Rajneesh Chandra Mohan was the founder and leader of a controversial religious movement in India and the United States. Osho was born on December 11, 1931, at Kuchiwada, a small village in India. At the time, the astrologer predicted that he might die before he was seven years old according to the birth chart. His parents, who were Jains chose to send him to be with his maternal grandparents until he was seven years old.
Osho explains that children, during their first seven years, have their development affected by being forced to learn and having their dignity ignored. He says ideally it should be the opposite. People can learn from children that which they themselves have forgotten. If a child is allowed freedom during his initial years, he will grow in strength and have enough intelligence to decide and to discuss.
When he joined the first school, he was able to discuss with and convince his teacher who was very strict with children. Osho explains that if the child receives respect, he is more obedient to his parents. If the parents ignore the child’s individuality, the child would in turn ignore them. After Osho was seven, he went back to his parents. Osho explains that he received a similar kind of respect from his paternal grandfather who was staying with them. He was able to be very open with his grandfather. His grandfather used to tell him, “I know you are doing the right thing. Everyone may tell you that you are wrong. But nobody knows which situation you are in. Only you can decide in your situation. Do whatsoever you feel is right. I will support you. I love you and respect you as well”.
At his grandfather’s deathbed, the last words to him were, “I cannot support you the same way like before. And you need the support. So, remember wherever I am, I love you and I respect you. The whole world may be against you but I am on your side. Don’t be afraid.”
In 1953, 21st of March, when Osho was 21 years old, Osho explains that he got spiritually enlightened. It was the day of the full moon. After this happened, he says he went out to the garden and sat under the bodhi-tree (bo-tree).
Osho claimed that he was poisoned in jail and on January 19th, 1990, four years after the arrest, he died. He was 59. His ashes are placed in a magnificently reconstructed lecture hall, at his last home place, his ashram in Pune, India.
Vocabulary
Controversial—in controversy
Magnificently—fabulously
