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Meditation: The First and Last Freedom
(Osho Insights for a new way of living )
by
Osho
4.13 · Rating details · 1,838 ratings · 89 reviews
The first upgrade to meditation since Buddha's time
In this essential meditation handbook for the 21st century, Osho turns the traditional notion of meditation practice on its head. Meditation: The First and Last Freedom shows that meditation is not a spiritual discipline separate from everyday life in the real world. In essence, it is simply the art of being aware of what is going on inside and around us. As we acquire the knack, meditation can be our companion wherever we are-at work, at play, at rest.
Meditation contains practical, step-by-step guides to a wide variety of meditation techniques selected by and/or created by Osho, including the unique OSHO Active Meditations which deal with the special tensions of contemporary life. Recognizing that it's almost impossible for most people these days just to stop and sit silently, these meditations - including the Osho Dynamic Meditation and Osho Kundalini Meditation - begin with one or more stages of vigorous physical activity. This brings our physical and mental energies to a peak, so that the following silence is easy -- leaving us alert, refreshed, and newly energized.
Newly revised and resized into a handy portable format, Meditation is the perfect text to begin or continue exploring the joys of meditation. (less)
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Paperback, 320 pages
Published December 17th 2004 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published 2004)
Original Title
Meditation: The First and Last Freedom
ISBN
May 11, 2011Heidi rated it really liked it
Love Osho books. This is his second book I've been reading and I absolutely loved them. They help you to look yourself in a different way and understand that all changes in the world starts with us. We accept ourselves, we love ourselves and respect ourselves. After that comes complete peace. What is the main thing in the world that people are looking for. Peace and happiness. (less)
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Mar 21, 2008Carol rated it it was ok
Shelves: non-fiction
The only thing I liked about this book was his encouraging one to 'go crazy' before meditation.
Other than that, I felt if I didn't meditate precisely as he instructed, I would go insane. (less)
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Mar 20, 2007Afsaneh Hasanzadeh rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: hoda goolsorkh
Shelves: meditation
Osho's ideology is one of the hundreds mythical ideologies which exist in our world. In this ideology osho puts each man instead of God and he tries to define the completed and highly spiritual soul as a god. To become a perfect soul, you should love unconditionally and thoroughly. He thinks of mind as a big obstacle for your faith .You should put your mind aside so that you could start meditation.
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Jul 20, 2010Rui Vilas rated it it was ok
I believe that the book could have half of its size, without loosing any content. Having said that, it is a good book to retrieve some ideas on how to meditate. Just read it in diagonal.
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Dec 30, 2010Kelly rated it it was ok
The first half of the book felt most relevant and "enlightening" to me. Some good ideas and alternative practice structures for people who struggle to get into a regular sitting practice. (less)
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May 21, 2010Jayaram rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
An A to Z book of meditation from the Master of Masters.don't just read it..own it!! (less)
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Apr 19, 2012Robert Geer rated it it was amazing
Recommended to Robert by: Osho
Love + Meditation = Compassion :))
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Dec 11, 2012Sarah rated it liked it
A objective look of meditation, acting as the eye of the storm where you can focus your discipline and attention. Found it straight forward and helpful.
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Mar 23, 2010Daniella rated it really liked it
good meditation strategies, straight to the point..
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Nov 17, 2010Stacey Jean Smith rated it it was amazing
i will be reading this again. :)
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Dec 01, 2010Eneida added it
Read it in Portuguese.
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May 21, 2011Vineet rated it it was amazing
Must Real for Every human being
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Mar 09, 2012Bethany rated it it was amazing
thoroughly enjoyed this book which taught me you can meditate anywhere, anyhow, anyway...
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Jan 29, 2013Tony Kaldas rated it it was amazing
Osho as usual is a person who always gives you the truth in your face!
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Apr 20, 2022Alison Chorney-Dubien rated it liked it · review of another edition
I love self help books and am always eager to build my knowledge around mental health self care. Right from the start, this book acknowledged that we live in unprecedented times and we need to do things differently then in the past.
This book presented information about meditation history, benefits of practice and tips to bring in more awareness. This was not any new information for me but for someone starting out, would likely be helpful.
The Osho meditations recommended seems to follow a kundalini style of energy flow theory. Also incorporated in this book are meditation practices on chakras, breath, sound, light/dark, touch etc and the sections provide some information on each.
Overall, I found this book just ok. I found the practices seemed to invoke more anxiety then simply sitting and being. There just seemed to be so much in each meditation practice.
3/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. (less)
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Oct 14, 2014Wis rated it it was amazing
I bought this book not knowing anything about meditation or the self or whatever spirituality is about. In fact I don't know what made me buy it. I didn't even like books at that time. BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL I DID. Osho's simple words shook my perception of life to its core. I tried a some of the meditations techniques but quickly dropped. I found myself more interested in the philosophy and the author's ideas about the self, society and religion. I still come back to this book once a while. Highly recommended. (less)
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Jul 30, 2013Oday Kingsavanh rated it really liked it
A great how-to book for meditation. He also tells meaningful stories that make you think. Over all, you can't go wrong reading Osho books. He has great insights and wisdom that will challenge and help you to step out of your comfort zones. (less)
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May 13, 2013Claudius Odermatt rated it it was amazing
Loved it.
A lot was said with great insight.
Time to put this knowledge into practical use.
Peace and Love <3
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Jun 07, 2021Rza Huseynov rated it did not like it
Amazing bullshit. Shitpiece.
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Oct 12, 2016Aaron Jardin added it
Great book to help with meditations.
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Mar 26, 2017Abhishek Shekhar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Since the book is written by directly converting Osho's discourses, it has repetitions of same thoughts as if someone is talking to you. You might like it sometimes but other times it's just redundant. IF someone is talking to you then it happens naturally, the person repeats himself when he sees you loosing the thought or may be he comes back to original thought. But in book it becomes boring. As you have already read it. Also there are contradictions like in one chapter it says Mind and body are same, mind is just extension of body. Treat mind just as your body. And in another section it says Mind and body are different.
But still the book is great for those who want to start meditation. Books tells you Meditation is not concentration its different. To summarize Osho has read all books on meditation till his time and this can be called a summary of those all. Especially "Vigyan Bhairav Tantra" or 112 meditations by Shiva. In last few chapters books summarizes meditation as witnessing oneself. And with this discipline one can reach deeper state of bliss with No-mind. Awareness-Witnessing-No Mind. The three step process to bliss. The book can also be used as a practical guide for those who want to meditate regularly. (less)
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Oct 12, 2018Peaceful Archer rated it it was amazing
Reading this book is in itself an act of meditation. You literally meditate as you go through the book. It puts you in a meditative state that lasts few days after reading the book.
It includes a lot of meditation technique, but here is my favorite technique of all time:
Atisha says: start being compassionate. And the method is, when you breathe in - listen carefully, it is one of the greatest methods - when you breathe in, think that you are breathing in all the miseries of all the people in the world, All the darkness, all the negativity, all the hell that exists anywhere, you are breathing it in. And let it be absorbed in your heart. You may have read or heard about the so-called positive thinkers of the West. They say just the opposite
- they dont know what they are saying. They say "When you breathe out" throw out all your misery and negativity. And when you breathe in, breathe in joy, positivity, happiness, cheerfulness."
Atisha's method is just the opposite: when you breathe in, breathe in all the misery and suffering of all the beings of the world - past, present and future. And when you breathe out breathe out all the joy that you have, all the blissfulness that you have, all the benediction that you have. (less)
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Aug 15, 2016Juan Camilo Giraldo rated it it was amazing
This book was a huge influence in the way I see and experience meditation. Before this book I thought that meditation was kind of a TABU or something that you achieve by doing Yoga or aromatic candles. Now I understand the true meaning of meditation, meditation means to always watching your surroundings but more important, watching yourself inside. You don't need any posture to achieve that state you just have to close your eyes and open your ears. So I am more than thankful to this great author, Osho to open my mind and every persons mind that reads him. (less)
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Oct 25, 2015Helen Quinn rated it it was amazing
I also want to add currently reading. This is not a book you read then put down. It is a guide to Osho's various meditations, an incredible insight to what is meditation, how to approach it and some of the active meditations he created. It does not cover them all but this marvelous book gives the reader a taste of OSHO meditations. (less)
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Dec 23, 2008Fernando Chanez rated it it was amazing
poooots...
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Nov 08, 2009Alexander rated it liked it
Different meditation techniques with some explanation of why and how they work. An amusing read, but I am not sure that it is fully applicable to our times.
