Who is Osho ?
Osho, born Chandra Mohan Jain (11 December 1931 - 19 January 1990), is considered as a great Modern Enlightened Master. He was a revered Indian mystic and spiritual teacher. During the 1960's he was known as Acharya Rajneesh, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh in the 1970s and 1980s and as Osho from 1989. Over the course of 30 years as a spiritual teacher, guide and friend, he garnered a vast international following.
He was a qualified professor of philosophy from the University of Saugar and he travelled throughout India in his capacity as a public speaker. His public discourses often courted controversy because of his outspoken criticism of institutionalised religion
Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism notable for its emphasis on practice and experiential wisdom - particularly the form of meditation known as zazen, in order to achieve an inner awakening. As such, it de-emphasizes both theoretical knowledge and the study of religious texts in favor of direct individual experience of one’s own true nature. Some Osho zen quotes that were popular in the osho times are :
"Zen is a totally different kind of religion. It brings humanness to religion. It is not bothered about anything superhuman; its whole concern is how to make ordinary life a blessing."
“Zen is the only religion in the world that teaches sudden enlightenment. It says that enlightenment takes no time, it can happen in a single, split second.”
Osho was not just one of the great speakers and thinkers of the modern generation, but he was also very much a believer in practicality and reality. His greatest achievement in creating a commune was to provide a haven where people could actually experience the great truths that he spoke so passionately about. He created a path which allowed people to experience the best of both worlds.
Spirituality without reality was not his chosen way, and he believed that people should also be able to interact with the world around them in a physical manner as well as being devoted to the spiritual pursuits of meditation and healing. Understanding the importance of physical efforts and labour were just as important as being able to understand the depths of the Sutras spoken by Gautam Buddha. Even matters relating to the heart and love affairs had a part to play in a person’s journey towards self-awareness.
According to Osho - "It is the capacity not to worship buddhas, but to become a buddha; not to follow others but to develop the awareness within that brings a quality of light and love to all that we do."
The osho zen tarot card deck was created keeping in mind the entire context of Osho's teachings. It represents the commitment to making the whole of life a meditation, and accepting with faith, the value in all the different aspects of a person’s life. The osho zen tarot card deck is dedicated to the Buddha within each and every one of us.