Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Rajneesh
Shree Rajneesh
Born	Chandra Mohan Jain 11 December 1931 Kuchwada Village, Bareli Tehsil, Raisen Distt. Bhopal State, British India (modern day Madhya Pradesh, India)
Died	19 January 1990 (aged 58) Pune, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Known for	Spirituality
Notable work	Many books, audio and video tapes (exact number not known)
Movement	Jivan Jagruti Andolan; Neo-sannyas

Rajneesh greeted by his followers during a daily drive-by in Rajneeshpuram, around 1982.

Rajneesh (born Chandra Mohan Jain, 1931–1990) was an Indian spiritual teacher and mystic. He was also known as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and later as Osho. Many people around the world continue to follow his teachings even after his death.

Early Life and Education
- Sharing His Ideas
Spiritual Centers
- Poona Ashram
- Oregon Community
  - Ma Anand Sheela's Role
After the Oregon Community
Books by Rajneesh
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Rajneesh was born in a small village in the Madhya Pradesh state of India. He spent most of his childhood with his grandparents. He later said this time was a "blessing" because it was very free and happy.

He started college when he was nineteen. He studied philosophy and earned his master's degree in 1957 from the University of Sagar. After that, he became a professor at Jabalpur University in 1960. While teaching, he also became well-known as a public speaker.

Sharing His Ideas

As a philosophy professor, Rajneesh traveled across India in the 1960s. He gave many talks and shared his ideas about society and religion. He sometimes disagreed with popular views, including those of famous Indian figures like Mahatma Gandhi.

In 1970, he moved to Bombay (now Mumbai). There, he began inviting people to follow his spiritual path, calling them "neo-sannyasins." He shared his thoughts on old spiritual writings and ideas from around the world. In 1974, he moved to Poona (now Pune) and started a spiritual center, or ashram. Many people from Western countries visited this ashram.

Spiritual Centers

Poona Ashram

The Poona ashram was a very lively and busy place. Each day began early with a special "Dynamic Meditation." Rajneesh would then give a talk in the ashram's "Buddha Hall." He would speak about religious texts or answer questions from his followers. People felt a special spiritual energy there.

During the day, the ashram offered different kinds of workshops and activities to help people grow. In the evenings, Rajneesh would meet with individual followers. He would also welcome new people to his spiritual path. The ashram became famous for its open atmosphere and Rajneesh's interesting talks. By the late 1970s, there were some disagreements with the Indian government and local people.

In 1981, Rajneesh decided to stop speaking publicly for a few years. During this time, he held silent gatherings with music and readings. Around this time, Ma Anand Sheela became his new secretary.

Oregon Community

Later in 1981, Rajneesh moved to the United States. His followers created a large community in Oregon, which became known as Rajneeshpuram. Soon, the leaders of the community had disagreements with the local people, mainly about how the land was used. Both sides felt a lot of tension.

Rajneesh lived in a trailer with a swimming pool and other comforts. He did not give talks there. Most residents only saw him when he drove by them each day. He became well-known for owning many Rolls-Royce cars, eventually having 93 of them. This made him the largest single owner of these cars in the world.

Ma Anand Sheela's Role

Ma Anand Sheela was Rajneesh's personal secretary from 1981 to 1985. She bought the large ranch in Oregon to create Rajneeshpuram. She was the main manager and spokesperson for the community. She carried a handgun, and the community even had its own police force with special weapons. It was under Sheela's influence that Rajneesh decided to move to the United States.

At Rajneeshpuram, Rajneesh relied on Sheela to manage the organization. She was seen as his main helper and the second-in-command. She also led the Rajneesh Foundation International. They met daily to discuss important matters for the group. Sheela made most of the decisions for the community. Followers who did not agree with her decisions risked being asked to leave Rajneeshpuram.

The Oregon community ended in 1985. Rajneesh said that the community's leaders had done some serious things. He was arrested soon after for issues with his immigration papers. He agreed to leave the United States.

Ma Anand Sheela was sentenced to prison for her actions, including phone tapping and other serious matters. She served about two and a half years before being released. She then moved to Switzerland, where she now manages nursing homes.

After the Oregon Community

After leaving the United States, Rajneesh tried to visit many countries, but 21 of them would not let him in. He traveled around the world before returning to Poona, India, where he passed away in 1990. His ashram is now called the Osho International Meditation Resort.

His teachings focused on the importance of meditation, being aware, love, celebration, courage, creativity, and humor. He believed these qualities were often hidden by strict beliefs, old traditions, and society's rules. Rajneesh's ideas have influenced modern spiritual thought, and his popularity has grown since his death.

He hoped to create what he called a "new man." This person would combine the qualities of a spiritual seeker like Gautama Buddha and a joyful, lively person like Zorba the Greek. Rajneesh believed this "new man" would embrace both science and spirituality. He also taught that this "new man" would not be limited by gender or belong strictly to groups like families, political parties, or religions.

Books by Rajneesh

Many books were published from Rajneesh's talks. His followers would record his speeches, type them up, and then publish them. At first, these books were printed in India without special numbers, so his admirers mostly bought them. Later, some of the best books were reprinted in Western countries. His talks covered many different religions and philosophies. The exact number of books is not known, but there were certainly more than 30.

1975. Roots and wings: talks on Zen. Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India.
1975. And the flowers showered: talks on Zen. Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India.
1976. The hidden harmony: discourses on the fragments of Heraclitus. Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India.
1976. When the shoe fits: talks on Chuang Tzu. Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India.
1977. Ancient music in the pines: talks on Zen stories. Rajneesh Foundation, Poona, India.