Zen: The Path of Paradox

by Osho

In The Path of Paradox , Osho suggests Zen as a possible bridge between East and West, and between the scientific and the spiritual.

“Without science, the East has lost much; without meditation, the West has lost much. I am trying to bring together East and West, because together they will create the whole.”

Osho encourages the reader to throw off the accumulated “knowing” of a lifetime―to let go of physical, mental, and emotional tensions, to relax into the flow of an extraordinary discourse and become receptive to the present moment and the potential within.

Osho challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and prejudices that limit their capacity to enjoy life in all its richness. He has been described by the Sunday Times of London as one of the “1000 Makers of the 20th Century” and by Sunday Mid-Day (India) as one of the ten people―along with Gandhi, Nehru, and Buddha―who have changed the destiny of India. Since his death in 1990, the influence of his teachings continues to expand, reaching seekers of all ages in virtually every country of the world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Buddhism, Zen, Religion, Self Help

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2003

About the author

Rajneesh (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.

Reviews

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like all books by Osho it makes sense.
I can never explain why but while I am reading something
always goes off in my head and I realize that yes
I understand.

[Fletcher Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting commentary and mildly stirring, yet more than that, I found it rather self serving and contradictory. Osho speaks of a bridge between science and magic, east and west, yet spends pages and paragraphs spewing a one-sided argument for the all powerful, supreme poet religion of Zen. He speaks aggressively against aggression, dogmatically against dogma.

His prose is saved only by the fact that zen is indeed a beautiful path and on this fact he has not missed.

Read Suzuki or Thich Nhat Hahn instead for a more effective experience.

[Sneha Suyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought provoking

[Chinmay K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the audio discourses of this series.
Describing Zen as pure reflection of life, Osho beautifully explains the essence of zen as a pure paradox. Life is paradox and hence zen is its pure reflection.

Listening to the Osho's voice in the audio rather than reading makes it more real and in alive poetic way.
I give it 5 stars.

[Preethi Rajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of Osho that I read and regretted why haven't I picked his books earlier. This book (for me) was thought-triggering and changed my perceptions towards many aspects. Definitely a good read!

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was extremely tiring to read this book. It was nothing interesting about Zen.

[Krishen Mohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully accessible introduction to Zen. Definitely worth multiple reads if not just for the laughs.

Zen is not a philosophy or a theology. It may seem like it is because there exist numerous scrolls, tomes and books on it but this is because it is uses what that obscures to erase the obfuscation. The word. Words put the minds of men in holes and in that hole there is only the word. How else can we reach but with the word. And so the word is used so that we may not be used by it.

Zen is.

[Maggie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most important books i have ever read

[Adwitiya Patro · Rating 4 out of 5]

My introduction to ZEN. Would love to know more interesting reading on ZEN philosophy.

[Mohammad Ansar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a good book to understand about ZEN, he explaining why it is paradoxical

[Elvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really mind opening...or what I perceive to be my mind for now. Just filled with so many thought-provoking things. I had to take a ton of notes. I felt so much comfort from reading, as if a heavy load was taken off my back and I can live life more loosely and playfully.

I have to turn to these notes from time to time. Enlightenment is not an achievement; it is an understanding that can happen in an instant. Osho really just wants us to relax and let go instead of clinging, to set us at ease. Meaninglessness is fine. Just live here in the present, in harmony, combining the head, heart and genitals. The path is paradox, words are deceptive, the mind is the source of misery, and so on.

It's all practical stuff but perhaps difficult to implement since we're all so used to letting our mind take control of us. And it's easy to forget such wisdom in everyday life.

I appreciate his promoting of this Zen over the other more popular religions which have brought so much pain to the world. Yes, the future is Zen. His arguments make sense for Zen and against the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions.

I have to have more Osho in my life. Then again, I also don't. Wanting more is the mind hoarding. So much was already here and perhaps sufficient. Yet spending time with his teachings is a great way to pass the time.

[Christophunk · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a brilliant book. Sometimes Osho can be a little difficult to understand, but in this book he is very straightforward and delivers the message in genius ways. Telling stories and you don’t know where he is leading you and then bam! He’s talking about you and pointing out that you’re a fool! Ha ha but then he delivers the solution and your mind is blown. I learned a lot about Zen from this book. One of my favorite topics as I consider myself a Zen Buddhist. No where to go. Nothing to do. As it is. All of the conditions of joy and happiness are available to me here and NOW. Now being the most important part. I highly recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down and wish many of Osho’s books I have to read a chapter and then wait a while for it to marinate. Enjoy. Much love to all.

[K K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed going through this over the past month. It has many insights and examples that I enjoyed reading. I tried to practice with it while reading it and there has been slight progress on thinking less. I think it will be worth a reread in a couple of years time.

There was some judgemental stuff about zen being better than other spiritual paths, which contradicted the parts around no judgements and around not holding onto a specific path. But i did understand some of the nuances they pointed out as well.

[Jessica Pop · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book with a grain of salt. There were points and perspectives that I connected with and have adopted them into my daily life. I say grain of salt because it’s a completely different way of thinking, it can be very literal at times, and Osho kind of went off the deep end in life. I definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a simpler mindset trying find peace in all of the chaos.

[Rodeweeks · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is some things here that I agree with, some I disagree with. The problem with the book is not the content but the style. It is clearly speeches or sermons given by Osho which were then written down without any editing. The book is meant to be heard, not to be read. This makes it very difficult to read.

[Ten · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's interesting that Zen teaches that words are meaningless, but Osho's way of speaking does ramble a bit. This is not completely unpleasant, as it gives a very familiar, explanatory tone. I understand that the book is essentially a transcription of his lectures.

Either way, the message resonates with me, which was the important thing.

[ajay nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Osho speaks well but isn't completely authentic

Osho is expressive and his stories are pertinent. But he tells you to drop your ego, but his own ego often pops up, when he equates himself with the zen masters

[Sophie Heron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skimmed the last 40ish pages because it was painfully repetitive

[G.P. KUMARAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book greatly helps you to understand about Zen.

[Sonu Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

In play, you dont ask for the meaning.
In play there is no meaning.
The play itself is the joy. The very joy.

This is my fucking rating 🫶 love and kisses

[SanSan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lectura rápida que si tienes interés por la meditación y la relajación te ayuda a entender su filosofía.

[Raiza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es un buen libro en base a la filosofía del Zen y es bastante claro

[Bhakta Kishor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zen is severe. It is a very arduous path. It is not a game to play with, it is playing with fire. You will never be the same again once you enter into the world of Zen. You will be totally transformed, so much so that you will not be able to recognize yourself. The person who enters into the world of Zen and the person who comes out are two totally different entities. There is no continuity, you become discontinuous with your past. All continuity is of the mind; all identity is of the mind; all name, all form, is of the mind. When the mind is dropped you suddenly become discontinuous with the past – not only with the past, you become unconnected with time.

And that is the whole secret of Zen: to become unconnected with time. Then you become connected with eternity. And eternity is here-now; eternity knows no past and no future; eternity is pure present. Time knows no present – time is past and future. Ordinarily we think that time is divided into three categories: past, present and future. That is absolutely wrong. Time is divided only into two categories: past and future. The present is not part of time at all. Just watch, just see. When is the present? The moment you recognize that this is the present, it is already past. The moment you say, “Yes, this is the present,” it is already gone, it is past. Or if you say, “This is going to be the present,” it is still future. You cannot recognize present, you cannot point at present, you cannot indicate present. In the world of time there is no present.

[Quicksilver Quill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Zen: The Path of Paradox, Osho provides a lucid, fascinating exploration of the intriguing and elusive religion that is Zen.

Using five short parables as his leaping off points, Osho dives into the meaning of Zen, exploring its paradoxical nature, what it represents, and detailing some of the techniques used by its practitioners to achieve understanding and awareness.

Osho examines many interesting facets of Zen, from mu-sin—what he calls an egoless state of being—to the koan, an insoluble riddle that forces the Zen seeker to think and puzzle over an answer that does not exist, but which ironically eventually helps him to enter a state of no-mind.

Osho talks about the sudden enlightenment of satori, in which a practitioner gets into harmony with himself, and he discusses the silent reflective state of mo chao, which he compares to the serenity of a still lake without ripples reflecting the full moon.

Along the way, Osho shares many interesting anecdotes relating to Zen, from the wily ways of Bodhidharma to the wise sayings and profound insights of the Buddha.

This is a thoughtful, poetic and revealing look at Zen, and Osho is the perfect teacher to explore this subject. His musings are both entertaining and enlightening, and much like a Zen koan, they always force you to think. Osho asserts that Zen is nothing less than a reflection of the paradoxical nature of life itself: “Zen is a mirror, it is a reflection of that which is.”

[Jason Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Osho has a lucid way of explaining Zen and its core philosophy and way of life. It reminds me of Alan Watts and D.T. Suzuki, both of whom Osho was influenced by somewhat. He doesn't beat around the bush in this book, he goes right to the heart of the matter. As a result, it is such an enjoyable read which puts your mind in Zen as you read it. Osho lays out in his own unique rebellious nature how the peaceful future of humanity is only possible through Zen. He explains this by dismantling the dogmatic traditions that keep us from change and the possibility of living in a harmonious world. It is a book that will keep you grounded and present which you could come back to again and again.

[Darreng · Rating 4 out of 5]

introduction to the idea of zen that takes a middle road between buddism, which osho sees as too eastern, and taoism, which osho sees as too western. has some of the cryptic koans/parables that you would expect for this type of book, but also has a lot of straight forward zen explaining, if that is possible. descriptions and explanations are silly, as each person is going to take their own thing away, doubly so for a book like this.

like all osho books, this isn't actually written by him, but rather by one of his followers.

[Wis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Osho, this book is one of his best. I wouldn't advise you to read it as an introduction to Osho's teachings. However, like all his books, in order to understand the deep meaning behind their simple words, they have to be read with an open and detached mind from all our preconceived beliefs, that is to say, try to read the whole book without judging it.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ho letto "Perché siamo infelici?" tratto da la danza della luce e delle ombre. Informzativo? Fonte di ispirazione? Forse più di riflessione, ma questo "estratto" l'ho trovato comunque troppo ripetitivo e ridondante.

[Marjan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best teaching on Zen. ;)

[Dr. Sampratya Pathak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just sets so right..
A good book to get a great spiritual insight