illuminates the vast difference between a negative and a sublime emptiness.
Buddha’s disciple Subhuti is showered with blossoms upon experiencing sublime emptiness. But isn’t emptiness usually an absence of something? Through his commentary on this seemingly strange tale, Osho illuminates the vast difference between a negative and a sublime emptiness.
300 pages
First published January 1, 1975
10 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,285 books6,793 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 21, 2014
Zen stories are so good. I never imagined for such a simple story, there is profound meaning. Of course when stories are told by the Master, it is indeed a Masterpiece!
March 17, 2024
I would give 6 stars if it would be possible! so many insights in one book
April 26, 2021
I love Osho. He is my favorite to read. His insight is very deep. The Zen references and parables that are said are very challenging to understand. This is why Osho is called the Master of all Masters. He provides insight and depth to what is missed or misunderstood. Zen is one of the highest flowering of spirituality. It is also misunderstood by Western New Ager's. They think that Zen is a state of bliss. Zen is beyond bliss. They miss parables of Zen Masters beating the disciple with the stick. How is this logical? Zen is beyond logic. The teachings are beyond the words. It is about what is not said. Osho is amazing for sharing this depth. This book describes satori very well and separates it from enlightenment. This book also includes some talks of Jesus and his parables that were zenful. This book does not mention Freud much or at all. It does mention a little bit of psychotherapy and how it misses transformation. He also has other books that dive much deeper into the complex subject of psychotherapy. This book is primarily a zen book. It is very beautiful.
May 2, 2019
I have translated this book from English into Urdu for Nigarshat Publishers, Lahore, Pakistan. The title of Urdu translation is Aur Phoolon Ki Barish Hone Lagi اور پُھولوں کی بارِش ہونے لگی.
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May 21, 2012never thought of life could be that mucha better then after...
October 27, 2024
Nourishment
Osho eats, sleeps, and breathes enlightenment. It is part and parcel of everything he does and says. As he says in this book, "these stories are nourishment" - nourishment for the soul, or being. Each of these 11 stories is imbued with the essence of silence, meditation, or enlightenment. Call it what you will. There is no escaping it. Pick up this book at any point and you will find yourself meeting your inner self. These stories are about you - the surface you meeting the inner depths of you. You have to imbibe these talks as Osho takes you ever deeper into the timeless now.
Osho eats, sleeps, and breathes enlightenment. It is part and parcel of everything he does and says. As he says in this book, "these stories are nourishment" - nourishment for the soul, or being. Each of these 11 stories is imbued with the essence of silence, meditation, or enlightenment. Call it what you will. There is no escaping it. Pick up this book at any point and you will find yourself meeting your inner self. These stories are about you - the surface you meeting the inner depths of you. You have to imbibe these talks as Osho takes you ever deeper into the timeless now.
January 28, 2019
O livro tem uma oralidade intensa em seu texto (são palestras do Osho). Algumas mensagens interessantes do zen budismo, mas muita repetição. não há como dissociar o livro da história mostrada no documentário wild wild country.
February 3, 2019
Одна из моих самых любимых книг!
Книга сломала пара моих стереотипов и заставила думать шире. Открыла глаза так сказать.
Правда многим моим знакомым не зашла)
Книга сломала пара моих стереотипов и заставила думать шире. Открыла глаза так сказать.
Правда многим моим знакомым не зашла)
October 28, 2022
Reading this book is like a meditation. Will read it again in the future.
May 31, 2016
Monk: “What is Buddha?”
Tozan: “This flax weighs five pounds . . .”
Eleven Zen parables. Osho’s interpretation of them. By the time you finish reading, you may well feel as if the flowers have showered on you.
The lovely thing about this insightful book, And The Flowers Showered, is that Osho is able to unlock these interesting little Zen stories, which otherwise on the surface might seem quite difficult, bizarre, or obscure to the lay reader. He interprets these parables, finding the nuances and symbolism in them, and builds powerful lessons around his insights.
Reading Zen parables like these without any interpretation whatsoever could still be fun, but I imagine most readers would be left scratching their heads, wondering at the strangeness of it all, what it all means. It’s like a little puzzle, a mystery that must be solved. And Osho plays the role of master detective.
Not surprisingly, one of the central themes of the book appears to be that of ridding yourself of the self, of achieving emptiness. Letting go of the ego. According to Osho, it is when you are empty, when you are not seeking, when you are not searching for enlightenment, that suddenly that moment of illumination finds you.
This is Osho at his best, and it’s a pleasure to read his explorations of Zen through these enjoyable tales. So check it out, and let the flowers start showering.
Tozan: “This flax weighs five pounds . . .”
Eleven Zen parables. Osho’s interpretation of them. By the time you finish reading, you may well feel as if the flowers have showered on you.
The lovely thing about this insightful book, And The Flowers Showered, is that Osho is able to unlock these interesting little Zen stories, which otherwise on the surface might seem quite difficult, bizarre, or obscure to the lay reader. He interprets these parables, finding the nuances and symbolism in them, and builds powerful lessons around his insights.
Reading Zen parables like these without any interpretation whatsoever could still be fun, but I imagine most readers would be left scratching their heads, wondering at the strangeness of it all, what it all means. It’s like a little puzzle, a mystery that must be solved. And Osho plays the role of master detective.
Not surprisingly, one of the central themes of the book appears to be that of ridding yourself of the self, of achieving emptiness. Letting go of the ego. According to Osho, it is when you are empty, when you are not seeking, when you are not searching for enlightenment, that suddenly that moment of illumination finds you.
This is Osho at his best, and it’s a pleasure to read his explorations of Zen through these enjoyable tales. So check it out, and let the flowers start showering.
December 9, 2012
Una lettura veramente piacevole e illuminante, con le sue parole Osho sembra voler stravolgere l'intera esistenza, specialmente se sei nel mezzo di un periodo turbolento e stressante, alla "occidentale".
A tratti forse troppo mistico, a tratti talmente semplice da risultare disarmante.
Consiglio a tutti di leggerlo, specialmente se si è in qualche modo attratti dall'apparente irrazionalità orientale o se si è inquieti a livello esistenziale.
A tratti forse troppo mistico, a tratti talmente semplice da risultare disarmante.
Consiglio a tutti di leggerlo, specialmente se si è in qualche modo attratti dall'apparente irrazionalità orientale o se si è inquieti a livello esistenziale.
January 6, 2022
Wonderful discourses on a variety of topics. Though many are rambling, Bhagwan has such a way with imagery. Truly a zen master.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews