Absolute Tao: Subtle is the way to love, happiness and truth

Absolute Tao

by Osho

Moving beyond the usual interpretations of this classic Chinese text -- that of using it as an indicator of what to do next or attempting to predict the future -- Osho is using the "Tao Te Ching" as Lao Tzu intended: to ignite the flame of individual awareness and insight.
His commentaries on these seven verses burn through every idea we may hold about ourselves until we can see with the same crystal clear light as Lao Tzu.

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality, Taoism, Religion, Lifestyle

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2001

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

[Bhakta Kishor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tao is simple, utterly simple. You don’t have to stand up in a hammock. The most fundamental thing about Tao is that it is a child’s play. But to be a child seems to be almost impossible for people. Who wants to be a child? Jesus says, “Unless you are like small children, you will not enter into my Kingdom of God.” But it seems nobody wants to be a child; that is where our misery lies. It has to be remembered again and again by you, because your ego will play tricks upon you. That is how people go on missing the simple way of Tao. Christianity has so much of a following, Buddhism has a great following, Islam has a great following, but Tao is still not a church – never has been a church, never became an organization. Individuals have existed, individuals have followed it, individuals have attained through it, but it never became the way of the masses. Why? – Because it is available only to those who are ready to drop the ways of the ego, who are ready to be simple, innocent, childlike.

☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯☯

[Hunger Artist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teachings of Osho are like a drug, you have to take a little dose every day or you'll feel delirious. This book is a compilation of a few of Osho's talks with his disciples. He talks about moving from mind to no-mind, unhappiness to happiness. he talks about the subtle way of life, ordinariness that is extraordinary in its own way.
Reading Osho brings you the serenity you seek in this chaotic world.

[Lai-sing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I love books, few have changed my life, this is one of theme. Osho explains in an amazing way basic ideas of the Tao, that seem so complex but once they are explained you wonder how could you not see this before. The way he speaks about Tao makes it so obvious, so easy to understand. This is a great first approach to Taoism.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this. Great explanations in understanding Lao Tzu. I highly recommend this to people seeking universal truths.

[Nguyen Nhung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody can talk about Taoism and Lao Tzu like Osho did.

[Shikha Malviya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is essentially a compilation of Osho's discourses on Tao te ching. If you have been initiated into Buddhism(or any other organised religion) way of spirituality, you need to unlearn that to understand Tao. Osho made it relatively doable though, but that's just understanding of sutras. Putting them in practice is another ball game

[Dewi Rhys-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully expressed. If there are bits of the text you don't like, let them be. The talks point towards something. For most people, reading other books and watching videos by Osho and others will help.

[Celestin Büche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps my favorite book by Osho.

[Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

कहते हैं कि जो व्यक्ति बहुत ज्यादा हंँसता है वो भीतर से बहुत दुखी होता है,उदास होता है।
लेकिन अगर कोई व्यक्ति सच में ही खुश हो तो ? कोई कैसे अंतर कर पाएगा कि कोई व्यक्ति सच में खुश हैं या खुश होने का नाटक कर रहा है?
इस दुनिया में किसके पास इतना समय है कि वो ये खोज-बीन करें की कौन वास्तविक में खुश हैं और कौन खुश होने का नाटक कर रहा है।हर व्यक्ति के पास खुद के नाना प्रकार के दुख पड़े हैं वो अपनी देखेगा कि दूसरों कि मन: स्थिति टटोलेगा। लेकिन एक व्यक्ति हैं जिसे 24 घंटे पता चलता रहता है की तुम वास्तविक में खुश हो या खुश होने का नाटक कर रहे हो और वो व्यक्ति तुम खुद ही हो,तुम दूसरों को तो धोखा दे सकते हो झूठ बोल सकते हो दिखावा कर सकते हो लेकिन कभी खुद को धोखा नहीं दे सकते,तुम्हें साफ-साफ दिख रहा होता है कि तुम्हारे भीतर क्या चल रहा है।
जब सबकुछ तुम्हें मालूम ही है तो अगर कहीं कुछ गड़बड़ी है तो इसको ठीक करने की जिम्मेदारी भी तुम्हारी ही है किसी और की नहीं।

[Laura Amado · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wisdom is cautious. wisdom hesitates. Wisdom is never certain. That's why wisdom can never be confined to a theory."
"Man is free to choose but man is not free to not choose" Sartre.
"Out of the chaos arises harmony" The final harmony, that crescendo is a cumulative effect. So enjoy wherever you are, be grateful, whatever you have. Feel deep gratitude; let that be your only prayer.

[Ala · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting talk about Lau Tzu, a good introduction, with gems of wisdom.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 5 is especially good

[Sina Beni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully explains Tao’s wisdom

[Quicksilver Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice look at Lao Tzu and Taoism from Osho's illuminating perspective. This book is a good adjunct to the actual book of Lao Tzu because it explains some ideas and offers clarification. A worthy read for anyone who wants to learn more about Taoism.

[Ashesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

...

[Tran Truong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Osho never disappointed me.
Respected.

[Jozef · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only few interesting points. The author going on and on about the same thing again and again just using different words and examples.

[Deepthi Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book on Tao. Offers a great insight into the significance of being balanced. Renunciation or over indulgence, both the extremities are shunned and the significance of being balanced more importantly the book talks about being ‘Natural’