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OSHO Singles
Philosophy of non violence
translated from Hindi : Ahinsa Darshan (अहिंसा दर्शन)
Translated by Dr. Dayanand Bhargava
Notes:
Read this book as PDF or create a free account at osho dot com to read the book online.
Later published as part of Osho Books on CD-ROM.
Translated by Dr. Dayanand Bhargava
Notes:
Read this book as PDF or create a free account at osho dot com to read the book online.
Later published as part of Osho Books on CD-ROM.
33 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1968
About the author
Osho
4,363 books6,871 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
April 28, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Is nonviolence a strength—or a refined form of weakness disguised as virtue? The Philosophy of Nonviolence: About Turning the Other Cheek by Osho challenges one of the most revered moral ideals by stripping it of sentimentality and examining its psychological core. This is not a comforting endorsement of nonviolence—it’s a critical re-evaluation.
Osho approaches the concept with his characteristic directness, questioning whether “turning the other cheek” is truly an act of higher consciousness or simply a socially conditioned response rooted in fear, repression, or moral obligation. Rather than rejecting nonviolence outright, he reframes it: true nonviolence, he argues, cannot be practiced—it must arise naturally from awareness.
The key distinction he draws is between imposed morality and authentic transformation. According to Osho, when nonviolence is followed as a rule, it becomes artificial. It suppresses anger rather than dissolving it, creating internal conflict rather than inner peace.
Nonviolence is not something you do—it is something you become when violence disappears within you.
What makes this work compelling is its psychological lens. Osho shifts the discussion from external behavior to internal state, emphasizing that actions alone are not enough. A person may appear nonviolent outwardly while still carrying aggression internally—and this contradiction, he suggests, is where most moral systems fail.
Strengths:
Thought-provoking perspective: Challenges conventional interpretations of nonviolence.
Clarity of expression: Ideas are presented in a simple, accessible manner.
Psychological depth: Focus on inner transformation rather than external compliance.
Limitations:
One-sided critique: The argument leans heavily toward deconstructing traditional views without fully engaging with their strengths.
Repetition: Core ideas are reiterated, which may feel redundant over time.
Abstract application: The emphasis on inner change can feel detached from real-world complexities.
Critically, Osho’s argument is both insightful and incomplete. His emphasis on authenticity is valuable, but his dismissal of practiced discipline may overlook the role of conscious effort in personal growth. Not all transformation is spontaneous—sometimes it is cultivated.
Final verdict: The Philosophy of Nonviolence is a concise yet impactful exploration that reframes a widely accepted ideal. It doesn’t provide definitive answers, but it asks sharper questions—ones that linger.
A challenging and introspective take on nonviolence that replaces comfort with clarity—and leaves you rethinking what it truly means to be peaceful.
November 8, 2022
Really makes you think 🧐
February 4, 2023
A valuable booklet containing gems, gems, and gems.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews