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38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I was pleasantly surprised, 21 Feb 2004
By A Customer
I found this book after a period of immersing myself in Buddhist literature. It surprised me that I'd already come across the 112 instructions given by Shiva in the last few pages of 'Zen Flesh, Zen Bones', compiled by Paul Reps. At the time, I paid them virtually no attention, becuase they are given as brief (sometimes fragmentary) sentences with no words of explanation, and coming at the end of the book, seem almost like an appendix.With Osho, things take a very different turn. The same 112 techniques are set forth, but this time with copious amounts of accompanying text. And that is no bad thing, because the instructions are often elliptical, until they have been explained. Once you understand what is being sought after, they are simply concise. Two, three or four techniques are dealt with in a chapter, with specific guidance given on how to practice the techniques, and also a discussion of the underlying principles which are being used. Each technique chapter is followed by a lecture style discussion of issues arising from the practice of the techniques. For example, sutra 25 says 'Just as you have the impulse to do something, stop'. This is then discussed in detail. In the following chapter related questions are posed (as if by a student), such as 'If there is unawareness during an authentic impulse, how to stop?' And so on for all the sutras. I find Osho's style completely absorbing. Sometimes it reads quite simplistically, but the depth of understanding is immense and this book will challenge your views on many things, and is all the more rewarding because he as such a sense of lightness and is genuinely trying to help you become yourself, and not what others might want you to be. Those people looking for answers as to what is right and wrong may need to try elsewhere. Osho's goal is to bring you to an awakening of consciousness, so that change may happen of itself and not through suppression or effort. Osho uses many lines of thought in his work, and frequently quotes from religious texts or people (most often the eastern traditions) to either support or contrast his own narrative. He is keen to affirm, however, that he is teaching 'science' and not 'religion' - the latter serves only to demonstrate what becomes of those who have discovered their authentic self. Best of all, you can read as much or as little at a time - the themes reccur to some degree, but highlighted differently each time. Once you have found a technique which seems to have an effect on you, Osho simply advises you to play with it for a few days. If you like it, take that one technique and stay with it (and no others!) for three months. That's all. I challenge anyone not to learn something from this book. And for some of you, life will never be quite the same...
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