Osho
Osho (ओशो, 11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990), born Chandra Mohan Jain and also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (or simply Rajneesh), was an Indian mystic and founder of the new religious movement known as the Rajneesh movement. He rejected institutional religion, insisting that spiritual experience cannot be organized into any single system of dogma, and developed numerous active meditation techniques designed for modern life.
Teaching career
Osho said he experienced a spiritual awakening in 1953, at the age of 21. After several years in academia as a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Jabalpur, he resigned in 1966 and began traveling throughout India, becoming known for his criticism of religious orthodoxy, mainstream political ideologies, and Mahatma Gandhi. In 1970 he began initiating followers known as Neo-Sannyasins, who wore orange or maroon clothing and adopted new names. In 1974 he relocated to Pune, where an ashram was established that combined meditation with therapies drawn from the Human Potential Movement.
Oregon and the Rajneeshpuram years
In 1981 the movement’s focus shifted to the United States, where Osho established the commune of Rajneeshpuram in Wasco County, Oregon. The commune ran into conflict with local residents and the state government. In 1984, followers of his personal secretary Ma Anand Sheela carried out a mass food-poisoning attack intended to influence county elections; in 1985 Osho asked authorities to investigate Sheela and her associates, several of whom were later convicted. That same year Osho was deported from the United States on immigration-related charges under an Alford plea, and 21 countries denied him entry. He returned to Pune in January 1987 to revive his ashram, where he died in 1990.
Meditation techniques
Osho developed several innovative meditation methods, most notably Dynamic Meditation, which uses intense physical movement and cathartic expression before settling into stillness. Other techniques include Kundalini Meditation, Nadabrahma (humming meditation), and Gibberish Meditation. These techniques were designed to address the psychological barriers that prevent modern people from experiencing meditation.
Legacy
Osho’s legacy is complex and controversial. More than 600 books have been published under his name, most compiled from his recorded talks. His ashram in Pune, now the Osho International Meditation Resort, is managed by the Osho International Foundation. His teachings have influenced Western New Age thought, and their popularity increased after his death.
Verification notes
- Birth/death dates (11 December 1931 – 19 January 1990) and movement history per standard references.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).