Are human beings basically asleep?
Osho in his precious "Lao Tzu" library which gradually took over his whole residence. With some 100 000 volumes, it was claimed to be the world's largest private library.
A critical examination of the arguments of 'Osho', an Indian Philosophy professor and spirituality teacher described by the Sunday Times of London as one of the "1 000 Makers of the 20th century". They are set out primarily in a book called Awareness1 which contains some bizarre arguments that are well worth examination; or as it is named in scientific research, subjecting to the "Falsification Test". The books he did not write (in his library) also bear careful examination — they may contain paintings or drawings that are supposed to represent graphically the book's philosophy or essence. It is said that he would call for a book he liked the most, that week, and then paint on a blank page at the beginning or at the end of the volume. A full-page painting by Osho inside the cover is found in 900 books.
Anyway, in his own book, Osho's main argument, which he traces back to Lao Tzu and Buddha, is that all humans are basically asleep. He exempts a few religious leaders and ordinary people at moments of crisis — perhaps in a car crash. Otherwise, All our activities and the world around us are just a dream. Developing this, Osho investigates the elements of sleep and suggests methods by which humans can be awakened from their slumber — that is, brought to awareness. During his investigations of what makes us asleep, Osho makes dramatic accusations about religions, humanity, and certain key persons in history.
Many of the arguments in this book can be addressed through questions:
Religions - Faith or Opium, Dominations or Rise?
Osho argues that:
"It is not only drugs and alcohol - the so-called religion has also functioned as opium. It drugs people. And naturally all religions are against drugs, because they themselves deal in the same market; they are against the competitors...And there are different brands of opium - Christianity, Hinduism, [Islamism]..." 2
He continues:
"Your churches, your temples, your mosques, they have all committed sins toward you because they all became possessors, they all became dominations. Every church is against religion - because religion is freedom".
Yet he comes to contradict himself, saying:
"A Buddha, a Jesus, a Mohammed - these few awakened people are the real men..."3
Can a harmony exist between opposites — or did Aristotle fail to fully understand Heraclitus?
Recall that Aristotle says about Heraclitus:
" This man has some defect — biological, physiological, 'characterological,' some defect is there. Otherwise, why should he insist on paradox? Why should he insist on mystery? Why should he insist that there exists a harmony between opposites? Opposites are opposites; there is no harmony. Life is life and death is death — be clear about it, don't mix things. This man seems to be a muddler."
It is in the light of these words of Aristotle, that Osho produces an argument in defense of Heraclitus, saying that:
"Aristotle was very much disturbed by Heraclitus. He decided that this man must have some defect in his character. Finished! — you have categorized him because he doesn't suit you, he disturbes you. Heraclitus must have been very heavy on Aristotle's mind."4
One of Osho's strange book 'doodles'...
Where does the mind reside — the past, the future, or the present?
Osho argues that the human mind is unable to think in the present; it is obliged to think either of the past or of the future. As to this he says, "Mind is always either in the past or in the future. It cannot be in the present...When you are in the present, the mind is there no more."5
So, does that all serve to demonstrate the dormitive nature of humanity? Scarcely...
