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Love, Freedom, Aloneness: The Koan of Relationships
In today's world, freedom is our basic condition, and until we learn to live with that freedom, and learn to live by ourselves and with ourselves, we are denying ourselves the possibility of finding love and happiness with someone else.
Love can only happen through freedom and in conjunction with a deep respect for ourselves and the other. Is it possible to be alone and not lonely? Where are the boundaries that define "lust" versus "love"...and can lust ever grow into love? In Love, Freedom, Aloneness you will find unique, radical, and intelligent perspectives on these and other essential questions. In our post-ideological world, where old moralities are out of date, we have a golden opportunity to redefine and revitalize the very foundations of our lives. We have the chance to start afresh with ourselves, our relationships to others, and to find fulfillment and success for the individual and for society as a whole.
Love can only happen through freedom and in conjunction with a deep respect for ourselves and the other. Is it possible to be alone and not lonely? Where are the boundaries that define "lust" versus "love"...and can lust ever grow into love? In Love, Freedom, Aloneness you will find unique, radical, and intelligent perspectives on these and other essential questions. In our post-ideological world, where old moralities are out of date, we have a golden opportunity to redefine and revitalize the very foundations of our lives. We have the chance to start afresh with ourselves, our relationships to others, and to find fulfillment and success for the individual and for society as a whole.
244 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
About the author
Osho
3,598 books6,455 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 - 30 of 331 reviews
January 8, 2008
yata! I have finally finished this book! I could only read a little of this book at a time. I would read a few pages and then have to put down the book and think about what I had read. Did I agree with Osho's views? What were my views on the issue? All in all, it was a good exercise for me to go through. It's amazing how much you learn about yourself when you question your own views.
November 9, 2009
Few of my fav passages from the book: :
- "It is beautiful to be alone, it is also beautiful to to be in love, to be with people. And they are complementary, not contradictory."
- "...you can only enjoy aloneness ONLY if you can enjoy relationships. It is relationship that creates the need for aloneness, it is a rhythm."
- "A person who knows how to be alone is never lonely. People who don't know how to alone, they are lonely."
- "Great music is a sythesis between sound and silence." (like love and aloneness)
- "Love gives freedom and love helps the other to be himself or herself."
Quite a few gems are this book. However when Osho talks about how to apply his message worldwide (i.e. communes), I have to politely disagree. I understand his view, but not enough to adopt it. I'll simply have to agree w/most of Osho's readers by saying take what you like, ponder what you don't understand and trash the rest when reading his take on life.
Definitely worth the read.
- "It is beautiful to be alone, it is also beautiful to to be in love, to be with people. And they are complementary, not contradictory."
- "...you can only enjoy aloneness ONLY if you can enjoy relationships. It is relationship that creates the need for aloneness, it is a rhythm."
- "A person who knows how to be alone is never lonely. People who don't know how to alone, they are lonely."
- "Great music is a sythesis between sound and silence." (like love and aloneness)
- "Love gives freedom and love helps the other to be himself or herself."
Quite a few gems are this book. However when Osho talks about how to apply his message worldwide (i.e. communes), I have to politely disagree. I understand his view, but not enough to adopt it. I'll simply have to agree w/most of Osho's readers by saying take what you like, ponder what you don't understand and trash the rest when reading his take on life.
Definitely worth the read.
May 11, 2011
This book is not easy to read. Because of what society have taught us. I read this book few pages at the time and then I had to put it down because this new information was too overwhelming. In a good way though. Deeper I went into this book, more delighted and happy I felt. I tried meditation and I experienced my meditation honeymoon as Osho mentioned would happen. And after honeymoon phase, meditation was harder, yes. But I didn't gave up because I felt that Osho has guided me well and gave me good tools and knowledge how to overcome all problems what we actually make ourselves.
I absolutely loved this book. It opened my eyes to very simple things. I have always been struggling being alone, even though now I recognize it as loneliness not aloneness, which actually is a true gift and happiness within yourself.
I wish everyone around me would read this book and just be happy. And then share this happiness with others because life is too short.
I absolutely loved this book. It opened my eyes to very simple things. I have always been struggling being alone, even though now I recognize it as loneliness not aloneness, which actually is a true gift and happiness within yourself.
I wish everyone around me would read this book and just be happy. And then share this happiness with others because life is too short.
November 28, 2013
I have very recently been introduced to Osho. A Zen Buddhist Guru that was popular in the 1970s, Acharaya Rajneesh, popularly known as Osho, was an international Indian mystic, and spiritual teacher with an insight that could only be described as “enlightened”. Although Osho penned hundreds of books before he died in 1990, “Love, Freedom, Aloneness: A Koan of Relationships” was my first experience getting to know him and his teachings. Within just a few pages my heart started racing and my own thoughts ran towards “WOW”. Halfway through I was totally enamored, enthralled and excited, and soon jumped on the internet to purchase as many of his books I could afford in one fell swoop.
Osho is simply amazing in his ability to make all people who have ever felt alienated from the people around them, finally feel at ease with themselves. The people they know who are being dragged down into the quagmire of “following the crowd” and that are “drowning in the ordinary”, now become the examples of how not to live your life if you are one of the people like myself who have always colored outside the lines and felt proud to do so. This inspirational book is about “Love, God, Relationships, Freedom, the philosophy of Religion, Sex and about how imperative it is, and about how important it is to follow our own hearts and march to our own set of drums when walking each of these thought-provoking paths. Osho tells us, forget “them”, and pay attention to yourself. Not in a selfish egotistical way, but in a way that can bring joy into our lives the way WE choose to live it. And to live not by the rules of the church, our parents, our kids, or our peers. Letting God let us live our own lives in our own way is an underlying theme here.
Never in all the thousands of books I have read in my life has anyone spoke to me about God in a way I could accept or grasp. I loved his teachings of God, his philosophy of who or what God is or can be in each of our lives. He speaks of the church, of priests, of Gurus, Buddhas and other various deities from around the world in ways you can let seep in without fear of all of it threatening you to lean one way or the other, or to heaven forbid choose one at all. His open honest banter and non-preaching way of opening a reader up to God in ways one can understand or want to open up to, was a welcoming breath of fresh air for this reader! And, Osho has a wonderful sense of humor to keep a light air swirling around his wise words of wisdom!
Osho’s views on the importance of lust, sex, retaining our primitive selves as sensual beings, and how our normal hunger for sex can turn into a love relationship that is deeply rewarding and lasting, can be eye-opening as well as validating if you share his opinions on the topic. He tells us that without it we wither and die, we often let outside social views and religious dogma either stifle us, guilt trip us, or zoom us to the opposite direction bringing stress and chaos over this one simple human joy that should just be lived and cherished for what it is. Never denied or repressed by anyone in our lives.
I truly loved his views and opinions on what works in love relationships and what does not. All of it was simple common sense, so easy to intake, so loving and joyful. Honesty, being open to feeling fear and getting beyond it, can give us the ability to shed the pre-ordained dos and dont's we learned as children growing up as to what is proper and not allowed, what was considered dirty and shameful. All of it fades into dust as you read this fabulous book and let it all fall away into what you yourself want out of life and how to accomplish it. There are not enough stars in the rating system on this book in my eyes. This one will sit on the nightstand to read over and over and over….Stay tuned for more Osho book reviews! I think I found a new hero!
Osho is simply amazing in his ability to make all people who have ever felt alienated from the people around them, finally feel at ease with themselves. The people they know who are being dragged down into the quagmire of “following the crowd” and that are “drowning in the ordinary”, now become the examples of how not to live your life if you are one of the people like myself who have always colored outside the lines and felt proud to do so. This inspirational book is about “Love, God, Relationships, Freedom, the philosophy of Religion, Sex and about how imperative it is, and about how important it is to follow our own hearts and march to our own set of drums when walking each of these thought-provoking paths. Osho tells us, forget “them”, and pay attention to yourself. Not in a selfish egotistical way, but in a way that can bring joy into our lives the way WE choose to live it. And to live not by the rules of the church, our parents, our kids, or our peers. Letting God let us live our own lives in our own way is an underlying theme here.
Never in all the thousands of books I have read in my life has anyone spoke to me about God in a way I could accept or grasp. I loved his teachings of God, his philosophy of who or what God is or can be in each of our lives. He speaks of the church, of priests, of Gurus, Buddhas and other various deities from around the world in ways you can let seep in without fear of all of it threatening you to lean one way or the other, or to heaven forbid choose one at all. His open honest banter and non-preaching way of opening a reader up to God in ways one can understand or want to open up to, was a welcoming breath of fresh air for this reader! And, Osho has a wonderful sense of humor to keep a light air swirling around his wise words of wisdom!
Osho’s views on the importance of lust, sex, retaining our primitive selves as sensual beings, and how our normal hunger for sex can turn into a love relationship that is deeply rewarding and lasting, can be eye-opening as well as validating if you share his opinions on the topic. He tells us that without it we wither and die, we often let outside social views and religious dogma either stifle us, guilt trip us, or zoom us to the opposite direction bringing stress and chaos over this one simple human joy that should just be lived and cherished for what it is. Never denied or repressed by anyone in our lives.
I truly loved his views and opinions on what works in love relationships and what does not. All of it was simple common sense, so easy to intake, so loving and joyful. Honesty, being open to feeling fear and getting beyond it, can give us the ability to shed the pre-ordained dos and dont's we learned as children growing up as to what is proper and not allowed, what was considered dirty and shameful. All of it fades into dust as you read this fabulous book and let it all fall away into what you yourself want out of life and how to accomplish it. There are not enough stars in the rating system on this book in my eyes. This one will sit on the nightstand to read over and over and over….Stay tuned for more Osho book reviews! I think I found a new hero!
June 17, 2011
I loved this book. It was hard to understand at first...I think you really have to approach it with a completely open mind and just really listen to what he's saying. I got a little disinterested when he went on a 'we should all live in small communes' tangent (only because it's basically impossible to even imagine it in today's world), but otherwise his anecdotes were amusing and full of very wise insights that only further drove his points home.
Everything in the title of this book you will come to learn and understand by the end of it, but not in the traditional sense. In a way, you have to un-learn everything you thought you knew up until now and rebuild from the ground up. Love, freedom and aloneness all work together as part of a greater whole, and Osho explains these dynamics and relationships in an easy and comprehensive way. His tone is soothing and poetic, patient and soft. I highlighted many passages in this book, and I have no doubt that I'll be returning to it for reference again and again. I think it's one of those books you have to read a few times to really grasp the concepts fully. If you're really looking to save a relationship from the garbage disposal, I think it requires a thorough reading by both parties, with open discussion throughout. Even if you're not in a relationship, it teaches the importance of being alone and how to find comfort in it, instead of sadness and loneliness.
I would refer this book to anyone I know who has an open mind to receive it and will undoubtedly be reading more of Osho's books in the future.
Everything in the title of this book you will come to learn and understand by the end of it, but not in the traditional sense. In a way, you have to un-learn everything you thought you knew up until now and rebuild from the ground up. Love, freedom and aloneness all work together as part of a greater whole, and Osho explains these dynamics and relationships in an easy and comprehensive way. His tone is soothing and poetic, patient and soft. I highlighted many passages in this book, and I have no doubt that I'll be returning to it for reference again and again. I think it's one of those books you have to read a few times to really grasp the concepts fully. If you're really looking to save a relationship from the garbage disposal, I think it requires a thorough reading by both parties, with open discussion throughout. Even if you're not in a relationship, it teaches the importance of being alone and how to find comfort in it, instead of sadness and loneliness.
I would refer this book to anyone I know who has an open mind to receive it and will undoubtedly be reading more of Osho's books in the future.
August 14, 2019
Este é aquele tipo de livro destinado a agitar, a trocar-nos as voltas, a testar as nossas certezas e a deixar-nos a pensar... Eventualmente cheios de dúvidas mesmo após termos concluido a sua leitura.
Adorei lê-lo, apesar de não concordar com tudo o que li... Há coisas que a minha experiência de vida me tem provado serem diferentes... Outras há que eu sentia de forma intuitiva, como ideias em formação que ainda continuarão a ser...
"Amor, Liberdade e Solidão" é um livro incómodo. Desafia-nos. E demonstra que é possível e desejável manter, de forma saudável, amor, liberdade e solidão na forma como nos relacionamos amorosamente.
Adorei lê-lo, apesar de não concordar com tudo o que li... Há coisas que a minha experiência de vida me tem provado serem diferentes... Outras há que eu sentia de forma intuitiva, como ideias em formação que ainda continuarão a ser...
"Amor, Liberdade e Solidão" é um livro incómodo. Desafia-nos. E demonstra que é possível e desejável manter, de forma saudável, amor, liberdade e solidão na forma como nos relacionamos amorosamente.
February 21, 2013
It's quite repetitive. It's at times a bit eccentric. It's not really well written. (Although this was explained in the "About the Author" section at the end. This book was NOT "written", but transcribed from 35 years' worth of Osho's extemporaneous talks, which explains the repetition and average writing.) It's definitely not for the conservative, especially Christian, set.
That being said...it's one of the most insightful and valuable books I've read in my 46 years. How awesome to have my personal (but oft invalidated) beliefs and natural tendencies validated by someone with the wisdom and experience to back it up! First, I've resisted organized religion...even the Eastern ones...for my entire life. Osho supports this. Second...since I started being more conscious, my primary focus has been love. Osho supports this. (Although he brought to light that I have erred by not first loving myself.) By the time I closed the back cover, I had learned the necessity of meditation and aloneness in one's life. They are what enable you to love yourself...and, only then can you love another. And, I was blissfully heartened that aloneness and love are not only complimentary, but they each cannot exist without the other. Just as my intuitive self felt, I've started walking on a wonderful path. It is my fervent hope that in a few months, I'll be able to tell people that Osho is the one who got me to stick with meditation!
That being said...it's one of the most insightful and valuable books I've read in my 46 years. How awesome to have my personal (but oft invalidated) beliefs and natural tendencies validated by someone with the wisdom and experience to back it up! First, I've resisted organized religion...even the Eastern ones...for my entire life. Osho supports this. Second...since I started being more conscious, my primary focus has been love. Osho supports this. (Although he brought to light that I have erred by not first loving myself.) By the time I closed the back cover, I had learned the necessity of meditation and aloneness in one's life. They are what enable you to love yourself...and, only then can you love another. And, I was blissfully heartened that aloneness and love are not only complimentary, but they each cannot exist without the other. Just as my intuitive self felt, I've started walking on a wonderful path. It is my fervent hope that in a few months, I'll be able to tell people that Osho is the one who got me to stick with meditation!
Want to read
September 26, 2010i have this book on order and wish i had the presence of mind to preview it more extensively before buying it. i found these "gems" in the google books preview:
"Man is the only being on Earth who has freedom. A dog is born a dog, will live like a dog, will die like a dog; there is no freedom...This is where man is totally different. This is the dignity of man, his specialness in existence, his uniqueness."
"A dog is going to remain a dog his whole life, he is not going to evolve, grow. Yes, he will become aged, old, but he will not become more intelligent."
he completely loses me here...what kind of lofty BS is this?!? it comes across as one of many "dogs don't think, they're purely instinctual" diatribes. i'm sorry, but i have personally witnessed dogs become more intelligent over their life span. yes, i realize dogs are not the same as humans, but why is one "better" or "more evolved" than the other?!? this kind of mentality disgusts me and reeks of an immense shadow. for this reason alone i won't be able to take much of what he says very seriously. how about all life on this planet is beautifully unique and deserves respect? that instead of looking at how "different" we are, there is much we can learn from these "less intelligent" beings...
it's a shame, because i had high hopes for this book...
"Man is the only being on Earth who has freedom. A dog is born a dog, will live like a dog, will die like a dog; there is no freedom...This is where man is totally different. This is the dignity of man, his specialness in existence, his uniqueness."
"A dog is going to remain a dog his whole life, he is not going to evolve, grow. Yes, he will become aged, old, but he will not become more intelligent."
he completely loses me here...what kind of lofty BS is this?!? it comes across as one of many "dogs don't think, they're purely instinctual" diatribes. i'm sorry, but i have personally witnessed dogs become more intelligent over their life span. yes, i realize dogs are not the same as humans, but why is one "better" or "more evolved" than the other?!? this kind of mentality disgusts me and reeks of an immense shadow. for this reason alone i won't be able to take much of what he says very seriously. how about all life on this planet is beautifully unique and deserves respect? that instead of looking at how "different" we are, there is much we can learn from these "less intelligent" beings...
it's a shame, because i had high hopes for this book...
July 11, 2016
If you ask me if I enjoy this book, the answer is no. It made me uncomfortable, it cemented some of my knowledge and believes and it shook some others. But if you ask me if this book is a good read, I would say yes, for the same reason.
To me, a good read doesn't always comfort and provide you all the answers that you readily agree with. A good read makes you feel and think, it makes you question your prior knowledge; a good read might contain theses that you vehemently disagree with, and yet can't easily dismiss. And so what it ultimately offers you is an incentive to do your own research--look further and dig deeper. In that sense, Osho's Love, Freedom and Aloneness is a good read.
Frustrated by the translation I was reading, I went to do a research on my own and learnt that Osho himself has never written any book. Everything that has been published and circulated so far was merely a transcription of his lectures in his life time. So be wary when you approach "his books". I've watched some of Osho's talks on Youtube and although he spoke in simple and somewhat broken English, the ideas he tried to promulgate were/are undeniably radical and thought-provoking. I wish I could have listened to the man in Indian.
To summarize this book, Osho believes that people have been mistaking lust and possession with love, and that we should have started from loving ourselves first and foremost. Be content and happy with your aloneness before you want to be with others. Otherwise, your lover/spouse/friend is just a merely distraction, a temporary cure for loneliness, which originates from being unable to be happy with yourself. Osho opposes legislate marriage as he believes it shackles people together by social obligation and duties, turning 'home' and 'family' into 'prison' for people who are no longer in love with one another. On the other hand, he doesn't criticize sex or lust, he sees sexual urges as normal, and lust is a phase that comes before Love, with the capital L. The ultimate Love comes from loving yourself and will naturally overflow to others. Osho encourages us to experience, to sate our physical desires but also understand that desire, lust, want are phases one needs to transcend in order to find Love.
I like his perspective on the interrelationship among marriage, freedom and aloneness. As for the rest of it, I'm gonna leave them aside for now. One thing I can thoroughly disagree with him is the proclaim that human being is the only species capable of changes and intelligent maturity, "a dog is born a dog and dies as a dog, it will get old but its nature remains the same", something along that line. I also don't care for the anecdote in which he bonded with a tree and it died when he left. Anyone who claims human being as superiority always give me pause and makes me question their level of enlightenment. Still, I do think Osho had a lot of insights to offer.
Lastly, this book merely gives you ideas, and a few suggestions at best. It does not point out a solid path. It is not a self-help book with a manual.
To me, a good read doesn't always comfort and provide you all the answers that you readily agree with. A good read makes you feel and think, it makes you question your prior knowledge; a good read might contain theses that you vehemently disagree with, and yet can't easily dismiss. And so what it ultimately offers you is an incentive to do your own research--look further and dig deeper. In that sense, Osho's Love, Freedom and Aloneness is a good read.
Frustrated by the translation I was reading, I went to do a research on my own and learnt that Osho himself has never written any book. Everything that has been published and circulated so far was merely a transcription of his lectures in his life time. So be wary when you approach "his books". I've watched some of Osho's talks on Youtube and although he spoke in simple and somewhat broken English, the ideas he tried to promulgate were/are undeniably radical and thought-provoking. I wish I could have listened to the man in Indian.
To summarize this book, Osho believes that people have been mistaking lust and possession with love, and that we should have started from loving ourselves first and foremost. Be content and happy with your aloneness before you want to be with others. Otherwise, your lover/spouse/friend is just a merely distraction, a temporary cure for loneliness, which originates from being unable to be happy with yourself. Osho opposes legislate marriage as he believes it shackles people together by social obligation and duties, turning 'home' and 'family' into 'prison' for people who are no longer in love with one another. On the other hand, he doesn't criticize sex or lust, he sees sexual urges as normal, and lust is a phase that comes before Love, with the capital L. The ultimate Love comes from loving yourself and will naturally overflow to others. Osho encourages us to experience, to sate our physical desires but also understand that desire, lust, want are phases one needs to transcend in order to find Love.
I like his perspective on the interrelationship among marriage, freedom and aloneness. As for the rest of it, I'm gonna leave them aside for now. One thing I can thoroughly disagree with him is the proclaim that human being is the only species capable of changes and intelligent maturity, "a dog is born a dog and dies as a dog, it will get old but its nature remains the same", something along that line. I also don't care for the anecdote in which he bonded with a tree and it died when he left. Anyone who claims human being as superiority always give me pause and makes me question their level of enlightenment. Still, I do think Osho had a lot of insights to offer.
Lastly, this book merely gives you ideas, and a few suggestions at best. It does not point out a solid path. It is not a self-help book with a manual.
September 23, 2019
Ngoài chuyện mình không thấy hợp lí với quan điểm của Osho về tình dục, thì cuốn sách này là một cuốn sách xuất sắc về tình yêu. Nó sâu sắc tới mức khiến người ta khó chịu, vì rất khó để có thể làm theo những điều mà Osho chia sẻ.
Bản thân mình đã có gia đình, đã có trải nghiệm đủ sâu sắc về tình yêu chân thành, nên những bài học về yêu thương bản thân, yêu thương tự do, sự tác động xấu của xã hội tới cách chúng ta yêu nhau...được Osho trình bày cực kì thuyết phục.
Cách mà Osho sử dụng những câu chuyện ngụ ngôn để kể chuyện tình yêu thật khác lạ và đỉnh cao, kèm theo đó là vài ý tưởng điên rồ như là xã hội công xã để tất cả đều có thể trải nghiệm tình yêu mà không ngăn cấm.
Một cuốn sách rất đáng đọc để hiểu sâu sắc về tình yêu, thứ khiến chúng ta trăn trởn và mãi mệt cả đời.
Bản thân mình đã có gia đình, đã có trải nghiệm đủ sâu sắc về tình yêu chân thành, nên những bài học về yêu thương bản thân, yêu thương tự do, sự tác động xấu của xã hội tới cách chúng ta yêu nhau...được Osho trình bày cực kì thuyết phục.
Cách mà Osho sử dụng những câu chuyện ngụ ngôn để kể chuyện tình yêu thật khác lạ và đỉnh cao, kèm theo đó là vài ý tưởng điên rồ như là xã hội công xã để tất cả đều có thể trải nghiệm tình yêu mà không ngăn cấm.
Một cuốn sách rất đáng đọc để hiểu sâu sắc về tình yêu, thứ khiến chúng ta trăn trởn và mãi mệt cả đời.
October 28, 2008
This book challenged me to re-question my paradigm as well as provided so much insights and ideas to contemplate on. One of the powerful things I found from this piece of profound work was the statement "one is enough unto oneself, and one doesn't require anything else". Thanks Osho
February 28, 2023
Many concepts in this book are fabulous. And I have recommended it to folks (especially in their twenties and thirties) who are in relationships who need to explore what it means to be alone.
The necessity for alone time is so important, and Osho delves into this. He has some great anecdotes which have stayed with me today, and I highly recommend this book. The only drawbacks (be aware) is his repetition of language in getting across a concept and some far-out ideas about abstinence and communal living.
The necessity for alone time is so important, and Osho delves into this. He has some great anecdotes which have stayed with me today, and I highly recommend this book. The only drawbacks (be aware) is his repetition of language in getting across a concept and some far-out ideas about abstinence and communal living.
July 26, 2016
I didn't like it
I agree we can have different points of view of the diverse aspects of life, but this guy is against EVERYTHING!
I really don't think that all human race is egocentric and faking love!
I'll keep what was useful (2 paragraphs of the entire book) and throw the rest away!
I agree we can have different points of view of the diverse aspects of life, but this guy is against EVERYTHING!
I really don't think that all human race is egocentric and faking love!
I'll keep what was useful (2 paragraphs of the entire book) and throw the rest away!
January 18, 2012
One of the most enlightening, life altering books I've ever been fortunate enough to read.
January 6, 2012
I am keeping this book as a primary source in my library that I may re-read and reference from time to time. I feel it's the kind of book that is necessary to read in different phases in one's life and still be able to gather new information from. It isn't stuffy either. It's written in a simplistic style that relates to all ages and across all lifestyles. This book doesn't preach, which is why I love it and put it in my favorite section. It instead, gives you some food for thought. There is really nothing written that can be argued with, but instead, there are concepts that we all deal with on a daily basis. Of course, we don't look at them from Osho's perspective all the time, or nearly at all if ever. If we intend to we fall short, but he doesn't penalize us either, he gives us the quality of who we are, so we can know ourselves better, so that we don't have to keep feeling an overwhelming nagging emptiness, that can only can only be filled with the dependence on someone else. Instead he tells us how to enrich our lives with being authentic in ourselves, with delighting in who we are, which in itself is accepting ourself and allowing ourselves to be free. By doing this, we achieve the ultimate practice of self-discipline which is necessary to know ourselves when we're alone, instead of always seeking the answers in others. In this way, we can be valuable to others. He gives us the chance to question our motives, see our strengths and turn our weaknesses into a thing of the past, but only to view vulnerability as a weakness is one-sided-- so in this book we learn how to recognize that as a huge strength to help others.
I recommend this book to everybody that is stuck! I think that is most people from time to time in life. Even if you feel you are too proud to read this book and don't need help-- don't look at this book as a self-help book, it's so much more than that, it's a transcendental experience. It will force you to look at yourself in a whole new way that you never did before every time you read it. It will force you to consider and construct a new you as you read. It may not feel like it's okay or fair to be alone-- it may feel like it's lonely or makes you sad. You may remember the terrible times, or feel incredibly unstable when you find yourself alone with nothing whatsoever to do to fill in the lapse of time... Ohso, questions your mind-- he asks you what makes your boredom, what fills your heart with joy, what is fleeting happiness, what makes you want to be the best you can be-- even if you aren't there right now, he will connect you to your true inner joy and remove animosity, hatred, sarcasm, materialism, negaitivity and need for wealth. This book is simple, but so many things which are simple when they are phrased in the easiest ways have a hard and a deep intention... that is what 'koan' means.
I recommend this book to everybody that is stuck! I think that is most people from time to time in life. Even if you feel you are too proud to read this book and don't need help-- don't look at this book as a self-help book, it's so much more than that, it's a transcendental experience. It will force you to look at yourself in a whole new way that you never did before every time you read it. It will force you to consider and construct a new you as you read. It may not feel like it's okay or fair to be alone-- it may feel like it's lonely or makes you sad. You may remember the terrible times, or feel incredibly unstable when you find yourself alone with nothing whatsoever to do to fill in the lapse of time... Ohso, questions your mind-- he asks you what makes your boredom, what fills your heart with joy, what is fleeting happiness, what makes you want to be the best you can be-- even if you aren't there right now, he will connect you to your true inner joy and remove animosity, hatred, sarcasm, materialism, negaitivity and need for wealth. This book is simple, but so many things which are simple when they are phrased in the easiest ways have a hard and a deep intention... that is what 'koan' means.
December 25, 2012
I loved this book. It forced me to unlearn and challenge things I've been taught by society and the norms its imposed on us and we've imposed on ourselves. Simply put, it totally changed my perspective on the meanings of love, freedom and aloneness. For the better. I would definitely read this book again. And again.
January 30, 2009
i seem to rate books really high, but this was a really good book. this was my first time reading osho. i resonated a lot with what he said about love starting from the person first and that we must love ourselves before we can love others. love tied to being alone and freedom.
June 11, 2020
Some interesting insight but the overall vision leaning towards a privately run commune reeks of cultism. In that respect the objectivity from subjective experiences and spiritual experience loose track and credibility. Krishnamurti is much better.
November 18, 2020
Book contains a lot of contradictions - author is against something in one chapter and completely supportive in next one. It is very critical - all religions are wrong, all people except few can’t love and families don’t know how to best raise their kids. And the way described in the book is the only right one. The idea of commune families described in book is really close to communism and we all know it does not work. A lot of phrases, ideas and sentences are repeated for several times, sometimes even on same page, which makes it boring to read.
Wanted to read it to the the end, in order to make my own opinion about it. It took me almost a year, I thought i’ll find at least something useful, but got only well known ideas - “love yourself and others”, “sometimes we all need some peace and quiet with ourselves”, “have sex and enjoy it”.
Therefore I cannot say that I will suggest it to a friend.
Wanted to read it to the the end, in order to make my own opinion about it. It took me almost a year, I thought i’ll find at least something useful, but got only well known ideas - “love yourself and others”, “sometimes we all need some peace and quiet with ourselves”, “have sex and enjoy it”.
Therefore I cannot say that I will suggest it to a friend.
January 14, 2014
1) He has spoken of good and solid points like: fear making. Fear that is made by both political and theological authorities.
2) he was so deep when he talked about the self love, selfishness, illusion of love and social serving.
3) his talk about aloneness is deep and insightful.
4) vague and contradictory analysis of love.
5) attacking sex and defending it on contradictory terms depending on his contradictory position of love.
6) attacking ideologies while adhering one.
7) the idea of commune sex is a perfect example of idealism and utopia. There is no such thing and he lacks the proof of prove it right.
8) His criticism on marriage and its form as a family is shallow and comes in favor of his utopian idea of sex, love and society. He is obviously influenced by social communism
2) he was so deep when he talked about the self love, selfishness, illusion of love and social serving.
3) his talk about aloneness is deep and insightful.
4) vague and contradictory analysis of love.
5) attacking sex and defending it on contradictory terms depending on his contradictory position of love.
6) attacking ideologies while adhering one.
7) the idea of commune sex is a perfect example of idealism and utopia. There is no such thing and he lacks the proof of prove it right.
8) His criticism on marriage and its form as a family is shallow and comes in favor of his utopian idea of sex, love and society. He is obviously influenced by social communism
January 25, 2008
I discovered the true meaning of love, that there is a difference between being alone and being lonely. In addition, I learned that through aloneness and meditation you can discover yourself and ultimately true bliss.
December 20, 2012
This is an amazing book which, I think, explains an extremely important topic very well. So much suffering is caused by the confusions that this book addresses to resolve. Osho never fails! :)
April 19, 2020
Хайрлах урлагаас өөр хайрын тухай ном бараг уншиж байгаагүй юм байна. Энэ ном 2 дахь нь болж байна. Уншихад нэг тийм гоё, илүү гүн гүнзгий ч гэх юмуу тийм мэдрэмж төрлөө. Хайр, эрх чөлөө, ганцаардлыг хооронд нь холбоод жишээтэй нь гоё хэлжээ.
Хүмүүс гудманд хэрэлдэж, зодолдож болдог хирнээ, хайр, хайрыг илэрхийлэх зүйлсийг болохоор хорьж буруу зүйл шиг харуулдаг нийгмийн үзэл. Хайр байхгүй, болохгүй зүйл мэт хүүхдээ цагдаж хорьж байснаа 25 хүрэнгүүт нь одоо хүссэнээрээ хайрла гэсэн ч яаж гэдгийг нь мэдэхгүй хүн яаж хүнийг хайрлана гэж. Бодож үзмээр олон зүйл таарлаа. Уншаарай гэж санал болгоноо.
Бясалгал, хайр бол хос далавч шүү л гэсэн байна. Ер нь гаднаас биш дотроосоо л хайх хэрэгтэй юм байна. Молор-Эрдэнэ гуай 24 цаг нэг нэгнээ хайрлаад л байна гэж байдаггүй, угаасаа боломжгүй гэж нэг ярилцлагадаа хэлж байсан. Энд ч бас тэгж хэлсэн байна кк.
Хүмүүс гудманд хэрэлдэж, зодолдож болдог хирнээ, хайр, хайрыг илэрхийлэх зүйлсийг болохоор хорьж буруу зүйл шиг харуулдаг нийгмийн үзэл. Хайр байхгүй, болохгүй зүйл мэт хүүхдээ цагдаж хорьж байснаа 25 хүрэнгүүт нь одоо хүссэнээрээ хайрла гэсэн ч яаж гэдгийг нь мэдэхгүй хүн яаж хүнийг хайрлана гэж. Бодож үзмээр олон зүйл таарлаа. Уншаарай гэж санал болгоноо.
Бясалгал, хайр бол хос далавч шүү л гэсэн байна. Ер нь гаднаас биш дотроосоо л хайх хэрэгтэй юм байна. Молор-Эрдэнэ гуай 24 цаг нэг нэгнээ хайрлаад л байна гэж байдаггүй, угаасаа боломжгүй гэж нэг ярилцлагадаа хэлж байсан. Энд ч бас тэгж хэлсэн байна кк.
November 13, 2022
Provocador, desafiante, fascinante e ao mesmo tempo polémico no seu conteúdo e olhar, prende a atenção de início ao fim. Foi uma surpresa...
March 3, 2018
Osho was an Indian spiritual guru who spread his teaching in Asia and the US until his death in 1990. His advocacy of more open sexual relationships was perhaps ahead of its time and stems from the overarching theme of love and happiness. Osho eshews family and marriage and this book wholly relates to his teaching of meditation and love of oneself. Everything is about oneself and to love oneself is above all things.
It's claptrap.
I fully agree with peace and love. Nothing epitomises my own beliefs more than this. I disagree with Osho's demands for communes and no families, with the selfishness of love for oneself and the simplistic belief that if everyone did as he said everything would be alright. The book refers to many religions and most of them are criticised (fairly in most cases), with Hinduism and Buddhism coming closest to being near Osho's own beliefs. On a general level I can see the frustration in politics and religion keeping people in their place but this is the outcome of moral corruption and not the primary purpose. I don't believe that without organised religion and a political system people would all be happy.
Two passages sum the book up for me. The first is Osho's description of his childhood "I have never been associating with people....they thought something was wrong with me"; "The reality is something is wrong with you, I am perfectly happy to be alone".
Fair enough, but why make this the basis for teaching and a belief that everyone should follow his guidance? The second passage is on the next page: "When I became the professor at the university...I used to park my car under one tree". You'll need to read the entire book to understand why this annoyed me, but 240 pages telling you to do nothing but meditate, love yourself first and just be, rather than think. Who services the cars, mends the roads or runs the university?
Nah, I'm not buying it. How this became a career is beyond me and advocating freedom and fulfillment in a book selling for $16.99, with links to the Osho Meditation Center and other corporate moneymakers does nothing for me. If Osho were around he'd probably just look at me with a sad smile and tell me that I just don't love myself yet. Fair enough, but I'm not believing the religious man either.
It's claptrap.
I fully agree with peace and love. Nothing epitomises my own beliefs more than this. I disagree with Osho's demands for communes and no families, with the selfishness of love for oneself and the simplistic belief that if everyone did as he said everything would be alright. The book refers to many religions and most of them are criticised (fairly in most cases), with Hinduism and Buddhism coming closest to being near Osho's own beliefs. On a general level I can see the frustration in politics and religion keeping people in their place but this is the outcome of moral corruption and not the primary purpose. I don't believe that without organised religion and a political system people would all be happy.
Two passages sum the book up for me. The first is Osho's description of his childhood "I have never been associating with people....they thought something was wrong with me"; "The reality is something is wrong with you, I am perfectly happy to be alone".
Fair enough, but why make this the basis for teaching and a belief that everyone should follow his guidance? The second passage is on the next page: "When I became the professor at the university...I used to park my car under one tree". You'll need to read the entire book to understand why this annoyed me, but 240 pages telling you to do nothing but meditate, love yourself first and just be, rather than think. Who services the cars, mends the roads or runs the university?
Nah, I'm not buying it. How this became a career is beyond me and advocating freedom and fulfillment in a book selling for $16.99, with links to the Osho Meditation Center and other corporate moneymakers does nothing for me. If Osho were around he'd probably just look at me with a sad smile and tell me that I just don't love myself yet. Fair enough, but I'm not believing the religious man either.
July 15, 2018
La solitudine non è una cosa negativa come siamo stati abituati a credere. Anzi, chi sa star bene con se stesso è un passo avanti. E quando ama, lo fa davvero con il cuore, perchè le sue relazioni non sono nate dalla paura di restare solo. Il solitario, colui che ama e accetta la solitudine, non ha paura di della solitudine e se decide di unirsi a qualcuno non è mai per bisogno o necessità, ma per reale interesse. Per vero amore. Già perchè quest'utlimo esiste e non fa soffrire. Siamo noi a macchiarlo con la gelosia o altri sentimenti negativi che, inevitabilmente, ci conducono alla sofferenza.
Mi sento di consigliare questa lettura a tutti, ma in particolar modo a quelle persone che stanno insieme a qualcuno, pur non provando sentimenti veri. A quelle persone che sembrano circondate da amici, ma che in realtà, sono solo circonDate da persone che hanno selezionato per illudersi di non essere soli. E consiglio questo libro a coloro che si sono posti sempre dei problemi per la loro diversità rispetto a tutti gli altri.
Magari ti sei sentito strano già da bambino, perchè all'asilo preferivi disegnare per conto tuo anzichè stare con gli amichetti, o magari ti senti strano oggi perchè preferisci stare all'ombra di un pino a leggere un libro anzichè andare a bere un cocktail in un pub colmo di gente. Beh, non sei strano. Non sei diverso. Sei solo te stesso!
Mi sento di consigliare questa lettura a tutti, ma in particolar modo a quelle persone che stanno insieme a qualcuno, pur non provando sentimenti veri. A quelle persone che sembrano circondate da amici, ma che in realtà, sono solo circonDate da persone che hanno selezionato per illudersi di non essere soli. E consiglio questo libro a coloro che si sono posti sempre dei problemi per la loro diversità rispetto a tutti gli altri.
Magari ti sei sentito strano già da bambino, perchè all'asilo preferivi disegnare per conto tuo anzichè stare con gli amichetti, o magari ti senti strano oggi perchè preferisci stare all'ombra di un pino a leggere un libro anzichè andare a bere un cocktail in un pub colmo di gente. Beh, non sei strano. Non sei diverso. Sei solo te stesso!
April 29, 2015
El mensaje general de Amor, Libertad y Soledad, me pareció bueno. Habla de que el amor no debería de ser apego, la relación no debería de ser esclavitud, el crecimiento espiritual no debería de ser represión, y la soledad no debería de ser aislamiento. Todo lo anterior llega a perjudicar nuestra libertad y nos trae sufrimiento, y por lo tanto, infelicidad. El amor va de la mano con el crecimiento espiritual, y el ser humano necesita tanto de momentos de relación como de soledad.
La razón por la que le doy 3 estrellas al libro, es porque varias de la ideas de Osho me parecieron muy radicales y utópicas, además de que en varias ocasiones me pareció que se llegaba a contradecir, y al investigar un poco sobre el autor, me dí cuenta que sus contradicciones eran comunes en él, tanto en lo que predicaba como en lo que hacia, y en un libro de este tipo, las acciones en vida del autor también cuentan para dar ejemplo de vida y credibilidad a sus enseñanzas.
Sin embargo, Amor, Libertad y Soledad, es un libro que te deja reflexionando bastante, y gran parte de esto se debe precisamente a lo radical de sus ideas. Vale la pena su lectura.
La razón por la que le doy 3 estrellas al libro, es porque varias de la ideas de Osho me parecieron muy radicales y utópicas, además de que en varias ocasiones me pareció que se llegaba a contradecir, y al investigar un poco sobre el autor, me dí cuenta que sus contradicciones eran comunes en él, tanto en lo que predicaba como en lo que hacia, y en un libro de este tipo, las acciones en vida del autor también cuentan para dar ejemplo de vida y credibilidad a sus enseñanzas.
Sin embargo, Amor, Libertad y Soledad, es un libro que te deja reflexionando bastante, y gran parte de esto se debe precisamente a lo radical de sus ideas. Vale la pena su lectura.
November 29, 2017
Amazing book! This book took me a while to read because of how dense it is. However, I really appreciated reading a little bit at a time. This book is beautiful. Osho had some really great points about love throughout. Some of it was controversial, but I suggest reading it with an open mind. I find myself going back to read certain sections over and over again because some of it really moved me in a way I didn't it would. A special friend of mine recommended me this book, and I couldn't have read it at a better time in my life.
February 20, 2013
I read this book with Turkish edition two years ago. During reading, i underlined some important sentences to understand this book.
Generally,Osho's ideas and books seem different to me,but some ideas of Osho are logical. I remember a quote from this book:
"People don't realize that they don't know what love is."
Generally,Osho's ideas and books seem different to me,but some ideas of Osho are logical. I remember a quote from this book:
"People don't realize that they don't know what love is."
October 21, 2010
i've purchased three copies of this fantastically written, empowering book - yet not one sits upon my shelves. and that is because it is a treasure to be shared.
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