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Osho Life Essentials
Moral, Immoral, Amoral: What Is Right and What Is Wrong?
“I don't say cultivate morality; I say become more conscious, and you will be moral. But that morality will have a totally different flavor to it. It will be spontaneous; it will not be ready-made.” –Osho
In a global world, we are in search of universal values—values based on a contemporary understanding that unifies us as human beings beyond the divisions of religions, nations, and race. In Moral, Immoral, Amoral, Osho speaks directly to this contemporary search as he introduces us to a quest for values that make sense in the world we live in—a quest that goes far beyond moral codes of behavior and comes from an inner connectivity and oneness with existence.
The Osho Life Essentials series focuses on the most important questions in the life of the individual. Each volume contains timeless and always-contemporary investigations and discussions into questions vital to our personal search for meaning and purpose, focusing on questions specific to our inner life and quality of existence.
In a global world, we are in search of universal values—values based on a contemporary understanding that unifies us as human beings beyond the divisions of religions, nations, and race. In Moral, Immoral, Amoral, Osho speaks directly to this contemporary search as he introduces us to a quest for values that make sense in the world we live in—a quest that goes far beyond moral codes of behavior and comes from an inner connectivity and oneness with existence.
The Osho Life Essentials series focuses on the most important questions in the life of the individual. Each volume contains timeless and always-contemporary investigations and discussions into questions vital to our personal search for meaning and purpose, focusing on questions specific to our inner life and quality of existence.
208 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2013
29 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,354 books6,786 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 25, 2018
M-au mişcat toate volumele lui Osho, dar nu în sensul în care mi-au abătut gândirea de pe făgaşul pe care ea avea să-l urmeze, ci regăsindu-mă în ele, am rezonat cu toate ideile sale care, aparent de factură hindusă, sunt prin excelență universale.
January 7, 2021
Prima carte citită de la Osho ( cea despre ce înseamnă cu adevărat să fi rebel ) mi s-a părut oarecum obiectivă, și chiar am învățat lucruri noi de prin ea. Nu pot spune același lucru despre cartea aceasta, totuși. E de-a dreptul extremistă și are anumite aspecte care mă depășesc , ca să nu spun că mă enervează de-a dreptul. E ca un fel de hedonism dus și mai la extrem. Scuzarea actelor de tip viol, tortură et cetera deoarece săvârșitorii faptelor,, nu sunt conștienți" e mai mult decât deplasată. Păreri de genul ăsta aduc prin sine urmări urâte. Libertatea de exprimare e uneori poate prea.. liberă. 1.5/5, și asta doar pentru pagina dedicată sado-masochismului. În rest -slab.
November 2, 2013
A book to "replace" the bible as current relevant literature, a voice, a story which supports and gives guidance - gives consideration of our actions to our fellow man, instead of instilling fear and creating shame. A look at how our actions can be 'free' when we act with authenticity, the world flows. When we have intentions and desires attached to actions, then shit is likely to flow. A book worthy of a read, thoughts worthy of contemplation. An activity in this book worth giving effort to.
March 15, 2025
This book was an immersive experience. Osho takes you on a journey with his discourse on humanity, morality and religion. Through stories, anecdotes and real world examples, he unravels the complex nature of lives we’ve been living on earth and how man is engineered to behave in a certain way in society.
He is unabashedly critical of all the organised religions, accusing them of repressing one’s individuality, preventing one from becoming conscious by carefully designing social constructs entangling us in their nets without even us realising it. He makes a clear distinction between consciousness and conscience, the former enabling a person to raise above all the religious and moral dogmas and merge with the whole, which he considers god, while the latter being a set of codes imposed on us by the society and hence artificial.
The essence of this book is the emphasis on the need to be meditative, that is, being more aware and becoming more conscious and the importance of living in the present. Osho convincingly elaborates how dwelling upon the past and dreaming about the future is futile and the need to exist in the moment with utmost consciousness. At times, it would seem as though he is stretching this concept a bit too much, but I felt that it was intentional.
I found his take on sins, repentance, heaven and hell, saints, religions’ treatment of rewards and punishments pretty interesting. I have never thought about them like that, and it was a fresh perspective that I was exposed to. His definition of religion is fundamentally different from how we generally look at them. And it is certainly not something many of us would be comfortable to come to terms with, but he is self-aware of that too.
It was an unsettling read in many ways, but positively. He takes on the seemingly most ‘fundamental’ concepts and argues how it isn’t fundamental at all. I’m unable to articulate its impact on me, but I can certainly say that it changed my perception on certain things in life. What else is the purpose of reading philosophy, if not for making you think and perceive things differently?
The book doesn’t teach you anything and he makes this statement explicitly at multiple instances. The purpose is just to help you see things in front of you in a better way. In my opinion, this book isn’t for everyone, especially if you have strong inclination towards organised religion. I’d recommend this book if you’re interested in exploring unconventional takes on seemingly trivial things.
He is unabashedly critical of all the organised religions, accusing them of repressing one’s individuality, preventing one from becoming conscious by carefully designing social constructs entangling us in their nets without even us realising it. He makes a clear distinction between consciousness and conscience, the former enabling a person to raise above all the religious and moral dogmas and merge with the whole, which he considers god, while the latter being a set of codes imposed on us by the society and hence artificial.
The essence of this book is the emphasis on the need to be meditative, that is, being more aware and becoming more conscious and the importance of living in the present. Osho convincingly elaborates how dwelling upon the past and dreaming about the future is futile and the need to exist in the moment with utmost consciousness. At times, it would seem as though he is stretching this concept a bit too much, but I felt that it was intentional.
I found his take on sins, repentance, heaven and hell, saints, religions’ treatment of rewards and punishments pretty interesting. I have never thought about them like that, and it was a fresh perspective that I was exposed to. His definition of religion is fundamentally different from how we generally look at them. And it is certainly not something many of us would be comfortable to come to terms with, but he is self-aware of that too.
It was an unsettling read in many ways, but positively. He takes on the seemingly most ‘fundamental’ concepts and argues how it isn’t fundamental at all. I’m unable to articulate its impact on me, but I can certainly say that it changed my perception on certain things in life. What else is the purpose of reading philosophy, if not for making you think and perceive things differently?
The book doesn’t teach you anything and he makes this statement explicitly at multiple instances. The purpose is just to help you see things in front of you in a better way. In my opinion, this book isn’t for everyone, especially if you have strong inclination towards organised religion. I’d recommend this book if you’re interested in exploring unconventional takes on seemingly trivial things.
March 24, 2025
this book is a BRILLIANT read for anyone interested in thinking beyond the ‘concept’ of morality and into the daily and continuous act of being moral.
the whole book (in a summary) is about the importance and impact of consciousness on the human being. osho believes that consciousness is more real than conscience, as conscience is just guilt repackaged.
his main message throughout the book is that when someone becomes conscious and aware of himself and how everything in the world is connected, morality will naturally come to him. whatever he does in his conscious and aware state will be ‘right’. man can do nothing wrong when he is conscious, anything that he deems as moral while conscious is indeed moral.
but as society stands now, a very small majority of people are moral; the rest are robots. the average person is moral through repressing his animalistic instincts, and continues to act in small immoral and hurtful ways towards others. morality as it is now is not true morality, it is not coming from within, it is a set of rules that we follow to do the minimum job of being a human being.
i love the ideas that osho brings up in this book; including the abolishment of prison and government punishments (replaced by rehabilitation and meditation programs), and to stop the idea of ‘human betterment’ and instead invest in creating a new human being altogether; the empathetic and conscious person.
i will say though, osho’s critique of the major religions in this book is a little appalling because he states misinformation as facts when they are indeed not. it’s a bit wild to be critiquing a religion you clearly do not understand or know anything about.
but as with all ‘philosophy’ books, you always have to filter through the noise and find the gems in the midst of the random rambles. so this book is no different. but the gems are plenty here.
love love love this book, and definitely want to read more of his books later on. (this book is a series of questions on morality asked at one of osho’s talks, apparently none of his books were written, they’re all transcriptions of his talks)
the whole book (in a summary) is about the importance and impact of consciousness on the human being. osho believes that consciousness is more real than conscience, as conscience is just guilt repackaged.
his main message throughout the book is that when someone becomes conscious and aware of himself and how everything in the world is connected, morality will naturally come to him. whatever he does in his conscious and aware state will be ‘right’. man can do nothing wrong when he is conscious, anything that he deems as moral while conscious is indeed moral.
but as society stands now, a very small majority of people are moral; the rest are robots. the average person is moral through repressing his animalistic instincts, and continues to act in small immoral and hurtful ways towards others. morality as it is now is not true morality, it is not coming from within, it is a set of rules that we follow to do the minimum job of being a human being.
i love the ideas that osho brings up in this book; including the abolishment of prison and government punishments (replaced by rehabilitation and meditation programs), and to stop the idea of ‘human betterment’ and instead invest in creating a new human being altogether; the empathetic and conscious person.
i will say though, osho’s critique of the major religions in this book is a little appalling because he states misinformation as facts when they are indeed not. it’s a bit wild to be critiquing a religion you clearly do not understand or know anything about.
but as with all ‘philosophy’ books, you always have to filter through the noise and find the gems in the midst of the random rambles. so this book is no different. but the gems are plenty here.
love love love this book, and definitely want to read more of his books later on. (this book is a series of questions on morality asked at one of osho’s talks, apparently none of his books were written, they’re all transcriptions of his talks)
August 3, 2018
I have never come across a man as candid and as frank as Osho. His words aren't suppressed by any theology or scripture. Whatever he says comes out of his being. His words appear like a flowing river. One can see how profound his philosophy is. He writes through his experiences and deep insights rather than letting holy books dictate morality. Osho understands the complexity of human psyche and howsoever blunt he may be, he wants man to follow religion out of freedom of choice. Moreover, he wants man to be religious through meditation. His observations regarding human beings are so accurate. His scientific temperament is clearly reflected in his words. This man was a true genius. We need his words because his words reflect the spirit of renaissance. I am grateful to have read such a brilliant and refreshing commentary on the ostensibly most talked about topic in the world i.e. morality
June 20, 2019
Although my first Osho book was The Art of Living and Dying, this seems like a more suitable introduction to his content. Actually, to call it an introduction isn't accurate, since without personally being exposed to what Osho is talking about, I can easily picture someone reading this and feeling like Osho was a cult leader.
If that's what he was to you then he was. If he wasn't then he wasn't. The sky is blue to you but not to your dog...which one of you is right about the colour?
If the first spoken word was the beginning of the mess we feel we are in, how can we expect words to answer our call for help...
Starting points? Medicinal plants, meditation, breathwork, a yoga class...anything outside of your ordinary, and initiated by you alone.
4 stars because it isn't for everyone and its aim is to be concise and accessible.
If that's what he was to you then he was. If he wasn't then he wasn't. The sky is blue to you but not to your dog...which one of you is right about the colour?
If the first spoken word was the beginning of the mess we feel we are in, how can we expect words to answer our call for help...
Starting points? Medicinal plants, meditation, breathwork, a yoga class...anything outside of your ordinary, and initiated by you alone.
4 stars because it isn't for everyone and its aim is to be concise and accessible.
November 5, 2024
I always thought morality was much more about right and wrong. I felt I was being challenged to question my own understanding about morals while reading this book. The facade of this whole concept of morality is no longer just black and white answer but a meditative process of being aware. Life being so gray then how can we justify morality with right and wrong, I feel it's an utter insult to the concept of morality. No one can teach us about it, only when we become aware of ourselves then only morality will make more sense rather than just an abstract concept shaped by society and religion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2020
Morality should be very relaxed and easy – just like your shadow; you don’t have to drag it with you, it simply comes on its own. But this has not happened; what has happened is a psychologically sick humanity. Everybody is tense, because whatever you are doing there is a conflict about whether it is right or wrong. Your nature goes in one direction; your conditioning goes just in the opposite direction, and a house divided cannot stand for long. So everybody is somehow pulling himself together; otherwise the danger is always there, just by your side, of having a nervous breakdown.
I do not teach morality at all. Morality should come on its own accord. I teach you directly the experience of your own being. As you become more and more silent, serene, calm and quiet, as you start understanding you own consciousness, as your inner being becomes more and more centered, your actions will reflect morality. It will not be something that you decide to do; it will be something as natural as roses on a rose bush. It is not that the rose bush is doing great austerities, and fasting, and praying to God, and disciplining itself according to the Ten Commandments; the rose bush is doing nothing. The rose bush has just to be healthy, nourished, and the flowers will come in their own time, with great beauty, effortlessly.
