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Forgiveness
"Forgiveness simply means you accept the person as he is, you still love him the way he is." - Osho
Forgiveness is the thirteenth title in the Osho bestselling Insights for a New Way of Living series.
The popular Insights for a New Way of Living challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and the prejudices that limit their capacity to live life in all its richness. The books shine light on beliefs and attitudes that prevent individuals from being their true selves. The text is an artful mix of compassion and humor, and readers are encouraged to confront what they would most like to avoid, which in turn provides the key to true insight and power.
Forgiveness is the thirteenth title in the Osho bestselling Insights for a New Way of Living series.
The popular Insights for a New Way of Living challenges readers to examine and break free of the conditioned belief systems and the prejudices that limit their capacity to live life in all its richness. The books shine light on beliefs and attitudes that prevent individuals from being their true selves. The text is an artful mix of compassion and humor, and readers are encouraged to confront what they would most like to avoid, which in turn provides the key to true insight and power.
- GenresPhilosophy
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 17, 2023
27 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Osho
4,302 books6,804 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 22, 2023
After I saw the documentary about Osho and his followers I was then very curious about his writings/teachings. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt but a lot of the unsavory things I saw of him in the film I could feel come to life in his writing. This is my first Osho reading experience by the way, if that wasn't obvious. I was fairly off-put within the first few pages. I found his words more ignorant than wise. He comes off presumptuous of how you are probably already living and lumps Christians into this category of humans that are using Christs teachings to simply get into heaven when they are actually heathens holding back only in fear of judgement. Yes I am a Christian. But I didn't try this book to immediately use having read it as a platform. I was genuinely curious. I'm happy to hear other beliefs and why people hold to them so strongly. And while I may have a tainted view point from the documentary, I'm not blind. The writing feels like a repetitious, chanting of sorts. The kind that can put you in a trance. In a word, it's truly feels like cult like brainwashing. He gives a permission to the darkest side of you to be free of any guilt that might come with selfishness border lining narcissism. If you were to teach this kind of mindset to a human from a very young age it'd be a breeding ground for psycho/sociopathic behavior. I read on dispute feeling this way within pages. I kept at it hoping for some redeeming quality or worthwhile inspiration but there was none. I don't think I'll be giving Osho anymore of my time but it was nice having the opportunity to read it to quench my curiosity.
June 29, 2023
DID NOT FINISH
TOO RAMBLING AND REPETETIVE.
yes, in read in the intro that it is a transcript from in person presentations, but it is rambling, repetitive, and off topic. It is boring. I would not pay to see him deliver this live or I would leave because my time is worth more.
initial review:
Struggling to get through this one. I am 1/3 of the way through and so far the author hasn't really talked about forgiveness. He has talked about other religions and how inadequate they are. He talks in circles. I will continue to read and will update this post as I work my way through it. So far I have disagreed with him about much he has written. It has made me consider my views and see why I disagree with him so much, It is good to be uncomfortable, but when his premises are so off base, it is hard to take any of it seriously.
I forced myself to keep going to see if it ever got better. I got 1/3 in and kept trying. Gave up at 40 %. Life is too short to read bad books; there are too many books and too little time. Since I teach about forgiveness I was hopeful and optimistic that this would be an interesting and helpful discourse on the topic.
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book for free in return for an unbiased review.
TOO RAMBLING AND REPETETIVE.
yes, in read in the intro that it is a transcript from in person presentations, but it is rambling, repetitive, and off topic. It is boring. I would not pay to see him deliver this live or I would leave because my time is worth more.
initial review:
Struggling to get through this one. I am 1/3 of the way through and so far the author hasn't really talked about forgiveness. He has talked about other religions and how inadequate they are. He talks in circles. I will continue to read and will update this post as I work my way through it. So far I have disagreed with him about much he has written. It has made me consider my views and see why I disagree with him so much, It is good to be uncomfortable, but when his premises are so off base, it is hard to take any of it seriously.
I forced myself to keep going to see if it ever got better. I got 1/3 in and kept trying. Gave up at 40 %. Life is too short to read bad books; there are too many books and too little time. Since I teach about forgiveness I was hopeful and optimistic that this would be an interesting and helpful discourse on the topic.
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book for free in return for an unbiased review.
October 19, 2022
DNF at 20%
I am no stranger to philosophical, spiritual books meant as a way towards self-improvement. This was my first Osho book, and I could not do it. The first chapter immediately made little sense, as it jumped around quite a lot and left me wondering what I read, because I wasn’t grasping it. Thinking it was me not being very smart, I trudged on.
The lessons that were trying to be conveyed were just going over my head completely. I was too caught up in how repetitive (literally, copying and pasting then repeating the same sentence immediately after. I thought I was seeing double) the writing was, and how strange some of the examples were that was used to explain philosophy. I just felt so disconnected to it and couldn’t force myself to be engaged, so I had to put it down. Better luck next time!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press as always for the ARC.
I am no stranger to philosophical, spiritual books meant as a way towards self-improvement. This was my first Osho book, and I could not do it. The first chapter immediately made little sense, as it jumped around quite a lot and left me wondering what I read, because I wasn’t grasping it. Thinking it was me not being very smart, I trudged on.
The lessons that were trying to be conveyed were just going over my head completely. I was too caught up in how repetitive (literally, copying and pasting then repeating the same sentence immediately after. I thought I was seeing double) the writing was, and how strange some of the examples were that was used to explain philosophy. I just felt so disconnected to it and couldn’t force myself to be engaged, so I had to put it down. Better luck next time!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press as always for the ARC.
September 7, 2022
Forgiveness is an excellent reminder of how often people can overcome their wrongdoings. If people read the great examples offered by Osho, they will realize their ability to forget about their anger and see within their hearts to accept a way to forgive.
Osho has given many examples of the great spiritual leaders' methods to practice forgiveness. However, not everyone lives up to Buddha or has the discipline of Confucius. The conversation yields evidence to discover one's ability to relate their stories to those of ancient wisdom.
With the reminders of our humanness, Osho gives insight into transformation. Through changing ourselves from our weakest and most vulnerable states into compassion and care. He presents ideas with a casual and accommodating voice, yet the message's importance resounds in the soul's trenches. We discover darkness and yield a light forward with his message.
Osho has given many examples of the great spiritual leaders' methods to practice forgiveness. However, not everyone lives up to Buddha or has the discipline of Confucius. The conversation yields evidence to discover one's ability to relate their stories to those of ancient wisdom.
With the reminders of our humanness, Osho gives insight into transformation. Through changing ourselves from our weakest and most vulnerable states into compassion and care. He presents ideas with a casual and accommodating voice, yet the message's importance resounds in the soul's trenches. We discover darkness and yield a light forward with his message.
November 8, 2022
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for e-ARC of the book.
I’ve been stumbling upon many quotes from Osho, but never had the please to read a whole book until now. I did not agree with some of his thoughts and conclusions, perhaps as some concepts were strange and foreign for me, or perhaps because some things were not applicable to my life. One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was that some of his thoughts were quite thought provoking and perhaps would be a good conversation starter between me and my friends and family. I was genuinely curious what other people’s thoughts and stances were on things like apologizing and guilt, compared to Osho’s stance on such topics. This was a more difficult level read than I anticipated. In future I may read some of his other works if it’s a topic that speaks to me.
I’ve been stumbling upon many quotes from Osho, but never had the please to read a whole book until now. I did not agree with some of his thoughts and conclusions, perhaps as some concepts were strange and foreign for me, or perhaps because some things were not applicable to my life. One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was that some of his thoughts were quite thought provoking and perhaps would be a good conversation starter between me and my friends and family. I was genuinely curious what other people’s thoughts and stances were on things like apologizing and guilt, compared to Osho’s stance on such topics. This was a more difficult level read than I anticipated. In future I may read some of his other works if it’s a topic that speaks to me.
May 6, 2024
I loved this book from Osho. Somehow forgiveness is a very difficult path in my life for some reason, and here he makes it a bit clearer for me. I love the fact that he points out our incapability of understanding God (no matter the name we give it), not because we don’t want to, but because we are accessing it through man made institutions, run by people that are not in touch with God themselves. I used to be very religious but through the teachings of my church I felt more confused and more in being angry with God instead of coming from a place of love and compassion. That was until I lost my faith completely and embarked on my own journey of discovering God again, by myself. I could really relate to the things he is saying and it helped me deepen even more and made me curious about going inward even more. Thank you!
October 30, 2022
This is the first of Osho's books that I have read and I was not sure how much I would enjoy it or learn from it as I got started. I had trouble with the introduced concept of not needing to ask for forgiveness at the beginning of the book but understood much better as the teaching went along what Osho meant by that. It is important to first be aware of what we have done so that we are less likely to repeat the action before expressing our sorrow for having been unaware and causing harm. I will be working for a long time on learning to forgive unconditionally, but it's a good goal to hold out in front of each of us as we become more aware.
June 12, 2023
The wisdom that Osho is pointing to is quite profound. There are gems like, "The basic fear is not fear. The basic fear is the fear of fear." And "the greatest politeness is free of all formality."
The challenge is that the essays that compose this book were all transcribed from talks, and they don't necessarily translate well to the page in a way that's easy to follow. He was also speaking to an earlier generation that needed to be shaken up, but his own form of moralism started to feel like a drag as the chapters went on.
Also, I thought this was going to be more about Forgiveness, but really this book should more accurately be titled "Authenticity".
The challenge is that the essays that compose this book were all transcribed from talks, and they don't necessarily translate well to the page in a way that's easy to follow. He was also speaking to an earlier generation that needed to be shaken up, but his own form of moralism started to feel like a drag as the chapters went on.
Also, I thought this was going to be more about Forgiveness, but really this book should more accurately be titled "Authenticity".
August 1, 2023
As a fan of Osho I was excited to read this book. Forgiveness is very difficult for many. I loved the idea of this book. There are many great points made and gives one understanding of people and self from different aspects. Some people don't like repetition, but repetition is a form or learning and saying the same thing in different ways for people to absorb and remember.
This book is written in such a way that it really limits its audience reach. With some really good editing this has the potential to be a great book to teach forgiveness of not only others, but of self.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is written in such a way that it really limits its audience reach. With some really good editing this has the potential to be a great book to teach forgiveness of not only others, but of self.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 21, 2023
Forgiveness by Osho encourages readers to let go of their fixed beliefs and biases that hold them back from truly enjoying life. Osho uses a mix of kindness and humor to help us face our fears and discover our true selves. By reading this book, you can gain valuable insights and feel more empowered. It's a journey toward living a more prosperous life through forgiveness and personal growth. Osho's wisdom will inspire you to embrace a fresh perspective on living.
October 17, 2023
Like all his books, Osho's FORGIVENESS is wise, simply, and wonderfully expressed. I found it to be a wonderful book to dive into rather than read through to the end, having something to mull over as I live my day. The perspective is refreshing calm and the huge step back to consider how we live and conduct ourselves within relationships. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.
April 3, 2025
I liked the approach of Osho because forgiveness is a difficult topic to touch and influences our lives at most ! Although I found it quite difficult at some point to understand the rationale behind the thought . Moreover because of the fact that Osho did not actually wrote the book , but this somehow his public speeches , is repetitive. I think that the best part of the book is the second half and I learned a lot of things that I haven’t thought about them. I would say I enjoyed it !
January 30, 2025
I found the words for many inklings I’ve had. It is hard to overcome the brainwashing of the first twenty years of life. Overcoming society and yet living in it is difficult. But enlightenment can happen.
July 11, 2022
Osho is always a safe purchase. He isn't always concise, but he offers wisdom and great ways to think about topics. Recommended.
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!
September 30, 2023
Aside from what’s been seen on Netflix, I read this book before that and it was so inspirational, and motivating…
December 25, 2023
Osho came for everyone in this book, preachers, Christians, Jews, it was crazy.
August 13, 2024
ถ้าเคยอ่านคำบรรยายของโอโชเล่มอื่นแล้วชอบ ก็อาจจะชอบคำบรรยายทุกเล่ม เพราะทุกเล่มแกนเดียวกัน คือเรื่องการตื่นรู้
อ่านสนุก มีเรื่องตลกที่ทำให้ต้องฉุกคิดได้ตลอด
อ่านสนุก มีเรื่องตลกที่ทำให้ต้องฉุกคิดได้ตลอด
February 9, 2025
Great collection. I would have loved to know the "Discourse series" from where each of the discourses included in this book have been taken.
August 6, 2025
Nice read
Very insightful and thought provoking. Osho provokes a.different thought and idea in his discourses .That makes u think differently for.sure
Very insightful and thought provoking. Osho provokes a.different thought and idea in his discourses .That makes u think differently for.sure
August 12, 2024
I love Osho’s pov on forgiveness and letting go. He describes how forgiveness looks very different within all religions.
December 15, 2025
good one ,
such a blessing to read osho
such a blessing to read osho
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews