There are few mystics of the last century who were as provocative as Osho. Whether it was his fleet of Rolls Royce cars, the legal troubles his following got into in the U.S. during the 80’s or his criticism of other notable figures such as Gandhi, Osho was never far from controversy’s door. By the time of his death in 1990, he had been banned from 21 countries and gained notoriety across much of the world as an outspoken, deeply enigmatic figure, thought by his ashram to be an enlightened master and by others to be nothing more than an exceptionally manipulative cult leader. Nonetheless, his following has only grown since his passing, beginning to gain more and more traction in the west and heavily influencing certain veins of New Age thought. His philosophies, continually coming back to a core of love and unity through the loss of ego – and advocating meditation as an essential tool for accessing such states – combined with his incendiary criticism of the dominant world institutions, his offensive sense of humour and his views on sexuality continue to offer a blend that is seductive to inquiring minds. Here, then, are 22 quotes from one of the most controversial spiritual leaders of the last century, as found originally on angel fire.com.
