From Bhagwan to Osho: Prequel to Osho's name change: Difference between revisions
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That other page, [[From Bhagwan to Osho]], features a series of quotes from Osho's discourses of Dec 1988 to Feb 1989 relating to the changes his name was going through, the major part of that detailing the many times he comments on the use of the word "Osho" in Japanese Zen. As these comments came in such a concentrated way, all in a period of less than three weeks, and shortly before his adoption of "Osho" as his name, it seems obvious and natural to conclude that he was suggesting that his people call him that. Indeed, another article, [[What's in a Name?]], asserts just that, though the existence of a widely believed competing theory about the origin of Osho's name requires that article to devote the bulk of its bytespace to debunking that. | That other page, [[From Bhagwan to Osho]], features a series of quotes from Osho's discourses of Dec 1988 to Feb 1989 relating to the changes his name was going through, the major part of that detailing the many times he comments on the use of the word "Osho" in Japanese Zen. As these comments came in such a concentrated way, all in a period of less than three weeks, and shortly before his adoption of "Osho" as his name, it seems obvious and natural to conclude that he was suggesting that his people call him that. Indeed, another article, [[What's in a Name?]], asserts just that, though the existence of a widely believed competing theory about the origin of Osho's name requires that article to devote the bulk of its bytespace to debunking that. | ||
At the time those two articles were put together, it was believed that he had not spoken about "Osho" at all prior to that period. As it happens, he had. An eagle-eyed correspondent has shared the second citation below, from Jul 14 1988, with Sannyas Wiki, and then the one from the previous evening's talk was also found, a "pre-prequel" if you will. These two talks came over five months before Osho dropped "Bhagwan". | At the time those two articles were put together, it was believed that he had not spoken about "Osho" at all prior to that period. As it happens, he had. An eagle-eyed correspondent has shared the second citation below, from Jul 14 1988, with Sannyas Wiki, and then the one from the previous evening's talk was also found, a "pre-prequel" if you will. These two talks came over five months before Osho dropped "Bhagwan". And as it further happens, four more instances of Osho commenting on or mentioning "Osho" have been found in a [[Osho Books on CD-ROM|CD-ROM]] search for all such in the period between Jul 1988 and Dec 1988. It is believed that no more will be found. These four instances are detailed in [[Prequel Vol II]]. | ||
In what follows below, all framed material is from Osho's book ''[[Zen: The Diamond Thunderbolt]]'', with sutras / anecdotes in ALL-CAPS, and Osho's comments in ordinary type. | In what follows below, all framed material is from Osho's book ''[[Zen: The Diamond Thunderbolt]]'', with sutras / anecdotes in ALL-CAPS, and Osho's comments in ordinary type. |
Revision as of 16:07, 24 September 2015
This page centers on material that predates related material presented elsewhere. Since it does not fit well in the flow there, though deeply related, it appears here, as a "prequel".
That other page, From Bhagwan to Osho, features a series of quotes from Osho's discourses of Dec 1988 to Feb 1989 relating to the changes his name was going through, the major part of that detailing the many times he comments on the use of the word "Osho" in Japanese Zen. As these comments came in such a concentrated way, all in a period of less than three weeks, and shortly before his adoption of "Osho" as his name, it seems obvious and natural to conclude that he was suggesting that his people call him that. Indeed, another article, What's in a Name?, asserts just that, though the existence of a widely believed competing theory about the origin of Osho's name requires that article to devote the bulk of its bytespace to debunking that.
At the time those two articles were put together, it was believed that he had not spoken about "Osho" at all prior to that period. As it happens, he had. An eagle-eyed correspondent has shared the second citation below, from Jul 14 1988, with Sannyas Wiki, and then the one from the previous evening's talk was also found, a "pre-prequel" if you will. These two talks came over five months before Osho dropped "Bhagwan". And as it further happens, four more instances of Osho commenting on or mentioning "Osho" have been found in a CD-ROM search for all such in the period between Jul 1988 and Dec 1988. It is believed that no more will be found. These four instances are detailed in Prequel Vol II.
In what follows below, all framed material is from Osho's book Zen: The Diamond Thunderbolt, with sutras / anecdotes in ALL-CAPS, and Osho's comments in ordinary type.
From Diamond Thunderbolt, ch 2, Jul 13 1988:
(Context: before Tokusan became a great master in his own right, he came to Isan's temple as a seeker.)
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From Diamond Thunderbolt, ch 3, Jul 14 1988:
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- Then, in the guided Let-Go meditation at the end of the discourse, this word "Osho" comes twice again, once when addressing everyone and once when Osho calls to drummer Nivedano to punctuate the stages of the meditation. And for good measure, the word "oceanic" also makes a miraculous appearance. (See Comments below for the significance of these unique occurrences and more.)
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Comments
There are a number of features in this discourse, instances of Osho using the word "Osho" which stand out compared to his usage on other occasions. Yes, one "shouldn't" compare, but ...
- On this occasion more than any other, Osho seems to be explicitly inviting his people to call him Osho. He says, "It is in essence so respectful that only a disciple calls a master 'Osho'". This has to be considered more explicit than the hints he was dropping during Jan-Feb 1989, but of course here he still has a name, so who is going to make anything out of it at this point?
- This occasion is also the only one with any "Osho" appearing in the Let-Go part after the discoursing and jokes, and in a free-floating, free-associating way, not connected with any "sensible" expounding on what it is or how it is used.
- It is also, as mentioned above, remarkable for its use of the word "oceanic", in proximity to "Osho". In fact, in all of Osho's talks, as determined by the CD-ROM, this talk at the end, not even a discourse per se, is the only occasion when the two words come near each other. But there is virtually no conceptual content connecting them, so there cannot be said to be any "explanation" happening. Even to infer some kind of relationship beyond sounding alike would be to stretch a point too far. Thus, advocates of the William James Version (WJV, the alternate "explanation" for Osho's name), will find little comfort in this proximity. For a full consideration of the WJV, see What's in a Name?.
- Of all the discourses in which Osho comments on the significance of "Osho", this is the one cited by Ma Deva Sarito in her Rajneesh Times editorial of Apr 1 1989 reporting the meeting in Buddha Hall on Feb 27 when sannyasins collectively "decided to call Him 'Osho Rajneesh'."