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The True Name, Volume 2
Discourses by an Indian sectarian religious leader.
- GenresSpiritualityPhilosophy
Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
52 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,310 books6,765 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 2, 2020
Damn Osho! MF great good. Osho explains in depth the poetry or music of Nanak. I guess Nanak is the guru that Sheikhs follow. Osho explains what most followers cannot understand. Probably one of my top five books.
I would say this book focuses on existential religiousness. In this book, god is the very creation with no separation. To find god we must dive into experience, have a guru that can guide our path, and drop the desire of looking for god. Looking for god is like looking for wind, it is an experience we must feel. Meditation is the way. So much is explained in this book. I think Nanak has a beautiful religious poetry or music but if I read it on its own I would not understand the meaning between the words for most of this. That is what I like about Osho as he explains all these mystics to such depth and understanding that is rather mind blowing and refreshing. Likely the most intelligent man who ever visited the earth. A true gift to humanity.
I would say this book focuses on existential religiousness. In this book, god is the very creation with no separation. To find god we must dive into experience, have a guru that can guide our path, and drop the desire of looking for god. Looking for god is like looking for wind, it is an experience we must feel. Meditation is the way. So much is explained in this book. I think Nanak has a beautiful religious poetry or music but if I read it on its own I would not understand the meaning between the words for most of this. That is what I like about Osho as he explains all these mystics to such depth and understanding that is rather mind blowing and refreshing. Likely the most intelligent man who ever visited the earth. A true gift to humanity.
May 27, 2019
Despite all the controversies Osho created, one thing he should be commended for is his amazing oratory skill. This book is a wonderful compilation of Osho's commentaries at Pune in the 80s. The book comes with a stunning array of metaphors and fables, making Nanak Dev's Sath nam an interesting read.
June 30, 2013
This book is gold!
January 21, 2020
One of the most thought provoking commentaries I have read. Direct but not obvious.
May 23, 2021
An interesting read, I had seen very positive reviews of this book but I feel this could and should have been so much more.
Firstly, it is clear Osho didn't intend this to be a book per se, the discourses element comes across quite clearly. There are entire chapters where the content should have been more succinct and less rambling. The discourses reveal a number of subtleties to the Japji Sahib that may not be evident to the reader initially. It does a good job of emphasising Oneness and non-duality over a bearded deity sat in the sky. It's clear Osho has taken some time to reflect upon the Japji Sahib.
Osho repeatedly felt the need to reference his charachters of choice, e.g. Jesus, Mahavira, Buddha, Vivekananda. In doing this, and not once mentioning Guru Nanak's spiritual successors, who never contradicted Nanak but built upon his teachings, I was left seriously questioning Osho's motivation.
Lastly, some of what is written in this book is quite dated and this reader concluded Osho as ultimately quite a flawed character. Some very salient observations on the Japji Sahib but probably out of his depth on the subject matter. A couple of examples below:
- Repeatedly elements of Hindu theology are used to pad out chapters, sometimes laughably. Does anyone seriously think Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are analogous to subatomic particles?
- Abrahamic faiths apparently circumcise their male offspring because it makes them more intelligent (no, seriously!)
Read this book with a pinch of salt and it is quite entertaining and informative. If you wish to delve into the Japji Sahib, there are now multiple contemporary options available online which will give you a deeper understanding, minus all the padding and questionable views.
Firstly, it is clear Osho didn't intend this to be a book per se, the discourses element comes across quite clearly. There are entire chapters where the content should have been more succinct and less rambling. The discourses reveal a number of subtleties to the Japji Sahib that may not be evident to the reader initially. It does a good job of emphasising Oneness and non-duality over a bearded deity sat in the sky. It's clear Osho has taken some time to reflect upon the Japji Sahib.
Osho repeatedly felt the need to reference his charachters of choice, e.g. Jesus, Mahavira, Buddha, Vivekananda. In doing this, and not once mentioning Guru Nanak's spiritual successors, who never contradicted Nanak but built upon his teachings, I was left seriously questioning Osho's motivation.
Lastly, some of what is written in this book is quite dated and this reader concluded Osho as ultimately quite a flawed character. Some very salient observations on the Japji Sahib but probably out of his depth on the subject matter. A couple of examples below:
- Repeatedly elements of Hindu theology are used to pad out chapters, sometimes laughably. Does anyone seriously think Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are analogous to subatomic particles?
- Abrahamic faiths apparently circumcise their male offspring because it makes them more intelligent (no, seriously!)
Read this book with a pinch of salt and it is quite entertaining and informative. If you wish to delve into the Japji Sahib, there are now multiple contemporary options available online which will give you a deeper understanding, minus all the padding and questionable views.
August 9, 2023
My fav quotes (not a review):
-Page 85 |
"Try this experiment: when you are feeling sad, worried, downcast or angry, hold your ear lobes and rub them hard; there is no need to pierce the ears. You will find a change in your state of mind."
-Page 87 |
"Kirlian photography confirms it and acupuncture had known it for ages. The sex organ is the most sensitive part of the human body. To cut the skin is a matter of great shock to the infant, which increases the life energy flow to the head. This method opens many possibilities."
-Page 118
"Another tantric method: whatever you see in your dream, concentrate your attention on one object. You will be astonished to find that as soon as you fix your attention on this one shop, the shop disappears – because it was never there. Then fix your gaze on other things one by one and you will find them all disappearing in the same manner. If you become adept at watching dreams, dreams will be lost."
-Page 85 |
"Try this experiment: when you are feeling sad, worried, downcast or angry, hold your ear lobes and rub them hard; there is no need to pierce the ears. You will find a change in your state of mind."
-Page 87 |
"Kirlian photography confirms it and acupuncture had known it for ages. The sex organ is the most sensitive part of the human body. To cut the skin is a matter of great shock to the infant, which increases the life energy flow to the head. This method opens many possibilities."
-Page 118
"Another tantric method: whatever you see in your dream, concentrate your attention on one object. You will be astonished to find that as soon as you fix your attention on this one shop, the shop disappears – because it was never there. Then fix your gaze on other things one by one and you will find them all disappearing in the same manner. If you become adept at watching dreams, dreams will be lost."
August 22, 2025
Essential
January 22, 2008
best book
November 14, 2012
Amazing....
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews