The Perfect Way

A beautiful introduction to Osho's unique vision, and a personal invitation to meditation. In his inimitably poetic style, Osho invites the reader to wake up from the spiritual sleep in which most of humanity is immersed. These talks are from his first meditation camp at Ranakpur in the hills of Rajasthan, and a subsequent camp** in Ajol, Gujarat, India. Here are guided meditation techniques suitable for those new to meditation and seasoned seekers alike, as well as responses to questions.

translated from

Hindi : Sadhana Path (साधना पथ)

notes

Read this book as PDF or create a free account at osho.com to read the book online.

Later published as part of Osho Books on CD-ROM.

From the back cover (1979 ed.):

"The Perfect Way is early-Rajneesh, 1964. These discourses are the outcome of Shree Rajneesh's first testing of a new idea, the meditation camp, envisaging an intensive programme lasting several days, which enabled the seekers to dive totally into an atmosphere of meditation."

Previously published in 1966 as Path of Self-Realization and later in 1971 as Path to Self Realisation

For an account of the communication with Osho about this book to Krishna Prem, see below "#About the editing by KP".

time period of Osho's original talks/writings

Jun 3, 1964 to Jun 8, 1964 : timeline

number of discourses/chapters

10 (1979, 1984, 1993ed.)

14 (2001ed.)

(see table of contents)

editions

	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 1979 Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 0-89684-062-X (Orient Book Distributors) (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 226 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : P Edition notes : First edition: Delhi, 1979. Revised version of Path of Self-Realization (1966). © Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India. Size : 176 x 123 x 12 mm Author as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Introduction: Sw Krishna Prem, May 1977, Poona Printed in India By Shantilal Jain, at Shri Jainendra Press, A45, Phase-1, Industrial Area, Naraina, New Delhi-110 028. Published by Narendra Prakash Jain, for Motilal Banarsidass, Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi-110 007. Title page Publication info & Contents Last page Back cover
	The Perfect Way Discourses given by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh at His first meditation camp held in Rajasthan, India Year of publication : 1984 Publisher : Rajneesh Foundation International ISBN 0-88050-707-1 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 169 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : P Edition notes : First U.S. Printing: July 1984, 10,000 copies. Copyright: © 1984 Rajneesh Foundation International. Size : 179 x 108 x 11 mm Author as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Published by Ma Anand Sheela M.M., D.Phil.M., D.Litt.M.(RIMU), Acharya Editor: Sw Krishna Prem M.M., D.Phil.M.(RIMU), Acharya Design: Sw Dhyan Abudaya Direction: Ma Yoga Pratima M.M., D.Phil.M.(RIMU), Arihanta Printed in U.S.A. Library of Congress Catalog Number 84-42808 Introduction: Ma Deva Sarito, Rajneeshpuram, 1984
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 1993 Reprint 1996 Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 81-208-1168-2 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 226 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : P Edition notes : First edition: Delhi 1979. Reprint: Delhi 1993 Author as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Introduction: Sw Krishna Prem, May 1977, Poona
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 2001 Publisher : Rebel Publishing House, India ISBN 81-7261-163-3 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 229 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : H Edition notes : Published 1984 by The Rebel Publishing House, Second Edition, revised 2001. Copyright 1979, 2001 by Osho International Foundation. Size : 197 x 129 x 19 mm Author as Osho In this edition the material is divided in 14 chapters, as in Path of Self-Realization. Editing: Sw Yoga Pratap Bharati, Ma Prem Lolita Design & typesetting: Ma Deva Harito Production: Ma Deva Harito Photography: Osho Photo Services Printing: Thomson Press (India) Ltd With infinite gratitude to Osho - Ma Prem Geeta (Dutch) Cover back, spine and front. Pages IV - V. Pages VI - VII. Pages VIII - IX. Pages 198 - 199.
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 2008 Publisher : Rebel Publishing House, India ISBN 81-7261-163-3 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 201 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : H Edition notes :
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 2017 Publisher : Beginningless Media ISBN 978-1938755989 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 145 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : P Edition notes :
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 2017 Publisher : Osho Media International ISBN 978-0-88050-338-9 (source - osho.com) (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : E Edition notes : There are stated wrong ISBN 978-0-88050-611-3 in ebook, which dublicates ebook Words from a Man of No Words (2015 edition).
	The Perfect Way Year of publication : 2018 Publisher : Osho Media International ISBN 9788172611637 (click ISBN to buy online) Number of pages : 160 Hardcover / Paperback / Ebook : H Edition notes :

table of contents

editions 1979, 1984, 1993*, 1996* & CD-ROM chapter titles		discourses and writings
		event	location	duration	media
0	The Welcome (first part, i.e. PoSR - Prologue)	unknown	unknown	unknown	none
1	The Welcome	3 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
2	The First Morning	4 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
3.1	The First Evening	4 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
3.2	The First Evening (part 2)	4 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
4	The Second Morning	5 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
5.1	The Second Evening	5 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
5.2	The Second Evening (part 2)	5 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
6	The Third Morning	6 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
7.1	The Third Evening	6 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
7.2	The Third Evening (part 2)	6 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
8	The Fourth Morning	7 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
9.1	The Final Evening	7 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
9.2	The Final Evening (part 2)	7 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
10	The Farewell*	8 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none

* The last chapter, "The Farewell", is not listed in Table of Contents in the 1993 and 1996 editions.

edition 2001 chapter titles		discourses and writings
		event	location	duration	media
0	Invitation Into Light (Prologue)	unknown	unknown	unknown	none
1	Listening With the Heart	3 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
2	Thought Birth Control	4 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
3	Meditation is Non-doing	4 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
4	Stop and See	4 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
5	Naturally Moral	5 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
6	Seeing Without Thinking	5 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
7	I Am a Dream-breaker	5 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
8	The Fully Drowned	6 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
9	Entering the Gap	6 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
10	A Zone of Silence	6 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
11	The Discipline of Witnessing	7 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
12	The Dewdrop and the Ocean	7 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
13	Birth of a New Man	7 Jun 1964 pm	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none
14	With Infinite Awaiting	8 Jun 1964 am	Shri Muchala Mahavira, Ranakpur, meditation camp	unknown	none

---

About the editing by KP

Here is a quote from Krishna Prem's book Osho, India and Me, p.161 ff., when Osho asked him to re-edit this book :

So, for the next several days, from dawn to dusk, From Sex to Superconsciousness is pretty much all that exists. And the moment its finished I deliver it to Laxmi, introduction and all. “What’s next?” I ask.

“Come tomorrow,” she instructs. “Tonight, asking will happen.

The following afternoon she passes me another Indian-English gem, The Path to Self Realization. “His first camp,” is all she says. “1964. In the hills of Rajasthan.”

Turning to Arup, I ask when I can come to darshan. “There’s something I have to tell him.”

“Tonight,” she answers. “There’s been a cancellation.”

“Osho,” I begin when I’m seated in front of him that evening, “I don’t know whether you remember or not, but a couple of years ago during The Mustard Seed you spoke of a wheel of energy and said if it was happening to anyone he should come and tell you right away.”

He nods, watching me intently. I cannot tell whether his nod is one of recall or encouragement, but I keep going. Well, when I came to you, you said to me, ‘You’re on absolutely the right track.’ And then I ran away. At the time I thought I was leaving because of money, but I've just now seen why I left. I was scared. Its taken me two years to see it, but I ran away because I was frightened to surrender, because I was getting close to something that terrified me.” I sit back on my heels, relaxing now. “And I had to come and see you tonight to tell you this — and to tell you that, no matter what happens, I’m not afraid any more.

He chuckles, a low, pleased rumble. Then he leans forward in his chair. “Have they told you what book I want you to do next?” he asks.

“Yes,” I reply after the split second it takes me to recover from the fact that my great insight has earned no more than a brief chortle.

It was my first camp,” he continues, settling back in his chair, re-crossing his legs. It was held in Rajasthan in 1964. And they hired a professional translator to do the book in English. But he was a South Indian and he didn’t speak Hindi very well. Besides, he never met me. He didn’t know me.”

He suddenly leans forward again and fixes me with a look of an intensity that takes me aback after the casual way in which he’s been speaking. “You do what you want with it, Krishna Prem,” he says. "You know me.” And then, with the customary “Good,” he turns to Mukta, indicating his readiness for the next sannyasin.

I walk back to the Green after darshan. Alone in Poona’s crowded streets, “You know me” reverberates in my ears. Something significant has been given to me tonight, of that I am aware, bur I’m incapable of computing it. All that’s really real is the feeling inside. There’s a familiarity to the feeling, a quality I’ve felt before when certain doors have opened, when memories have flooded me, when something of the beyond has penetrated my world.

The first thing next morning I dive into the book. It’s an even worse mess than the other. But I don't mind. I welcome the challenge. I know him, he said. And I know the words will flow like a river in the spring.