I do not teach morality at all. Morality should come on its own accord. I teach you directly the experience of your own being. As you become more and more silent, serene, calm and quiet, as you start understanding you own consciousness, as your inner being becomes more and more centered, your actions will reflect morality. It will not be something that you decide to do; it will be something as natural as roses on a rose bush. It is not that the rose bush is doing great austerities, and fasting, and praying to God, and disciplining itself according to the Ten Commandments; the rose bush is doing nothing. The rose bush has just to be healthy, nourished, and the flowers will come in their own time, with great beauty, effortlessly.
November 21, 2020
Very confusing book, the ideas in the book dont match with my own so I can't agree with what he's saying. To be honest he sounds a bit crazy to me ^^`
December 31, 2020
Dejémonos de bueno y malo, cielo o infierno.
Todo lo que debes hacer es desarrollar, primero; y después atender, escuchar, seguir a tu conciencia.
Si eres un ser total y siempre conciente. El termino pecado está de más.
Todo lo que debes hacer es desarrollar, primero; y después atender, escuchar, seguir a tu conciencia.
Si eres un ser total y siempre conciente. El termino pecado está de más.
November 12, 2025
Awareness + Freedom = Above all
December 5, 2016
Too good book
November 6, 2014
I always had this desire of getting my hand on Osho's books and I finally managed to get a start. Although I am not the person who look for motivational books exclusively, but this book made a deep impact somewhere on my thinking. We grew up listening to our parents and got to know about the importance of being religious or moral. But this book gave me a totally different view of what is right and what is wrong. And it's not necessary that if you are not religious then you can't be moral either. There are few lines which just left me mesmerised and awe-struck. I got to have an overview of this truth that either we can live according to the dictates of others- the puritans, moralists- or we can live according to our own light. Everything lies deep within ourselves. We just need to be more aware and sound to listen to the world that lies within us. Osho says, be a true follower of your consciousness. If your consciouness doesn't allow you to do something, then don't do it. Even if God says to you, "do it"! There is no way- you cannot do it.
I just look forward to reading more of his work as I found it more realistic and close to our lives, as compared to other authors.
I just look forward to reading more of his work as I found it more realistic and close to our lives, as compared to other authors.
November 23, 2019
(...)
"E você quer saber, no caso de alguém perguntar a você sobre a minha posição filosófica... Não vai ser assim tão fácil, porque eu vejo o homem como um ser multidimensional. Você será capaz de declarar isso apoiado em um único pé, não haverá necessidade de sentenças, mas terá que declarar dez não mandamentos.
O primeiro: Liberdade.
O segundo: Singularidade da individualidade. O terceiro: Amor.
O quarto: Meditação.
O quinto: Não seriedade.
O sexto: Jovialidade.
O sétimo: Criatividade.
O oitavo: Sensibilidade.
O nono: Gratidão.
O décimo: Uma percepção do misterioso.
Esses dez não mandamentos constituem minha atitude básica em relação à realidade e em relação à libertação do homem de todos os tipos de escravidão espiritual."
Me senti muito bem ao ler. Mesmo não encarando suas ideias como regras, penso que muitos são tentados a seguir, e não julgaria, afinal, faça sua consciência de guia e assim viverá bem. Leitura super recomendada.
"E você quer saber, no caso de alguém perguntar a você sobre a minha posição filosófica... Não vai ser assim tão fácil, porque eu vejo o homem como um ser multidimensional. Você será capaz de declarar isso apoiado em um único pé, não haverá necessidade de sentenças, mas terá que declarar dez não mandamentos.
O primeiro: Liberdade.
O segundo: Singularidade da individualidade. O terceiro: Amor.
O quarto: Meditação.
O quinto: Não seriedade.
O sexto: Jovialidade.
O sétimo: Criatividade.
O oitavo: Sensibilidade.
O nono: Gratidão.
O décimo: Uma percepção do misterioso.
Esses dez não mandamentos constituem minha atitude básica em relação à realidade e em relação à libertação do homem de todos os tipos de escravidão espiritual."
Me senti muito bem ao ler. Mesmo não encarando suas ideias como regras, penso que muitos são tentados a seguir, e não julgaria, afinal, faça sua consciência de guia e assim viverá bem. Leitura super recomendada.
May 28, 2015
Fantastic. The best thing I've read since Henry Miller. Starting another book of his right now.
July 30, 2015
Complexă carte.
Pe unde am înțeles ideile lui, pe unde nu. Contradictoriu (autorul, ideile)
Pe unde am înțeles ideile lui, pe unde nu. Contradictoriu (autorul, ideile)
July 19, 2016
Pretentious wankery
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews