Infinite Insights Early Osho Documentary & Sadhguru

[Seeker10304]

https://www.actualized.org/insights/early-osho-documentary

I didn't watch the documentary but read Leo's commentary and I am wondering how this would compare with what Sadhguru is doing. 

I have followed Sadhguru's advice and practiced some sadhana for 7 years and I am considering at some point somehow joining Isha and becoming a volunteer  for some time.  So some thoughts & discussion on the matter would be interesting to me. 

 

[gettoefl]

Do it. Don't worry what others do or say. They are your forgiveness lessons. Go into the lion's den and beckon the lion come at you. You made the lion and your fear of it.

[manuel bon]

I have been listening to Osho and reading some of his books for like a year now. I am not a follower but his teachings really touched me deeply.

when I learned more about him and what he did, it really made me sad. I couldn’t believe it, or maybe I didn’t want to. I guess there’s no “perfect” enlightened human being

[Ishanga]

9 hours ago, manuel bon said:

I have been listening to Osho and reading some of his books for like a year now. I am not a follower but his teachings really touched me deeply.

when I learned more about him and what he did, it really made me sad. I couldn’t believe it, or maybe I didn’t want to. I guess there’s no “perfect” enlightened human being

I think allot of what Happened with Osho and his group is he didn't have enough oversight of what was going on, he suffered some ill health and mayb was distracted by that, and he used controversy to spur on his popularity, but I don't think he was a nut case of that he head up some of the things that went on..

Sadhguru on the other hand has been at this for over 30+ yrs, yes ppl accusing him of most everything, but this is the way when You try to change/transform the world, and become very popular, you will for sure have allot of enemies, but his organization is pretty well respected, and it is flourishing more and more every year!

[ivarmaya]

To think Osho’s commune was a failure is to miss the whole point.

It represented everything he stood for….chaos, contradiction and the collapse of human projections.

There was never anything “wrong” with what happened….only people’s conditioning screaming that their fantasies weren’t met. They wanted a saint and life to play nice with their story…..but Osho knew there was nothing to fix. 

Edited August 21 by ivarmaya

[manuel bon]

On 21/08/2025 at 0:13 AM, Ishanga said:

I think allot of what Happened with Osho and his group is he didn't have enough oversight of what was going on, he suffered some ill health and mayb was distracted by that, and he used controversy to spur on his popularity, but I don't think he was a nut case of that he head up some of the things that went on..

Sadhguru on the other hand has been at this for over 30+ yrs, yes ppl accusing him of most everything, but this is the way when You try to change/transform the world, and become very popular, you will for sure have allot of enemies, but his organization is pretty well respected, and it is flourishing more and more every year!

I see.
The fact that osho was sick and not actively involved with those things, could just be an excuse. Of course I don’t know, but all those things he said afterwards about Shila could be true, but also not, just trying to protect his image. I don’t know, but I was disappointed seeing osho involved with this kind of “petty human bullshit”, quoting Leo 

[Gidiot]

Agreed that there was some sexual assault and abuse  to some and possibly even many of the followers of oshos commune, and Sheela was quite evil in some ways, and osho could have done better at oversight and management of that many people, he was quite reckless with it. All extremely bad.

the commune was doomed from the start simply because in his own words “the people are retarded” his own followers couldn’t be conscious enough to behave ethically and morally (sheela especially) no matter how enlightened osho claimed to be he couldn’t save most of them and I’ll admit he was trying to be too cunning and not coming at it like Sadhguru does with his, his is a good example of a working commune. In fact he has more than one
 

However I can’t help but think his teachings, books, talks, and insights were of great value to the world, and personally I have benefited greatly and think he is maybe the wisest sage of them all. (Feel free to disagree) nobody ever talks about how it was likely the us government poisoned him and charged him with false crimes that were later dropped in order to get him to agree to leave the country, and how that caused a backlash in his commune and it’s not mentioned in the wild wild country documentary.

 

i do however think it’s a mischaracterization to label him simply a cult leader since he clearly talked about how he would have no successors and his work would die with him and he was just looking to inspire and be a light unto others in the future and at that time. He had rolls Royce’s and riches but didn’t take a wife the documentary was unclear on if he slept with people and I believe nobody in his commune ever died, was convicted of a crime(except sheela), or killed anyone (Yes the sexual assault stuff was terrible and I’m glad  it ended)

 

also about the pay stuff, that’s just how a lot of communes work. You exchange a full days work or a duty to the commune for room/board/food/living expenses/benefits and pay isn’t involved. Osho was communist friendly after all. I don’t think this is exploitation

Edited August 29 by Gidiot

[Ishanga]

@Gidiot I think Osho used Controversy to gain an audience and then a group of ppl that can progress on the Spiritual Path, he showed that a Guru does not have to play the old role of being poor, doing nothing and living in a cave, he broke that mold, but ppl judge him based on their own moral code, so it filters their perception of him.. For sure he did more Empowerment than Dis Empowerment for the world, he was very wise and a very good communicator, just from that one can transform!