Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Quotes and Interpretations from Osho's Awareness

I recently had the extreme pleasure of reading a book by Osho titled "Awareness". I feel that where Dr. Hawkins' book "Power v. Force" is maybe a 100 level class of my particular philosophy, Osho's is at least a sophomore level text.

There is so much to cover in this book, I've decided to simply quote it, and give my interpretation and various musings on said quote.

P 37
"Remember, this is the difference between philosophy and religiousness: philosophy is a tranquilizer, religiousness is a shock philosophy helps you to sleep well, religiousness brings you out of sleep. Religiousness is not a philosophy - it is a technique to bring you out of your unconsciousness."

P 39
"If the majority doesn't laugh at you, be aware that you must be saying something wrong. If the majority laughs, only then is something true. When the majority thinks you are a fool, then there is some possibility of your being a wise man; otherwise there is no possibility."
-How often are people quick to judge, assimilate, and laugh at things that are outside their pre-approved frame of reference. I felt this was an excellent moral-building statement for people who are nervous about being judged as overly spiritual.

P 43
"The very fact that you are aware changes your acts. Then you cannot commit sin. Not that you have to control yourself, no! Control is a poor substitute for awareness..."
-I found it very interesting, the almost paradoxical idea that all one has to do is be aware of their actions - truly aware, and sin simply disappears. A human has the innate knowledge of right and wrong, as we all know. However success is not gained through control, it is gained through surrender and observation.

P 57
"Whatever you do, if you can remember yourself, you are nearer to the center. Then someday suddenly you are centered."
-A very powerful point. Through consistent, diligent effort of being aware of yourself, you will achieve enlightenment.

P 61-62
This is too big of a quote for me to put all together. In this set of pages, Osho talks about the difference between Eastern and Western ways of thinking. In Western thinking, much weight is given to finding the "source of the problem". In Eastern philosophy, no weight is given to finding the "source of the problem". All importance is given to existing in the moment. According to Eastern logic, since enlightenment can be achieved instantly at the point of awareness, it is faster and easier to forget what you have done throughout your entire life - as it is passed it is dead to us anyway - and work only on awareness of the now. Once you reach enlightenment, none of it will matter to you anyway.

P 64
"The East has a totally different outlook. First, it says no problem is serious. The moment you say no problem is serious, the problem is almost 99% dead. Your whole view changes.
-Another very powerful point - but so difficult to so many people I've spoken to. The realization that you are still alive and, therefore, have more on the earth to accomplish is too easily overrun by egoic manifestations of what is "really" important in western society.

As we have reached the halfway point, I believe I will cut this post in half. Stay tuned!